Logic Programming as a Service (LPaaS): Intelligence for the IoT

The widespread diffusion of low-cost computing devices, such as Arduino boards and Raspberry Pi, along with improvements of Cloud computing platforms, are paving the way towards a whole new set of opportunities for Internet of Things (IoT) applications and services. Varying degrees of intelligence are often required for supporting adaptation and self-management—yet, they should be provided in a light-weight, easy to use and customise, highly-interoperable way. Accordingly, in this paper we explore the idea of Logic Programming as a Service (LPaaS) as a novel and promising re-interpretation of distributed logic programming in the IoT era. After introducing the reference context and motivating scenarios of LPaaS as a key enabling technology for intelligent IoT, we define the LPaaS general system architecture. Then, we present a prototype implementation built on top of the tuProlog system, which provides the required interoperability and customisation. We showcase the LPaaS potential through a case study designed as a simplification of the motivating scenarios

Logic Programming in Space-Time: The Case of Situatedness in LPaaS

Situatedness is a fundamental requirement for today\u2019s complex software systems, as well as for the computational models and programming languages used to build them. Spatial and temporal situatedness, in particular, are essential features for AI, enabling actors of the system to take autonomous decisions contextual to the space-time they live in. To support spatio-temporal awareness in distributed pervasive systems, we adopt the standpoint of Logic Programming (LP) by focussing on the Logic Programming as a Service (LPaaS) approach, promoting the distribution of situated intelligence. Accordingly, we provide an interpretation about what it means to make LP span across space and time, then we extend the LPaaS model and architecture towards spatio-temporal situatedness, by identifying a set of suitably-expressive spatio-temporal primitives

Characterizing multisegment foot kinematics during gait in diabetic foot patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic proportions, this condition may result in multiple and chronic invalidating long term complications. Among these, the diabetic foot, is determined by the simultaneous presence of both peripheral neuropathy and vasculopathy that alter the biomechanics of the foot with the formation of callosity and ulcerations. To diagnose and treat the diabetic foot is crucial to understand the foot complex kinematics. Most of gait analysis protocols represent the entire foot as a rigid body connected to the shank. Nevertheless the existing multisegment models cannot completely decipher the impairments associated with the diabetic foot.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A four segment foot and ankle model for assessing the kinematics of the diabetic foot was developed. Ten normal subjects and 10 diabetics gait patterns were collected and major sources of variability were tested. Repeatability analysis was performed both on a normal and on a diabetic subject. Direct skin marker placement was chosen in correspondence of 13 anatomical landmarks and an optoelectronic system was used to collect the data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Joint rotation normative bands (mean plus/minus one standard deviation) were generated using the data of the control group. Three representative strides per subject were selected. The repeatability analysis on normal and pathological subjects results have been compared with literature and found comparable. Normal and pathological gait have been compared and showed major statistically significant differences in the forefoot and midfoot dorsi-plantarflexion.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Even though various biomechanical models have been developed so far to study the properties and behaviour of the foot, the present study focuses on developing a methodology for the functional assessment of the foot-ankle complex and for the definition of a functional model of the diabetic neuropathic foot. It is, of course, important to evaluate the major sources of variation (true variation in the subject's gait and artefacts from the measurement procedure). The repeatability of the protocol was therefore examined, and results showed the suitability of this method both on normal and pathological subjects. Comparison between normal and pathological kinematics analysis confirmed the validity of a similar approach in order to assess neuropathics biomechanics impairment.</p

LTalpha and LTbeta gene expression in organs of sheep showing different lymphoproliferative changes induced by maedi-visna virus

In lung and mammary gland of sheep, Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) causes lymphoproliferative inflammation often with follicular structures (lymphofollicular inflammation). The aim of this work was to define whether Limphotoxin α and β (LTα, LTβ) play a role in the formation of these peculiar lesions in sheep experimentally infected with MVV

Frailty trajectories in ICU survivors: A comparison between the clinical frailty scale and the Tilburg frailty Indicator and association with 1 year mortality

Purpose: To test the agreement of the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), their association with 3, 6&nbsp;months and 1-year mortality and the trajectory of frailty in a mixed population of ICU survivors. Material and methods: This is a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal study on ICU survivors ≥18&nbsp;years old with an ICU stay &gt;72&nbsp;h. For each patient, sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Frailty was assessed during ICU stay and at 3, 6, 12&nbsp;months after ICU discharge, through both CFS and TFI. Results: 124 patients with a mean age of 66&nbsp;years old were enrolled. The baseline prevalence of frailty was 15.3% by CFS and 44.4% by TFI. Baseline CFS and TFI correlated but showed low agreement (Cohen's K&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.23, p&nbsp;&lt;&nbsp;0.001). Baseline CFS score, but not TFI, was significantly associated to 1&nbsp;year mortality. Moreover, CFS score during the follow-up was independently associated 1-year mortality (OR&nbsp;=&nbsp;1.43; 95% CI: 1.18-1.73). Conclusions: CFS and TFI identify different populations of frail ICU survivors. Frail patients before ICU according to CFS have a significantly higher mortality after ICU discharge. The CFS during follow-up is an independent negative prognostic factor of long-term mortality in the ICU population

Complicated Bi-Pella Support: Acute Mitral Regurgitation and Bailout MitraClip Repair

During the last decades, the use of mechanical circulatory support devices (MCS) has increased exponentially. In this scenario, a fully percutaneous approach to biventricular cardiogenic shock has ..

Rotational dynamics of optically trapped polymeric nanofibers

The optical trapping of polymeric nanofibers and the characterization of the rotational dynamics are reported. A strategy to apply a torque to a polymer nanofiber, by tilting the trapped fibers using a symmetrical linear polarized Gaussian beam is demonstrated. Rotation frequencies up to 10 Hz are measured, depending on the trapping power, the fiber length and the tilt angle. A comparison of the experimental rotation frequencies in the different trapping configurations with calculations based on optical trapping and rotation of linear nanostructures through a T-Matrix formalism, accurately reproduce the measured data, providing a comprehensive description of the trapping and rotation dynamics.Comment: (21 pages, 5 figures

A novel mutation within the MIR96 gene causes non-syndromic inherited hearing loss in an Italian family by altering pre-miRNA processing

The miR-96, miR-182 and miR-183 microRNA (miRNA) family is essential for differentiation and function of the vertebrate inner ear. Recently, point mutations within the seed region of miR-96 were reported in two Spanish families with autosomal dominant non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss (NSHL) and in a mouse model of NSHL. We screened 882 NSHL patients and 836 normal-hearing Italian controls and identified one putative novel mutation within the miR-96 gene in a family with autosomal dominant NSHL. Although located outside the mature miR-96 sequence, the detected variant replaces a highly conserved nucleotide within the companion miR-96*, and is predicted to reduce the stability of the pre-miRNA hairpin. To evaluate the effect of the detected mutation on miR-96/mir-96* biogenesis, we investigated the maturation of miR-96 by transient expression in mammalian cells, followed by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We found that both miR-96 and miR-96* levels were significantly reduced in the mutant, whereas the precursor levels were unaffected. Moreover, miR-96 and miR-96* expression levels could be restored by a compensatory mutation that reconstitutes the secondary structure of the pre-miR-96 hairpin, demonstrating that the mutation hinders precursor processing, probably interfering with Dicer cleavage. Finally, even though the mature miR-96 sequence is not altered, we demonstrated that the identified mutation significantly impacts on miR-96 regulation of selected targets. In conclusion, we provide further evidence of the involvement of miR-96 mutations in human deafness and demonstrate that a quantitative defect of this miRNA may contribute to NSHL

R&D innovation indicator and its effects on the market. An empirical assessment from a financial perspective

We propose an alternative firm-level measure for innovation activities—R&D elasticity—and we analyse its effects on the Tobin's Q of listed companies on the Euronext 100 Index. We find that R&D elasticity is positively related to market appreciation by stakeholder investors. Moreover, we analyse the role of default risk in the relationship between innovation activities and market value, and find that firms' default probabilities are negatively related to Tobin's Q. These findings are supported by OLS regressions, wherein Tobin's Q is regressed on R&D elasticity, five-year default probability, and controls such as ESG voluntary disclosure. These results further the research aimed at developing a conceptual framework for integrating at a policy level the R&D elasticity indicator as a type of innovation disclosure among the non-financial disclosures released by companies