Optimization of Working Conditions for Perovskite-Based Gas Sensor Devices by Multiregression Analysis

Environmental degradation and resource depletion drive scientific research priorities to develop technologies for sustainable productive systems. Among them, chemical sensing technology plays a key role for regulating energetic, ecological, and productive efficiency by monitoring and controlling the industrial processes. Semiconducting metal oxide sensors are particularly attractive technology because of their simplicity in function, small size, and projected low cost. The aim of this work is to synthesize Ti-substituted lanthanum ferrite perovskite, LaFe0.8Ti0.2O3, in order to develop a resistive sensor device for monitoring carbon monoxide. Since sensor performances are affected by experimental factors, such as temperature, target gas concentration, and gas flow rate, the aim of the authors was to define the optimum working condition by performing multiple regression analyses. The investigated ranges of operating conditions were temperature from 300 to 480°C, carbon monoxide concentration from 100 to 200 ppm, and inlet-gas flow rate from 40 to 100 cm3/min. The results confirm that the applied systematic analysis is a powerful method for studying the direct and indirect effects of every experimental factor on sensor performance and for computing mathematical models with predictive ability, that are useful tools for defining the optimum chemiresistors' operating conditions. In addition, mathematical models are able to be used as multiple-factor surface calibration for restive gas sensor devices

L'atomo di idrogeno: righe, serie e sua importanza in astrofisica

L’idrogeno è l’elemento chimico avente numero atomico Z=1 e questo lo rende il primo elemento del sistema periodico. Esso riveste un ruolo di particolare importanza non solo in meccanica quantistica, per via dell’estrema semplicità che caratterizza la sua struttura, ma anche in astrofisica. L’idrogeno è infatti l’elemento chimico più comune dell’universo osservabile e prende parte ad una varietà di fenomeni astrofisici di grande interesse. Questo documento ha lo scopo di presentare l’atomo di idrogeno fornendo non solo una trattazione approfondita della sua struttura e dell’interazione di tale struttura con la radiazione elettromagnetica, ma anche una contestualizzazione dal punto di vista storico e dei processi astrofisici che lo coinvolgono. Nella prima parte di questo elaborato si presenterà l’atomo di idrogeno fornendone le caratteristiche principali e si procederà a delineare il percorso storico che ha condotto dal modello atomico di Bohr allo sviluppo della descrizione quanto-meccanica di tale atomo. Nella seconda parte di questo documento si presenterà il procedimento che, grazie all’introduzione di alcuni concetti base di meccanica quantistica, porta a ricavare le funzioni d’onda che descrivono gli orbitali dell’atomo di idrogeno e i relativi livelli energetici. Nella seconda parte dell’elaborato si procederà anche ad esaminare le transizioni energetiche dell’atomo di idrogeno introducendo ed analizzando dettagliatamente concetti chiave come l’approssimazione di dipolo elettrico e le relative regole di selezione. L’importanza in astrofisica dell’idrogeno sarà trattata nella terza e ultima parte del documento. A tal proposito, si citeranno ed analizzeranno brevemente: le reazioni nucleari negli interni stellari, la riga a 21cm dell’idrogeno neutro, la legge di Tully-Fisher e il concetto di nube molecolare

Stability of Boolean Multilevel Networks

The study of the interplay between the structure and dynamics of complex multilevel systems is a pressing challenge nowadays. In this paper, we use a semi-annealed approximation to study the stability properties of Random Boolean Networks in multiplex (multi-layered) graphs. Our main finding is that the multilevel structure provides a mechanism for the stabilization of the dynamics of the whole system even when individual layers work on the chaotic regime, therefore identifying new ways of feedback between the structure and the dynamics of these systems. Our results point out the need for a conceptual transition from the physics of single layered networks to the physics of multiplex networks. Finally, the fact that the coupling modifies the phase diagram and the critical conditions of the isolated layers suggests that interdependency can be used as a control mechanism.Comment: Final version. It includes the generalization to the case of having an arbitrary number of layer

Mechanical Properties and Corrosion Behaviour of 316l Stainless Steel Honeycomb Cellular Cores Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting

Selective laser technology is an additive technology that can allow for the manufacture of cellular structures using different types of metallic powder with complex applications in industries such as aerospace, automotive and medical implant industries. This paper presents the effect of climate and mechanical stresses on some honeycomb cellular cores, used in sandwich structures made of 316L stainless steel powder by applying the selective laser melting technology. The honeycomb cellular cores have undergone the microhardness testing and the resulting variation obtained from the analyzed samples was 225 ± 15 (HV_{0.3}). The compressive strength and the modulus of elasticity of the cellular structures were determined for flatwise and edgewise compressive stresses. Also, the cellular structures were subjected to accelerated corrosion tests in order to determine their mean life in application use conditions similar to those near seas and oceans. Also, a microstructural evaluation of salt deposits was carried out on the cellular structures subjected to accelerated corrosion tests using a salt spray test chamber

Appendectomy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: a multicenter ambispective cohort study by the Italian Society of Endoscopic Surgery and new technologies (the CRAC study)

Major surgical societies advised using non-operative management of appendicitis and suggested against laparoscopy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The hypothesis is that a significant reduction in the number of emergent appendectomies was observed during the pandemic, restricted to complex cases. The study aimed to analyse emergent surgical appendectomies during pandemic on a national basis and compare it to the same period of the previous year. This is a multicentre, retrospective, observational study investigating the outcomes of patients undergoing emergent appendectomy in March-April 2019 vs March-April 2020. The primary outcome was the number of appendectomies performed, classified according to the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) score. Secondary outcomes were the type of surgical technique employed (laparoscopic vs open) and the complication rates. One thousand five hundred forty one patients with acute appendicitis underwent surgery during the two study periods. 1337 (86.8%) patients met the inclusion criteria: 546 (40.8%) patients underwent surgery for acute appendicitis in 2020 and 791 (59.2%) in 2019. According to AAST, patients with complicated appendicitis operated in 2019 were 30.3% vs 39.9% in 2020 (p = 0.001). We observed an increase in the number of post-operative complications in 2020 (15.9%) compared to 2019 (9.6%) (p < 0.001). The following determinants increased the likelihood of complication occurrence: undergoing surgery during 2020 (+ 67%), the increase of a unit in the AAST score (+ 26%), surgery performed > 24 h after admission (+ 58%), open surgery (+ 112%) and conversion to open surgery (+ 166%). In Italian hospitals, in March and April 2020, the number of appendectomies has drastically dropped. During the first pandemic wave, patients undergoing surgery were more frequently affected by more severe appendicitis than the previous year's timeframe and experienced a higher number of complications. Trial registration number and date: Research Registry ID 5789, May 7th, 2020

The prevention of implant surface alterations in the treatment of reri-implantitis: comparison of three different mechanical and physical treatments

The surgical treatment of peri-implantitis is currently based on the removal of biofilms from the implant surface by primary means of mechanical and physical treatments. However, such approaches often determine some alterations of the implant surface with detrimental effects on re-osseointegration. This study aims to evaluate the effects of four different mechanical and physical treatments on titanium samples with moderately rough surface. Air powder abrasion (AP) with glycine powder, a titanium brush (TB) and a diode laser at 3 W (L3) and 4 W (L4) were tested. Surface morphology, roughness and chemical composition were then assessed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), white light interferometer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. The microscopic analysis revealed significant alterations in surface morphology on TB samples, while AP and L3 had only a minor or null impact. L4 samples revealed signs of overheating due to the excessive power. Nevertheless, the overall roughness of the samples was not significantly altered in terms of roughness parameters. Similarly, surface chemical composition was not significantly affected by the treatments. Among the treatments tested in this study, air powder abrasion with glycine powder and 3 W diode laser had the lowest impact on surface physicochemical properties.

Modulation of vestibular input by short-term head-down bed rest affects somatosensory perception: implications for space missions

IntroductionOn Earth, self-produced somatosensory stimuli are typically perceived as less intense than externally generated stimuli of the same intensity, a phenomenon referred to as somatosensory attenuation (SA). Although this phenomenon arises from the integration of multisensory signals, the specific contribution of the vestibular system and the sense of gravity to somatosensory cognition underlying distinction between self-generated and externally generated sensations remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated whether temporary modulation of the gravitational input by head-down tilt bed rest (HDBR)–a well-known Earth-based analog of microgravity—might significantly affect somatosensory perception of self- and externally generated stimuli.MethodsIn this study, 40 healthy participants were tested using short-term HDBR. Participants received a total of 40 non-painful self- and others generated electrical stimuli (20 self- and 20 other-generated stimuli) in an upright and HDBR position while blindfolded. After each stimulus, they were asked to rate the perceived intensity of the stimulation on a Likert scale.ResultsSomatosensory stimulations were perceived as significantly less intense during HDBR compared to upright position, regardless of the agent administering the stimulus. In addition, the magnitude of SA in upright position was negatively correlated with the participants’ somatosensory threshold. Based on the direction of SA in the upright position, participants were divided in two subgroups. In the subgroup experiencing SA, the intensity rating of stimulations generated by others decreased significantly during HDBR, leading to the disappearance of the phenomenon of SA. In the second subgroup, on the other hand, reversed SA was not affected by HDBR.ConclusionModulation of the gravitational input by HDBR produced underestimation of somatosensory stimuli. Furthermore, in participants experiencing SA, the reduction of vestibular inputs by HDBR led to the disappearance of the SA phenomenon. These findings provide new insights into the role of the gravitational input in somatosensory perception and have important implications for astronauts who are exposed to weightlessness during space missions

Years of life that could be saved from prevention of hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) causes premature death and loss of life expectancy worldwide. Its primary and secondary prevention can result in a significant number of years of life saved. AIM: To assess how many years of life are lost after HCC diagnosis. METHODS: Data from 5346 patients with first HCC diagnosis were used to estimate lifespan and number of years of life lost after tumour onset, using a semi-parametric extrapolation having as reference an age-, sex- and year-of-onset-matched population derived from national life tables. RESULTS: Between 1986 and 2014, HCC lead to an average of 11.5 years-of-life lost for each patient. The youngest age-quartile group (18-61 years) had the highest number of years-of-life lost, representing approximately 41% of the overall benefit obtainable from prevention. Advancements in HCC management have progressively reduced the number of years-of-life lost from 12.6 years in 1986-1999, to 10.7 in 2000-2006 and 7.4 years in 2007-2014. Currently, an HCC diagnosis when a single tumour <2 cm results in 3.7 years-of-life lost while the diagnosis when a single tumour 65 2 cm or 2/3 nodules still within the Milan criteria, results in 5.0 years-of-life lost, representing the loss of only approximately 5.5% and 7.2%, respectively, of the entire lifespan from birth. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatocellular carcinoma occurrence results in the loss of a considerable number of years-of-life, especially for younger patients. In recent years, the increased possibility of effectively treating this tumour has improved life expectancy, thus reducing years-of-life lost

Safety of Rotavirus Vaccination in Preterm Infants Admitted in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Sicily, Italy: A Multicenter Observational Study

Rotavirus (RV) is among the most common vaccine-preventable diseases in children under five years of age. Despite the severity of rotavirus pathology in early childhood, rotavirus vaccination for children admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), who are often born preterm and with various previous illnesses, is not performed. This multicenter, 3-year project aims to evaluate the safety of RV vaccine administration within the six main neonatal intensive care units of the Sicilian Region to preterm infants. Methods: Monovalent live attenuated anti-RV vaccination (RV1) was administered from April 2018 to December 2019 to preterm infants with gestational age ≥ 28 weeks. Vaccine administrations were performed in both inpatient and outpatient hospital settings as a post discharge follow-up (NICU setting) starting at 6 weeks of age according to the official immunization schedule. Any adverse events (expected, unexpected, and serious) were monitored from vaccine administration up to 14 days (first assessment) and 28 days (second assessment) after each of the two scheduled vaccine doses. Results: At the end of December 2019, 449 preterm infants were vaccinated with both doses of rotavirus vaccine within the six participating Sicilian NICUs. Mean gestational age in weeks was 33.1 (±3.8 SD) and the first dose of RV vaccine was administered at 55 days (±12.9 SD) on average. The mean weight at the first dose was 3388 (SD ± 903) grams. Only 0.6% and 0.2% of infants reported abdominal colic and fever above 38.5 ◦C in the 14 days after the first dose, respectively. Overall, 1.9% EAEs were observed at 14 days and 0.4% at 28 days after the first/second dose administration. Conclusions: Data obtained from this study confirm the safety of the monovalent rotavirus vaccine even in preterm infants with gestational age ≥ 28 weeks, presenting an opportunity to improve the vaccination offer both in Sicily and in Italy by protecting the most fragile infants who are more at risk of contracting severe rotavirus gastroenteritis and nosocomial RV infection

Pediatric admissions to emergency departments of North-Western Italy during COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective observational study

COVID-19 pandemic caused huge decrease of pediatric admissions to Emergency Department (ED), arising concerns about possible delays in diagnosis and treatment of severe disorders