The Virtual Object as a Major Element of the Internet of Things: a Survey

The Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm has been evolving toward the creation of a cyber-physical world where everything can be found, activated, probed, interconnected, and updated, so that any possible interaction, both virtual and/or physical, can take place. A Crucial concept of this paradigm is that of the virtual object, which is the digital counterpart of any real (human or lifeless, static or mobile, solid or intangible) entity in the IoT. It has now become a major component of the current IoT platforms, supporting the discovery and mash up of services, fostering the creation of complex applications, improving the objects energy management efficiency, as well as addressing heterogeneity and scalability issues. This paper aims at providing the reader with a survey of the virtual object in the IoT world. Virtualness is addressed from several perspectives: historical evolution of its definitions, current functionalities assigned to the virtual object and how they tackle the main IoT challenges, and major IoT platforms, which implement these functionalities. Finally, we illustrate the lessons learned after having acquired a comprehensive view of the topic

Analysis of the structural behavior of an innovative reinforced ski boot

Abstract The effect on the boot structural behavior of a stiffening aluminum bootboard has been investigated by laboratory and field tests. Stiffness tests on the boot with the bootboard screwed to the shell (state ON) showed a 20% increase with respect to the unscrewed state (OFF). Lateral stiffness tests conducted on a servohydraulic test bench together with motion capture techniques did not show significant increases due to the bootboard. Strain gauges applied to the bootboard for measuring torsion and bending moments in the field confirmed the intervention of the bootboard torsional stiffness at the edge changes during slalom turns

Dynamic carpooling in urban areas: design and experimentation with a multi-objective route matching algorithm

This paper focuses on dynamic carpooling services in urban areas to address the needs of mobility in real-time by proposing a two-fold contribution: a solution with novel features with respect to the current state-of-the-art, which is named CLACSOON and is available on the market; the analysis of the carpooling services performance in the urban area of the city of Cagliari through emulations. Two new features characterize the proposed solution: partial ridesharing, according to which the riders can walk to reach the driver along his/her route when driving to the destination; the possibility to share the ride when the driver has already started the ride by modeling the mobility to reach the driver destination. To analyze which features of the population bring better performance to changing the characteristics of the users, we also conducted emulations. When compared with current solutions, CLACSOON allows for achieving a decrease in the waiting time of around 55% and an increase in the driver and passenger success rates of around 4% and 10%, respectively. Additionally, the proposed features allowed for having an increase in the reduction of the CO2 emission by more than 10% with respect to the traditional carpooling service

a nose for trouble

As clinicians we work in a world of evidence- based care, making diagnoses using history taking and examination skills. In his William Pickles lecture at the 2011 Spring General Meeting, Dr Terry Davies asked whether GPs sometimes put too much emphasis on the 'straight line science approach in their diagnoses' when often their initial 'hunch' is the correct one. I suggest that experienced clinicians sometimes make their judgements based not only on experience, but using all their senses including olfaction; they literally develop a 'nose for trouble'. In our everyday life we take our sense of smell for granted. In cities we are overwhelmed by sensory overload as we walk past fast-food outlets, coffee shops, bakeries, through throngs of shoppers smelling of soap, shampoo, aftershave, and perfume, and the ever-present smell of vehicle exhaust. There are many human smells that we simply do not register in our perfumed and deodorised world such as ear wax, sebum, menstrual blood, and even breath, while other smells we note and find offensive, such as stale sweat, flatus, and teenage boys' feet. However, which mother has not lingered over the head of her new baby, breathing in the very special smell of baby and milk? Sheep and cattle recognise their offspring by scent and I am certain that humans are able

A Preliminary Study on a New Approach to Estimate Water Resource Allocation: The Net Water Footprint Applied to Animal Products☆

AbstractWe propose the Net Waterfootprint (WFPnet) method to estimate the water footprint (WFP) of food products, in alternative to the current WFP method, based on absolute values. We compared the WFP and WFPnet methods for cattle milk and meat production in different feed efficiency (high and low) and crop water use efficiency (WUE; high, medium and low) scenarios under Mediterranean conditions. The WFP values were, on average, much higher than the WFPnet values for both meat and milk. The WFPnet method appears to be able to properly quantify the water consumption needed for animal food production

Omics approaches to understanding the efficacy and safety of disease-modifying treatments in multiple sclerosis

From the perspective of precision medicine, the challenge for the future is to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction of therapeutic responses through the identification of biomarkers. In this framework, the omics sciences (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) and their combined use represent innovative approaches for the exploration of the complexity and heterogeneity of multiple sclerosis (MS). This review examines the evidence currently available on the application of omics sciences to MS, analyses the methods, their limitations, the samples used, and their characteristics, with a particular focus on biomarkers associated with the disease state, exposure to disease-modifying treatments (DMTs), and drug efficacies and safety profiles

Usefulness of ultrasound in the diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis

The peritoneum is one of the most common extrapulmonary sites of tuberculous infection. We report a case of peritoneal tuberculosis (TB) in a 25-year-old man. In this case, ultrasound of the abdomen played an important role in the diagnostic process. The diagnosis of this disease, however, remains a challenge because of its insidious nature, the variability of its presentation, and the limitations of available diagnostic tests. A high index of suspicion should be considered, particularly in high-risk patients with unexplained ascites. In our case ultrasound guided the diagnosis by rapidly identifying abnormal signs, which in high-prevalence settings are extremely suggestive of peritoneal tuberculosis

Models for estimating feed intake in small ruminants

This review deals with the most relevant limits and developments of the modeling of intake of sheep and goats reared intensively and extensively. Because small ruminants are normally fed ad libitum, voluntary feed intake is crucial in feeding tactics and strategies aimed at optimal animal production. The effects of genetic, neuroendocrine, hormonal, feed and environmental factors on voluntary feed intake were discussed. Then, several mathematical models to estimate dry matter intake (DMI) were examined, with emphasis on empirical models for sheep and goats in intensive farm systems or in extensive areas under pasture or rangeland conditions. A sensitivity analysis of four models of prediction of DMI in housed lactating dairy sheep and meat sheep breeds was also presented. This work evidenced a large variability in the approaches used and in the variables considered for housed sheep and goats. Regarding the estimation of feed intake for grazing sheep and browsing goats, the accuracy of estimates based on empirical models developed so far is very low when applied out of the boundaries of the studied system. Feeding experiments indoors and outdoors remain fundamental for a better modeling and understanding of the interactions between feeds and small ruminants. However, there is a need for biological and theoretical frameworks in which these experiments should be carried out, so that appropriate empirical or mechanistic equations to predict DMI could be developed

Seasonal variation in the fatty acid profile in meat of Sarda suckling lambs

This study evaluated temporal changes in fatty acid (FA) composition of meat from Sarda suckling lambs reared in Sardinia, with emphasis on polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). From December to April, 25 lambs were randomly chosen in a slaughter house and slaughtered at about 30 days of age (5 lambs/rearing month). From each carcass, the Femoral biceps muscle was used to determine the chemical and FA composition. Intramuscular lipid content ranged from 1.72% to 2.34% and protein content from 19.2% to 20.2%. Concentrations of several FA and FA groups were significantly influenced by rearing month. The greatest variation between months was observed for monounsaturated FA (MUFA), which ranged from 35.3% to 43.5%, and total PUFA, which varied from 18% to 26% of total FA. The content of FA of interest, especially α-linolenic (18:3 n-3) acid, CLA and long chain PUFA n-3, i.e. EPA (20:5 n-3), DPA (22:5 n-3) and DHA (22:6 n-3), did not vary among months. Lamb meat analysed in the study evidenced a constant amount of FA of nutritional interest, especially of the omega-3 family and CLA, in all months.Highlights Composition and fatty acid profile of meat from Sarda suckling lambs were evaluated during different months of production. Suckling lamb meat evidenced a low fat content and a constant amount of PUFA n-3 in all slaughter months. PUFA n-3 and CLA did not vary with slaughter months in suckling lambs

The milk fingerprint of Sardinian dairy sheep: quality and yield of milk used for Pecorino Romano P.D.O. cheese production on population-based 5-year survey

The Pecorino Romano P.D.O. is the main sheep cheese produced in Italy and the first one among the sheep cheeses, in terms of quality and value, exported from the European Union. About half of the sheep milk produced in Italy is processed into this type of cheese by 36 dairies belonging to the Pecorino Romano Consortium. Eight million records of biweekly analyses of milk collected within a 5-year period from farms delivering their milk to the aforementioned consortium were analysed in this work. Monthly evolution curves were plotted for fat, protein, lactose, pH, NaCl, SCC, bacterial load and principal fatty acids (FAs). Due to the seasonal production systems of Sardinian sheep, monthly evolution of milk fat and protein contents and cheese yield are directly linked to the lactation curve pattern and the pastures quantity and quality. Also, the FA profile of milk is affected by grass availability and quality in both early and mid-lactation, whereas it is influenced by the energy balance of ewes in late lactation. Cheese yield equation was computed based on fat and protein contents and considering the variability among dairies in technological processes used in transforming Sarda sheep milk to Pecorino Romano P.D.O. These data could be a relevant basis to set-up future grids of milk payments based on quality standards. Moreover, they could be useful to formulate administrative policies on the dairy sector with the prospective to improve milk quality of Sardinian sheep destined to the Pecorino Romano production.Highlights The yield of Pecorino Romano P.D.O. (PR) is linked to fat and protein content of milk and it depends on the industrial processes adopted by each dairy Monthly variation of milk composition is of high interest for the PR producers to program the output of their milk-processing plans The content and monthly evolutions of principal fatty acids are important to determine the nutritional and technological properties of P