Web interactive non intrusive load disaggregation system for active demand in smart grids

A Smart Grid combines the use of traditional technology with innovative digital solutions, making the management of the electricity grid more flexible. It allows for monitoring, analysis, control and communication within the supply chain to improve efficiency, reduce the energy consumption and cost, and maximize the transparency and reliability of the energy supply chain. The optimization of energy consumption in Smart Grids is possible by using an innovative system based on Non Intrusive Appliance Load Monitoring (NIALM) algorithms, in which individual appliance power consumption information is disaggregated from single-point measurements, that provide a feedback in such a way to make energy more visible and more amenable to understanding and control. We contribute with an approach for monitoring consumption of electric power in households based on both a NILM algorithm, that uses a simple load signatures, and a web interactive systems that allows an active role played by users

Stump appendicitis. A case report

AbstractIntroductionToday, the diagnosis of SA is usually not considered as the etiology for right lower quadrant pain in patient with history of appendectomy, resulting in delaying making the correct diagnosis and treatment. Obviously, other more common causes should be excluded first.DiscussionStump appendicitis (SA) was first described by Rose in 1945. The commonest presenting symptom are abdominal pain (right lower quadrant pain 59%, non specific abdominal pain 16%, and central abdominal pain radiating to the right lower quadrant 14%).Presentation of caseA 54-year-old appendectomized woman presented with recent history of abdominal pain with periumbilical pain radiating to the right side and in the right iliac fossa, in the absence of fever, vomiting or other symptoms.Elective colonoscopy revealed appendicular orifice clogged by big fecalith, with hyperemic surrounding mucosa and CT confirmed “stump appendicitis”. After 30 days of therapy with metronidazole 500mg/day and mesalazine 1000mg×2/day, the patient was submitted to surgery and appendectomy was performed, with a specimen of 24mm stump appendicitis.ConclusionSA may well be considered as one of the differential diagnoses of acute right lower abdominal pain even in patients with history of appendicectomy

Trasformazione del paesaggio, sistemi insediativi e borghi rurali

Introduction at section 1.3 Landscape TransformationsIntroduzione alla sezione 1.3 Le trasformazioni del paesaggi

Machine Learning Classification of Mediterranean Forest Habitats in Google Earth Engine Based on Seasonal Sentinel-2 Time-Series and Input Image Composition Optimisation

The sustainable management of natural heritage is presently considered a global strategic issue. Owing to the ever-growing availability of free data and software, remote sensing (RS) techniques have been primarily used to map, analyse, and monitor natural resources for conservation purposes. The need to adopt multi-scale and multi-temporal approaches to detect different phenological aspects of different vegetation types and species has also emerged. The time-series composite image approach allows for capturing much of the spectral variability, but presents some criticalities (e.g., time-consuming research, downloading data, and the required storage space). To overcome these issues, the Google Earth engine (GEE) has been proposed, a free cloud-based computational platform that allows users to access and process remotely sensed data at petabyte scales. The application was tested in a natural protected area in Calabria (South Italy), which is particularly representative of the Mediterranean mountain forest environment. In the research, random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and classification and regression tree (CART) algorithms were used to perform supervised pixel-based classification based on the use of Sentinel-2 images. A process to select the best input image (seasonal composition strategies, statistical operators, band composition, and derived vegetation indices (VIs) information) for classification was implemented. A set of accuracy indicators, including overall accuracy (OA) and multi-class F-score (Fm), were computed to assess the results of the different classifications. GEE proved to be a reliable and powerful tool for the classification process. The best results (OA = 0.88 and Fm = 0.88) were achieved using RF with the summer image composite, adding three VIs (NDVI, EVI, and NBR) to the Sentinel-2 bands. SVM and RF produced OAs of 0.83 and 0.80, respectively

Retrospective analysis of management of ingested foreign bodies and food impactions in emergency endoscopic setting in adults

Background: Ingestion of foreign bodies and food impaction represent the second most common endoscopic emergency after bleeding. The aim of this paper is to report the management and the outcomes in 67 patients admitted for suspected ingestion of foreign body between December 2012 and December 2014. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Palermo University Hospitals, Italy, over a 2-year period. We reviewed patients’ database (age, sex, type of foreign body and its anatomical location, treatments, and outcomes as complications, success rates, and mortalities). Results: Foreign bodies were found in all of our 67 patients. Almost all were found in the stomach and lower esophagus (77 %). The types of foreign body were very different, but they were chiefly meat boluses, fishbones or cartilages, button battery and dental prostheses. In all patients it was possible to endoscopically remove the foreign body. Complications related to the endoscopic procedure were unfrequent (about 7 %) and have been treated conservatively. 5.9 % of patients had previous esophageal or laryngeal surgery, and 8.9 % had an underlying esophageal disease, such as a narrowing, dismotility or achalasia. Conclusion: Our experience with foreign bodies and food impaction emphasizes the importance of endoscopic approach and removal, simple and secure when performed by experienced hands and under conscious sedation in most cases. High success rates, lower incidence of minor complications, reduction of the need of surgery and reduced hospitalization time are the strengths of the endoscopic approach

Virtual Home Environment for Multimedia Services in 3rd Generation Networks

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TRANQUILLITY AREAS MAPPING: UN PROGETTO NEL PARCO NAZIONALE DELLA SILA. PRIMI RISULTATI E IMPORTANZA DELL’INTERVENTO IN EPOCA COVID-19

The permanence in natural environments and the contact with nature, even in urban areas of proximity (neighbourhood green areas or condominiums), have a relaxing and regenerative power and stimulate the fundamental vital processes. The relationship with open spaces and greenery is an element that promotes personal and collective well-being already in everyday life. This has become even more relevant during the current COVID-19 pandemic crisis, which has significantly changed individual and social life habits, upsetting interpersonal relationships and the relationship with the outside world often experienced from a window. In this context, the Project "Tranquillity Areas Mapping" is inserted in the Sila National Park, of which we report the first results. Carried out in collaboration between CNR-ISAFOM, Department of Agraria of the Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, and Sila National Park, the project aims to identify Areas of Tranquillity within the UNESCO Mab Area of the Park, based on the analysis of qualitative and quantitative parameters that characterize them. In its initial stages (September 2019), the project has seen the activation of participatory processes with the involvement of institutions and key local actors. The work presented here deals with the relevance of participation in the planning and management processes of protected natural areas and, in particular, of national parks. The processes under study play an increasingly important role, especially during the COVID-19 emergency, which has accentuated the need to stimulate public interest in natural parks. Increasingly, natural parks are being recognized for their role in providing environmental ecosystem services. Among these, cultural ecosystem services include preserving those "oases of tranquility" more easily accessible to the population of the territories concerned.  A number of participatory experiences carried out during the project are presented. Several convergent approaches were used, making the most of both e-participation and more traditional forms of confrontation (in-depth interviews, focus groups). Finally, the methods used, and the results obtained from work carried out are indicated as potential developments for mapping the quiet areas of the Sila National Park, in view of sustainable management of the latter

Improving building energy modelling by applying advanced 3D surveying techniques on agri-food facilities

Food industry is the production sector with the highest energy consumption. In Europe, the energy used to produce food accounts for 26% of total energy consumption. Over 28% is used in industrial processes. Recently, European food companies have increased their efforts to make their production processes more sustainable, also by giving preference to the use of renewable energy sources. In Italy, the total energy consumption in agriculture and food sectors decreased between 2013 and 2014, passing from 16.79 to 13.3 Mtep. Since energy consumption in food industry is nearly twice the one in agriculture (8.57 and 4.73 Mtep, respectively), it is very important to improve energy efficiency and use green technologies in all the phases of food processing and conservation. In Italy, a recent law (Legislative Decree 102, 04/07/2014) has made energy-use diagnosis compulsory for all industrial concerns, particularly for those showing high consumption levels. In the case of food industry buildings, energy is mainly used for indoor microclimate control, which is needed to ensure workers' wellbeing and the most favourable conditions for food processing and conservation. To this end, it is important to have tools and methods allowing for easy, rapid and precise energy performance assessment of agri-food buildings. The accuracy of the results obtainable from the currently available computational models depends on the grade of detail and information used in constructional and geometric modelling. Moreover, this phase is probably the most critical and time-consuming in the energy diagnosis. In this context, fine surveying and advanced 3D geometric modelling procedures can facilitate building modelling and allow technicians and professionals in the agri-food sector to use highly efficient and accurate energy analysis and evaluation models. This paper proposes a dedicated model for energy performance assessment in agri-food buildings. It also shows that using advanced surveying techniques, such as a terrestrial laser scanner and an infrared camera, it is possible to create a three-dimensional parametric model, while, thanks to the heat flow meter Accepted paper measurement method, it is also possible to obtain a thermophysical model. This model allows assessing the energy performance of agri-food buildings in order to improve the indoor microclimate control and the conditions of food processing and conservation

A LAHC-based Job Scheduling Strategy to Improve Big Data Processing in Geo-distributed Contexts

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