RF-powered UHF-RFID analog sensors platform

An RF powered UHF-RFID passive sensors platform was realized using discrete components and printed antennas designed to resonate at 868 MHz, used both for energy harvesting and data transmission. The tests demonstrate the possibility for the system to operate autonomously within the reading range of a standard RFID reader, that acts both as the RF power source and the receiver of the data stored in the tag user memory. The microcontroller can be interfaced on the same substrate with a sensor made of polymeric materials, sensible to physical parameters or chemical agents. RF-powered UHF-RFID analog sensors platform (PDF Download Available). Available from: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/279193365_RF-powered_UHF-RFID_analog_sensors_platform [accessed Sep 14, 2015]

Anomaly detection prototype for log-based predictive maintenance at INFN-CNAF tier-1

Splitting the evolution of HEP from the one of computational resources needed to perform analyses is, nowadays, not possible. Each year, in fact, LHC produces dozens of PetaBytes of data (e.g. collision data, particle simulation, metadata etc.) that need orchestrated computing resources for storage, computational power and high throughput networks to connect centers. As a consequence of the LHC upgrade, the Luminosity of the experiment will increase by a factor of 10 over its originally designed value, entailing a non negligible technical challenge at computing centers: it is expected, in fact, an uprising in the amount of data produced and processed by the experiment. With this in mind, the HEP Software Foundation took action and released a road-map document describing the actions needed to prepare the computational infrastructure to support the upgrade. As a part of this collective effort, involving all computing centres of the Grid, INFN-CNAF has set a preliminary study towards the development of AI driven maintenance paradigm. As a contribution to this preparatory study, this master thesis presents an original software prototype that has been developed to handle the task of identifying critical activity time windows of a specific service (StoRM). Moreover, the prototype explores the viability of a content extraction via Text Processing techniques, applying such strategies to messages belonging to anomalous time windows

Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences as Marker of the Parasympathetic System and Difference in the Outcome after ANS Stimulation

The autonomic nervous system has a huge impact on the cardiac regulatory mechanism, and many markers exist for evaluating it. In this chapter we are going to focus on the RMSSD (Root mean square of successive differences), considered the most precise marker for the parasympathetic effector on the heart. Before is necessary to learn what the Heart Rate Variability is and how it works, which type of range of HRV exists and how we can measure it. Finally, there will be a presentation of how the RMSSD can be used in different field, and how and why the outcome can change and what does it mean

Multitarget drug design strategy in Alzheimer’s disease: focus on cholinergic transmission and amyloid-β aggregation

Background: Alzheimer pathogenesis has been associated with a network of processes working simultaneously and synergistically. Over time, much interest has been focused on cholinergic transmission and its mutual interconnections with other active players of the disease. Besides the cholinesterase mainstay, the multifaceted interplay between nicotinic receptors and amyloid is actually considered to have a central role in neuroprotection. Thus, the multitarget drug-design strategy has emerged as a chance to face the disease network. Results: By exploiting the multitarget approach, the present study provides new molecules able to target the cholinergic pathway, by joining direct nicotinic receptor stimulation to acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and to inhibit Aβ aggregation. Conclusions: These new compounds emerged as a suitable starting point for a further optimization process

Effect of tungsten disulfide (WS_2) nanotubes on structural, morphological and mechanical properties of poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) films

Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) is a semicrystalline, biocompatible and biodegradable polymer widely employed in many applications (food packaging, biomedical devices, drug delivery systems). This work deals with nanocomposites of PLLA and tungsten disulfide (WS_2) nanotubes (NTs) as a novel material to obtain thinner and stronger bioresorbable vascular scaffolds. We studied the influence of WS_2 NTs on the mechanical properties of PLLA-WS_2 films. Polarized optical microscopy reveals a high degree of orientation of the polymer molecules in stretched films that further increases with a post-stretching annealing treatment. At the same time, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy confirm enhancement of the crystallinity induced by the WS_2 NTs

Cardiovascular risk factors, anxiety symptoms and inflammation markers: Evidence of association from a cross-sectional study

Introduction Anxiety disorders and Cardiovascular (CV) diseases, among the most common disorders in Western World, are often comorbid. A chronic systemic inflammatory state might be a shared underlining pathophysiological mechanism. Aims To investigate the association between anxiety symptoms, CV risks factors and inflammatory markers in an outpatient sample. Methods Cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria: outpatients aged ≥40 years, attending colonoscopy after positive faecal occult blood test, negative medical history for cancer. Collected data: blood pressure, glycaemia, lipid profile, waist circumference, BMI, PCR (C Reactive Protein), LPS (bacterial Lipopolysaccharide). Psychometric tests: HADS, TCI, IMSA, SF36. Statistical analysis performed with STATA13. Results Fifty four patients enrolled (27 males, 27 females). Sixteen patients (30.19%) were positive for anxiety symptoms. Thirty-three patients (61.11%) had hypertension, 14 (25.93%) hyperglycaemia and 64.81% were overweight, with frank obesity (BMI≥ 30) in 11 subjects (20.37%). Anxiety symptoms were associated with low hematic HDL values (OR = 0.01; P = 0.01) and high concentration of triglycerides (OR = 0.023; P = 0.02) at the multiple regression model. At the univariate logistic analysis, anxiety was associated with LPS (OR = 1.06; P = 0.04). Conclusions Further evidence over the epidemiological link between common mental disorders and CV diseases was collected, with possible hints on pathophysiology and causative mechanisms related to inflammation. The importance of screening for anxiety and depression in medical populations is confirmed. Suggestions on future availability of screening tools based on inflammatory-related indicators should be the focus of future research

Assessment of the current requirements and testing procedures of UNECE Regulation 117

As part of JRC research on vehicle safety in normal conditions of use and under real driving conditions, we carried out a test campaign on three C1 tyres (i.e. tyres for passenger cars) for wet braking performance in “New” and “Worn” state, based on the wet grip test of UNECE Regulation 117. The purpose is to identify possible shortcomings and weaknesses of the current regulatory requirements and testing procedures for future possible amendments. In addition, this work also allowed to gain experience with new regulatory tests and to perform a comparative analysis between new and worn tyres with different production dates. First, for each model, we procured tyre samples with “Recent” (i.e. within 2 years from the tests) and “Aged” (4 years from the test) production dates. We tested some new tyres for wet grip according to the UNECE Regulation 117 under the market surveillance framework (Regulation (EU) 2018/858). Then we artificially wore the tyres by buffing (i.e. removing tread material with a machine as described in the Regulation 117) and performed additional wet grip tests for worn tyres based on the new amendments of UNECE Regulation 117. In both wet grip tests (i.e. new and worn tyres) we performed tests on two sets for each tyre model: “Recent” and “Aged”. We calculated the wet grip indexes of new and worn state samples and evaluated the performance drop between the two states. Finally, we assessed the capability of tyres on the market to pass the wet grip regulatory test in worn state. No tyres in new state showed any statistically significant difference between “Aged” and “Recent” samples, while in the worn state, “Recent” Tyre 1 samples braked 4.5 m longer than “Aged” ones. As tyres were considered a “black box” in this study (i.e. no information on compound and structure properties are available), it was not possible to establish the reasons of this performance change. However, this strengthens the need – in case of suspicious behaviour of a tyre tested – for increasing market surveillance tests for that tyre model during its whole life on the market, to ensure that tyres always offer a fairly constant level of safety both during the life of an individual tyre and during the commercial life of the tyre model. The average performance drop between the wet grip index in new and worn state found in our tests was 24%, sensibly lower than the one in France findings (34%). This result has to be backed by further research and larger data collection. If this result is confirmed, our market assessment estimates that ≈23454 more C1 tyre models out of the 104227 currently on the market would pass the newly introduced regulatory test, corresponding to ≈23% more tyre models on the market.JRC.C.4 - Sustainable, Smart and Safe Mobilit

Pseudolus, un doppio gioco onomastico. Alcune considerazioni sul lessico dell’inganno in Plauto

The word dolus recurs very often in this play: this appears to support Pascucci’s view on the name Pseudolus as a nomen agentis, in which -olus did not evolve into -ulus for the very sake of a word play with dolus

Assessment of the current requirements and testing procedures of Regulation No. 131 of the UNECE

This report summarizes a research testing campaign on three Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDV) for the Advanced Emergency Braking system (AEB), in the framework of the Commission’s Market Surveillance activities on vehicle safety and the related pre-normative research activities. The aim was to identify shortcomings in current requirements, gain ADAS testing experience, and analyse the performance of different braking systems. We tested the vehicles according to Regulation no. 131 of the United Nations’ Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and performed additional tests with varying speeds and scenarios. We recorded vehicle kinematics, reviewed crash investigations, and used AI to gain insight on common knowledge. The first vehicle consistently stopped, the second vehicle avoided impacts up to regulatory speed, and the third vehicle just met the regulatory requirements. This suggests different system’s objectives and strategies. Our conclusions recommend future AEB Regulation modifications to focus the assessment on real driving conditions and real-world environments. We urge the inclusion of our tested scenario in approval and surveillance tests. Priority should be given to AEB systems that effectively stop vehicles in various situations, rather than relying on driver warnings and last-minute interventions to mitigate impacts.JRC.C.4 - Sustainable, Smart and Safe Mobilit

Polyamine–Drug Conjugates: Do They Boost Drug Activity?

Over the past two decades, the strategy of conjugating polyamine tails with bioactive molecules such as anticancer and antimicrobial agents, as well as antioxidant and neuroprotective scaffolds, has been widely exploited to enhance their pharmacological profile. Polyamine transport is elevated in many pathological conditions, suggesting that the polyamine portion could improve cellular and subcellular uptake of the conjugate via the polyamine transporter system. In this review, we have presented a glimpse on the polyamine conjugate scenario, classified by therapeutic area, of the last decade with the aim of highlighting achievements and fostering future developments