Low cost electrical current sensors with automatic measurement range

We present a simple and low cost Smart Current Sensor with wide automatic measurement range. The logic core system of the sensor is the Atmel AT32UC3C2256C AVR 32-bit microcontroller, the wireless core is a Microchip MRF24J40MA IEEE 802.15.4 RF transceiver[3]. The MCU features 11 ADC multiplexed channels, with 12-bit resolution and sample rate up to 2Msps, two of which can be sampled in parallel. The sensing board consists of two hall-effect based current sensors, assembled on different PCBs in order to perform with different sensitivities. Custom primary conductor design allowed us to sense the current flowing in the conductor with two different sensitivities: the sensor mounted inside the two PCBs gets a strong contribution from the traces on both the PCBs, the sensor mounted outside only gets a strong contribution from the traces on the bottom PCB

Factors associated with metabolic syndrome in a Mediterranean population : role of caffeinated beverages

BACKGROUND: Intake of caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea, has been related to improvements in components of metabolic syndrome (MetS), but studies conducted in the Mediterranean region are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether or not consumption of a variety of beverages containing caffeine was associated with components of MetS in an Italian population. METHODS: From May 2009 to December 2010, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 1889 inhabitants living in Sicily, southern Italy. Data regarding demographic characteristics, habitual beverage intake, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were collected, and clinical information was retrieved from the general practitioners’ computer records. RESULTS: After adjusting for all covariates, coffee (odds ratio [OR] 0.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.27–0.70) and tea (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.34–0.78) were associated with MetS, whereas no association was observed between caffeine intake and MetS. Among other factors, age, body mass index, physical activity, current smoking, and adherence to Mediterranean diet were associated with having MetS. Triglycerides were inversely associated with consumption of both espresso coffee and tea. The healthy effects of such beverages were more evident in individuals with unhealthy dietary habits. CONCLUSIONS: Although no direct association between caffeine intake and MetS or its components was observed, coffee and tea consumption was significantly related to reduced odds of MetS

Major postoperative complications and survival for colon cancer elderly patients

BACKGROUND: Increased life expectancy has led to elevating the mean age of the patients at the time of diagnosis of colon cancer and subsequent treatment. Differences in complication rates and outcome between elderly and younger patients have been investigated. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed a database containing the information of patients who underwent surgery for stage I-III colorectal cancer from January 2004 to January 2012 at our institution and compared demographic, cancer-related, and outcomes data of 235 elderly patients with 211 patients ≤65 years old. RESULTS: Intraoperative complications did not differ between young and old patients whereas some differences have been found in postoperative and late complications: elderly patients suffered more by ileus (P = 0.024), peritonitis or septic shock (P = 0.017), pelvic abscess (P = 0.028), wound infection (P = 0.031), and incisional/port herniation (P = 0.012) compared with younger patients. Moreover, elderly patients suffered by systemic complications such as cardiovascular (4.7% vs. 1.4%, P = 0.049), renal (4.7% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.006), and respiratory (10.6% vs. 5.2%, P = 0.036). The multivariate analysis assessing the odds of having a complication revealed that older age (Odd Ratio [OR] 2.75, 95% Confidential Interval [CI]: 1.67-4.52) and open surgery (OR 1.63, 95% CI: 1.01-2.62) are significantly and independently associated with having a complication. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, elderly patients have presented a slight higher incidence of comorbidities that may affect the incidence rates of postoperative complications. These results have implications in increasing the hospital stay as well as a higher rate of death

Experimental Evaluation of an Enhanced GaN-Based Non-Symmetric Switching Leg Integrated Module for Synchronous Buck Converter Applications

The paper deals with an improved low-voltage monolithic power stage switching leg based on GaN FET devices applied to a synchronous buck converter for not isolated auxiliary power supply in 48V to 12V regulation voltage application. The switching leg module is designed with two GaN FET components with different electrical parameters characteristics in order to optimize the power losses and the switching performance in a 500kHz switching frequency synchronous step-down converter. In the paper the asymmetric switching leg is described and experimentally evaluated. Furthermore, a comparison with a state of art GaN FETs integrated switching leg is carried out in a synchronous stepdown converter suitable to use in a volume reduced auxiliary power supply oriented to 48V regulator for automotive application

Association between polyphenol intake and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Sicily, southern Italy

Abstract Background Mediterranean diet has been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects toward various health outcomes. Among the compounds that may be responsible for such benefits, polyphenols have been proposed as potential candidates. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether dietary polyphenols were associated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet in a Sicilian cohort. Methods A total of 1937 adults were recruited in the urban area of Catania, southern Italy. Background characteristics and dietary habits were collected through validated questionnaires. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated through application of a validated score (MEDI-LITE score). Dietary intake of polyphenols was estimated through the Phenol-explorer database. Differences in mean intake between quartiles of the MEDI-LITE score and association between quartiles of polyphenol intake and high adherence to the Mediterranean diet (highest quartile of the score) were calculated though logistic regression analyses. Results Mean intake of most polyphenols was significantly different between quartiles of the MEDI-LITE score, being generally higher in individuals more adherent to the Mediterranean diet. Only few compounds, such as lignans, anthocyanins, and flavanones, showed a linear positive association with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, while other polyphenol classes were associated in a non-linear manner. Among individual polyphenols, apigenin, hesperetin, naringenin, lariciresinol, matairesinol, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol, and ferulic acid were associated with high adherence to Mediterranean diet in a linear manner, while all the others (except for myricetin) were associated in a non-linear way. Conclusions Mean polyphenol intake was higher in individuals more adherent to the Mediterranean diet compared to less adherent. However, dietary sources of polyphenols not included in the traditional foods comprised in the Mediterranean diet may contribute to total and specific classes of polyphenols irrespectively of their inclusion within the context of the Mediterranean diet

From trauma to aggression: an empirical study on the relationship between interpersonal trauma, attachment styles and aggressive tendencies among adults

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between traumatic experiences, insecure attachment styles and psychiatric symptoms in adulthood. Self-report measures concerning trauma, attachment styles and psychopathology were administered to 59 adults (33.9% males, 66.1% females) ranging in age from 18 to 61 years old. Results showed that traumatic experiences were associated with insecure attachment styles and psychopathology, in particular concerning aggressive tendencies. Findings of the study suggest that the exploration of past experiences and current attachment relationships, in terms of interpersonal functioning, may be crucial for understanding aggressiveness

Health related quality of life in colorectal cancer patients: state of the art

Proceedings of the 26th National Congress of the Italian Society of Geriatric Surgery Silvestro Canonico, Bruno Amato and Alessandro Puzziello This supplement has not been sponsored. The source of funding used to cover open access publication charges is declared by the authors in each article. Articles have undergone the journal's standard review process for supplements. The supplement editors declare they have no competing interests. Conference 26th National Congress of the Italian Society of Geriatric Surgery 19-22 June 2013 Naples, ItalyBACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in males and the second in females with a progressive increase in prevalence in industrialized countries. The loss of health due to the cancer and/or the consequence of the treatment may result in psychophysical, functional and social impairment; all of these affect health-related quality of life (QoL). DESCRIPTION: The most frequently CRC-specific QoL questionnaires is the FACT-C. QoL is not only important for the well-being of cancer patient but it also influences survival and response to therapy. Many studies investigated various determinants involved in the assessment of QoL in CRC, suggesting that symptoms, surgical procedures and the number of comorbidity significantly affected QoL. CONCLUSION: Despite that CRC patients have a relatively good QoL compared with the general population, a wide range of intervention could be undertaken to improve their QoL. The finding of this review may be useful for cancer clinicians in taking therapy and surveillance-related decisions. However, future research should be directed to large-scale prospective studies using well validated QoL instruments to facilitate comparison of results.Funding for this article has come from University funds.S

Primary headaches in children: clinical findings on the association with other conditions.

The aim of the present study is to report on the frequency of some comorbidities in primary headaches in childhood. Two hundred and eighty children (175 males and 105 females; ratio 1.7:1), aged 4 to 14 years, affected by primary headaches were consecutively enrolled in this study. In direct interviews, parents and children gave information about the association of their headaches with different conditions including asthma and allergic disorders, convulsive episodes, sleep disorders and increased body weight, affections some time associated in the literature to headache as comorbidities. In addition, anxiety and depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, tics, learning disabilities and obsessive-compulsive disorders, using psycho-diagnostic scales were evaluated. Two hundred and eighty children matched for age, sex, race and socio-economic status, were used as controls. No significant association of primary headaches was found with asthma and allergic disorders, convulsive episodes, sleep disorders and increased body weight. Overall behavioral disorders were more common in children who experienced headache than in controls. A significant association of primary headache was found with anxiety and depression (p value <0.001), but not with the other psychiatric disorders. Primary headaches in children are not associated with most of the psychiatric and systemic conditions herein investigated. On the contrary, there was a significant association with anxiety and depression, as frequently reported in adults

Fiberless, Multi-Channel fNIRS-EEG System Based on Silicon Photomultipliers: Towards Sensitive and Ecological Mapping of Brain Activity and Neurovascular Coupling

Portable neuroimaging technologies can be employed for long-term monitoring of neurophysiological and neuropathological states. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and Electroencephalography (EEG) are highly suited for such a purpose. Their multimodal integration allows the evaluation of hemodynamic and electrical brain activity together with neurovascular coupling. An innovative fNIRS-EEG system is here presented. The system integrated a novel continuous-wave fNIRS component and a modified commercial EEG device. fNIRS probing relied on fiberless technology based on light emitting diodes and silicon photomultipliers (SiPMs). SiPMs are sensitive semiconductor detectors, whose large detection area maximizes photon harvesting from the scalp and overcomes limitations of fiberless technology. To optimize the signal-to-noise ratio and avoid fNIRS-EEG interference, a digital lock-in was implemented for fNIRS signal acquisition. A benchtop characterization of the fNIRS component showed its high performances with a noise equivalent power below 1 pW. Moreover, the fNIRS-EEG device was tested in vivo during tasks stimulating visual, motor and pre-frontal cortices. Finally, the capabilities to perform ecological recordings were assessed in clinical settings on one Alzheimer’s Disease patient during long-lasting cognitive tests. The system can pave the way to portable technologies for accurate evaluation of multimodal brain activity, allowing their extensive employment in ecological environments and clinical practice