588 research outputs found
Network Localization by Shadow Edges
Localization is a fundamental task for sensor networks. Traditional network
construction approaches allow to obtain localized networks requiring the nodes
to be at least tri-connected (in 2D), i.e., the communication graph needs to be
globally rigid. In this paper we exploit, besides the information on the
neighbors sensed by each robot/sensor, also the information about the lack of
communication among nodes. The result is a framework where the nodes are
required to be bi-connected and the communication graph has to be rigid. This
is possible considering a novel typology of link, namely Shadow Edges, that
account for the lack of communication among nodes and allow to reduce the
uncertainty associated to the position of the nodes.Comment: preprint submitted to 2013 European Control Conference, July 17-19
2013, Zurich, Switzerlan
Resiliencia en el barrio del mar de Vilanova i la Geltrú
El presente Trabajo Final de Grado ha nacido como consecuencia de un convenio firmado entre la
EPSEB (Escuela Politécnica Superior de Edificación de Barcelona), el Ayuntamiento de Vilanova i la
Geltrú y NEAPOLIS (Agencia de Innovación Pública de las TIC, el sector multimedia, la creatividad
y el espíritu empresarial), para potenciar la colaboración entre entidades.
El documento que se ha firmado consta de 13 propuestas que son de utilidad para el municipio y
para el territorio en general, en los ámbitos de la rehabilitación, la eficiencia energética, la sostenibi-
lidad, el urbanismo o la geomática.
Así, se ha empezado la primera de las propuestas realizando un estudio de la evolución de una
parte del Barrio del Mar, en particular del Trajo del Levante, para poder establecer el estado de
conservación de algunas de las fachadas y apoyar las políticas de rehabilitación, todo en el marco
general de Renovación del parque edificado de la Unión Europea.
El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar un estudio de reconocimiento y catalogación que sirvan de
bases para un eventual proyecto futuro de rehabilitación en una tipología de edificación consistente,
con el fin de facilitar una propuesta de intervención
Does salinity variation increase synergistic effects of triclosan and carbon nanotubes on Mytilus galloprovincialis? Responses on adult tissues and sperms
The use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is rapidly increasing and several scientific studies have addressed their toxicological properties. However, only a very small number of publications have deal with the interaction between CNTs and other molecules. Triclosan (TCS) is an antibacterial agent used in personal care and household products. Commonly detected in aquatic ecosystems, there is a strong evidence that aquatic biota is sensitive to this compound. Aside from emergent pollutants, aquatic organisms are continuously subjected to abiotic variations including salinities. Therefore, the main goal of the present study was to better understand how physio-chemical interactions of CNTs with TCS under different salinity levels (37, 28 and 19) affect the mussel species Mytilus galloprovincialis through the evaluation of biochemical alterations on gametes (sperms) and adult tissues, providing more ecologically relevant information on organisms' responses. The results showed toxicological effects in terms of sperm metabolic activity and intracellular reactive oxygen species production as well as cellular damage and alteration of metabolic capacity at the adult's stage when exposed to both contaminants acting alone and in combination, under tested salinities. Moreover, when the mussels were exposed to the combination of both contaminants, they showed major toxic impacts on both assessed biological levels (adult tissues and sperms) especially under control salinity. This suggests that toxicity upon mixture exposure compared to single-substance exposure may impair mussels' populations, affecting reproduction success and growth.publishe
Performance of the diamond active target prototype for the PADME experiment at the DANE BTF
The PADME experiment at the DANE Beam-Test Facility (BTF) is designed
to search for the gauge boson of a new interaction in the process
ee+, using the intense positron beam hitting a
light target. The , usually referred as dark photon, is assumed to
decay into invisible particles of a secluded sector and it can be observed by
searching for an anomalous peak in the spectrum of the missing mass measured in
events with a single photon in the final state. The measurement requires the
determination of the 4-momentum of the recoil photon, performed by a
homogeneous, highly segmented BGO crystals calorimeter. A significant
improvement of the missing mass resolution is possible using an active target
capable to determine the average position of the positron bunch with a
resolution of less than 1 mm. This report presents the performance of a real
size PADME active target made of a thin (50 m) diamond
sensor, with graphitic strips produced via laser irradiation on both sides. The
measurements are based on data collected in a beam test at the BTF in November
2015.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figure
Fecal and mucosal microbiota profiling in pediatric inflammatory bowel diseases
An altered gut microbiota profile has been widely documented in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The intestinal microbial community has been more frequently investigated in the stools than at the level of the mucosa, while most of the studies have been performed in adults. We aimed to define the gut microbiota profile either by assessing fecal and colonic mucosa samples (inflamed or not) from pediatric IBD patients
Knowledge and use of e-cigarettes among nursing students: results from a cross-sectional survey in north-eastern Italy
Data on electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among health professional students, who can play a central role in promoting healthy habits and smoking cessation, are sparse. Moreover, the association between e-cigarettes and smoking habits is still debated. The present study aimed to investigate the diffusion of e-cigarette use among nursing students in north-eastern Italy and explore its association with tobacco smoking
Genome-based retrospective analysis of a Providencia stuartii outbreak in Rome, Italy. Broad spectrum IncC plasmids spread the NDM carbapenemase within the hospital
Providencia stuartii is a member of the Morganellaceae family, notorious for its intrinsic resistance to several antibiotics, including last-resort drugs such as colistin and tigecycline. Between February and March 2022, a four-patient outbreak sustained by P. stuartii occurred in a hospital in Rome. Phenotypic analyses defined these strains as eXtensively Drug-Resistant (XDR). Wholegenome sequencing was performed on the representative P. stuartii strains and resulted in fully closed genomes and plasmids. The genomes were highly related phylogenetically and encoded various virulence factors, including fimbrial clusters. The XDR phenotype was primarily driven by the presence of the (NDM)-N-bla- 1 metallo- beta-lactamase alongside the rmtC 16S rRNA methyltransferase, conferring resistance to most beta-lactams and every aminoglycoside, respectively. These genes were found on an IncC plasmid that was highly related to an NDM-IncC plasmid retrieved from a ST15 Klebsiella pneumoniae strain circulating in the same hospital two years earlier. Given its ability to acquire resistance plasmids and its intrinsic resistance mechanisms, P. stuartii is a formidable pathogen. The emergence of XDR P. stuartii strains poses a significant public health threat. It is essential to monitor the spread of these strains and develop new strategies for their control and treatment
Quantitative analysis of the seminal plasma proteome in secondary hypogonadism
In the grey zone of testosterone levels between 8 and 12 nmol/L, the usefulness of therapy is controversial; as such, markers of tissue action of androgens may be helpful in adjusting clinical decisions. To better understand the effect of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis on male accessory secretion, we performed a proteomic quantitative analysis of seminal plasma in patients with secondary hypogonadism, before and after testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Ten male patients with postsurgical hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism were enrolled in this study, and five of these patients were evaluated after testosterone treatment. Ten men with proven fertility were selected as a control group. An aliquot of seminal plasma from each individual was subjected to an in-solution digestion protocol and analyzed using an Ultimate 3000 RSLC-nano HPLC apparatus coupled to a LTQ Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer. The label-free quantitative analysis was performed via Precursor Ions Area Detector Node. Eleven proteins were identified as decreased in hypogonadic patients versus controls, which are primarily included in hydrolase activity and protein binding activity. The comparison of the proteome before and after TRT comes about within the discovery of six increased proteins. This is the primary application of quantitative proteomics pointed to uncover a cluster of proteins reflecting an impairment not only of spermatogenesis but of the epididymal and prostate epithelial cell secretory function in male hypogonadism. The identified proteins might represent putative clinical markers valuable within the follow-up of patients with distinctive grades of male hypogonadism
A multi-scalar investigation of the colouring materials used in textile wrappings of Egyptian votive animal mummies
Commonly exhibited in museum galleries, animal mummies have been the focus of interest of both visitors and
researchers alike. The study of these animal remains not only provides new insights into embalming techniques, but
also brings a unique perspective on religious, social and economic practices. Twenty animal mummies are discussed
in this study, including cats, ibises, crocodiles, calves and birds of prey from the collections of the British Museum
(London, UK) and the Museo Egizio (Turin, Italy). The external textile wrappings encasing the mummified body of the
animals were investigated with the main aim of identifying the colourants used. In fact, these are mostly patterned
using undyed and coloured (mostly red, brown and black) linen strips. Broadband multispectral imaging (MSI) was
initially carried out to obtain preliminary information at the macro-scale on the distribution and chemical nature of
the colouring agents. Fibre optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) was then used to survey several coloured areas of
the textile wrappings. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) and red ochre were identified non-invasively. Representative
samples were then taken and observed using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), in
order to obtain information at the micro-scale on the distribution of the colouring agents on the fibres, as well as the
presence of other materials, including those from environmental contamination. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) revealed the elemental composition of particles and clear areas of the fibres, whereas high performance
liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC\u2013MS/MS) provided the identification of the organic dyes at
a molecular level. The use of hydrolysable and condensed tannins, in combination with iron as a mordant, was found
to be used in the very dark shades, which generally corresponded to the textiles with the worst state of preservation.
Nevertheless, other aspects, such as fibre processing and bleaching, fungal attack and presence of coating materials
appeared to play a role in the evaluation of the conservation state of these textiles. The characterisation of the dyes
and the additional inorganic materials contributed to elucidating the production technology of the colours used for
animal mummification, and provided insights into ancient dyeing methods
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