Monitoring of a micro-smart grid: Power consumption data of some machineries of an agro-industrial test site

For the management of a (micro)-smart grid it is important to know the patters of the load profiles and of the generators. In this article the power consumption data obtained through a monitoring activity developed on a micro-smart grid in an agro-industrial test-site are presented. In particular, this reports the synthesis of the monitoring results of 5 loads (5 industrial machineries for crop micronization, corncob crashing and other similar processes). How these data were used within a monitoring and managing scheme of a micro-smart grid can be found in (E. Fabrizio, V. Branciforti, A. Costantino, M. Filippi, S. Barbero, G. Tecco, P. Mollo, A. Molino, 2017) [1]. The data can be useful for other researchers in order to create benchmarks of energy use input appropriate energy demand values in optimization tools for the industrial sector

FEED BUNK HEIGHT IMPACT ON DAIRY COW'S FRONT CLAWS. IMPACTO DA ALTURA DO COMEDOURO NAS PATAS DIANTEIRAS DE VACAS LEITEIRAS.

ABSTRACTClaw horn lesions are believed to develop from increased pedal bone mobility induced by changes in the corium tissue. During the planning of barns herd owners are faced with choices of materials and dimensions, as well as feed bunk heights. Among the causes that may lead to front claw injuries there is the height of the feed bunk, as the cow changes its postural behavior in order to reach the food. This research aimed to study the dairy cows' front claws force exerted during eating for determiningthe lesion risk factor of the feed bunk height. Eight dairy cows were placed in front of the feed bunk, their front claws stepped on the pressure assessment system, and the forces exerted on front claws due to the eating postural change were recorded. The mean pressure, the maximum pressure, the floor contact area, and the mean force per region were calculated. While the cow was eating, the highest mean pressure shifted slightly towards the sole. In the lateral claw the maximum pressurewas also shifted slightly towards the toe. No difference was found in the variables analyzed for both lateral and medial sides, as well for the force distribution in the left and right claws. Results of this experiment were not conclusive, not allowing explaining either laminitis or the corkscrew deformity as a result of the force exerted in the claws by means of height of the feed bunk being a risk factor.Keywords: lameness, animal welfare, feed bunk design

Clinical relevance of cancer stem cell chemotherapeutic assay for recurrent ovarian cancer

© 2020 Introduction: Disease recurrence and progression of ovarian cancer is common with the development of platinum-resistant or refractory disease. This is due in large part to the presence of chemo-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs) that contribute to tumor propagation, maintenance, and treatment resistance. We developed a CSCs drug cytotoxicity assay (ChemoID) to identify the most effective chemotherapy treatment from a panel of FDA approved chemotherapies. Methods: Ascites and pleural fluid samples were collected under physician order from 45 consecutive patients affected by 3rd-5th relapsed ovarian cancer. Test results from the assay were used to treat patients with the highest cell kill drugs, taking into consideration their health status and using dose reductions, as needed. A retrospective chart review of CT and PET scans was used to determine patients\u27 outcomes for tumor response, time to recurrence, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Results: We observed that recurrent ovarian cancer patients treated with high-cell kill chemotherapy agents guided by the CSCs drug response assay had an improvement in the median PFS corresponding to 5.4 months (3rd relapse), 3.6 months (4th relapse), and 3.9 months (5th relapse) when compared to historical data. Additionally, we observed that ovarian cancer patients identified as non-responders by the CSC drug response assay had 30 times the hazard of death compared to those women that were identified as responders with respective median survivals of 6 months vs. 13 months. We also found that ChemoID treated patients on average had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) between -$18,421 and$7,241 per life-year saved (LYS). Conclusions: This study demonstrated improved PFS and OS for recurrent ovarian cancer patients treated with assay-guided chemotherapies while decreasing the cost of treatment

Impact of adenomyosis on the prognosis of patients with endometrial cancer

Background Despite the high prevalence of adenomyosis in hysterectomy specimens of endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients, the relationship between adenomyosis and EC prognosis appears unclear. Objective To assess the prognostic value of coexistent adenomyosis in patients with EC. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by searching six electronic databases for studies reporting data on prognosis of EC patients with and without coexistent adenomyosis. Studies with patient selection based on prognostic factors were excluded. Pooled univariate hazard ratio (HR) analyses for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DRF) were performed, using EC patients without adenomyosis as a control group. For DFS, pooled multivariate HR analysis was also evaluable. Results Three studies of 2505 EC patients (553 with and 1952 without adenomyosis) were included. Compared with EC patients without adenomyosis, EC patients with coexistent adenomyosis showed a pooled HR of 0.533 (CI 95%, 0.329-0.864) for OS at univariate analysis; 0.536 (CI 95%, 0.334-0.859) for DFS at univariate analysis; and 0.875 (CI 95%, 0.331-2.315) for DFS at multivariate analysis. Conclusion In EC patients with coexistent adenomyosis, the risk of death is halved compared with EC patients without adenomyosis. However, the independence of this association needs to be verified in future studies

Insulin secretion in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA): half way between type 1 and type 2 diabetes: action LADA 9

Background: The study of endogenous insulin secretion may provide relevant insight into the comparison of the natural history of adult onset latent autoimmune diabetes (LADA) with types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to compare the results of the C-peptide response to mixed-meal stimulation in LADA patients with different disease durations and subjects with type 2 and adult-onset type 1 diabetes. Methods: Stimulated C-peptide secretion was assessed using the mixed-meal tolerance test in patients with LADA (n = 32), type 1 diabetes mellitus (n = 33) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (n = 30). All patients were 30 to 70 years old at disease onset. The duration of diabetes in all groups ranged from 6 months to 10 years. The recruitment strategy was predefined to include at least 10 subjects in the following 3 disease onset categories for each group: 6 to 18 months, 19 months to 5 years and 5 to 10 years. Results: At all time-points of the mixed-meal tolerance test, patients with LADA had a lower stimulated C-peptide response than the type 2 diabetes group and a higher response than the type 1 diabetes group. The same results were found when the peak or area under the C-peptide curve was measured. When the results were stratified by time since disease onset, a similar pattern of residual insulin secretory capacity was observed. Conclusions: The present study shows that the magnitude of stimulated insulin secretion in LADA is intermediate between that of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus

An Alkaloid from a Highly Invasive Seaweed Increases the Voracity and Reproductive Output of a Model Fish Species

The invasive macroalga Caulerpa cylindracea has spread widely in the Mediterranean Sea, becoming a favorite food item for native fish for reasons yet unknown. By using a combination of behavioral, morphological, and molecular approaches, herein we provide evidence that the bisindole alkaloid caulerpin, a major secondary metabolite of C. cylindracea, significantly increases food intake in the model fish Danio rerio, influencing the regulation of genes involved in the orexigenic pathway. In addition, we found that the compound improves fish reproductive performance by affecting the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. The obtained results pave the way for the possible valorization of C. cylindracea as a sustainable source of a functional feed additive of interest to face critical challenges both in aquaculture and in human nutrition

Application of Deep Learning Model in the Sonographic Diagnosis of Uterine Adenomyosis

Background: This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic performance of Deep Learning (DL) machine for the detection of adenomyosis on uterine ultrasonographic images and compare it to intermediate ultrasound skilled trainees. Methods: Prospective observational study were conducted between 1 and 30 April 2022. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) diagnosis of adenomyosis was investigated by an experienced sonographer on 100 fertile-age patients. Videoclips of the uterine corpus were recorded and sequential ultrasound images were extracted. Intermediate ultrasound-skilled trainees and DL machine were asked to make a diagnosis reviewing uterine images. We evaluated and compared the accuracy, sensitivity, positive predictive value, F1-score, specificity and negative predictive value of the DL model and the trainees for adenomyosis diagnosis. Results: Accuracy of DL and intermediate ultrasound-skilled trainees for the diagnosis of adenomyosis were 0.51 (95% CI, 0.48–0.54) and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.60–0.79), respectively. Sensitivity, specificity and F1-score of DL were 0.43 (95% CI, 0.38–0.48), 0.82 (95% CI, 0.79–0.85) and 0.46 (0.42–0.50), respectively, whereas intermediate ultrasound-skilled trainees had sensitivity of 0.72 (95% CI, 0.52–0.86), specificity of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.58–0.79) and F1-score of 0.55 (95% CI, 0.43–0.66). Conclusions: In this preliminary study DL model showed a lower accuracy but a higher specificity in diagnosing adenomyosis on ultrasonographic images compared to intermediate-skilled trainees

Il monitoraggio dei movimenti e delle deformazioni con tecniche geomatiche di basso costo

L’osservazione dell’evoluzione di fenomeni di dissesto ha una importanza strategica sul nostro territorio. Un importante precursore di fenomeni franosi è il movimento o la deformazione degli stessi: tali parametri possono essere osservati con tecniche geomatiche. Le misure topografiche o GNSS con ricevitori geodetici (multi-frequenza e multi-costellazione) sono ormai ben consolidate nel trattamento e nella precisione. La realizzazione di sistemi basati su questi sensori non è tuttavia a basso costo, specie se consideriamo tecniche GNSS applicate su molti punti di controllo per una descrizione dettagliata del fenomeno, o installazioni soggette a pericoli oggettivi e dunque da considerarsi praticamente “a perdere”. Ricevitori GNSS singola frequenza sono oggi reperibili a costi minori di cento euro e possono, sotto opportune ipotesi e ingegnerizzazioni, costituire alternative ai ricevitori geodetici. Nell’ambito di un progetto di ricerca finanziato da CSI Piemonte per lo studio di tecnologie di monitoraggio a basso costo, sono stati sviluppati sistemi di acquisizione, trasmissione ed elaborazione dati basati su sensori GNSS singola frequenza di minuscole dimensioni. Il sistema costituisce una sorta di piccola stazione permanente GNSS, integrata con accelerometri per la stima di inclinazione e vibrazioni e con sensori meteorologici. È corredata di micro PC con processore ARM e interfacce di comunicazione wireless a lungo raggio per la trasmissione in tempo reale delle misure. Il sistema risulta caratterizzato da consumi elettrici molto contenuti ed è di rapida installazione in siti anche complessi dal punto di vista dell’accesso, dell’alimentazione e comunicazione. Vengono esposti nella nota i risultati delle prove di accuratezza dei sensori GNSS eseguite in laboratorio, le procedure di calibrazione dei sensori e la loro ingegnerizzazione, oltre ai primi risultati sulle installazioni situate nel nord del Piemonte su alcune zone di dissesto