517 research outputs found
Antioxidant properties of minimally processed (ready-to-eat) Italian Cichorium genus salads
The modern lifestyle is characterized by a continuous increase in the demand of ready-to-eat fresh food products subjected to minimal processes prior marketing. Attention is drawn towards the effect of this processing on the antioxidant/antiradical properties of two typical Italian salads belonging to Cichorium genus. Four chemical assays (anti-peroxyl radical activity, DPPH• assay, metal chelating ability assay, and reducing power assay) were used for evaluating these properties. The results indicated that the anti-peroxyl radical activity, the anti-DPPH radical activity, the metal chelating ability, and the reducing power were significantly higher in fresh samples as compared to 8-days stored samples (p<0.001). Minimal processing applied to vegetables further affected the tested properties causing a decrease over time from 24h to 8d of storage at 4°C. Overall, the results presented in this study showed that any minimal processing applied to ready-to-eat vegetable affects the antioxidant/antiradical properties determining a decrease in the values registered in the four chemical assays
A human-oriented design process for collaborative robotics
The potential of collaborative robotics often does not materialize in an efficient design of the human-robot collaboration. Technology-oriented approaches are no longer enough in the Industry 4.0 era. This work proposes a set of methods to support manufacturing engineers in the human-oriented design process of integrated production systems to obtain satisfactory performance in the mass customization paradigm, without impacting the safety and health of workers. It founds the design criteria definition on five main pillars (safety, ergonomics, effectiveness, flexibility, and costs), favors the consideration of different design alternatives, and leads their selection. The dynamic impact of the design choices on the various elements of the system prevails over the static design constraints. The method has been experimented in collaboration with the major kitchen manufacturer in Italy, which introduced a collaborative robotics cell in the drawers' assembly line. It resulted in a more balanced production line (10% more), a verified risk minimization (RULA score reduced from 5 to 3 and OCRA score from 13.30 to 5.70), and a greater allocation of operators to high added value activities
A hydrometeorological model intercomparison as a tool to quantify the forecast uncertainty in a medium size basin
Abstract. In the framework of AMPHORE, an INTERREG III B EU project devoted to the hydrometeorological modeling study of heavy precipitation episodes resulting in flood events and the improvement of the operational hydrometeorological forecasts for the prediction and prevention of flood risks in the Western Mediterranean area, a hydrometeorological model intercomparison has been carried out, in order to estimate the uncertainties associated with the discharge predictions. The analysis is performed for an intense precipitation event selected as a case study within the project, which affected northern Italy and caused a flood event in the upper Reno river basin, a medium size catchment in the Emilia-Romagna Region. Two different hydrological models have been implemented over the basin: HEC-HMS and TOPKAPI which are driven in two ways. Firstly, stream-flow simulations obtained by using precipitation observations as input data are evaluated, in order to be aware of the performance of the two hydrological models. Secondly, the rainfall-runoff models have been forced with rainfall forecast fields provided by mesoscale atmospheric model simulations in order to evaluate the reliability of the discharge forecasts resulting by the one-way coupling. The quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) are provided by the numerical mesoscale models COSMO and MM5. Furthermore, different configurations of COSMO and MM5 have been adopted, trying to improve the description of the phenomena determining the precipitation amounts. In particular, the impacts of using different initial and boundary conditions, different mesoscale models and of increasing the horizontal model resolutions are investigated. The accuracy of QPFs is assessed in a threefold procedure. First, these are checked against the observed spatial rainfall accumulations over northern Italy. Second, the spatial and temporal simulated distributions are also examined over the catchment of interest. And finally, the discharge simulations resulting from the one-way coupling with HEC-HMS and TOPKAPI are evaluated against the rain-gauge driven simulated flows, thus employing the hydrological models as a validation tool. The different scenarios of the simulated river flows – provided by an independent implementation of the two hydrological models each one forced with both COSMO and MM5 – enable a quantification of the uncertainties of the precipitation outputs, and therefore, of the discharge simulations. Results permit to highlight some hydrological and meteorological modeling factors which could help to enhance the hydrometeorological modeling of such hazardous events. Main conclusions are: (1) deficiencies in precipitation forecasts have a major impact on flood forecasts; (2) large-scale shift errors in precipitation patterns are not improved by only enhancing the mesoscale model resolution; and (3) weak differences in flood forecasting performance are found by using either a distributed continuous or a semi-distributed event-based hydrological model for this catchment
To Sketch-a-Scratch
A surface can be harsh and raspy, or smooth and silky, and everything in between. We are used to sense these features with our fingertips as well as with our eyes and ears: the exploration of a surface is a multisensory experience. Tools, too, are often employed in the interaction with surfaces, since they augment our manipulation capabilities. “Sketch-a-Scratch” is a tool for the multisensory exploration and sketching of surface textures. The user’s actions drive a physical sound model of real materials’ response to interactions such as scraping, rubbing or rolling. Moreover, different input signals can be converted into 2D visual surface profiles, thus enabling to experience them visually, aurally and haptically
Tools and Methods for Human Robot Collaboration: Case Studies at i-LABS
The collaboration among humans and machines is one of the most relevant topics in the Industry 4.0 paradigm. Collaborative robotics owes part of the enormous impact it has had in small and medium size enterprises to its innate vocation for close cooperation between human operators and robots. The i-Labs laboratory, which is introduced in this paper, developed some case studies in this sense involving different technologies at different abstraction levels to analyse the feasibility of human-robot interaction in common, yet challenging, application scenarios. The ergonomics of the processes, safety of operators, as well as effectiveness of the cooperation are some of the aspects under investigation with the main objective of drawing to these issues the attention from industries who could benefit from them
Neuropsychological performances, quality of life, and psychological issues in pediatric onset multiple sclerosis: a narrative review
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is primarily a disease diagnosed in young and middle-aged adults. Although MS is a rare condition in pediatric age, an increasing rate of patients is diagnosed under the age of 18. The disabling nature of the disease cannot be reduced only to physical symptoms. Several additional symptoms such as cognitive impairment, fatigue, and psychological symptoms are common features of pediatric MS. The reviewed literature suggests that, despite the lower physical disability, children and adolescents diagnosed with MS are vulnerable to cognitive impairment even in the early stage of the disease. The neuropsychological profile of pediatric MS may resemble that of adult MS, including an impairment in attention/information processing speed, learning, verbal, and visuospatial memory. However, cognitive difficulties in children and adolescents are more likely to involve also general intelligence and linguistic abilities, presumably due to patients’ younger age and cognitive growth stage. Cognitive difficulties, beyond physical disability and relapses, may have a considerable impact on learning and school achievement. Depression and fatigue are other highly prevalent disturbances in pediatric MS and may contribute to patients’ low functional outcomes. Overall, these manifestations may cause considerable functional impairment on daily activities and quality of life that may require individualized rehabilitative treatment and extensive psychosocial care. Additional neuropsychological research evaluating larger samples, using more homogenous methods, and exploring the role of MS treatment on cognitive and psychological development is required
Learning impact of education during pulmonary rehabilitation program. An observational short-term cohort study
Background: Among the several components integrating a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) course, education may contribute to the individual\u2019s recognition of symptoms and worsening of the disease. However, the specific gain of education is far to be clearly documented to the health care providers. Aim of our preliminary study was to assess the learning impact of educational sessions (ES) in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients referred to standard PR.Methods: Six ES on 3 areas (Symptoms-Therapies, Aids, Mood) were applied during PR at our clinic. The learning effect was prospectively evaluated by a specific questionnaire (ESQ) in 285 COPD patients (age 69\ub18 years, FEV1 53\ub114 % pred), then grouped into those who have completed ES (Completers group, n=226) or who did not (mean 2\ub11 ES) (Control group, n=59). Total and partial ESQ scores, and PR outcomes (6-minute walking test-6MWD, effort-dyspnoea at Medical Research Council scale-MRC, and health-related quality of life scale-SGRQ) were assessed in a pre (T0) to post (Tend) design.Results: Similar improvement in PR outcomes was recorded in both groups at Tend, whereas ESQ total and partial scores significantly increased in Completers only (p<0.001). ESQ-Aids score improved to a greater extent in Completers than in Control (+0.60\ub11.03 vs +0.27\ub11.27 point respectively, p=0.036). A higher proportion of Completers improved above the median change of both ESQ total and aids scores (p<0.05).Conclusion: Attending educational sessions produces a specific short-term learning effect during rehabilitation of COPD patients
Respiratory muscle training in patients recovering recent open cardio-thoracic surgery: a randomized-controlled trial.
Objectives- To evaluate the clinical efficacy and feasibility of an expiratory muscle training (EMT) device (Respilift™) applied to patients recovering from recent open cardio-thoracic surgery (CTS).
Design- Prospective, double-blind, 14-day randomised-controlled trial.
Participants and setting- 60 inpatients recovering from recent CTS and early admitted to a pulmonary rehabilitation program.
Interventions- Chest physiotherapy plus EMT with a resistive load of 30 cm H2O for active group and chest physiotherapy plus EMT with a sham load for control group.
Measures- Changes in maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) was considered as primary outcome, while maximal inspiratory pressures (MIP), dynamic and static lung volumes, oxygenation, perceived symptoms of dyspnoea, thoracic pain and well being (evaluated by visual analogic scale-VAS) and general health status were considered secondary outcomes.
Results- All outcomes recorded showed significant improvements in both groups; however, the change of MEP (+34.2 mmHg, p<0.001 and +26.1%, p<0.001 for absolute and % of predicted, respectively) was significantly higher in Active group. Also VAS-dyspnoea improved faster and more significantly (p<0.05) at day 12 and 14 in Active group when compared with Control. The drop out rate was 6%, without differences between groups.
Conclusions- In patients recovering from recent CTS specific EMT by Respilift™ is feasible and effective
Mutation within TARDBP leads to Frontotemporal Dementia without motor neuron disease.
2009 AUG 4. [EPUB AHEAD OF PRINT
In vitro assessment of shiitake mushroom (Lentinula edodes) extract for its antigingivitis activity
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