A Low Cost Multi-sensor Strategy for Early Warning in Structural Monitoring Exploiting a Wavelet Multiresolution Paradigm

AbstractThis paper deals with a novel approach to validate alerts provided by an early warning system (EWS) for structural monitoring implemented through low cost multi-sensor nodes. In particular, a dedicated wavelet multiresolution methodology is presented to implement a reliable assessment of the structural behavior. Such strategy allows to discriminate the structural response to seismic sources from other exogenous inertial components. Results obtained demonstrate the suitability of the proposed solution in the framework of the development of low cost multi-sensor strategies for the early warning of anomalous structural behaviors

A dual-mass resonant mems gyroscope design with electrostatic tuning for frequency mismatch compensation

The micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS)-based sensor technologies are considered to be the enabling factor for the future development of smart sensing applications, mainly due to their small size, low power consumption and relatively low cost. This paper presents a new structurally and thermally stable design of a resonant mode-matched electrostatic z-axis MEMS gyroscope considering the foundry constraints of relatively low cost and commercially available silicon-on-insulator multi-user MEMS processes (SOIMUMPs) microfabrication process. The novelty of the proposed MEMS gyroscope design lies in the implementation of two separate masses for the drive and sense axis using a unique mechanical spring configuration that allows minimizing the cross-axis coupling between the drive and sense modes. For frequency mismatch compensation between the drive and sense modes due to foundry process uncertainties and gyroscope operating temperature variations, a comb-drive-based electrostatic tuning is implemented in the proposed design. The performance of the MEMS gyroscope design is verified through a detailed coupled-field electric-structural-thermal finite element method (FEM)-based analysis

Relationship between rhinitis duration and worsening of nasal function

While it is well known that asthma is characterized by airway remodeling, few studies instead have investigated this issue in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR)

Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of a Nonlinear Vibrational Energy Harvester

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Impact of allergic rhinitis on asthma: effects on bronchodilation testing

A remarkable relationship exists between the upper and lower airways. Bronchial obstruction is a paramount feature of asthma, and its reversibility is considered a main step in asthma diagnosis

Reply to comment by D. Carbone and D. Patanè on “Multi-disciplinary investigation on a lava fountain preceding a flank eruption: the 10 May 2008 Etna case”

Bonaccorso et al. [2011a] investigated the source and magma dynamics of the 10 May 2008 lava fountain at the South-East Crater (SEC) of Mount Etna through a multidisciplinary approach that integrated a wide data set ranging from bulk rock compositions of the erupted products to seismic tremor and long-period events, tilt and gravity signals. Using a large dataset, the study provided a robust framework in which the mechanism of the 10 May 2008 lava fountain is explained as a violent release of bubble-rich magma layer previously trapped at the top of a shallow reservoir located between −0.5 and 1.5 km above sea level (asl). This result is in agreement with recent relevant literature [Allard et al., 2005; Vergniolle and Ripepe, 2008; Aiuppa et al., 2010; Andronico and Corsaro, 2011; Bonaccorso et al., 2011b; Calvari et al., 2011; Vergniolle and Gaudemer, 2012]. In the introduction of their comment Carbone and Patanè [submitted] affirm that in their opinion the interpretation that “the lava fountain was generated by the fragmentation of a foam layer trapped at the top of shallow reservoir” is not soundly based. This comment’s conclusion is puzzling because one of the comment’s authors (D. Patanè) is also a co-author on the paper by Aiuppa et al. [2010] where the same conclusion, now criticized, was well supported (see figure 5 and conclusions of that paper). In particular, in the conclusions Aiuppa et al. [2010] reported that “The paroxysmal SEC episodes mark the violent release of a bubble-rich magma layer, with bubbles having relatively shallow reservoir ...", that is, the same conclusion now criticized in the comment. After this, the comment raises issues concerning the analysis and interpretation of gravity and tilt data in the multidisciplinary approach presented by Bonaccorso et al. [2011a]. The comment by Carbone and Patanè is divided into 4 paragraphs, labelled “1. Introduction”, “2. Gravity changes”, “3. Tilt changes” and “4. Concluding remarks” with only paragraphs 2 and 3 containing specific comments. In this reply, we address these two paragraphs, and we shall show how the assumptions underlying the comment are merely speculative and why the results presented by Bonaccorso et al.[2011a] remain valid

midbrain hindbrain involvement in septo optic dysplasia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Midbrain-hindbrain involvement in septo-optic dysplasia has not been well described, despite reported mutations of genes regulating brain stem patterning. We aimed to describe midbrain-hindbrain involvement in patients with septo-optic dysplasia and to identify possible clinical-neuroimaging correlations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using MR imaging, we categorized 38 patients (21 males) based on the presence (group A, 21 patients) or absence (group B, 17 patients) of visible brain stem anomalies. We measured height and anteroposterior diameter of midbrain, pons, and medulla, anteroposterior midbrain/pons diameter (M/P ratio), vermian height, and tegmento-vermian angle, and compared the results with 114 healthy age-matched controls. Furthermore, patients were subdivided based on the type of midline anomalies. The associations between clinical and neuroradiological features were investigated. Post hoc tests were corrected according to Bonferroni adjustment (pB). RESULTS: Patients with brain stem abnormalities had smaller anteroposterior pons diameter than controls (pB CONCLUSION: Midbrain-hindbrain abnormalities are a significant, albeit underrecognized, component of the septo-optic dysplasia spectrum, and are significantly associated with developmental delay in affected patients