A Control Architecture for Grasp Strength Regulation in Myocontrolled Robotic Hands Using Vibrotactile Feedback: Preliminary Results

Nowadays, electric-powered hand prostheses do not provide adequate sensory instrumentation and artificial feedback to allow users voluntarily and finely modulate the grasp strength applied to the objects. In this work, the design of a control architecture for a myocontrol-based regulation of the grasp strength for a robotic hand equipped with contact force sensors is presented. The goal of the study was to provide the user with the capability of modulating the grasping force according to target required levels by exploiting a vibrotactile feedback. In particular, the whole human-robot control system is concerned (i.e. myocontrol, robotic hand controller, vibrotactile feedback.) In order to evaluate the intuitiveness and force tracking performance provided by the proposed control architecture, an experiment was carried out involving four naïve able-bodied subjects in a grasping strength regulation task with a myocontrolled robotic hand (the University of Bologna Hand), requiring for grasping different objects with specific target force levels. The reported results show that the control architecture successfully allowed all subjects to achieve all grasping strength levels exploiting the vibrotactile feedback information. This preliminary demonstrates that, potentially, the proposed control interface can be profitably exploited in upper-limb prosthetic applications, as well as for non-rehabilitation uses, e.g. in ultra-light teleoperation for grasping devices

Efficacy Of Different Protocols Of Ovulation Synchronization And Resynchronization In Argentinian Buffalo Herds

During the last years bufalo reproductive researchers have been tried to develop and apply fxed timed artifcial insemination protocols to increase pregnancy rates to maximize improvement. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the pregnancy rates of diferent protocols of synchronization (Ovsynch and progesterone implants) and resynchronization of ovulation in a meat water bufalo herd during reproductive season of 2016. 194 mature Mediterranean females, were randomly assigned to four diferent protocols, ultrasound evaluation were used to determine cyclicity (presence of corpus luteum or follicles ≥7 mm de diameter). 18 days after insemination all females were resynchronized and at day 25 ultrasound were performed, those nonpregnant females were inseminated 28 days after frst insemination. All inseminations were performed by the same technician and only one bull was used. InfoStat software was used, statistical signifcance was considered when p value was lower than α of the 5%. No statistical signifcance were found within the protocols. Early embryonic dead 50 days after IA was 3.4%. Pregnancy rate was 47.9% and 53.5% for insemination and reinsemination respectively and the fnal pregnancy rate after the adjust for early pregnancy loss 73.2%, during the 28 days of the breeding period. The results obtained allow breeders to choose the best pharmacological option to use FTAI in their herds based on their own needs to improve production without afecting pregnancy rates.Fil: Crudeli, Gustavo Angel. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Konrad, José Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: de la Sota, Rodolfo Luzbel. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Yuponi, Roberto Gregorio. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Vallejos, Natalia. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Cardona Maya, Walter Darío. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Berdugo, Jesus Alfredo. Universidad de Antioquia; Colombi

Complex architectures formed by alginate drops floating on liquid surfaces

We demonstrate the generation of natural polymeric structures of complex shapes and controlled composition, starting from the collision of aqueous drops of alginate with the surface of a calcium ion-based liquid. We prove that by tuning the impact velocity of the alginate drops on the target surface one can control the floating state of the drops inducing the formation of mushroom-like structures, upon alginate gelation. Besides the geometric peculiarity, the presented approach allows us to provide dual functionality to the polymeric objects, attaching different kinds of functional molecules onto their surface areas, which are immersed or not in the liquid, making such architectures attractive for the development of a novel class of bionanocomposites

UNA NUOVA STAZIONE A VULCANO PER IL MONITORAGGIO DEL FLUSSO DI CALORE DAL SUOLO

Una stazione per il monitoraggio delle variazioni del flusso di calore dal suolo è stata installata all’isola di Vulcano sul cono attivo di La Fossa, all’esterno del campo fumarolico di alta temperatura. La stazione misura i valori di temperatura del suolo a sei differenti profondità, lungo uno stesso profilo verticale. Le misure consentono di ottenere il gradiente di temperatura (°C/m) nel suolo ed il coefficiente di correlazione lineare (R2) delle temperature registrate lungo il profilo. Tali parametri (R2 e °C/m) consentono di determinare il flusso di calore nei periodi in cui la componente conduttiva è la principale forma di trasporto del calore. La stazione è stata progettata ed assemblata nel laboratorio di elettronica della sezione di Palermo dell’INGV e utilizza un programma di acquisizione ed un sistema di trasmissione interamente progettati e sviluppati dallo stesso personale. Dopo un primo periodo di osservazione dei dati e di verifiche tecniche la stazione, denominata Bordosud, è entrata nel sistema di monitoraggio geochimico dell’attività di Vulcano gestito dalle Sezione di Palermo dell’INGV. L’energia termica rilasciata da un sistema vulcanico è un parametro di primaria importanza per la sorveglianza dell’attività vulcanica. Durante i periodi intereruttivi, il calore rilasciato attraverso la circolazione dei fluidi idrotermali e l’energia termica associata all’emissione di vapore attraverso i campi fumarolici costituiscono una buona parte dell’energia totale rilasciata dal vulcano

Pleurotus ostreatus spent mushroom substrate for the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: the case study of a pilot dynamic biopile for the decontamination of a historically contaminated soil

BACKGROUND: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hazardous contaminants. Bio-based technology is among recommended practices for the recovery of PAH contaminatedmatrices. The objective of the study was to validate the exploitation of spent mushroom substrate (SMS), an organic waste deriving from the industrial production of Pleurotus ostreatus, as bulking agent in a dynamic biopile pilot plant, because of the SMS potential oxidative capacity towards aromatic recalcitrant compounds. The dynamic biopile pilot plant treated 7 tons of a historically PAH contaminated soil (6469±423mg PAHs kg−1), classified as dangerous waste. RESULTS: Themixing of SMSwith soilwasmandatory for the depletion of PAHs, which after 8months,were at significantly lower concentrations (112±5mg PAHs kg−1). The treated soil was capable of reintroduction to the industrial site of origin. However, a residual genotoxicity of soil elutriates at the end of the process wasmeasured on root tips of Vicia faba L. CONLUSIONS: The SMS derived from the industrial production of P. ostreatus is exploitable as a versatile low cost organic substrate with oxidative capacity towards PAHs and its exploitation as a bulking agent in biopiles is advantageous for the disposal of the organic waste

Monitoring system for agronomic variables based in WSN technology on cassava crops

Agriculture, and natural resources associated to its development like water, soils and forests, have a relevant role in the future of countries and environmental conservation. The optimization of these resources is made with the implementation of technological strategies and tools that make it possible. In this sense, we developed a monitoring prototype for agronomic variables in cassava crops (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) in the Atlántico department (Colombia) based in WSN using Z1 motes as hardware platform and the temperature and soil moisture sensor SHT11. The operating system used was Contiki, and the routing protocol was RPL. The Network Performance Metrics evaluated were packet loss, RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), LQI (Link Quality Indicator) and network convergence time. Then, a deployment model using Schläfli notation to determine the location and number of nodes, also we calculated the coverage range of the nodes to keep network uniformity. With these calculations, we obtained the linkage budgets between specks, and results were validated with RadioMobile software. Then, test fields were made in a cassava crop located in the city of Manati, Atlántico. Finally, with the help of server client architecture XAMPP, all data was stored and visualized through SIMCA (Agricultural Crop Information and Monitoring System), a web application developed by authors

Lmx1a-Dependent Activation of miR-204/211 Controls the Timing of Nurr1-Mediated Dopaminergic Differentiation

The development of midbrain dopaminergic (DA) neurons requires a fine temporal and spatial regulation of a very specific gene expression program. Here, we report that during mouse brain development, the microRNA (miR-) 204/211 is present at a high level in a subset of DA precursors expressing the transcription factor Lmx1a, an early determinant for DA-commitment, but not in more mature neurons expressing Th or Pitx3. By combining different in vitro model systems of DA differentiation, we show that the levels of Lmx1a influence the expression of miR-204/211. Using published transcriptomic data, we found a significant enrichment of miR-204/211 target genes in midbrain dopaminergic neurons where Lmx1a was selectively deleted at embryonic stages. We further demonstrated that miR-204/211 controls the timing of the DA differentiation by directly downregulating the expression of Nurr1, a late DA differentiation master gene. Thus, our data indicate the Lmx1a-miR-204/211-Nurr1 axis as a key component in the cascade of events that ultimately lead to mature midbrain dopaminergic neurons differentiation and point to miR-204/211 as the molecular switch regulating the timing of Nurr1 expression

RECOVERING OF DREDGED SEDIMENTS CONTAMINATED BY TOTAL PETROLEUM HYDROCARBON TO PRODUCTIVE SOILS: THE MYCOREMEDIATION APPROACH IN THE BIORESNOVA PROJECT

Chemo-physical treatments to remove salinity and metal contamination from dredged sediments were applied in combination to bio-based approaches (mycoremediation). New fungal specimen were isolated from the contaminated sediments, massively grown and re-inoculated in the matrix in treatment to remove the Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon contamination (TPH). Toxicological assays were exploited to estimate the sediment remediation efficiency over time. Indeed, the only chemical characterization of polluted matrices does not allow to predict the residual toxicity of the latter eventually related to the permanence of a residual contamination by the parental pollutants, to their degradation intermediates and/or to the synergic actions of the both. Higher plants (Vicia faba L.) were exploited as indicators of the quality of the treated sediments and used both for the continuous monitoring of the remediation processes and for the evaluation of the final product eco-safety. Biological parameters such as the genotoxicity by means of cytological analysis of mitotic behavior of root meristems were evaluated based on the detection of chromosomal aberrations in mitotic cells, and of micronuclei formation, detectable in interphase cells. The combination of the Chemo-physical and the Bio-based approach was able to remove the organic contamination (TPH) and the excess of sodium salts that constitute a critical point for the eventual re-allocation of dredged sediments. At the same time the sediments were detoxified and actually gained the biochemical traits of humified productive soils, eventually suitable for their safe re-allocation in the environment