Inertially-Controlled Two-dimensional Phased Arrays by Exploiting Artificial Neural Networks and Ultra-Low-Power AI-based Microcontrollers

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in electronics and electromagnetics is opening many attractive research opportunities related to the smart control of phased arrays. This is particularly challenging especially in some high-mobility contexts, such as drones, 5G, automotive, where the response time is crucial. In this paper a novel method combining AI with mathematical models and firmware for orientation estimation is proposed. The goal is to control two-dimensional phased arrays using an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) by exploiting a feed-forward neural network. The neural network takes the IMU-based beam direction as input and returns the related phase shift matrix. To make the method computationally efficient, the network structure is carefully chosen. Specific and discretized cross-section regions of the array factor (AF) main lobe are considered to compute the phase shift matrices, used in turn to train the neural network. This approach achieves a balance between the number of phase-shifting processes and spatial resolution. Without loss of generality, the proposed method has been tested and verified on 4× 4 and 6× 6 arrays of 2.4 GHz antennas. The obtained results demonstrate that reconfigurability time, easiness of use, and scalability are suitable for a wide range of high-mobility applications

three different approaches for localization in a corridor environment by means of an ultrasonic wide beam

In this paper the authors present three methods to detect the position and orientation of an observer, such as a mobile robot, with respect to a corridor wall. They use an inexpensive sensor to spread a wide ultrasonic beam. The sensor is rotated by means of an accurate servomotor in order to propagate ultrasonic waves towards a regular wall. Whatever the wall material may be the scanning surface appears to be an acoustic reflector as a consequence of low air impedance. The realized device is able to give distance information in each motor position and thus permits the derivation of a set of points as a ray trace-scanner. The dataset contains points lying on a circular arc and relating to strong returns. Three different approaches are herein considered to estimate both the slope of the wall and its minimum distance from the sensor. Slope and perpendicular distance are the parameters of a target plane, which may be calculated in each observer's position to predict its new location. Experimental tests and simulations are shown and discussed by scanning from different stationary locations. They allow the appreciation of the effectiveness of the proposed approaches

Follicular development in pregnant cows after the administration of equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG): a new insight

The follicular development in the cow occurs in a wave-like pattern, and it takes place also during pregnancy. In the cow, Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin (eCG) is used for superovulation, but a decrease in total fertility has been reported, likely because of its immunogenic properties in species other than equine. In this regard, immune response has been implicated in follicular growth, ovulation, and placental development. So, aims of our study are to test the safety of eCG administered during pregnancy and characterize the ovarian activity, the quality of oocytes, the hormonal status, and interleukin levels in eCG-treated pregnant cows

New generation of optical robotic sensor applied to small notch detection

In this paper the experimental application of a new class of an optical pressure sensor based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-Au is shown. The sensor consists of a tapered bended optical fiber, where an optical signal goes across, embedded into a PDMS-gold nanocomposite material (GNM) and it is used for scanning surfaces while it is moved automatically by a controlled servomotor. The sensor data during the scanning may be used for detecting a small notch on a beam. The experimental results are very encouraging for foreseeing successful use of this new sensor in robotic applications

The impact of COVID-19 on myocardial infarctions, strokes and out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrests: an observational retrospective study on time-sensitive disorders in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region (Italy)

The COVID-19 global pandemic has changed considerably the way time-sensitive disorders are treated. Home isolation, people's fear of contracting the virus and hospital reorganisation have led to a significant decrease in contacts between citizens and the healthcare system, with an expected decrease in calls to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FVG) region. However, mortality in clinical emergencies like acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), stroke and out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (OHCA) remained high. An observational retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out in FVG, taking into account the period between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2020, the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and comparing it with the same period in 2019. The flow of calls to the EMS was analysed and COVID-19 impact on time-sensitive disorders (STEMIs, ischemic strokes and OHCPAs) was measured in terms of hospitalisation, treatment and mortality. Despite a -8.01% decrease (p value ˂0.001) in emergency response, a 10.89% increase in calls to the EMS was observed. A lower number of advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitations (CPR) (75.8 vs 45.2%, p=0.000021 in April) and ROSC (39.1 vs 11.6%, p=0.0001 in April) was remarked, and survival rate dropped from 8.5 to 5%. There were less strokes (-27.5%, p value=0.002) despite a more severe onset of symptoms at hospitalisation with NHISS˃10 in 38.47% of cases. Acute myocardial infarctions decreased as well (-20%, p value=0.05), but statistical significances were not determined in the variables considered and in mortality. Despite a lower number of emergency responses, the number of calls to the EMS was considerably higher. The number of cardiac arrests treated with advanced CPR (ALS) was lower, but mortality was higher. The number of strokes decreased as well, but at the time of hospitalisation the clinical picture of the patient was more severe, thus affecting the outcome when the patient was discharged. Finally, STEMI patients decreased; however, no critical issues were observed in the variables taken into account, neither in terms of response times nor in terms of treatment times

La vita on line. Trasformazioni nello/della sfera pubblica in Rete. Lecce, 18/04/2008

La manifestazione è la seconda edizione del seminario nazionale di studi organizzato su base annuale dal Dipartimento di scienze Sociali e della Comunicazione dell'Università del salento. Anche questa edizione ha avuto il patrocinio dell'Associazione Italiana di Sociologia - Sezione Processi ed Istituzioni Culturali; rispetto alla prima edizione, il numero degli studiosi partecipanti è cresciuto, raggiungendo le 32 unità. I lavori sono stati articolati in quattro distinti seminari tematici

Media e tempo libero tra marginalità e socialità

Il capitolo presente gli stili di consumo dei media in un campione di popolazione anziana residente in provincia di Brindisi