Real-Time neural signal decoding on heterogeneous MPSocs based on VLIW ASIPs

An important research problem, at the basis of the development of embedded systems for neuroprosthetic applications, is the development of algorithms and platforms able to extract the patient's motion intention by decoding the information encoded in neural signals. At the state of the art, no portable and reliable integrated solutions implementing such a decoding task have been identified. To this aim, in this paper, we investigate the possibility of using the MPSoC paradigm in this application domain. We perform a design space exploration that compares different custom MPSoC embedded architectures, implementing two versions of a on-line neural signal decoding algorithm, respectively targeting decoding of single and multiple acquisition channels. Each considered design points features a different application configuration, with a specific partitioning and mapping of parallel software tasks, executed on customized VLIW ASIP processing cores. Experimental results, obtained by means of FPGA-based prototyping and post-floorplanning power evaluation on a 40nm technology library, assess the performance and hardware-related costs of the considered configurations. The reported power figures demonstrate the usability of the MPSoC paradigm within the processing of bio-electrical signals and show the benefits achievable by the exploitation of the instruction-level parallelism within tasks

Multimodal-based Diversified Summarization in Social Image Retrieval

In this paper, we describe our approach and its results for the MediaEval 2015 Retrieving Diverse Social Images task. The main strength of the proposed approach is its flexibility that permits to filter out irrelevant images, and to obtain a reli- able set of diverse and relevant images. This is done by first clustering similar images according to their textual descrip- tions and their visual content, and then extracting images from different clusters according to a measure of user’s cred- ibility. Experimental results shown that it is stable and has little fluctuation in both single-concept and multi-concept queries

Online learning of physics during a pandemic: A report from an academic experience in Italy

The arrival of the Sars-Cov II has opened a new window on teaching physics in academia. Frontal lectures have left space for online teaching, teachers have been faced with a new way of spreading knowledge, adapting contents and modalities of their courses. Students have faced up with a new way of learning physics, which relies on free access to materials and their informatics knowledge. We decided to investigate how online didactics has influenced students’ assessments, motivation, and satisfaction in learning physics during the pandemic in 2020. The research has involved bachelor (n = 53) and master (n = 27) students of the Physics Department at the University of Cagliari (N = 80, 47 male; 33 female). The MANOVA supported significant mean differences about gender and university level with higher values for girls and master students in almost all variables investigated. The path analysis showed that student-student, student-teacher interaction, and the organization of the courses significantly influenced satisfaction and motivation in learning physics. The results of this study can be used to improve the standards of teaching in physics at the University of Cagliar

A wireless sensors network for monitoring the Carasau bread manufacturing process

This work copes with the design and implementation of a wireless sensors network architecture to automatically and continuously monitor, for the first time, the manufacturing process of Sardinian Carasau bread. The case of a traditional bakery company facing the challenge of the Food-Industry 4.0 competitiveness is investigated. The process was analyzed to identify the most relevant variables to be monitored during the product manufacturing. Then, a heterogeneous, multi-tier wireless sensors network was designed and realized to allow the real-time control and the data collection during the critical steps of dough production, sheeting, cutting and leavening. Commercial on-the-shelf and cost-effective integrated electronics were employed, making the proposed approach of interest for many practical cases. Finally, a user-friendly interface was provided to enhance the understanding, control and to favor the process monitoring. With the wireless senors network (WSN) we designed, it is possible to monitor environmental parameters (temperature, relative humidity, gas concentrations); cinematic quantities of the belts; and, through a dedicated image processing system, the morphological characteristics of the bread before the baking. The functioning of the WSN was demonstrated and a statistical analysis was performed on the variables monitored during different seasons

Adaptivity Support for MPSoCs Based on Process Migration in Polyhedral Process Networks

987209Computer System

Performance of the readout system of the ALICE Zero Degree Calorimeters in LHC Run 3

The ALICE Zero Degree Calorimeters (ZDC) provide information about event geometry in heavy-ion collisions through the detection of spectator nucleons and allow to estimate the delivered luminosity. They are also very useful in p–A collisions, allowing an unbiased estimation of collision centrality. The Run 3 operating conditions will involve a tenfold increase in instantaneous luminosity in heavy-ion collisions, with event rates that, taking into account the different processes, could reach 5 MHz in the ZDCs. The challenges posed by this demanding environment lead to a redesign of the readout system and to the transition to a continuous acquisition. The new system is based on 12 bit, 1 Gsps FMC digitizers that will continuously sample the 26 ZDC channels. Triggering, pedestal estimation and luminosity measurements will be performed on FPGA directly connected to the front-end. The new readout system and the performances foreseen in Run 3 are presented

MiRNA dysregulation underlying common pathways in type 2 diabetes and cancer development. an Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM)/Italian Association of Medical Diabetologists (AMD)/Italian Society of Diabetology (SID)/Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE)/Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) multidisciplinary critical view

Increasing evidence suggests that patients with diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes (T2D), are characterized by an increased risk of developing different types of cancer, so cancer could be proposed as a new T2D-related complication. On the other hand, cancer may also increase the risk of developing new-onset diabetes, mainly caused by anticancer therapies. Hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and chronic inflammation typical of T2D could represent possible mechanisms involved in cancer development in diabetic patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a subset of non-coding RNAs, ⁓22 nucleotides in length, which control the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression through both translational repression and messenger RNA degradation. Of note, miRNAs have multiple target genes and alteration of their expression has been reported in multiple diseases, including T2D and cancer. Accordingly, specific miRNA-regulated pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of both conditions. In this review, a panel of experts from the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM), Italian Association of Medical Diabetologists (AMD), Italian Society of Diabetology (SID), Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE), and Italian Society of Pharmacology (SIF) provide a critical view of the evidence about the involvement of miRNAs in the pathophysiology of both T2D and cancer, trying to identify the shared miRNA signature and pathways able to explain the strong correlation between the two conditions, as well as to envision new common pharmacological approaches

The ASIMOV Prize for scientific publishing - HEP researchers trigger young people toward science

This work presents the ASIMOV Prize for scientific publishing, which was launched in Italy in 2016. The prize aims to bring the young generations closer to scientific culture, through the critical reading of popular science books. The books are selected by a committee that includes scientists, professors, Ph.D. and Ph.D. students, writers, journalists and friends of culture, and most importantly, over 800 school teachers. Students are actively involved in the prize, according to the best practices of public engagement: they read, review the books and vote for them, choosing the winner. The experience is quite successful: 12,000 students from 270 schools all over Italy participated in the last edition. The possibility of replicating this experience in other countries is indicated, as was done in Brazil in 2020 with more than encouraging results