MC-CDMA Systems: a General Framework for Performance Evaluation with Linear Equalization

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A hybrid logic for XML reference constraints

XML emerged as the (meta) mark-up language for representing, exchanging, and storing semistructured data. The structure of an XML document may be specified either through DTD (Document Type Definition) language or through the specific language XML Schema. While the expressiveness of XML Schema allows one to specify both the structure and constraints for XML documents, DTD does not allow the specification of integrity constraints for XML documents. On the other side, DTD has a very compact notation opposed to the complex notation and syntax of XML Schema. Thus, it becomes important to consider the issue of how to express further constraints on DTD-based XML documents, still retaining the simplicity and succinctness of DTDs. According to this scenario, in this paper we focus on a (as much as possible) simple logic, named XHyb, expressive enough to allow the specification of the most common integrity and reference constraints in XML documents. In particular, we focus on constraints on ID and IDREF(S) attributes, which are the common way of logically connecting parts of XML documents, besides the usual parent-child relationship of XML elements. Differently from other previously proposed hybrid logics, in XHyb IDREF(S) attributes are explicitly expressible by means of suitable syntactical constructors. Moreover, we propose a refinement of the usual graph representation of XML documents in order to represent XML documents in a formal and intuitive way without flatten accessibility through IDREF(S) to the usual parent-child relationship. Model checking algorithms are then proposed, to verify that a given XML document satisfies the considered constraints

A Hardware-in-the-Loop Evaluation of the Impact of the V2X Channel on the Traffic-Safety Versus Efficiency Trade-offs

Vehicles are increasingly becoming connected and short-range wireless communications promise to introduce a radical change in the drivers' behaviors. Among the main use cases, the intersection management is surely one of those that could mostly impact on both traffic safety and efficiency. In this work, we consider an intersection collision warning application and exploit an hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) platform to verify the impact on the risk of accidents as well as the average time to travel a given distance. Besides including real ITS-G5 compliant message exchanges, the platform also includes a channel emulator with real signals. Results show that the risk of collisions can be drastically reduced, with an overall trade-off between safety and traffic efficiency. At the same time, it is shown that the presence of real channel conditions cannot guarantee the same condition of zero-risk as with ideal channel propagation, remarking the importance of channel conditions and signal processing

Nutritional care in the cardiac rehabilitation program

There is some evidence of the efficacy of nutritional care in modifying eating habits and behavior in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation: nutritional care has a relevant role in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The dietitian is the qualified sanitary professional for nutritional care. The aim of this study was to define the role of dietitians within a health care team in programs of cardiac rehabilitation. In this setting, nutritional care starts with a dietary assessment, which includes a measurement of the anthropometric parameters, and a survey of the patient knowledge and eating habits. If there is no need for change in the patient lifestyle, the patient is addressed to the normal cardiac rehabilitation program with no further nutritional intervention except one session of counseling. When lifestyle changes are needed, the dietitian defines, together with the patient, therapeutic aims and expected results. The following phase is represented by group session with patients and their relatives during which nutritional topics are discussed and nutritional education is provided Afterwards, self-monitoring sheets of eating habits are individually discussed in one visit; a last individual visit is used for a final assessment of nutritional knowledge, dietary habits, and anthropometric parameters. In case of unsatisfactory results, patients are invited to participate to three group session to be held biweekly, during which they interact with the dietitian and take part to exercises and group discussions. When the established targets are reached, the nutritional program includes individual follow up visits at six and twelve months for further assessment of medium term results

[Mediterranean diet: not only food].

The proposal of a Mediterranean way of life is much more than advise how to eat. The Mediterranean Diet, a model of Sustainable Diet, is an example of how to combine personal choices, economic, social and cultural rights, protective of human health and the ecosystem. There is in fact fundamental interdependence between dietary requirements, nutritional recommendations, production and consumption of food. In literature studies and nutritional and epidemiological monitoring activities at national and international level have found a lack of adherence to this lifestyle, due to the spread of the economy, lifestyles of the Western type and globalization of the production and consumption. To encourage the spread of a culture and a constant practice of the Mediterranean Diet, there are some tools that are presented in this article. The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid in addition to the recommendations on the frequency and portions of food, focuses on the choice of how to cook and eat food. The "Double Food Pyramid" encourages conscious food choices based on "healthy eating and sustainability. All the nutrition professionals and dietitians in particular should be constantly striving to encourage the adoption of a sustainable and balanced nutrition

The role of Dietitian in cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention

Rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs are recognized as an essential part of the overall care of patients with cardiovascular disease. They consist of multidisciplinary strategies aiming at the reduction of modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. There are some evidence of the efficacy of nutritional care in modifying eating habits and behavior in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation. In 2007, the Italian Association of Dietitians (ANDID) appointed a working group of dietitians, skilled in nutrition applied in cardiovascular disease, with the aim to make an overview of the available scientific literature and to develop a Professional Position Paper on the role of Dietitian in cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention. The first Position Paper, developed in 2008, covered the available evidence about the dietitian professional role and contribution in the management of the topic. The working group has recently updated the contents by introducing, in agreement with the work done by ANDID, the methodology of the Nutrition Care Process and Model (NCP), a systematic problem-solving method intended to stimulate critical thinking, decision-making and address issues related to food and nutritional assistance, in order to provide a safe, effective and high quality care

The role of Dietitian in cardiac rehabilitation and prevention

Rehabilitation and secondary prevention programs are recognized as an essential part of the overall care of patients with cardiovascular disease. They consist of multidisciplinary strategies aiming at the reduction of modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Cardiac rehabilitation includes non-pharmacological interventions as: Patients’ evaluation. Nutritional counseling. Risk factors management (serum lipids, blood pressure, weight, diabetes, smoking). Psychosocial interventions. Physical activity and cardiovascular physical training counseling. Their effectiveness in the reduction of mortality through the decrease of risk factors has been proven in the last twenty years. Guidelines on appropriate and well-framed interventions have been released and nutritional interventions have a ringside seat in all programs. During 2007, the Italian Association of Dietitians, ANDID, created a working group of expert dietitians, with the goals of making a review of available scientific literature and of elaborating a Professional Position Papers on the role of Dietitian in cardiac rehabilitation and prevention. This Position Paper retrieves and remarks the available evidence that are important for the dietitians, according to their professional role and their contribution in the management of the topic

Sviluppo di un toolkit per la tele-nutrizione nel follow-up delle malattie cardiovascolari

INTRODUZIONE Per garantire la continuità dell’assistenza nutrizionale in Riabilitazione Cardiologica (RC) durante l’epidemia da COVID 19, è stato elaborato un toolkit per il teleconsulto nutrizionale, rivolto a pazienti con fattori di rischio modificabili correlati alle abitudini alimentari ed a pazienti a rischio nutrizionale. Il metodo di riferimento del presente lavoro è quello del Nutrition Care Process Terminology dell’Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), che persegue l’obiettivo di implementare un’assistenza nutrizionale sicura, efficace, centrata sulla persona, tempestiva, efficiente ed equa. MATERIALI E METODI Il toolkit è composto da cartelle nutrizionali elettroniche per il follow-up telematico rivolte ai pazienti più fragili (a rischio di malnutrizione), o in sovrappeso/obesi, diabetici, dislipidemici, ipertesi. Inoltre, sono stati creati strumenti e materiale didattico informativo utili ai pazienti per lo svolgimento del consulto telefonico/videochiamata nutrizionale. CONCLUSIONI Il ricorso al teleconsulto potrebbe ottimizzare l’efficacia dell’assistenza nutrizionale e l’aderenza dei pazienti, tramite una riduzione delle distanze, dei tempi di attesa, dei costi e dei disagi in generale per i pazienti stessi. La nostra prospettiva è quella di sviluppare un progetto di ricerca presso i Centri di RC per stabilire l’efficacia dell’utilizzo del toolkit nella pratica clinica in termini di outcome desiderati e di tempo dedicato al follow-up dei pazienti