A 2.4 GHz LoRa-Based Protocol for Communication and Energy Harvesting on Industry Machines

The fourth industrial revolution is paving the way for Industrial Internet of Things applications where large number of wireless nodes, equipped with sensors and actuators, monitor the production cycle of industrial goods. This paper proposes and analyses LoRaIN, a network architecture and MAC-layer protocol thought for on-demand monitoring of industrial machines. Our proprietary system is an energy-efficient, reliable and scalable solution, where the protocol is built on top of LoRa at 2.4 GHz. Indeed, the low-power characteristics of LoRa allow to reduce energy consumption, while Wireless Power Transfer is used to recharge batteries, avoiding periodic battery replacement. High reliability is obtained through the joint use of Frequency and Time Division Multiple Access. A dynamic LoRaIN scheduler manages the communication and recharging phases depending on the tasks assigned to the nodes, as well as the number of monitoring devices. Performance is measured in terms of network throughput, energy consumption and latency. Results demonstrate that the proposed solution is suitable for monitoring applications of industry machines

Quantitative monitoring of surface movements on active landslides by multi-temporal, high-resolution X-Band SAR amplitude information: Preliminary results

Multi-temporal image cross-correlation is a method for tracking moving features and can there-fore be used for quantitative assessments of surface displacements. Accuracies of up to 1/8th of the original image geometric resolution can be achieved. We present the results of an analysis car- ried out on Corvara landslide located in the Italian Dolomites. Image offset-tracking was applied to CosmoSky-Med amplitude images acquired between October 2013 and August 2015. The presence of a validation dataset consisting of periodical GPS surveys carried out on 16 benchmarks represents an ideal opportunity to test the applicability of SAR-based image cross-correlation for landslide moni- toring. Despite the relative low accuracy of the results amplitude-based offset-tracking proved to be beneficial due to the ability of this method to capture large displacements. In particular the results evidence its complementarity with respect to multi-temporal interferometry that is confined to slow displacements along E-W directions

Combined microbiological test to assess changes in an organic matrix used to avoid agricultural soil contamination, exposed to an insecticide

Combined microbiological test (Biolog Ecoplate, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and Real Time PCR (qPCR)) were developed to evaluate the impact of repeated diazinon (DZN) applications at high concentration (40 mg kg-1) on microbial communities in a microcosm simulating the organic matrix (straw (50%): peat (25%): soil (25%) vv-1) of an pesticide biopurification system (PBS). Moreover, pesticide dissipation was also evaluated. After three successive exposition of DZN, dissipation efficiency was high; achieved 87%, 93% and 96% after each application, respectively showing a clear accelerated dissipation of this pesticide in the organic matrix. The results obtained with Biolog Ecoplate showed that community level physiological profiles were no affected by the addition of DZN. On the other hand, molecular assays (DGGE and QPCR) demonstrated that the microbial structure (bacteria and fungi) remained relatively stable over time with high DZN doses compared to control. Therefore, the results of the present study, clearly, demonstrate the high dissipation capacity of this biomixture and highlight the microbiological robustness of this biological system.Fil: Tortella, G. R.. Universidad de la Frontera. Nucleo Cientifico y Tecnologico En Recursos Naturales (bioren-ufro). Departamento de Ciencias Quimicas y Recursos Naturales; ChileFil: Salgado, E.. Universidad de la Frontera. Nucleo Cientifico y Tecnológico En Recursos Naturales; ChileFil: Cuozzo, Sergio Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos (i); ArgentinaFil: Mella Herrera, R. A.. Universidad de la Frontera. Nucleo Cientifico y Tecnológico En Recursos Naturales; ChileFil: Parra, L.. Universidad de la Frontera. Núcleo Científico y Tecnológico en Recursos Naturales; ChileFil: Diez, M. C.. Universidad de la Frontera. Nucleo Cientifico y Tecnológico En Recursos Naturales; ChileFil: Rubilar, O.. Universidad de la Frontera. Nucleo Cientifico y Tecnológico En Recursos Naturales; Chil

Factors Associated to the Onset of Mental Illness Among Hospitalized Migrants to Italy: A Chart Review

Migration is a complex phenomenon and mental illness among immigrants remains a major matter of concern in Italy and worldwide. 243 medical and pharmacy records of patients admitted to University of Foggia hospital between 2004 and 2018 were retrospectively screened and included in the study. Socio-demographic data and clinical characteristics of inpatients were compared in those with and without first-episode of mental illness (FEMI). Subjects (140 men, 103 women; aged 34.4 ± 10.2 years) represented 6.66 ± 3.73% of all hospitalizations in 15 years. Nearly half of them (48.5%) had emigrated from other European countries. 30.8% were diagnosed with a DSM-IV TR unspecified psychosis. 103 patients (42.3%) were in first-lifetime episodes of mental illness. Factors significantly associated with FEMI were: younger age, sex (men), immigrating from Africa, poor language proficiency, lower amount of prescribed psychotropics. Mental health among immigrants is of major concern in Italy. Our findings report on factors possibly associated to the onset of mental illness among immigrant psychiatric inpatients

Oral sodium butyrate supplementation ameliorates paclitaxel-induced behavioral and intestinal dysfunction

Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the most broadly used chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of several tumor types including ovarian, breast, and non-small cell lung cancer. However, its use is limited by debilitating side effects, involving both gastrointestinal and behavioral dysfunctions. Due to growing evidence showing a link between impaired gut function and chemotherapy-associated behavioral changes, the aim of this study was to identify a novel therapeutic approach to manage PTX-induced gut and brain comorbidities. Mice were pre-treated with sodium butyrate (BuNa) for 30 days before receiving PTX. After 14 days, mice underwent to behavioral analysis and biochemical investigations of gut barrier integrity and microbiota composition. Paired evaluations of gut functions revealed that the treatment with BuNa restored PTX-induced altered gut barrier integrity, microbiota composition and food intake suggesting a gut-to-brain communication. The treatment with BuNa also ameliorated depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors induced by PTX in mice, and these effects were associated with neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory outcomes. These results propose that diet supplementation with this safe postbiotic might be considered when managing PTX-induced central side effects during cancer therapy

Una aplicación del mapa cognitivo compartido a la retención del talento en empresas de outsourcing informático

En este trabajo se expone la aplicación de la metodología Strategic Options Development and Analysis SODA de Eden & Ackermann (1998) adaptado, con el propósito de elaborar el mapa cognitivo compartido referido a la problemática de retención del talento humano en una empresa de servicios informáticos con modalidad de trabajo outsourcing. Esta experiencia se desarrolla en una instancia de intervención de formato taller, en donde se elicitan las ideas, creencias y percepciones del equipo de gestión de la empresa, que conducen a la exploración e identificación de los atributos para la elaboración de estrategias de retención del talento de la organización. A esto se suma, el diseño de la Arquitectura, Modelo de sistema e Interfaz del Sistema Software para una instancia posterior de intervención on-line con el grupo de empleados de la empresa. El objetivo a posteriori es priorizar los atributos identificados por el equipo de conducción de la empresa a fin de diseñar las estrategias de retención del empleado.Fil: Salamon, Alicia G. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Boaglio, Laura. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Cuozzo, José Domingo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Pedrotti, Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Cabrera, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil: Pérez, Sofía. Instituto Universitario Aeronáutico. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina.Matemática Aplicad

Nucleotide sequence and analysis of pRC12 and pRC18, two theta-replicating plasmids harbored by Lactobacillus curvatus CRL 705

The nucleotide sequences of plasmids pRC12 (12,342 bp; GC 43.99%) and pRC18 (18,664 bp; GC 34.33%), harbored by the bacteriocin-producer Lactobacillus curvatus CRL 705, were determined and analyzed. Plasmids pRC12 and pRC18 share a region with high DNA identity (> 83% identity between RepA, a Type II toxin-antitoxin system and a tyrosine integrase genes) and are stably maintained in their natural host L. curvatus CRL 705. Both plasmids are low copy number and belong to the theta-type replicating group. While pRC12 is a pUCL287-like plasmid that possesses iterons and the repA and repB genes for replication, pRC18 harbors a 168 amino acid replication protein affiliated to RepB, which was named RepB’. Plasmid pRC18 also possesses a pUCL287-like repA gene but it was disrupted by an 11 kb insertion element that contains RepB’, several transposases/IS elements, and the lactocin Lac705 operon. An Escherichia coli / Lactobacillus shuttle vector, named plasmid p3B1, carrying the pRC18 replicon (i.e. repB’ and replication origin), a chloramphenicol resistance gene and a pBluescript backbone, was constructed and used to define the host range of RepB’. Chloramphenicol-resistant transformants were obtained after electroporation of Lactobacillus plantarum CRL 691, Lactobacillus sakei 23K and a plasmid-cured derivative of L. curvatus CRL 705, but not of L. curvatus DSM 20019 or Lactococcus lactis NZ9000. Depending on the host, transformation efficiency ranged from 102 to 107 per μg of DNA; in the new hosts, the plasmid was relatively stable as 29–53% of recombinants kept it after cell growth for 100 generations in the absence of selective pressure. Plasmid p3B1 could therefore be used for cloning and functional studies in several Lactobacillus species.Fil: Teran, Lucrecia Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Cuozzo, Sergio Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Aristimuño Ficoseco, Maria Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Fadda, Silvina G.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Chaillou, Stéphane. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; FranciaFil: Champomier Vergès, Marie Christine. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; FranciaFil: Zagorec, Monique. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique; FranciaFil: Hebert, Elvira Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Raya, Raul Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentin

Ketogal Safety Profile in Human Primary Colonic Epithelial Cells and in Mice

In our previous studies, a ketorolac–galactose conjugate (ketogal) showed prolonged anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity, causing less gastric ulcerogenic effect and renal toxicity than its parent drug ketorolac. In order to demonstrate the safer profile of ketogal compared to ketorolac, histopathological changes in the small intestine and liver using three staining techniques before and after repeated oral administration in mice with ketorolac or an equimolecular dose of its galactosylated prodrug ketogal were assessed. Cytotoxicity and oxidative stress parameters were evaluated and compared in ketorolac-and ketogal-treated Human Primary Colonic Epithelial cells at different concentrations and incubation times. Evidence of mitochondrial oxidative stress was found after ketorolac treatment; this was attributable to altered mitochondrial membrane depolarization and oxidative stress parameters. No mitochondrial damage was observed after ketogal treatment. In ketorolac-treated mice, severe subepithelial vacuolation and erosion with inflammatory infiltrates and edematous area in the intestinal tissues were noted, as well as alterations in sinusoidal spaces and hepatocytes with foamy cytoplasm. In contrast, treatment with ketogal provided a significant improvement in the morphology of both organs. The prodrug clearly demonstrated a safer profile than its parent drug both in vitro and ex vivo, confirming that ketogal is a strategic alternative to ketorolac

Aplicación de soda en equipos de desarrollo de software científico-técnico

El presente trabajo aplica una modificación a la metodología Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA) en el campo de la mejora continua de procesos de software. La hipótesis de este trabajo es que los mapas conceptuales, como representación gráfica de los modelos cognitivos de los decisores, son una herramienta que puede ser utilizada en situaciones donde el problema tenga impacto potencial y no haya situaciones de conflicto preexistentes entre los decisores. Se presenta una experiencia en la que líderes técnicos y de gestión de equipos de software debían identificar y priorizar áreas de mejora siguiendo los lineamientos de SODA y Haciendo el Viaje. La elaboración de mapas cognitivos individuales fue remplazada por una dinámica para consensuar objetivos comunes y elicitar una visión compartida.Fil: Salamon, Alicia G. Instituto Universitario Aeronáutico. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina.Fil: Cuozzo, José D. Instituto Universitario Aeronáutico. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina.Fil: Patricio Maller, María A. Instituto Universitario Aeronáutico. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina.Fil: Boggio, Natalia C. Instituto Universitario Aeronáutico. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina.Fil: Mira, Sofía B. Instituto Universitario Aeronáutico. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina.Fil: Pérez, Francisco J. Coenda. Instituto Universitario Aeronáutico. Facultad de Ingeniería; Argentina.Otras Ingenierías y Tecnología