Nanopower CMOS transponders for UHF and microwave RFID systems

At first, we present an analysis and a discussion of the design options and tradeoffs for a passive microwave transponder. We derive a set of criteria for the optimization of the voltage multiplier, the power matching network and the backscatter modulator in order to optimize the operating range. In order to match the strictly power requirements, the communication protocol between transponder and reader has been chosen in a convenient way, in order to make the architecture of the passive transponder very simple and then ultra-low-power. From the circuital point of view, the digital section has been implemented in subthreshold CMOS logic with very low supply voltage and clock frequency. We present different solutions to supply power to the transponder, in order to keep the power consumption in the deep sub-µW regime and to drastically reduce the huge sensitivity of the subthreshold logic to temperature and process variations. Moreover, a low-voltage and low-power EEPROM in a standard CMOS process has been implemented. Finally, we have presented the implementation of the entire passive transponder, operating in the UHF or microwave frequency range

Salicylic acid for the treatment of melasma: new acquisitions for monitoring the clinical improvement.

OBJECTIVE: The Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) and the Melasma Severity Score (MSS) are calculated on the basis of only a subjective clinical assessment. This raises the need to have an objective score, uniform in the evaluation by different clinicians. The purpose of this study was to establish if the images by Canfield Reveal Imager can be correlated to MASI score to better evaluate the clinical efficacy of salicylic acid 33% peeling in the treatment of melasma respect to the clinical observation. METHODS: The study was a voluntary observational study. Twenty female patients affected with melasma, aged between 30 and 60 years, were included in the study. Treatment with salicylic acid 33% was performed once a month, for a total of four times. The dermatologist (Doc A) examined each patient's melasma areas using MASI score, at the face-to-face observation and at Reveal images evaluation during the first (T0) and the end point time (T4). Digital photographs were also evaluated by another experienced dermatologist (Doc B), who has never seen clinically the patients before and who evaluated MASI score by Reveal images at time T0 and T4. RESULTS: Student's t-test and linear regression test were performed, showing statistically significant values comparing MASI score obtained by digital photo and MASI score obtained clinically. CONCLUSION: The monitoring of the improvement by Reveal images can optimize the treatment approach and the efficacy of same dermocosmetics procedures can be revised following standard criteria

Fast analysis of large finite arrays with a combined multiresolution-SM/AIM approach

We present a synthesis of the sparse matrix/adaptive integral method (SM/AIM) and the multiresolution (MR) approach for the analysis of electrically large finite arrays, with planar or 3-D radiating elements; the two methods were separately introduced previously. The use of the MR has the effect of a preconditioner and speeds up the convergence rate of the SM/AIM of almost two orders of magnitude, with a total reduction of the numerical complexity with respect to the standard MoM of almost three orders of magnitude

Strobilurin Effects on Nitrogen Use Efficiency for the Yield and Protein in Durum Wheat Grown under Rainfed Mediterranean Conditions

In wheat, the increase in nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and optimization of the nitrogen doses to be used are both very important aspects for improving sustainable and productive agriculture. The aim of this study was to investigate, under rainfed Mediterranean conditions, the influence of strobilurin treatment and N fertilization on durum wheat N use efficiency for yield (NUEy) and protein (NUEp) and on the contribution of their components, nitrogen uptake efficiency (UPE) and nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUtE). Two durum wheat cultivars (Saragolla and Sfinge) were grown for two years in field conditions under five nitrogen treatments (60 kg ha−1 N60; 90 and 120 kg ha−1 given two and three times; N90, N90T3, N120 and N120T3) comparing a control without strobilurin treatment (ST0) and one application of strobilurin (STaz). In Sfinge, STaz caused a decrease in UPE and NUEp and an increase in NUtE and NUEy. In Saragolla, the opposite behavior was observed. Moreover, strobilurin positively affected the contribution of UPE and negatively that of NUtE to NUEy only in Saragolla. Furthermore, strobilurin determined higher NUEy and NUEp values under most of the N treatments adopted in the drier year. With this study, we supported the hypothesis that in Mediterranean conditions, the possibility of reducing N rate application from 120 to 90 kg ha−1 with a strobilurin-based treatment, even in the absence of fungal diseases, could represent a useful agronomic strategy for durum wheat grown under drought conditions as those predicted under the ongoing climate change

The effect of aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy on microcomedones and macrocomedones

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with aminolevulinic acid (ALA) has been shown to be an effective treatment for acne. However, the effect of ALA PDT on comedo formation has never been objectively evaluated. Cyanoacrylate follicular biopsy (CFB), a noninvasive procedure, has been proposed as the most reliable tool for studying follicular casts. Objective: To determine the possible effect of ALA and red light (550-700 nm) on macro- and microcomedones in acne patients. Patients and Methods: 10 patients with mild-to-moderate facial and/or chest/back acne resistant to conventional therapies received ALA PDT at 2-week intervals in 3 sessions. The severity of acne had been estimated by a system of points, the Global Acne Grading System. The patients underwent PDT utilizing ALA 10% (face) or 15% (back/chest) and red light (15 J/cm2 each session). CFBs were performed. Results: Four weeks after their last PDT session, the patients showed an average global score reduction of 50%. CFBs demonstrated a reduction in the total area, the average area and the density of macrocomedones. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study using CFB evaluation demonstrate that ALA PDT exerts an action on the comedogenic phase as well

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis of the vulva: The use of photodynamic therapy

Background: The evaluation of possible efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) in a rare condition of vulvar Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH), in a 43-years-old women with one year history of pruritic vulvar lesions. Main observations: After a cycle of 5 sessions of PDT, with aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in low percentage (5%), the patient reported an improvement of lesions, and an high improvement of local symptoms, with a significant reduction of itch and pain. Conclusions: Our case confirms this single experience of literature for the treatment of vulvar LCH by PDT, with an improvement of disease's symptoms, and can suggest the use of PDT for this rare and untreated disease

Right diaphragmatic injury and lacerated liver during a penetrating abdominal trauma: case report and brief literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Diaphragmatic injuries are rare consequences of thoracoabdominal trauma and they often occur in association with multiorgan injuries. The diaphragm is a difficult anatomical structure to study with common imaging instruments due to its physiological movement. Thus, diaphragmatic injuries can often be misunderstood and diagnosed only during surgical procedures. Diagnostic delay results in a high rate of mortality. METHODS: We report the management of a clinical case of a 45-old man who came to our observation with a stab wound in the right upper abdomen. The type or length of the knife used as it was extracted from the victim after the fight. CT imaging demonstrated a right hemothorax without pulmonary lesions and parenchymal laceration of the liver with active bleeding. It is observed hemoperitoneum and subdiaphragmatic air in the abdomen, as a bowel perforation. A complete blood count check revealed a decrease in hemoglobin (7 mg/dl), and therefore it was decided to perform surgery in midline laparotomy. CONCLUSION: In countries with a low incidence of inter-personal violence, stab wound diaphragmatic injury is particularly rare, in particular involving the right hemidiaphragm. Diaphragmatic injury may be underestimated due to the presence of concomitant lesions of other organs, to a state of shock and respiratory failure, and to the difficulty of identifying diaphragmatic injuries in the absence of high sensitivity and specific diagnostic instruments. Diagnostic delay causes high mortality with these traumas with insidious symptoms. A diaphragmatic injury should be suspected in the presence of a clinical picture which includes hemothorax, hemoperitoneum, anemia and the presence of subdiaphragmatic air in the abdomen

Corpi e politica. Generi, formazione, trasformazione della societ\ue0

Il presente focus monografico della Rivista Annali della Didattica e della Formazione Docente, attraverso il puntuale contributo di differenti voci e approcci teorici, offre alcuni approfondimenti e riflessioni in grado di ipotizzare da un lato nuove possibili modalit\ue0 di relazione tra i generi, in prospettiva emancipativa, dall\u2019altro nuove politiche (educative, formative, ecologiche, economiche, ma non solo) democratiche e trasformative

Il bullismo femminile a scuola. Tra disagio post-lockdown e la necessità di adottare posture epistemologiche di genere. I primi risultati di una ricerca nazionale su un fenomeno in crescita ma ancora difficile da individuare

La pandemia, il lockdown, la crisi economica, il vissuto di questi ultimi due anni hanno per sempre cambiato le esistenze di ognuno di noi. Niente è più come prima. Giovani e meno giovani hanno vissuto direttamente o indirettamente un dramma senza precedenti. Il biennio di COVID ha comportato lutti, distanziamento fisico, disuguaglianze, sofferenze di ogni genere. Vite spezzate. Abbracci spezzati. L’economia in crisi. La distanza fisica. Il controllo sociale. I primi mesi di pandemia sono stati questo e altro. Scuole chiuse. Smart working e DAD. Difficoltà sistemiche nella riorganizzazione pratico-logistica della scuola, dell’università, della pubblica amministrazione, di interi settori produttivi e commerciali. Tutti ci siamo forzatamente riadattati a questa nuova realtà digitale e polverizzata. A pagare maggiormente le conseguenze di tutto ciò sono state le categorie sociali “tradizionalmente” escluse e messe ai margini: indigenti, anziani, migranti, disoccupati e appunto i giovani, le/gli studenti