Design of Wireless Sensor Nodes for Structural Health Monitoring applications

Enabling low-cost distributed monitoring, wireless sensor networks represents an interesting solution for the implementation of structural health monitoring systems. This work deals with the design of wireless sensor networks for health monitoring of civil structures, specifically focusing on node design in relation to the requirements of different structural monitoring application classes. Design problems are analysed with specific reference to a large-scale experimental setup (the long-term structural monitoring of the Basilica S. Maria di Collemaggio, L’Aquila, Italy). Main limitations emerged are highlighted, and adopted solution strategies are outlined, both in the case of commercial sensing platform and of full custom solutions

Avaliação de antibiose e não-preferência em cultivares de milho selecionados com resistência a lagarta-do-cartucho.

Dentre os fatores que contribuem para reduzir a produtividade das lavouras de milho estao as pragas, destacando-se a lagarta-do-cartucho, Spodoptera frugiperda, a qual pode reduzir a producao em ate 34%. Um dos metodos de controle de pragas, cujo custo e reduzido e nao causa efeitos indesejaveis ao ambiente, e o desenvolvimento de cultivares resistentes. Diversas fontes de resistencia foram identificadas, linhagens desenvolvidas, registradas e liberadas ao publico; entretanto, pouca informacao tem sido veiculada a respeito dos mecanismos e causas dessa resistencia. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar os mecanismos de resistencia, nao-preferencia e antibiose em genotipos de milho selecionados, com resistencia a S. frugiperda. Os ensaios foram conduzidos em laboratorio e em casa de vegetacao da EMBRAPA/CNPMS. O genotipo CMS 14C apresentou antibiose influindo negativamente na biologia de S. frugiperda. 'CMS 24' e 'CMS 23' apresentaram tambem esses mecanismo, porem em menor intensidade. Foi constatada nao-preferencia alimentar das lagartas para 'Zapalote Chico' e 'BR 201'. Nao-preferencia para oviposicao foi constatada em 'CMS 14C' e 'Zapalote Chico'

Insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase at serine-615 contributes to nitric oxide synthesis

Insulin stimulates endothelial NO (nitric oxide) synthesis via PKB (protein kinase B)/Akt-mediated phosphorylation and activation of eNOS (endothelial NO synthase) at Ser-1177. In previous studies, we have demonstrated that stimulation of eNOS phosphorylation at Ser-1177 may be required, yet is not sufficient for insulin-stimulated NO synthesis. We therefore investigated the role of phosphorylation of eNOS at alternative sites to Ser-1177 as candidate parallel mechanisms contributing to insulin-stimulated NO synthesis. Stimulation of human aortic endothelial cells with insulin rapidly stimulated phosphorylation of both Ser-615 and Ser-1177 on eNOS, whereas phosphorylation of Ser-114, Thr-495 and Ser-633 was unaffected. Insulin-stimulated Ser-615 phosphorylation was abrogated by incubation with the PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase) inhibitor wortmannin, infection with adenoviruses expressing a dominant-negative mutant PKB/Akt or pre-incubation with TNFα (tumour necrosis factor α), but was unaffected by high culture glucose concentrations. Mutation of Ser-615 to alanine reduced insulin-stimulated NO synthesis, whereas mutation of Ser-615 to aspartic acid increased NO production by NOS in which Ser-1177 had been mutated to an aspartic acid residue. We propose that the rapid PKB-mediated stimulation of phosphorylation of Ser-615 contributes to insulin-stimulated NO synthesis

Simultaneous Bilateral Flexion-Type Salter-Harris II Fractures of the Proximal Tibia: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

A rare case is reported of bilateral physeal lesions of the proximal tibia classified as Salter-Harris type II, which occurred simultaneously after a “flexion type” injury in a 14-year-old boy. Treatment was conservative on the nondisplaced side and surgical, by closed reduction and internal fixation, on the displaced side. There was no previous diagnosis of Osgood-Schlatter disease. After reviewing all the cases described previously, which occurred either consecutively or simultaneously, we conclude that less resistance of the growth plate, typical of late adolescence, likely represents the cause of this type of lesion

Multiple congenital bilateral trigger digits in a 2-year-old child: case report

Trigger finger is a rare condition in children. In this paper, we report on a 2-year-old boy with multiple congenital bilateral trigger digits. The patient had no history of perinatal trauma, viral or bacterial infections, or metabolic disorders. The patient was treated with physiotherapy for one year. At the one-year follow-up, the boy presented with six trigger fingers (3 on the right hand, 3 on the left hand). Neither thumb was involved. The six trigger fingers were treated surgically: first, the right-hand trigger fingers and, six months later, those of the left hand. After each operation, a 4-week brace in extension was applied to the operated hand. The symptoms were completely resolved after surgical treatment. Many authors have recommended surgical release for the treatment of trigger finger in children; empirical treatment with physiotherapy may be an option when symptoms present or appear at an older age

Dynamic titanium prosthesis based on 3D-printed replica for chest wall resection and reconstruction

3D-printing technologies can assist the surgical planning and prosthesis engineering for the management of extended chest wall resection. Different types of prosthesis have been utilized over time, but some concerns remain about their impact on the respiratory function. Here we present a new kind of 3D-printed titanium prosthesis designed to be either strong and flexible. The prosthesis was created on a 1:1 3D-printed anatomic replica of the chest, used to delineate surgical margins and to define the reconstructive requirements

Role of Notch2 pathway in mature B cell malignancies

In recent decades, the Notch pathway has been characterized as a key regulatory signaling of cell-fate decisions evolutionarily conserved in many organisms and different tissues during lifespan. At the same time, many studies suggest a link between alterations of this signaling and tumor genesis or progression. In lymphopoiesis, the Notch pathway plays a fundamental role in the correct differentiation of T and B cells, but its deregulated activity leads to leukemic onset and evolution. Notch and its ligands Delta/Jagged exhibit a pivotal role in the crosstalk between leukemic cells and their environment. This review is focused in particular on Notch2 receptor activity. Members of Notch2 pathway have been reported to be mutated in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma (SMZL) and Nodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma (NMZL). CLL is a B cell malignancy in which leukemic clones establish supportive crosstalk with non-malignant cells of the tumor microenvironment to grow, survive, and resist even the new generation of drugs. SMZL and NMZL are indolent B cell neoplasms distinguished by a distinct pattern of dissemination. In SMZL leukemic cells affect mainly the spleen, bone marrow, and peripheral blood, while NMZL has a leading nodal distribution. Since Notch2 is involved in the commitment of leukemic cells to the marginal zone as a major regulator of B cell physiological differentiation, it is predominantly affected by the molecular lesions found in both SMZL and NMZL. In light of these findings, a better understanding of the Notch receptor family pathogenic role, in particular Notch2, is desirable because it is still incomplete, not only in the physiological development of B lymphocytes but also in leukemia progression and resistance. Several therapeutic strategies capable of interfering with Notch signaling, such as monoclonal antibodies, enzyme or complex inhibitors, are being analyzed. To avoid the unwanted multiple “on target” toxicity encountered during the systemic inhibition of Notch signaling, the study of an appropriate pharmaceutical formulation is a pressing need. This is why, to date, there are still no Notch-targeted therapies approved. An accurate analysis of the Notch pathway could be useful to drive the discovery of new therapeutic targets and the development of more effective therapies

Post-traumatic malunion of the proximal phalanx of the finger. Medium-term results in 24 cases treated by "in situ" osteotomy

We report the clinical and radiographic medium-term results obtained for 20 patients (24 fingers) treated surgically for post-traumatic malunion of the proximal phalanx of the finger. In all cases we performed a corrective osteoclasia or osteotomy at the site of malunion, followed by miniplate and screw fixation or by screw fixation only. The corrective osteoclasia was performed when malalignment was addressed within six weeks after injury. Two patients who had two fractures underwent additional surgery (tenolysis and/or capsulolysis) to improve function and ROM. At the final follow-up, at a mean of 24 months after corrective surgery, good or excellent clinical and radiographic results were obtained in all the patients. The pseudoclaw deformity disappeared in all cases in which a volar angulation deformity was present. An average improvement of about 30% in the range of motion of the MP and PIP joints was observed; only 4 patients complained of mild pain at the maximum degrees of articular excursion of the MP and PIP joints. All the patients presented an improvement in grip strength. The mean DASH score in our series was 5 points. In two of the four cases treated by an intra-articular corrective osteotomy, mild radiographic signs of osteoarthritis at the MP joint were present. The data for this study confirm that "in situ" osteotomy stabilized by miniplates and/or screws is an effective procedure to correct post-traumatic malunions of the proximal phalanges of the fingers