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Understanding and quantifying hydrology processes represent a mandatory step in semi-arid and arid regions for defining the vulnerability of these environments to climate change and human pressure, as well as for providing useful data to steer mitigation and resilience strategies. This generally valid concept becomes even more stringent for highly sensitive ecosystems, such as small islands.It is the case of Pianosa Island (Tuscan Archipelago) that extends a few more than 10 km2 within the Tyrrhenian Sea and it is characterised by a flat morphology (maximum altitude 29 m a.s.l.) and semi-arid climate conditions (550 mm and 17 °C as mean annual precipitation and temperature).Because of the morphology and the medium-high permeability of superficial bio-calcarenite rocks, superficial water are absent. Nevertheless, the peculiar geological-hydrogeological setting guarantee a storage of groundwater in a phreatic aquifer and semi-confined/confined system, hitherto able to satisfy the local human water demand, mainly tied to seasonal tourism (thousands of visitors/year) and domestic exigencies (less than 30 permanent people). Evapotranspiration represents the most important voice of the water budget, given the windy and relative high temperature conditions.In the precarious hydro-equilibrium for biosphere and human communities, and considering sea-level rise and climate regime trends that the Mediterranean is experiencing, HYDRO-ISLAND project (UNESCO’s program) intends to deploy a multi-disciplinary approach (geology, hydrogeology, geochemistry, geophysics, remote sensing-smart technology) for better understanding and quantifying the hydrological processes affecting the water availability and for sharing data and transfer knowledge to the community and younger generations, possibly suggesting best practices for water sustainability.First results pointed out as over the last decade the annual rainfall weakly tended to increase, but at the same time such increasing resulted concentrated in summer and autumn seasons, whereas during winter and spring a decreasing tendency is even observed. This precipitation regime has led to a major rate of evapotranspiration and minor effective infiltration that caused a decreasing of piezometric level over several years. Quantity and chemical-isotopic features of rainfall and effective infiltration water measured/collected by a raingauge and a high precision lysimeter describe the hydrological processes at soil level and characterize the rate and seasonality of groundwater recharge in an experimental site. Using multispectral data by drone, we are trying to extend the experimental site information to a wider area in order to understand the general behaviour at island scale. Measurements, water sampling and analyses for shallow and deep wells, together with the study of geological constraints, are highlighting the distribution and relationship among different groundwater components, including the seawater that intrudes the aquifer from the SE side of the island. Furthermore, the comparative analyses of continuative data monitoring in wells and weather station showed the presence of possible concentrated water infiltration processes during rainfall extreme events that induce a quick response of groundwater systems in terms of water level rise and decrease of electrical conductivity. Thus, elements of vulnerability of the aquifer to pollution are pointed out, as well as the possibility to provide technical solutions for enhancing water infiltration and groundwater availability.

IntroductionPhotosynthetic organisms respond to nitrogen (N) deprivation with the slowdown of photosynthesis and electron transport resulting in the balance the carbon (C)/N ratio. Under this extreme condition, organisms trigger complex mechanisms to keep growing using different N sources and recycling N containing molecules. In particular, phytoplankton are able to uptake L-arginine (L-Arg) as an organic N source. L-Arg can be assimilated mainly by the arginase, arginine deimidase, arginine decarboxylase or L-amino oxidase pathways.ResultsWe analyzed the effect of different N sources on the growth of the green algae Ostreococcus tauri. N starvation caused an inhibition of culture growth and a decrease in chlorophyll content. The addition of L-Arg to an N-deprived medium promotes a sustained growth rate of O. tauri culture and the increase of chlorophyll levels. The transcript level of genes involved in N uptake and metabolism were increased in N-starved condition while the addition of L-Arg as the sole N source reduced their induction. Since the O. tauri genome lacks the classical pathways to metabolize L-Arg, another enzyme/s may be responsible for L-Arg catabolism. Previously, we characterized the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) enzyme from O. tauri (OtNOS) which oxidizes L-Arg producing nitric oxide (NO) and citrulline. The NOS inhibitor L-NAME blocks the effect promoted by L-Arg on N-deprived O. tauri growth. Besides, NO level increased in O. tauri cells growing in L-Arg containing medium, suggesting the participation of OtNOS enzyme in L-Arg metabolism during N starvation.DiscussionOur hypothesis suggests that, after NOS-dependent Arg degradation, non-enzymatic oxidation of NO produces N oxides (mainly NO2-) that are re-incorporated to the N primary metabolism. As expected, N deprivation increases the lipid content in Ostreococcus. The addition of L-Arg or NO2- as the sole N sources showed a similar increase in lipid content to N deprivation. In summary, our results demonstrate that L-Arg is able to function as N source in Ostreococcus. The evidences on an alternative pathway of N supply and metabolism in a photosynthetic microorganism are discussed. These results could also allow the development of biotechnological tools for increasing lipid production for industry.

BackgroundRepetitive blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) caused by exposure to high explosives is increasingly common among warfighters as well as civilians. While women have been serving in military positions with increased risk of blast exposure since 2016, there are few published reports examining sex as a biological variable in models of blast mTBI, greatly limiting diagnosis and treatment capabilities. As such, here we examined acute and chronic outcomes of repetitive blast trauma in female and male mice in relation to potential behavioral, inflammatory, microbiome, and vascular dysfunction.MethodsIn this study we utilized a well-established blast overpressure model to induce repetitive (3x) blast-mTBI in both female and male mice. Acutely following repetitive exposure, we measured serum and brain cytokine levels, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, fecal microbial abundance, and locomotion and anxiety-like behavior in the open field assay. Chronically, in female and male mice we assessed behavioral correlates of mTBI and PTSD-related symptoms commonly reported by Veterans with a history of blast-mTBI using the elevated zero maze, acoustic startle, and conditioned odorant aversion paradigms.ResultsRepetitive blast exposure resulted in both similar and disparate patterns of acute serum and brain cytokine as well as gut microbiome changes in female and male mice. Acute BBB disruption following repetitive blast exposure was apparent in both sexes. While female and male blast mice both exhibited acute locomotor and anxiety-like deficits in the open field assay, only male mice exhibited chronic adverse behavioral outcomes.DiscussionRepresenting a novel survey of potential sex differences following repetitive blast trauma, our results demonstrate unique similar yet divergent patterns of blast-induced dysfunction in female vs. male mice and highlight novel targets for future diagnosis and therapeutic development.

Educators take special interest in engaging students in school-based social programming to foster their social and academic success. In this study, the authors investigated how educators conceptual...

Offshore engineering projects require the management of a huge amount of heterogeneous georeferenced data - among others metocean, geophysical, geotechnical, and environmental, which need a Data Model, data visualization and data analytics features on a common geographic basis. A Digital Data Platform (DDP) has been developed on a GIS ambient with the aim to speed up the engineering design process (i.e. minimization of routine operations), and also prevent misalignment of the data originating from different sources from Owner to Suppliers and any potential loss of information. The proposed GIS architecture is composed by two main components: i) the Data Model geodatabase, and ii) the GIS-Model Toolbar add-in. The proposed development represents a step forward on the definition of a common specification and dictionary for offshore project execution overcoming the current bottlenecking and inefficiency on the design phases between the project owner and the engineering contractor. The paper illustrates “what” and “how”, and in particular: i) the geodatabase and Data Model framework, ii) the required parameters to be organized and stored for offshore engineering design, and iii) the widgets implementation (i.e. GIS-based tools). Its application on a case study project with practical examples is presented.

Agricultural activities are potential sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of the most important non-carbon-dioxide GHGs. Perennial legumes such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) have potential roles for reduction of soil GHG emissions as part of crop rotation systems. However, the implications of perennial legume termination by tillage and subsequent soil incorporation of the residues for reduced GHG emissions have been poorly examined in Mediterranean environments. With the aim to assess the magnitude of soil N2O emissions (important for the definition of mitigation strategies) after perennial legume termination in alfalfa-wheat crop rotation systems in a Mediterranean environment, we defined the hypothesis that alfalfa termination by tillage with incorporation of the crop residues will increase soil N2O emissions during the subsequent wheat season. To test this hypothesis, closed static chambers were used in a field–plot experiment, using a complete randomised block design with three replicates. Soil N2O emissions were monitored across 33 sampling dates from October 2017 to July 2018, as a comparison between an original 6-year-old alfalfa field (‘continuous alfalfa’) and alfalfa termination followed by wheat (‘alfalfa+ wheat’). The soil N2O emission fluxes varied markedly across the treatments and throughout the monitoring period (from – 0.02±0.01 to 0.53±0.14 g N-N2O ha–1 h–1, and from 0.02±0.07 to 0.37±0.11 g N-N2O ha–1 h–1 for continuous alfalfa and alfalfa+wheat, respectively), generally following the changes in soil temperature. Several soil N2O emission peaks were recorded for both treatments, which mainly coincided with rainfall and with increased soil water content. In the 2 months following alfalfa termination, alfalfa+wheat showed higher cumulative weekly soil N2O emissions compared to continuous alfalfa. Following alfalfa termination for alfalfa+wheat, the increased cumulative weekly soil N2O emissions appeared to be due to asynchrony between nitrogen (N) released into the soil from mineralisation of the alfalfa residues and N uptake by the wheat. Despite these initial high soil N2O emissions for alfalfa+wheat, the seasonal cumulative soil N2O emissions were not significantly different (0.77±0.09 vs 0.85±0.18 kg N-N2O ha–1 for continuous alfalfa and alfalfa+wheat, respectively). These data suggest that legume perennial crop termination in alfalfa–wheat rotation systems does not lead to significant loss of N2O from the soil. The alfalfa termination by tillage performed in autumn might, on the one hand, have slowed the mineralisation process, and might, on the other hand, have synchronised the N release by the mineralised crop residues, with the N uptake by the wheat reducing the soil N2O emissions. Highlights - Soil N2O emissions peak after alfalfa termination and rainfall. - Soil N2O emissions increase after spring alfalfa mowing. - Seasonal cumulative soil N2O emissions are similar for alfalfa and alfalfa followed by wheat. - Mitigation effects of perennial legume on soil N2O emissions are not lost after termination by tillage under alfalfa-wheat rotation.

In the digitalization era, the increasing number of connected appliances and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) enabled a new realm of possibilities in the residential energy sector, including the chance for a consumer to play an active role in flexibility programs. We talk about demand-side flexibility (DSF) when a consumer adapts his/her energy consumption behavior in response to variable energy prices or market incentives. The procedure depends on a two-way communication between an energy supplier and a customer, and his/her willingness to act on the electricity consumption. The success of the different DSF approaches is strongly related to the estimation of appliance usage patterns and AI techniques represent a viable solution.

Most peer mentoring studies have focused on outcomes for mentees. This investigation examines seventh- and eighth-grade youth mentors’ roles in providing support and companionship to younger peer mentees. Group concept mapping (GCM) explored youth mentors’ reflections on the connections and relationships made through a peer mentoring program, 2 to 4 years after participating in the program. Results showed three key concepts: (a) Communication Skills, (b) Relationships With Mentees, and (c) Connections With School and Staff. Mentors noted their improved communication skills with mentees and improved interpersonal relations with fellow mentors and school staff. Implications and future research are discussed.

High quality chronic disease management requires coordinated care across different healthcare settings, involving multidisciplinary teams of professionals, and performance evaluation systems able to measure this care. Inter-organizational performance should be measured considering the professional relationships between general practitioners (GPs) and specialists, who are usually linked through informal referral networks. The aim of this paper is to identify and evaluate the performance of naturally occurring networks of GPs and hospital-based specialists providing care for congestive heart failure (CHF) patients in Tuscany, Italy. The analysis focuses on the identification and classification of networks, following CHF patients (n = 15,841) through primary care and inpatient care using administrative data, and on the assessment of process and outcome indicators for CHF patients in these referral networks. We demonstrate the existence of informal links between GPs and hospitals based on patterns of patient flow. These networks which are not geographically based vary in the intensity of relationships and quality of care. Such referral networks may represent the most effective accountability level for chronic disease management, since they encompass the multiple care settings experienced by patients. Overall, an integrated approach to evaluation and performance management that considers the naturally occurring links between professionals working in different settings may enable more efficient, integrated care and quality improvements.

Nitric oxide (NO) is a signal molecule produced in species of all kingdoms of life. In animals, NO is synthesized by NO synthases (NOSs) enzymes using l -arginine as substrate. In the plant kingdom, findings showed the presence of NOS in several algal species but none in land plants. In recent years, a singular NOS from cyanobacteria was characterized with a globin domain in the N-terminus. Transgenic plants expressing the microalgal and cyanobacterial NOSs showed gain of functions. Here we will discuss the key features of NOS expressed in photosynthetic organisms and we will reinforce the idea of a novel role for NOS, associated to nitrogen metabolism in higher plants.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) synthesizes NO from the substrate L-arginine (Arg). NOS with distinct biochemical properties were characterized from two photosynthetic microorganisms, the unicellular algae Ostreococcus tauri (OtNOS) and the cyanobacteria Synechococcus PCC 7335 (SyNOS). In this work we studied OtNOS and SyNOS recombinantly expressed in E. coli and analyzed bacterial growth and tolerance to nitrosative stress. Results show that the expression of OtNOS and SyNOS promotes bacterial growth and allows metabolizing Arg as N source. In accordance to a high NO producing activity, OtNOS expression induces the hmp flavohemoglobin in E. coli, suggesting that this strain is sensing nitrosative stress. The addition of 1 mM of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is toxic and generates a strong nitrosative stress. The expression of OtNOS or SyNOS reduced SNP toxicity restoring bacterial growth. Finally, using bioinformatic tools and ligand docking analyses, we propose tetrahydromonapterin (MH4), an endogenous pterin found in E. coli, as potential cofactor required for NOS catalytic activity. Our findings could be useful for the development of biotechnological applications using NOS expression to improve growth in bacteria.Key points- The NO synthase (NOS) from photosynthetic microorganisms were expressed in E. coli- Expression of NOS increases bacterial growth and tolerance to nitrosative stress.- Ligand docking analyses indicate tetrahydromonapterin (MH4) as potential NOS cofactor in E. coli.

In this mixed methods case study, we investigated the benefits of being a youth mentor to younger peers as part of the Fourth R: Uniting Our Nations Peer Mentoring Program for Indigenous youth. Data were collected from 11 youth mentors via interviews and returned to them for interpretation and meaning-making through a statement sorting and rating activity as part of a group concept mapping procedure. The group concept mapping revealed three themes: (a) Cultural Connections, (b) Benefits to Self, and (c) Relationships with Family and Friends. Implications for programming are discussed and the benefit of group concept mapping as a culturally appropriate methodology is highlighted.

The sequence-stratigraphic analysis of continental and shallow marine successions is a helpful tool for investigating the cyclicity of the sedimentary record. A similar approach is adopted in the present study to illustrate the composite cyclothemic facies architecture that characterizes the Piacenzian strata of the southern Valdelsa Basin (Central Italy). Specifically, we integrated facies analysis, paleopedology, paleobiology of marine mollusk assemblages and biostratigraphy to assess the response of geomorphic, sedimentary and biotic systems to Piacenzian multifrequency relative sea-level fluctuations. This integrated approach resulted in the definition of a composite sequence-stratigraphic framework that includes a hierarchy of units ranging from the elementary to the composite depositional sequences, referred to the 5th to 3rd order cycles of sea-level fluctuations, respectively. A correlation with the Piacenzian oxygen isotopic signature of glacial and interglacial stages and related sea-level fluctuations associates the cyclic development of fluvial, coastal and shallow marine depositional systems to the mid-Piacenzian Warm Period and to the subsequent transition to the Gelasian. Thus, the glacio-eustatic control prevailed on the development of the described multi-scale cyclical pattern of sedimentation, compared to the role played by the deformation of the Northern Apennines orogen.

The Contessa Section is a reference section for the early Miocene in the Mediterranean. Along this 36 m thick section 115 samples were collected and analysed for an integrated bio-magnetostratigraphic study through the Scaglia Cinerea and Bisciaro formations. Planktonic foraminifera were analysed semi-quantitatively, while calcareous nannofossils were examined using the standard quantitative method. A reliable biozonation for both fossil groups was then accomplished. The paleomagnetic analyses identified a sequence of magnetozones, then correlated with the ATNTS using the calcareous plankton bioevents. The investigated interval extends from foraminiferal Zone P22 (Chattian) to MMi2c (Burdigalian) and from calcareous nannofossils Zone MNP25a to MNN3a, thus from Chron C7An to C5En. Therefore, the section chronologically spans from 24.80 Ma to 18.10 Ma. Three hiatuses were recognised along the section: H1 at 0.63 m from the base (comprising a minimum time interval from 24.36 Ma to 23.38 Ma), H2 at 12.33 m (between 21.80 Ma and 21.35 Ma) and H3 at 34.03 (between 19.21 Ma and 18.40 Ma). All three hiatuses were correlated with regional megahiatuses identified in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Paratethys area. Furthermore, the First Occurrence of the calcareous nannofossil Helicosphera ampliaperta is recognised within Chron C6An.2n at 19.77 m from the base (6 m above the volcaniclastic Raffaello Level). This event provisionally defines the Aquitanian/Burdigalian boundary according to the literature. Thus, the Contessa Section is a possible candidate for the definition of the Burdigalian Global Stratigraphic Section and Point. Finally, the age of the Raffaello Level (a regional marker horizon for the early Miocene) is discussed in this new integrated stratigraphic framework, falling in Chron C6AAn and dated between 21.09 Ma and 21.08 Ma.

TriLumina develops and manufactures flip-chip VCSEL technology used in 3D sensing applications that must meet automotive grade 1 temperature range (-40˚C to 125˚C) performance and be tested to high reliability standards and criteria (AEC-Q102). Advances in VCSEL efficiency, performance and automotive qualification of TriLumina’s selfhermetic flip-chip VCSEL are discussed. TriLumina’s VCSEL-on-board (VoB), surface-mount technology VCSEL is introduced.

In this paper a Stress Detection System based on Machine Learning Algorithms (MLAs), keyboard and mouse data is presented. The development of this system is composed by three steps. Firstly, each user performs some tasks while a web application framework collects data from keyboard and mouse. At the end of each task, he/she communicates the stress level in order to create the stress class. Secondly, from collected data, features extraction and features selection procedures through a Neighborhood Component Analysis (NCA) are implemented. Lastly, three MLAs, trained with features as input and stress classes as output, are implemented to detect stress.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

In an Energy Management (EM) scenario, photovoltaic (PV) generation systems could lead to an important cost-saving and "shiftable loads" (e.g., dishwasher, washing machine, cooker hood) play an important role. Among all "shiftable loads", electric boiler has considerable importance since it can be considered as a thermal storage. In this perspective, it is crucial to know the typical usage patterns and the state of charge of this appliance. In this paper, a methodology to identify the electric boiler usage patterns and to estimate its state of charge is presented.

In a reconfigurable manufacturing scenario, control system design needs innovative approaches to face the rapid changes in hardware and software modules. The control system should be able to automatically tune its parameters to enhance machine performances and dynamically adapt to different control objectives (e.g., minimize control efforts or maximize tracking performances) while preserving at the same time stability and robustness properties. In this paper, a robust control system for permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), together with an online self-tuning method, is presented. In particular, a robust discrete-time variable structure control (VSC) has been designed. A heuristic bio-inspired approach has been then implemented on a digital signal processor (DSP) to find the VSC parameter set which minimizes a specific objective function each time a novel speed reference is provided. Experimental results on a PMSM motor show the effectiveness of the proposed controller and tuning method, with noticeable improvements with respect to the original manufacturer-designed controller.

Mobile and pervasive computing enabled a new realm of possibilities into the indoor positioning domain. Although many candidate technologies have been proposed, no one can still adapt to every use case. A case centered design and the implementation of the solution within the specific domain is the current research trend. With the rise of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Beacons, i.e., platforms used to interact digitally with the real world, more standard positioning solutions are emerging in different contexts. However the reachable positioning accuracy with this technology is still unacceptable for some real applications (e.g., in the healthcare sector or the emergency management). In this paper, an hybrid localization application coupling a real time model based Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR) technique and the analysis of the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of BLE beacons is proposed. In particular, the smartphone application is composed by three main real time threads: a model based step length estimation, heading determination and the fusion of beacon information to reset the position and the drift error of the PDR. In order to give soundness to our approach we firstly validated the step length smartphone app with a stereo-photogrammetric system. The whole proposed solution was then tested on fifteen healthy subjects.

The joint position constraints of two cooperative robotic manipulators is a critical issue, especially when both manipulators grasp and move the same object. When two robots cooperate to move a grasped object from one point to another one, following a desired path, the general solution adopted in the literature is to use the kinematic redundant motions possessed by a single manipulator, in order to avoid joint constraints. However, this method requires a number of redundant motions at least equals to the number of joint constraints to satisfy. The study proposed in this paper is focused on developing a joint position limits avoidance strategy, which is able to satisfy all joint limits even when the number of redundant motions are no longer sufficient to ensure them with a classical approach. This is achieved by means of a supervisory control system, which allows to locally and temporary change the desired end-effectors motion, when the redundant motions are not available. The supervisory control sacrifices the path following task in order to ensure joint position limits avoidance, while preserving at the same time the relative end-effector motion, such that the stability of the grasped object is still ensured. The proposed strategy has been implemented on a commercial robot, namely Baxter, which possesses two anthropomorphic arms having one degree of redundancy. The obtained results prove the effectiveness of the proposed supervisor controller, which can be easily extended and applied in manufacturing scenario. Whereas path following can be temporary sacrificed (e.g., the grasped object can be moved from one point to another in different ways), the joint constraints must be strictly preserved for safety reasons.

We have recently shown that in humans submaximal mouth opening associated with partial masticatory movements for 10 min is followed by a small but significant and prolonged reduction of blood pressure and heart rate. We here report the effects of a fixed mouth opener. In 22 seated normotensive volunteers the effect on blood pressure and heart rate was studied in randomized order after fixed mandibular extension and after a control procedure consisting in keeping a stick between the incisor teeth (both for 10 min). Automated recordings every 10 min were done for 40 min before and 120 min following the procedure. Two-way ANOVA for repeated measures on absolute values (actual recordings) and on changes from baseline revealed that, compared to controls, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure and heart rate were significantly lower after mandibular extension. Compared to controls, mandibular extension induced an average blood pressure drop of 2.88 mmHg (systolic), 2.55 mmHg (diastolic) and 2.42 mmHg (mean) over the entire observation period. The average decline over the central part of the observation period (30th to 80th min) was, respectively, of 3.62, 3.70 and 3.61 mmHg. The decrements of heart rate were of 2.11 and 2.66 beats per min. All these differences were statistically significant. The hypotensive and bradycardic responses persisted for 70–120 min. This study shows that, in normotensives, a single fixed submaximal mouth opening for 10 min is followed by prolonged albeit small reductions of blood pressure and heart rate.

In this paper, a Machine-Learning Based Emotion Recognition System in patients with Parkinson’s disease is presented. The development of this system is composed of three steps. Firstly, each user is required to execute an experimental protocol while a simple device (i.e., smartwatch), worn on the wrist, collects data. During the experimental protocol, a nine-point clinical scale and a commercial emotion recognition software have been used to identify emotions. Secondly, from smartwatch data, features extraction is implemented. Lastly, a Machine Learning Algorithm (MLA) is trained with extracted features as input and emotion classes as output.

An increasing number of security breaches in North America are the result of stolen or weak credentials yet many businesses have not adapted their user authentication strategies to account for this vulnerability. This paper presents a preliminary study on a purely statistical keystroke dynamics authentication system that provides an additional layer of security on top of traditional username and password authentication. This form of authentication will reduce the threat of stolen or weak credentials for virtually any system which uses a standard keyboard for authentication. Our model produced an FRR and FAR as low as 2.54% and 0% respectively which is an improvement over other statistical keystroke dynamics authentication models.

The wireless communication networks have been dominated the wired communication networks, throughout the past decades. In order to gain substantial performance most of the nodes have to be placed in line of sight. Furthermore, line of sight communication is a must for visible light communication systems. Achieving the optimum relay node placement with line of sight communication configuration within unstructured real environment is quite a demanding goal. Authors have addressed the problem using an evolutionary approach in terms of maximizing the coverage and connectivity of the nodes. The novel algorithm is evaluated for 2D non-uniformly obstructed simulation environment.

Nowadays, one of the keys for the success of ICT technologies, in particular in the e-Health realm, is “Usability”. Self-assessment questionnaires are the most diffuse procedure for its evaluation. However, this procedure presents various limitations (e.g., subjectivity, needs of expert supervisors, etc.). In this paper, a methodology based on emotion recognition, web analytics and gaze detection is developed in order to asses usability of e-Health web platforms objectively, automatically, remotely and in the wild.

Telemonitoring of AutoPAP device connected to a pulse oxymetry allows for a comprehensive adjustments of treatment pressure at patients’ home. We examined the accuracy of AutoPAP/CPAP titration based on telemedicine as compared to home respiratory poligraphy (HRP). Twenty patients were recruited, with mean age 53.9 (13.3) years, 4 females, BMI 34.7 (4.6), 30% were sleepy, 55.5% with hypertension. They all had severe OSA (range): baseline HRP-AHI 31.2-95.1; HRP-ODI (3%) 38.4-119; baseline mean SaO2 78%-94%. We used a AirSense 10 AutoSet with a Resmed’s Airview platform that allows wireless data transfer and remote assessment of data and control of the device. AutoPAP/CPAP use, mask leak, AHI, mean SaO2, ODI (3%), Nadir SaO2 were assessed daily during a period of 7 days. Only 13 patients were remotely switched to CPAP. HRP was repeated at the end of pressure titration. PAP values of the last 3 days were considered (mean use>6 hrs). PAP values and HRP values were analyzed using Bland-Altman plots. PAP values were (range): AHI 0.1-7.8; ODI 1-19; SaO2 91%-98%. HRP values were (range): AHI 0.3-8.3; ODI 1-12.5; SaO2 92%-97%. The average differences were: AHI-HRP vs AHI-PAP -0.22 (95% limits of agreement -4 and 3.5); ODI-HRP vs ODI-PAP -0.28 (95% limits of agreement -5.6 and 6.2). We demonstrated that in severe OSA, AutoPAP/CPAP titration can be successfully accomplished within 7 days at home through remote daily monitoring of respiratory events and oxymetry.

MoBeTrack (Mobile Behaviour Tracking) is a toolkit for automated collection of data necessary to support User Experience (UX) assessment of mobile applications. In contrast to existing frameworks, it is able to collect user demographic information (i.e., age and gender), trace any user interaction and recognize user’s emotions during the use of an application. An SDK for iOS allows to easily embedding the toolkit in every mobile application in a flexible and scalable way.

In this paper a Real-Time L-dopa-Induced Dyskinesia (LID) Detection System based on Machine Learning Algorithms (MLAs) and simple devices such as smartphone and smartwatch is presented. The implementation of this system was performed in three steps. Firstly, the data collection is carried out, where each patient wears the smartwatch and completes some tasks, while a smartphone application captures data. Secondly, features in time and frequency domain were extracted from smartwatch data and used as input for the training of different off-line MLAs. Lastly, the best algorithm found has been integrated into a mobile App in order to real-time monitor the smartwatch data and detect LID.

In the last years, the development of robots for assisting and collaborating with people has experienced a large growth. Applications for assistive robots include hospital service robots, factory intelligent assistants and personal homecare robots. Working in shared environments with human beings, these robots require effective ways to achieve an increasing human-robot cooperation. This work presents a possible approach for performing human-robot cooperation, namely recognition of a user selected object by means of Brain Computer Interface (BCI), followed by pick and place via a robotic arm. The object selection is achieved introducing a BCI that allows the user, after a training phase, to choose one among six different objects of common diffusion. The selection is achieved by interpreting the P300 signals generated in the brain, when the image of the object, desidered by the user, appears on a computer screen as a visual stimulus. The robot then recognizes, through a classifier, the selected object among others within its workspace, and inscribes it in a rectangle shape. Finally, the robot arm is moved in correspondence to the object position, the gripper is rotated according to the object orientation and the object grasped and moved into a different position on a desk in front of the robot. This system could support people with limited motor skills or paralysis, playing an important role in structured assistive environments in a near future.

The I Sodi section is exposed in the homonymous quarry in the northern sector of the Siena Basin, one of the most extended Neogene-Quaternary post-collisional basins of the northern Apennines. The section is composed almost exclusively of marine mudstone containing a rich fossil assemblage and has been extensively investigated in past and recent times. It represents a key section to define the time interval of marine deposition in the Siena Basin and more generally in the inner northern Apennines, with important structural and stratigraphic implications.The marine infill of the Siena Basin is traditionally attributed to the Zanclean-Piacenzian (Pliocene) age. However, recently published data provided a more recent age for the I Sodi section (Calabrian, Lower Pleistocene) and, consequently, for the Siena Basin. This paper provides new data on this scientific debate, from sedimentological and biostratigraphical investigations. Analyses of planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossils have been carried out in order to better constrain the depositional age of the section. As a result, this section is now dated more accurately to the Piacenzian and possibly to the lowermost Gelasian in its upper part.

Planktonic foraminifera are widely used for biostratigraphy and correlation of Mediterranean Neogene marine sediments, and are a fundamental component in the astronomical tuning of the Neogene Time Scale. Recent developments in high-resolution studies, focused on the astronomical calibration of cyclically marine sediments cropping out in land-based sections and recovered from deep-sea successions, increased the accuracy of stratigraphic ranges of planktonic foraminiferal species improving the biostratigraphic resolution and biochronology. The large amount of data on planktonic foraminifera obtained through quantitative/semiquantitative analyses, published in the recent years, allowed the revision of many biohorizons and their calibrations. We incorporate these developments and emendments into the existing Mediterranean planktonic foraminiferal biozonation. Therefore, in this paper, we present an emended Standard Mediterranean planktonic foraminiferal biozonation with a detailed description of zones and subzones within the framework of the Astronomical Tuned Neogene Time Scale 2004 and 2012 (ATNTS2004, ATNTS2012) and we provide the range chart of the most common planktonic foraminiferal taxa and the quantitative distribution pattern of selected marker species. Twenty-two biozones and thirty-one subzones that span the past 23 million years have been identified. We distinguished them using the following code system: MMi1 to MMi13, and NDZ (for the time interval related to the Messinian Salinity Crisis): Mediterranean Miocene biozones, MPl1 to MPl6: Mediterranean Pliocene biozones (according to the Gelasian as the uppermost stage of the Pliocene Series/Epoch), and MPle1 to MPle2: Mediterranean Pleistocene biozones (according to the Calabrian as the lowermost stage of the Pleistocene Series/Epoch). We assembled 118 Neogene planktonic foraminiferal biohorizons from multiple datasets, and incorporated the calibration of these bioevents into a revised Neogene planktonic foraminiferal biochronology. The revised and recalibrated data provide a major progress in biostratigraphic and biochronologic resolution and a template for future progress of the Neogene time scale. Unfortunately, two main gaps of planktonic foraminiferal quantitative data occur in the late Burdigalian, between 16.12 Ma and 17.23 Ma, and at Aquitanian/Burdigalian boundary, between 19.74 Ma and 20.66 Ma, due to the absence of high-resolution studies of these time intervals in the Mediterranean.

In this paper a L-dopa-Induced Dyskinesia Detection System based on Machine Learning Algorithms (MLAs), smartwatch data and a smartphone is presented. The development of this system was performed in three steps. In the first step each patient wears the smartwatch and fulfills some tasks while the smartphone Application captures data. The second phase is the features extraction from acceleration and angular velocity signals and the application of a Z-score normalization. In the last step two MLAs, trained with these features as input, are implemented in order to detect dyskinesias.

Nitric oxide (NO) is an essential signal molecule to maintain cellular homeostasis in uni and pluricellular organisms. Conceptually, NO intervenes as much in sustaining basal metabolic processes, as in firing cellular responses to changes in internal and external conditions, and also in guiding the return to basal conditions. Behind these unusual capabilities of NO is the chemistry of this molecule, an unstable, reactive, free radical and short half-life gas. It is a lipophilic molecule that crosses all the barriers that biological membranes can impose. The extraordinary impact that the elucidation of physiological processes regulated by NO has had on plants, is comparable to the consequences of the discovery in 1986 that NO is present in animal tissues, and the following deep studies that demonstrated its biological activity regulating blood pressure. In this review, we have summarized and discuss the main discoveries that have emerged at Mar del Plata University over the past 20 years, and that have contributed to understand part of the biology of NO in plants. Besides, these findings are put in context with the progress made by other research groups, and in perspective, emphasizing that the history of NO in plants has just begun. Fil: del Castello, Fiorella Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina Fil: Nejamkin, Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina Fil: Cassia, Raul Oscar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina Fil: Correa Aragunde, Maria Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina Fil: Fernández, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina Fil: Foresi, Noelia Pamela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina Fil: Lombardo, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina Fil: Ramírez, Leonor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina Fil: Lamattina, Lorenzo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina

In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to design a user interface for commercial Smart Home Systems (SHS), following the needs of visually or hearing impaired users. The interface is able to transform visual information and alarms into audio signals and vice versa by using a mobile application. The aim of the interface is to make a commercial SHS usable for visually or hearing-impaired people, while maintaining a high level of acceptability, due to the use of an inclusive device, i.e., the smartphone.

The enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) oxidizes L-arginine to NO and citrulline. In this work, we characterise the NOS from the cyanobacteria Synechococcus PCC 7335 (SyNOS). SyNOS possesses a canonical mammalian NOS architecture consisting of oxygenase and reductase domains. In addition, SyNOS possesses an unusual globin domain at the N-terminus. Recombinant SyNOS expressed in bacteria is active, and its activity is suppressed by the NOS inhibitor L-NAME. SyNOS allows E. coli to grow in minimum media containing L-arginine as the sole N source, and has a higher growth rate during N deficiency. SyNOS is expressed in Synechococcus PCC 7335 where NO generation is dependent on L-arginine concentration. The growth of Synechococcus is dramatically inhibited by L-NAME, suggesting that SyNOS is essential for this cyanobacterium. Addition of arginine in Synechococcus increases the phycoerythrin content, an N reservoir. The role of the novel globin domain in SyNOS is discussed as an evolutionary advantage, conferring new functional capabilities for N metabolism. Fil: Correa Aragunde, Maria Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina Fil: Foresi, Noelia Pamela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina Fil: del Castello, Fiorella Paola. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina Fil: Lamattina, Lorenzo. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina

In this paper a robust Fall Detection Algorithm by using a deep learning approach and a low-cost mobile robot equipped with an RGB camera is presented. This method consists of four steps. The first step is the user detection, achieved by a real-time video stream and a Deep Learning approach. Once the user is detected, then its position is estimated in the second step. In the third step, if a fall is detected, a photo is acquired and a pre-registered audio message asks the user how he is. In the last step the photo and the audio captured are sent to a Telegram Bot (TB) in order to alert family members or caregivers. Tests have been performed in a real scenario.