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The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of two new ultrasound-based techniques (ShearWave PLUS elastography [2-D-SWE PLUS], SSp PLUS Imaging [SSp PLUS]) implemented on the Aixplorer Mach 30 ultrasound system (Supersonic Imagine, Aix-en-Provence, France) for the non-invasive assessment of liver steatosis and fibrosis, using transient elastography (TE) with the controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) as reference. This monocentric cross-sectional study included 133 consecutive adult patients with chronic hepatopathies. Liver stiffness and steatosis were evaluated in the same session using the techniques mentioned above. An excellent correlation was observed between liver stiffness measurements obtained with 2-D-SWE PLUS and TE (r = 0.92, p0.0001). The best cutoff value of 2-D-SWE PLUS for predicting F≥2 was 6.8 kPa; for F≥3, 8.4 kPa; and for F4, 11 kPa. With respect to steatosis evaluation, a strong negative correlation between CAP and SSp PLUS values (r = -0.70, p0.0001) was obtained. The best SSp PLUS cutoff value for predicting steatosis was 1537 m/s.

In kidney exchange programmes patients with end-stage renal failure may exchange their willing, but incompatible living donors among each other. National kidney exchange programmes are in operation in ten European countries, and some of them have already conducted international exchanges through regulated collaborations. The exchanges are selected by conducting regular matching runs (typically every three months) according to well-defined constraints and optimisation criteria, which may differ across countries. In this work we give integer programming formulations for solving international kidney exchange problems, where the optimisation goals and constraints may be different in the participating countries and various feasibility criteria may apply for the international cycles and chains. We also conduct simulations showing the long-run effects of international collaborations for different pools and under various national restrictions and objectives. We compute the expected gains of the cooperation between two countries with different pool sizes and different restrictions on the cycle-length. For instance, if country A allows 3-way cycles and country B allows 2-way cycles only, whilst the pool size of country A is four times larger than the pool size of country B (which is a realistic case for the relation of Spain and France, respectively), then the increase in the number of transplants will be about 2% for country A and about 37% for country B.

New durable elastomeric materials are commercially available for 3D printing, enabling a new class of consumer wearable applications. The mechanical response of soft 3D printed lattices can now be tailored for improved safety and comfort by (a) leveraging functional grading and (b) customizing the outer envelope to conform specifically to the anatomy of the subject (e.g. patient, athlete, or consumer). Furthermore, electronics can be unobtrusively integrated into these 3D printed structures to provide feedback relating to athletic performance or physical activity. A proposed sensor system was developed that weaves unjacketed wires at two distinct layers in a lattice to form a complex capacitor; the capacitance increases as the lattice is compressed and can detect lattice deformation. A structure was fabricated and demonstrated with both static compression as well as low-velocity impact to highlight the utility for wearable applications. This work is focused on improving the performance of American football helmets as highlighted by the National Football League (NFL) Helmet Challenge Symposium; however, the lattice sensing concept can be extended to metal and ceramic lattices as well-relevant to the automotive and aerospace industries.

Starting with late 2018, a new archaeological research project has been unfolding in the framework funded by the Romanian Governmental Unit for Research and Development (UEFISCDI) dedicated to top fundamental research, as one of the few winners of 2016 edition (the single to date) of ‘Complex Projects for Frontier Research’ competition. The Project, whose aims and methods will be shortly presented further, is entitled ‘Hidden Landscapes: Exploratory Remote-sensing for the Archaeology of the Lost Roads, Borders and Battlefields of South-Eastern Carpathians’ (HiLands). It implements a systematic and diachronic investigation of the historic strategic circulation corridors crossing the South-Eastern part of the Carpathian Mountains – the main gate used along ages by people transiting between Transylvania and the Danube or the Black Sea. In order to achieve such aims we have been exploring, starting from large scale LiDAR surveys, the circulation corridors’ diachronic archaeological fingerprint, preserved in the shape of repeatedly fortified landscapes. LiDAR surveys have been carried on continuously since 2018, by airplane, but also with portable sensors based on SLAM technology. The results of the LiDAR explorations were enhanced by field surveys, geophysical prospections and pin-pointed excavations, in order to elucidate the nature of anomalies or better contextualize the significance and layout of the roads’ routes. The results of these activities are resumed in a constantly updated, open access, online data base of archaeological sites - The archaeological index of South-Eastern Carpathians (AISEC). The current contribution details the essentials of HiLands research (aims, concepts, methods), in order to introduce in the scientific circuit the AISEC’s functions and instruments, ready to be used as citable work.

The hormone fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) modulates tissue metabolism and circulates at higher levels in metabolic conditions associated with chronic sleep-wake disruption, such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. In the present study, we investigated whether acute sleep loss impacts circulating levels of FGF21 and tissue-specific production, and response pathways linked to FGF21. A total of 15 healthy normal-weight young men participated in a randomised crossover study with two conditions, sleep loss versus an 8.5-hr sleep window. The evening before each intervention, fasting blood was collected. Fasting, post-intervention morning skeletal muscle and adipose tissue samples underwent quantitative polymerase chain reaction and DNA methylation analyses, and serum FGF21 levels were measured before and after an oral glucose tolerance test. Serum levels of FGF21 were higher after sleep loss compared with sleep, both under fasting conditions and following glucose intake (~27%-30%, p = 0.023). Fasting circulating levels of fibroblast activation protein, a protein which can degrade circulating FGF21, were not altered by sleep loss, whereas DNA methylation in the FGF21 promoter region increased only in adipose tissue. However, even though specifically the muscle exhibited transcriptional changes indicating adverse alterations to redox and metabolic homeostasis, no tissue-based changes were observed in expression of FGF21, its receptors, or selected signalling targets, in response to sleep loss. In summary, we found that acute sleep loss resulted in increased circulating levels of FGF21 in healthy young men, which may occur independent of a tissue-based stress response in metabolic peripheral tissues. Further studies may decipher whether changes in FGF21 signalling after sleep loss modulate metabolic outcomes associated with sleep or circadian disruption.

Wireless body area networks (WBANs) play a paramount role in modern health-care systems and bring numerous benefits. Modern WBANs provide a promising service especially for elderly people suffering from heart disease, Alzheimer, etc., which enable them to live safely and independently. Medical institutions tend to use WBANs to provide real-time monitoring of remote patients outside hospitals, which helps saving their lives by means of instant and proper responses at emergency situations. However, in 2020, the world was affected by COVID-19 pandemic and thousands of new cases are discovered daily all over the world. The pandemic provoked a serious lack in professional staff and in many countries there were not enough beds in hospitals for patients with COVID-19 symptoms. This in turn increases the demand for WBANs, which can help medical institutions to withstand harmful consequences of the pandemic and to ensure regular patients monitoring. In this context, very recently, Fotouhi et al. proposed a new lightweight authentication scheme to secure patient's sensitive data in WBANs. The authors claimed that their scheme is secure against various known attacks and is efficient to be applied in practice. However, we analyze Fotouhi et al.'s scheme and find out that their scheme is prone to several attacks. In this paper, we point out the weaknesses associated with their proposed lightweight authentication scheme.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of four ultrasound-based techniques for the non-invasive multiparametric (MPUS) assessment of liver fibrosis (LF), steatosis (HS), and inflammation in patients with NAFLD. We included 215 consecutive adult patients with NAFLD (mean age: 54.9 ± 11.7; 54.5% were male), in whom LF, HS, and viscosity were evaluated in the same session using four new ultrasound-based techniques embedded on the Aixplorer MACH 30 system: ShearWave Elastography (2D-SWE.PLUS), Sound Speed Plane-wave UltraSound (SSp.PLUS), Attenuation Plane-wave UltraSound (Att.PLUS), and Viscosity Plane-wave UltraSound (Vi.PLUS). Transient Elastography (TE) with Controlled Attenuation Parameter (CAP) (FibroScan) were considered as control. All elastographic measurements were performed according to guidelines. Valid liver stiffness measurements (LSM) were obtained in 98.6% of patients by TE, in 95.8% of patients by 2D-SWE.PLUS/Vi.PLUS, and in 98.1% of patients by Att.PLUS/SSp.PLUS, respectively. Therefore, 204 subjects were included in the final analysis. A strong correlation between LSMs by 2D-SWE.PLUS and TE (r = 0.89) was found. The best 2D-SWE.PLUS cut-off value for the presence of significant fibrosis (F ≥ 2) was 7 kPa. Regarding steatosis, SSp.PLUS correlated better than Att.PLUS with CAP values: (r = −0.74) vs. (r = 0.45). The best SSp.PLUS cut-off value for predicting the presence of significant steatosis was 1524 m/s. The multivariate regression analysis showed that Vi.PLUS values were associated with BMI and LSM by 2D-SWE.PLUS. In conclusion, MPUS was useful for assessing fibrosis, steatosis, and inflammation in a single examination in patients with NAFLD.

Designing a sample to be made by FDM 3D printing is a fundamental problem in further studies related to such printed structures as material properties vary depending on filament orientation and G-code particularities. Samples designed to simulate wall structures inside 3D printed parts have been tested to allow separate evaluation of key components in such parts. Results show a very long plastic region in filaments without imperfections. As filament strands break steps of similar values appear in the reaction force measured by the machine.

Additive manufactured smart wearables are establishing an increasingly firm foothold within the monitoring of physical activities. A tiler was the use case proposed by this study, which seeks to monitor changes in their typically kneeling work position with the goal of tracking behaviour and alleviating long-Term damage due to incorrect posture. This paper has described the development process of a conformal kneepad with embedded sensing, obtained by means of interposing flexible tactile sensors between 3D printed elastomeric layers. Topology optimization is employed towards material reduction in the context of tailoring the kneepad design for the differentiated loading which the case study imposes. Considerations on the inherent challenges of overmolding flexible geometries are provided along with a design-To-fabrication process description which visits 3D printing, post-processing and 3D scanning. The use of the latter enables the creation of a fully conformal design, optimized for the perfect fit on each individual wearing the kneepad. The topology optimization is validated numerically and the ability of the kneepad to react to different pressure stimuli is tested with a robot arm, capable of simulating different contact angles and load cases. By means of dedicated electronics, the sensed information is modulestreamed over WiFi and tactile images are formed on a user-friendly terminal. The kneepad concept ultimately serves as a case study for extended additive manufactured smart wearables, with potential to be extended towards autonomous feedback and posture correction systems.

The concept of clearing or netting, as defined in the glossaries of European Central Bank, has a great impact on the economy of a country influencing the exchanges and the interactions between companies. On short, netting refers to an alternative to the usual way in which the companies make the payments to each other: it is an agreement in which each party sets off amounts it owes against amounts owed to it. Based on the amounts two or more parties owe between them, the payment is substituted by a direct settlement. In this paper we introduce a set of graph algorithms which provide optimal netting solutions for the scale of a country economy. The set of algorithms computes results in an efficient time and is tested on invoice data provided by the Romanian Ministry of Economy. Our results show that classical graph algorithms are still capable of solving very important modern problems., 13 pages, 7 figures

Communicating smart entities in the Internet of Things (IoT) environment using cloud technology makes human daily life more convenient and brings benefits in various fields. After the occurrence of the novel coronavirus, the demand for remotely managed systems will significantly raise up to mitigate the harmful consequences of social distancing and to increase the systems’ efficiency as well. In such systems, sharing relevant information among honest entities over public connection brings numerous security risks. In this context, in 2020, Wazid et al. proposed a new lightweight authentication mechanism for cloudbased IoT environment called LAM-CIoT. Their mechanism uses multi-factor authentication and provides real-time data access from the deployed IoT-sensors. Wazid et al. argued that the mechanism they proposed is stable, efficient and scalable. However, we find out that Wazid et al.’s mechanism shows weaknesses and is incomplete. In this paper, we briefly introduce Wazid et al.’s mechanism and expound that their mechanism is still unstable and not suitable to be applied in practice.

The use of additive manufacturing within the fieldof mechatronics creates exciting oportunities for the integrationof digital systems into advanced mechanical devices. This paperhas investigated the design considerations inherent to the the3D printing of a conductive interface between a microcontrollerand a digital sensor. The leads of the sensor and the pinsof the microcontroller were successfully coupled exclusivelythrough a 3D-printed coupling consisting of both conductiveand non-conductive FDM material, manufactured in a singleprint on an entry-level device. The coupling has been removedand repositioned several times with no functionality change,proving that the 3D printing considerations were valid in termsof maintaining sufficient pressure on the component terminalsso as to create enough conductive paths within the materialto drive the sensor properly. An impedance analysis andoperational testing have been performed, and considerationsconcerning the robustness of the design have been drawn, allwith respect to future improvements and the expansion towardsrelated applications.

Night shift work has been suspected to increase breast cancer risk but epidemiological studies have been inconsistent due to heterogeneous assessment of exposure to night work. To overcome this limitation, we pooled data of five population-based case-control studies from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and Spain into a single harmonized dataset using a common definition of night work including 6093 breast cancer cases and 6933 population controls. The odds ratio for breast cancer in women who ever worked at night for at least 3 h between midnight and 5 a.m. as compared to never night workers was 1.12 (95% CI 1.00-1.25). Among pre-menopausal women, this odds ratio was 1.26 [1.06-1.51], increasing to 1.36 [1.07-1.74] for night shifts ≥ 10 h, 1.80 [1.20-2.71] for work ≥ 3 nights/week, and 2.55 [1.03-6.30] for both duration of night work ≥ 10 years and exposure intensity ≥ 3 nights/week. Breast cancer risk in pre-menopausal women was higher in current or recent night workers (OR = 1.41 [1.06-1.88]) than in those who had stopped night work more than 2 years ago. Breast cancer in post-menopausal women was not associated with night work whatever the exposure metric. The increase in risk was restricted to ER+ tumors, particularly those who were both ER+ and HER2+ . These results support the hypothesis that night shift work increases the risk of breast cancer in pre-menopausal women, particularly those with high intensity and long duration of exposure. Risk difference between pre- and post-menopausal women deserves further scrutiny.

Gaucher Disease (GD) is a rare inherited lysosomal storage disease caused by biallelic mutations in the gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme acid β-glucocerebrosidase, with progressive accumulation of the sphingolipid glucosylceramide in the lysosomes of macrophages, mainly in the liver, spleen, bone, and bone marrow. It is characterized by anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, sometimes severe bone involvement and, in certain forms, neurological involvement. We present the case of a 77-year-old male, diagnosed in 2006, at 63, with GD type1. At the onset, the patient presented fatigue, asthenia, upper abdominal discomfort, skin pallor and minor bone pain. During follow-up, CT was performed and displayed an enlarged spleen (25 cm) and a well-defined mass in the kidney cortex, but it could not establish whether it was malignant or not. Considering the patient refused surgery at that moment, a new CT exam was performed six months later, and the kidney tumor significantly increased in size. Nephrectomy and necessity splenectomy were performed, and recovery was uneventful. The histopathological examination revealed clear cell renal cell carcinoma, grade 2 Fuhrman. Enzyme substitution therapy with Imiglucerasum was initiated in 2012 with favorable evolution. Seven years later, during a routine ultrasound follow-up, a 4/3.8 cm hyperechoic mass was found in the eighth liver segment. The biological tests revealed a high value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-185.2 ng/mL). Considering the patient’s history, possible diagnoses of the newly found focal liver lesion were: gaucheroma, metastasis secondary to kidney cancer, or a primitive liver tumor. Core biopsy was performed, and it was suggestive of a poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma G3. A non-anatomical resection of liver segments VII and VIII with partial resection of inferior vena cava was performed, followed by full post-operative recovery. A histopathological examination confirmed the initial diagnosis. Currently, one month postoperatively, the patient in good clinical condition, continues the enzyme replacement treatment and is undergoing oncological follow-up. We presented a complex case of GD, diagnosed at an advanced age, who responded well to substitution therapy in regard to hematologic and bone symptoms, but who unfortunately developed two types of cancer managed aggressively despite the advanced age.

Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of interconnected smart devices which provides tremendous benefits and can be applied in various fields including, but not limited to, healthcare, monitoring, and transportation. Since late of 2019, the world faces coronavirus (COVID-19) which has harmful consequences in humans’ life and economy. Reducing human interaction is the most important health measure to avoid the spread of the infection. In this context, leveraging IoT and cloud-based technology help to remedy COVID-19 consequences by means of enabling individuals to manage their essential activities remotely with minimum engagement. However, sharing and gathering sensitive information over public insecure channel brings enormous security risks. To avoid these risks, we present a new practical lightweight multi-factor authentication and authorization scheme for real-time data access in IoT cloud-based environment, called LMAAS-IoT. Our scheme is suitable for, but not limited to, managing large scale systems such as health infrastructures. LMAAS-IoT is secure, efficient and strengthens user anonymity using dynamic index. Our design supports high scalability systems with efficient user registration process in which the legitimate user can access current as well as newly added system entities without further processes. We employed “one-way cryptographic hash functions” along with “bitwise XOR operations”. In addition, a fuzzy extractor algorithm is used at user side to verify user’s biometric information. LMAAS-IoT is analyzed for security with the help of the widely used “Real-Or-Random (ROR)” model; proof of correctness using BAN-logic; formal security verification using the broadly accepted “Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications (AVISPA)” tool as well as the informal security analysis. LMAAS-IoT is also implemented using NS-3.31 simulator to demonstrate the practicability of our design. Finally, LMAAS-IoT provides more desired attributes and achieves mutual authentication with low computation and communication cost compared with other existing schemes.

The design freedom offered by 3D printing is transformative and has been leveraged to fabricate structural electronics with multi-functionality. A proposed approach to extend this concept is to print three-dimensional jigsaw subsections of a structure with mortise and tenon features, populate the superficial surfaces with wires and components and then fuse the pieces together to allow for arbitrary placement of the electronics within the final structure. By constructing the final structure with multiple pieces, a diversity of materials (e.g. stiff and flexible) can also be leveraged in order to create new applications like bladder pumps, shape-to-fit flexible wearables, etc. The paper explores the mechanical utility by measuring shear and butt joint strength of fused vat photopolymerized pieces. Once validated, several demonstrations were designed and implemented to illustrate how consolidating a group of mated complex pieces can enable novel applications including wearables, soft robotics, and spatially-efficient electronics.

In this paper the novel high-temperature resistant polymers with nonlinear optical properties have been synthesized, characterized and tested for use in electro-optical components with high bit rate optical signal processing systems and for dynamic holography. The characterization that has been reported include the measurement of second-order nonlinear susceptibility by second harmonic generation, UV-VIS spectroscopy, XRD measurement dielectric relaxation, glass transition temperature and molecular weight distribution before and after artificial ageing. Also, we have done AFM investigations and profilometry measurements for stamp patterning layers. The application of the new polyimides for electro-optic devices has been evaluated by creation of thin oriented polymer films on various substrates and preparation of planar and strip waveguides.

This paper has explored the design considerations pertaining to the 3D printing of a fully autonomous mechatronic device, consisting of an on-board battery powering a standard DC motor without the need of wires or any other classical joining methods. The achieved goal was to make exclusive use of 3D printing to manufacture both the non-conductive geometry of the enclosure and the conductive paths necessary for transmitting the power through the circuit. A conductive connector was designed to provide a snap fit on the battery terminals while contacting the motor terminals at enough pressure to overcome the internal resistance and ensure current flow. The non-conductive holder which applies the required pressure to maintain the assembly in conductive contact was subjected to topology optimization, with future optimization strategies also discussed. The assembly was then manufactured and operational testing was performed, demonstrating a working product.

The ring frame is the last machine in the technological process to obtain a high quality yarn. The existing machines in textile industry of our country are equipped with drafting assembly suitable for a series of adjustments. Besides this, the ring frames ensure high draft. The efficiency of this high drafts can be justified through their influence on ring frame production. Another technologic parameter that is related on one hand to the yarn quality and on the other hand to the production is the spindles speed. In this paper it is presented a solution for spinning process optimisation for a yarn Nm 52 made by 45% wool and 55% polyester.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnosis performance of time-harmonic elastography (THE) technique in real life in assessing liver fibrosis, considering vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) as a reference method. Material and Method: We prospectively evaluated outpatients from the gastroenterology department. Liver stiffness (LS) was measured by the THE system by dedicated operators, and by VCTE by experienced operators. The diagnostic accuracy of THE in staging liver fibrosis was assessed. We also performed an intra- and interobserver reproducibility sub-analysis on a sub-group of 27 subjects, where liver stiffness measurements (LSM) were performed by a novice, an elastography expert, and an ultrasound expert. Results: Of the 165 patients, using VCTE cut-off values, 49.6% were F0-F1, 15.7% were F2, 6.6% were F3, and 28.1% were F4. A direct, significant and strong correlation (r = 0.82) was observed between LSM assessed by VCTE and THE, p < 0.0001. The cut-off for ruling out liver cirrhosis (LC) by THE on our study group was 1.83 m/s (10 kPa)-AUROC = 0.90 [95% CI (0.82–0.93)], p < 0.0001, Se = 65.1%, Sp = 96.7%, PPV = 90.3%, NPV = 85.7%. The overall agreement between examiners was excellent: 0.94 (95% CI: 0.89–0.97); still, the ICCs were higher for the more experienced elastography examiner: 0.92 (95% CI: 0.82–0.96) vs. 0.94 (95% CI: 0.87–0.97) vs. 0.97 (95% CI: 0.95–0.99). Conclusions: THE is a feasible and reproducible elastography technique that can accurately rule in and rule out advanced liver disease.

In multi-channel Wireless Mesh Networks (WMN), each node is able to use multiple non-overlapping frequency channels. Raniwala et al. (MC2R 2004, INFOCOM 2005) propose and study several such architectures in which a computer can have multiple network interface cards. These architectures are modeled as a graph problem named \emph{maximum edge $q$-coloring} and studied in several papers by Feng et. al (TAMC 2007), Adamaszek and Popa (ISAAC 2010, JDA 2016). Later on Larjomaa and Popa (IWOCA 2014, JGAA 2015) define and study an alternative variant, named the \emph{min-max edge $q$-coloring}. The above mentioned graph problems, namely the maximum edge $q$-coloring and the min-max edge $q$-coloring are studied mainly from the theoretical perspective. In this paper, we study the min-max edge 2-coloring problem from a practical perspective. More precisely, we introduce, implement and test four heuristic approximation algorithms for the min-max edge $2$-coloring problem. These algorithms are based on a \emph{Breadth First Search} (BFS)-based heuristic and on \emph{local search} methods like basic \emph{hill climbing}, \emph{simulated annealing} and \emph{tabu search} techniques, respectively. Although several algorithms for particular graph classes were proposed by Larjomaa and Popa (e.g., trees, planar graphs, cliques, bi-cliques, hypergraphs), we design the first algorithms for general graphs. We study and compare the running data for all algorithms on Unit Disk Graphs, as well as some graphs from the DIMACS vertex coloring benchmark dataset.

Background Liver stiffness (LS) measurement by elastographic methods is a noninvasive technique for the evaluation of liver fibrosis, which could also be used for predicting the presence of esophageal varices (EV) in patients with liver cirrhosis. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate two ultrasound based elastographic methods as non-invasive markers for predicting the presence of EV, in a cohort of alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients. Material and Method The study included 77 patients diagnosed with compensated alcoholic liver cirrhosis, who underwent both upper endoscopy and LS assessment by two elastographic methods -Transient Elastography (TE) (Fibroscan/EchoSens) and Point shear wave elastography - Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTQ) (Siemens Acuson S2000). Reliable LS measurements were defined for both methods as the median values of 10 measurements with an interquartile range/median ratio (IQR/M) Results 56 patients out of 77 had valid measurements by both elastographic methods and were included in the final analysis, 40/56 patients with EV. The best cut-off values to rule out the presence of EV in our cohort of alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients, with a NPV of 100% were: ≤ 20.1 kPa for TE (AUROC – 0.9; sensitivity-100%; specificity- 28%; PPV- 56%; NPV- 100%, Lr- 0, LR+1.38) and ≤ 2.1 m/s for VTQ (AUROC – 0.85; sensitivity-100%; specificity- 18%; PPV- 52%; NPV- 100%, Lr- 0, LR+1.21). Conclusion Using for TE the cut-off value ≤ 20.1 kPa and VTQ ≤ 2.1 m/s we can rule out quite accurately the presence of EV in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

The evolution of multipurpose sensors over the last decades has been investigated with the aim of developing innovative devices with applications in several fields of technology, including in the food industry. The integration of such sensors in food packaging technology has paved the way for intelligent food packaging. These integrated systems are capable of providing reliable information about the quality of the packed products during their storage period. To accomplish this goal, intelligent packs use a variety of sensors suited for monitoring the quality and safety of food products by recording the evolution of parameters like the quantity of pathogen agents, gases, temperature, humidity and storage period. This technology, when combined with IoT, is able to provide a lot more information than conventional food inspection technologies, which are limited to weight, volume, color and aspect inspection. The original system described in this work relies on a simple but effective method of integrated food monitoring, right at the client home, suitable for user prepared vacuum-packed foods. It builds upon the IoT concept and is able to create a network of interconnected devices. By using this approach, we are able to combine actuators and sensing devices also providing a common operating picture (COP) by sharing information over the platforms. More precisely, our system consists of gas, temperature and humidity sensors, which provide the essential information needed for evaluating the quality of the packed product. This information is transmitted wirelessly to a computer system providing an interface where the user can observe the evolution of the product quality over time.

Background In the current literature, there is only a small number of studies that have evaluated the utility of point share wave elastography for pancreatic assessment. Objective To assess the feasibility of Virtual Touch Quantification (VTQ) elastography for pancreas assessment, as well as the mean pancreatic stiffness values in healthy subjects. Material and Method We included 70 subjects (52.8% women, 47.2% men, average BMI = 25.9 ± 4.9 kg/m2, average age 46.8 ± 18.4 years) with a normal pancreatic ultrasound aspect and with no history of pancreatic disease or diabetes, in whom elastography measurements were performed with a Siemens Acuson S2000 Virtual Touch ultrasound system (Siemens AG, Erlangen, Germany) using a 4CI transducer. For each patient, 10 valid VTQ measurements of the pancreatic parenchyma were performed under fasting conditions. Reliable measurements were defined as a median value of ten pancreas stiffness measurements with a success rate ≥ 60% and an interquartile range interval Results Out of 70 subjects, reliable measurements were acquired in 61 subjects (87.1%) by means of VTQ elastography. The mean pancreas stiffness values in healthy subjects was 1.26 m/s ± 0.1 m/s, CI 95% (1.24-1.28). There were no significant differences between the mean pancreas stiffness in men vs. women 1.25 m/s ± 0.09 m/s, CI 95% (1.21-1.28) vs. 1.28 m/s ± 0.1 m/s CI 95% (1.25-1.31) (p = 0.103). Conclusion VTQ can be a useful tool for pancreas quantification characterized by a good feasibility (87.1%) in healthy subjects. The mean pancreas stiffness values in healthy individuals was 1.26 m/s ± 0.1m/s.

Shift work involving circadian disruption was classified as probably carcinogenic (group 2A) by IARC in 2007 based on sufficient evidence in experimental animals and limited evidence in humans. To date, the evidence of an association between night shift work and breast cancer risk available from epidemiological studies remains limited, mainly because of the heterogeneity of exposure assessment methods that were used in these studies. Several meta-analyses have been conducted but could not adequately harmonise exposure assessment of shift work. To overcome this limitation, we are conducting a combined analysis of the major population-based case–control studies on breast cancer using a common definition of night work to characterise exposure. We will combine individual data from population-based studies with complete job histories and detailed night work schedules conducted in France, Germany, Spain, Canada, and Australia, including approximately 5000 breast cancer cases and 5000 controls. Breast cancer risk will be investigated in relation to a common definition of night work across the studies (e.g. at least 3 hours between midnight and 5 am), using exposure duration (in years), intensity (number of nights per month), and number of consecutive nights as the main exposure variables. Specific exposure windows during lifetime will also be considered. Analyses will also be conducted after stratification on occupation (healthcare, flight attendants, etc.) to assess the effect of occupation-specific patterns of night work schedule on breast cancer risk. We will also study the association of night work with breast cancer subtypes (ER, PR and HER2 receptor status). Sensitivity analyses using varying definitions of night work schedules will be conducted. Preliminary results will be presented at the meeting. This re-analysis of epidemiological data will provide further insight on the role of night work on breast cancer based on a large epidemiological dataset with high statistical power.

We propose a model for the calculation of the second order susceptibilities of groups II–VI and III–V compound semiconductors. The model is based on the assumption that the dominant effect that contributes to the second harmonic generation is the variation of the polar charge of the bond under the action of the laser radiation field. We show that a simple relation for the second order susceptibility in terms of the basic parameters of the bond follows from the dielectric theory of Phillips. This relation is checked for many experimental values for nonlinear susceptibilities of polar semiconductor compounds taken from the literature.

Conductive fibers, which are electrically conductive elements having the structure of a fiber, have a fairly long history and have been used for applications in electronic textiles as well as for aesthetics, anti-static and shielding purposes. Electrically conducting textile fibers, such as gold-coated threads, were produced in antiquity for aesthetic purposes, before the discovery of electricity, using various manufacturing methods. The textile intelligent systems, which comprise conducting textile structures (electroconducting wires or structures), present a dynamic behavior which favors the self regulation of the thermal insulation and vapor permeability with the purpose to maintain the thermo-physiological balance; the clothing assembly aims at monitoring the biologic potential, used only in critical situation (ex. accidents, falling down in a precipice etc.).

Among the foreground domains of all the research-development programs at national and international level, a special place is occupied by that concerning the nanosciences, nanotechnologies, new materials and technologies. Electrospinning found a well-deserved place in this space, offering the preparation of nanomaterials with distinctive properties and applications in medicine, environment, photonic sensors, filters, etc. These multiple applications are generated by the fact that the electrospinning technology makes available the production of nanofibers with controllable characteristics (length, porosity, density, and mechanical characteristics), complexity and architecture. The apparition of 3D printing technology favors the production of complex nanofibrous structures, controlled assembly, self-assembly of electrospun nanofibers for the production of scaffolds used in various medical applications. The architecture of fibrous deposits has a special influence on the subsequent development of the cells of the reconstructed organism. The present work proposes to study of recent progress concerning the production of controlled highly oriented electrospun nanofibrous arrays and progress in research on the production of complex 2D and 3D structures.

In this study, a novel robot control framework is presented for multiple autonomous underwater vehicles. In this framework, we incorporate sonar sensor data and integrated navigation system position data in a simulation environment, called UNBeatable-Sim, where complex control behaviors can be executed and analyzed. UNBeatable-Sim is developed by the COllaboration Based Robotics and Automation (COBRA) research group at the University of New Brunswick, Canada. Range and pose sensor data are accumulated in an ocean environment constructed using seabed data collected at Bedford Basin, Nova Scotia, Canada by DRDC Atlantic. A seabed map is generated from the real-world data using UNBeatable-Sim. The underwater vehicle and the seabed are simulated and visualized using OpenGL. An external controller implemented using Matlab and Simulink is used to control the robot model. Simulations of multiple underwater vehicles to navigate in the ocean environment to sense and map the seabed are performed using UNBeatable-Sim to assess the system architecture and controller performance.

The research is carried on as a project in the frame of the PHARE-TTQM program, a cooperation of INFLPR Bucharest, PRO OPTICA SA Bucharest and FORTH-IESL Heraklion-Greece. A new laser ablation technique, based on the enhanced free running (EFR) mode of operation of a Nd:YAG laser, is presented. In the EFR degree(s) mode it is possible to achieve a regular temporal structure of the laser spiking combined with the control of both amplitude and separation of the individual spikes. The stable fluence and power density of the spikes will increase the precision of the EFR laser ablation in comparison with the short free running technique. The short duration of the EFR spikes, combined with their large time separation, reduces the level of the thermal damage of the substrate. A surface processing laser device operating in EFR mode is under development with PHARE financial support in the Laser Department of INFLPR. Preliminary study of ablation of stone samples from Stavropoleos Monastery, Bucharest, using FORTH-IESL laser facilities, is presented.

This work presents the technological difficulties and solutions which have been encountered in the construction of a class of devices which use the effect of the interaction between acoustical and optical waves in crystals. An experimental setup for the study of this effect was realized. The connection and matching between the electrical, optical and mechanical components parts were also studied.