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Acoustic room geometry estimation is often performed in ad hoc settings, i.e., using multiple microphones and sources distributed around the room, or assuming control over the excitation signals. We propose a fully convolutional network (FCN) that localizes reflective surfaces under the relaxed assumptions that (i) a compact array of only two microphones is available, (ii) emitter and receivers are not synchronized, and (iii) both the excitation signals and the impulse responses of the enclosures are unknown. Our FCN is trained in a supervised fashion to predict the likelihood of reflective surfaces at specific distances and directions-of-arrival (DOA). When a single reflective surface is present, up to 80% of real and virtual sources are detected, while this figure approaches 50% in rectangular rooms. Experiments on real-world recordings report similar accuracy as with artificially reverberated speech signals, validating the generalization capabilities of the framework.

This is a poster presented at the 6th World Open Innovation Conference Objectives The study presents a semantic analysis to map the science, technology and innovation (STI) activities in the field of Artificial Intelligence in the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy). The study aims at fostering research-to-business collaborations; detecting existing and potential capabilities to address challenge-driven innovations. We identified which topics are covered, what is the relative regional specialisation, which are the key actors, and which are the internal and external linkages. Finally, we measured how the topics have been evolving in time and how the specific domain of Artificial intelligence is applied to solve societal challenges (SDGs). Methodology We analysed single STI records proceeding from different repositories. Text mining techniques were applied to the publication abstracts, patent descriptions and R&I project objectives to extract a wealth of textual information describing in detail STI activities and results. The methodology uses both automated text-mining computer techniques and qualitative and quantitative analysis.The approach is divided into the following steps: Extraction of documents produced by the regional research ecosystem; Definition of a vocabulary of key concepts that define the domain of research in Artificial intelligence Use of the vocabulary to identify, among the texts extracted in step 1, all those related to the domain of interest Fine-grained, unambiguous identification of the actors Quantitative analyses using the extracted data

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of diarrhea and its association with drug use in elderly outpatients. METHODS: The study was carried out by 133 general practitioners (GPs) who referred to 24 geriatric units in Italy. The demographic data, disability, gastrointestinal symptoms, and current medications were evaluated using a structured interview, including the evaluation of the activities of daily living (ADL), the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and the gastrointestinal symptoms rating scale (GSRS). RESULTS: The study included 5,387 elderly subjects who regularly completed the structured interview. In total, 488 patients (9.1% of the whole population, 210 men and 278 women, mean age 75.6 6.2 yr, range 65–100 yr) reported diarrhea, that is, items 11 and 12 of the GSRS, during the 7-day period before the interview. The prevalence of diarrhea significantly increased with older age (P= 0.025), the severity of ADL (P < 0.0001) and IADL disability (P < 0.0001), and the number of drugs taken (P= 0.0002). A multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of diarrhea was significantly associated with the use of antibiotics (odds ratio [OR] 4.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.95–10.73), proton pump inhibitors (OR 2.97, 95% CI 2.03–4.35), allopurinol (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.26–3.81), psycholeptics (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.26–2.61), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.01–2.89), and angiotensin II receptor blockers (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.08–1.99), also accounting for sex, age, and the use of antidiarrheal agents and drugs for functional gastrointestinal disorders. CONCLUSION: Diarrhea is a common problem in elderly outpatients. Its prevalence increases with old age, the severity of disability, and the number of drugs. Monitoring the presence of diarrhea and its complications in elderly patients who need treatments with drugs significantly associated with diarrhea may be clinically useful.

Background: Despite our knowledge that maternal inheritance influences the development of asthma in childhood, attempts to identify a clear-cut Th2-oriented cytokine production by T lymphocytes at birth have given conflicting results. The prognostic significance of these cells for asthma development later in life remains to be determined. Methods: We evaluated at the single cell level Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in 208 randomly selected cord blood mononuclear cell (CBMC) samples obtained from pregnant women (group A, n = 68 with diagnosed respiratory allergic disease; group B, n = 140, with no evidence of atopy), and prospectively followed newborns for 1 year. Results: There was no difference in IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-5 production at birth between both groups, whereas a correlation between CD4+IL13+ lymphocytes from CBMC samples derived from atopic mothers and the occurrence of wheezing and/or asthma during the 1st year of life was found. Conclusions: Our observations suggest that the intracellular cytokine profile of cord blood CD4+ cells, in terms of IL-13 production, could be considered a useful tool for a more accurate identification of newborns from atopic mothers who are at high risk of developing asthma.

This paper discusses one of the major problems of robotic grasping: how to determine the optimal position of the constraints on the object and the values of the forces that must be applied in order to have desired performance. A numerical method to solve the problem on the assumption of three points of contact with friction in bidimensional space is presented. The choice between the several possible solutions is made by an optimization criterion consisting of seeking the best response of the force system to the application of a disturbing external force. The proposed method has the advantage of being mainly based on simple geometrical considerations and requiring quite short computational time.

Synthese du macrocycle: constantes de basicite et de stabilite des complexes [ML] 2+ et [MHL] 3+ ou M=Cu, Ni. Enthalpies de formation des complexes. Etude RX de [CuL'](ClO 4 ) 2 L'=tetraaza-1,4,7,10 cyclotridecane

The reactions of 1,1,1-tris(N-methylaminomethyl) ethane (Me 3 tame) with nickel(II), copper(II), zinc(II) and hydrogen ions have been studied at 298 K in aqueous solution (0.5 mol dm −3 KNO 3 ) using potentiometric techniques. The equilibrium constants have been calculated using the computer program MIQUV. The stepwise equilibrium constants were obtained by combining the cumulative constants. Both basicity and stability constants have been compared with those previously reported for the similar nonmethylated triamine 1,1,1-tris(aminomethyl)ethane (tame). Me 3 tame is more basic than tame and forms less stable metal complexes. The ligand Me 3 tame has little tendency to form protonated complexes and only [Cu(Me 3 tame)H] 3+ was found.

This paper discusses one of the major problems of robotic grasping: how to determine the optimal position of the constraints on the object and the values of the forces that must be applied in order to have desired performance. A numerical method to solve the problem on the assumption of three points of contact with friction in bidimensional space is presented. The choice between the several possible solutions is made by an optimization criterion consisting of seeking the best response of the force system to the application of a disturbing external force. The proposed method has the advantage of being mainly based on simple geometrical considerations and requiring quite short computational time.

Synthese du macrocycle: constantes de basicite et de stabilite des complexes [ML] 2+ et [MHL] 3+ ou M=Cu, Ni. Enthalpies de formation des complexes. Etude RX de [CuL'](ClO 4 ) 2 L'=tetraaza-1,4,7,10 cyclotridecane

The effect of extremely-low-frequency electromagnetic fields on in-vitro mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was studied in two groups of healthy subjects (23 and 85 years, mean ages). An increase of cell proliferation was observed to be much higher in the group of aged subjects. The effects depended on the mitogen dose and involved interleukin-2 production and/or utilization. The DNA repair capability and cell survival in the exposed cultures after gamma irradiation was also evaluated, and no genotoxic effect was found. >