IRIS - UNIRSM (Univ. degli Studi della Repubblica di San Marino)
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Technology-enhanced interaction with cultural heritage: an ancient Pan flute from Egypt
No full textDigital technology in museum practice provides new means of interaction with artifacts and collections. In particular, we need interactive installations in order to encourage and stimulate visitors to learn and understand archaeological musical instruments through engagement and active participation: these instruments (i.e., interactive artifacts per se) are de facto unplayable and inaccessible to visitors, as a consequence of their preservation issues. However, presenting artifacts to the general public is a complex task for their multifaceted nature, and digital technology must not sacrifice accuracy or depth of information for the sake of entertainment. Moreover, deploying digital technology is a multidisciplinary effort that requires an interplay among different fields, from history and archaeology to information engineering and craftsmanship. In this ar- ticle, we present a methodology to relate such disciplines in order to design a digital multimedia installation that promotes archaeological musical instruments in a museum. In defining the problem, we identify four different aspects to consider: the museum collection, the museum environment, the manufacturing opportunities for the installation, and the user experience. Such aspects are integrated in a design approach that is centered on Design Thinking. The proposed methodology is exem- plified in the designing and manufacturing of an installation for a Pan flute from Egypt dated back to 700 A.D., a case in which multisensory interaction is particularly important to convey the lost sound of the instrument. We describe in detail an installation (exhibited at the Museum of Archaeological Science and Art at the University of Padova), which virtually recre- ates the Pan flute and communicates information related to its history, iconography, acoustics, and musicology. Just after the deployment of the installation, we also carried out an assessment with a group of experts in the fields of information engineering, music, musicology, and archaeology. The good results obtained demonstrate that the installation is a convenient way of interaction, simple to use and aesthetically integrated in the museum context
Three-phase homogenization procedure for woven fabric composites reinforced by carbon nanotubes in thermal environment
No full textWoven fabric reinforced materials are composite mediums commonly used in automotive industry. In this sector, high strength mechanical properties are required by the designers due to high loads during operation. Woven fabrics are modelled as orthotropic interlaced yarns within a polymeric matrix which can have additives. In this context, carbon nanotubes are considered as reinforcing additives for the polymeric matrix, thus, giving to the resulting composite improved mechanical properties. However, the modelling of such composite material configuration is not trivial and it is not generally easy to find analytical formulations which accurately fit experimental results. Therefore, the aim of the present paper is to display a comparison among experimental and analytical mechanical properties predictions of carbon woven textile composites. In addition, some novel configurations have been proposed for further applications in this framework
Abnormal Pain Sensation in Mice Lacking the Prokineticin Receptor PKR2: Interaction of PKR2 with Transient Receptor Potential TRPV1 and TRPA1
No full text: The amphibian Bv8 and the mammalian prokineticin 1 (PROK1) and 2 (PROK2) are new chemokine-like protein ligands acting on two G protein-coupled receptors, prokineticin receptor 1 (PKR1) and 2 (PKR2), participating to the mediation of diverse physiological and pathological processes. Prokineticins (PKs), specifically activating the prokineticin receptors (PKRs) located in several areas of the central and peripheral nervous system associated with pain, play a fundamental role in nociception. In this paper, to improve the understanding of the prokineticin system in the neurobiology of pain, we investigated the role of PKR2 in pain perception using pkr2 gene-deficient mice. We observed that, compared to wildtype, pkr2-null mice were more resistant to nociceptive sensitization to temperatures ranging from 46 to 48 °C, to capsaicin and to protons, highlighting a positive interaction between PKR2 and the non-selective cation channels TRPV1. Moreover, PKR2 knock-out mice showed reduced nociceptive response to cold temperature (4 °C) and to mustard oil-induced inflammatory hyperalgesia, suggesting a functional interaction between PKR2 and transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 ion (TRPA1) channels. This notion was supported by experiments in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) cultures from pkr1 and-pkr2-null mice, demonstrating that the percentage of Bv8-responsive DRG neurons which were also responsive to mustard oil was much higher in PKR1-/- than in PKR2-/- mice. Taken together, these findings suggest a functional interaction between PKR2 and TRP channels in the development of hyperalgesia. Drugs able to directly or indirectly block these targets and/or their interactions may represent potential analgesics
The influence of open innovation on firm performance
No full textInnovation is crucial for growth and business development, and represents a reliable way through which to gain competitiveness within the marketplace. Open innovation is expressed through three different processes: the acquisition of external technology (inbound innovation); the external exploitation of technology (outbound innovation); and coupled innovation. Based on a comprehensive and systematic review of the literature best able to detect the main thematic areas of the research topic, the aim of this paper is to investigate how the paradigm of open innovation influences firm performance and to provide suggestions for future research avenues
A new 3d model to define laboratory services
No full textIn the last two decades, remote and virtual laboratories have seen an ever-growing acceptance in universities, and this fact has supported a wider adoption of a lab-based education framework, especially in engineering. The reason lies on new possibilities to develop learning by doing educational paths, as laboratories allow to achieve important pedagogical objectives. The related research field has two main communities. The former is working on evolution of educational scenarios. The latter deals with technical development of laboratories, and it actually influences the former community’s work. Despite the huge amount of works, specific aspects are often discussed singularly, to the detriment of a holistic vision. The present paper wants to approach this issue towards a technical-development perspective. We propose a classification of laboratories, which firstly aims at a common taxonomy to identify their typologies. In our opinion, such a classification helps the research community by allowing to compare different solutions available and, more important, it provides each laboratory implementation with specific technology resources possible to implement and constraints to be faced. This eventually develops into the networks of laboratories characterisation. Although previous works have been already proposed, the technical solutions they refer to have seen great progresses in recent years, thus we start from these useful work to combine their results and propose a new classification of laboratories, by means of a 3D visualisation designed as black-box model combination
Speed and pressure of handwriting as critical issues of the contemporary age. A research in Italian students in early literacy
No full textAmong the present critical issues that pedagogy and special teaching have todeal with it is possible to notice the contrast between writing and technology,up to the pertinent field of prevention and observation of dysgraphies. Theauthors present in the following article a study conducted in Italy aimed atevaluating writing, specifically in the speed and pressure parameters in earlyliteracy using NeuroScript Movalyzer Software. The aim is to implementsuitable research paths to support the dissemination of observation proceduresand inclusive teaching practices, capable of enhancing the fluidity of writingby all students
A framework analysis of the “open paradigm”. Four approaches to openness in the field of design
No full textOpen design is a term that expresses a plurality of meanings and, according to the literature on the subject, is difficult to define due to due to the variety of its practices and applications. This research study seeks to examine the opening phenomena related to design by imagining a more extensive and articulated area that may be called the “open paradigm” in the field of design. Starting from the analysis of the 20 case studies cited most often in the literature on open design, the research study outlines a framework for the “open paradigm” by identifying four different approaches to openness: OS – Open source approach, CO – Collaborative approach, CR – crowd approach and OM – open manufacturing approach. These approaches are not new to design research, but they are often studied within the confines of their own contexts. The paper explains each approach in written and visual form, to synthetize the different modes of operation in relation to the design process, analyses them as part of a system and concludes by identifying the attributes of each approach in term of dynamics, tools, resources skills and the role of the designer
ADM-assisted prepectoral breast reconstruction and skin reduction mastectomy. Expanding the indications for subcutaneous reconstruction
No full textBackgrounds: Recently a flood of new techniques and studies have been released for prepectoral reconstruction, following strict criteria for selection of patients undergoing skin or nipple sparing mastectomy. Nevertheless a big population of patients that would otherwise benefit from prepectoral techniques has been excluded so far. Patients and methods: Between January 2016 and February 2017, patients undergoing skin reducing mastectomy (SRM) were enrolled at our Institution. We selected patients with large and ptotic (grade II-III) breasts undergoing SRM, followed by a new technique, which involves placement of the implant, wrapped by acellular dermal matrix, in a prepectoral pocket under a dermal flap. Data of all the surgeries were prospectively collected and contracture grade was assessed by Baker scale. Complication rate and cancer recurrence were reported and health related quality of life (HRQOL) measurement was recorded using BREAST-Q questionnaire. At early follow-up, postoperative pain was assessed through VAS scale. Results: 29 patients underwent SRM and 10 patients, meeting inclusions criteria, were enrolled, with a total of 13 operated breasts. Postoperative average pain was assessed as low as 4.1. The median follow-up was 2.6 (range 2.1–3.2) years. Post-operative complications occurred in 1 case of minimal wound dehiscence. No patient reported breast seroma or severe capsular contracture grade. Patient scored high level of satisfaction with breast, psychosocial well-being, sexual well-being, physical impact and overall satisfaction with outcome, at BREAST-Q questionnaire. Conclusions: In this study we present a modified prepectoral technique for patients undergoing SRM, reporting satisfactory outcomes. These results might support the rationale for expanding the population target of prepectoral reconstruction
Experimental Investigation on Water Loss and Stiffness of CBTM Using Different RA Sources
No full textArtificial Intelligence: A New Tool in Operating Room Management. Role of Machine Learning Models in Operating Room Optimization
No full textWe conducted a systematic review of literature to better understand the role of new technologies in the perioperative period; in particular we focus on the administrative and managerial Operating Room (OR) perspective. Studies conducted on adult (≥ 18 years) patients between 2015 and February 2019 were deemed eligible. A total of 19 papers were included. Our review suggests that the use of Machine Learning (ML) in the field of OR organization has many potentials. Predictions of the surgical case duration were obtain with a good performance; their use could therefore allow a more precise scheduling, limiting waste of resources. ML is able to support even more complex models, which can coordinate multiple spaces simultaneously, as in the case of the post-anesthesia care unit and operating rooms. Types of Artificial Intelligence could also be used to limit another organizational problem, which has important economic repercussions: cancellation. Random Forest has proven effective in identifing surgeries with high risks of cancellation, allowing to plan preventive measures to reduce the cancellation rate accordingly. In conclusion, although data in literature are still limited, we believe that ML has great potential in the field of OR organization; however, further studies are needed to assess the effective role of these new technologies in the perioperative medicine