1,720,994 research outputs found
Deep learning for the detection and classification of adhesion defects in antique plaster layers
No full textThis paper aims is to show an automated intelligent measurement system for the detection of adhesion defects between architectural antique plaster layers. The method emulates the traditional conservators’ procedure based on acoustical perturbations, auscultation, detection and classification. The system makes use of a hardware device, known in literature as PICUS, for the generation and acquisition of acoustic signals, while the processing of the acquired signals is handled by a deep learning (DL) architecture designed ad hoc. After a brief description of the PICUS system and the acoustic data acquisition procedure, the whole architecture of the DL system is carefully described. The proposed method has been validated by a significant case study. The system shows an accuracy of up to 82% (± 2%) in multi-class classification and up to 99% (± 1%) in binary classification. In particular, the obtained results suggest a satisfactory precision in the detection of areas where stabilization is necessary
Size and Shape Optimization of a Guyed Mast Structure under Wind, Ice and Seismic Loading
Full text linkThis paper discusses the size and shape optimization of a guyed radio mast for radio-communications. The considered structure represents a widely industrial solution due to the recent spread of 5G and 6G mobile networks. The guyed radio mast was modeled with the finite element software SAP2000 and optimized through a genetic optimization algorithm (GA). The optimization exploits the open application programming interfaces (OAPI) SAP2000-Matlab. Static and dynamic analyses were carried out to provide realistic design scenarios of the mast structure. The authors considered the action of wind, ice, and seismic loads as variable loads. A parametric study on the most critical design variables includes several optimization scenarios to minimize the structure’s total self-weight by varying the most relevant parameters selected by a preliminary sensitivity analysis. In conclusion, final design considerations are discussed by highlighting the best optimization scenario in terms of the objective function and the number of parameters involved in the analysis
Universal varicella vaccination in the Sicilian paediatric population: rapid uptake of the vaccination programme and morbidity trends over five years
No full textFollowing the licensure of the Oka/Merck varicella vaccine in Italy in January 2003, the Sicilian health authorities launched a universal vaccination programme in all nine Local Health Units. A two-cohort vaccination strategy was adopted to minimise the shift of the mean age of varicella occurrence to older age groups, with the goal of vaccinating with one dose at least 80% of children in their second year of life and 50% of susceptible adolescents in their 12th year of life. Two studies were implemented in parallel to closely monitor vaccination coverage as well as varicella incidence. Overall, the programme achieved its target, with 87.5% vaccine coverage for the birth cohort 2005 and 90.2% for adolescents born in 1995 and 1996. Varicella surveillance data obtained from a total of 28,188 children (0-14 years-old) monitored by family paediatricians showed a decline in incidence rates from 95.7 (95% confidence interval (CI): 72.2-126.8) for 1,000 person-years (PY) in 2004 to 9.0 (95% CI: 6.4-12.6) for 1,000 PY in 2007. In Europe, the only similar experience is the routine childhood varicella vaccination programme in Germany that started in 2004 with a single dose at the age of 11-14 months. The two-cohort universal vaccination programme implemented in Sicily, as well as the network for the surveillance study, can offer a model to other European countries that are considering introducing universal childhood varicella vaccinatio
A missense mutation in the coiled-coil domain of the KIF5A gene and late-onset hereditary spastic paraplegia
No full textTo our knowledge, up to now, only 2 mutations in the KIF5A gene, a member of the kinesin superfamily, have been identified as the molecular cause of early-onset autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraparesis (ADHSP).
To assess the genetic defect in a family with late-onset ADHSP.
Only the proband agreed to undergo complete neurological testing and mutational analysis. The proband was screened for mutations in the spastin, atlastin, NIPA1, and KIF5A genes, either by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography or sequence analysis.
The history of the family was consistent with ADHSP characterized by late onset of the disease. Mutational analysis results were negative for the spastin, atlastin, and NIPA1 genes but identified a missense mutation (c.1082C>T) in the coiled-coil coding region of the KIF5A gene.
This finding enlarges the phenotypic spectrum of ADHSP linked to KIF5A and enhances the role of that gene in the epidemiology of this disease. We propose that the KIF5A gene should be routinely analyzed in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia negative for spastin and atlastin mutations
A Convolutional Neural Network Approach for the Classification of Subjects with Epileptic Seizures Versus Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures and Control, Based on Automatic Feature Extraction from Empirical Mode Decomposition of Interictal EEG Recordings
No full textA reliable data-driven pipeline based on deep learning is introduced to differentiate between individuals with epileptic seizures (ES), psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), and control subjects (CS) using non-invasive, low-density interictal scalp EEG recordings. The study recruited 42 subjects with ES (new onset), 42 subjects with PNES diagnosed via video-EEG, and 19 CS with normal EEG. Subjects taking psychotropic drugs were excluded to avoid alterations in the EEG signal. The proposed methodology involves automatically extracting features from the 19-channel EEG channels using Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) and a customized Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with a convolutional processing module, rectified linear units (ReLu), and pooling layer to extract and learn relevant features and perform the necessary classification. The CNN displayed excellent classification performance, achieving an accuracy of 85.7%, thereby fostering the use of deep processing systems to aid physicians in challenging clinical situations
A novel L1CAM mutation in a fetus detected by prenatal diagnosis
No full textX-linked hydrocephalus is due to mutations in the L1 neuronal cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM) gene. L1 protein plays a key role in neurite outgrowth, axonal guidance, and pathfinding during the development of the nervous system. We report on a familial case diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonographic examination, with cerebellar hypoplasia, agenesis of the corpus callosum, and the bilateral overlapping of the second and third fingers of the hand. Sequencing of the L1CAM gene showed a novel missense mutation in exon 14: transition of a guanine to cytosine at position 1777 (c.1777G > C), which led to an amino acid change of alanine to proline at position 593 (Ala593Pro) in the sixth immunoglobulin domain of the L1 protein. The L1CAM mutation testing should be considered in fetuses with ultrasonographic signs of hydrocephalus and a positive family history compatible with X-linked inheritance. We agree with previous reports that suggest also considering limb abnormalities other than adducted thumbs in addition to classical neurological disgenesis, as characteristic for L1-diseas
Italian immunization calendar implementation: Time to optimize number of vaccination appointments?
Full text linkIn the Italian vaccination schedule, at least six vaccination appointments are scheduled in the first year of life. This implies more discomfort for both the patient and the parents. This was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which several appointments were missed. A UK experience with three injectable vaccines and an oral one co-administered at the same appointment (4-in-1) at 2 and 4 months of age showed interesting results. The vaccination coverage was high, consistent with previous practice, and no relevant increase in adverse events was reported. Translating the UK experience into the Italian context would not be immediate, due to several organizational and social issues. Nevertheless, this option warrants some further considerations, which are discussed in this manuscript
West nile virus infections in children: A disease pediatricians should think about
No full textWILL BE ADDE
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
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