Ricerc@Sapienza

In the era of the Internet of Things (IoT), drug developers can potentially access a wealth of real-world, participant-generated data that enable better insights and streamlined clinical trial processes. Protection of confidential data is of primary interest when it comes to health data, as medical condition influences daily, professional, and social life. Current approaches in digital trials entail that private user data are provisioned to the trial investigator that is considered a trusted party.

Smart health (s-health) is an emerging paradigm that brings together a whole new range of digital data, both personal and non-personal, in order to deliver a holistic approach to health that overcomes the boundaries of the traditional patient caring system. By including non-personal smart city data, mobile s-health applications can improve prediction, prevention, and prescriptive care, while generating feedback that make cities smarter when accounting for and adapting to individual needs.

We propose a novel algorithmic framework for the asynchronous and distributed optimization of multi-agent systems. We consider the constrained minimization of a nonconvex and nonsmooth partially separable sum-utility function, i.e., the cost function of each agent depends on the optimization variables of that agent and of its neighbors. This partitioned setting arises in several applications of practical interest.

A new phase of evolution of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication has started where vertical Internet of Things (IoT) deployments dedicated to a single application domain gradually change to multi-purpose IoT infrastructures that service different applications across multiple industries. New networking technologies are being deployed operating over sub-GHz frequency bands that enable multi-tenant connectivity over long distances and increase network capacity by enforcing low transmission rates to increase network capacity.

To date, the videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) is considered the gold standard for thoroughly assessment and management of dysphagia. It is a symptom so common and diverse that is often considered as a disease in its own right. Dysphagia severity can range from a trivial problem to a lethal condition. It can seriously compromise the quality of life of affected patients, therefore management should be prompt. The implications of dysphagia in healthcare costs are elevated. VFSS carries a degree of subjectivity in its interpretation.

Placing the needle inside the epidural space for locoregional anesthesia is a challenging procedure, which even today is left to the expertise of the operator. Recently, we have demonstrated that the use of optically sensorized needles significantly improves the effectiveness of this procedure. Here, we propose an optimized configuration, where the optical fiber strain sensor is directly integrated inside the epidural catheter. The new design allows the solving of the biocompatibility issues and increases the versatility of the former configuration.

We report on the detection of an angiogenic molecule Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in different biological matrices by means of a new integrated biosensing platform exploiting the properties of Bloch surface waves. The new platform takes advantage of a tandem configuration, in which both label-free and enhanced fluorescence detection are implemented. Specifically designed one dimensional photonic crystals were deposited directly on disposable and low cost plastic biochips.

Active plasma lenses are promising technologies for the focusing of high brightness electron beams due to their radially symmetric focusing and their high field gradients (up to several kT/m). However, in a number of experimental situations, the transverse non-uniformity of the current density flowing in the lens causes beam emittance growth and increases the minimum achievable spot size. To study the physics of the capillary discharge processes employed as active plasma lenses, we developed a 2-D hydrodynamic computational model.

The risk of developing a second malignant cancer as a late time consequence of undergoing a treatment, is one of the main concerns in particle therapy (PT). Since neutrons can release a significant dose far away from the tumour region, a precise characterisation of their production point, kinetic energy and abundance is eagerly needed.

R&D activity on Cu photocathodes is under development at the SPARC_LAB test facility to fully characterize each stage of the photocathode ‘‘life’’ and to have a complete overview of the photoemission properties in high brightness photo-injectors. The nano(n)-machining process presented here consists in diamond milling, and blowing with dry nitrogen. This procedure reduces the roughness of the cathode surface and prevents surface contamination introduced by other techniques, such as polishing with diamond paste or the machining with oil.