Retroperitoneal fibrosis: a case of a patient (63y/o) treated with low-dose methotrexate (MTX) and 6-methylprednisolone (6-MP)

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF), is a rare fibroinflammatory disease. The pathogenesis of RPF is still unclear and numerous theories have been reported such as environmental factors, immunologic process, genetic component, local inflammation and advanced atherosclerosis. RPF is characterized by the presence of a particular retroperitoneal fibrotic tissue which is white, woody and involving retroperitoneal structures such as the great vessels, ureters and psoas muscle. The main complication of RPF is the obstruction of local structures such as the ureters due to the fibrosis and the treatment of this aspect represents the main challenge for this pathology. RPF medical treatment consists of corticosteroids or/and immunosuppressive therapy. We report a case of a patient (63y/o) affected by idiopathic RPF treated with low-dose methotrexate (MTX) and 6-methylprednisolone (6-MP) for two years, describing and confirming the effectiveness and safety of a long-term low-dose MTX and 6-MP treatment

Female Oppression Toward Female Characters in Mars Need Mom Movie

In this study the researcher analyzed the oppression from female character toward other female characters. The researcher only discussed two female characters, Milo's mother and Gribble's mother who gained the oppression from Supervisor as another female character because the researcher wanted to prove that oppression could also happen from female to female (same sex). There are two objectifies of the study in this research, to show the forms of oppression which occur toward female characters in Mars Need Mom movie and to analyze how the female characters, experience the oppression that are shaped by another female character in Mars Need Mom movie. The five faces of oppression is a theory that is explained by Irish Marion Young. The theory is related toward the form of oppression which usually occur in the society. This form of oppression somehow called as injustice action that adhere toward people or group because of several reasons, such as class, race and gender. The five faces of oppression are marginalization, exploitation, powerlessness, cultural imperialism and violence. The result of this study are, Milo's mother got three faces oppression from Supervisor, those three oppression are marginalization, powerlessness and violence. Whereas Gribble's mother got four faces oppression. The four faces of oppression are exploitation, marginalization, powerlessness, and violence. And the process of oppression that was gained by two mothers firstly which was done by Supervisor (female) was, Supervisor observed them, abducted them and extracted them using solar extraction machine. The different process from both of them is Martians succeed to extract Gribble's mother, whereas Milo's mother, the extraction is failed because Milo was successful in saving his mother.Based on those analysis, the researcher concludes that the oppression toward women can be done by women. Therefore, the researcher believes that the oppression toward women is not always caused by gender assumption that male is superior rather than women, but the oppression can be happened due to the power which is had by the perpetrators (men and women) of oppression

Organizational health and quality of life: survey among ambulance nurses in prehospital emergency care

Background: The workplace plays a central role in causing stress and different kinds of syndromes and diseases. More generally, organizational procedures and practices could have an impact on nurses’ quality of life. Although several studies have investigated this link, none of them considered nurses working in prehospital emergency care. Objectives: To investigate the role of organizational health factors that affect the quality of life and psychosomatic complaints of ambulance nurses.Method: Our sample included 411 ambulance nurses. Workers were administered two questionnaires to assess organizational health and quality of life. Descriptive and correlational analyses were used to test our assumptions. Conclusion: Several organizational health dimensions provided an explanation for the complaints reported by nurses working in prehospital emergency care in terms of quality of life and psychosomatic disorders.The results allowed identification of possible interventions focusing on specific duties and organizational aspects that would improve the quality of nurses’ health

A weldability study of AL-CU-LI 2198 alloy

Al-Cu-Li alloys, conceived for automotive and aeronautic applications thanks to the high mechanical resistance/density ratio, exhibit weldability issues common to all light alloys. In this paper, the weldability of Al-Cu-Li 2198 alloy was studied by comparing features of welds carried out by two processes, the traditional arc welding and the friction stir welding (FSW). Welded joints were submitted to optical and SEM metallographic examinations with EDS microanalysis measurements. Mechanical characteristics were evaluated through microhardness tests and the instrumented indentation test FIMEC (Flat-top cylinder Indenter for MEchanical Characterization)

COMBINAZIONE DEI PROCESSI FASCIO LASER-ARCO ELETTRICO NELLA SALDATURA DI LAMIERE PLACCATE

Nel presente lavoro vengono riportati i risultati di prove di saldatura con utilizzo di un processo combinato arcoelettrico+ laser con tecnica a singola passata con l’utilizzo di un solo materiale di apporto. Tra le varie possibilità di accoppiamento arco elettrico-fascio laser, il procedimento qui descritto prevede la combinazione in serie dei due processi. Il materiale di prova è acciaio al carbonio placcato con acciaio inossidabile austenitico. Le prove sono state condotte con tecnica a passata unica e impiego di un solo materiale di apporto in forma di filo continuo. Sulla base dei risultati dei vari esami e prove (metallografia, microanalisi al SEM, prove di microdurezza e di trazione) è stata effettuata una valutazione della qualità dei giunti, con l’obiettivo di ricercare i parametri di saldatura adatti a realizzare una zona fusa esente da difetti e di composizione chimica accettabile

Mechanical characterization of aisi 316 tubes filled with Al alloy foams

In tubular elements filled with metal foams the structural collapse is delayed in comparison with the empty tubes,consequently compression strength and absorbed energy increase. Production methods of foams are crucial, asthey determine cellular morphology and bonds formation with tube wall. In this work AISI 316 steel tubes filledwith foam of commercially pure Al and Al-Si alloys with hypoeutectic compositions were produced. The processparameters were optimized to obtain closed cells foams with an acceptable morphology of porosity and goodmechanical properties. Foams were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy and by computertomography; mechanical properties were investigated by axial compression tests (performed on foam samplesand on Cu tubes, empty or filled with foams) and radial compression “Brazilian test” (carried out on AISI 316tubes, empty or filled with foams)

Laser beam welding of cast commercial pure titanium

In this work the joining by Laser Beam Welding (LBW) technique of commercial pure Titanium (CP Ti) cast specimens was carried out. The specimens considered for welding trials were cylindrical and flat (parallelepiped shape) ingots of little dimensions, as utilised in dentistry applications.The welds were investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements; mechanical properties were experimented by Vickers microhardness, across traverses through the welded sections, and by tensile tests, performed, for comparison, also on unwelded specimens in as cast condition; fractured surfaces after tensile tests were observed by SEM

Corrosion damage and periodic inspections on pressure devices and lifting equipments

This paper deals with requirements for service safety conditions of pressure devices and lifting equipments,according to the European and Italian Standards. Periodic controls and inspections are necessary to checkcorrosion damage and determine residual life, as showed for some significant case histories. As concern aspressure device, hydrogen induced cracking phenomena in steel walls of a demister, utilized to enhance the liquiddroplets removal in a vapor stream, were detected by ultrasound measurements. The measured defect sizeswere put in comparison with the required limits to verify if this device can be maintained in service. About liftingequipments, two different corrosion mechanisms were examined by detecting defects and measuring residualplate thickness: crevice, due to aggressive environment, at the interstitial of steel plates overlap in a welded andbolted joint of a gantry crane; lastly, crevice and corrosion fatigue of steel rail and plate in a double girder shipyardbridge crane, that was exposed for some decades to the daily aggressive action of direct solar radiation and seasalt, detrimental for the coating layer. In these two cases both defects size and plates thickness were consideredwith the aim of indicating treatments and restoration procedures of damaged components