General method for prediction of thermal conductivity for well-characterized hydrocarbon mixtures and fuels up to extreme conditions using entropy scaling

A general and efficient technique is developed to predict the thermal conductivity of well-characterized hydrocarbon mixtures, rocket propellant (RP) fuels, and jet fuels up to high temperatures and high pressures (HTHP). The technique is based upon entropy scaling using the group contribution method coupled with the Perturbed-Chain Statistical Associating Fluid Theory (PC-SAFT) equation of state. The mixture number averaged molecular weight and hydrogen to carbon ratio are used to define a single pseudo-component to represent the compounds in a well-characterized hydrocarbon mixture or fuel. With these two input parameters, thermal conductivity predictions are less accurate when the mixture contains significant amounts of iso-alkanes, but the predictions improve when a single thermal conductivity data point at a reference condition is used to fit one model parameter. For eleven binary mixtures and three ternary mixtures at conditions from 288 to 360 K and up to 4,500 bar, thermal conductivities are predicted with mean absolute percent deviations (MAPDs) of 16.0 and 3.0% using the two-parameter and three-parameter models, respectively. Thermal conductivities are predicted for three RP fuels and three jet fuels at conditions from 293 to 598 K and up to 700 bar with MAPDs of 14.3 and 2.0% using the two-parameter and three-parameter models, respectively

Aquatic Therapy after Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: Gait Initiation Analysis Using Inertial Sensors

: Populations with potential damage to somatosensory, vestibular, and visual systems or poor motor control are often studied during gait initiation. Aquatic activity has shown to benefit the functional capacity of incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) patients. The present study aimed to evaluate gait initiation in iSCI patients using an easy-to-use protocol employing four wearable inertial sensors. Temporal and acceleration-based anticipatory postural adjustment measures were computed and compared between dry-land and water immersion conditions in 10 iSCI patients. In the aquatic condition, an increased first step duration (median value of 1.44 s vs. 0.70 s in dry-land conditions) and decreased root mean squared accelerations for the upper trunk (0.39 m/s2 vs. 0.72 m/s2 in dry-land conditions) and lower trunk (0.41 m/s2 vs. 0.85 m/s2 in dry-land conditions) were found in the medio-lateral and antero-posterior direction, respectively. The estimation of these parameters, routinely during a therapy session, can provide important information regarding different control strategies adopted in different environments

A real world experience with fingolimod in active RRMS patients naïve to second-line agents: a 2 years, intention-to-treat, observational, single center study

Fingolimod is approved by EMA as a second-line treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Experience with fingolimod in real life is still limited. Aim of our study was to report data on fingolimod effectiveness in a real life cohort of Italian active RRMS patients, naive to second-line agents, followed for 2 years. Fingolimod was a part of the patients' regular treatment and is produced by Novartis. We included all consecutive RRMS patients starting fingolimod at our center according to EMA criteria before January 1st 2013. Exclusion criteria were a previous treatment with natalizumab or an immunosuppressant therapy in the previous 12 months. All patients were clinically evaluated quarterly, and performed brain MRI yearly. Definition of "no evidence of disease activity" (NEDA-3): no relapses, no brain MRI activity and no 6-months confirmed worsening in EDSS score. We included 38 RRMS patients, 35 switched from first-line injectable therapies. Six patients were also previously treated with immunosuppressants (5 mitoxantrone, 1 cyclophosphamide). At 24th month 34 patients continued fingolimod treatment. Main adverse events were infections (18 %), liver-enzymes elevation (8 %), and leukopenia (8 %). After 12 and 24 months 79 and 63 % of patients were relapses-free. Fingolimod significantly reduced ARR compared to the previous year (0.3 ± 0.6 vs 1.2 ± 0.5; p < 0.001). After 12 and 24 months 63 and 37 % of patients had NEDA-3. Previous use of immunosuppressants and an ARR ≥1 in the 2 years predicted disease activity. Fingolimod significantly reduce disease activity in active RRMS patients, with no severe/unexpected safety issues. Patients previously treated with immunosuppressants and with a higher ARR at baseline may respond less to fingolimod treatment

Multimodal sensing in rewritable, data matrix azobenzene-based devices

Here, we exploited the UV light and thermal triggered E &lt;-&gt; Z photoisomerization of an azobenzene compound to fabricate multimodal readable and rewritable data matrix based devices. We first demonstrated that the UV light sensing capabilities can be simultaneously monitored by the change in optical, spectroscopic, and electrical properties. Then we exploited this capability by integrating tetra(azobenzene)methane crystals in a micrometric TAG whose information can be modified and repristinated by local UV treatment and thermal annealing. The system was characterized by polarized optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, conductive atomic force microscopy and Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy

Etiological research in pediatric multiple sclerosis: A tool to assess environmental exposures (PEDiatric Italian Genetic and enviRonment ExposurE Questionnaire)

Background: The etiology of pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis is unknown although putative genetic and environmental factors appear to be involved. Among children multiple sclerosis onset occurs closer to the susceptibility window thank in adults and the exposure to etiological environmental factors is more informative. An Italian multicentre case-control study (the PEDiatric Italian Genetic and enviRonment ExposurE, PEDIGREE study) was designed to investigate environmental exposures in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis and their interaction with genetics. Objectives: To collect evidence on exposures to environmental risk factors in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis, a questionnaire was developed for the Italian population (PEDIGREE Questionnaire) and is presented. Methods: PEDIGREE Questionnaire develops from an existing tool used in case-control studies on pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis in US Americans, and was translated, adapted and tested for the contents perceived relevance, acceptability, feasibility and reliability in a population of Italian pediatric subjects and their parents recruited from clinics and general population. Results: PEDIGREE Questionnaire contents were overall deemed relevant by the study population, acceptable for 100% participants and feasible for at least 98%. PEDIGREE Questionnaire degree of reliability ranged 56% to 72%. Conclusion: PEDIGREE Questionnaire proves to be an efficient tool to assess environmental exposures in the Italian pediatric population. We encourage the dissemination of population-specific questionnaires and shared methodology to optimize efforts in MS etiological research

Molecular Mechanisms and Physiological Changes behind Benign Tracheal and Subglottic Stenosis in Adults

Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is a complex and heterogeneous disease whose pathogenesis remains unclear. LTS is considered to be the result of aberrant wound-healing process that leads to fibrotic scarring, originating from different aetiology. Although iatrogenic aetiology is the main cause of subglottic or tracheal stenosis, also autoimmune and infectious diseases may be involved in causing LTS. Furthermore, fibrotic obstruction in the anatomic region under the glottis can also be diagnosed without apparent aetiology after a comprehensive workup; in this case, the pathological process is called idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS). So far, the laryngotracheal scar resulting from airway injury due to different diseases was considered as inert tissue requiring surgical removal to restore airway patency. However, this assumption has recently been revised by regarding the tracheal scarring process as a fibroinflammatory event due to immunological alteration, similar to other fibrotic diseases. Recent acquisitions suggest that different factors, such as growth factors, cytokines, altered fibroblast function and genetic susceptibility, can all interact in a complex way leading to aberrant and fibrotic wound healing after an insult that acts as a trigger. However, also physiological derangement due to LTS could play a role in promoting dysregulated response to laryngo-tracheal mucosal injury, through biomechanical stress and mechanotransduction activation. The aim of this narrative review is to present the state-of-the-art knowledge regarding molecular mechanisms, as well as mechanical and physio-pathological features behind LTS