Diesel engines for light-to-medium helicopters and airplanes (Editorial)

The purpose of this article is to investigate utilization of common-rail turbocharged diesel aero-engines as primary propulsion powerplant for light-to-medium helicopters and airplanes. This article summarizes the results of a larger study on possible implementation of novel aerospace propulsion systems utilizing aero-diesel powerplant with hybrid, power-assist, and super-power capabilities for powered aircraft. Thermodynamic cycles of gasoline, diesel and jet engines are compared. The power-density of the respective powerplant and of the total power-train with fuel storage was examined. The feasibility of hybrid and super-power assist was considered for aero-diesel powerplants. The safety, technical and environmental footprint of each system was evaluated. The findings of this article identify many technical, safety, and environmental advantages by using aero-diesel engines in light-to-medium aircraft. Diesel engines represent well proven technology. The main obstacle for widespread and faster application of aero-diesels in aviation/aeronautics is lengthy certification process by regulatory agencies and some minor remaining control, operational, and maintenance issues. Implications of aero-diesel engine utilization in aeronautical applications may result in enhanced performance characteristics and safety of flight while lowering operational costs. Additionally, diesel engines leave lower negative environmental footprint than the other traditional aerospace propulsion systems. This editorial does not reflect the views of the IJAAA or ERAU. This work was not peer reviewed

Feasibility Study on a Measurement Method and a Portable Measuring System to Estimate the Concentration of Cloxacillin and β -Lactamase in Milk

Antibiotics are nowadays used and abused worldwide in common veterinary practice to treat diseases, prevent infections, and promote animal's growth. Drug resistance occurrence is a relevant phenomenon that can inactivate the antibiotic. Moreover, antibiotics used for animals are also found in milk and it poses serious health risks to humans. Another negative effect is related to milk processors since antibiotics cause detrimental effects on cheese and yogurt starter bacteria. Given its consumption as both beverage and derivatives, milk is one of the most regulated products in food industry. Nowadays several commercial tests are available to investigate antibiotics in milk, but they generally provide a qualitative result, require bulky procedure, and are time consuming. In this paper, we investigate the use of a chromogenic cephalosporin to quantify the concentration of cloxacillin - a β-lactam difficult to be detected by using "cowside" screenings which is the drug of choice in the method of mastitis control. The proposed measurement method and prototype have been demonstrated to be able to detect cloxacillin in milk at concentrations lower than the MRL set by the European Commission. Moreover, they are also able to detect the illegal practice of using β-lactamase to degrade β-lactams in milk

Anti-phosphatidyl-serine/prothrombin antibodies (aPS/PT) in isolated lupus anticoagulant (LA): is their presence linked to dual test positivity?

Abstract Objectives Anti phosphatidylserine/prothrombin antibodies (aPS/PT) are often present in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and might be relevant in the pathogenesis of this condition. They are major determinant of lupus anticoagulant (LA) in triple-positive antiphospholipid (aPL) profile. Whether they are present and pathogenic in patients with isolated LA [negative anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti β2-glycoprotein I (aβ2GPI) antibodies] is a matter of debate. Methods We measured aPS/PT in a large number of isolated LA with the aim to ascertain whether there is a link between the way isolated LA is assessed and the presence of these antibodies. APS/PT were measured in 86 patients with isolated LA (aCL- and abeta2GPI-). LA was assessed by two test systems, the dilute Russell Viper Venom Time (dRVVT) and the Silica Clotting Time (SCT). Results Sixty-six (77%) individuals with isolated LA were positive for aPS/PT (IgM 44, IgG and IgM 15, IgG in 7). Diagnosis of LA was made based on positive results in both dRVVT and SCT in 40 patients (Group 1) and based on only one positive test in the remaining 46 patients (Group 2). The rate of positive aPS/PT antibodies was significantly higher in Group 1 (OR=7.2, 95% CI 1.9–27.0, p<0.002). Moreover, the titre of IgM aPS/PT was significantly increased in Group 1 as compared to Group 2 (137 U, IQR 64–179 vs. 43 U, IQR 11–120, p=0.008). Conclusions These data indicate an association between LA based on two positive coagulation tests and the presence of aPS/PT antibodies, especially of IgM isotype

Release kinetic of pro- and anti-inflammatory biomolecules from platelet-rich plasma and functional study on osteoarthritis synovial fibroblasts

n/

Small Extracellular Vesicles from Inflamed Adipose Derived Stromal Cells Enhance the NF-κB-Dependent Inflammatory/Catabolic Environment of Osteoarthritis

The last decade has seen exponentially growing efforts to exploit the effects of adipose derived stromal cells (ADSC) in the treatment of a wide range of chronic degenerative diseases, including osteoarthritis (OA), the most prevalent joint disorder. In the perspective of developing a cell-free advanced therapy medicinal product, a focus has been recently addressed to the ADSC secretome that lends itself to an allogeneic use and can be further dissected for the selective purification of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). sEVs can act as "biological drug carriers" to transfer information that mirror the pathophysiology of the providing cells. This is important in the clinical perspective where many OA patients are also affected by the metabolic syndrome (MetS). ADSC from MetS OA patients are dysfunctional and "inflammatory" primed within the adipose tissue. To mimic this condition, we exposed ADSC to IL-1 beta, and then we investigated the effects of the isolated sEVs on chondrocytes and synoviocytes, either cultured separately or in co-culture, to tease out the effects of these "IL-1 beta primed sEVs" on gene and protein expression of major inflammatory and catabolic OA markers. In comparison with sEVs isolated from unstimulated ADSC, the IL-1 beta primed sEVs were able to propagate NF-kappa B activation in bystander joint cells. The effects were more prominent on synoviocytes, possibly because of a higher expression of binding molecules such as CD44. These findings call upon a careful characterization of the "inflammatory fingerprint" of ADSC to avoid the transfer of an unwanted message as well as the development of in vitro "preconditioning" strategies able to rescue the antiinflammatory/anticatabolic potential of ADSC-derived sEVs

17)脊椎々間板手術症例の検討 : とくに椎間板障害例における手術適応について(第399回千葉医学会整形外科例会,第8回千葉整形外科災害外科臨床懇談会,千葉県労災指定医集談会)

<p>Data are expressed as medians and interquartile ranges; comparisons among time points, as determined by Friedman-ANOVA test, and between L-PRP and HA treatments, as determined by the Mann-Whitney U test, are not significant. w = week, m = month</p

On the feasibility of Absolute Distance Measurement by using Optical-Feedback into a Superluminescent Diode Cavity

The development of accurate absolute distance interferometers is a long-term research goal. The key impact of this paper is the demonstration of an absolute distance interferometer based on the optical-feedback into a superluminescent diode cavity. Thanks to the optical-feedback, we obtained huge interference fringes even with diffusive targets and without using high-sensitivity and low-noise detectors, but directly exploiting the monitor photodiode enclosed in the same package of the optical source. The low coherence of the optical source makes the system robust to any stray-light along the optical path and thus suitable to work in biological media and dusty industrial environments. The proposed signal processing exploits a zero-crossing approach to determine the absolute target position. Preliminary results show a 95% expanded uncertainty to measuring interval ratio of about 60 ppm over a measuring interval of 50 mm