Off-Design Propulsion Power Plant Investigations by Means of Free Running Manoeuvring Ship Model Test and Simulation Techniques

Twin screw vessels\u27 propulsion system experiences strong off design conditions during tight manoeuvres due to the propellers inflow asymmetry arising from the coupled yaw-drift motion. Unfortunately, simplified mathematical models based upon statistical data or ad hoc executed captive model test (PMM or CMT) do not provide such a detailed information. Indeed, free running model tests are the best mean in order to get ship\u27s trajectory and kinematics parameters data and propulsion behaviour by recording the loads (thrust and torque) on the shafts. More insight into this complex aspect is desired in order to improve and generalize the application of existing manoeuvring mathematical models for the preliminary design of unconventional propulsive configuration control system

Turning Ability Characteristics Study of a Twin Screw Vessel by CFD

The turning circle manoeuvre of a self-propelled tanker like ship model is numerically simulated through the integration of the Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations coupled with the equations of the motion of a rigid body. The solution is achieved by means of the unsteady RANS solver Xnavis developed at CNR-INSEAN. The ship model is in its fully appended conguration, and it is characterized by the presence of two propellers and one rudder. Each propeller is taken into account by a model based on the actuator disk concept. It is shown that, in order to accurately predict the trajectory, the side force developed by the propeller should be taken into account; several models are tested. Comparison with experimental data from free running tests is provided. The main features of the ow eld, with particular attention to the vortical structures detached for the hull is presented as well

IN VIVO EVALUATION OF FAST SENSORIMOTOR INTEGRATION IN THE HUMAN MOTOR HAND AREA: FROM PHYSIOLOGY TO PATHOLOGY

The studies included in this thesis mainly evaluated in vivo the fast sensorimotor integration in the human sensorimotor area, by using a well-known TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) technique, called short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI). Section 1 will review current knowledge on the biological and physiological basis of fast sensorimotor integration and its role in mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Section 2 will report two studies. The first one is focused on using an innovative central sulcus-based mapping technique of SAI. We showed for the first time a centre-surround organization of fast sensorimotor integration in human motor hand area (Dubbioso et al., under review). The second study is mainly focused on the role of cerebellum in the modulation of somatosensory afferent pathway (Dubbioso et al. 2015). Indeed, we demonstrated that patients with pure cerebellar atrophy had an altered capability of cerebellar filtering or processing of time specific incoming sensory volleys, influencing the sensorimotor integration and plasticity of primary motor cortex (M1). Section 3 will report two studies where SAI has been used as a tool to investigate functional involvement of central cholinergic circuits in two different types of cognitive impairment. In the first study we showed that patients with the adult form of Niemann Pick type C (NPC) are characterized by abnormal SAI (Dubbioso et al. 2014) whereas in the second one we found that SAI is normal in Parkinson disease (PD) patients with Freezing of Gait (FOG) (Dubbioso et al. 2015). Such results indicate that cognitive decline in NPC resembles from physiologically and clinical point of view primary form of cholinergic dementia such as Alzheimer disease. On the contrary, cognitive impairment in PD patients with FOG is mainly due to the involvement of non-cholinergic circuits, resembling forms of cognitive impairment dominated mainly by executive dysfunctions such as Fronto-temporal dementia

Prediction of Manoeuvring Properties for a Tanker Model by Computational Fluid Dynamics

The turning circle manoeuvre of a self-propelled tanker like ship model is numerically simulated through the integration of the unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations coupled with the equations of the motion of a rigid body. The solution is achieved by means of the unsteady RANS solver developed at CNR-INSEAN. The model is considered with two different stern appendages configurations (each one providing a different dynamic behaviour): twin screw with a single rudder and twin screw, twin rudder with a central skeg. Each propeller is taken into account by a model based on the actuator disk concept; anyhow, in order to correctly capture the turning manoeuvring behaviour of the model, a suitable description of the propeller performance in oblique flow operation has be considered. Comparison with experimental data from free running tests will demonstrate the feasibility of the CFD computations. The main features of the flow field, with particular attention to the vortical structures detached from the hull is presented as well

Familial adult myoclonus epilepsy:Neurophysiological investigations

Familial adult myoclonus epilepsy (FAME) also described as benign adult familial myoclonus epilepsy (BAFME) is a high-penetrant autosomal dominant condition featuring cortical myoclonus of varying frequency and occasional/rare convulsive seizures. In this update we provide a detailed overview of the main neurophysiological findings so far reported in patients with FAME/BAFME. After reviewing the diagnostic contribution of each neurophysiological technique, we discuss the possible mechanisms underlying cortical hyperexcitability and suggest the involvement of more complex circuits engaging cortical and subcortical structures, such as the cerebellum. We, thus, propose that FAME/BAFME clinical features should arise from an “abnormal neuronal network activity,” where the cerebellum represents a possible common denominator. In the last part of the article, we suggest that future neurophysiological studies using more advanced transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) protocols could be used to evaluate the functional connectivity between the cerebellum and cortical structures. Finally, non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as repetitive TMS or transcranial direct current stimulation could be assessed as potential therapeutic tools to ameliorate cortical excitability.</p

A generalised unsteady hybrid DES/BEM methodology applied to propeller-rudder flow simulation

A generalised hybrid viscous/inviscid flow model for the hydrodynamic analysis of marine propellers is presented. A Boundary Element Method (BEM) to predict propeller perturbation under inviscid-flow assumptions is combined with a Navier-Stokes solver to describe the viscous, turbulent flow with propeller effects recast as volume-force terms from BEM. In the present study, the viscous flow solution is based on a Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) model valid for unsteady flows. A numerical application is presented by considering a notional propeller-rudder assembly, and results from the hybrid DES/BEM solution are validated by comparisons with full DES. The validation study demonstrates the capability of the proposed hybrid viscous/inviscid flow model to describe transient propeller-induced flow perturbation and of propeller/rudder interaction in spite of the fact that the geometry of propeller blades is not resolved but described via a simple and fast volume force model

Analysis of twin screw ships\u27 asymmetric propeller behaviour by means of free running model tests

Twin screw ships may experience considerably asymmetric propeller functioning during manoeuvres. This phenomenon may result in large power fluctuations during tight manoeuvres, with increases of shaft torque up to and over 100% of the steady values in straight course and considerable unbalances; this, in its turn, may be potentially dangerous, especially in case of particularly complex propulsion plant configurations, such as those with coupled shaftlines. A joint research project supported by the Italian Navy has been set up in order to deeply investigate the phenomenon, by means of large scale model testing and related numerical simulations. In the present work, the extensive experimental campaign results on a free running model of a twin-screw ship are presented, allowing to obtain a deeper insight of the problem. In particular, tests have been carried out simulating different simplified control schemes, starting from the most common constant rate of revolution tests and including different control strategies (constant torque and power). Usual standard manoeuvres (turning circle, zigzag and spiral) have been carried out, providing results for asymmetric shaft functioning and ship manoeuvrability behaviour. Results from the present analysis allow to obtain the complete model for the time domain simulation of asymmetric shaft functioning

Brain stimulation as a therapeutic tool in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: current status and interaction with mechanisms of altered cortical excitability

In the last 20 years, several modalities of neuromodulation, mainly based on non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, have been tested as a non-pharmacological therapeutic approach to slow disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In both sporadic and familial ALS cases, neurophysiological studies point to motor cortical hyperexcitability as a possible priming factor in neurodegeneration, likely related to dysfunction of both excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms. A trans-synaptic anterograde mechanism of excitotoxicity is thus postulated, causing upper and lower motor neuron degeneration. Specifically, motor neuron hyperexcitability and hyperactivity are attributed to intrinsic cell abnormalities related to altered ion homeostasis and to impaired glutamate and gamma aminobutyric acid gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling. Several neuropathological mechanisms support excitatory and synaptic dysfunction in ALS; additionally, hyperexcitability seems to drive DNA-binding protein 43-kDA (TDP-43) pathology, through the upregulation of unusual isoforms directly contributing to ASL pathophysiology. Corticospinal excitability can be suppressed or enhanced using NIBS techniques, namely, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), as well as invasive brain and spinal stimulation. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that the after-effects of NIBS are mediated by long-term potentiation (LTP)-/long-term depression (LTD)-like mechanisms of modulation of synaptic activity, with different biological and physiological mechanisms underlying the effects of tDCS and rTMS and, possibly, of different rTMS protocols. This potential has led to several small trials testing different stimulation interventions to antagonize excitotoxicity in ALS. Overall, these studies suggest a possible efficacy of neuromodulation in determining a slight reduction of disease progression, related to the type, duration, and frequency of treatment, but current evidence remains preliminary. Main limitations are the small number and heterogeneity of recruited patients, the limited "dosage" of brain stimulation that can be delivered in the hospital setting, the lack of a sufficient knowledge on the excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms targeted by specific stimulation interventions, and the persistent uncertainty on the key pathophysiological processes leading to motor neuron loss. The present review article provides an update on the state of the art of neuromodulation in ALS and a critical appraisal of the rationale for the application/optimization of brain stimulation interventions, in the light of their interaction with ALS pathophysiological mechanisms

Autonomic dysfunction is associated with disease progression and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a prospective longitudinal cohort study

Background: Among non-motor symptoms, autonomic disturbances have been described in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and reported as mild to moderate in up to 75% of patients. However, no study has systematically investigated autonomic symptoms as prognostic factors. Objectives: The main aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the association of autonomic dysfunction with disease progression and survival in ALS. Methods: We enrolled newly diagnosed ALS patients and a healthy control group (HC). Time from disease onset to disease milestone (King’s stage 4) and death were calculated to assess disease progression and survival. Autonomic symptoms were assessed by a dedicated questionnaire. Longitudinal evaluation of parasympathetic cardiovascular activity was performed by the heart rate variability (HRV). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models on the risk of the disease milestone and death were used. A mixed-effect linear regression model was used to compare autonomic dysfunction with a HC group as well as its impairment over time. Results: A total of 102 patients and 41 HC were studied. ALS patients, compared with HC, complained of more autonomic symptoms, especially in bulbar onset patients. Autonomic symptoms occurred in 69 (68%) patients at diagnosis and progressed over time (post-6: p = 0.015 and post-12: p < 0.001). A higher autonomic symptom burden was an independent marker of faster development of King’s stage 4 (HR 1.05; 95% CI 1.00–1.11; p = 0.022); whereas, urinary complaints were independent factors of a shorter survival (HR 3.12; 95% CI 1.22–7.97; p = 0.018). Moreover, HRV in ALS patients was lower than in HC (p = 0.018) and further decreased over time (p = 0.003), implying a parasympathetic hypofunction that progressed over time. Conclusion: Autonomic symptoms occur in most of the ALS patients at diagnosis and progress over time, implying that autonomic dysfunction represents an intrinsic non-motor feature of the disease. A higher autonomic burden is a poor prognostic factor, associated with a more rapid development of disease milestones and shorter survival