Design, manufacturing and calibration of a large ring segment

Design concepts, manufacturing steps and calibration strategies of a large ring segment are reported in this contribution. The study aims at investigating the feasibility of using a ring segment for establishing the traceability of large diameter workpieces, primarily to quantify the influence of the workpiece surface and form. The ring segment embodies two nominally coaxial features: a cylinder and a torus. Both the cylinder and the torus are highly partial features, which poses a challenge for the calibration. The measurands to calibrate are defined in terms of intrinsic and location features, according to the model for geometrical specification and verification (EN ISO 17450-1). The adopted measurement strategies are described and preliminary calibration results are reported

Testing criteria for multi-seat measure machine

Concerning methods for testing and acceptance of automatic measure machines, the international standards and the technical specifications introduce, except light differences, a certain convergence in stating the fundamental tests and the relevant capability indexes calculations. However a problem rises concerning the multi-seat machines. This problem is related to the fact that these machines introduce in particular way a measure variation (systematical and randomic) due to seats. In practical terms, in this type of applications, each measure station checks a certain number of characteristics of pieces each one seated on a different rig that is conveyed step by step from one station to the following one. The measure stations are so in sequence and check parts located in different seats. Cyclically checking the same characteristics on a certain number of part rigs is a circumstance affecting the performances of every gauges in terms of repeatability, reproducibility and accuracy. In the present paper the simulation of the effect of different part load criteria is presented. At the same time we try to define a method granting customers the correct machine functionality, not forcing manufactures to implement expensive automatic cycles for finding out the most critical operative conditions

Aging and adherence to the mediterranean diet. relationship with cardiometabolic disorders and polypharmacy

Objectives: To investigate the association between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (Med-Diet), cardiometabolic disorders and polypharmacy. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Geriatrics outpatient clinic, Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome. Participants: 508 patients (219 male, 289 female) aged 50 to 89 who were evaluated for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Methods and Measurements: Patients underwent a comprehensive medical assessment including medical history and the use of medications. Adherence to Med-Diet was assessed using the validated Med-Diet 14-item questionnaire; for the analysis, patients were divided in high (≥8) and medium-low (<8) adherence. Polypharmacy was defined as taking ≥5 medications. Results: 476 patients completed the study. Mean age was 70.4 years; 58% female. Median Med-Diet score was 8 (6-9). Patients with medium-low adherence had higher body mass index (p=0.029) and higher prevalence of arterial hypertension (p<0.001), previous coronary (p=0.002) and cerebrovascular events (p=0.011), diabetes, (p<0.001) and dyslipidemia (p=0.001) compared to those at high adherence. Med-Diet score decreased with the number of cardiometabolic disorders (p<0.001). The prevalence of polypharmacy was 39%. Consumption of olive oil (p=0.005), vegetables, (p<0.001), wine (p=0.017), legumes (p=0.028), fish (p=0.046) and nuts (p=0.045) were all inversely associated with the overall number of medications. In a multivariable regression model, medium-low adherence to Med-Diet was independently associated to polypharmacy (O.R.:1.859; 95% CI 1.142 to 3.025; p=0.013), after adjusting for possible confounding factors. Conclusion: Med-Diet was inversely associated with cardiometabolic disorders and with polypharmacy, suggesting that improved Med-Diet adherence might potentially delay the onset of age-related health deterioration and reduce the need of multiple medications

The European Academy of Andrology (EAA) ultrasound study on healthy, fertile men: An overview on male genital tract ultrasound reference ranges

Background: So far, male genital tract color-Doppler ultrasound (MGT-CDUS) was not standardized. Recently, the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) published the results of a multicenter study assessing the CDUS characteristics of healthy-fertile men (HFM) to obtain normative parameters. Objectives: To report the EAA US study (i) standard operating procedures (SOPs) for assessing MGT-CDUS, (ii) main MGT-CDUS normative parameters, and (iii) compare the EAA and previously published "normal" CDUS values. Methods: A cohort of 248 HFM (35.3 ± 5.9 years) was studied, evaluating MGT-CDUS before and after ejaculation following SOPs. Results: SOPs for MGT-CDUS assessment are summarized here. All subjects underwent scrotal CDUS and 188 men underwent transrectal ultrasound before and after ejaculation. The main CDUS reference ranges and characteristics of the HFM-MGT are reported here. The mean testicular volume was ∼17 mL. The lower limit for right and left testis was 12 and 11 mL, defining testicular hypotrophy. The upper limit for epididymal head, body, tail, and vas deferens was 11.5, 5, 6, and 4.5 mm, respectively. Testicular and epididymal arterial reference ranges are reported. The EAA varicocoele classification is reported. CDUS-varicocoele was detected in ∼37% of men. Prostate mean volume was ∼25 mL, while lower and upper limits were 15 and 35 mL, defining hypotrophy and enlargement, respectively. Prostate arterial reference ranges are reported. Prostate calcifications and inhomogeneity were frequent; midline prostatic cysts were rare and small. Ejaculatory duct abnormalities were absent. The upper limit for periprostatic venous plexus was 4.5 mm. Lower and upper limits of seminal vesicles (SV) anterior-posterior diameter were 6 and 16 mm, defining hypotrophy or dilation, respectively. Seminal vesicle volume and ejection fraction reference ranges are reported. SV-US abnormalities were rare. Deferential ampullas upper limit was 6 mm. A discussion on the EAA and previously published "normal" CDUS values is reported here. Conclusions: The EAA findings will help in reproductive and general male health management

The European Academy of Andrology (EAA) ultrasound study on healthy, fertile men: Prostate-vesicular transrectal ultrasound reference ranges and associations with clinical, seminal and biochemical characteristics

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) parameters are not standardized, especially in men of reproductive age. Hence, the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) promoted a multicenter study to assess the TRUS characteristics of healthy-fertile men (HFM) to establish normative parameters

The European Academy of Andrology (EAA) ultrasound study on healthy, fertile men : Prostate-vesicular transrectal ultrasound reference ranges and associations with clinical, seminal and biochemical characteristics

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) parameters are not standardized, especially in men of reproductive age. Hence, the European Academy of Andrology (EAA) promoted a multicenter study to assess the TRUS characteristics of healthy-fertile men (HFM) to establish normative parameters. To report and discuss the prostate and seminal vesicles (SV) reference ranges and characteristics in HFM and their associations with clinical, seminal, biochemical parameters. 188 men (35.6 ± 6.0 years) from a cohort of 248 HFM were studied, evaluating, on the same day, clinical, biochemical, seminal, TRUS parameters following Standard Operating Procedures. TRUS reference ranges and characteristics of the prostate and SV of HFM are reported herein. The mean PV was ∼25 ml. PV lower and upper limits were 15 and 35 ml, defining prostate hypotrophy and enlargement, respectively. PV was positively associated with age, waistline, current smoking (but not with T levels), seminal volume (and negatively with seminal pH), prostate inhomogeneity, macrocalcifications, calcification size and prostate arterial parameters, SV volume before and after ejaculation, deferential and epididymal size. Prostate calcifications and inhomogeneity were frequent, while midline prostatic cysts were rare and small. Ejaculatory duct abnormalities were absent. Periprostatic venous plexus size was positively associated with prostate calcifications, SV volume and arterial peak systolic velocity. Lower and upper limits of SV anterior-posterior diameter after ejaculation were 6 and 16 mm, defining SV hypotrophy or dilation, respectively. SV total volume before ejaculation and delta SV total volume (DSTV) positively correlated with ejaculate volume, and DSTV correlated positively with sperm progressive motility. SV total volume after ejaculation was associated negatively with SV ejection fraction and positively with distal ampullas size. SV US abnormalities were rare. No association between TRUS and time to pregnancy, number of children or history of miscarriage was observed. The present findings will help in better understanding male infertility pathophysiology and the meaning of specific TRUS findings