Properties of Nanocrystals-formulated Aluminosilicate Bricks

In the present work, seven different types of nanocrystals were studied as additives in the formulation of aluminosilicate bricks. The considered nanocrystals consisted of anatase titanium dioxide (two differently shaped types), boron modified anatase, calcium carbonate (in calcite phase), aluminium hydroxide and silicon carbide (of two diverse sizes), which were prepared using different methods. Syntheses aim to give a good control over a particle’s size and shape. Anatase titania nanocrystals, together with the nano-aluminium hydroxide ones, were synthesized via microwave-assisted procedures, with the use of different additives and without the final calcination steps. The silicon carbide nanoparticles were prepared via laser pyrolysis. The nano-calcium carbonate was prepared via a spray drying technique. All of the nanocrystals were tested as fillers (in 0.5, 1 and 2 wt. % amounts) in a commercial aluminosilicate refractory (55 % Al2O3, 42 % SiO2). They were used to prepare bricks that were thermally treated at 1300 °C for 24 hours, according to the international norms. The differently synthesized nanocrystals were added for the preparation of the bricks, with the aim to improve their heat-insulating and/or mechanical properties. The nanocrystals-modified refractories showed variations in properties, with respect to the untreated aluminosilicate reference in heat-insulating performances (thermal diffusivities were measured by the “hot disk” technique). In general, they also showed improvements in mechanical compression resistance for all of the samples at 2 wt. %. The best heat insulation was obtained with the addition of nano-aluminium hydroxide at 2 wt. %, while the highest mechanical compression breaking resistance was found with nano-CaCO3 at 2 wt. %. These outcomes were investigated with complementary techniques, like mercury porosimetry for porosity, and Archimedes methods to measure physical properties like the bulk and apparent densities, apparent porosities and water absorption. The results show that the nano-aluminium hydroxide modified bricks were the most porous, which could explain the best heat-insulating performances. There is a less straightforward explanation for the mechanical resistance results, as they may have relations with the characteristics of the pores. Furthermore, the nanoparticles may have possible reactions with the matrix during the heat treatments

Car components detection and recognition for damage detection tasks via Deep Learning

The project aimed to find a and train a deep learning model for instance segmentation of car components and for car damages. Specifically, the first part consisted to train several state of the art models with a car components dataset. After a good model was found, it has been improved via genetic algorithms. Then, the model obtained on the first part has been used for the segmentation of car components of damaged cars and has been also retrained with a damaged cars dataset. In this way we can classify correctly damaged areas of a vehicle and recognize which components are involved

Psychic trauma as cause of death

AIM. Psychic trauma is described as the action of 'an emotionally overwhelming factor' capable of causing neurovegetative alterations leading to transitory or persisting bodily changes. The medico-legal concept of psychic trauma and its definition as a cause in penal cases is debated. The authors present three cases of death after psychic trauma, and discuss the definition of cause within the penal ambit of identified 'emotionally overwhelming factors'. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The methodological approach to ascertainment and criterion-based assessment in each case involved the following phases: (1) examination of circumstantial evidence, clinical records and documentation; (2) autopsy; (3) ascertainment of cause of death; and (4) ascertainment of psychic trauma, and its coexisting relationship with the cause of death. RESULTS. The results and assessment of each of the three cases are discussed from the viewpoint of the causal connotation of psychic trauma. In the cases presented, psychic trauma caused death, as deduced from assessment of the type of externally caused emotional insult, the subjects' personal characteristics and the circumstances of the event causing death. CONCLUSIONS. In cases of death due to psychic trauma, careful methodological ascertainment is essential, with the double aim of defining 'emotionally overwhelming factors' as a significant cause of death from the penal point of view, and of identifying the responsibility of third parties involved in the death event and associated dynamics of homicide

Humidity Sensing by Chitosan-Coated Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBG)

In this work, we report novel relative humidity sensors realized by functionalising fibre Bragg gratings with chitosan, a moisture-sensitive biopolymer never used before for this kind of fibre optic sensor. The swelling capacity of chitosan is fundamental to the sensing mechanism. Different samples were fabricated, testing the influence of coating design and deposition procedure on sensor performance. The sensitivity of the sensors was measured in an airtight humidity-controlled chamber using saturated chemical salt solutions. The best result in terms of sensitivity was obtained for a sensor produced on filter paper substrate. Tests for each design were performed in the environment, lasted several days, and all designs were independently re-tested at different seasons of the year. The produced sensors closely followed the ambient humidity variation common to the 24-h circadian cycle

Ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve cryolisis for post-breast surgery pain syndrome - Criolesione ecoguidata dei nervi intercostali nel dolore post-chirurgico mammario

Breast and/or thoracic pain is a frequent event after breast surgery and is a source of deterioration of patients' quality of life. The development of fibrosis and scar areas around the cutaneous branches of the intercostal nerves is a common cause of pain. Proper clinical investigation associated with the use of ultrasound-guided intercostal nerve cryoablation could be a solution to achieve significant analgesic results

Real time assessment of the magnetic diagnostic system in RFX-mod

Magnetic diagnostics plays a critical role in fusion devices, providing the main information of the plasma characteristics during the shot to be used to control plasma equilibrium and stability. Possible loss of accuracy or probe failures can result in losses of plasma control and consequent disruption. A new procedure based on an inverse\u2013direct treatment of measurements is successfully applied to the diagnostic system of RFX-mod device. The procedure is well suited for the on-line operations because is based on an effective modelling step of the plasma magnetic behavior and, in addition, the numerical computation is designed to be implemented in high performance architectures

Giant pseudocyst of the abdominal wall following incisional ventral hernia repair: an extremely rare clinical entity. Report of a case

Il “gold standard” per il trattamento dei laparoceli è l’intervento chirurgico con impiego di protesi, nonostante questo approccio sia gravato da numerose complicanze post-operatorie; tra queste possiamo annoverare le pseudocisti giganti della parete addominale, tale evenienza risulta ancora molto rara e la sua eziopatogenesi riamane non chiara. In questo lavoro descriviamo il caso clinico di una paziente di 36 anni, diabetica ed obesa, precedentemente sottoposta a taglio cesareo e riparazione di laparocele con posizionamento di protesi in sede soprafasciale. La paziente si è presentata presso i nostri ambulatori per la comparsa di un gonfiore asintomatico a livello della fossa iliaca sinistra. Gli approfondimenti CT e ecografico hanno mostrato una cisti sottocutanea localizzata a livello della parete addominale anteriore associata ad un laparocele recidivo. Abbiamo quindi, sottoposto la paziente ad un intervento chirurgico al fine di procedere ad una competa resezione della lesione e alla riparazione del laparocele con posizionamento di protesi retromuscolare. L’ampio spazio morto risultante da questa procedura è stato gestito mediante l’esecuzione di una sutura tra il piano sottocutaneo e la fascia muscolare dell’obliquo esterno. Non abbiamo rilevato alcuna recidiva o complicanza post-operatoria al follow-up a due anni. Le pseudocisti giganti della parete addominale sono una rara entità clinica associata alla riparazione chirurgica dei laparoceli che compaiono prevalentemente in donne obese trattate con posizionamento di protesi soprafasciale. L’unico trattamento efficace e risolutivo è l’intervento chirurgico di resezione completa della lesione e adeguata gestione dello spazio morto risultante dalla dissezione in modo da ridurre il tasso di recidiva.BACKGROUND: The gold standard treatment for incisional ventral hernia (IVH) is a surgical repair with mesh employment, nevertheless this procedure is burdened by several post-operative complications; among these latter, giant pseudocyst of abdominal wall (GPAW) formation is one of the most rare and its etiopathogenesis remains unclear. CASE REPORT: We describe the case report of a 36 years old, diabetic and obese woman, previously underwent to a csection and IVH repair with on-lay mesh placement, presented to our unit with an asymptomatic left iliac fossa swelling. At ultrasound (US) and CT scan examination it appears to be a subcutaneous cyst of the anterior abdominal wall associated with a recurrent IVH. Therefore, she underwent to a surgical procedure in order to accomplish a complete excision of the lesion along with a repair of the incisional IVH, with a sub-lay mesh positioning. The extensive dead space resulting from the procedure was managed with a quilting suture. No recurrence or complications have been detected at 2 years follow up. CONCLUSION: GPAWs are a rare clinical entity following IVH repair, which occur commonly in female obese patients treated with on-lay mesh positioning. The only effective and definitive treatment is a complete surgical excision along with a correct management of the dead space resulting from the surgical procedure, in order to reduce the recurrence rate. KEY WORDS: Abdominal wall, Incisional hernia, Mesh, Pseudocyst, Surgery

Difficult-to-treat OSAS: combined continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and mandibular advancement devices (MADs) therapy. A case report

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and is characterized by recurrent episodes of partial or complete upper airway collapse during sleep with consequent oxygen desaturations and cardiovascular, neurological, and metabolic impairment. Clinical presentation: The authors report the case of a 66-year-old male presenting “metabolic syndrome” (obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, multi-drug treated arterial hypertension), atopy, mouth breathing due to turbinate hypertrophy, and pathological daytime sleepiness. As patient’s compliance to standard continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy was poor, he was treated using low-pressure CPAP combined with a mandibular advancement device (MAD). Conclusion: In selected patients, a treatment combining CPAP and MAD might be a more tolerable alternative to CPAP alone. The improved pharyngeal patency, promoted by mandibular advancement and stretching of the pharyngeal muscles, allows operating the CPAP at lower pressures when the MAD alone is not sufficient to induce a safe sleep profile

3D magnetic surfaces reconstruction in RFX-mod

none8The paper proposes an approach for the identification of magnetic surfaces, and particularly of the Last Closed Magnetic Surface, in nuclear fusion devices. The proposed method is based on a pure electromagnetic model without the requirement of information from the MHD. The methodology is based on the equivalent 3D representation of the plasma current by means of stream functions and an analytical description of 3D magnetic surfaces based on the 3D interpolation of magnetic field lines. The paper shows results achieved in a RFX-mod experimental shot, nevertheless the method is quite general and it can be applied to a wide range of fusion devices based on the magnetic confinement.noneBettini, Paolo; Chiariello, Andrea Gaetano; Formisano, Alessandro; Ledda, Francesco; Marchiori, Giuseppe; Martone, Raffaele; Pizzo, Francesco; Terranova, DavidBettini, Paolo; Chiariello, Andrea Gaetano; Formisano, Alessandro; Ledda, Francesco; Marchiori, Giuseppe; Martone, Raffaele; Pizzo, Francesco; Terranova, Davi

Anabolic androgenic steroids abuse and cardiac death in athletes: Morphological and toxicological findings in four fatal cases

Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are the main class of doping agents and their consumption produces adverse effects involving several organs and systems. Three cases of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and one of death due to congestive heart failure of previously healthy athletes who were AAS users are herein reported. Concentric cardiac hypertrophy with focal fibrosis (one case), dilated cardiomyopathy with patchy myocyte death (two cases) and eosinophilic myocarditis (one case) were observed and most probably relate to the final event. Molecular investigation for viral genomes was positive in one case (Ebstein virus). Our data confirm previous findings, showing that the most typical cardiac abnormality in AAS abusers is left ventricular hypertrophy, associated with fibrosis and myocytolysis. An exceptional cardiovascular substrate was represented by the case with drug induced eosinophilic myocarditis. These features are at risk of ventricular arrhythmias as well as congestive heart failure. The cause-effect relationship between AAS abuse and cardiac death can be established only by a rigorous methodology with the use of standardized protocols, including precise morphological studies of all target organs to search for chronic toxic effects. Laboratory investigations should focus on AAS searching on a wide range of biological matrices to demonstrate type, magnitude and time of exposure. \ua9 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd