A practical engineering approach to the design and manufacturing of a mini kW blade wind turbine : definition, optimisation and CFD analysis

A practical engineering approach to the design of a 60 kW wind generator with improved performances is presented. The proposed approach relies on the use of a specific, “ad hoc” developed software, OPTIWR (Optimization Software), expressly conceived to define an “optimum” rotor configuration in the framework of the blade element-momentum theory. Starting from an initial input geometric configuration (corresponding to an already existing 50 kW turbine) and for given values of the wind velocity Vwind and of the advance ratio X = Vwind/ΩR (where Ω is the blade rotational speed and R is the propeller radius), this software is used to determine iteratively the optimized distributions of chords and twists which can guarantee a constant value of the socalled axial induction factor a = 1/3 along the blade. The output configuration is then converted into a CAD model to be used, in turn, as input data for a CFD commercial software. With this tool the relative rotational motion between the fluid and the wind turbine are simulated resorting to a MRF (Moving Reference Frame) technique (for which continuity and momentum equations are solved in a rotating reference frame). The outcomes of the numerical simulations are then used to verify the improved performances of the optimized configuration and to which extent the CFD data agree with “expected” behaviours (i.e. performances predicted on the basis of the simplified model). Finally, some details about the construction technique used to turn the optimized configuration into an effective working prototype are provided, in conjunction with a critical discussion of suitable production methods for composite components

Level of quality of life and health self-care in university students of health sciences at the National University of Villa María

The purpose of this study is the analysis of self - perceived quality of life and self-care of university students in their first years of Health Sciences Degrees at Instituto Académico Pedagógico de Ciencias Humanas (IAPCH) - National University of Villa María (UNVM). Methods: An observational, descriptive and correlational, cross-sectional design was implemented to conduct this study. It involved all the students in the first three years of the Medicine and Occupational Therapy degrees, with an estimated total of 280 students. The socio-demographics considered were: age, gender, origin and level of education of the immediate family members (father, mother and brother/sister). The Quality of Life assessment was carried out based on the SF-36 and the self-care assessment was performed according to the “Appraisal of the Capacity for Self-Care Agency Scale”. Results: Regarding quality of life, the Physical Component Summary (PCS) is higher than the Mental Component Summary (MCS) and with regard to the analysis based on gender, men revealed a higher perceived quality of life in both the physical and mental aspects. Women revealed a lower perceived quality of life regarding their physical functioning, emotional role, vitality, mental health, social role, bodily pain and general health. The analysis of self – care capacity showed that the total score in men and women corresponds to a medium level of self-care capacity, however, the highest proportion, in men as well as in women, was found in the category of low self-care capacity.Fil: Romero, D. E.. Universidad Nacional de Villa Maria. Instituto Academico de Ciencias Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Gili, Juan Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. CEMIC-CONICET. Centro de Educaciones Médicas e Investigaciones Clínicas "Norberto Quirno". CEMIC-CONICET; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Villa Maria. Instituto Academico de Ciencias Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Trecco, P.. Universidad Nacional de Villa Maria. Instituto Academico de Ciencias Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Torres, V.. Universidad Nacional de Villa Maria. Instituto Academico de Ciencias Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Chiriotti, V.. Universidad Nacional de Villa Maria. Instituto Academico de Ciencias Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, A. R.. Universidad Nacional de Villa Maria. Instituto Academico de Ciencias Humanas; Argentin

Programmable logic circuits for functional integrated smart plastic systems

In this paper, we present a functional integrated plastic system. We have fabricated arrays of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) and printed electronic components driving an electrophoretic ink display up to 70mm by 70mm on a single flexible transparent plastic foil. Transistor arrays were quickly and reliably configured for different logic functions by an additional process step of inkjet printing conductive silver wires and poly(3,4ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) resistors between transistors or between logic blocks. Among the circuit functions and features demonstrated on the arrays are a 7-stage ring oscillator, a D-type ip-flop memory element, a 2:4 demultiplexer, a programmable array logic device (PAL), and printed wires and resistors. Touch input sensors were also printed, thus only external batteries were required for a complete electronic subsystem. The PAL featured 8 inputs, 8 outputs, 32 product terms, and had 1260 p-type polymer transistors in a 3-metal process using diode-load logic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a PAL concept with organic transistors has been demonstrated, and also the first time that organic transistors have been used as the control logic for a flexible display which have both been integrated on to a single plastic substrate. The versatility afforded by the additive inkjet printing process is well suited to organic programmable logic on plastic substrates, in effect, making flexible organic electronics more flexibleRCUK, OtherThis is the final published version. It is also available from Elsevier at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1566119914003607#

Stage-related outcome for thymic epithelial tumours

Background: Thymic epithelial tumours (TETs) are characterized by a wide variety of biological behaviors. Radical resection and stage are strong prognostic factors. Aim of this study is to review our Single Center Experience. Methods: One hundred and seventy-seven patients observed in the period from January 2000 to December 2016 were included in the study. Data regarding clinicopathologic features, treatment, and survival were collected. Stage-related clinical standpoints and therapeutic options were also evaluated. Results: Non-surgical treatment was primarily performed in 15 (8.47%), unresectable disease was intraoperatively found in 12 cases (7.4%). The analysis of 150 patients undergoing curative surgery revealed 70 stage I TET (46.66%), 49 stage II (32.66%), 19 stage III (12.66%), 6 stage IVa (4%) and 6 stage IVb (4%) at the first hospital admission. Histology identified 12 A thymoma (8%), 38 AB (25.33%), 24 B1 (16%), 50 B2 (33.33%), 19 B3 (12.66%) and 7 carcinomas (4.66%). The mean follow up time was 84.14 months (sd = 61.68 months). Disease relapse occurred in 13 patients (8.78%) at a mean period of 78.85 months (sd = 60.87 months) after surgery. Exitus due to thymoma happened in 6 cases (4.05%) after a mean survival of 56.02 months (sd = 25.17 months). The 5-year overall survival rate was 0.94 (95%CI 0.88-0.97) and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 0.90 (95%CI 0.83-0.94). The 5-year overall survival rates were 96.1% (95% CI, 89.9-98.5%) for the early stages and 87.4% (95% CI, 65.6-95.8%) for the advanced stages (p = 0.670). The 5-year disease-free survival rates resulted being 98.8% (95% CI, 92.3-99.8%) for the early stages and 59.8% (95% CI, 37.8-76.2%) for the advanced stages (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Advanced stage TETs are characterized by higher mortality and recurrence rates. Although technically demanding, surgery, as part of multimodality therapy, could prolong survival. Iterative surgical treatment of recurrences is a viable option for selected patients. Trial registration: The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Perugia and Terni University Hospitals [Code T1003] and was retrospectively registered

PERFORMANCES OF A SMALL HYPERSONIC AIRPLANE (HYPLANE)

In the present work a preliminary performance study regarding a small hypersonic airplane named HyPlane is presented. It is designed for long duration sub-orbital space tourism missions, in the frame of the Space Renaissance (SR) Italia Space Tourism Program. The vehicle is also consistent with a point-to-point medium range hypersonic trip, within the “urgent business travel” market segment. The design of such a hypersonic airplane is based on the concept of integrating available technologies developed for aeronautical and space atmospheric re-entry systems. The vehicle, characterized by high aerodynamic efficiency and low wing loading, is able to provide aerodynamic stability and manoeuvrability along the flight path and to produce a reduced sonic boom during cruise and supersonic descent approach, ensuring a very limited environmental impact. HyPlane, powered by Turbine Based Combined Cycle (TBCC) engines plus a throtteable Rocket, is able to perform Horizontal Takeoff and Horizontal Landing (HTHL) on runways. Aerodynamic and propulsive performances for the different flight regimes encountered during the missions are studied. Aerodynamic heating effects are analyzed, in order to identify suitable structures and materials design to sustain the hypersonic flight conditions. Different flight paths are also investigated, including hypersonic cruise and sub-orbital parabolic trajectories, which provide Space tourists with the opportunity of long duration missions, offering short and repeated periods of low-gravity, in the high stratosphere where a large view of the Earth is ensured

Relationship between behavioural coping strategies and acceptance in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: Elucidating targets of interventions

BACKGROUND: Previous research has found that acceptance of pain is more successful than cognitive coping variables for predicting adjustment to pain. This research has a limitation because measures of cognitive coping rely on observations and reports of thoughts or attempts to change thoughts rather than on overt behaviours. The purpose of the present study, therefore, is to compare the influence of acceptance measures and the influence of different behavioural coping strategies on the adjustment to chronic pain. METHODS: A sample of 167 individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome completed the Chronic Pain Coping Inventory (CPCI) and the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ). RESULTS: Correlational analyses indicated that the acceptance variables were more related to distress and functioning than were behavioural coping variables. The average magnitudes of the coefficients for activity engagement and pain willingness (both subscales of pain acceptance) across the measures of distress and functioning were r = 0.42 and 0.25, respectively, meanwhile the average magnitude of the correlation between coping and functioning was r = 0.17. Regression analyses examined the independent, relative contributions of coping and acceptance to adjustment indicators and demonstrated that acceptance accounted for more variance than did coping variables. The variance contributed by acceptance scores ranged from 4.0 to 40%. The variance contributed by the coping variables ranged from 0 to 9%. CONCLUSIONS: This study extends the findings of previous work in enhancing the adoption of acceptance-based interventions for maintaining accurate functioning in fibromyalgia patients

Bilateral Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Language Treatment Enhances Functional Connectivity in the Left Hemisphere: Preliminary Data from Aphasia

Several studies have already shown that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a useful tool for enhancing recovery in aphasia. However, no reports to date have investigated functional connectivity changes on cortical activity because of tDCS language treatment. Here, nine aphasic persons with articulatory disorders underwent an intensive language therapy in two different conditions: bilateral anodic stimulation over the left Broca's area and cathodic contralesional stimulation over the right homologue of Broca's area and a sham condition. The language treatment lasted 3 weeks (Monday to Friday, 15 sessions). In all patients, language measures were collected before (T0) and at the end of treatment (T15). Before and after each treatment condition (real vs. sham), each participant underwent a resting-state fMRI study. Results showed that, after real stimulation, patients exhibited the greatest recovery not only in terms of better accuracy in articulating the treated stimuli but also for untreated items on different tasks of the language test. Moreover, although after the sham condition connectivity changes were confined to the right brain hemisphere, real stimulation yielded to stronger functional connectivity increase in the left hemisphere. In conclusion, our data provide converging evidence from behavioral and functional imaging data that bilateral tDCS determines functional connectivity changes within the lesioned hemisphere, enhancing the language recovery process in stroke patients

Programmable logic circuits for functional integrated smart plastic systems

In this paper, we present a functional integrated plastic system. We have fabricated arrays of organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs) and printed electronic components driving an electrophoretic ink display up to 70 mm by 70 mm on a single flexible transparent plastic foil. Transistor arrays were quickly and reliably configured for different logic functions by an additional process step of inkjet printing conductive silver wires and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) resistors between transistors or between logic blocks. Among the circuit functions and features demonstrated on the arrays are a 7-stage ring oscillator, a D-type flip-flop memory element, a 2:4 demultiplexer, a programmable array logic device (PAL), and printed wires and resistors. Touch input sensors were also printed, thus only external batteries were required for a complete electronic subsystem. The PAL featured 8 inputs, 8 outputs, 32 product terms, and had 1260 p-type polymer transistors in a 3-metal process using diode-load logic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a PAL concept with organic transistors has been demonstrated, and also the first time that organic transistors have been used as the control logic for a flexible display which have both been integrated on to a single plastic substrate. The versatility afforded by the additive inkjet printing process is well suited to organic programmable logic on plastic substrates, in effect, making flexible organic electronics more flexible. Crown Copyright (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V.X113426Ysciescopu