Conceptual Design for Long-Endurance Convertible Unmanned Aerial System

This research is aimed at analysing the effect of design parameters on critical aerodynamic performance of convertible unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities and providing a sizing tool for its conceptual design. The research was based on new aerodynamic models specifically developed and validated for convertible aircraft, performed using mission-based optimisation techniques. To accommodate a wide range of convertible aircraft configurations, a non-linear lifting-line method was used to efficiently analyse different combinations of lifting surface and propeller arrangements. Propeller loads were calculated using a blade element momentum approach and corrected for high incidence angle conditions according to numerical and experimental studies. Propeller-wing interactions were considered by modifying local boundary conditions at wing sections immersed in propeller slipstream. Previous studies have suggested that the design of convertible aircraft is sensitive to typical mission requirements, notably the endurance breakdown between near-hover flight and cruise flight. A clear sizing law for wing and propeller according to given mission specification could greatly improve the understanding of compromises between hover and high speed flight

Human T cell development and HIV infection in human hemato-lymphoid system mice

Advances in generation of mice that on human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell transplantation develop and maintain human hemato-lymphoid cells have fueled an already thriving field of research. We focus here on human T cell development and HIV infection in Rag2 -/- gamma(c) -/- mice transplanted as newborns with human CD34+ cord blood hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Partial irradiation of the breast: old challenges, new solutions

Breast-conserving treatment, characteristically consisting of surgical removal of the tumor and post-operative whole breast irradiation, is nowadays considered as the standard therapeutic approach for most women with stage I/II, invasive breast cancer. Recently, a number of institutions started investigating the feasibility and safety of novel approaches in radiotherapy, modulating concomitantly treatment time and irradiation volume. Whilst this strategy is still under investigation, recent clinical studies on accelerated partial breast irradiation with intra-operative radiotherapy or high conformality irradiation strongly suggest that the way patients with early breast cancer are irradiated should be revisited

Infections or Vaccines Associated with Finkelstein-Seidlmayer Vasculitis: Systematic Review.

Finkelstein-Seidlmayer vasculitis, also referred to as acute hemorrhagic edema of young children, is a rare small-vessel leukocytoclastic vasculitis. This condition is skin-limited, mainly affects infants up to 2 years of age and spontaneously remits. It has been suggested that an infection or a vaccine precede (by ≤ 14 days) this vasculitis. To better understand the interplay between infections or vaccines and Finkelstein-Seidlmayer vasculitis, we utilized the data contained in the Acute Hemorrhagic Edema BIbliographic Database AHEBID. The database, initiated in 2019, is being regularly updated, encompasses the entire original literature on Finkelstein-Seidlmayer vasculitis published after the original description and is attainable on request. The possible existence of an infectious or a vaccine precursor was addressed in 447 cases. Most cases were preceded by an infection (N = 384; 86%), by a vaccination (N = 20; 4.4%), or both an infection and a vaccination (N = 17; 3.8%). No precursor was reported in the remaining cases (N = 26; 5.8%). Two distinct infections preceded the onset of the vasculitis in 11 of the 381 cases with infection-associated Finkelstein-Seidlmayer vasculitis. The following infectious precursors were reported: upper respiratory tract infection (N = 292); acute gastroenteritis (N = 40); a benign febrile infection (N = 36); lower respiratory tract infection (N = 22); further infections (N = 8). The temporal relationship between the infectious precursor and the onset of the skin eruption was detailed in 336 cases: 54 cases developed before resolution and 282 after resolution of the infection. In conclusion, most cases of Finkelstein-Seidlmayer vasculitis are preceded by an infection. In a minority of cases, this skin vasculitis develops before resolution of the infection. In most cases, however, this vasculitis develops after resolution of the infection. More rarely, this vasculitis is preceded by a vaccination

Epstein-Barr virus as promoter of Lemierre syndrome: systematic literature review.

To investigate a possible link between acute Epstein-Barr virus infection and Lemierre syndrome, a rare yet life-threatening infection. A systematic review was conducted adhering to the 2020 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Diagnosis criteria for Lemierre syndrome were established, and data extraction encompassed demographic data, clinical, and laboratory information. Out of 985 initially identified papers, 132 articles were selected for the final analysis. They reported on 151 cases of Lemierre syndrome (76 female and 75 male patients with a median of 18 years) alongside interpretable results for Epstein-Barr virus serology. Among these, 38 cases (25%) tested positive for acute Epstein-Barr virus serology. There were no differences in terms of age, sex, or Fusobacterium presence between the serologically positive and negative groups. Conversely, instances of cervical thrombophlebitis and pulmonary complications were significantly higher (P = 0.0001) among those testing negative. The disease course was lethal in one case for each of the two groups. This analysis provides evidence of an association between acute Epstein-Barr virus infection and Lemierre syndrome. Raising awareness of this link within the medical community is desirable