Mechatronics applications of condition monitoring using a statistical change detection method

Abstract In this paper, we propose the use of a change detection strategy to perform condition monitoring of mechanical components. The method looks for statistical changes in the distribution of features extracted from raw measurements, such as Root Mean Square or Crest Factor indicators. The proposed method works in a batch fashion, comparing data from one experiment to another. When these distributions differ by a specified amount, a degradation score is increased. The approach is tested on three experimental applications: (i) an ElectroMechanical Actuator (EMA) employed in flight applications, where the focus of the monitoring is on the ballscrew transmission; (ii) a CNC workbench, where the focus is on the vertical shaft bearing, (iii) an industrial EMA with focus on the ballscrew bearing. All components have undergone a severe experimental degradation process, that ultimately led to their failure. Results show how the proposed method is able to assess component degradation prior to their failure

Current treatment goals are achieved by the majority of patients with atopic dermatitis treated with tralokinumab: results from a multicentric, multinational, retrospective, cohort study

Background: Tralokinumab is a human monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-13 that is approved for the treatment of moderate-severe atopic dermatitis. Studies analyzing the efficacy and safety of tralokinumab in a real-world setting are scarce. Research design and methods: A European, multicentric, real-world, retrospective cohort study was defined to assess the effectiveness and safeness profile of tralokinumab, investigating the achievement of pre-specified treatment goals; and to detect potential differences in terms of effectiveness and safeness across some selected patient subcohorts. Results: A total of 194 adult patients were included in this study. A significant improvement in physician-assessed disease severity was detected at each follow-up visit as compared with baseline and similar trend was observed for patient-reported outcomes and quality of life. No meaningful difference in effectiveness was found when considering patient age (<65 versus ≥65 years), neither dissecting patient cohort in dupilumab-naive vs dupilumab-treated subjects. Among tralokinumabtreated patients, 88% achieved at least one currently identified real-world therapeutic goal at week 16. Conclusions: This retrospective multicenter study confirmed the effectiveness and safeness of tralokinumab throughout 32 weeks of observation, showing the achievement of therapeutic goals identified in both trial and real-world settings in a large proportion of tralokinumab-treated patients

The Italian National Project of Astrobiology-Life in Space-Origin, Presence, Persistence of Life in Space, from Molecules to Extremophiles

The \u2018\u2018Life in Space\u2019\u2019 project was funded in the wake of the Italian Space Agency\u2019s proposal for the development of a network of institutions and laboratories conceived to implement Italian participation in space astrobiology experiments

Flash memories for SoC: an overview on system constraints and technology issues

Flash memories are today one of the fundamental building blocks in modern electronic systems. Their performance (speed, consumption, alterability, nonvolatility) and the increasing importance of system reconfigurability push for flash memory integration in SoC. Unfortunately, flash integration introduces new issues both at system and at circuit/technology levels that need to be deeply investigated. From the system point of view, several aspects are involved in the choice of the flash memory type to be integrated in SoC: the most important ones, depending on the specific applications and requirements (cost, power consumption, reliability and performance requirements), are illustrated. Also circuit-technology issues specific to flash integration with high-speed logic are discussed in depth by analyzing the real case of an embedded 1-T NOR flash memory

Lymphoplasmacytic plaque effectively treated with imiquimod

Lymphoplasmacytic plaque effectively treated with imiquimo

Cost per Responder Analysis of Secukinumab versus Adalimumab in the Treatment of Psoriatic Disease

Background: The EXCEED study evaluated the efficacy and safety of secukinumab versus adalimumab in psoriatic arthritis, but it did not include a pharmacoeconomic analysis. The objective of this study was to compare the cost per responder of secukinumab versus adalimumab in patients with psoriatic disease. Methods: The cost per responder was calculated by multiplying the cost of treatment by the number needed to treat for each therapy. The 52-week primary endpoint was the American College of Rheumatology response rate (ACR) 20; secondary endpoints were ACR 50, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90, and minimal disease activity (MDA). Results: The cost per responder for ACR 20 was €19,846 versus €19,766 for secukinumab and adalimumab, respectively, whereas the costs per responder for ACR 50 and PASI 90 were €27,820 versus €27,384 and €22,102 versus €32,375 for secukinumab and adalimumab, respectively. The cost per MDA responder was €34,072 and €38,906 for secukinumab versus adalimumab. Conclusions: The costs per responder associated with the psoriatic arthritis end points were similar for adalimumab and secukinumab; conversely, the costs for psoriasis and composite end points were lower for secukinuma

Resveratrol induces long-lasting IL-8 expression and peculiar EGFR activation/distribution in human keratinocytes: mechanisms and implications for skin administration.

Anti-inflammatory and skin tumour preventing effects of resveratrol have been extensively studied pre-clinically and resveratrol has been proposed for clinical investigations. To provide a basis or/and limitations for topical administration to human skin, molecular mechanisms underlying resveratrol effects towards normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK) were evaluated. NHEK were challenged by either resveratrol alone or by its combination with TNFalpha or TGFalpha, and time-dependent molecular events were monitored. Interleukin 8 (IL-8) expression and its mRNA stability, ERK1/2, p65/RelA, and EGFR phosphorylation were determined. Intracellular distribution of EGFR/P-EGFR was measured in the membrane, cytoplasmic, and nuclear fractions. Specific DNA binding activity of NFκB (p65/RelA) and AP-1(c-Fos), NHEK proliferation, and molecular markers of apoptosis/cell cycle were detected. Resveratrol induced delayed, long-lasting and steadily growing IL-8 gene and protein over-expression as well as enhanced EGFR phosphorylation, both abrogated by the EGFR kinase inhibitor PD168393. However, resveratrol did not act as a phosphatase inhibitor. ERK phosphorylation was transiently inhibited at early time-points and activated at 6-24 h. Accordingly, c-Fos-specific DNA binding was increased by resveratrol. Cellular distribution of EGFR/P-EGFR was shifted to membrane and nucleus while cytosolic levels were reduced concomitant with enhanced degradation. Notwithstanding high nuclear levels of EGFR/P-EGFR, spontaneous and TGFalpha-triggered cell proliferation was strongly suppressed by resveratrol mainly through cell cycle arrest.Resveratrol synergized with TNFα in the induction of delayed, long-lasting IL-8 expression through sustained EGFR-ERK axis activation. The time course indicates that resveratrol metabolites could be implicated. Topical administration of Resv to psoriatic patients over-expressing TNFα, IL-8 and EGFR-ERK in the skin should be cautiously considered. Since high nuclear levels of EGFR correspond to increased risk of tumorigenesis, chronic resveratrol application to the skin may be potentially dangerous. Wound healing acceleration by resveratrol could not be envisaged due to its anti-proliferative effects towards normal keratinocytes

Abrogation of both constitutive and resveratrol-dependent EGFR and ERK phosphorylation by specific inhibitor of EGFR kinase.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Western blot analysis of whole-cell lysates. Keratinocytes were incubated with 2 µM PD168393 (PD16) for 30 minutes prior to addition of 50 µM resveratrol (Resv) for the indicated time-points. (<b>B</b>) Quantification of Western blot bands by densitometry. *<i>P</i><0.05 and ^§<i>P</i><0.01 <i>versus</i> untreated controls for each time-point. (<b>C</b>) Western blot analysis of whole-cell lysates. Keratinocytes were incubated with 2 µM PD16 prior to addition of 50 µM Rv for 1 h. Subsequently, cells were further treated for 12 h with 50 ng/ml TNFα. (<b>D</b>) Quantification of Western blot bands by densitometry. *<i>P</i><0.05 <i>versus</i> controls treated with TNFα only. Data are representative of three independent experiments.</p

Resveratrol did not protect phosphorylated EGFR from endogenous phosphatases, led to EGFR accumulation in the keratinocyte membranes, and induced its cytosolic degradation.

<p>Western blot analysis of the plasma membrane fraction, where cadherin was used as a loading control (<b>A</b>) and of the cytosolic fraction (<b>C</b>). After 24h treatment with resveratrol (Resv), keratinocytes were stimulated with TGFα (50 ng/ml) for 10 minutes. Then, 2 µM PD168393 (PD16) were added to the medium for further 10 minutes. (<b>B</b>, <b>D</b>) Quantification of Western blot bands by densitometry. *<i>P</i><0.05 and ^§<i>P</i><0.01 <i>versus</i> untreated controls.</p