TWSME of a NiTi strip in free bending conditions: experimental and theoretical approach

This paper deals with the two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) induced on a strip of a nearequiatomic NiTi alloy by means of the shape memory cycling training method. This procedure is based on the deformation in martensite state to reach the desired cold shape followed by cycling the temperature from above Af to below Mf. To this end, the sample was thermally treated to memorise a bent shape, thermomechanical trained as described and thermally cycled in unloaded conditions in order to study the stability of the induced TWSME. Heating to Af was reached by a hot air stream flow whereas cooling to Mf was achieved through natural convection. The evolution of the curvature with the increasing number of cycles was evaluated. The thermomechanical behaviour of the strip undergoing uniform bending was simulated using a one-dimensional phenomenological model based on stress and the temperature as external control variables. Both martensite and austenite volume fractions were chosen as internal parameters and kinetic laws were used in order to describe their evolution during phase transformations. The experimental findings are compared with the model simulation and a numerical prediction based on the approach proposed in [25]

TWSME of a NiTi strip in free bending conditions: experimental and theoretical approach

This paper deals with the two-way shape memory effect (TWSME) induced on a strip of a nearequiatomic NiTi alloy by means of the shape memory cycling training method. This procedure is based on the deformation in martensite state to reach the desired cold shape followed by cycling the temperature from above Af to below Mf. To this end, the sample was thermally treated to memorise a bent shape, thermomechanical trained as described and thermally cycled in unloaded conditions in order to study the stability of the induced TWSME. Heating to Af was reached by a hot air stream flow whereas cooling to Mf was achieved through natural convection. The evolution of the curvature with the increasing number of cycles was evaluated. The thermomechanical behaviour of the strip undergoing uniform bending was simulated using a one-dimensional phenomenological model based on stress and the temperature as external control variables. Both martensite and austenite volume fractions were chosen as internal parameters and kinetic laws were used in order to describe their evolution during phase transformations. The experimental findings are compared with the model simulation and a numerical prediction based on the approach proposed in [25]

On the Comparison of Two Vehicular Safety Systems in Realistic Highway Scenarios

Abstract The application of wireless VANET technology to accident warning systems is gaining an increasing interest. These systems can significantly increase the safety of daily driving and are based on a technology that is steadily becoming mature. We present an experimental comparison between two effective approaches that cope with realistic scenarios. Both rapidly broadcast alert messages throughout platoons of vehicles, and are based on wireless vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications. However, with one approach an alert message propagates through the farthest relay at each hop, whereas with the other it propagatesusing the farthest spanning relay (i.e., the relay that can retransmit farthest away an alert message). With this study we will see retransmitting through the farthest spanning relay at each hop can improve the performance by a factor of two in terms of propagation delay, in comparison to choosing the farthest relay

Using digital fountains in future IPTV streaming platforms: A future perspective

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Subclinical autonomic dysfunction in Spinobulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedy disease)

Introduction: Spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an inherited adult-onset motor neuron disease caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine tract within the androgen receptor. Autonomic nervous system involvement (ANS) is not considered part of SBMA. The aim of this study was to assess autonomic cardiovascular function in 5 SBMA patients. Methods: Five quantitative autonomic function tests (AFTs) were performed in 5 SBMA patients. Plasma noradrenaline (NA) concentration in patients and in 5 healthy subjects was also measured. Results: AFTs were abnormal in 4 of the 5 patients, and plasma NA concentration was significantly reduced in patients with respect to controls. Conclusion: The impairment of cardiovascular responses to AFTs in addition to reduced plasma NA concentration observed in our patients suggests subclinical involvement of the ANS in Kennedy disease. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Predictors of lymphocyte count recovery after dimethyl fumarate-induced lymphopenia in people with multiple sclerosis

Background: Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an oral drug approved for Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS) patients. Grade III lymphopenia is reported in 5–10% DMF-treated patients. Data on lymphocyte count (ALC) recovery after DMF withdrawal following prolonged lymphopenia are still scarce. Objectives: To characterize ALC recovery and to identify predictors of slower recovery after DMF interruption. Methods: Multicenter data from RMS patients who started DMF and developed lymphopenia during treatment were collected. In patients with grade II–III lymphopenia, ALCs were evaluated from DMF withdrawal until reaching lymphocyte counts > 800/mm3. Results: Among 1034 patients who started DMF, we found 198 (19.1%) patients with lymphopenia and 65 patients (6.3%) who discontinued DMF due to persistent grade II–III lymphopenia. Complete data were available for 51 patients. All patients recovered to ALC > 800 cells/mm3 with a median time of 3.4 months. Lower ALCs at DMF suspension (HR 0.98; p = 0.005), longer disease duration (HR 1.29; p = 0.014) and prior exposure to MS treatments (HR 0.03; p = 0.025) were found predictive of delayed ALC recovery. Conclusion: ALC recovery after DMF withdrawal is usually rapid, nevertheless it may require longer time in patients with lower ALC count at DMF interruption, longer disease duration and previous exposure to MS treatments, potentially leading to delayed initiation of a new therapy

Cd19 cell count at baseline predicts b cell repopulation at 6 and 12 months in multiple sclerosis patients treated with ocrelizumab

Background: The kinetics of B cell repopulation in MS patients treated with Ocrelizumab is highly variable, suggesting that a fixed dosage and time scheduling might be not optimal. We aimed to investigate whether B cell repopulation kinetics influences clinical and radiological outcomes and whether circulating immune asset at baseline affects B cell repopulation kinetics. Methods: 218 MS patients treated with Ocrelizumab were included. Every six months we collected data on clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) activity and lymphocyte subsets at baseline. According to B cell counts at six and twelve months, we identified two groups of patients, those with fast repopulation rate (FR) and those with slow repopulation rate (SR). Results: A significant reduction in clinical and radiological activity was found. One hundred fifty-five patients had complete data and received at least three treatment cycles (twelve-month follow-up). After six months, the FR patients were 41/155 (26.45%) and 10/41 (29.27%) remained non-depleted after twelve months. FR patients showed a significantly higher percentage of active MRI scan at twelve months (17.39% vs. 2.53%; p = 0,008). Furthermore, FR patients had a higher baseline B cell count compared to patients with an SR (p = 0.02 and p = 0.002, at the six-and twelve-month follow-ups, respectively). Conclusion: A considerable proportion of MS patients did not achieve a complete CD19 cell depletion and these patients had a higher baseline CD19 cell count. These findings, together with the higher MRI activity found in FR patients, suggest that the Ocrelizumab dosage could be tailored depending on CD19 cell counts at baseline in order to achieve complete disease control in all patients

Relevance of diagnostic investigations in chronic inflammatory demyelinating poliradiculoneuropathy: Data from the Italian CIDP database

The objective of our work was to report the clinical features and the relevance of diagnostic investigations in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). We retrospectively reviewed data from patients with a clinical diagnosis of CIDP included in a national database. Among the 500 included patients with a clinical diagnosis of CIDP, 437 patients (87%) fulfilled the European Federation of Neurological Societies and Peripheral Nerve Society criteria for CIDP (definite in 407, probable in 26, possible in four). In 352 patients (86%) motor nerve conduction abnormalities consistent with demyelination were sufficient for the diagnosis of definite CIDP. In 55 patients, this diagnosis required the addition of one or two (from probable or from possible CIDP, respectively) supportive tests, while in 20 cases they improved the diagnosis from possible to probable CIDP, seven patients did not change diagnosis. Considering these 85 patients, cerebrospinal fluid studies were performed in 79 cases (93%) upgrading the certainty of diagnosis in 59% of examined patients. Sensory nerve conduction studies (NCS) were performed in 85% of patients with an improvement of diagnosis in 32% of cases. Nerve biopsy and ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (US/MRI) exams resulted positive in about 40% of examined patients, but they were performed in few patients (7 patients and 16 patients, respectively). A response to the therapy was present in 84% of treated patients (n = 77), contributing to support the diagnosis in 40 patients in whom the other supportive criteria were not sufficient. In most patients with CIDP the diagnosis is possible solely with motor NCS while other investigations may help improving the diagnosis in a minority of patients