84 research outputs found
Design challenge of a new monolithic concept for the main landing gear bay of a large passenger aircraft
In this paper, ITEMB team in the contest of the Clean Sky 2 framework, with the scope of a new architecture for the Main Landing Gear of a single isle aircraft type, presents its development in designing the two major item of the Main Landing Gear Bay that are the âroofâ and the ârear pressure bulkheadâ using pre-preg CFRP material. Typically, a lot of parts (metallic and also composite made) are involved in the two items manufacturing: the research effort has targeted the design of one piece structures consisting in a monolithic âroofâ and âmonolithic ârear pressure bulkheadâ. The assembly of these ones takes advantages from a hole-tohole assembly supported by statistical analysis. The main expected advantages are the reduction of: both non-recurring and recurring cost, the overall flow time and weight saving. The ITEMB (InTEgrated Main landing gear Box) team has worked adapting a bag-to-bag technology to the geometrical and strength capability requirements of the component and outcome of the research (not yet concluded at time of issuing this paper) includes: A design principle supported by stress analysis for strength, stability and local main load introduction; A manufacturing trials campaign to reach the possess of a robust process; A limited coupons test campaign to demonstrate that no specific critical items exists in the design approach. Finally, participants have acquired a new design and manufacturing technique, applicable also to other Aircraft components upgrading their capabilities and European strength in composite structures manufacturing
Epigenetic fingerprint in endometrial carcinogenesis: the hypothesis of a uterine field cancerization.
"Abstract. Transcriptional silencing by CpG island hypermethylation plays a critical role in endometrial carcinogenesis. In a collection of benign, premalignant and malignant endometrial lesions, a methylation profile of a complete gene panel, such steroid receptors (ERα, PR), DNA mismatch repair (hMLH1), tumor-suppressor genes (CDKN2A\/P16 and CDH1\/E-CADHERIN) and WNT pathway inhibitors (SFRP1, SFRP2, SFRP4, SFRP5) was investigated in order to demonstrate their pathogenetic role in endometrial lesions. Our results indicate that gene hypermethylation may be an early event in endometrial endometrioid tumorigenesis. Particularly, ERα, PR, hMLH1, CDKN2A\/P16, SFRP1, SFRP2 and SFRP5 revealed a promoter methylation status in endometrioid carcinoma, whereas SFRP4 showed demethylation in cancer. P53 immunostaining showed weak-focal protein expression level both in hyperplasic lesions and in endometrioid cancer. Non-endometrioid cancers showed very low levels of epigenetic methylations, but strong P53 protein positivity. Fisher exact test revealed a statistically significant association between hMLH1, CDKN2A\/P16 and SFRP1 genes methylation and endometrioid carcinomas and between hMLH1 gene methylation and peritumoral endometrium (p < 0.05). Our data confirm that the methylation profile of the peritumoral endometrium is different from the altered molecular background of benign endometrial polyps and hyperplasias. Therefore, our findings suggest that the methylation of hMLH1, CDKN2A\/P16 and SFRP1 may clearly distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. Finally, this study assessed that the use of an epigenetic fingerprint may improve the current diagnostic tools for a better clinical management of endometrial lesions.
Monte Carlo in radiotherapy: experience in a distributed computational environment
New technologies in cancer radiotherapy need a more accurate computation of the dose delivered in the radiotherapeutical treatment plan, and it is important to integrate sophisticated mathematical models and advanced computing knowledge into the treatment planning (TP) process. We present some results about using Monte Carlo (MC) codes in dose calculation for treatment planning. A distributed computing resource located in the Technologies and Health Department of the Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) along with other computer facilities (CASPUR - Inter-University Consortium for the Application of Super-Computing for Universities and Research) has been used to perform a fully complete MC simulation to compute dose distribution on phantoms irradiated with a radiotherapy accelerator. Using BEAMnrc and GEANT4 MC based codes we calculated dose distributions on a plain water phantom and air/water phantom. Experimental and calculated dose values below ±2% (for depth between 5 mm and 130 mm) were in agreement both in PDD (Percentage Depth Dose) and transversal sections of the phantom. We consider these results a first step towards a system suitable for medical physics departments to simulate a complete treatment plan using remote computing facilities for MC simulations
Innovative approaches to active and healthy ageing: Campania experience to improve the adoption of innovative good practices
The demographic projections on the
European population predict that people aged over
60 will increase by about two million/year in the next
decades. Since 2012, the Campania Reference Site of
the European Innovation Partnership on Active and
Healthy Ageing supports the innovation of the
Regional Health System, to face up demographic
changes and sustainability. Campania Reference Site
provides the opportunity to connect loco-regional
stakeholders in social and health care services
(universities, healthcare providers, social services,
local communities and municipalities), with
international organizations, in order to adopt and
scale up innovative solutions and approaches. This
paper describes the building process of Campania
Reference Site and the main results achieved, that
have been allowing it to become a hub for open
innovation in the field of active and healthy aging at
regional, national and international level
The Reference Site Collaborative Network of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing
The reference site collaborative network of the european innovation partnership on active and healthy ageing
Seventy four Reference Sites of the European Innovation
Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA)
have been recognised by the European Commission in
2016 for their commitment to excellence in investing and
scaling up innovative solutions for active and healthy
ageing. The Reference Site Collaborative Network
(RSCN) brings together the EIP on AHA Reference Sites
awarded by the European Commission, and Candidate
Reference Sites into a single forum. The overarching goals
are to promote cooperation, share and transfer good
practice and solutions in the development and scaling up
of health and care strategies, policies and service delivery
models, while at the same time supporting the action
groups in their work. The RSCN aspires to be recognized
by the EU Commission as the principal forum and
authority representing all EIP on AHA Reference Sites.
The RSCN will contribute to achieve the goals of the EIP
on AHA by improving health and care outcomes for
citizens across Europe, and the development of sustainable
economic growth and the creation of jobs
Water, Population Growth and Contagious Diseases
Water, essential for the biology of living organisms, is also important for agriculture, for the organization of social life and for culture. In this review we discuss the interrelationship between water availability and human population size. The total population of the globe, 3⁻5 million people between the years 25,000 and 5000 Before Common Era (BCE), increased about 50-fold in coincidence with the development of agriculture. Later on, after the year 200 Common Era (CE), the number of people did not change appreciably and increased slowly in the period 1000 to 1500 CE. We show that the main cause of this observed slow-down in population growth was the increase in population density, which caused the appearance and spreading of infectious diseases, often due to the use of contaminated water. Population started to increase again when people learned how to use appropriate sanitation and hygienic rules. The management of water resources, including transport of water to the areas where it is needed, separation and depuration of wastewater and production of freshwater by desalination, have become increasingly important. The population level is today very high and will continue to grow, thus causing a further increase in the density of people and an increased risk of contagious diseases. Therefore, more water for sanitation will be needed all over the world
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