Tratti cultuali egiziani nell’ Elena di Euripide

Peculiarit\ue0 della figura di Teonoe nell'Elena di Euripid

FIMCAR XIV: Potential of Simulation Tools

For the assessment of vehicle safety in frontal collisions compatibility (which consist of self and partner protection) between opponents is crucial. The use of simulation tools is the only way to a realistic and wide coverage (w.r.t. the real accident situations that may happen on the road) of car-to-car compatibility issues with acceptable costs. This report reviews the use of Virtual Testing (VT) in today’s European vehicle and product type approval, and the on-going work for future implementation of VT in vehicle type approval and rating. The modelling requirements and validation process are discussed both regarding barrier models and car models. Combined with the experience from the use of simulation tools in the FIMCAR project, a 4-step roadmap for implementation of VT tools in the compatibility development is proposed

The difficult past. Recent Italian contributions to the study of the Civil War

La historiografía alemana sobre la Guerra Civil tiene sus orígenes en los años 60 del siglo XX, y después de centrarse, tanto en la República Federal como en la RDA, en aspectos de las relaciones bilaterales y en la presencia alemana en dicho conflicto por medio de la Legión Cóndor así como en las filas de las Brigadas Internacionales, ha ido acaparando un buen número de temas, entre los que destacan el anarquismo y, más recientemente, la memoria histórica. La Guerra Civil es aquel tema de la historia contemporánea española que evoca el mayor interés en el ámbito alemán, mientras que de los resultados de la historiografía no solo se desprende el respectivo prisma ideológico y político propio de la Guerra Fría a ambos lados del telón de acero, sino que estos reflejan al igual las tendencias historiográficas específicas del momento.German historiography of the Spanish Civil War has its origins in the nineteen sixties and focused at the start largely on specific aspects of the German presence in the conflict, namely bilateral relations and in particular the Condor Legion, as well as those German fighters within the International Brigades./nLater on, German historiography has come to cover an increasing number of issues with anarchism and, more recently, historical memory emerging as standout themes. In Germany, the Civil War is without a doubt the most attractive issue of contemporary Spanish history and its historiography not only reflects the respective ideological and political approaches on both sides of the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, but also the specific historiographical tendencies of the time

FIMCAR IV: FIMCAR Models

The aim of the FIMCAR project is to develop and validate a frontal impact assessment approach that considers self and partner protection. In order to assess the influence of different test procedures and metrics on car-to-car compatibility a huge simulation programme was executed. However, car-to-car simulations with models of different car manufacturers are almost impossible to obtain because of confidentiality. In order to overcome these problems, parametric car models (PCM) were built, allowing fast modifications and more detailed generic car models (GCM) were developed for structural interaction analysis. Three different PCM representing a super mini, a large family car and an executive car were developed. By simplifying the models, computational efforts are reduced. Due to the parametric design it is possible to modify the models in an easy and fast way. The models are delivered in three crash codes (LS-DYNA, PAM-CRASH and RADIOSS) in order to be usable at all FIMCAR OEMs. The Generic Car Models (GCM) model virtual cars which represent an average real car of the respective category (super mini, small family car, executive car) in a comparable way to the OEM models. All together five different models were generated (2 super minis, 2 small family cars and one executive), again delivered in three different FE codes (LS-DYNA, PAM- CRASH and RADIOSS). The models can be used to evaluate the behaviour of the crash structure (e.g., crash pulse, deformation characteristics and intrusions). For supermini and small family categories, two models were generated in each class in order to describe the two main architectural/structural car variants that can usually be found on the road, i.e. with and without a lower load path in the frontal frame (structural elements below the main rails); the availability of both structural solutions in the GCMs is in fact important for the study of compatibility issues

Corona mortis variant of the obturator artery : a systematic study of 300 hemipelvises by means of computed tomography angiography

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to systematically assess the prevalence and characteristics of the corona mortis (CM) variant of the obturator artery by means of computerised tomography angiography (CTA). Material and methods: A total of 150 consecutive patients (112 males, average age 73 years) referred to CTA for lower limb arterial evaluation were included in this retrospective study. Patient demographics, anastomosis incidence, artery diameter, distance from the symphysis pubis, Kellgren-Lawrence score, and pelvic size were evaluated. Results: In this study 40.6% of patients presented at least one competent CM arterial anastomosis. In the 300 evaluated arteries, 90 arterial anastomoses were found (30%), 40 on the right side (average diameter 1.63 mm) and 50 on the left side (1.78 mm). In 32 cases there was only one anastomosis, while in 29 cases the CM was bilateral. No anastomoses were detected in 89 patients. Mean distance from the symphysis was 50 mm. No relevant association with hip osteoarthrosis was found for CM. Mean pelvic size was 213 mm. Conclusions: The evidence from this study suggests that CM is a common variant that needs to be acknowledged before pelvic intervention

FIMCAR VII: Full-Width Test Procedure: Review and Metric Development

For the assessment of vehicle safety in frontal collisions compatibility (which consists of self and partner protection) between opponents is crucial. Although compatibility has been analysed worldwide for over 10 years, no final assessment approach has been defined to date. Taking into account the European Enhanced Vehicle safety Committee (EEVC) compatibility and frontal impact working group (WG15) and the FP5 VC-COMPAT project activities, two test approaches have been identified as the most promising candidates for the assessment of compatibility. Both are composed of an off-set and a full overlap test procedure. In addition another procedure (a test with a moving deformable barrier) is getting more attention in current research programmes. The overall objective of the FIMCAR project is to complete the development of the candidate test procedures and propose a set of test procedures suitable for regulatory application to assess and control a vehicle’s frontal impact and compatibility crash safety. In addition an associated cost benefit analysis should be performed. The objectives of the work reported in this deliverable were to review existing full-width test procedures and their discussed compatibility metrics, to report recent activities and findings with respect to full-width assessment procedures and to assess test procedures and metrics. Starting with a review of previous work, candidate metrics and associated performance limits to assess a vehicle’s structural interaction potential, in particular its structural alignment, have been developed for both the Full Width Deformable Barrier (FWDB) and Full Width Rigid Barrier (FWRB) tests. Initial work was performed to develop a concept to assess a vehicle’s frontal force matching. However, based on the accident analyses performed within FIMCAR frontal force matching was not evaluated as a first priority and thus in line with FIMCAR strategy the focus was put on the development of metrics for the assessment of structural interaction which was evaluated as a first priority

Functional and Biomechanical Effects of the Edge-to-Edge Repair in the Setting of Mitral Regurgitation: Consolidated Knowledge and Novel Tools to Gain Insight into Its Percutaneous Implementation

Mitral regurgitation is the most prevalent heart valve disease in the western population. When severe, it requires surgical treatment, repair being the preferred option. The edge-to-edge repair technique treats mitral regurgitation by suturing the leaflets together and creating a double-orifice valve. Due to its relative simplicity and versatility, it has become progressively more widespread. Recently, its percutaneous version has become feasible, and has raised interest thanks to the positive results of the Mitraclip(\uae) device. Edge-to-edge features and evolution have stimulated debate and multidisciplinary research by both clinicians and engineers. After providing an overview of representative studies in the field, here we propose a novel computational approach to the most recent percutaneous evolution of the edge-to-edge technique. Image-based structural finite element models of three mitral valves affected by posterior prolapse were derived from cine-cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. The models accounted for the patient-specific 3D geometry of the valve, including leaflet compound curvature pattern, patient-specific motion of annulus and papillary muscles, and hyperelastic and anisotropic mechanical properties of tissues. The biomechanics of the three valves throughout the entire cardiac cycle was simulated before and after Mitraclip(\uae) implantation, assessing the biomechanical impact of the procedure. For all three simulated MVs, Mitraclip(\uae) implantation significantly improved systolic leaflets coaptation, without inducing major alterations in systolic peak stresses. Diastolic orifice area was decreased, by up to 58.9%, and leaflets diastolic stresses became comparable, although lower, to systolic ones. Despite established knowledge on the edge-to-edge surgical repair, latest technological advances make its percutanoues implementation a challenging field of research. The modeling approach herein proposed may be expanded to analyze clinical scenarios that are currently critical for Mitraclip(\uae) implantation, helping the search for possible solutions

FIMCAR VIII: Full-Width Test Procedure: Updated Protocol

For the assessment of vehicle safety in frontal collisions compatibility (which consists of self and partner protection) between opponents is crucial. Although compatibility has been analysed worldwide for over 10 years, no final assessment approach has been defined to date. Taking into account the European Enhanced Vehicle safety Committee (EEVC) compatibility and the final report to the steering committee on frontal impact [Faerber 2007] and the FP5 VC-COMPAT[Edwards 2007] project activities, two test approaches were identified as the most promising candidates for the assessment of compatibility. Both are composed of an off-set and a full overlap test procedure. In addition another procedure (a test with a moving deformable barrier) is getting more attention in current research programmes. The overall objective of the FIMCAR project is to complete the development of the candidate test procedures and propose a set of test procedures suitable for regulatory application to assess and control a vehicle’s frontal impact and compatibility crash safety. In addition an associated cost benefit analysis will be performed. In the FIMCAR Deliverable D 3.1 [Adolph 2013] the development and assessment of criteria and associated performance limits for the full width test procedure were reported. In this Deliverable D3.2 analyses of the test data (full width tests, car-to-car tests and component tests), further development and validation of the full width assessment protocol and development of the load cell and load cell wall specification are reported. The FIMCAR full-width assessment procedure consists of a 50 km/h test against the Full Width Deformable Barrier (FWDB). The Load Cell Wall behind the deformable element assesses whether or not important Energy Absorbing Structures are within the Common Interaction Zone as defined based on the US part 581 zone. The metric evaluates the row forces and requires that the forces directly above and below the centre line of the Common Interaction Zone exceed a minimum threshold. Analysis of the load spreading showed that metrics that rely on sum forces of rows and columns are within acceptable tolerances. Furthermore it was concluded that the Repeatability and Reproducibility of the FWDB test is acceptable. The FWDB test was shown to be capable to detect lower load paths that are beneficial in car-to-car impacts

Dynamic and quantitative evaluation of degenerative mitral valve disease: A dedicated framework based on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Background: Accurate quantification of mitral valve (MV) morphology and dynamic behavior over the cardiac cycle is crucial to understand the mechanisms of degenerative MV dysfunction and to guide the surgical intervention. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging has progressively been adopted to evaluate MV pathophysiology, although a dedicated framework is required to perform a quantitative assessment of the functional MV anatomy. Methods: We investigated MV dynamic behavior in subjects with normal MV anatomy (n=10) and patients referred to surgery due to degenerative MV prolapse, classified as fibro-elastic deficiency (FED, n=9) and Barlow's disease (BD, n=10). A CMR-dedicated framework was adopted to evaluate prolapse height and volume and quantitatively assess valvular morphology and papillary muscles (PAPs) function over the cardiac cycle. Multiple comparison was used to investigate the hallmarks associated to MV degenerative prolapse and evaluate the feasibility of anatomical and functional distinction between FED and BD phenotypes. Results: On average, annular dimensions were significantly (P < 0.05) larger in BD than in FED and normal subjects while no significant differences were noticed between FED and normal. MV eccentricity progressively decreased passing from normal to FED and BD, with the latter exhibiting a rounder annulus shape. Over the cardiac cycle, we noticed significant differences for BD during systole with an abnormal annular enlargement between mid and late systole (LS) (P < 0.001 vs. normal); the PAPs dynamics remained comparable in the three groups. Prolapse height and volume highlighted significant differences among normal, FED and BD valves. Conclusions: Our CMR-dedicated framework allows for the quantitative and dynamic evaluation of MV apparatus, with quantifiable annular alterations representing the primary hallmark of severe MV degeneration. This may aid surgeons in the evaluation of the severity of MV dysfunction and the selection of the appropriate MV treatment

An Image-Based Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of Mitral Regurgitation in Presence of Prolapse

Purpose: In this work we performed an imaged-based computational study of the systolic fluid dynamics in presence of mitral valve regurgitation (MVR). In particular, we compared healthy and different regurgitant scenarios with the aim of quantifying different hemodynamic quantities. Methods: We performed computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations in the left ventricle, left atrium and aortic root, with a resistive immersed method, a turbulence model, and with imposed systolic wall motion reconstructed from Cine-MRI images, which allowed us to segment also the mitral valve. For the regurgitant scenarios we considered an increase of the heart rate and a dilation of the left ventricle. Results: Our results highlighted that MVR gave rise to regurgitant jets through the mitral orifice impinging against the atrial walls and scratching against the mitral valve leading to high values of wall shear stresses (WSSs) with respect to the healthy case. Conclusion: CFD with prescribed wall motion and immersed mitral valve revealed to be an effective tool to quantitatively describe hemodynamics in case of MVR and to compare different regurgitant scenarios. Our findings highlighted in particular the presence of transition to turbulence in the atrium and allowed us to quantify some important cardiac indices such as cardiac output and WSS