role of induced sputum in interstitial lung disease

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Sliding Mode Control of Quadratic Boost Converters Based on Min-Type Control Strategy

The paper deals with the control of a quadratic boost converter supplied by low-voltage energy sources, such as photovoltaic panels, fuel cells, or batteries. The control scheme consists of two control loops. A min-type controller governs the inner loop to force the current state of the nominal model to converge in a neighborhood of the equilibrium state. The external loop processes the output tracking error using an integrator, and it allows reconfiguring the converter's working point by changing the equilibrium state given in the input to the internal loop. This configuration assures both zero tracking error of the output voltage and robustness against load and input voltage variations and converter parameter uncertainties. The stability of the whole system is investigated using the hybrid system framework. The proposed control technique has been tested experimentally in a suitably developed (low-cost) setup, and the results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach

Indications for flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy and its safety in the very elderly

Aim. To evaluate the indications and the safety of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), protected specimen brushing (PSB), endobronchial biopsy (EBB), and transbronchial biopsy (TBB) in a population of very elderly patients. Methods. We performed a retrospective study of all adult patients, aged 50 years or older, who underwent FOB in the Bronchology Unit of the University of Parma Hospital between 1 January, 2003 and 31 April, 2005. Bronchoscopy records of 436 consecutive patients, including 191 patients, 75 yrs of age and older ("very elderly"; =>75 yrs), were reviewed. Results. Patients aged 75 years were no different with regard to gender, BMI, baseline FEV1/FVC ratio, baseline SaO2, and blood pressure. The primary indication in patients aged <75 years, was to assist in the diagnosis of a pulmonary mass of unknown aetiology (33%) and to remove secretions in the very elderly patients (31%). Indications for FOB and sampling procedures in the two groups were similar. Approximately 30% of patients in each group required supplemental oxygen during the procedure and fever occurred in 9.2% and 10.3% of patients, respectively.Hypertension and bleeding were relatively rare and did not occur more often in the very elderly. Conclusions. Indication for FOB did not vary with age and adverse events in both groups were uncommon and generally not severe

Adaptive process control strategy for a two-step bending process

A robust production is an important goal in sheet metal forming in order to make the process outcome insensitive to variations in input and process conditions. This would guarantee a minimum number of defects and reduced press downtime. However, for com-plex parts it is difficult to achieve robust settings. Parts without defects can only be real-ized if the process parameters are adapted to the changed conditions.\ud In this paper, an approach for adaptive process control is presented, taking the uncertain-ties and tolerances of the process and material into consideration. The proposed control approach combines feedback and feed-forward control strategies. The most significant improvement is to incorporate feed-forward control with knowledge about the system (also known as predictive models). To create these models high fidelity numerical models have been created. Furthermore, a procedure is presented to update the coefficients of the predictive model to adapt it to the actual process state.\ud To evaluate the control strategy prior to its implementation, a testing environment has been developed. Different test scenarios for common states of the process have been generated to evaluate the improvement of the proposed control strategy

The impact of clean sky technology on future 3500 lb single engine light rotorcraft

This manuscript describes a collaborative research effort between members of the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative (JTI), within the broader area of novel rotorcraft engine technology and rotorcraft operations. The Clean Sky JTI was created as a public/private partnership between the European Commission and the aeronautical industry. The paper assesses the impact of innovative engine technologies to be integrated into the next generation of rotorcraft and evaluates their potential towards meeting the ACARE 2020 goals. The focus is on the lower segment of the light helicopter class with a particular interest in the performance of two innovative powerplants: an advanced turboshaft with Lean Premixed Prevaporised (LPP) combustor design and a supercharged diesel cycle engine. In order to evaluate their benefits alongside other Clean Sky technologies, a multi-disciplinary rotorcraft performance analysis framework (PhoeniX) is employed. Two variants of the same light helicopter platform with year 2020 technology plus Clean Sky innovations are modelled, named hereafter as Single Engine Light (SEL) Y2020 and High Compression Engine (HCE) Y2020, respectively. A turboshaft engine-powered helicopter, representative of year 2000 technology (SEL Y2000) is also modelled and used as reference. Payload-Range diagrams (PR) of the three vehicles were generated. The HCE Y2020 reached a maximum range 83% greater than the SEL counterparts. The gaseous emissions of the helicopters were also evaluated over three notional scenarios representative of light helicopter activities. The HCE Y2020 emitted 60% less carbon dioxide (CO2) and 63% less nitrogen oxides (NOx) than the SEL Y2000. The SEL Y2020 emitted on average 19% and 49% less CO2 and NOx, respectively, compared with the SEL Y2000. It was also observed that the NOx production rate of the LPP technology integrated in the SEL Y2020 combustor depends strongly on engine power setting. At certain power settings, the SEL Y2020 emitted less NOx than the HCE Y2020 even though the HCE Y2020 emitted less NOx over the complete mission. The direct comparison between SEL Y2020 and HCE Y2020 highlighted the superior performance of the HCE engine over the gas turbine for the mission types and rotorcraft class simulated

Soil sulfur sources differentially enhance cadmium tolerance in indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

The effect of four soil-applied sulfur (100 mg S kg−1 soil (100S) and 200 mg S kg−1 soil (200S)) in different sources (elemental S, ammonium sulfate, gypsum or magnesium sulfate) in protecting mustard (Brassica juncea L. (Czern & Coss.)) from cadmium effects was studied. Based on the observed reduction in growth and photosynthesis in plants subjected to 100 and 200 mg Cd kg−1 soil, B. juncea cv. Giriraj was selected as the most Cd-tolerant among five cultivars (namely, Giriraj, RH0749, Pusa Agrani, RH-406, and Pusa Tarak). Sulfur applied to soil mitigated the negative impact of Cd on sulfur assimilation, cell viability, and photosynthetic functions, with a lower lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage, and contents of reactive oxygen species (ROS: hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, and superoxide anion, O2•−). Generally, added S caused higher activity of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase), contents of ascorbate (AsA) and reduced glutathione (GSH); increases in the activities of their regenerating enzymes (dehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase); as well as rises in S assimilation, biosynthesis of non-protein thiols (NPTs), and phytochelatins (PCs). Compared to the other S-sources tested, elemental S more prominently protected B. juncea cv. Giriraj against Cd-impacts by minimizing Cd-accumulation and its root-toshoot translocation; decreasing cellular ROS and membrane damage, and improving Cd-chelation (NPTs and PCs), so strengthening the defense machinery against Cd. The results suggest the use of elemental S for favoring the growth and development of cultivated plants also in Cd-contaminated agricultural soils

Struggling with COVID-19 in Adult Inborn Errors of Immunity Patients: A Case Series of Combination Therapy and Multiple Lines of Therapy for Selected Patients

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 infection is now a part of the everyday lives of immunocompromised patients, but the choice of treatment and the time of viral clearance can often be complex, exposing patients to possible complications. The role of the available antiviral and monoclonal therapies is a matter of debate, as are their effectiveness and potential related adverse effects. To date, in the literature, the amount of data on the use of combination therapies and on the multiple lines of anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapy available to the general population and especially to inborn error of immunity (IEI) patients is small. Methods: Here, we report a case series of five adult IEI patients managed as inpatients at three Italian IEI referral centers (Rome, Treviso, and Cagliari) treated with combination therapy or multiple therapeutic lines for SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), antivirals, convalescent plasma (CP), mAbs plus antiviral, and CP combined with antiviral. Results: This study may support the use of combination therapy against SARS-CoV-2 in complicated IEI patients with predominant antibody deficiency and impaired vaccine response

Re-irradiation with carbon ion radiotherapy for pelvic rectal cancer recurrences in patients previously irradiated to the pelvis

Background/Aim: Re-irradiation of locally recurrent rectal cancer poses challenges due to the proximity of critical organs, such as the bowel. This study aimed at evaluating the safety and efficacy of re-irradiation with Carbon Ion Radiotherapy (CIRT) in rectal cancer patients with local recurrence. Patients and Methods: Between 2014 and 2018, 14 patients were treated at the National Center of Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO Foundation) with CIRT for locally recurrent rectal cancer. Results: All patients concluded the treatment. No G≥3 acute/late reaction nor pelvic infections were observed. The 1-year and 2-year local control rates were, 78% and 52%, respectively, and relapse occurred close to the bowel in 6 patients. The 1-year and 2-year overall survival rates were 100% and 76.2% each; while the 1-year and 2-year metastasis free survival rates were 64.3% and 43%. Conclusion: CIRT as re-irradiation for locally recurrent rectal cancer emerges as a safe and valid treatment with an acceptable rate of morbidity of surrounding healthy tissue