Computational Analysis of the Active Control of Incompressible Airfoil Flutter Vibration Using a Piezoelectric V-Stack Actuator

The flutter phenomenon is a potentially destructive aeroelastic vibration studied for the design of aircraft structures as it limits the flight envelope of the aircraft. The aim of this work is to propose a heuristic design of a piezoelectric actuator-based controller for flutter vibration suppression in order to extend the allowable speed range of the structure. Based on the numerical model of a three degrees of freedom (3DOF) airfoil and taking into account the FEM model of a V-stack piezoelectric actuator, a filtered PID controller is tuned using the population decline swarm optimizer PDSO algorithm, and gain scheduling (GS) of the controller parameters is used to make the control adaptive in velocity. Numerical simulations are discussed to study the performance of the controller in the presence of external disturbances

Sudden vestibular and hearing loss in mediterranean spotted fever: The first case report

Mediterranean spotted fever is an infection disease caused by Rickettsiae and transmitted by tick puncture; the diffusion of such disease is wide in countryside of the Mediterranean regions. The disease may be complicated by several organ failure due to a vasculitis, and also the inner ear can be involved although rarely. We report the first documented case of total involvement of inner ear with sensorineural hearing loss and acute vestibular impairment. The patient was treated with medical therapy and resolution of the infection, but the inner ear damage was not reversible with persistent loss of all functions, documented by instrumental vestibular analysis

Original immunophenotype of blood endothelial progenitor cells and microparticles in patients with isolated arterial erectile dysfunction and late onset hypogonadism: effects of androgen replacement therapy.

Blood endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and endothelial microparticles (EMPs) have been proposed as markers of endothelial dysfunction. Aim of this study was to evaluate an original immunophenotype of EPCs and EMPs in patients with isolated arterial erectile dysfunction (ED) and late onset hypogonadism (LOH) before and after androgen replacement therapy.Fifty patients (50-64 years) with ED and LOH were selected. EPC (CD45(neg)/CD34(pos)/CD144(pos)) and EMP (CD45(neg)/CD34(neg)/CD144(pos)) blood concentrations were evaluated by flow cytometry. Thirty patients received androgen replacement therapy (Tostrex® ProStrakan) for 6 months (group A), other 20 patients not received androgen therapy for the contraindications in their clinical history (group B).After 6 months, group B showed IIEF-5 score, peak systolic velocity and acceleration time significantly worse than group A; in addition EPCs and EMPs were significantly higher in group B compared to group A.Patients with isolated arterial ED and LOH not treated with androgen therapy showed worst vascular parameters measured by penile Doppler and higher EPCs and EMPs compared to treated hypogonadal patients, hence, LOH appears to be an additional vascular risk factor, and these markers may be considered as predictors of cavernous artery disease. Finally, androgen therapy improves endothelial dysfunction

Reply to A Mosher, LH Daugherty, and A Braillon

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Bioremediation of oil polluted marine sediments: A bio-engineering treatment

The fate of hydrocarbon pollutants and the development of oil-degrading indigenous marine bacteria in contaminated sediments are strongly influenced by abiotic factors such as temperature, low oxygen levels, and nutrient availability. In this work, the effects of different biodegradation processes (bioremediation) on oil-polluted anoxic sediments were analyzed. In particular, as a potential bioremediation strategy for polluted sediments, we applied a prototype of the “Modular Slurry System” (MSS), allowing containment of the sediments and their physical-chemical treatment (by air insufflations, temperature regulation, and the use of a slow-release fertilizer). Untreated polluted sediments served as the blank in a non-controlled experiment. During the experimental period (30 days), bacterial density and biochemical oxygen demand were measured and functional genes were identified by screening. Quantitative measurements of pollutants and an eco-toxicological analysis (mortality of Corophium orientale) were carried out at the beginning and end of the experiments. The results demonstrated the high biodegradative capability achieved with the proposed technology and its strong reduction of pollutant concentrations and thus toxicity. [Int Microbiol 2015; 18(2):127-134]Keywords: bioremediation · biostimulation · chronically polluted sediments · oil-degrading bacteria · Corophium orientale (Crustacea, Amphipoda

Experimental Analysis of ViLTE Service

Long-term evolution (LTE) is a broadband wireless cellular system currently available in about 200 countries. From the mobile network operator point of view, one of the most appealing characteristics of LTE is the possibility of providing the users with mobile broadband services like voice over LTE and video over LTE (ViLTE), with strict quality of service (QoS) guarantees. The success of such services, which usually require a subscription fee, is obviously tightly bound to the users' quality of experience (QoE), that must be significantly better than the quality perceived in case of free services. This paper attempts to evaluate the perceived quality of the ViLTE service. In more detail, we present the results of an experimental test–bed realised at one of the most popular italian MNO, aimed at evaluating the impact of several network layer QoS parameters on the QoE of the ViLTE service

Monochromic Radiations Provided by Light Emitted Diode (LED) Modulate Infection and Defense Response to Fire Blight in Pear Trees

open access articlePathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are part of the systemic signaling network that perceives pathogens and activates defenses in the plant. Eukaryotic and bacterial species have a 24-h ‘body clock’ known as the circadian rhythm. This rhythm regulates an organism’s life, modulating the activity of the phytochromes (phys) and cryptochromes (crys) and the accumulation of the corresponding mRNAs, which results in the synchronization of the internal clock and works as zeitgeber molecules. Salicylic acid accumulation is also under light control and upregulates the PR genes expression, increasing plants’ resistance to pathogens. Erwinia amylovora causes fire blight disease in pear trees. In this work, four bacterial transcripts (erw1-4), expressed in asymptomatic E. amylovora-infected pear plantlets, were isolated. The research aimed to understand how the circadian clock, light quality, and related photoreceptors regulate PR and erw genes expression using transgenic pear lines overexpressing PHYB and CRY1 as a model system. Plantlets were exposed to different circadian conditions, and continuous monochromic radiations (Blue, Red, and Far-Red) were provided by light-emitting diodes (LED). Results showed a circadian oscillation of PR10 gene expression, while PR1 was expressed without clear evidence of circadian regulation. Bacterial growth was regulated by monochromatic light: the growth of bacteria exposed to Far-Red did not differ from that detected in darkness; instead, it was mildly stimulated under Red, while it was significantly inhibited under Blue. In this regulatory framework, the active form of phytochrome enhances the expression of PR1 five to 15 fold. An ultradian rhythm was observed fitting the zeitgeber role played by CRY1. These results also highlight a regulating role of photoreceptors on the expression of PRs genes in non-infected and infected plantlets, which influenced the expression of erw genes. Data are discussed concerning the regulatory role of photoreceptors during photoperiod and pathogen attacks

HLA and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIRs) genotyping in patients with acute ischemic stroke

Introduction: In humans, a major component of natural killer (NK) and T cell target recognition depends on the surveillance of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules by killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs). Aims: To implement the knowledge about the immunological genetic background of acute ischemic stroke susceptibility in relation to the frequency of the KIR genes and HLA alleles. Methods: Subjects with acute ischemic stroke and subjects without stroke were genotyped for the presence of KIR genes and of the three major KIR ligand groups, HLA-C1, HLA-C2, and HLA-Bw4, both HLA-B and HLA-A loci. Results: Between November 2013 and February 2016, consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke were recruited. As healthy controls, we enrolled subjects without acute ischemic stroke. Subjects with acute ischemic stroke in comparison with controls showed a higher frequency of 2DL3, 2DL5B, 2DS2, and 2DS4 KIR genes and a lower frequency of HLA-B-Bw4 I alleles. Subjects without acute ischemic stroke showed a higher frequency of interaction between KIR 2DS2 and HLAC2. We also observed a higher frequency of 2DL3 and 2 DL4 KIR genes in subjects with atherosclerotic (LAAS) subtype. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a protective effect towards stroke of HLA-B-Bw4 I and interaction between KIR 2DL2 and HLAC1 and 2DS2-HLAC2 and a detrimental effect of 2DL2-HLA-C1-A interactions. Conclusion: Our findings of a higher frequency of activating KIR genes seem to be consistent with findings previously reported patients with coronary syndrome. This higher frequency of "proinflammatory" genes in subjects with ischemic stroke could also explain the immunoinflammatory activation of the acute phase of stroke

HLA and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIRs) genotyping in patients with acute viral encephalitis

Introduction: The HLA genes, as well as the innate immune KIR genes, are considered relevant determinants of viral outcomes but no study, to our knowledge, has evaluated their role in the clinical setting of acute viral encephalitis. Results: Subjects with acute viral encephalitis in comparison to subjects without acute viral encephalitis showed a significantly higher frequency of 2DL1 KIR gene and AA KIR haplotypes and of HLA-C2 and HLA-A-Bw4 alleles. Subjects without acute viral encephalitis showed a higher frequency of interaction between KIR2DL2 and HLAC1. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed the detrimental effect of HLA-A haplotype and HLA-C1, HLA-A-BW4 HLA-B-BW4T alleles, whereas multiple logistic regression showed a protective effect of AB+BB KIR haplotype and a detrimental effect of interaction between KIR3DL1 and HLA-A-Bw4. Discussion: Our findings of a lower frequency of activating receptors in patients with acute encephalitis compared to controls could result in a less efficient response of NK cells. This finding could represent a possible pathogenetic explanation of susceptibility to acute symptomatic encephalitis in patients with viral infection from potentially responsible viruses such as Herpes virus. Materials and Methods: 30 Consecutive patients with symptomatic acute viral encephalitis and as controls, 36 consecutive subjects without acute encephalitis were analyzed. The following KIR genes were analyzed, KIR2DL1, 2DL2, 2DL3, 2DL5, 3DL1, 3DL2, 3DL3, 2DL4, 2DS1, 2DS2, 2DS3, 2DS4, 2DS5, 3DS1, 2 pseudogenes (2DP1 and 3DP1) and the common variants of KIR2DL5 (KIR2DL5A, KIR2DL5B)