Teamwork collaboration around CAE models in an industrial context

2015 - 2016Medium and Large Companies must compete every day in a global context. To achieve greater efficiency in their products/processes they are forced to globalize by opening multiple locations in geographically distant places. In this context, people from the same team or different teams must work together regardless of the time zone and where they are located. Therefore, a "virtual" team consists of groups of geographically distant people who can coordinate with the help of new technologies. The tools and methodologies supporting "Computer Supported Cooperative Work" (CSCW) can facilitate collaboration by reducing distance and time related issues. The main goals CSCW aims to achieve within a complex organization are listed below: • Schedule, track, and chart the steps in a project as it is being completed (Project Management) • Share, review, approve or reject project proposals from other workgroup members (Authoring Systems) • Collaborative management of tasks and documents within a knowledge-based business process (Workflow Management) • Collect, organize, manage, and share various forms of information (Knowledge Management) • Collaborative bookmarking engine to tag, organize, share, and search enterprise data (Enterprise Bookmarking) • Collect, organize, manage and share information associated with the delivery of a project (Extranet Systems) • Quickly share company information to members within a company via Internet (Intranet Systems) • Organize social relations of groups (Social Network) • Collaborate and share structured data and information (Online SpreadSheet) This work is based on the main objectives outlined through a specific research experience that verifies compliance and ensures its applicability. The real context consists of virtual team of engineers and the way they cooperate within the automotive industry. The research “iter” can be summarized as follows: (1) the main collaborative and engineering requirements have been identified by referring to a real use case within Fiat Chrysler Automobiles; (2) each requirement has been met by implementing an integrated, modular and extensible architecture; (3) Floasys platform for collecting, centralizing and sharing simulations has been designed, implemented and tested; (4) a tool called ExploraTool has been designed to visually explore a simulation repository within Floasys; (5) the possible extension of the platform has been identified in terms of multidisciplinarity and multisectorality; (6) downstream of the whole process, all the requirements a CSCW intended to meet were verified. The initial phase of the work has focused on collecting collaborative requirements and related needs that emerge when different virtual teams find themselves collaborating to pursue a common result. The collaborative requirements identified to support collaboration between geographically remote teams are: centralizing simulation data, providing annotation and adding metadata to files, providing a search engine for simulations completed by other analysts, providing data versioning and support their sharing. In line with the requirements identified, a collaborative platform prototype (CSCW) called Floasys was developed. Floasys customers are all industries using CAE simulations to design their products, so the automotive, aeronautical and naval industries, etc. Floasys collects simulation data, stores them in open XML format and centralizes them into a shared repository; It also provides additional services on collected data stored in open format, such as the ability to annotate files or search within the repository regardless of the simulator with which they were generated. It is extremely useful to be able to retrieve simulations from other members of the same team or different teams in order to compare the performance of a current project. In order to provide these services, various aspects must be considered: surely the services listed above must be immersed in an existing business environment with existing practices, workflows and software systems. To bring a concrete example, the only centralization of simulation data involves communication with existing simulation software by mitigating the problem of Vendor Lock-In, which is the strong dependence on the simulators themselves. From an architectural point of view, Floasys meets the non-functional extensibility and modularity requirements. This way the system can be tailored to the needs of customers, open to meet future needs and be used in other departments. The modular and extensible Floasys architecture was obtained based on the concept of plug-in. Although the research activity directly concerns the automotive industry, the requirements and the difficulties described are common to other sectors as described in the literature. So many of the considerations made in this work and the solutions adopted can be reused for other types of simulation as well as for data obtained from experiments. Finally, within Floasys, an interactive tool called "ExploraTool" was integrated for viewing, exploring, and querying simulation repositories. Although the idea of this tool was born in the context of simulation repository navigation, it is generic and can be used with any dataset. The tool is based on Eulero-Venn diagrams. The universe is the set of all simulations stored in one or more repositories. Simulation groups are represented by grafted ellipses. Using this tool, analysts can explore the repository through drill-down and roll-up operations to get more or less detail. Going down in the hierarchy, the user filters the items within the dataset and performs a graphical query. In this way, the user explores the repository by finally obtaining two or more simulations to be compared. After the design, implementation and implementation phase, the tool was tested with real users to gain data on its usability. [edited by author]XV n.s

Comparative Effect between Antidepressants and D-phenylalanine, a Phenethylamine Precursor, in an Animal Model of Depression

A relevant role has been attributed to phenethylamine in depressive disorders. It has been measured in human urine and rat brain in pathological conditions and after drug administration. Furthermore, a clinical correlation has been proposed between urinary elimination and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, its metabolic predecessor, D-phenylalanine, has been used as an antidepressant drug in the treatment of depressive disorders. The use of this amino acid has been realized alone, or in combination with classical antidepressants. In the present study, we tried to characterize its behavioural profile comparing it with imipramine and fluoxetine. Antidepressant drugs have been studied using diverse animal models. We used here the Porsolt test, or Forced Swimming Test (FST), measuring times of climbing, swimming and resting. When a comparison was performed between groups in climbing behaviour, significant differences were observed between imipramine treated group and saline controls (p < 0.05), and imipramine versus fluoxetine and D-phenylalanine (p < 0.01). When swimming was evaluated, clear differences between D-phenylalanine and the other groups were observed (p < 0.001). Additionally, a significant difference was also observed between imipramine and fluoxetine (p < 0.01). When resting was evaluated, high differences between D-phenylalanine versus all other groups were shown (p < 0.001). Observed behavioural profile was according to serotonergic antidepressant drugs effects. It is supported by the fact that swimming behaviours were increased, and a correlative decrease in resting was also present. We conclude that D-phenylalanine showed higher antidepressant potency than other classical antidepressants, at least at the doses used

Ultrasound Biomicroscopy in Small Animal Research: Applications in Molecular and Preclinical Imaging

Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) is a noninvasive multimodality technique that allows high-resolution imaging in mice. It is affordable, widely available, and portable. When it is coupled to Doppler ultrasound with color and power Doppler, it can be used to quantify blood flow and to image microcirculation as well as the response of tumor blood supply to cancer therapy. Target contrast ultrasound combines ultrasound with novel molecular targeted contrast agent to assess biological processes at molecular level. UBM is useful to investigate the growth and differentiation of tumors as well as to detect early molecular expression of cancer-related biomarkers in vivo and to monitor the effects of cancer therapies. It can be also used to visualize the embryological development of mice in uterus or to examine their cardiovascular development. The availability of real-time imaging of mice anatomy allows performing aspiration procedures under ultrasound guidance as well as the microinjection of cells, viruses, or other agents into precise locations. This paper will describe some basic principles of high-resolution imaging equipment, and the most important applications in molecular and preclinical imaging in small animal research

The Tapes Complex (Nico Pérez Terrane, Uruguay): Constraining the Mesoproterozoic evolution of the Río de la Plata Craton

The Tapes Complex crops out in the southeastern Nico Pérez Terrane (NPT) of the Río de la Plata Craton and forms part of a NE-trending Mesoproterozoic belt together with the Calymmian (1.48–1.43 Ga) Parque UTE and Mina Verdún groups. The complex is characterized by interbedded/tectonically interleaved metasedimentary (mainly siliciclastic) and metaultramafic rocks, with subordinate intercalations of metabasites, carbonate and chert, all metamorphosed in the greenschist facies. The age of the Tapes Complex is constrained by: (i) a U–Pb SIMS age of 1360 ± 12 Ma for the youngest detrital zircon, (ii) the K–Ar age of 1253 ± 32 Ma for synkinematic muscovite of the Zapicán thrust, which affects the unit, and (iii) an Sm–Nd isochronic age of 1403 ± 150 Ma for ultramafic and mafic rocks. The intruding Tapes Chico Syenite yielded a much younger U–Pb SIMS age of 601 ± 5 Ma, associated with Brasiliano-Pan African tectonism, negative εHf values (mean = −31), δ18O zircon ratios ranging between 5.45 and 6.68‰ V-SMOW and inherited zircons dated at 1774-1756 Ma. The best preserved mafic and ultramafic samples yielded Nd model ages (TDM) between 1.55 and 1.68 Ga, close to the assumed crystallization age, and positive εNd(t). Nd model ages of metasedimentary rocks vary between 1.8 and 3.1 Ga, which is interpreted as reflecting two contrasting sources: Archean units of the NPT and Mesoproterozoic mafic and ultramafic rocks, including fragments of oceanic crust. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of metasedimentary rocks are characterized by LREE enrichment and lack of an Eu anomaly, similar to REE patterns of co-occurring metabasalts. High MgO concentrations, high Cr/V and low Y/Ni and Th/Sc ratios imply the involvement of ultramafic rocks in the source area, which is also supported by whole-rock Pb isotope data. A geodynamic evolution is envisaged, from an extensional tectonic setting between 1.48–1.43 Ga (rift or retroarc basin) into a compressional, retroarc foreland basin at ca. 1.25–1.20 Ga, the latter being probably related to the Kibaran Orogeny in the Namaqua-Natal Belt. It is proposed that the corresponding arc granites and high-grade metamorphic rocks are likely to be found in one of the several terranes in the Namaqua sector of the belt. The Apiaí Terrane (Ribeira Belt, Brazil) shows a similar geological record and evolution as the NPT, and maybe a fragment of the latter displaced to the NW by the Ibaré Shear Zone. The Tapes Complex is a key unit for understanding the assembly of the Río de la Plata and Kalahari cratons, and their incorporation into the Rodinia supercontinent.Fil: Gaucher, Claudio. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Frei, Robert. Universidad de Copenhagen; DinamarcaFil: Samaniego, Lucía. Centro Regional para la Gestión de Aguas Subterráneas; Uruguay. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Will, Thomas M.. Universität Würzburg; AlemaniaFil: Chemale, Farid. Universidad de Vale do Rio dos Sinos; BrasilFil: Gargiulo, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Geológico del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Geología. Instituto Geológico del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Poire, Daniel Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; ArgentinaFil: Ling, Xiaoxiao. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Geology and Geophysics. State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution; ChinaFil: Li, Xian Hua. Chinese Academy of Sciences. Institute of Geology and Geophysics. State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution; ChinaFil: Li, Qiu Li. Universidad de Copenhagen; Dinamarc

Observation of a new light-induced skyrmion phase in the Mott insulator Cu2OSeO3

We report the discovery of a novel skyrmion phase in the multiferroic insulator Cu2OSeO3 for magnetic fields below the equilibrium skyrmion pocket. This phase can be accessed by exciting the sample out of equilibrium with near-infrared (NIR) femtosecond laser pulses but can not be reached by any conventional field cooling protocol. From the strong wavelength dependence of the photocreation process and via spin dynamics simulations, we identify the magnetoelastic effect as the most likely photocreation mechanism. This effect results in a transient modification of the magnetic interaction extending the equilibrium skyrmion pocket to lower magnetic fields. Once created, the skyrmions rearrange and remain stable over a long time, reaching minutes. The presented results are relevant for designing high-efficiency non-volatile data storage based on magnetic skyrmions.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Brodalumab for the treatment of plaque psoriasis in a real-life setting: a 3 years multicenter retrospective study—IL PSO (Italian landscape psoriasis)

Introduction: Brodalumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets the subunit A of the interleukin-17A receptor (IL17RA), inhibiting the signaling of various isoforms of the IL-17 family. It has been approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis after being evaluated in three Phase-3 trials. However, long-term data on brodalumab in a real-life setting are still limited

Real-life effectiveness of tildrakizumab in chronic plaque psoriasis: A 52-week multicentre retrospective study—IL PSO (Italian landscape psoriasis)

Background: Tildrakizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds selectively the p19 subunit of interleukin-23. It is approved for treatment of moderate– severe chronic plaque psoriasis. Objectives: We conducted a 52-week retrospective study to assess the effectiveness and safety of tildrakizumab in a real-life setting. Methods: Our retrospective study included 237 consecutive adults with moderateto-severe plaque psoriasis, enrolled in 10 different Italian centres, treated with tildrakizumab up to Week 52. Patient characteristics, comorbidities, previous treatmentsand the PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) score at each visit (baseline, Week 16, Week 28 and Week 52) were retrieved from the electronic medical records. The percentages of patients achieving 75%, 90% and 100% (PASI 75, PASI 90 and PASI 100) improvement in PASI with respect to baseline PASI were registered. Results: At Week 52, 90.91%, 73.55% and 58.68% of patients achieved a PASI reduction ≥75% (PASI 75), PASI 90 and PASI 100, respectively. An absolute PASI≤2 was reached by 85.95% at Week 52. Compared with Phase 3 clinical trials, we observed similar rates of PASI 75/90 responses and higher percentages of patients achieving PASI 100. Patients who had not responded to previous biologic treatments and patients with cardio-metabolic comorbidities were significantly more likely to achieve PASI 100 at Week 28 and PASI 90 at Week 52. The higher body mass index did not interfere with the odds of reaching PASI 75/90/100 at each time point. No significant safety findings were recorded throughout the study, and none of the patients had to interrupt the treatment because of adverse events. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the efficacy of tildrakizumab for plaque psoriasis in ‘real-life’ clinical practice is comparable with Phase 3 clinical trials with higher percentages of patients achieving complete skin clearance (PASI 100) at Weeks 16, 28 and 52

Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Drug Survival of Risankizumab in a Real-World Setting: A Three-Year Retrospective Multicenter Study—IL PSO (ITALIAN LANDSCAPE PSORIASIS)

Background: Risankizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits interleukin-23. It has been approved for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and has shown efficacy and safety in clinical trials and real-world experiences. This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effectiveness, safety, and drug survival of risankizumab in a real-life setting. Materials and Methods: We included patients treated with risankizumab from January 2019 to February 2023. A Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI) was collected at weeks 0, 16, 28, 52, 104, and 156, when available. The occurrence of any adverse events was recorded at each visit. Results: We enrolled 1047 patients. At week 52, a ≥90% improvement in PASI was observed in 81.44% of patients, with a continuous improvement throughout the study (88.99% and 99.07% at weeks 104 and 156, respectively). After three years of treatment, all patients involving the scalp, palms/soles, and genitalia and 95% of patients with nail psoriasis achieved a complete or almost complete skin clearance. No significant safety findings were observed, and 90.73% of the patients were still on treatment after 36 months. Conclusions: This study supports the long-term effectiveness and safety of risankizumab in a real- world setting, even in patients involving difficult-to-treat areas

Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in Neonates and Children: Non-Pharmacological Measures of Prevention

A surgical site infection (SSI) is an infection that occurs in the incision created by an invasive surgical procedure. Although most infections are treatable with antibiotics, SSIs remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after surgery and have a significant economic impact on health systems. Preventive measures are essential to decrease the incidence of SSIs and antibiotic abuse, but data in the literature regarding risk factors for SSIs in the pediatric age group are scarce, and current guidelines for the prevention of the risk of developing SSIs are mainly focused on the adult population. This document describes the current knowledge on risk factors for SSIs in neonates and children undergoing surgery and has the purpose of providing guidance to health care professionals for the prevention of SSIs in this population. Our aim is to consider the possible non-pharmacological measures that can be adopted to prevent SSIs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide recommendations based on a careful review of the available scientific evidence for the non-pharmacological prevention of SSIs in neonates and children. The specific scenarios developed are intended to guide the healthcare professional in practice to ensure standardized management of the neonatal and pediatric patients, decrease the incidence of SSIs and reduce antibiotic abuse