Aerodynamic Shape Optimization of the Helicopter Main Rotor Hub Beanie, Using Advanced Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms

In this PhD thesis, a comprehensive aerodynamic characterization of the helicopter main rotor hub beanie is carried out. This component is involved in the reduction of the tail shake phenomenon which is a problem of great concern for the industrial manufactures, such as AgustaWestland, the helicopter company that has sponsored this research. The numerical model of three beanie geometries are created and validated against specific experimental data. Then, an extensive CFD test campaign was carried out to evaluate the aerodynamic performance of such a component at different operating conditions and in different configurations. In particular, the attention is focused on the analysis of both the beanie capabilities to downward deflect the oncoming flow, and the aerodynamic loads that act on this component. On the basis of these analyses, a series of new guidelines for the design and the certification of the beanie are gathered and submitted to AgustaWestland. Moreover, the aerodynamic optimization of a specific beanie model, the AW101, is presented in this work. The final aim is the investigation of new hub cap geometries that manifest improved capabilities in the downward deflection of wake and low aerodynamic drag with respect to the original model. Amongst the different optimal solutions provided by the multi-objective optimization carried out using an advanced evolutionary algorithm, three new beanie geometries are selected and analysed via CFD to compare their aerodynamic performances to those of the original AW101 hub cap. Finally, a new beanie concept-design, named HBM, is presented. The model was created in order to investigate the effects of a hollow structure on the beanie capabilities in the downward deflection of the wake. A parametric study is also carried out to highlight the effects of some specific geometrical parameters on the beanie performances. The results are encouraging, and the HBM model seems promising, though a more comprehensive numerical analysis will be required before the model can be used for real industrial purpose

Multidiscipinary Optimization For Gas Turbines Design

State-of-the-art aeronautic Low Pressure gas Turbines (LPTs) are already characterized by high quality standards, thus they offer very narrow margins of improvement. Typical design process starts with a Concept Design (CD) phase, defined using mean-line 1D and other low-order tools, and evolves through a Preliminary Design (PD) phase, which allows the geometric definition in details. In this framework, multidisciplinary optimization is the only way to properly handle the complicated peculiarities of the design. The authors present different strategies and algorithms that have been implemented exploiting the PD phase as a real-like design benchmark to illustrate results. The purpose of this work is to describe the optimization techniques, their settings and how to implement them effectively in a multidisciplinary environment. Starting from a basic gradient method and a semi-random second order method, the authors have introduced an Artificial Bee Colony-like optimizer, a multi-objective Genetic Diversity Evolutionary Algorithm [1] and a multi-objective response surface approach based on Artificial Neural Network, parallelizing and customizing them for the gas turbine study. Moreover, speedup and improvement arrangements are embedded in different hybrid strategies with the aim at finding the best solutions for different kind of problems that arise in this field.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures. Presented at the XXII Italian Association of Aeronautics and Astronautics Conference (2013

Can the Blockchain lead to new sustainable business models?

New technologies can foster the development of new sustainable business models (SBMs). Our paper wants to investigate how the blockchain can facilitate the development of new SBMs, by analyzing some real-world case studies. Findings highlight how the characteristics of the blockchain can extend existing theories in leading to new SBMs

Editorial: New frontiers in pancreatic cancer care: Multidisciplinary approaches, the role of Pancreas Units, and their organizational impacts

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Knowledge in Transition in Healthcare

Organizations are challenged by the need to transform Dynamic Knowledge, embedded in each worker, into Static Knowledge, rooted in factual documental information. However, innovation and knowledge creation seem to be facilitated by the personal knowledge and life experiences of people, which appear to be dynamic. The tensions between Dynamic and Static Knowledge in facilitating the transfer and sharing of knowledge arise as compelling research as well as practical topic for organizations. Our paper aims to investigate such tensions by employing a case study. We decided to deepen such dynamics in the healthcare field, given its importance for business and society. In more detail, we analyzed one Emergency Room (ER) department through a series of interviews. Our findings highlight the importance of the right balance between Static and Dynamic Knowledge. On the one hand, the healthcare organization recognized the need to incorporate knowledge into practical and tangible instruments. On the other hand, the flows of Dynamic Knowledge must be fostered through a culture of knowledge translation and sharing, and the development of soft skills

Knowledge Translation in Oncology. A Case Study

Knowledge translation (KT) is the ability to make knowledge accessible to different stakeholders by translating it into various contexts. Translating knowledge is particularly crucial in the healthcare sector, which is currently under significant pressure due to technological innovation, increasing demand of services by an ageing population, budget reductions, and new organisational challenges posed by the latest events like the COVID-19 pandemic. While the first definition of KT was focused on the translation of scientific research into clinical practice, other types of KT later emerged. In healthcare, while stakeholders have different skills and competencies (such as clinical scientists versus physicians or other healthcare professionals), others experience diverse emotional feelings (like the patients or their families). An effective KT allows the transfer, sharing, and creation of new knowledge, enhancing innovation and co-production dynamics. The paper employs a case study by analysing the Breast Unit of the C.R.O. National Cancer Institue of Aviano, Italy, one of the most acknowledged hospitals and research centres in Europe in the field of cancer surgery and treatments. The paper aims at studying the knowledge translation dynamics and tools by analysing the various relationships with the internal as well as the external stakeholders of the Breast Unit. Internally, knowledge translation is needed to merge the competencies of highly skilled multidisciplinary teams, which include surgeons and physicians with various specialities, researchers, psychologists, nurses and other healthcare professionals. Externally, knowledge is translated to meet the needs of patients, patients' associations, sponsors, citizens, and policymakers. Results highlight how different techniques and dynamics allow KT to happen within internal as well as external groups. Contributing to the knowledge management and knowledge translation theories, our findings open up to practical as well as research implications

Diversity and ethics in trauma and acute care surgery teams : results from an international survey

Background Investigating the context of trauma and acute care surgery, the article aims at understanding the factors that can enhance some ethical aspects, namely the importance of patient consent, the perceptiveness of the ethical role of the trauma leader, and the perceived importance of ethics as an educational subject. Methods The article employs an international questionnaire promoted by the World Society of Emergency Surgery. Results Through the analysis of 402 fully filled questionnaires by surgeons from 72 different countries, the three main ethical topics are investigated through the lens of gender, membership of an academic or non-academic institution, an official trauma team, and a diverse group. In general terms, results highlight greater attention paid by surgeons belonging to academic institutions, official trauma teams, and diverse groups. Conclusions Our results underline that some organizational factors (e.g., the fact that the team belongs to a university context or is more diverse) might lead to the development of a higher sensibility on ethical matters. Embracing cultural diversity forces trauma teams to deal with different mindsets. Organizations should, therefore, consider those elements in defining their organizational procedures.Peer reviewe

Knowledge translation in the healthcare sector. A structured literature review

Knowledge translation can be understood as the ability to translate concepts between different contexts by stakeholders who have different skills, aims, and even feelings in their relation to such concepts. Knowledge translation tools allow for the effective transfer of existing knowledge as well as the emergence of new knowledge of value to some or all of the stakeholders involved in the process. Knowledge translation is particularly challenging in healthcare and medicine, where different practitioners (e.g. physicians, biologists, engineers, researchers) and professionals need methodologies and tools to communicate and share knowledge among them and with patients in an effective manner. To better understand this phenomenon, we conducted a Structured Literature Review (SLR). The concepts knowledge, translation and either healthcare or medicine were used as search terms in the title, abstract or keywords on Scopus, which highlighted more than 2,000 contributions in the medical literature and only 22 in Business and Management. Our review of these documents revealed a need in the healthcare sector for better managerial and organisational practices to cope with the various challenges related to the sharing of knowledge among stakeholders. At the same time, the business and management communities appear to have made significant progress in addressing the same issues. We therefore decided to concentrate our analysis on the works published by the business and management community as a mean to highlight future research directions for the healthcare management sector. Thus, our research identifies areas of relevance which are currently underdeveloped, provides insights on both theoretical and empirical developments and offers a critique of the approaches, research frameworks and methods used, as well as emerging trends in these domains. Despite a lack of an agreed definition of the term Knowledge Translation, our findings highlight a growing interest in the topic, with most of thecontributions published after 2015. Scholars have approached the term from a variety of perspectives depending on the nature of the stakeholders of relevance to their studies. Whilst there does not seem to be a predominant framework, the literature reveals several tools and techniques that are effective in enhancing Knowledge Translation in different contexts.New research opportunities in this domain emerge in terms of underinvestigated areas within the healthcare sector.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cardiology in a Digital Age: Opportunities and Challenges for e-Health: A Literature Review

To date, mortality rates associated with heart diseases are dangerously increasing, making them the leading cause of death globally. From this point of view, digital technologies can provide health systems with the necessary support to increase prevention and monitoring, and improve care delivery. The present study proposes a review of the literature to understand the state of the art and the outcomes of international experiences. A reference framework is defined to develop reflections to optimize the use of resources and technologies, favoring the development of new organizational models and intervention strategies. Findings highlight the potential significance of e-health and telemedicine in supporting novel solutions and organizational models for cardiac illnesses as a response to the requirements and restrictions of patients and health systems. While privacy concerns and technology-acceptance-related issues arise, new avenues for research and clinical practice emerge, with the need to study ad hoc managerial models according to the type of patient and disease

Timing of Early Cholecystectomy for Acute Calculous Cholecystitis: A Multicentric Prospective Observational Study

The definition of Early Cholecystectomy (EC) is still debatable. This paper aims to find whether the timing of EC affects outcomes. The article reports a multicentric prospective observational study including patients with acute calculous cholecystitis (ACC) who had cholecystectomy within ten days from the onset of symptoms. Kruskall-Wallis test, Fisher’s Exact test, and Spearman rank correlation were used for statistical analysis. The patients were divided into three groups depending on the timing of the operation: 0–3 days, 4–7 days, or 8–10 days from the onset of symptoms. 1117 patients were studied over a year. The time from the onset of symptoms to EC did not affect the post-operative complications and mortality, the conversion, and the reintervention rate. The time represented a significant risk factor for intraoperative complications (0–3 days, 2.8%; 4–7 days, 5.6%; 8–10 days, 7.9%; p = 0.01) and subtotal cholecystectomies (0–3 days, 2.7%; 4–7 days, 5.6%; 8–10 days, 10.9%; p < 0.001). ACC is an evolutive inflammatory process and, as the days go by, the local and systemic inflammation increases, making surgery more complex and difficult with a higher risk of intraoperative complications. We recommend performing EC for ACC as soon as possible, within the first ten days of the onset of symptoms