Standard Flaws for Eddy Current Probe Characterization

Calibration procedures for eddy current inspections often involve the use of artifact standards containing manufactured flaws. The manufactured flaw is assumed to be a good approximation of the type of flaw being sought during the inspection. These manufactured flaws are most often produced by electrical discharge machining (EDM), milling, or the controlled growth of fatigue cracks. With simple amplitude display inspection equipment this type of artifact is usually sufficient, but as more sophisticated inspection equipment is developed some drawbacks to the commonly accepted practice are becoming evident. Instruments that are sensitive to eddy current signal phase as well as amplitude can show considerable differences in phase between a relatively wide EDM notch or milled slot and a real fatigue crack [1]. The use of controlled growth fatigue cracks can also cause problems when forces at the crack’s tip drive the crack faces together, making electrical contact [2], In addition, estimates of crack depth will always be estimates until the crack is broken apart. We describe here a technique for consistently producing well characterized discontinuities in aluminum which are not subject to these problems

E.U. paediatric MOG consortium consensus: Part 3 - Biomarkers of paediatric myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disorders.

A first episode of acquired demyelinating disorder (ADS) in children is a diagnostic challenge as different diseases can express similar clinical features. Recently, antibodies against myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) have emerged as a new ADS biomarker, which clearly allow the identification of monophasic and relapsing ADS forms different from MS predominantly in children. Due to the novelty of this antibody there are still challenges and controversies about its pathogenicity and best technique to detect it. In this manuscript we will discuss the recommendations and caveats on MOG antibody assays, role in the pathogenesis, and additionally discuss the usefulness of other potential new biomarkers in MOG-antibody associated disorders (MOGAD)

VALUTAZIONE QUANTITATIVA DI HIV RNA CON IL SISTEMA NUCLISENS EASYQ HIV-1 E CORRELAZIONE CON VERSANT HIV -1 (bDNA)

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Radial Velocity Studies of Close Binary Stars. IX

Radial-velocity measurements and sine-curve fits to the orbital velocity variations are presented for the eighth set of ten close binary systems: AB And, V402 Aur, V445 Cep, V2082 Cyg, BX Dra, V918 Her, V502 Oph, V1363 Ori, KP Peg, V335 Peg. Half of the systems (V445 Cep, V2082 Cyg, V918 Her, V1363 Ori, V335 Peg) were discovered photometrically by the Hipparcos mission and all systems are double-lined (SB2) contact binaries. The broadening function method permitted improvement of the orbital elements for AB And and V502 Oph. The other systems have been observed for radial velocity variations for the first time; in this group are five bright (V<7.5) binaries: V445 Cep, V2082 Cyg, V918 Her, KP Peg and V335 Peg. Several of the studied systems are prime candidates for combined light and radial-velocity synthesis solutions.Comment: 17+ pages, 2 tables, 4 figure

The reaching movement in breast cancer survivors. attention to the principles of rehabilitation

Introduction: Breast-cancer is leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women. The prognosis and survival rate of women with breast-cancer have significantly improved worldwide; more attention needs to be paid to rehabilitative interventions after surgery. This paper describes use of reaching movement to assess upper limb motorcontrol and functional ability after breast-cancer surgery (BC). Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study consisting of biomechanical evaluation of upper limb limitations in women BC, versus a controlgroup (CG). Thirty breast-cancer survivors and thirty healthy women participated in this study. Both groups were subjected to clinical evaluation of the shoulder joint ROM on the operated side, as an assessment of the muscular-strength of the shoulder with the MRC-scale. The Functional-Assessment was evaluated by the DASH and Constant-Murley-Score. The EORTC QLQ-C30 and VAS were used to measure the quality of life assessment and pain respectively. A Biomechanical evaluation was performed, using Reaching-Task and Surface-EMG. Results: Normal Jerk for BC was higher than CG. Target approaching velocity and movement duration BC was lower than CG. Synergy Anterior Deltoid/Triceps Brachii muscles in CG was higher than BC

Changes in spine alignment and postural balance after breast cancer surgery: a rehabilitative point of view

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in female patients in developed countries. Recent articles indicate that one-sided mastectomy or minor breast surgery to treat breast cancer can have deleterious effects on posture and the musculoskeletal system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the alterations post-breast cancer surgery of the spine alignment associated to the balance not reported by the noninvasive instrumentation. We enrolled 30 women who had undergone treatment for breast cancer (BG) and were on a waiting-list for rehabilitation treatment and a control group of 30 healthy volunteer women (CG), matched by age and body mass index. The stabilometry was performed using a force platform (Kistler Instruments, Winterthur, Switzerland) test during quiet standing with closed-eyes (EC) and open-eyes (EO), recording the position of the center of pressure (CoP) for 51.2 sec. The stabilogram or the time plot of the two coordinates, X and Y, of the CoP was obtained, which represent anteroposterior and midlateral balance. Spinal posture was measured using the Formetric-4D rasterstereographic system (DIERS, International GmbH, Schlangenbad, Germany), and thoracic kyphotic angle, lumbar lordotic angle, and surface trunk rotation were evaluated. Sixty participants were analyzed (CG:30; BG:30). For the spine rasterstereography a statistically significant difference was shown with regard to anterior-posterior flexion of the trunk major in BG; pelvic inclination and twist of half-pelvis decreased in BG; normalized lumbosacral inversion point decreased in BG; surface rotation major in BG; and lateral deviation major in BG. Compared with the values for the stabilometry test with EO and EC, a statistically significant difference was observed, respectively, for ellipse length (mm; p = 0.04) and ellipse area (mm2; p = 0.04) with EO and in ellipse area (mm2) with EC (p = 0.05), increased in BG for both conditions. No difference was shown for CoP velocity and oscillations between the groups. Breast cancer survivors after prostheses or tissue expanders for mastectomy showed a spine's misalignment present both on the sagittal plane, both on the coronal and frontal plane, increased in BG regard to anterior-posterior flexion of the trunk, surface rotation, and lateral deviation. It is associated with greater energy expenditure for the postural balance control increased in BG with a major ellipse area in EO and EC conditions and major ellipse length in EC condition

Production of activated carbon from fast-pyrolysis biochar.

Thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass via fast-pyrolysis technique has become an interesting alternative to produce valuable bio-based products, such as the bio-oil. This alternative, for instance, can increase even more the profitability of such well-consolidated pulp and paper industries by turning it into more energetically self-sufficient processo Besides bio-oil, the fast-pyrolysis process results in many byproducts with high economic and environmental benefits. Biochar is one of these byproducts, and it can be activated by physical and chemical methods to use for water treatment and for environmental remediation. This study investigates the activation of biochar obtained from the fast-pyrolysis of wood biomass. The biochar was collected from a pilot-plant of bio-oil production and then activated via physical route (C02) at 800°C for 30 and 60 minutes; and via chemical route (H3P04) at 450, 550 and 650°C for 60 minutes. The activated carbon was characterized by product yield, proximate analysis, surface area and thermogravimetric analysis. The chemical routes with H3P04 were more efficient than the physical routes with CO2. The chemical activation at 450°C presented the highest product yield (80.47%) followed by a decrease in the yield to 71-75% with the increase of the temperature. The fixed carbon content increased after both physical and chemical activation, remaining around 91%. On the other hand, the volatile matter decreased significantly, especially in the physical routes. The surface area increased from 17.94 (untreated biochar) to 450-655 m2/g, confirming the improvement of the porosity, mainly in the biochar activated by H3P04 at 450°C and by CO2 for 60 minutes. Ali biochar activated by chemical routes presented similar residual mass at 600°C, whereas the material physically activated with CO2 presented lower residual mass, especially the one treated for 30 minutes. Overall, these results provide an alternative to produce a high added-value material from a fast-pyrolysis byproduct, encouraging the exploration of thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic biomass

The role of an extended medial column arthrodesis for Charcot midfoot neuroarthropathy

The etiology of diabetic Charcot neuroarthropathy involving the midfoot often includes an inciting traumatic event or repetitive micro-trauma from an uncompensated biomechanical imbalance that potentiates an incompletely understood pathway leading to a rocker-bottom foot deformity and ulceration. In the setting of a severe Charcot foot fracture and/or dislocation with obvious osseous instability, diagnostic delay can potentiate the limb-threatening sequelae of infected midfoot ulcerations in this patient population. In this article, the authors discuss the thought process as well as the advantages of performing an extended medial column arthrodesis for selected Charcot midfoot deformities