Improved Signal Characterization via Empirical Mode Decomposition to Enhance in-line Quality Monitoring

The machine tool industry is facing the need to increase the sensorization of production systems to meet evolving market demands. This leads to the increasing interest for in-process monitoring tools that allow a fast detection of faults and unnatural process behaviours during the process itself. Nevertheless, the analysis of sensor signals implies several challenges. One major challenge consists of the complexity of signal patterns, which often exhibit a multiscale content, i.e., a superimposition of both stationary and non-stationary fluctuations on different time-frequency levels. Among time-frequency techniques, Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) is a powerful method to decompose any signal into its embedded oscillatory modes in a fully data-driven way, without any ex-ante basis selection. Because of this, it might be used effectively for automated monitoring and diagnosis of manufacturing processes. Unfortunately, it usually yields an over-decomposition, with single oscillation modes that can be split into more than one scale (this effect is also known as “mode mixing”). The literature lacks effective strategies to automatically synthetize the decomposition into a minimal number of physically relevant and interpretable components. This paper proposes a novel approach to achieve a synthetic decomposition of complex signals through the EMD procedure. A new criterion is proposed to group together multiple components associated to a common time-frequency pattern, aimed at summarizing the information content into a minimal number of modes, which may be easier to interpret. A real case study in waterjet cutting is presented, to demonstrate the benefits and the critical issues of the proposed approach

Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura presenting with syncope episodes when coughing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is a rarely encountered clinical entity which may have different clinical pictures. Although the majority of these neoplasms have a benign course, the malignant form has also been reported.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We herein describe a case of 72 year-old man with head, facial, and thoracic traumas caused by neurally-mediated situational syncope when coughing. The diagnostic work-up including chest x-ray, CT and PET, revealed a large solitary mass of the left hemithorax. Radical surgical resection of the mass was performed through a left lateral thoracotomy and completed with a wedge resection of the lingula. Hystological examination of the surgical specimen showed an encapsulated mass measuring 12 × 11.5 × 6 cm consistent with a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. It's surgical removal definitively resolved the neurologic manifestations. The patient had no postoperative complications. At two years follow-up the patient is free from recurrence and without clinical manifestations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In our case its resection definitively resolved the episodes of situational syncope due, in our opinion, to the large thoracic mass compressing the phrenic nerve</p

Acute Lower Limb Ischaemia as a Presenting Sign of Atrial Myxoma: Case Report and Scoping Review of the Literature

Objective: Cardiac myxomas (CMs) are the most common primary cardiac tumour in adults. They are a rare cause of peripheral embolisation and may present as acute lower limb ischaemia (ALI). A scoping review was undertaken and a case of ALI due to CM embolisation is presented in this paper. Methods: MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase were systematically searched for studies reporting data on ALI as a presentation of CM embolisation. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was followed. Results: A healthy 26 year old female presented to the emergency department with bilateral ALI. Urgent bilateral aorto-iliac embolectomy and distal embolectomy of the left femoropopliteal axis were performed. The retrieved embolic material exhibited a yellowish appearance and jelly like consistency, and histological analysis provided a diagnosis of a myxomatous embolus. Transoesophageal echocardiography confirmed the left atrial origin of a myxomatous tumour, but the residual mass was considered too small for further excision. At a two year clinical follow up, the patient was alive and well without recurrence. Between 1989 and 2023, 59 patients with ALI due to CM embolisation were identified in the literature. An in hospital mortality rate of 12.1% (n = 7) was reported, while the in hospital complication and re-intervention rates were 34.5% (n = 20) and 27.6% (n = 16), respectively. No post-discharge deaths, complications, or re-interventions were reported; fasciotomies were the most reported (n = 10). Post-discharge follow up was reported in 22 (37.3%) patients. Mean follow up was 18.0 ± 18.8 months (range 1–120), and 86.4% of patients (n = 19) were alive and well at last follow up. Conclusion: This review and the associated case report underline that CM embolisation should be considered in healthy young patients presenting with cryptogenic ALI. Early transoesophageal echocardiography and histological analysis of the retrieved embolus are recommended to minimise misdiagnosis in these populations

Cluster-like headache and idiopathic intracranial hypertension: a case report.

Cluster headache (CH) is a well-defined primary headache syndrome, but cases of symptomatic headache with clinical features of CH have been previously reported. Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is a secondary headache disorder characterized by headache and visual symptoms, without clinical, radiological or laboratory evidence of intracranial pathology. Both papilloedema and IIH-related headache are typically bilateral, however asymmetrical or even unilateral localizations are described in literature. We report the case of a previously headache-free woman who presented cluster-like headache and asymmetrical papilloedema related to IIH. In our opinion the asymmetrical presentation supports, in this case, the hypothesis of cavernous sinus involvement in the IIH-related cluster-like headache pathogenesis

Rare ATG7 genetic variants predispose patients to severe fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of liver disorders and has a strong heritable component. The aim of this study was to identify new loci that contribute to severe NAFLD by examining rare variants