Year
Publisher
Journal
Institution
1
Institution Country
Publication Type
Field Of Study
Topics
Open Access
Language
Filter 1
Year
Publisher
Journal
Institution
1
Institution Country
Publication Type
Field Of Study
Topics
Open Access
Language
Filter 1
Export
Sort by: Relevance
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 4 (MEN4): a thorough update on the latest and least known men syndrome.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 4 (MEN4) is a rare multiglandular endocrine neoplasia syndrome, associated with a wide tumor spectrum but hallmarked by primary hyperparathyroidism, which represents the most common clinical feature, followed by pituitary (functional and non-functional) adenomas, and neuroendocrine tumors. MEN4 clinically overlaps MEN type 1 (MEN1) but differs from it for milder clinical features and an older patient's age at onset. The underlying mutated gene, CDKN1B, encodes the cell cycle regulator p27, implicated in cellular proliferation, motility and apoptosis. Given the paucity of MEN4 cases described in the literature, possible genotype-phenotype correlations have not been thoroughly assessed, and specific clinical recommendations are lacking. The present review provides an extensive overview of molecular genetics and clinical features of MEN4, with the aim of contributing to delineate peculiar strategies for clinical management, screening and follow-up of the last and least known MEN syndrome. A literature search was performed through online databases like MEDLINE and Scopus. MEN4 is much less common that MEN1, tend to present later in life with a more indolent course, although involving the same primary organs as MEN1. As a consequence, MEN4 patients might need specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and a different strategy for screening and follow-up. Further studies are needed to assess the real oncological risk of MEN4 carriers, and to establish a standardized screening protocol. Furthermore, a deeper understanding of molecular genetics of MEN4 is needed in order to explore p27 as a novel therapeutic target.

Read full abstract
Conceptual Design of the Electric Pumps for the High-Performance Engine of a European Lunar Lander

Abstract This work deals with the design of a high-speed pump to pressurize the fuel and oxidizer of a rocket engine to be installed in a European lunar lander, being developing by NAMMO UK under ESA funding. The use of pumps (Pump-Fed engines) instead of high-pressure branches (Pressure-Fed engines) is dictated by the need of minimizing the weight of the propellant and the pressuring tanks. Electric pumps are very precise in terms of operation control; however, it is necessary they reach a high efficiency in order to minimise the overall dimensions and weight of the batteries that power them. The goal of the present work is to demonstrate that in this specific application, partial-emission pumps can be a valid alternative to the classic centrifugal pumps allowing similar hydraulic performance, easier manufacturability and, mostly, noticeably higher resistance against cavitation. These advantages can certainly make the partial-emission type of pumps competitive especially in case of demanding operating conditions such as those of small rocket engines, characterized by high heads, small flow rates and high rotation speeds. To this purpose, one centrifugal and one PE pump were optimally designed imposing the same design-point operating conditions as required by the project’s application. The two designs were implemented in the computational fluid dynamic software Star CCM+ via 360-degree 3D models and their performance at design point operation were then compared. Results demonstrated that the partial-emission pump allows achieving a cavitation resistance 37% higher than well-designed FE pumps without suffering any efficiency penalisation.

Read full abstract
Lumped parameters multi-fidelity digital twins for prognostics of electromechanical actuators

The growing affirmation of on-board systems based on all-electric secondary power sources is causing a progressive diffusion of electromechanical actuators (EMA) in aerospace applications. As a result, novel prognostic and diagnostic approaches are becoming a critical tool for detecting fault propagation early, preventing EMA performance deterioration, and ensuring acceptable levels of safety and reliability of the system. These approaches often require the development of various types of multiple numerical models capable of simulating the performance of the EMA with different levels of fidelity. In previous publications, the authors already proposed a high-fidelity multi-domain numerical model (HF), capable of accounting for a wide range of physical phenomena and progressive failures in the EMA, and a low-fidelity digital twin (LF). The LF is directly derived from the HF one by reducing the system degrees of freedom, simplifying the EMA control logic, eliminating the static inverter model and the three-phase commutation logic. In this work, the authors propose a new EMA digital twin, called Enhanced Low Fidelity (ELF), that, while still belonging to the simplified types, has particular characteristics that place it at an intermediate level of detail and accuracy between the HF and LF models. While maintaining a low computational cost, the ELF model keeps the original architecture of the three-phase motor and the multidomain approach typical of HF. The comparison of the preliminary results shows a satisfactory consistency between the experimental equipment and the numerical models.

Read full abstract
Open Access
Early Postoperative Low Compliance to Enhanced Recovery Pathway in Rectal Cancer Patients.

Early postoperative low compliance to enhanced recovery protocols has been associated with morbidity following colon surgery. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possible causes of early postoperative low compliance to the enhanced recovery pathway and its relationship with morbidity following rectal surgery for cancer. A total of 439 consecutive patients who underwent elective surgery for rectal cancer have been included in the study. Compliance to enhanced recovery protocol on postoperative day (POD) 2 was evaluated in all patients. Indicators of compliance were naso-gastric tube and urinary catheter removal, recovery of both oral feeding and mobilization, and the stopping of intravenous fluids. Low compliance on POD 2 was defined as non- adherence to two or more items. One-third of patients had low compliance on POD 2. Removal of urinary catheter, intravenous fluids stop, and mobilization were the items with lowest adherence. Advanced age, duration of surgery, open surgery and diverting stoma were predictive factors of low compliance at multivariate analysis. Overall morbidity and major complications were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in patients with low compliance on POD 2. At multivariate analysis, failure to remove urinary catheter on POD 2 (OR = 1.83) was significantly correlated with postoperative complications. Low compliance to enhanced recovery protocol on POD 2 was significantly associated with morbidity. Failure to remove the urinary catheter was the most predictive indicator. Advanced age, long procedure, open surgery and diverting stoma were independent predictive factors of low compliance.

Read full abstract
Open Access
Analyses of Methanogenic Population as Key Indicator for Anaerobic Digestion: A Case-Study in the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste Treatment

PurposeThe anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) is a treatment biologically optimizable. The analysis of the microbial balance within the digester allows not only to describe and improve the efficiency of the system but also to foresee potential variations after biochemical interventions. This work aims to highlight methanogenic population variations in two similar parallel digesters to identify bio-indicators for digestion performance after the inclusion of an additive.MethodsThe analysed industrial case study involved the two parallel, pilot-scale, bio-digesters of ACEA Pinerolese Industriale. They had analogous design and fed by the same OFMSW except for an additive inclusion. The analyses by qRT-PCR, on both bio-digesters, have been performed to determine an impact of the additive on the growth and metabolic activity of total methanogens, Methanosarcina spp., Methanocorpuscolum spp., and Methanospirillus spp.ResultsCollected data showed that the addition of biopolymers extracted from compost produced both total methanogens and Methanosarcina decrease (7.67 vs. 7.48 and 6.05 vs. 5.69 Log gene copies/mL sludge respectively, T-test p < 0.01) affecting slightly the methane yield (-8%). Methanosarcina was the highest expressed methanogen; however, the results suggested the involvement of a highly complex and heterogeneous methanogen community.ConclusionsTotal methanogens and active Methanosarcina modulations are able to highlight major bio-methane production even if their shift is slight. Globally only 3–4% of the present and 12–13% of the active methanogens were described. However, biological approach can supply a proxy of production performance of the digester also concerning the feeding peculiarities.Graphical abstract

Read full abstract
Open Access