Bonded repairs are advantageous for the aircraft industry when applying repairs to composite parts. However, their post-impact behavior under mechanical loads has to be addressed. Within this study, CFRP specimens repaired via a soft-patch repair approach as well as pristine (i.e. virgin) laminates without repairs, were impacted (energy: 5 J to 30 J). Subsequently, tensile tests were performed in order to investigate their post-impact mechanical properties. For selected impact energy levels, a detailed analysis on the extent of damage was conducted by micro-CT imaging. From these investigations, the interrelation of the impact energy, the mechanical properties obtained from the post-impact tensile tests as well as of the extent (quantitative and qualitative) and nature of damage could be studied and visualized in 2D and 3D images. Furthermore, a high-resolution image acquired on an undamaged repair-specimen was segmented, from which the individual bond constituents could be identified and visualized in 3D representations.

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) represents the second most common type of invasive breast cancer (BC). Although ILC generally have good prognostic properties (positive estrogen receptor, ER, low tumor grade), they are generally diagnosed at amore advanced stage. The data on the axillary lymph node status in ILC compared to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) are considered controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the pathological node stage (pN) between ILC and IDC in an Austria-wide register. Data of the Clinical Tumor Register (Klinisches TumorRegister, KTR) of the Austrian Association for Gynecological Oncology (AGO) were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with primary early BC, invasive lobular or ductal, diagnosed between January 2014 and December 2018, and primary surgery were included. Atotal of 2127 tumors were evaluated and compared in 2groups, ILC n = 303, IDC n = 1824. Atotal of 2095patients were analyzed in the study. In the multivariate analysis, pN2 and pN3 were observed significantly more frequently in ILC compared with IDC (odds ratio, OR 1.93; 95% confidence interval, CI 1.19-3.14; p = 0.008 and OR 3.22; 95% CI: 1.47-7.03; p = 0.003; respectively). Other factors associated with ILC were tumor grades2 and3, positive ER, and pathological tumor stage (pT) 2 and pT3. In contrast, concomitant ductal carcinoma in situ, overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER2), and amoderate and high proliferation rate (Ki67) were found less frequently in ILC. The data show an increased risk of extensive axillary lymph node metastasis (pN2/3) in ILC.

Automated tape layup (ATL), is susceptible to a variety of manufacturing defects that affect productivity and mechanical performance of the final part. To increase process efficiency an inline monitoring tool is developed, which detects defects during manufacturing in a ply-by-ply manner. The presented work details the capability analysis of inline non-destructive testing (NDT) by means of thermography compared to industry approved NDT methods, namely, active infrared thermography and ultrasonic testing, which are performed subsequently. Two sets of samples were made, with foreign object and debris (FOD) and without any artificial defects. These in-situ consolidated samples were then checked for FOD and bond inhomogeneity via all three NDT methods. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of research finding was performed. Inline thermography results conform to established industry standards in recognizing FOD defects. These defects can be localized and rectified immediately, increasing process reliability. Inline thermography can be used effectively for inline process control.

The aim of the current paper is to summarize the results of the International CytoSorb Registry. Data were collected on patients of the intensive care unit. The primary endpoint was actual in-hospital mortality compared to the mortality predicted by APACHE II score. The main secondary endpoints were SOFA scores, inflammatory biomarkers and overall evaluation of the general condition. 1434 patients were enrolled. Indications for hemoadsorption were sepsis/septic shock (N = 936); cardiac surgery perioperatively (N = 172); cardiac surgery postoperatively (N = 67) and “other” reasons (N = 259). APACHE-II-predicted mortality was 62.0±24.8%, whereas observed hospital mortality was 50.1%. Overall SOFA scores did not change but cardiovascular and pulmonary SOFA scores decreased by 0.4 [-0.5;-0.3] and -0.2 [-0.3;-0.2] points, respectively. Serum procalcitonin and C-reactive protein levels showed significant reduction: -15.4 [-19.6;-11.17] ng/mL; -17,52 [-70;44] mg/L, respectively. In the septic cohort PCT and IL-6 also showed significant reduction: -18.2 [-23.6;-12.8] ng/mL; -2.6 [-3.0;-2.2] pg/mL, respectively. Evaluation of the overall effect: minimal improvement (22%), much improvement (22%) and very much improvement (10%), no change observed (30%) and deterioration (4%). There was no significant difference in the primary outcome of mortality, but there were improvements in cardiovascular and pulmonary SOFA scores and a reduction in PCT, CRP and IL-6 levels.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02312024 (retrospectively registered).

There is evidence that the purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus L.) aqueous extract can induce the plants rooting due to the high auxin concentrations. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of application seasons and concentrations of purple nutsedge aqueous extract application on the growth and production of carrot, cultivar Brasília. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, in a 2 x 5 factorial scheme in two seasons of the extract application (25 and 50 days after sowing) and five concentrations of (0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) with four replicates. Harvesting was carried out at 90 days after sowing, being evaluated the following morphological parameters: root diameter (cm); root fresh mass (g plant-1); plant height (cm); aerial part fresh mass (g plant-1); root dry mass (g plant-1); aerial part dry mass (g plant-1); plant dry mass (g plant-1); ratio between root dry mass and aerial part dry mass; root length (cm); commercial productivity (t ha-1); defective root mass (t ha-1); total productivity (t ha-1); commercial yield (roots kg-1); and root classification by length. The extract application at 50th day was more efficient for the root diameter (3.37 cm); fresh root mass (120.7 g plant-1); root length (15.4 cm); commercial productivity (68.2 t ha-1); total productivity (73.6 t ha-1); and commercial roots (8.8 roots kg-1). Root classification by length showed a higher percentage in the 14 cm classification range. The parameters did not present significant differences in both seasons, at 25th and 50th days, respectively, for root dry mass (12.0 and 12.8 g plant-1), ratio between dry mass of roots and aerial part (1.66 and 1.57), and defective root mass (1.3 and 1.5 t ha-1).

PurposeFor the crews and assets of the European Union’s (EU’s) Joint Operations available today, but a vast area in the Mediterranean Sea to monitor, detection of small boats and rafts in distress can take up to several days or even fail at all. This study aims to outline how an energy-autonomous swarm of Unmanned Aerial System can help to increase the monitored sea area while minimizing human resource demand.Design/methodology/approachA concept for an unattended swarm of solar powered, unmanned hydroplanes is proposed. A swarm operations concept, vehicle conceptual design and an initial vehicle sizing method is derived. A microscopic, multi-agent-based simulation model is developed. System characteristics and surveillance performance is investigated in this delimited environment number of vehicles scale. Parameter variations in insolation, overcast and system design are used to predict system characteristics. The results are finally used for a scale-up study on a macroscopic level.FindingsMiniaturization of subsystems is found to be essential for energy balance, whereas power consumption of subsystems is identified to define minimum vehicle size. Seasonal variations of solar insolation are observed to dominate the available energy budget. Thus, swarm density and activity adaption to solar energy supply is found to be a key element to maintain continuous aerial surveillance.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was conducted extra-occupationally. Resources were limited to the available range of literature, computational power number and time budget.Practical implicationsA proposal for a probable concept of operations, as well as vehicle preliminary design for an unmanned energy-autonomous, multi-vehicle system for maritime surveillance tasks, are presented and discussed. Indications on path planning, communication link and vehicle interaction scheme selection are given. Vehicle design drivers are identified and optimization of parameters with significant impact on the swarm system is shown.Social implicationsThe proposed system can help to accelerate the detection of ships in distress, increasing the effectiveness of life-saving rescue missions.Originality/valueFor continuous surveillance of expanded mission theatres by small-sized vehicles of limited endurance, a novel, collaborative swarming approach applying in situ resource utilization is explored.

Calcic aortic stenosis (AS) remains a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the aging population . Surgical AV Replacement (SAVR) and Transfemoral Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) are available treatment options. With improvements in long term patient survival after AVR and increases in overall longevity, more patients are now seen with Prosthetic Aortic Valve failure. The management of patients with stenotic aortic bioprostheses is usually surgical. However, a proportion of such patients are unt for such procedures. The technique of aortic balloon valvuloplasty as an alternative treatment strategy for such patients is explored. We report a case of seventy-three-year-old male with prosthetic aortic valve stenosis treated with balloon valvuloplasty with promising intermediate term outcome and describe the growing valve in valve procedure. Hence this case is reported to enhance our knowledge and potentiate literature regarding the management strategy of prosthetic aortic valve stenosis in old age.

Background:There are wide number of diseases of almost every system in the body which can affect heart in a number of different ways including increasing demands on the heart ,ventricular dysfunction ,rhythm abnormalities ,valve abnormalities ,pulmonary pressures and lot more.Cardiac involvement in systemic diseases is usually silent or oligosymptomatic and includes different pathophysiological mechanisms such as myocardial inflammation, infarction ,subendocardial vasculitis,valvular disease and different patterns of fibrosis. Objective : To study association between systemic illnesses (hematological, endocrinal , renal) and cardiac function abnormalities as ventricular function,cardiac dimensions ,pulmonary artery pressure and pericardial effusion,for early diagnosis and treatment to decrease morbidity and mortality in patient with systemic illness. Design/Method:It was a cross sectional,descriptive study The present study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, LLRM Medical College,Meerut,Uttar Pradesh over a period of 1 year (June 2019-June 2020) Results: Cardiac findings in all three groups show ECG abnormalities and echocardiographic changes compared to general population. ECG abnormalities were prolonged PR interval and sinus tachycardia while echocardiographic changes mainly left ventricular(LV) dilatation and hypertrophy ,increased cardiac output ,ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension(PAH),were noted in a significant proportion of patients. Conclusion:Systemic illnesses affect cardiac parameters in various ways including prolonged PR interval,cardiac dilatation,chamber hypertrophy ,high cardiac output,high cardiac index ,PAH and ventricular dysfunction.

In this work, we present a multimodal approach to three-dimensionally quantify and visualize fiber orientation and resin-rich areas in carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers manufactured by vacuum infusion. Three complementary image modalities were acquired by Talbot–Lau grating interferometer (TLGI) X-ray microcomputed tomography (XCT). Compared to absorption contrast (AC), TLGI-XCT provides enhanced contrast between polymer matrix and carbon fibers at lower spatial resolutions in the form of differential phase contrast (DPC) and dark-field contrast (DFC). Consequently, relatively thin layers of resin, effectively indiscernible from image noise in AC data, are distinguishable. In addition to the assessment of fiber orientation, the combination of DPC and DFC facilitates the quantification of resin-rich areas, e.g., in gaps between fiber layers or at binder yarn collimation sites. We found that resin-rich areas between fiber layers are predominantly developed in regions characterized by a pronounced curvature. In contrast, in-layer resin-rich areas are mainly caused by the collimation of fibers by binder yarn. Furthermore, void volume around two adjacent 90°-oriented fiber layers is increased by roughly 20% compared to a random distribution over the whole specimen.

Fibre-reinforced plastics are attracting more and more attention also in non-aviation sectors. The possible formation of internal damage and its difficult detection thus simultaneously increases the need for structural health monitoring. In this case especially fibre-optical sensors possess an enormous potential. In the previous work the use of a meander-shaped sensor layout was proposed, utilizing strain in longitudinal direction for loads monitoring and distinct measuring sections in zero-strain direction for structural health monitoring. In the present work, the proposed meander-shaped sensor layout is integrated inside unidirectional coupons using tailored fibre placement. Further samples without a sensor and samples with a straight sensor-fibre were also manufactured as a reference. The influence of the sensor on the static strength and stiffness is then examined in a test campaign using a three-point bending setup. In addition, the functionality of the meander-shaped sensor layout is validated.