4 research outputs found
Design and Application of a Portable Launching Catapult for Crash Test Simulations
No full textINTRODUCTION. In speed disciplines performed in natural ambient such as downhill skiing, racing and
downhill cycling, safety of athletes is related to the possibility of correct design of the course trajectory and
competition artifacts (i.e. jumps & walls in cycling) as well as to the correct installation of safety barriers when
dangerous elements cannot be removed from the course background (rocks, trees, drops). Not only the intrinsic
properties of structures and barriers but also their installation determine the real behaviour of such elements in the
field [1]. Crash/functional in-situ evaluation of crashworthiness or correct dynamic design of such structures gives
to course safety managers and athletes a final tool for the engineering assessment of such installations [2].
METHODS. A launching catapult for bicycle and skiing crash test simulations was designed following given
requirements of portability and energy release. The system was designed to accelerate an instrumented Hybrid III
50th male dummy and a 25 kg downhill bicycle up to an exit speed of 50 km/h in a total wooden base length of 4.0
m. In principle, two main guide beams (5.6 m) sustain a carriage (15kg) that can be accelerated by a set of 4 elastic
bands (L=1m, K=210 N/m each) each side: the bicycle/dummy assembly is guided at the floor, pulled at the
handlebars and pushed at the dummy back by the carriage. The catapult can be preloaded by a wrench and released
by a remote mechanical trigger: the carriage is stopped by two car shock absorbers. The catapult was used to test
downhill bicycle jumps with different take off angle (-4°, 0°, +4°) of the jump board and recording landing events.
RESULTS. The catapult allowed to successfully launch the dummy/bike up to 48km/h for a total number of 14
jumps. Speed can be modulated by the number of elastic bands. Dummy/bike stabilities were satisfactory and
improvement were made to prevent hand/handlebar release or dummy backflips due to the high accelerations (max
11g). Crash impacts on the downhill slope allowed recording Peak Head Resultant accelerations up to 375 g.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The catapult is being adapted to other sports such as ski barriers testing
by lowering of the guide beams, introducing low friction guide for the skis, and adapting the carriage to a skiing
posture. It will be used against A-nets, B-nets and Mattresses along a racecourse after installation on the snow.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The research was funded by Interreg IV project “Goodride” ITAT 2033.
REFERENCES.
[1] Petrone N. et al., Procedia Engineering, Volume 2, Issue 2, June 2010, Pages 2593-2598.
[2] EN 1263-1,2:2014. Temporary works equipment. Safety nets safety requirements, test methods
Angiogenesis, programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and immune microenvironment association in laryngeal carcinoma.
No full textIn the specific field of laryngeal carcinoma (LSCC), evidence
about the interaction between angiogenetic
pathway and immune microenvironment has not yet been
explored. Given the potential relevance of such an interaction
for prognostic and therapeutic purposes, the main
aim of this exploratory study was to investigate the existence
of a correlation between angiogenesis (quantified
through CD31 expression), programmed cell death ligand
1 (PD-L1) expression, and immune microenvironment. A
secondary aim was to verify whether considering a combination
of angiogenesis and immune microenvironment
variables might improve prognostic accuracy compared to
the traditional clinical-pathological prognostic tools.
CD31-assessed micro-vessel density (MVD), PD-L1 in
terms of combined positive score (CPS), and tumour
infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) were assessed on 45
consecutive cases of LSCC.
Cox proportional hazards model revealed increasing
CD31-assessed MVD values, PD-L1 CPS <1, and TILs
count rate <30%, as predictive of reduced disease free
survival (DFS). Multivariate analysis found that MVD
(p<0.0001) and TILs (p=0.0420) retained their significant
independent prognostic value. Spearman’s correlation
model disclosed a significant negative correlation between
CD31-assessed MVD values and PD-L1 CPS (p=0.0040).
PD-L1 CPS and TILs count rate were positively correlated
(p<0.0001). DFS was significantly lower in the CD31-
assessed MVD >7, PD-L1 CPS <1, TILs <30% group
than in the MVD 7, PD-L1 CPS 1, TILs 30% group
(p=0.0001).
These data preliminarily support an integrated interpretation
of the prognostic role or angiogenesis and immune
microenvironment markers in LSCC. This is of potential
clinical relevance suggesting a synergistic effect of the
combination of anti-angiogenic drugs with programmed
death-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors in advanced LSCC
Patient safety and quality improvement education for paramedics: Practicing what we preach
No full textBatt, AM ORCiD: 0000-0001-6473-5397Our patients expect, and deserve, safe, high-quality care. Patient safety and quality improvement competencies for paramedics are detailed in the National Occupational Competency Profiles (Canada) (1), the Education and Training Standards (Rep. of Ireland) (2), the Standards of Proficiency for Paramedics (UK) (3), and the Australasian Competency Standards
for Paramedics (Aus & NZ) (4). Competencies aside, paramedics have a personal responsibility for providing safe care, regardless of previous
education or regulatory framework. The onus is on us all to ensure that paramedics are adequately prepared to address this responsibility.--Paragraph 1
