1,721,050 research outputs found
Neck orthosis design for 3D printing with user enhanced comfort features
Full text linkAn area of interest in orthopaedics is the development of efficient customized neck orthoses, considered that pathologies which affect the neck area are widespread. Advanced acquisition and modelling approaches combined with Additive Manufacturing (AM) can potentially provide customized orthoses with improved performance and complexity. However, in the design of these devices, besides functional and structural requirements, benefit and comfort of the patient should be a main concern, in particular, at the early stage of design during the acquisition of the body’s part, and while using the printed orthosis. In this paper, a scanning system with three sensors was developed which allows a fast, about 5 s, and accurate acquisition of the neck area with minimum discomfort for the patient. A neck orthosis with a ventilation pattern obtained by Topology Optimization (TO), lightened by about 35%, was also established. In fact, a main role for comfort is played by the ventilation pattern which contributes both to lightness and breathability. Its structural and comfort performance was evaluated in comparison with an orthosis with a ventilation pattern configured by Voronoi cells. Structural assessment was carried out by means of finite element analysis under main loading conditions. An evaluation of neck temperatures in relation to wearing 3D printed prototypes, manufactured with Hemp Bio-Plastic® filament, was finally conducted by means of a thermal imaging camera. TO orthosis prototype showed a better performance regarding thermal comfort, with a maximum increase of neck temperature less than 1 °C, which makes the proposed configuration very promising for user's comfort
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Sorveglianza delle colonizzazioni e delle infezioni fungine acquisite in ambiente nosocomiale in pazienti sottoposti ad interventi chirurgici in urgenza ed in elezione presso l’AOUP “Paolo Giaccone” di Palermo.
No full textVariations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
In vitro activity of fluconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin against clinically yeast isolates.
No full textPredicting the clinical outcome of a systemic mycosis is often a difficult task, especially when microbiological resistance is one of the factors contributing to therapeutic failure. Some of these factors are host-related - e.g. immune state, site and severity of infection, poor compliance to therapy - while others are associated with the drug's characteristics - e.g. dosage, type of compound (fungistatic/fungicidal), pharmacokinetic properties and drug-drug interactions. In the last few years, clinicians have been confronted with the problem of selecting the most appropriate antifungal therapy for systemic infections and have highlighted the need for a reliable method to assay the in vitro susceptibility of yeasts and molds to different antifungal agents, which would allow them to institute a tailored therapy. Using the CLSI micromethod - the reference method for clinically relevant yeast testing - we assayed 70 clinical yeast isolates (Candida spp., collected from patients with systemic mycosis) for susceptibility against fluconazole, voriconazole and caspofungin. Data obtained from our in vitro susceptibility assays revealed good activity of azoles against the majority of Candida spp. In particular, 88.6% of the assayed isolates were susceptible to fluconazole, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from ≤0.125 μg/mL to 8 μg/mL; 97.1% of the isolates were susceptible to voriconazole, with MICs ranging from 0.008 μg/mL to 1 μg/mL; regarding caspofungin 72.9% of the isolates had MICs ranging from 0.25 μg/mL to 1 μg/mL
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
A NURBS-based solid modeling to enhance rapid prototyping in the restoration of decorative elements
Full text linkIn this research, we describe a computer-aided approach to improve the reconstruction method of decorum in architectural surfaces and sculpture. The effects of withdrawal caused by catalysis of mold in silicone was evaluated and simulated by a NURBS-based solid modelling. A tolerance analysis model was developed to predict manufacturing precision levels. In particular, differential increment along three dimensions was performed considering different volume distributions. The methodology was validated by experimental data obtained during the coffered ceiling restoration of Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele in Palermo. The proposed methodology allowed the reconstruction of decorations or fragments of decoration with high accuracy
Optimistic bias in young adults for cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases: A pilot study on smokers and drinkers
No full textOptimistic bias defines the tendency for human beings to underrate risk when it pertains to themselves compared with their view of risk pertaining to other people in the same conditions. The aim of this work is to investigate the optimistic bias in risk perception and health-related behaviours for three specific conditions in a young adult sample: cancer, respiratory disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Young adults showed an optimistic bias related to cancer, and to cardiovascular diseases. Our findings suggest that optimistic bias is linked to specific behavioural patterns, largely widespread in young adults, such as tobacco cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption
Fracture Toughness Characterization of Copper-Resin Interface in Power Electronics Application
No full textThe use of molding compound as encapsulating material is nowadays increasing in semiconductor industry. Such component guarantees excellent thermal and reliability performances than the current silicone-based gel, enabling higher working temperature for semiconductor device and mitigating the solder joint reliability bottleneck. The adhesion of package interfaces between copper components and molding compound is one of the key aspect for optimized durability. Dedicated experiments and theoretical framework based on fracture mechanic are needed for this purpose. The presented activity proposes the fracture toughness characterization of copper-resin interface in a power semiconductor package. Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) test has been executed on dedicated bimaterial coupon with an initial crack at interface. The aim of this test has been to enhance the fracture propagation mode-I (opening). Strain energy release rate (SERR) and mode-mixity have been estimated from this experiment developing a finite element analysis that is able to predict the crack length during the experimental DCB trials and to predict the energy release rate by virtual crack closure technique (VCCT). Mode-mixity has been estimated collecting displacements near the crack tip by crack surface displacement method (CSD). The proposed methodology for fracture toughness characterization represents a strong pillar to predict fracture behavior due to any load conditions and it is needed to describe interface adhesion by cohesive zone method (CZM)
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