Feasibility Study to Actively Compensate Deformations of Composite Structure in a Space Environment

Ciro Farinelli,Hong-Il Kim,Jae-Hung Han 한국항공우주학회 2012 International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sc Vol.13 No.2

An active compensation method for the deformation of composite structures using additional controllable metal parts is proposed, and its feasibility is experimentally investigated in a simulated space environment. Composite specimens are tested in a vacuum chamber, which is able to maintain pressure on the order of 10-3 torr and interior temperature in the range of ±30 ℃. The displacement-measuring interferometer system, which consists of a heterodyne HeNe laser and an interferometer, is used to measure the displacement of the whole structure. Meanwhile, the strain of the composite part and temperature of both parts are measured by fiber Bragg grating sensors and thermistors, respectively. The displacement of the composite structure is maintained within a tolerance of ±1 ㎛ by controlling the elongation of the metal part, which is bonded to the end of the composite part. Also, the possibility of fiber Bragg grating sensors as control input sensors is successfully demonstrated using a proper corrective factor based on the specimen temperature gradient data.

Live-case demonstrations in pediatric urology: Ethics, patient safety, and clinical outcomes from an 8-year institutional experience

Ciro Andolfi,Mohan S. Gundeti 대한비뇨의학회 2020 Investigative and Clinical Urology Vol.61 No.-

Purpose: Live case demonstrations have become a common occurrence at surgical meetings around the world. These demonstrations are meant to serve as an educational medium for teaching techniques, promote discussion, improve interventions and outcomes. Despite the valuable educational benefits, many authors still question the ethics of this approach. We present our 8-year experience in live surgery, discuss the ethical issues, and provide recommendations. Materials and Methods: We reviewed records of patients who underwent live robotic surgery during broadcasting events. Procedures performed were robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RAL-P), ureteral reimplantation (RALUR), and hemi-nephrectomy (RAL-HN). Peri- and post-operative outcomes were compared to our previously published case series. Results: From October 2011 to May 2019, the senior author (MSG) performed all live surgery demonstrations on 22 patients: 9 RAL-P, 9 RALUR, and 4 RAL-HN. Live RAL-Ps had a 100% success rate and lower 30-day Clavien-Dindo grade (CDG) III complications when compared to our previous case series (11.1% vs. 21.2%). RALURs performed during live demonstrations had a higher success rate than our previously published cohort (100% vs. 82%). RAL-HN operative time and length of stay were comparable to our non-live control group. Conclusions: Live surgery is a valuable didactic tool, but even experienced surgeons may be adversely affected by inappropriate case selection, technical difficulty, and anxiety associated with particular settings, such as operating at different institutions or working with unfamiliar surgical teams. We suggest consultation of an ethics review board and formulation of standard guidelines for patient selection, surgical equipment, and operative team.

Minimally Invasive Stereotactical Radio-ablation of Adrenal Metastases as an Alternative to Surgery

Ciro Franzese,Davide Franceschini,Luca Cozzi,Giuseppe D’Agostino,Tiziana Comito,Fiorenza De Rose,Pierina Navarria,Pietro Mancosu,Stefano Tomatis,Antonella Fogliata,Marta Scorsetti 대한암학회 2017 Cancer Research and Treatment Vol.49 No.1

Purpose The purpose of this study was to study the clinical outcome for patients with metastases of the adrenal gland treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy. Materials and Methods Forty-six patients were studied retrospectively. The dose prescription was 40 Gy in four fractions. Dosimetric analysis was performed using the dose volume histograms while clinical outcome was assessed using actuarial analysis with determination of the overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) rates. Results The planning objectives were met for all patients. With a median follow-up period of 7.6 months, at the last follow-up 42 patients (91.3%) were alive and four had died because of distant progression. The actuarial mean OS was 28.5±1.6 months, the median was not reached. One-year and 2-year OS were 87.6±6.1%. None of the risk factors was significant in univariate analysis. Actuarial mean LC was 14.6±1.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.0 to 18.2) and median LC was 14.5±2.0 months (95% CI, 10.5 to 18.5). One-year and 2-year LC were 65.5±11.9% and 40.7±15.8%, respectively. A mild profile of toxicity was observed in the cohort of patients. Forty patients (86.9%) showed no complication (grade 0); two patients reported asthenia, six patients (13.1%) reported either pain, nausea, or vomiting. Of these six patients, five patients (10.9%) were scored as grade 1 toxicity while one patient (2.2%) was scored as grade 2. Conclusion Stereotactic body radiation therapy treatment provided an adequate clinical response in the management of adrenal gland metastases.

Soil Atlas of Latin America: An Innovative Tool for Policy Development and Awareness Raising

Ciro Gardi,Arwyn Jones,Luca Montanarella,Ronald Vargas,Carlos Cruz 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6

Effect of Palmitoylethanolamide on Visual Field Damage Progression in Normal Tension Glaucoma Patients: Results of an Open-Label Six-Month Follow-Up

Ciro Costagliola,Mario R. Romano,Roberto dell’Omo,Andrea Russo,Rodolfo Mastropasqua,Francesco Semeraro 한국식품영양과학회 2014 Journal of medicinal food Vol.17 No.9

The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) oral administration on intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual field damage progression in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients. Thirty-two consecutive patients affected by NTG were enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive PEA treatment (group A) or no treatment (group B). Group A patients took ultramicronized 300 mg PEA tablets two times per day for six months. Bestcorrected visual acuity (BCVA), IOP, and visual field test were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the six-month followup. No significant differences in clinical parameters between the two groups were observed at baseline. At six months, group A patients showed significant IOP reduction (from 14.4 – 3.2mm Hg to 11.1 – 4.3mm Hg, p < 0.01). No statistically significant changes were seen in BCVA in either group. Visual field parameters significantly diminished in patients receiving PEA compared to baseline values ( - 7.65 – 6.55 dB vs. - 4.55 – 5.31 dB, p < 0.001; 5.21 – 4.08 dB vs. 3.81 – 3.02 dB, p < 0.02; mean deviation [MD] and pattern standard deviation [PSD] respectively), while no significant changes were seen in group B. A generalized linear model demonstrated that the final IOP, MD, and PSD was affected only by the systemic PEA treatment ( p < 0.01 each) and not affected by demographic or clinical characteristic between the groups. Hence, systemic administration of PEA reduces IOP and improves visual field indices in individuals affected by NTG. Neither ocular nor systemic side effects were recorded during the study period.

Land Take and Food Security: What We are Loosing?

Ciro Gardi,Arwyn Jones,Panos Panagos,Luca Montanarella 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6

Optimization of the Ag/PCBM interface by a rhodamine interlayer to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells

Ciro, J.,Mesa, S.,Uribe, J.,Mejia-Escobar, M.,Ramirez, D.,Montoya, J.,Betancur, R.,Yoo, H. S.,Park, N. G.,Jaramillo, F. Royal Society of Chemistry 2017 Nanoscale Vol.9 No.27

<P>Effective control of the interface between the metal cathode and the electron transport layer (ETL) is critical for achieving high performance p-i-n planar heterojunction perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Several organic molecules have been explored as interlayers between the silver (Ag) electrode and the ETL for the improvement in the photovoltaic conversion efficiency (PCE) of p-i-n planar PSCs. However, the role of these organic molecules in the charge transfer at the metal/ETL interface and the chemical degradation processes of PSCs has not yet been fully understood. In this work, we systematically explore the effects of the interfacial modification of the Ag/ETL interface on PSCs using rhodamine 101 as a model molecule. By the insertion of rhodamine 101 as an interlayer between Ag and fullerene derivatives (PC60BM and PC70BM) ETLs improve the PCE as well as the stability of p-i-n planar PSCs. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) characterization reveals that rhodamine passivates the defects at the PCBM layer and reduces the band bending at the PCBM surface. In consequence, charge transfer from the PCBM towards the Ag electrode is enhanced leading to an increased fill factor (FF) resulting in a PCE up to 16.6%. Moreover, rhodamine acts as a permeation barrier hindering the penetration of moisture towards the perovskite layer as well as preventing the chemical interaction of perovskite with the Ag electrode. Interestingly, the work function of the metal cathode remains more stable due to the rhodamine incorporation. Consequently, a better alignment between the quasi-Fermi level of PCBM and the Ag work function is achieved minimizing the energy barrier for charge extraction. This work contributes to reveal the relevance of proper interfacial engineering at the metal-cathode/organic-semiconductor interface.</P>

Etiopathogenesis of Traumatic Spinal Epidural Hematoma

Francesco Ciro Tamburrelli,Maria Concetta Meluzio,Giulia Masci,Andrea Perna,Aaron Burrofato,Luca Proietti 대한척추신경외과학회 2018 Neurospine Vol.15 No.1

Spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) is a rare cause of nerve root or cord compression; its pathogenesis is not always clearly recognizable. The aim of this paper was to investigate possible etiopathological factors in a consecutive series of patients affected by traumatic SEH treated at our institution. Seven patients with neurologic impairment due to traumatic SEH were retrospectively analyzed after diagnosis and surgical treatment. Thoracic localization was found in 5 cases, and lumbar and cervical localization were found in 1 patient each. One patient was affected by ankylosing spondylitis and one by diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. SEH was associated with spine fractures in 6 cases. Only 2 cases of traumatic SEH resulted from high-energy trauma. All patients underwent surgical decompression within 24 hours after admittance to the hospital. Three patients recovered completely, 3 remained paraplegic, and 1 remained monoplegic. Several concomitant conditions are suggested to be predisposing factors for the development of SEH, although its inherent mechanism is still unknown. Two patients in the present series were affected by rheumatologic disorders, confirming the elevated incidence of hematomas in such patients compared to the normal population. Three very unusual cases of SEH occurred in senile patients affected by osteoporotic fractures. Early diagnosis and urgent decompression of the hematoma remain mandatory.

Feasibility Study to Actively Compensate Deformations of Composite Structure in a Space Environment

Farinelli, Ciro,Kim, Hong-Il,Han, Jae-Hung The Korean Society for Aeronautical and Space Scie 2012 International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sc Vol.13 No.2

An active compensation method for the deformation of composite structures using additional controllable metal parts is proposed, and its feasibility is experimentally investigated in a simulated space environment. Composite specimens are tested in a vacuum chamber, which is able to maintain pressure on the order of 10-3 torr and interior temperature in the range of ${\pm}30^{\circ}C$. The displacement-measuring interferometer system, which consists of a heterodyne HeNe laser and an interferometer, is used to measure the displacement of the whole structure. Meanwhile, the strain of the composite part and temperature of both parts are measured by fiber Bragg grating sensors and thermistors, respectively. The displacement of the composite structure is maintained within a tolerance of ${\pm}1{\mu}m$ by controlling the elongation of the metal part, which is bonded to the end of the composite part. Also, the possibility of fiber Bragg grating sensors as control input sensors is successfully demonstrated using a proper corrective factor based on the specimen temperature gradient data.

Age-specific predictors of cervical dysplasia recurrence after primary conization: analysis of 3,212 women

Giorgio Bogani,Ciro Pinelli,Valentina Chiappa,Fabio Martinelli,Salvatore Lopez,Antonino Ditto,Francesco Raspagliesi 대한부인종양학회 2020 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.31 No.5

Objective: This study aimed to identify predictors of recurrence/persistence of cervicalintraepithelial neoplasia grade 2+ (CIN2+) lesion (r-CIN2+) after primary conization. Methods: Retrospective analysis involving all consecutive women having conization for CIN2+between 1998 and 2018. The risk of r-CIN2+ was assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox models. Results: Data of 3,212 women were retrospectively identified. After a mean follow-up of 47(±22.2) months, 112 (3.5%) patients developed r-CIN2+. Mean time interval between priorconization and diagnosis of r-CIN2+ was 26.2 (±13.2) months. Via multivariate analysis,presence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types at the time of CIN2+ diagnosis,hazard ratio (HR)=3.40 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.66–6.95) for HPV16/18 and HR=2.59(95% CI=1.21–5.55) for HPV types other than 16/18, positive margins at primary conization,HR=4.11 (95% CI=2.04–8.26) and HPV persistence after conization, HR=16.69 (95%CI=8.20–33.9), correlated with r-CIN2+, independently. Considering age-specific HPV typesdistribution, we observed that HPV16/18 infection correlated to an increased risk of r-CIN2+only in young women (aged ≤25 years; p=0.031, log-rank test); while in the older population(>25 years) HPV type(s) involved had not impact on r-CIN2+ risk (p>0.200, log-rank test). Conclusion: HPV persistence is the main factor predicting r-CIN2+. Infection from HPV16/18has a detrimental effect in young women, thus highlighting the need of implementingvaccination against HPV in this population. Further prospective studies are warranted fortailoring clinical decision-making for post-conization follow-up on the basis of risk factors.