Experimental pseudo-equivalent deterministic excitation method extension for low frequency domain applications.

In transport engineering applications, flow-induced vibrations is an interesting topic to address since it may negatively affect the operation and the response of the system. Wind tunnel facilities are mandatory to test the structure design efficiency or to analyse new material performances under aerodynamic load. However, these experimental tests can be expensive and take a long time to set up and operate; hence, alternative methods for the reproduction of the structural response to a turbulent boundary layer excitation are required to accelerate and improve the experimental setups and provide more data for uncertainty analysis.

Series and parallel coupling of 3D printed micro-perforated panels and coiled quarter wavelength tubes.

Micro-perforated panel sound absorbers are widely used in noise control applications in the fields of architectural acoustics and transport acoustics. Combining micro-perforated panels with other resonant or sound absorbing systems may broaden the frequency range in which they absorb sound while ensuring that large sound absorption values are reached. In this work, a hybrid sound absorber that combines a micro-perforated panel and a coiled quarter wavelength tube is proposed.

Monocentric case-series of mesenteric vascular disease occurred in the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: we describe Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) patients also manifesting gastro-intestinal symptoms.

Methods: five women, between the ages of 32 and 82 years old, were admitted for acute abdomen, and received a nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19 screening, lab test analysis, and contrast thoraco-abdominal CT-scan. All presented leukocytosis, different localizations of visceral vessels thrombosis and ischemia, and COVID-19.

Non Monotonous Effects of Noncovalently Functionalized Graphene Addition on the Structure and Sound Absorption Properties of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (1300 kDa) Electrospun Mats.

Graphene is an attractive component for high-performance stimuli-responsive or 'smart' materials, shape memory materials, photomechanical actuators, piezoelectric materials and flexible strain sensors. Nanocomposite fibres were produced by electrospinning high molecular weight Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-1300 kDa) in the presence of noncovalently functionalised graphene obtained through tip sonication of graphite alcoholic suspensions in the presence of PVP (10 kDa). Bending instability of electrospun jet appears to progressively increase at low graphene concentrations with the result of greater fibre stretching that leads to lower fibre diameter and possibly conformational changes of PVP.

Three Cases of Aneurysmatic Coronary Fistulas Associated With Mitral Valve Insufficiency.

We report three cases of coronary fistula aneurysm associated with mitral valve insufficiency. The patients were referred to our cardiovascular department because of exertional dyspnea. Echocardiography showed severe mitral valve insufficiency resulting from leaflet flail or prolapse and normal left ventricular function.

Effects of Surgical Techniques on Long-Term Results in Patients with Degenerative Mitral Valve Bileaflet Prolapse.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The study aim was to evaluate the long-term results in patients with degenerative mitral valve bileaflet prolapse (DMVBLP) undergoing mitral valve repair (MVr) or mitral valve replacement (MVR), and to compare the consequences of survival related to each technique.

Methods: Between 2001 and 2012, a total of 421 patients underwent isolated primary surgery for DMVBLP. MVr was performed in 146 patients (34.

Early Results of Rheumatic Mitral Valve Repair.

Background And Aim Of The Study: Mitral valve repair (MVr) in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains challenging. The present authors' surgical experience of MVr in 56 patients with RHD operated in between January 2011 and September 2014 is reported.

Methods: Among the patients (mean age 32 ± 11 years), 11 were in NYHA functional class II, 32 in class III, and seven in class IV.

Cerebral perfusion issues in acute type A aortic dissection without preoperative malperfusion: how do surgical factors affect outcomes?

Objectives: Both preoperative (disease-related) and operative (management-related) variables make the assessment of the outcomes of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery a difficult task. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of operative factors, including arterial cannulation site, route of cerebral perfusion and surgeon's specific experience with ATAAD ('aortic surgeon'), on the early results of surgical management, with particular attention to neurological injury.

Methods: Penn classification was used to identify clinically homogeneous risk groups of ATAAD patients undergoing surgery.

Towards an individualized approach to bicuspid aortopathy: different valve types have unique determinants of aortic dilatation.

Objectives: Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)-related aortopathy is increasingly recognized to be a heterogeneous disease entity, although the surgical approach, from indications to techniques, is still standard rather than individualized. We aimed to define the determinants of aortic dilatation in BAV patients stratified according to the valve morphotype.

Methods: A consecutive echocardiographic series of 622 BAV patients was analysed.

Anatomic reconstruction in degenerative mitral valve bileaflet prolapse: long-term results.

Background: Degenerative mitral valve (MV) bileaflet prolapse (DMVBP) is recognized as one of the most complex lesions to be treated by reconstructive surgery. In the present study, we report our long-term results with reconstructive surgery for DMVBP.

Methods: From 2000 to 2011, 140 patients with MV regurgitation due to DMVBP were treated at our institution.

Modification of nociception and morphine tolerance by the selective opiate receptor-like orphan receptor antagonist (-)-cis-1-methyl-7-[[4-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzocyclohepten-5-ol (SB-612111).

(-)-cis-1-Methyl-7-[[4-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]methyl]-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-5H-benzocyclohepten-5-ol (SB-612111) is a novel human opiate receptor-like orphan receptor (ORL-1) antagonist that has high affinity for the clonal human ORL-1 receptor (hORL-1 K(i) = 0.33 nM), selectivity versus mu-(174-fold), delta-(6391-fold), and kappa (486-fold)-opioid receptors and is able to inhibit nociceptin signaling via hORL-1 in a whole cell gene reporter assay. SB-612111 has no measurable antinociceptive effects in vivo in the mouse hot-plate test after intravenous administration but is able to antagonize the antimorphine action of nociceptin [ED(50) = 0.

4-Amino-3(2H)-pyridazinones bearing arylpiperazinylalkyl groups and related compounds: synthesis and antinociceptive activity.

A series of 4-amino-3(2H)-pyridazinones substituted at position 2 with arylpiperazinylalkyl groups and analogues were synthesized and their antinociceptive effect was evaluated in the mouse abdominal constriction model. Preliminary SARs studies were performed. Several of the novel compounds dosed at 100 mg/kg s.

Evidence for a selective role of the delta-opioid agonist [8R-(4bS*,8aalpha,8abeta, 12bbeta)]7,10-Dimethyl-1-methoxy-11-(2-methylpropyl)oxycarbonyl 5,6,7,8,12,12b-hexahydro-(9H)-4,8-methanobenzofuro[3,2-e]pyrrolo[2,3-g]isoquinoline hydrochloride (SB-235863) in blocking hyperalgesia associated with inflammatory and neuropathic pain responses.

The specific involvement of the delta-opioid receptor in the control of nociception was explored by investigating the pharmacological activity in vivo of a selective, orally active, and centrally penetrant delta-opioid agonist. [8R-(4bS*,8aalpha,8abeta,12bbeta)]7,10-dimethyl-1-methoxy-11-(2-methylpropyl)oxycarbonyl 5,6,7,8,12,12b-hexahydro-(9H)-4,8-methanobenzofuro[3,2-e]pyrrolo[2,3-g]isoquinoline hydrochloride (SB-235863) is a new pyrrolomorphinan with high affinity (Ki = 4.81 +/- 0.