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Spintronics involves the development of low-dimensional electronic systems with potential use in quantum-based computation. In graphene, there has been significant progress in improving spin transport characteristics by encapsulation and reducing impurities, but the influence of standard two-dimensional (2D) tunnel contacts, via pinholes and doping of the graphene channel, remains difficult to eliminate. Here, we report the observation of spin injection and tuneable spin signal in fully-encapsulated graphene, enabled by van der Waals heterostructures with one-dimensional (1D) contacts. This architecture prevents significant doping from the contacts, enabling high-quality graphene channels, currently with mobilities up to 130,000 cm$^2$V$^{-1}$s$^{-1}$ and spin diffusion lengths approaching 20 ${\mu}$m. The nanoscale-wide 1D contacts allow spin injection both at room and at low temperature, with the latter exhibiting efficiency comparable with 2D tunnel contacts. At low temperature, the spin signals can be enhanced by as much as an order of magnitude by electrostatic gating, adding new functionality., Comment: Manuscript and Supporting Information

Visual speech cues play an important role in speech recognition, and the McGurk effect is a classic demonstration of this. In the original McGurk & Macdonald (Nature 264, 746–748 1976) experiment, 98% of participants reported an illusory “fusion” percept of /d/ when listening to the spoken syllable /b/ and watching the visual speech movements for /g/. However, more recent work shows that subject and task differences influence the proportion of fusion responses. In the current study, we varied task (forced-choice vs. open-ended), stimulus set (including /d/ exemplars vs. not), and data collection environment (lab vs. Mechanical Turk) to investigate the robustness of the McGurk effect. Across experiments, using the same stimuli to elicit the McGurk effect, we found fusion responses ranging from 10% to 60%, thus showing large variability in the likelihood of experiencing the McGurk effect across factors that are unrelated to the perceptual information provided by the stimuli. Rather than a robust perceptual illusion, we therefore argue that the McGurk effect exists only for some individuals under specific task situations. Significance: This series of studies re-evaluates the classic McGurk effect, which shows the relevance of visual cues on speech perception. We highlight the importance of taking into account subject variables and task differences, and challenge future researchers to think carefully about the perceptual basis of the McGurk effect, how it is defined, and what it can tell us about audiovisual integration in speech.

A fundamental issue in spoken language comprehension involves understanding the interaction of linguistic representations across different levels of organization (e.g., phonological, lexical, syntactic, and semantic). In particular, there is debate about when different levels are accessed during spoken word recognition. Under serial processing models, comprehension is sequential. In contrast, under parallel processing models, simultaneous activation of representations at multiple levels can occur. The current study investigates this issue by isolating neural responses to syntactic class distinctions from acoustic and phonological responses. EEG data were collected in an event-related potential (ERP) experiment in which participants (N = 26) listened to words varying in syntactic class (nouns versus adjectives) that were controlled for low-level acoustic differences via cross-splicing. Machine learning techniques were used to decode syntactic class from ERP responses over time. Results showed that syntactic class is decodable approximately 160–190 ms after the average syntactic point of disambiguation in the words, during which listeners are still processing acoustic information. This supports the prediction that different levels of representation have overlapping timecourses. Overall, these results are consistent with a parallel, interactive processing model of spoken word recognition, in which higher-level information—such as syntactic class—is accessed while acoustic analysis is still occurring.

Background and Objective Clodronate is a nitrogen-free bisphosphonate that is widely and effectively used in the treatment of many osteo-metabolic disorders. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effectiveness of clodronate in reducing pain and bone marrow edema in knee osteoarthritis. Methods In total, 74 patients were included in the study. Group 1 received intramuscular clodronate 200 mg daily for 15 days and then once weekly for the next 11.5 months; group 2 received intramuscular clodronate 200 mg daily for 15 days and then once weekly for the next 2.5 months. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores were recorded at baseline (T0) and after 30 days (T1), 3 months (T2), 6 months (T3), 9 months (T4), and 12 months (end of study; T5). We also evaluated functional status and use of paracetamol (T0, T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5) and changes in Whole Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS; T0, T2, and T5). Results Both groups had a statistically significant reduction in VAS score until 3 months. Group 1 then experienced further VAS reductions, whereas VAS scores for group 2 progressively increased. Pain, stiffness, and physical function also showed the same trend, as did bone marrow edema extension, which was evaluated with WORMS. Conclusion Our study indicates that intramuscular administration of a therapeutic dose of clodronate followed by a maintenance dose is effective in the management of symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, improving functional outcomes and reducing pain and bone marrow edema. Prolonged treatment increases the long-term efficacy of clodronate compared with the shorter schedule.

Perception of vibrotactile frequency is driven by activation of different types of mechanoreceptors embedded in the skin, which respond to vibrations in a frequency range of approximately 0.4 to 500 Hz. While previous behavioral work has measured participants’ sensitivity to differences in vibration frequency, it is unclear how this information is encoded in neural representations during perception. This issue was addressed in an event-related potential (ERP) experiment investigating responses to vibrotactile stimuli. EEG data were recorded while participants rested their hand on a tactile transducer. On each trial, the transducer delivered a sinusoidal vibration with a duration of 1000 ms. Frequency of vibration ranged from 30 to 70 Hz in 10 Hz steps. Results revealed that frequency is encoded in early somatosensory ERP responses recorded at Cz. Specifically, the amplitude of a negative-going ERP component, centered at approximately 50 ms post-stimulus onset, increased as stimulus frequency increased from 40 to 70 Hz. These results demonstrate that vibrotactile frequency is encoded continuously during perception and that these responses can be measured using scalp-recorded EEG.

Many listeners report hearing difficulty, especially for speech in noisy environments, despite having normal audiometric thresholds. Recent work suggests that such cases may be caused by disruptions in coding of suprathreshold sounds at early stages of auditory processing. Specifically, differences in the function of auditory nerve fibers with lower spontaneous firing rates could disrupt coding of intensity changes for sounds in the typical range used for speech communication. In turn, this could affect perception of acoustic cues in speech that are dependent on intensity changes over time, such as voice onset time (VOT). The current study investigated a speech sound manipulation designed to counteract the effects of such disruptions by making intensity differences in the signal more pronounced. Listeners heard speech sounds varying along two acoustic dimensions that provide information about word-initial voicing, VOT and f0 onset, and categorized sounds as either voiced or voiceless. Results showed that the intensity manipulation reduced listeners' use of f0 for voicing categorization and also affected their use of VOT. This suggests that intensity manipulations can make acoustic cues like VOT more salient, providing a potential treatment approach for listeners who have difficulty coding intensity differences in speech.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-07-14T10:32:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-06-25. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2021-07-14T11:32:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 S1808-16572009000300475.pdf: 193393 bytes, checksum: 23632a41bb41d8c984ed552c0dc3de52 (MD5) Devido os prejuízos ocasionados por Dichelops melacanthus (Dallas, 1851) na cultura do milho, foram avaliados os efeitos de inseticidas aplicados no manejo da dessecação (MD), tratamento de sementes (TS) e pulverização foliar (PF) aos 10 dias após a emergência (DAE), no controle de D. melacanthus. O ensaio foi desenvolvido na Fazenda Zeca Silva no Município de Chapadão do Sul, MS, no período de 29/10/2004 a 6/3/2005, com delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com dez tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos utilizados foram: monocrotofós e cipermetrina (MD), thiodicarb + imidacloprid, thiametoxan, clothianidim, imidacloprid e acetamiprid (TS), cipermetrina + thiametoxan e endossulfan + NaCl (PF), nas dosagens recomendadas, e uma testemunha sem inseticida. Foi avaliada a porcentagem de plantas atacadas por D. melacanthus aos 25 DAE. Os resultados mostram que a utilização de inseticidas em MD e PF não proporcionaram redução de plantas atacadas por D. melacanthus e imidacloprid (TS) foi o mais eficiente, proporcionando a menor porcentagem de plantas atacadas pela praga (4%). The effect of insecticides for the control of Dichelops melacanthus on maize were evaluated in regard to desiccation management (MD), seed treatment (TS) and foliage spray (PF) up to 10 days after plant emergence (DAE). The trials were carried out on the Zeca Silva farm in Chapadão do Sul, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 10/29/2004 to 3/ 6/2005, using a randomized block design, with 10 treatments and 4 replicates. The treatments were: monocrotophos and cypermethrin (MD), thiodicarb + imidacloprid, thiametoxan, clothianidim, imidacloprid and acetamiprid (TS), cypermethrin + thiametoxan and endossulfan + NaCl (PF), in the recommended dosages, and one control without insecticide. The percentage of plants attacked by D. melacanthus was evaluated up to the 25th DAE. The use of insecticides in MD and PF did not provide reduction of attacked plants by D. melacanthus, while imidacloprid (TS) was more efficient, resulting in the least percentage (4%) of plants attacked. Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa Agropecuária de Chapadão Universidade Estadual de Mato Grosso do Sul, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Engenharia de Ilha Solteira

The continuous demand of lightweight structures characterized by high load-carrying capabilities has led to an increasing use of composite materials. However, despite the outstanding properties of this kind of materials, uncertainties still exist on their complex damage behavior. For such a reason, extensive investigation, from both an experimental and numerical perspective, is mandatory. This work aims to investigate the damage behavior of delaminated composite specimens subjected to compressive load. The strain and displacement fields are monitored by using Digital Image Correlation (DIC), in order to obtain information on the delamination propagation during the experiment. The acquired data can be used, supported by Finite element analyses, to help the understanding of such complex phenomenon.

Realisation of practical spintronic devices relies on the ability to create and detect pure spin currents. In graphene-based spin valves this is usually achieved by injection of spin-polarized electrons from ferromagnetic contacts via a tunnel barrier, with Al2O3 and MgO used most widely as barrier materials. However, the requirement to make these barriers sufficiently thin often leads to pinholes and low contact resistances which in turn results in low spin injection efficiencies, typically 5% at room temperature, due to the so-called resistance mismatch problem. Here we demonstrate an alternative approach to fabricate ultra-thin tunnel barrier contacts to graphene. We show that laser-assisted chemical functionalization of graphene with sp3-bonded phenyl groups effectively provides a seed layer for growth of ultrathin Al2O3 films, ensuring smooth, high quality tunnel barriers and an enhanced spin injection efficiency. Importantly, the effect of functionalization on spin transport in the graphene channel itself is relatively weak, so that the enhanced spin injection dominates and leads to an order of magnitude increase in spin signals. Furthermore, spatial control of functionalization using a focused laser beam and lithographic techniques can in principle be used to limit functionalization to contact areas only, further reducing the effect on the graphene channel. Our results open a new route towards circumventing the resistance mismatch problem in graphene-based spintronic devices based on the easily available and highly stable Al2O3, and facilitate a step forward in the development of their practical applications., Manuscript: 11 pages, 3 figures. Supplemental material: 5 pages, 4 figures

Face masks are an important tool for preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, it is unclear how different types of masks affect speech recognition in different levels of background noise. To address this, we investigated the effects of four masks (a surgical mask, N95 respirator, and two cloth masks) on recognition of spoken sentences in multi-talker babble. In low levels of background noise, masks had little to no effect, with no more than a 5.5% decrease in mean accuracy compared to a no-mask condition. In high levels of noise, mean accuracy was 2.8-18.2% lower than the no-mask condition, but the surgical mask continued to show no significant difference. The results demonstrate that different types of masks generally yield similar accuracy in low levels of background noise, but differences between masks become more apparent in high levels of noise.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the discriminatory ability of ultrasound in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD), using microscopic analysis of menisci and knee hyaline cartilage (HC) as reference standard.MethodsConsecutive patients scheduled for knee replacement surgery, due to osteoarthritis (OA), were enrolled. Each patient underwent ultrasound examination of the menisci and HC of the knee, scoring each site for presence/absence of CPPD. Ultrasound signs of inflammation (effusion, synovial proliferation and power Doppler) were assessed semiquantitatively (0–3). The menisci and condyles, retrieved during surgery, were examined microscopically by optical light microscopy and by compensated polarised microscopy. CPPs were scored as present/absent in six different samples from the surface and from the internal part of menisci and cartilage. Ultrasound and microscopic analysis were performed by different operators, blinded to each other’s findings.Results11 researchers from seven countries participated in the study. Of 101 enrolled patients, 68 were included in the analysis. In 38 patients, the surgical specimens were insufficient. The overall diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound for CPPD was of 75%—sensitivity of 91% (range 71%–87% in single sites) and specificity of 59% (range 68%–92%). The best sensitivity and specificity were obtained by assessing in combination by ultrasound the medial meniscus and the medial condyle HC (88% and 76%, respectively). No differences were found between patients with and without CPPD regarding ultrasound signs of inflammation.ConclusionUltrasound demonstrated to be an accurate tool for discriminating CPPD. No differences were found between patents with OA alone and CPPD plus OA regarding inflammation.

Recent advances in cognitive neuroscience have provided a detailed picture of the early time-course of speech perception. In this review, we highlight this work, placing it within the broader context of research on the neurobiology of speech processing, and discuss how these data point us toward new models of speech perception and spoken language comprehension. We focus, in particular, on temporally-sensitive measures that allow us to directly measure early perceptual processes. Overall, the data provide support for two key principles: (a) speech perception is based on gradient representations of speech sounds and (b) speech perception is interactive and receives input from higher-level linguistic context at the earliest stages of cortical processing. Implications for models of speech processing and the neurobiology of language more broadly are discussed. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Language Psychology > Perception and Psychophysics Neuroscience > Cognition.

Human speech contains a wide variety of acoustic cues that listeners must map onto distinct phoneme categories. The large amount of information contained in these cues contributes to listeners' remarkable ability to accurately recognize speech across a variety of contexts. However, these cues vary across talkers, both in terms of how specific cue values map onto different phonemes and in terms of which cues individual talkers use most consistently to signal specific phonological contrasts. This creates a challenge for models that aim to characterize the information used to recognize speech. How do we balance the need to account for variability in speech sounds across a wide range of talkers with the need to avoid overspecifying which acoustic cues describe the mapping from speech sounds onto phonological distinctions? We present an approach using tools from graph theory that addresses this issue by creating networks describing connections between individual talkers and acoustic cues and by identifying subgraphs within these networks. This allows us to reduce the space of possible acoustic cues that signal a given phoneme to a subset that still accounts for variability across talkers, simplifying the model and providing insights into which cues are most relevant for specific phonemes. Classifiers trained on the subset of cue dimensions identified in the subgraphs provide fits to listeners' categorization that are similar to those obtained for classifiers trained on all cue dimensions, demonstrating that the subgraphs capture the cues necessary to categorize speech sounds.

Recent work has sought to describe the time-course of spoken word recognition, from initial acoustic cue encoding through lexical activation, and identify cortical areas involved in each stage of analysis. However, existing methods are limited in either temporal or spatial resolution, and as a result, have only provided partial answers to the question of how listeners encode acoustic information in speech. We present data from an experiment using a novel neuroimaging method, fast optical imaging, to directly assess the time-course of speech perception, providing non-invasive measurement of speech sound representations, localized to specific cortical areas. We find that listeners encode speech in terms of continuous acoustic cues at early stages of processing (ca. 96 ms post-stimulus onset), and begin activating phonological category representations rapidly (ca. 144 ms post-stimulus). Moreover, cue-based representations are widespread in the brain and overlap in time with graded category-based representations, suggesting that spoken word recognition involves simultaneous activation of both continuous acoustic cues and phonological categories.

Recent work has demonstrated that the auditory N1 event-related potential (ERP) component tracks continuous changes in voice onset time (an acoustic cue distinguishing word-initial voicing categori...

Listeners weight acoustic cues in speech according to their reliability, but few studies have examined how cue weights change across the lifespan. Previous work has suggested that older adults have deficits in auditory temporal discrimination, which could affect the reliability of temporal phonetic cues, such as voice onset time (VOT), and in turn, impact speech perception in real-world listening environments. We addressed this by examining younger and older adults’ use of VOT and onset F0 (a secondary phonetic cue) for voicing judgments (e.g., /b/ vs. /p/), using both synthetic and naturally produced speech. We found age-related differences in listeners’ use of the two voicing cues, such that older adults relied more heavily on onset F0 than younger adults, even though this cue is less reliable in American English. These results suggest that phonetic cue weights continue to change across the lifespan.

Introduction The vacuum assisted closure device (VAC) improves wound-healing when utilized as a bolster to secure split thickness skin grafts (STSG). Patients typically remain hospitalized for VAC therapy; however, home VACs (hVAC) are now available. Limited studies examine burns treated with hVAC as a STSG bolster. Method A retrospective study of records from an ABA verified regional burn center was conducted over 23 months. Patients included STSGs for burn. Data points included demographics, burn mechanism and location, graft characteristics, hospital length of stay (LOS), and time to heal. Results and discussion Fifty patients were included, with average age of 39 years (range 2 . The most commonly treated areas were the leg/foot, thigh, and torso (53%, 16%, and 16%, respectively). Average LOS was 1.1 ± 1.2 days. Mean graft-take was 99.2 ± 2.8% with one patient undergoing repeat STSG. Average post-operative time to heal was 16 ± 6 days. A 5-day inpatient stay with a VAC costs an average of $34,635, compared to $9134 for an hVAC over the same period. Conclusions The hVAC is a cost-effective STSG bolster in the burn population for appropriate candidates. Excellent graft-take and low morbidity rates imply that this is an efficacious alternative for STSG bolster.

Background 9The OMERACT Ultrasound (US) in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) sub-task force has been working on the assessment of the utility of US in CPPD since 2014 first creating definitions for CPPD identification and then demonstrating that US is a reliable tool[1]. Objectives Objective of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of US in CPPD Methods This is a multicentre international diagnostic accuracy study involving 17 centres from 9 countries. We enrolled in this study consecutive patients waiting to undergo knee replacement surgery due to severe osteoarthritis. Each patient underwent US examination of the knee, focusing on the menisci and the hyaline cartilage, the day prior to surgery, scoring each site according to the presence/absence of CPP as defined by OMERACT[1]. After surgery, the menisci and the condyles were collected and examined microscopically. Six samples were collected, both from the surface and from the internal part of menisci and cartilage trying to cover a large part of the structure. All slides were observed under transmitted light microscopy and by compensated polarised microscopy. A dichotomous score was given for the presence/absence of CPP crystals. US and microscopic analysis were performed by blinded operators. Sensitivity and specificity of US were calculated using microscopic findings of the menisci and cartilage as the gold standard. Results These preliminary analyses include 30 patients. The mean age was 71yrs (SD±9.1), 19 (63%) were females. 17 patients were positive at US analysis and 12 at microscopic analysis. Diagnostic accuracy results of US at patient level, are presented in figure 1. Conclusion These preliminary results demonstrate that US is a sensitive exam for identification of CPPD with acceptable specificity. US is the first diagnostic technique with consistent reliability and validity to be applied for non-invasive screening for CPPD in clinical practice. References [1] Filippou G, Scire CA, Adinolfi A, et al. Identification of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) by ultrasound: reliability of the OMERACT definitions in an extended set of joints—an international multiobserver study by the OMERACT Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease Ultrasound Subtask Force. Ann Rheum Dis 2018;:annrheumdis-2017-212542. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212542 Disclosure of Interests Georgios Filippou Speakers bureau: Laborest, Abbvie, BMS, Sanofi, Anna Scanu: None declared, Antonella Adinolfi: None declared, Carmela Toscano: None declared, Raquel Largo-Carazo: None declared, Esperanza Naredo Consultant for: Abbvie, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Roche, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, UCB, Lilly, Novartis, Janssen, and Celgene GmbH, Emilio Calvo: None declared, Gabriel Herrero-Beaumont: None declared, Pascal Zufferey: None declared, Christel Madelaine-Bonjour: None declared, Daryl MacCarter: None declared, Stanley Makman: None declared, Zachary Weber: None declared, Ingrid Moller: None declared, Marwin Gutierrez: None declared, Carlos Pineda: None declared, Denise Clavijo Cornejo: None declared, Hector Garcia: None declared, Victor Ilizaliturri: None declared, Jaime Mendoza Torres: None declared, Raul Pichardo: None declared, Luis Carlos Rodriguez Delgado: None declared, Emilio Filippucci: None declared, Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Teodora Serban: None declared, Florentin Ananu Vreju Consultant for: abbvie and novartis, Speakers bureau: abbvie, novartis, pfizer, sandoz, eli lilly, ucb pharma, Gael Mouterde: None declared, Maria-Antonietta d’Agostino: None declared, Marcello Govoni: None declared, Leonardo Punzi Consultant for: BMS, Fidia, Grunenthal, Menarini, Speakers bureau: BMS, Fidia, Grunenthal, Menarini, Nemanja Damjanov Grant/research support from: AbbVie, Pfizer and Roche, Consultant for: Abbvie, Gedeon Richter, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and Roche., Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Gedeon Richter, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer and Roche., Lene Terslev Speakers bureau: Speakers fee from : Roche, Novartis, Pfizer, MSD, BMS, Celgene, Irene Azzolin: None declared, Giulio Guerrini: None declared, Carlo Alberto Scire: None declared, Annamaria Iagnocco: None declared

An unresolved issue in speech perception concerns whether top-down linguistic information influences perceptual responses. We addressed this issue using the event-related-potential technique in two experiments that measured cross-modal sequential-semantic priming effects on the auditory N1, an index of acoustic-cue encoding. Participants heard auditory targets (e.g., “potatoes”) following associated visual primes (e.g., “MASHED”), neutral visual primes (e.g., “FACE”), or a visual mask (e.g., “XXXX”). Auditory targets began with voiced (/b/, /d/, /g/) or voiceless (/p/, /t/, /k/) stop consonants, an acoustic difference known to yield differences in N1 amplitude. In Experiment 1 ( N = 21), semantic context modulated responses to upcoming targets, with smaller N1 amplitudes for semantic associates. In Experiment 2 ( N = 29), semantic context changed how listeners encoded sounds: Ambiguous voice-onset times were encoded similarly to the voicing end point elicited by semantic associates. These results are consistent with an interactive model of spoken-word recognition that includes top-down effects on early perception.

The damage detection of composite material structures is one of the major concerns in aerospace field, given their even more frequent use. In this work, the failure of an aerospace omega stiffened CFRP panel subject to compressive load is experimentally and numerically studied. The specimen is characterised by a 0° oriented notch damage, with respect to the load direction, located in the middle of the bay. A compressive mechanical test has been performed to determine the global buckling phenomenon and the progressive fibre-matrix damage development induced by the compressive load acting on the panel. The panel has been instrumented with back-to-back strain gauges in skin and stringers locations. Non-destructive techniques, such as lock-in thermography and ultrasounds, have been used to detect the damage status. Numerical analyses have been carried out by means of the FE software ABAQUS and the results have been compared against the experimental data. Finally, an un-notched configuration has been numerically tested and the results have been compared against the notched configuration, in order to assess the influence of the pre-existent damage on the mechanical and failure behaviour of the structure during service loading conditions.

It is generally assumed that prosodic cues that provide linguistic information, like discourse status, are driven primarily by the information structure of the conversation. This article investigates whether speakers have the capacity to adjust subtle acoustic-phonetic properties of the prosodic signal when they find themselves in contexts in which accurate communication is important. Thus, we examine whether the communicative context, in addition to discourse structure, modulates prosodic choices when speakers produce acoustic prominence. We manipulated the discourse status of target words in the context of a highly communicative task (i.e., working with a partner to solve puzzles in the computer game Minecraft) and in the context of a less communicative task more typical of psycholinguistic experiments (i.e., picture description). Speakers in the more communicative task produced prosodic cues to discourse structure that were more discriminable than those in the less communicative task. In a second experiment, we found that the presence or absence of a conversational partner drove some, but not all, of these effects. Together, these results suggest that speakers can modulate the prosodic signal in response to the communicative and social context.

The research reported in this paper was aimed mainly to investigate the different NDE techniques on specimens made by a new process labeled as "pulsed infusion", very crucial for voids content under critical loading conditions. The impact load, in fact, is critical for composite laminates due to their anisotropy, in particular in extreme temperature conditions due to their brittleness. An additional and very relevant aim was to collect a large number of experimental results to supply useful information for the numerical models needed to simulate the dynamic behavior of composite laminates. At the aim to investigate the response under dynamic loads of laminates fabricated by a new vacuum assisted technology labeled as "pulsed infusion", rectangular carbon fiber composite specimens were subjected to low velocity impact tests. Experimental tests up to complete penetration and at different energy levels, were carried out by a modular falling weight tower. All the parameters related to the phenomenon, like penetration energy, maximum force and indentation depths, were used to validate existing semi-empirical and numerical models. The largely used ultra sound technique (US) was adopted to investigate the delamination together with the thermo graphic technique. The results of the measurements were compared with data obtained on the same specimens by holographic analysis (ESPI). One of the scope was to investigate the crucial internal impact damage and assess the ability of an unconventional ND system (ESPI) in giving right information about non-visual damage generated inside composite laminates subjected to dynamic loads. Moreover, some of the specimens were cut to allow the fractographic analysis. The efficiency of the above mentioned new fabrication technology was studied also comparing the results with measurements from literature on impacted autoclave cured laminates. By the comparison between the results, good agreements were found denoting the efficiency and the applicability of the new fabrication and the used NDE methods. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background:The OMERACT Ultrasound (US) in calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) sub-task force has been working on the use of US in CPPD since 2014 first creating definitions for CPPD identification and then assessing the reliability[1].Objectives:Objective of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy (truth) of US in CPPD.Methods:Consecutive patients waiting to undergo knee replacement surgery due to osteoarthritis were enrolled in 12 centres from 6 countries. Each patient underwent US examination of the knee, focusing on the menisci and the hyaline cartilage, the day prior to surgery, scoring each site for presence/absence of CPP as defined previously[1]. After surgery, the menisci and the condyles were retrieved and examined microscopically. Six samples were collected, both from the surface and from the internal part of menisci and cartilage trying to cover a large part of it. All slides were observed under transmitted light microscopy and by compensated polarised microscopy. A dichotomous score was given for the presence/absence of CPP. US and microscopic analysis were performed by different operators, blind to each other’s findings. Sensitivity and specificity of US were calculated using microscopic findings as the gold standard.Results:101 patients have been enrolled in the study. 33 patients have been excluded due to loss of anatomical pieces at surgery. The mean age of the remaining 68 pts was 71yo (±8), 44 women, 34 were affected by CPPD according to microscopy. Overall and per site diagnostic US accuracy results are presented in table 1Diagnostic accuracySensitivitySpecificityPositive Predictive valueNegative Predictive valueGlobal0.750.910.590.690.87Medial meniscus0.820.870.770.770.87Lateral meniscus0.750.830.680.680.83Medial cartilage0.860.790.920.880.85Lateral cartilage0.820.710.880.770.84Medial side (combined cartilage and meniscus)0.820.880.760.790.87Lateral side (combined cartilage and meniscus)0.780.880.690.730.86Conclusion:Our results demonstrate that US is an accurate exam for identification of CPPD. The best combination of sensitivity and specificity is achieved by examining the medial aspect of the knee.References:[1]Filippou G, Scirè CA, Adinolfi A,et al.Identification of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) by ultrasound: reliability of the OMERACT definitions in an extended set of joints—an international multiobserver study by the OMERACT Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease Ultrasound Subtask Force.Ann Rheum Dis2018;:annrheumdis-2017-212542. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212542Disclosure of Interests:Georgios Filippou: None declared, Anna Scanu: None declared, Antonella Adinolfi: None declared, Carmela Toscano: None declared, Dario Gambera: None declared, Raquel Largo: None declared, Esperanza Naredo: None declared, Emilio Calvo: None declared, Gabriel Herrero-Beaumont: None declared, Pascal Zufferey: None declared, Christel Madelaine-Bonjour: None declared, Daryl MacCarter: None declared, Stanley Makman: None declared, Zachary Weber: None declared, Fabiana Figus: None declared, Ingrid Möller: None declared, Marwin Gutierrez: None declared, Carlos Pineda: None declared, Denise Clavijo Cornejo: None declared, Héctor García: None declared, Victor Ilizaliturri: None declared, Jaime Mendoza Torres: None declared, Raul Pichardo: None declared, Luis Carlos Rodriguez Delgado: None declared, Emilio Filippucci Speakers bureau: Dr. Filippucci reports personal fees from AbbVie, personal fees from Bristol-Myers Squibb, personal fees from Celgene, personal fees from Roche, personal fees from Union Chimique Belge Pharma, personal fees from Pfizer, outside the submitted work., Edoardo Cipolletta: None declared, Teodora Serban: None declared, Catalin Cirstoiu: None declared, Florentin Ananu Vreju: None declared, Dun Grecu: None declared, Gael Mouterde: None declared, Marcello Govoni: None declared, Leonardo Punzi: None declared, Nemanja Damjanov Grant/research support from: from AbbVie, Pfizer, and Roche, Consultant of: AbbVie, Gedeon Richter, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Gedeon Richter, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, and Roche, Lene Terslev Speakers bureau: LT declares speakers fees from Roche, MSD, BMS, Pfizer, AbbVie, Novartis, and Janssen., Carlo Alberto Scirè: None declared, Annamaria Iagnocco Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD and Alfasigma, Consultant of: AbbVie, Abiogen, Alfasigma, Biogen, BMS, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Sanofi and Sanofi Genzyme, Speakers bureau: AbbVie, Alfasigma, BMS, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Sanofi

During speech processing, listeners must map a fundamentally continuous acoustic signal onto discrete symbols, such as words. A current debate concerns the time-course over which sub-phonemic (i.e., gradient) acoustic information continues to influence symbolic (i.e., linguistic) interpretation, which can provide evidence regarding the level of representation at which gradient information is maintained. In a visual-world paradigm experiment, participants indicated whether a spoken sentence matched a display while eye-gaze was monitored. Participants heard an acoustically ambiguous stimulus (a pronoun referring to either a male or female referent in the display), which was not disambiguated until later in the discourse. The acoustic properties of the pronouns and length of the ambiguous period were varied while responses and eye-movements to the discourse-relevant items were recorded, providing a measure of whether gradient referential uncertainty is maintained over time. Fixation patterns during the ambiguous period and latencies to fixate the target at the end of the trial varied linearly with the acoustics of the earlier pronoun, indicating that gradient information can be maintained over intervening periods of 35 syllables. These results provide strong evidence that gradient uncertainty is maintained at the level of referent representations.

Increasing the Mode I inter-laminar fracture toughness of composite laminates can contribute to slowing down delamination growth phenomena, which can be considered one of the most critical damage mechanisms in composite structures. Actually, the Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness (GIc) in fibre-reinforced composite materials has been found to considerably increase with the crack length when the fibre bridging phenomenon takes place. Hence, in this paper, the fibre bridging phenomenon has been considered as a natural toughening mechanism able to replace embedded metallic or composite reinforcements, currently used to increase tolerance to inter-laminar damage. An experimental/numerical study on the influence of delamination growth on the compressive behaviour of fibre-reinforced composites characterised by high sensitivity to the fibre bridging phenomenon has been performed. Coupons, made of material systems characterised by a variable toughness related to a high sensitivity to the fibre bridging phenomenon and containing artificial through-the-width delaminations, were subjected to a compressive mechanical test and compared to coupons made of standard material system with constant toughness. Out-of-plane displacements and strains were monitored during the compression test by means of strain gauges and digital image correlation to assess the influence of fibre bridging on delamination buckling, delamination growth and on the global buckling of the specimens, including buckling shape changes. Experimental data were combined with a numerical study, performed by means of a virtual crack closure technique based procedure, named SMart Time XB &ndash, Fibre Bridging (SMXB-FB), able to mimic the crack bridging effect on the toughness properties of the material system. The combination of numerical results and experimental data has allowed the deformations and the buckling shape changes to be correlated to the onset and evolution of damage and, hence, contributes to improving the knowledge on the interaction of the failure mechanisms in the investigated composite specimens.

Several fundamental questions about speech perception concern how listeners understand spoken language despite considerable variability in speech sounds across diUerent contexts (the problem of lack of invariance in speech). This contextual variability is caused by several factors, including diUerences between individual talkers’ voices, variation in speaking rate, and eUects of coarticulatory context. A number of models have been proposed to describe how the speech system handles diUerences across contexts. Critically, these models make diUerent predictions about (1) whether contextual variability is handled at the level of acoustic cue encoding or categorization, (2) whether it is driven by feedback from category-level processes or interactions between cues, and (3) whether listeners discard Vne-grained acoustic information to compensate for contextual variability. Separating the eUects of cueand category-level processing has been diXcult because behavioral measures tap processes that occur well after initial cue encoding and are inWuenced by task demands and linguistic information. Recently, we have used the eventrelated brain potential (ERP) technique to examine cue encoding and online categorization. SpeciVcally, we have looked at diUerences in the auditory N1 as a measure of acoustic cue encoding and the P3 as a measure of categorization. This allows us to examine multiple levels of processing during speech perception and can provide a useful tool for studying eUects of contextual variability. Here, I apply this approach to determine the point in processing at which context has an eUect on speech perception and to examine whether acoustic cues are encoded continuously. Several types of contextual variability (talker gender, speaking rate, and coarticulation), as well as several acoustic cues (voice onset time, formant frequencies, and bandwidths), are examined in a series of experiments. The results suggest that (1) at early stages of speech processing, listeners encode continuous diUerences in acoustic cues, independent

Some studies have argued that native speakers of tonal languages have been shown to perceive lexical tone continua in a more categorical manner than speakers of non-tonal languages. Among these, Zhang and colleagues (NeuroReport 23 (1): 35-9) conducted an event-related potential (ERP) study using an oddball paradigm showing that native Mandarin speakers exhibit different sensitivity to deviant tones that cross category boundaries compared to deviants that belong to the same category as the standard. Other recent ERP findings examining consonant voicing categories question whether perception is truly categorical. The current study investigated these discrepant findings by replicating and extending the Zhang et al. study. Native Mandarin speakers and naive English speakers performed an auditory oddball detection test while ERPs were recorded. Naive English speakers were included to test for language experience effects. We found that Mandarin speakers and English speakers demonstrated qualitatively similar responses, in that both groups showed a larger N2 to the across-category deviant and a larger P3 to the within-category deviant. The N2/P3 pattern also did not differ in scalp topography for the within- versus across-category deviants, as was reported by Zhang et al. Cross-language differences surfaced in behavioral results, where Mandarin speakers showed better discrimination for the across-category deviant, but English speakers showed better discrimination for within-category deviants, though all results were near-ceiling. Our results therefore support models suggesting that listeners remain sensitive to gradient acoustic differences in speech even when they have learned phonological categories along an acoustic dimension.

Background The pathogenesis of Ochronosis, the musculoskeletal manifestation of alcaptonuria (AKU) is still unclear. The joint damage usually described is similar to osteoarthritis, but in some cases the spinal involvement could resemble spondiloarthritis (SpA). These findings suggest that inflammatory changes could be prevalent in some cases while degenerative aspects could be dominant in others. Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of inflammatory changes in peripheral joints and enthesis of a cohort of patients affected by AKU. Methods Consecutive patients with definite diagnosis of AKU referred to our clinic from 2014 to 2017 were enrolled. All patients underwent an ultrasound (US) exam of the metacarpo-phalangeal joints (MCP), proximal interphalangeal joints (PIP), radiocarpal/mid carpal joints, elbow, gleno-humeral, hip, knee, ankle and metatarso-phalangeal (MTP) joints bilaterally; flexor and extensor tendons of fingers and wrists and the ankle tendons were also examined. Further, the enthesis of the rotator cuff of the shoulder, triceps, quadriceps, patellar and Achilles tendons were assessed. Joints and tendons with a synovial sheath were assessed for effusion, synovial hypertrophy and power Doppler (PD) signal while enthesis were evaluated for the presence of PD signal, enthesophytes and calcifications. All the US lesions were scored using a dichotomous scale (presence/absence). All US exams were performed by an expert sonographer blind to clinical history, using an Esaote MyLab70 scanner equipped with high resolution linear probes. Results We enrolled 19 patients (11 women) with a mean age of 53 yo (SD ±14,69). Only 2 patients didn’t show inflammation at any joint or tendon. The most involved joint was the knee (11/19), while regarding enthesis, the Achilles tendon (4/19) and the distal patellar tendon insertion were the most frequently involved (6/19). The mean number of joints with effusion or synovial hypertrophy was respectively equal to 2,47 (median 2, range 1–8) and 1,84 (median 2, range 1–7), while 0,21 joints (median 0, range 0–2) presented also PD. The mean of the exudative tenosynovitis was 0,47 (median 0, range 0–3), while for proliferative tenosynovitis was 0,42 (median 0, range 0–2). The PD signal in tendons with sheaths was rare (mean 0,16, median 0, range 0–2). Finally, the mean number of enthesis with PD was 0,95 (median 0, range 0–7) while the mean value was 0,37 (median 0, range 0–3) for enthesophytes and 2,63 (median 1, range 0–9) for calcifications. Conclusions The pathological processes that lead to the typical joint damage in ochronosis are not yet completely clarified. The results of this study showed that articular inflammation is common in these patients, sometimes associated with enthesis involvement. The role of inflammation should be further addressed as could be a new therapeutic target for this disease. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Purpose A central question about auditory perception concerns how acoustic information is represented at different stages of processing. The auditory brainstem response (ABR) provides a potentially useful index of the earliest stages of this process. However, it is unclear how basic acoustic characteristics (e.g., differences in tones spanning a wide range of frequencies) are indexed by ABR components. This study addresses this by investigating how ABR amplitude and latency track stimulus frequency for tones ranging from 250 to 8000 Hz. Method In a repeated-measures experimental design, listeners were presented with brief tones (250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 Hz) in random order while electroencephalography was recorded. ABR latencies and amplitudes for Wave V (6–9 ms) and in the time window following the Wave V peak (labeled as Wave VI ; 9–12 ms) were measured. Results Wave V latency decreased with increasing frequency, replicating previous work. In addition, Waves V and VI amplitudes tracked differences in tone frequency, with a nonlinear response from 250 to 8000 Hz and a clear log-linear response to tones from 500 to 8000 Hz. Conclusions Results demonstrate that the ABR provides a useful measure of early perceptual encoding for stimuli varying in frequency and that the tonotopic organization of the auditory system is preserved at this stage of processing for stimuli from 500 to 8000 Hz. Such a measure may serve as a useful clinical tool for evaluating a listener's ability to encode specific frequencies in sounds. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.6987422

Objectives To assess the reliability of the OMERACT ultrasound (US) definitions for the identification of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) at the metacarpal-phalangeal, triangular fibrocartilage of the wrist (TFC), acromioclavicular (AC) and hip joints. Methods A web-based exercise and subsequent patient-based exercise were carried out. A panel of 30 OMERACT members, participated at the web-based exercise by evaluating twice a set of US images for the presence/absence of CPPD. Afterwards, 19 members of the panel met in Siena, Italy, for the patient-based exercise. During the exercise, all sonographers examined twice eight patients for the presence/absence of CPPD at the same joints. Intraoberserver and interobserver kappa values were calculated for both exercises. Results The web-based exercise yielded high kappa values both in intraobserver and interobserver evaluation for all sites, while in the patient-based exercise, inter-reader agreement was acceptable for the TFC and the AC. TFC reached high interobserver and intraobserver k values in both exercises, ranging from 0.75 to 0.87 (good to excellent agreement). AC reached moderate kappa values, from 0.51 to 0.85 (moderate to excellent agreement) and can readily be used for US CPPD identification. Conclusions Based on the results of our exercise, the OMERACT US definitions for the identification of CPPD demonstrated to be reliable when applied to the TFC and AC. Other sites reached good kappa values in the web-based exercise but failed to achieve good reproducibility at the patient-based exercise, meaning the scanning method must be further refined.

The carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) and the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, are serious pests of strawberries and many other horticultural crops. Control of these pests has been heavily dependent upon chemical acaricides. Objectives of this study were to determine the resistance status of these two pest species to commonly used acaricides on strawberries in a year-round intensive horticultural production region. LC90 of abamectin for adult carmine spider mites was 4% whereas that for adult twospotted spider mites was 24% of the top label rate. LC90s of spiromesifen, etoxazole, hexythiazox and bifenazate were 0.5%, 0.5%, 1.4% and 83% of their respective highest label rates for carmine spider mite eggs, 0.7%, 2.7%, 12.1% and 347% of their respective highest label rates for the nymphs. LC90s of spiromesifen, etoxazole, hexythiazox and bifenazate were 4.6%, 11.1%, 310% and 62% of their respective highest label rates for twospotted spider mite eggs, 3%, 13%, 432,214% and 15% of their respective highest label rates for the nymphs. Our results suggest that T. cinnabarinus have developed resistance to bifenazate and that the T. urticae have developed resistance to hexythiazox. These results strongly emphasize the need to develop resistance management strategies in the region.

Statistical theory indicates that a flexible model can attain a lower generalization error than an inflexible model, provided that the setting is appropriate. This is highly relevant in the context of mortality risk prediction for trauma patients, as researchers have focused exclusively on the use of generalized linear models for risk prediction, and generalized linear models may be too inflexible to capture the potentially complex relationships in trauma data. Due to this, we propose a machine learning model, the Trauma Severity Model (TSM), for risk prediction. In order to validate TSM’s performance, this study compares TSM to three established risk prediction models: the Bayesian Logistic Injury Severity Score, the Harborview Assessment for Risk of Mortality, and the Trauma Mortality Prediction Model. Our results indicate that TSM has superior performance, and thereby provides improved risk prediction.Highlights:We propose an ensemble machine learning model for trauma risk prediction.A hyper-parameter search scheme is proposed for model development.We compare our model to established models for trauma risk prediction.Our model improves over established models for each performance metric considered.

Background Ochronosis, the musculoskeletal manifestation of alcaptonuria (AKU), is characterized by alterations of the spine and large joints of the limbs similar to those of osteoarthritis. However, some cases of spinal involvement that resembles spondiloarthritis (SpA) have been describe, suggesting a prevalent inflammatory involvement of the joints. Objectives To evaluate the prevalence of inflammatory abnormalities in peripheral joints and enthesis of a cohort of patients affected by AKU. Methods consecutive patients with definite diagnosis of AKU (with or without clinical manifestations) referred at our clinic from 2014 to 2016 were enrolled. All patients underwent a US examination of the following sites bilaterally: metacarpo-phalangeal joints (MCP), proximal interphalangeal joints (PIP), radiocarpal/mid carpal joints, elbow, gleno-humeral, hip, knee, ankle and metatarso-phalangeal (MTP) joints; flexor and extensor tendons of fingers and wrist and the ankle tendons. Further, the enthesis of the rotator cuff of the shoulder, triceps, quadriceps, patellar and Achilles tendon were assessed. Joints and tendons with a synovial sheath were assessed for effusion, synovial hypertrophy and power Doppler (PD) signal while enthesis were evaluated for the presence of PD signal, enthesophytes and calcifications. All the US lesions were scored using a dichotomous scale (presence/absence). All US exams were performed by an expert sonographer blind to clinical history, using an Esaote MyLab70 scanner equipped with high resolution linear probes. Results 11 patients (6 women) were enrolled in this study with a mean age of 57 yo (SD±11,50). the mean number of joints with effusion was 3,9 for each patient (median 3, range 2–8) while the mean number of joints with synovial hypertrophy was of 2,9 (median 2, range 2–7). =0,18 joints (median 0, range 0–2) presented also PD signal. I The mean number of exudative tenosynovitis was0,81 (median 2, range 0–3) while proliferative tenosynovitis (mean 0,54, median 0, range 0–2) and PD in tendons with sheaths (mean 0,27, median 0, range 0–2) were rare. Finally, the mean number of enthesis with PD was 1,27 (median 1, range 0–7), the mean number of enthesophytes was 0,63 (median 0, range 0–3) and for calcifications 4,27 (median 5, range 1–8). Conclusions Ochronotic arthropathy is believed to be characterized by a widespread articular damage, correlated mainly to degenerative processes due to the deposition of Homogentisinic Acid in the joints. The results of this US study showed that joint inflammation is common in ochronotic patients, associated in some cases with peripheral enthesis involvement confirming previously published data (1). The prevalence and the characteristics of the inflammatory manifestations should be further studied in larger cohorts of patients as they could play an important role in the joint damage process in these patients and provide a rationale for the use of new drugs. References Filippou G, Frediani B, Selvi E et al, Tendon involvement in patients with ochronosis: an ultrasonographic study. Ann Rheum Dis 2008 Dec;67(12):1785–6. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Background Ultrasonography (US) has demonstrated to be an accurate tool for the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPPD) (1). Recently, the OMERACT “US in CPPD” subtask force, has created new definitions for CPPD identification by US, that demonstrated to be reliable at the knee joint, bridging a gap afflicting the old definitions (2). On the other hand, synovial fluid analysis (SFA) is considered to be an accurate and valid method for diagnosing CPPD. Objectives The aim of this study wasto evaluate the association between US, using for the first time the new OMERACT US criteria for CPPD, and SFA findings for identifying patients affected by CPPD. Methods We enrolled all the consecutive patients, aged more than 60 years old, referred to our outpatient clinic from September 2016 to December 2016, for knee pain and that presented knee effusion of any grade. Patients with suspected chronic inflammatory conditions were excluded. All the subjects underwent an US exam (EsaoteMyLab 70) of the clinically involved knee, performed by an expert sonographer that applied the new OMERACT criteria for the diagnosis of CPPD at the fibrocartilage (menisci) and hyaline cartilage of the affected knee (2). Subsequently, a US-guided arthrocentesis was performed, and the synovial fluid was collected and analyzed by a compensated polarized light microscopy (AxioLab A.1 [Zeiss]) by an expert observer in order to assess the presence of CPP crystals. Both observers were blinded to clinical and to each other findings. The Chi-squared test was used to correlate the US and SFA findings. Results 49 patients (28 women) were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 70,29yo (SD±10,93). 28 subjects were affected by CPPD at SFA and 26 patients were identified as affected by CPPD at US. In 4 patients, the SFA was positive and the US was negative, while in 2 patients the SFA was negative and the US positive. Using the chi-squared test, a very strong association was found between the exams, with a p-value Conclusions The new OMERACT US criteria for CPPD identification have already demonstrated to be reliable, considering the good to high kappa values yielded in previous multi-observer studies (2). This preliminary study, indicates that the new criteria seem to be also accurate for diagnostic purposes as they strongly correlate with the SFA for the presence of CPPD in knee joints. Further validation studies that will be able to assess the diagnostic accuracy of US are already in the research agenda of the OMERACT group “US in CPPD”. References Filippou G, Adinolfi A, Cimmino MA, Scire CA, Carta S, Lorenzini S, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound, conventional radiography and synovial fluid analysis in the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease. ClinExpRheumatol 2016. Filippou G, Scire CA, Damjanov N et al. Definition and reliability assessment of elementary ultrasonographic findings in Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease. Results of an international multi-observer study by the OMERACT “US in CPPD” sub-task force. J Rheumatol, in press. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Background The OMERACT US subtask force “US in CPPD” recently created the definitions for US identification of crystal deposits in joints and tested the reliability at the knee [1]. Objectives To assess the inter/intra-observer reliability of US on detecting CPPD at triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) of the wrists, fibrocartilage of the AC joint, hip labrum (HL), hyaline cartilage (HC) of the metacarpal (MC) and femoral head. Methods The OMERACT criteria for CPPD were used for the exercise [1] using a 2 steps approach. First, the panel of experts gave a dichotomous score (presence/absence of CPPD) of 120 images of the sites included, using a web platform. The images were evaluated twice to assess the inter/intra-observer reliability. Then, the experts met in Siena for a patient based exercise. Bilateral evaluation of TFCC, AC, HL /HC of the hip and HC of the II-III MCP of 8 patients was carried out twice in a day, using a dichotomous score for CPPD. 8 US machines (3 GE, 1 Samsung and 4 Esaote) equipped with high resolution linear probes were used. Results Reliability values of static exercise were high for all sites, demonstrating that definitions were clear. The results of the second step are presented in table 1. On live scanning, the TFCC resulted the most reliable site for CPPD assessment, followed by AC. Other sites demonstrated lower kappa values and thus are not reliable for CPPD assessment. Conclusions TFCC of the wrist is the most reliable site for CPPD. By adding these results to the previous [2], we confirm that the OMERACT definitions for CPPD can be applied reliably at the knee (meniscus and HC), TFCC and AC, usually the most involved sites in CPPD. The next step of the OMERACT subtask force will be to test these findings in a longitudinal observational study. References Filippou G, Scire CA, Damjanov N et al. Definition and reliability assessment of elementary US findings in CPPD. Results of an international multi-observer study by the OMERACT sub-task force “US in CPPD”. J Rheumatol, in press. Disclosure of Interest None declared

Objective.To define the ultrasonographic characteristics of calcium pyrophosphate crystal (CPP) deposits in joints and periarticular tissues and to evaluate the intra- and interobserver reliability of expert ultrasonographers in the assessment of CPP deposition disease (CPPD) according to the new definitions.Methods.After a systematic literature review, a Delphi survey was circulated among a group of expert ultrasonographers, who were members of the CPPD Ultrasound (US) Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) subtask force, to obtain definitions of the US characteristics of CPPD at the level of fibrocartilage (FC), hyaline cartilage (HC), tendon, and synovial fluid (SF). Subsequently, the reliability of US in assessing CPPD at knee and wrist levels according to the agreed definitions was tested in static images and in patients with CPPD. Cohen’s κ was used for statistical analysis.Results.HC and FC of the knee yielded the highest interobserver κ values among all the structures examined, in both the Web-based (0.73 for HC and 0.58 for FC) and patient-based exercises (0.55 for the HC and 0.64 for the FC). Kappa values for the other structures were lower, ranging from 0.28 in tendons to 0.50 in SF in the static exercise and from 0.09 (proximal patellar tendon) to 0.27 (triangular FC of the wrist) in the patient-based exercise.Conclusion.The new OMERACT definitions for the US identification of CPPD proved to be reliable at the level of the HC and FC of the knee. Further studies are needed to better define the US characteristics of CPPD and optimize the scanning technique in other anatomical sites.

Ice adhesion over critical aircraft surfaces is a serious potential hazard that runs the risk of causing accidents. To face this issue, the design and diagnostics of new multifunctional coatings with icephobic and aesthetical properties are demanded. In particular, diagnostic tools, capable of characterizing coating surface finishing and its defects, are needed. In this paper, terahertz (THz) imaging is considered as a high-resolution diagnostic tool useful for contactless surveys providing information on surface defects and material inner structure. Therefore, two composite specimens, one covered by a classical commercial livery coating and the other one by a new multifunctional coating with icephobic properties, are investigated by THz surveys carried out in normal environmental conditions of pressure and temperature. The results, obtained by processing the raw data properly, corroborate that THz imaging allows us to detect variations of the coating thickness, to localize hidden anomalies as well as to characterize surface defects at millimetric scale.