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We evaluate an adaptive optimisation methodology, Bayesian optimisation (BO), for designing a minimum weight explosive reactive armour (ERA) for protection against a surrogate medium calibre kinetic energy (KE) long rod projectile and surrogate shaped charge (SC) warhead. We perform the optimisation using a conventional BO methodology and compare it with a conventional trial-and-error approach from a human expert. A third approach, utilising a novel human-machine teaming framework for BO is also evaluated. Data for the optimisation is generated using numerical simulations that are demonstrated to provide reasonable qualitative agreement with reference experiments. The human-machine teaming methodology is shown to identify the optimum ERA design in the fewest number of evaluations, outperforming both the stand-alone human and stand-alone BO methodologies. From a design space of almost 1800 configurations the human-machine teaming approach identifies the minimum weight ERA design in 10 samples.

Nanofat is an autologous fat derivative with high regenerative activity, which is usually administered immediately after its generation by mechanical emulsification of adipose tissue. For its potential repeated use over longer time, we herein tested whether cryopreservation of nanofat is feasible. For this purpose, the inguinal fat pads of donor mice were processed to nanofat, which was i) frozen and stored in a freezer at −20°C, ii) shock frozen in liquid nitrogen with subsequent storage at −80°C or iii) gradually frozen and stored at −80°C. After 7 days, the cryopreserved nanofat samples were thawed and immunohistochemically compared with freshly generated nanofat (control). Nanofat frozen and stored at −20°C exhibited the lowest apoptotic rate and highest densities of blood and lymph vessels, which were comparable to those of control. Accordingly, nanofat cryopreserved at −20°C or control nanofat were subsequently fixed with platelet-rich plasma in full-thickness skin defects within dorsal skinfold chambers of recipient mice to assess vascularization, formation of granulation tissue and wound closure by means of stereomicroscopy, intravital fluorescence microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry over 14 days. These analyses revealed no marked differences between the healing capacity of wounds filled with cryopreserved or control nanofat. Therefore, it can be concluded that cryopreservation of nanofat is simply feasible without affecting its viability and regenerative potential. This may broaden the range of future nanofat applications, which would particularly benefit from repeated administration of this autologous biological product.

Dermal substitutes require sufficient tissue integration and vascularization to be successfully covered with split-thickness skin grafts. To rapidly achieve this, we provide the proof of principle for a novel vascularization strategy with high translational potential. Nanofat was generated from subcutaneous adipose tissue of green fluorescence protein (GFP)+ C57BL/6J donor mice and seeded onto small samples (4 mm in diameter) of the clinically approved dermal substitute Integra®. These samples and non-seeded controls were then implanted into full-thickness skin defects in the dorsal skinfold chamber of C57BL/6J wild-type mice and analyzed by intravital fluorescence microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry over a 14-day period. Nanofat-seeded dermal substitutes exhibited an accelerated vascularization, as indicated by a significantly higher functional microvessel density on days 10 and 14 when compared to controls. This was primarily caused by the reassembly of GFP+ microvascular fragments inside the nanofat into microvascular networks. The improved vascularization promoted integration of the implants into the surrounding host tissue, which finally exhibited an increased formation of a collagen-rich granulation tissue. There were no marked differences in the inflammatory host tissue reaction to nanofat-seeded and control implants. These findings demonstrate that nanofat significantly improves the in vivo performance of dermal substitutes without affecting their biocompatibility.

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal disorder worldwide. Along with intellectual disability, endocrine disorders represent a remarkable share of the morbidities experienced by children, adolescents and young adults with DS. Auxological parameters are plotted on syndrome-specific charts, as growth rates are reduced compared to healthy age- and gender-matched peers. Furthermore, children with DS are at increased risk for thyroid dysfunctions, diabetes mellitus, osteopenia and obesity compared to general population. Additionally, male individuals with DS often show infertility, while women tend to experience menopause at an overall younger age than healthy controls. Given the recent outstanding improvements in the care of severe DS-related comorbidities, infant mortality has dramatically decreased, with a current average life expectancy exceeding 60 years. Accordingly, the awareness of the specificities of DS in this field is pivotal to timely detect endocrine dysfunctions and to undertake a prompt dedicated treatment. Notably, best practices for the screening and monitoring of pediatric endocrine disorders in DS are still controversial. In addition, specific guidelines for the management of metabolic issues along the challenging period of transitioning from pediatric to adult health care are lacking. By performing a review of published literature, we highlighted the issues specifically involving children and adolescent with DS, aiming at providing clinicians with a detailed up-to-date overview of the endocrine, metabolic and auxological disorders in this selected population, with an additional focus on the management of patients in the critical phase of the transitioning from childhood to adult care.

The treatment of wounds using the body’s own resources is a promising approach to support the physiological regenerative process. To advance this concept, we evaluated the effect of nanofat (NF) on wound healing. For this purpose, full-thickness skin defects were created in dorsal skinfold chambers of wild-type mice. These defects were filled with NF generated from the inguinal subcutaneous adipose tissue of green fluorescent protein (GFP)+ donor mice, which was stabilized using platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Empty wounds and wounds solely filled with PRP served as controls. Wound closure, vascularization and formation of granulation tissue were repeatedly analyzed using stereomicroscopy, intravital fluorescence microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry over an observation period of 14 days. PRP + NF-treated wounds exhibited accelerated vascularization and wound closure when compared to controls. This was primarily due to the fact that the grafted NF contained a substantial fraction of viable GFP+ vascular and lymph vessel fragments, which interconnected with the GFP− vessels of the host tissue. Moreover, the switch from inflammatory M1- to regenerative M2-polarized macrophages was promoted in PRP + NF-treated wounds. These findings indicate that NF markedly accelerates and improves the wound healing process and, thus, represents a promising autologous product for future wound management.

Dermal substitutes require sufficient tissue integration and vascularization to be successfully covered with split-thickness skin grafts. To rapidly achieve this, we provide the proof of principle for a novel vascularization strategy with high translational potential. Nanofat was generated from subcutaneous adipose tissue of green fluorescence protein (GFP)+ C57BL/6J donor mice and seeded onto small samples (4 mm in diameter) of the clinically approved dermal substitute Integra®. These samples and non-seeded controls were then implanted into full-thickness skin defects in the dorsal skinfold chamber of C57BL/6J wild-type mice and analyzed by intravital fluorescence microscopy, histology and immunohistochemistry over a 14-day period. Nanofat-seeded dermal substitutes exhibited an accelerated vascularization, as indicated by a significantly higher functional microvessel density on days 10 and 14 when compared to controls. This was primarily caused by the reassembly of GFP+ microvascular fragments inside the nanofat into microvascular networks. The improved vascularization promoted integration of the implants into the surrounding host tissue, which finally exhibited an increased formation of a collagen-rich granulation tissue. There were no marked differences in the inflammatory host tissue reaction to nanofat-seeded and control implants. These findings demonstrate that nanofat significantly improves the in vivo performance of dermal substitutes without affecting their biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first International Congress of Garden Architects, organised in Paris as part of the 1937 International Exhibition of Arts and Technologies by the French Society of Garden Architects (Société française des architectes de jardins, SFAJ), marked the initial phase in a collective reflection on the objectives and challenges in the training of landscape architects in Europe. Following the economic, political and social crisis caused by the First World War, the crisis of 1929, and the rise of a new public demand for open spaces for leisure, sports, and recreational activities, garden architects were called on to address profound changes in the commissioning and in the typology, objectives, and scale of landscape projects. Based on original hitherto unstudied documents held in the archives of the Association Henri & Achille Duchêne this article presents the initiatives that led to the organisation of the Congress and how it made a defining contribution in the training of French landscape architects.

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal disorder worldwide. Along with intellectual disability, endocrine disorders represent a remarkable share of the morbidities experienced by children, adolescents and young adults with DS. Auxological parameters are plotted on syndrome-specific charts, as growth rates are reduced compared to healthy age- and gender-matched peers. Furthermore, children with DS are at increased risk for thyroid dysfunctions, diabetes mellitus, osteopenia and obesity compared to general population. Additionally, male individuals with DS often show infertility, while women tend to experience menopause at an overall younger age than healthy controls. Given the recent outstanding improvements in the care of severe DS-related comorbidities, infant mortality has dramatically decreased, with a current average life expectancy exceeding 60 years. Accordingly, the awareness of the specificities of DS in this field is pivotal to timely detect endocrine dysfunctions and to undertake a prompt dedicated treatment. Notably, best practices for the screening and monitoring of pediatric endocrine disorders in DS are still controversial. In addition, specific guidelines for the management of metabolic issues along the challenging period of transitioning from pediatric to adult health care are lacking. By performing a review of published literature, we highlighted the issues specifically involving children and adolescent with DS, aiming at providing clinicians with a detailed up-to-date overview of the endocrine, metabolic and auxological disorders in this selected population, with an additional focus on the management of patients in the critical phase of the transitioning from childhood to adult care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-point bend fracture tests have been conducted at different loading rates with a quadratic martensitic steel. The failure energy has been found to increase with loading rate. To get insights in this increase a numerical investigation has been undertaken with different strategies using ABAQUS and IMPETUS softwares in order to address quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. Simulations were conducted with the ABAQUS software in order to carry out a comparative analysis of both implicit and explicit approaches. In addition to standard Finite Element Method (FEM) applied to quasi-static and dynamic conditions, the eXtended-Finite Element Method (X-FEM) was applied to quasistatic conditions. In both approaches, implicit and explicit, crack initiation and propagation were governed by a critical plastic strain threshold combined with a displacement-based damage evolution criterion. Simulations conducted with the IMPETUS software use an explicit approach and second order elements for both quasi-static and dynamic loading conditions. A node-splitting method using an energy-based damage criterion was employed to simulate the crack initiation and propagation. Experimental data and numerical results have been compared, allowing to determine the ability of these two softwares to simulate accurately three-point bend fracture tests.

Cet article se propose de confronter deux types d’oeuvres d’art qui relèvent également du land-art et des arts paysagers. Il s’agit d’oeuvres qui, pour être perçues, exigent un parcours, un déplacement dans un site défini et délimité pour lequel elles ont été intentionnellement créées. Nous souhaitons montrer que ces oeuvres donnent lieu à des expériences esthétiques de régime tout à fait distinct et que leur performativité opère tout autrement dans chacun des cas. Elles nous touchent et nous émeuvent de manière différente. Nous essaierons alors de comprendre les raisons de cette dissemblance, et nous pensons que nous pouvons en trouver le fondement dans la forme de l’oeuvre et dans la capacité de l’artiste à inscrire en elle des idées esthétiques de manière à nous capter, à nous aspirer dans un temps et un espace spécifiques.The aim of this paper is to consider two types of works of art that both participate from land-art and art of landscape. These objects require to be perceived during a course, a move on a defined and specified site, and have been intentionally designed for this walk. Some of them are scattered along the coastline, others are all set on top of a former (WW2) submarine base. We aim at showing that these works give rise to very different kinds of aesthetical experiences, and that their performativity is two fold. They move us differently. So, we’ll try to understand the reasons of this difference and we believe that we could find the basics in the form of the work and in the artist’s ability to embed aesthetical Ideas, in order to attract or draw us in a specific time and space.Este artículo se propone confrontar dos tipos de obras del arte que pertenecen al land-art y al arte del paisaje. Obras que necesitan un trayecto o un movimiento para ser percibidas, porque se sitúan en un sitio bien delimitado, obras que fueron creadas intencionalmente para este lugar. Deseamos mostrar que estas obras causan una experiencia estética de un tipo claramente diferente, que su performatividad actúa de una manera particular, diferente según cada uno de los casos: estas obras nos tocan y nos mueven de maneras distintas. Seguimos después comprendiendo las razones de esta disimilitud. Pensamos que es posible encontrar su fundamento en la forma de la obra y en la capacidad del artista para inscribir en esta forma las ideas estéticas

Abstract non disponibile (Epidemiology_statistics)

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Abstract non disponibile (Epidemiology_statistics)

Il lavoro presenta una breve discussione dei risultati falsi, e talvolta dannosi, che possono derivare da una scelta errata del campione, o dall'interpretazione distorta anche di una singola domanda, in particolare quando questa coinvolge la sfera privata e personale del soggetto. (Epidemiology_statistics)

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood and adolescence, is a rare but aggressive malignancy that originates from immature mesenchymal cells committed to skeletal muscle differentiation. Although RMS is, generally, responsive to the modern multimodal therapeutic approaches, the prognosis of RMS depends on multiple variables and for some patients the outcome remains dismal. Further comprehension of the molecular and cellular biology of RMS would lead to identification of novel therapeutic targets. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs proved to function as key regulators of skeletal muscle cell fate determination and to play important roles in RMS pathogenesis. The purpose of this review is to better delineate the role of miRNAs as a biomarkers or functional leaders in RMS development, so to possibly elucidate some of RMS molecular mechanisms and potentially therapeutically target them to improve clinical management of pediatric RMS.