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Background/Objectives: The aim of our study was to verify whether the application of Kinesiotaping in addition to the usual treatment was superior to the usual treatment alone regarding functional outcome, pain, and edema in the first 13 days after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery. Methods: The study sample (n = 71) comprised 42.3% men and the mean age was 68.1 (±9) years. A 1:1 ratio randomization list was used to allocate the patient either to a Kinesiotaping Group (KT) or to a control (CON) group. The KT and CON groups received the same volume of standard post-TKA rehabilitation. KT was additionally treated with lymphatic correction applications of Kinesiotaping (Kinesio® Tex Classic, Mogliano Veneto, Italy) on day 3 (±1) and 7 (±1) post-surgery (two applications during the rehabilitation period). Each application lasted four to five days before removal. KT was removed before the patients' discharge. The main outcome measures were as follows: (1) the circumference at knee level; (2) the VAS for pain; (3) the 10 m Walking Test; (4) the Timed Up and Go Test; (5) the passive knee range of motion; (6) body composition; (7) the Functional Independence Measure; and (8) the Modified Barthel Index. Data were collected at T0 (before surgery), T1 (3 ± 1 days after surgery), T2 (7 ± 1 days after surgery), and T3 (13 ± 1 days after surgery). Results: No inter-group differences were found between KT and CON at T0, T1, T2, and T3. An effect of time was observed for all outcome measures. Conclusions: No superiority of Kinesiotaping was observed compared to the usual rehabilitation treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A superconducting magnet with 200 kJ stored energy and 75 kW output/input power is designed, manufactured and preliminary tests are conducted. Several tests with different ramp rate are carried out at the liquid helium temperature and the design and manufacturing characteristics are characteristics.

A finite-element numerical model to calculate the time evolution of the voltage across a magnetic-shield-type superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) when connected to an external circuit is presented. The current density distribution inside the superconducting tube and magnetization distribution inside the ferro magnetic core of the device are determined by means of two coupled equivalent electric and magnetic circuits whose topology and components are obtained through the spatial integration of quasi-static form of Maxwell equations.

Superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems can be used to improve power supply quality and reliability. In addition, large amounts of power can be drawn from a small stored energy supply. Nevertheless, the strong electromagnetic force caused by high magnetic fields and coil current is a serious problem for SMES. To cope with this problem, we propose a new coil design, the tilted toroidal coil (TTC). The TTC, obtained from the toroidal field coil (TFC) system by varying two pitching angles, allows the balancing of the electromagnetic force in the major radius direction, maintaining the same manufacturing simplicity of the TFC system. After determining balanced configurations through computer simulation, we built an experimental device to confirm the feasibility of the balancing effect. Index Terms--Electromagnetic force balance, superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems, toroidal coil systems.

A coupling strategy between models of multistrand superconducting cables and models of resistive joints between them is described and discussed.

The pulsed field magnetization (PFM) process applied to two melt-processed ring-shaped Y-Ba-Cu-O (YBCO) bulks is examined. The examination is carried out both experimentally and numerically.

The paper illustrates the activities developed in the frame of the Progetto Finalizzato 'Superconducting and Cryogenic Technologies: superconducting magnets for MHD'. The main objectives of the research activities are: the design and the construction of a superconducting prototype magnet (2m active length), and the reference design of a superconducting demonstrative magnet (8m active length), both for MHD applications. The magnets are designed to produce a 5T on axis field with 5% and 10% field uniformity in the cross section respectively, and with a field taper less than 0.15 T/m. The design and construction of high field superconducting magnets based on A15 materials is also developed. The study of commercial size MHD superconducting magnets (16 m active length), and the conceptual design of superconducting magnets for disk MHD generators are also included in the frame of the project.