Search

The objective of this study is to characterize the trade space for the structural design of small uncrewed aerial vehicle wings fabricated using Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing, specifically the trade-off between maintaining the wing external shape while minimizing its internal structure. Beam bending analysis shows that the structural requirements associated with flight loads are easily met with a single perimeter extrusion monocoque construction, however this approach leads to large, unsupported, thin-walled structures that can deform during the build process, creating a potential need for additional structure to maintain wing shape. To characterize the relationship between structure/weight and wing deformation, wing sections were fabricated with varying internal structures for two airfoil shapes. Weight and 3-D laser measurements were taken of the printed parts to capture the final as-built geometry. The as-built geometries were then compared to the as-designed geometries to quantify the deformation, and a coupled viscous-inviscid flow solver was used to determine the aerodynamic effects. The results indicate that while significant aerodynamic performance penalties exist for the monocoque construction, a small amount of well-placed internal structure provides sufficient improvement at minimal weight penalty. Results also showed that less internal structure is required to minimize deformation for an airfoil with larger initial curvature.

The main aim of this special issue is to report the recent advances and new trends in memristors and nonequilibrium stochastic multistable systems, both theoretically and experimentally, within an interdisci-plinary context. In particular, memristors are multistable systems whose switching dynamics is a stochastic process, which can be controlled by internal and external noise sources, unveiling the constructive role of random fluctuations. Furthermore, the use of memristors as memory elements in neuromorphic systems with noise-assisted persistence of memory states, chaotic dynamics, metastable chaos and chaos synchronization, new stochastic nonlinear models, noise-induced phenomena such as stochastic resonance, noise enhanced stability and phase transitions phenomena in memristors will be illustrated in the contributions of this special issue.

This study was addressed to assess nomophobia in an Italian sample (N = 456, 53.1% men, Mage = 31.8, SD = 11.1), also providing a deeper knowledge about how it is distributed across demographics, as well as identifying its best predictors. The main goal was to investigate the direct and indirect effects of difficulty in emotion regulation and social interaction anxiety on nomophobia through loneliness. Our findings indicated that loneliness explained the effect of the expressive suppression strategy (fully) and social interaction anxiety (partially) on nomophobia, whereas it was not a significant mediator when the cognitive reappraisal strategy was taken into account. Our study suggests that loneliness during the pandemic plays a crucial role in explaining the associations between the investigated predictors and the outcome variable, offering a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms of this emerging construct. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and shortcomings and suggestions for future works are presented.

A two-interacting-qubit quantum Rabi-like model with vanishing transverse fields on the qubit pair is studied. Independently of the coupling regime, this model can be exactly and unitarily reduced to two independent single-spin quantum Rabi models, where the spin-spin coupling plays the role of the transverse field. This transformation and the analytical treatment of the single-spin quantum Rabi model provide the key to prove the integrability of our model. The existence of different first-order quantum phase transitions, characterized by discontinuous two-spin magnetization, mean photon number, and concurrence, is brought to light.

Study Purpose The DRAGON 1 trial aims to assess training, implementation, safety and feasibility of combined portal- and hepatic-vein embolization (PVE/HVE) to accelerate future liver remnant (FLR) hypertrophy in patients with borderline resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases. Methods The DRAGON 1 trial is a worldwide multicenter prospective single arm trial. The primary endpoint is a composite of the safety of PVE/HVE, 90-day mortality, and one year accrual monitoring of each participating center. Secondary endpoints include: feasibility of resection, the used PVE and HVE techniques, FLR-hypertrophy, liver function (subset of centers), overall survival, and disease-free survival. All complications after the PVE/HVE procedure are documented. Liver volumes will be measured at week 1 and if applicable at week 3 and 6 after PVE/HVE and follow-up visits will be held at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after the resection. Results Not applicable. Conclusion DRAGON 1 is a prospective trial to assess the safety and feasibility of PVE/HVE. Participating study centers will be trained, and procedures standardized using Work Instructions (WI) to prepare for the DRAGON 2 randomized controlled trial. Outcomes should reveal the accrual potential of centers, safety profile of combined PVE/HVE and the effect of FLR-hypertrophy induction by PVE/HVE in patients with CRLM and a small FLR. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04272931 (February 17, 2020). Toestingonline.nl: NL71535.068.19 (September 20, 2019).

Background Single operator cholangioscopy guided electrohydraulic lithotripsy (SOC-EHL) is effective in difficult biliary stones. SOC is usually introduced in a transpapilliary fashion via a duodenoscope (peroral SOC). This approach is limited in intrahepatic ductal access, especially in presence of distal strictures. Aims To report a case of ductal clearance using a unique percutaneous access of SOC-EHL in a patient with extensive intrahepatic stones in addition to a distal stricture. Methods A retrospective case report Results An 80 year old male known for a distal cholangiocarcinoma post-Whipple surgery presented with recurrent cholangitis. Computed tomography scan revealed dilated intrahepatic bile ducts in segments V and VII and a dilated posterior right hepatic duct (PRHD) with associated cholelithiasis. Peroral SOC was first performed using a therapeutic gastroscope. The hepaticojejunostomy was patent and the cholangioscope was easily introduced into the bile duct. No stones or strictures were found on inspection of the intra- and extra-hepatic biliary system. Due to cholangitis recurrence a left-sided percutaneous drain was placed. However, cholangiogram showed a normal biliary sytem with no filling defects. A right-sided PTC was then performed for source control. Repeat right-sided cholangiogram finally identified an extremely dilated PRHD with extensive filling defects and a stricture in the distal PRHD. The abnormal biliary segments were missed on peroral SOC and left-sided cholangiogram due to the tight stricture. Percutaneous SOC-EHL was then planned. The abnormal segment could not be reached using the right sided access. The left system did not allow for easy PRHD access due to the stricture and angulation. In order to gain entry to the abnormal biliary segment, the PRHD stricture was dilated to 6mm with balloon angioplasty. A 0.035” guidewire was inserted from the left access and advanced to the extrahepatic bile duct. This wire was captured using a snare introduced from the right percutaneous access and pulled through the right side. This allowed wire tension to be optimally applied from both percutaneous accesses. A cholangioscope was then introduced over the wire from the left access and advanced into the abnormal PRHD with optimal wire tension at both ends. A large stone burden was noted on SOC and ductal clearance with EHL was achieved after two EHL sessions (Fig. 1). Final cholangiogram showed complete ductal clearance and there was no recurrence of cholangitis at an 18 month follow-up. Conclusions SOC-EHL is an important therapeutic modality but may be of limited effectivess for extensive intrahepatic stones. Our case suggests the possibility of using a percutaneous approach for SOC-EHL in intrahepatic stones with concomitant distal stricture. Figure 1: A) Cholangiogram showing extensive intrahepatic stone burden; B) SOC-EHL via a percutaneous access with EHL; C) final cholangiogram showing complete ductal clearance. Funding Agencies None

Here we summarize some relevant results related to nonequilibrium phenomena in mesoscopic and quantum systems. A common phenomenon in the dynamics of out-of-equilibrium systems is the metastability, and the problem of the lifetime of metastable states involves fundamental aspects of nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. Metastability (see Fig. 1) is a signature of a first order phase transition, often characterized by a long-living metastable state. In particular, the stability of a metastable state can be enhanced by Gaussian and non-Gaussian noise sources. This counterintuitive effect has been found in different physical areas, ranging from spintronics, aggregation kinetics of Brownian particles, Josephson junction systems, to interdisciplinary physical models.

Percutaneous image guided thermal ablation has become a cornerstone of therapy for patients with oligometastatic disease and primary liver malignancies. Evolving from percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), thermal ablation utilizing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) have become the standard approach in the treatment of isolated lesions that fit within the size criteria for curative intent therapy (typically 3-4cm). With the evolution of more intense thermal ablation, such as MWA, the dramatic increase in both the size of ablation zone and intensity of heat generation have extended the limits of this technique. As a result of these innovations, intra-procedural and post-procedural pain have also significantly increased, requiring either higher levels of intravenous sedation or, in some institutions, general anesthesia. In addition to the increase in therapeutic intensity, the use of intravenous sedation during aggressive ablation procedures carries the risk of over-sedation when the noxious insult (i.e. the ablation) is removed, adding further difficulty to post-procedural recovery and management. Furthermore, high subdiaphragmatic lesions become challenging in this setting due to issues relating to sedation and compliance with breath hold/breathing instructions. Although general anesthesia may mitigate these complications, the added resources associated with providing general anesthesia during ablation is not cost effective and may result in substantial delays in treatment. The reduction of Aerosol Generating Medical Procedures (AGMP), such as intubation due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, must also be taken into consideration. Due to the potential increased risk of infection transmission, alternatives to general anesthesia should be considered when safe and possible. Upper abdominal regional nerve block techniques have been used to manage pain related to trauma, surgery, and cancer; however, blocks of this nature are not well described in the interventional radiology literature. The McGill University group has developed experience in using such blocks as splanchnic, celiac and hepatic hilar nerve blocks to provide peri-procedural pain control [1]. Since incorporating these techniques (along with hydrodissection with tumescent anesthesia), we have also observed in our high volume ablation center a dramatic decrease in the amount of sedatives administered during the procedure, a decrease in patient discomfort during localization and ablation, as well as decreased pain post-procedure. Faster time to discharge and overall reduction in room procedural time serve as added benefits. The purpose of this publication is to outline and illustrate the practical application and use of nerve block/regional anesthesia techniques with respect to percutaneous hepatic thermal ablation.

This letter focuses on open challenges in the fields of environmental data analysis and ecological complex systems. It highlights relations between research problems in stochastic population dynamics, machine learning and big data research, and statistical physics. Recent and current developments in statistical modeling of spatiotemporal data and in population dynamics are briefly reviewed. The presentation emphasizes stochastic fluctuations, including their statistical representation, data-based estimation, prediction, and impact on the physics of the underlying systems. Guided by the common thread of stochasticity, a deeper and improved understanding of environmental processes and ecosystems can be achieved by forging stronger interdisciplinary connections between statistical physics, spatiotemporal data modeling, and ecology.

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced cirrhosis and portal hypertension are at risk of developing portosystemic collaterals such as gastroesophageal varices, but these may also form in ectopic locations including the small intestine, colon, rectum, peritoneum and other intra-abdominal organs. Ectopic varices are at risk of bleeding, and up to 5% of all variceal hemorrhages originate from these ectopic sites. It is therefore important to familiarize oneself with their presentation and treatment options. AIMS: Describe a case of rectal varices in a cirrhotic patient presenting with discomfort due to an unusual perianal mass. METHODS: Case report and literature review. RESULTS: A 61-year-old man presented to his routine hepatology follow-up with complaints of perianal pruritis and occasional mild hematochezia. Past medical history was significant for HIV, cirrhosis secondary to alcohol and hepatitis C infection successfully treated with direct-acting antivirals, previous esophageal variceal bleed and bipolar disorder. Physical exam revealed two large soft-tissue masses, one in the perianal region and the other in the left ischial region (Figure A). Laboratory investigations were non-contributory, while a flexible sigmoidoscopy demonstrated large rectal varices extending 20 cm into the rectum (Figure B). A doppler ultrasound confirmed the presence of complex venous structures within the perianal protrusion, consistent with external varices (Figure C). Indeed, the internal rectal varices had extended externally into the left ischial region as a soft-tissue mass. Insertion of a transjugular intrahepatic portosytemic shunt (TIPS) was performed but did not adequately reduce the size of the varices and was complicated by hepatic encephalopathy. Therefore, the patient was further treated with embolization of the superior hemorrhoidal arteries by interventional radiology. At follow-up, the rectal varices showed significant reduction in size (Figure D). Unfortunately, the patient died prior to subsequent endoscopic imaging and follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of ectopic varices is made with endoscopy and can be confirmed by color doppler ultrasound and contrast enhanced CT. Although no management guidelines are currently available, treatment options include endoscopic band ligation, endoscopic sclerotherapy, TIPS, percutaneous embolization or occlusion procedures such as balloon occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) by interventional radiology. Surgical interventions are usually of last resort given the high risk of death and complication rates in patients with advanced liver disease. FUNDING AGENCIES: None

In this work, a Sequential Decision Process (SDP) is applied to perform fuselage design using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The SDP uses models to provide two-sided estimates that attempt to bound the exact solution, ultimately converging to an optimal design space to be analyzed with models of increased fidelity. The present work proposes the use of laminar and turbulent physics in CFD models to form lower and upper bounds on drag calculations, respectively. These bounding models are then used in a formal SDP to cull the design space, focusing the region of interest for increased fidelity modeling and analysis. Increasing mesh resolution is used to increase fidelity, creating a multi-fidelity approach to aerodynamic shape design. In this work the SDP-CFD design approach is applied to two design problems: (1) drag minimization of a fairing with a defined thickness and (2) drag per unit volume minimization of a fairing. The results of this study demonstrate that the SDP-CFD approach can accurately and quickly improve the fuselage design.

There are thirty-one states having approval for the use of cannabis/marijuana to treat disease and nine have legal adult use of recreational marijuana. There is science demonstrating benefit from cannabis/marijuana. However, there is also an evolving body of science demonstrating side effects and indication of negative consequences of marijuana use both with acute use and chronic use. Marijuana use impairs visual functions with acute use and chronic use in the abstinent state. Marijuana use has been shown to deplete the retina of dopamine. Changes in dopamine are a risk for mobility concerns as is evident from diseases such as Parkinson’s disease. We have identified retinal ganglion cell dysfunction using a simple visual field test with an alternating striped ten-degree target with variable contrast with acute use of inhaled marijuana. The temporary acute loss of vision in the mid periphery can have serious consequences with gait, mobility and driving. One of the fastest growing group of marijuana users for recreational purposes are older adults. This group may be at greater risk for harm related to falls and injury with the use of marijuana. Further, with reductions in other functions with aging, the risk for fatal injury while driving is significant. This abstract discusses the retinal dysfunction and vision impairment with acute marijuana use.

Autologe arteriovenose Fisteln sind der Goldstandard fur den Hamodialysezugang. Arteriovenose Prothesenshunts spielen eine wichtige Rolle fur die Anlage eines permanenten Dialyseshunts, wenn autologe Moglichkeiten ausgeschopft sind. Veranderungen in Design und Materialtechnologie zur Herstellung der Kunststoffprothesen helfen, deren Funktion und Langlebigkeit zu verbessern. Dieser Artikel betrachtet wichtige Entwicklungen von Dialyseshuntprothesen. Die verfugbare Literatur wird hinsichtlich ihrer Evidenz bewertet. Es wird eingeschatzt, dass die meisten Innovationen vielversprechend sind, aber noch keine ausreichende Evidenz besitzen.

Background Guidelines tend to consider morphine and morphine-like opioids comparable and interchangeable in the treatment of chronic cancer pain, but individual responses can vary. This study compared the analgesic efficacy, changes of therapy and safety profile over time of four strong opioids given for cancer pain. Patient and methods In this four-arm multicenter, randomized, comparative, of superiority, phase IV trial, oncological patients with moderate to severe pain requiring WHO step III opioids were randomly assigned to receive oral morphine or oxycodone or transdermal fentanyl or buprenorphine for 28 days. At each visit, pain intensity, modifications of therapy and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were recorded. The primary efficacy end point was the proportion of nonresponders, meaning patients with worse or unchanged average pain intensity (API) between the first and last visit, measured on a 0–10 numerical rating scale. (NCT01809106). Results Forty-four centers participated in the trial and recruited 520 patients. Worst pain intensity and API decreased over 4 weeks with no significant differences between drugs. Nonresponders ranged from 11.5% (morphine) to 14.4% (buprenorphine). Appreciable changes were made in the treatment schedules over time. Each group required increases in the daily dose, from 32.7% (morphine) to 121.2% (transdermal fentanyl). Patients requiring adjuvant analgesics ranged from 68.9% (morphine) to 81.6% (oxycodone), switches varied from 22.1% (morphine) to 12% (oxycodone), discontinuation of treatment from 27% ( morphine) to 14.5% (fentanyl). ADRs were similar except for effects on the nervous system, which significantly prevailed with morphine. Conclusion The main findings were the similarity in pain control, response rates and main adverse reactions among opioids. Changes in therapy schedules were notable over time. A considerable proportion of patients were nonresponders or poor responders. Clinical Trial Registration NCT01809106 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01809106?term=cerp&rank=2 ).

Resume Le but de cette etude est de preciser les indications et precautions particulieres avec les protheses mammaires anatomiques texturees remplies de gel de silicone cohesif. Nous avons revu 135 patientes dont la pose de prothese(s) etait soit reconstructrice soit esthetique. La satisfaction des patientes etait jugee sur la forme, la consistance et la symetrie des seins. Les complications classiques et specifiques a ce type d'implant ont ete comptabilisees et analysees. L'utilisation de ces protheses donne de bons resultats en reconstruction mammaire que ce soit apres expansion ou associee a des lambeaux autologues et en augmentation mammaire esthetique en position retropectorale. Les complications sont rares si une technique operatoire rigoureuse et specifique est suivie. Ces implants representent une alternative interessante aux protheses de forme ronde en reconstruction et permettent d'obtenir de beaux resultats en augmentation mammaire dans les indications limites.

Resume Nous rapportons le cas d’une patiente âgee de 48 ans chez qui nous avons realise une reprise par interposition d’une autogreffe de cartilage costal apres echec d’une trapezectomie-ligamentoplastie. Les resultats cliniques ont ete evalues en preoperatoire et a 3, 6, 12 et 24 mois postoperatoire. L’evaluation clinique a porte sur la douleur (EVA), la mesure de la force de prehension (key pinch et grasp), la possibilite d’ecrire et d’utiliser une cle de contact et sur les amplitudes articulaires de l’articulation trapezo-metacarpienne en abduction et en opposition. Une amelioration a ete observee sur le plan de la douleur et de la possibilite d’utiliser une cle de contact, mais sans modification des amplitudes articulaires ni de la force de prehension. Aucune complication n’a ete observee au site donneur. Cette technique semble pouvoir etre utile dans les cas de reprise iterative apres echec d’une trapezectomie.

Objective To understand how care managers implemented COMPASS and if this was related to patient health outcomes. Methods A total of 96 COMPASS care managers were approached to participate in the online survey and 93 (97%) provided responses. Correlations were generated between key survey responses and the average number of care management contacts, patient depression, blood pressure and glycosylated hemoglobin outcomes. Results Patients of care managers who reported spending more time on COMPASS-related tasks had higher rates of depression improvement ( r =0.34; P =.002) and remission ( r =0.27; P =.02) as well as higher rates of blood pressure control ( r =0.29; P =.03). Conclusions To improve the effectiveness of care management in collaborative care models, particularly for patients with comorbid conditions and complex nonmedical needs, care managers need the support of social work and administrative support staff. Care managers for this patient population would also benefit from more intensive training in nonpharmacological depression treatment, such as motivational interviewing and behavioral activation. Additionally, systems support is needed such as education for primary care teams and psychiatry on the value of collaborative care models and integration of population management tools into electronic medical records.

Resume Les auteurs rapportent leur experience en matiere d'allongement par distraction progressive chez l'enfant dans le cadre de la pathologie congenitale de la main au travers d'une revue retrospective de 12 allongements, realises de 1998 a 2004 pour des enfants âges de 2 a 11 ans, au niveau metacarpien pour neuf cas ou phalangien pour trois cas. La distraction est realisee par un microdistracteur (Mondeal®). La distraction progressive a un rythme de 0,25 a 0,5 mm/j a ete realisee en faisant appel au phenomene de « callotasis » dans tous nos cas, ce qui a permis d'obtenir un allongement moyen de 16 mm avec une duree moyenne de traitement de 107 jours. Le taux de complications a ete de 33 %. La technique est bien codifiee et l'emploi d'un microdistracteur permet sa realisation chez de tres jeunes patients. L'education de la famille permet de prevenir les complications. Ce procede therapeutique permet une amelioration de la fonction sans alteration de la sensibilite tactile distale.

The adverse role of traffic pollutants on male fertility is well known. Aim of this study was to evaluate their effects on sperm chromatin/DNA integrity. Methods: To accomplish this, 36 men working at motorway tollgates and 32 unexposed healthy men (controls) were enrolled. All of them were interviewed about their lifestyle. Hormone, semen samples and environmental and biological markers of pollution were evaluated. Sperm chromatin and DNA integrity were evaluated by flow cytometry following propidium iodide staining and TUNEL assay, respectively. Results: LH, FSH and testosterone serum levels were within the normal range in tollgate workers. Sperm concentration, total sperm count, total and progressive motility, and normal forms were significantly lower in these men compared to controls. Motorway tollgate workers had a significantly higher percentage of spermatozoa with damaged chromatin and DNA fragmentation, a late sign of apoptosis, compared to controls. A significant direct correlation was found between spermatozoa with damaged chromatin or fragmented DNA and the length of occupational exposure, suggesting a timedependent relationship. Conclusion: This study showed that car exhaust exposure has a sperm genotoxic effect on human spermatozoa. This may be of relevant importance not only for the reproductive performance of the men exposed, but also for the offspring health.

We compared the intra-operative diagnostic value of CDS vs IA-DSA in identifying major and minor technical defects after CEA. Between August 1997 and December 1998, 138 consecutive patients undergoing 141 carotid endarterectomies were intra-operatively investigated with colour duplex scan and intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography. Thirty-six (25.5%) technical defects were identified. Four (11.1%) major defects were detected by both methods and they were immediately corrected. Fifteen (41.6%) minor defects were detected by both methods, thirteen (36.1%) minor defects were detected by colour duplex but ignored by angiography. Angiography detected four (11.1%) kinkings missed with the colour duplex. The overall sensitivity of both methods for major defect was 100%. The sensitivity of colour duplex for minor defects was 87% vs 59% for angiography. On the basis of our study, colour duplex could be considered the choice method for quality control after carotid endarterectomy.

A total of 583 children and adolescents with mental retardation were rated on a new psychometric instrument designed to screen for dual diagnosis (psychopathology in individuals with mental retardation). Two psychiatrists and two clinical psychologists judged the items to have face validity as expressions of psychopathology in children and adolescents with mental retardation. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .91 for the total score and varied between .57 and .86 for 10 psychometric scales. Children and adolescents who had a dual diagnosis obtained total scores approximately 1 standard deviation higher than those who did not have a dual diagnosis. Each of 4 diagnostic groupings had test profiles in accordance with expectation. The results suggest that the instrument is particularly well suited for use in screening and for help in the analysis of the relationships between certain behavior problems and psychopathology.

Objective: The clinical significance of masked hypertension (MHT) and white-coat hypertension (WCHT) remains controversial, whereas subclinical inflammation and arterial stiffness are associated with an adverse prognosis. We examined the interrelationships of MHT, WCHT, and sustained hypertension (SHT) with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and arterial stiffness. Methods: Our population consisted of 291 untreated nondiabetic patients with MHT [office blood pressure (BP)

The concept of co-design is common in engineering, where it is necessary, for example, to determine the optimal partitioning between hardware and software of the implementation of a system features. Here we propose to adapt co-design methodologies for synthetic biology. As a test case, we have designed an environmental sensing device that detects the presence of three chemicals, and returns an output only if at least two of the three chemicals are present. We show that the logical operations can be implemented in three different design domains: (1) the transcriptional domain using synthetically designed hybrid promoters, (2) the protein domain using bi-molecular fluorescence complementation, and (3) the fluorescence domain using spectral unmixing and relying on electronic processing. We discuss how these heterogeneous design strategies could be formalized to develop co-design algorithms capable of identifying optimal designs meeting user specifications.

The early experience of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) using ''first generation'' devices was disappointing. There was an appreciable incidence of delayed, post-EVAR, aneurysm rupture. This was primarily a consequence of structural device failure. These failures provided important lessons for re-design and the modern ''second generation'' devices, including the Zenith (Cook Inc, Bloomington, IN, USA) endograft, are thought to be more reliable, particularly providing better fixation and sealing and also a more durable stent/fabric structure. This article comprises a review of the English literature detailing the endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms using the Zenith endograft. It focuses on clinical studies or trials with intermediate to long-term follow-up, and related the literature to our own experience. In the series examined (N.=2 017 patients) the early mortality rate ranged from 0% to 4.1% and the technical success rate from 97.7% to 100%. The re-intervention rate was related to the length of follow-up (6.8% to 14%). Conversion rates were consistently1%. There was a low incidence of device migration, limb thrombosis, component separation and stent fracture. These data support the ongoing use of the Zenith endovascular graft in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms suitable for EVAR.

We analyze the role of the correlated fluctuations, with a correlation time τc, in the dynamics of an overdamped Josephson junction in the presence of a periodic driving signal.

The investigation of noise‐induced phenomena in far from equilibrium systems is one of the approach used to understand the behaviour of physical and biological complex systems. Metastability is a generic feature of many nonlinear systems, and the problem of the lifetime of metastable states involves fundamental aspects of nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. The enhancement of the life‐time of metastable states through the noise enhanced stability effect and the role played by the resonant activation phenomenon will be discussed in models of interdisciplinary physics: (i) Ising model (ii) Josephson junction; (iii) stochastic FitzHugh‐Nagumo model; (iv) a population dynamics model, and (v) a market model with stochastic volatility.

The aim of this work is to precise the indications to respect and the pitfalls to avoid in prosthesis setting using anatomical cohesive silicone gel implants.135 patients that undergone a reconstructive or cosmetic prosthesis setting were reviewed. Patients satisfaction has been assessed basing on the breast shape, consistency and symmetry. Complications (both usual and specific) were assessed and analysed. The results for mammary reconstruction after expansion or autologous flap and for cosmetic submuscular breast augmentation were good. Complications were unusual as far as the appropriate surgical procedure had been performed rigorously. These implants are an interesting alternative solution to round shape prosthesis in reconstruction indication. In breast augmentation border line indications, a beautiful result may be expected using these implants.