Terramechanics and soil–wheel interactions for road vehicle applications

The current research concerns the analysis and development of a soil-wheel interaction model intended for application in road vehicles, in order to support virtual vehicle development processes. As a first step, a review of the literature is conducted which reveals the absence of a reliable tyre model for off-road applications. In addition, it highlights two critical performance items for the soil-wheel interaction; tractive effort and rolling resistance. The rolling resistance is generated by soil compaction, horizontal soil displacement and tyre flexibility, while the tractive effort is generated by the soil shearing behaviour at the soil-wheel interface. Existing models for soil compaction (i.e. pressure-sinkage) are initially evaluated for their accuracy and applicability using literature data, but their performance is unsatisfactory. In addition, a large experimental campaign is conducted using two soil types and various experimental processes such as pressure-sinkage on flat and curved plates, shear tests, rolling wheel tests. [Continues.

Embolization of a sporadic bleeding renal angiomyolipoma supplied by an aberrant renal artery

Spontaneous bleeding of a renal angiomyolipoma (AML) is a life threatening condition that necessitates prompt treatment. Herein we describe the first case of a spontaneously ruptured renal AML supplied solely by an aberrant renal artery that was successfully treated by selective transcatherer embolization

An unusual case of Multiple Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumors of the lung

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) of the lung is a rare, usually solitary lesion that is considered nowadays as a true neoplasm with unpredictable clinical course. Herein we describe a case of multiple, bilateral IMTs of the lung in a 70 year-old asymptomatic woman, where diagnosis was established by CT guided core biopsy. To our knowledge only 10 cases of bilateral IMTs have been reported in a few case series and in only 2 cases of pulmonary IMTs, CT guided biopsy could establish the correct diagnosis

Intracranial Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in Beta-Thalassemia

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) represents tumor-like proliferation of hemopoietic tissue which complicates chronic hemoglobinopathy. Intracranial EMH is an extremely rare occurrence. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a precise diagnosis. It is essential to distinguish EMH from other extradural central nervous system tumors, because treatment and prognosis are totally different. Herein, we report the imaging findings of beta-thalassemia in a 13-year-old boy complaining of weakness of left side of the body and gait disturbance; CT and MRI revealed an extradural mass in the right temporoparietal region

Solitary splenic metastasis of squamous lung cancer: a case report

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Management of adrenal incidentalomas - a European Society of Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline in collaboration with the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors

Diabetes mellitus: pathophysiological changes and therap

Spinal cystic echinococcosis - a systematic analysis and review of the literature : part 1. Epidemiology and anatomy

Bone involvement in human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is rare, but affects the spine in approximately 50% of cases. Despite significant advances in diagnostic imaging techniques as well as surgical and medical treatment of spinal CE, our basic understanding of the parasite's predilection for the spine remains incomplete. To fill this gap, we systematically reviewed the published literature of the last five decades to summarize and analyze the currently existing data on epidemiological and anatomical aspects of spinal CE

The calibration of the hailpads upon the Greek National Hail Suppression Program, using the Classical and Inverse Regression methods

The hailpad, constructed from a plate of Styrofoam, is a simple instrument for recording hailfall. In addition to simply recording the hailfall, calibration of the instrument is required to obtain quantitative measurements of the hail. The calibration is a process leading to a calibration equation, a polynomial establishing a relationship between the diameter of a hailstone and the dent the hailstone is left on the surface of the hailpad. A hailpad network, consisted of 154 instruments, has established inGreece, in the context of the Greek National Hail Suppression Program operating for the protection of the agricultural cultivations from hail damage. For the calibration of the haipads of the network the well known “Energy Matching technique” has adopted and the Inverse Regression method is applied from the beginning for the obtainment of the calibration equation. In the present study along with the Inverse Regression method hitherto applied, the Classical Regression method is examined and presented and inferential statistics are also introduced in both methods in order to establish a more stringent statistical procedure for the calibration of the hailpads. After the theoretical analysis the data from a calibration experiment were analyzed, calibration models obtained using both methods of regression, hail diameters were predicted with the two models when new observations were available and the results compared to each other. The comparison of the two models' predictions showed that the results are almost the same so there is no good reason to replace the hitherto Inverse Regression method. However, it would be good to introduce the Classical Regression method alongside the Inverse. In addition, prediction bands for both methods should be introduced giving to the results the range of the confidence interval of the predictions