Pharmacological treatments in ARDS; a state-of-the-art update

Despite its high incidence and devastating outcomes, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has no specific treatment, with effective therapy currently limited to minimizing potentially harmful ventilation and avoiding a positive fluid balance. Many pharmacological therapies have been investigated with limited success to date. In this review article we provide a state-of-the-art update on recent and ongoing trials, as well as reviewing promising future pharmacological therapies in ARDS.

Laser-driven acceleration of ions:State of the art, perspectives and applications

The acceleration of ions with high-power lasers has been a very active field of research during the past 10 years. This paper summarizes the main results obtained in the field, detailing the mechanisms of the acceleration process and the main observed beam characteristics. Perspectives for future development of the field and current and future applications are also discussed. © 2012 by Società Italiana di Fisica.

Experimental and numerical studies on rock breaking with TBM tools under high stress confinement

The understanding of rock breaking and chipping due to the TBM cutter disks mechanism in deep tunnels is considered in this paper. The interest stems from the use of TBMs for the excavation of long Trans-Alpine tunnels. Some tests that simulate the disk cutter action at the tunnel face by means of an indenter, acting on a rock specimen are proposed. The rock specimen is confined through a flat-jack and a confinement-free area on one side of the specimen simulates the formation of a groove near the indenter, like it occurs in TBM excavation conditions. Results show a limited influence of the confinement stress versus the thrust increment required for breaking the rock between the indenter and the free side of the specimen. Numerical modelling of the cutter disk action on confined material has also been carried out in order to investigate further aspects of the fracture initiation. Also in this case the importance of the relative position between disk cutter and groove is pointed out. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.

Laboratory tests to study the influence of rock stress confinement on the performances of TBM discs in tunnels

To clarify some aspects of rock destruction with a disc acting on a high confined tunnel face, a series of tests were carried out to examine fracture mechanisms under an indenter that simulates the tunnel boring machine (TBM) tool action, in the presence of an adjacent groove, when a state of stress (lateral confinement) is imposed on a rock sample. These tests proved the importance of carefully establishing the optimal distance of grooves produced by discs acting on a confined surface, and the value (as a mere order of magnitude) of the increase of the thrust to produce the initiation of chip formation, as long as the confinement pressure becomes greater. © University of Science and Technology Beijing and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.

Laser-driven ion acceleration: State of the art and emerging mechanisms

Ion acceleration driven by high intensity laser pulses is attracting an impressive and steadily increasing research effort. Experiments over the past 10-15 years have demonstrated, over a wide range of laser and target parameters, the generation of multi-MeV proton and ion beams with unique properties, which have stimulated interest in a number of innovative applications. While most of this work has been based on sheath acceleration processes, where space-charge fields are established by relativistic electrons at surfaces of the irradiated target, a number of novel mechanisms has been the focus of recent theoretical and experimental activities. This paper will provide a brief review of the state of the art in the field of laser-driven ion acceleration, with particular attention to recent developments.