This paper presents the significance analysis of a new type of hybrid composite sandwich wall panel which can be manufactured as modular panelised system. Two different types of natural fibers reinforced plastics (NFR...This paper presents the significance analysis of a new type of hybrid composite sandwich wall panel which can be manufactured as modular panelised system. Two different types of natural fibers reinforced plastics (NFRP) laminate were incorporated into the new sandwich panel as an intermediate layer. The significance analysis in this research has been carried out using analysis of variance (ANOVA). As the aim of the analysis is to select the most appropriate natural fiber composites for the intermediate layer, the experiments were arranged as a single factor experiment in which 3 levels of a factor have been examined. The factor refers to the type of intermediate layer used in the sandwich panel. The result of this study shows that the incorporation of intermediate layer has significantly enhanced the load carrying capacity of the sandwich panels.展开更多
The interaction of biotinylated G4 poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer conjugates and G4 PAMAM dendrimers with in vitro models of the blood brain barrier (BBB) was evaluated using Langmuir Blodgett monolayer techniques...The interaction of biotinylated G4 poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer conjugates and G4 PAMAM dendrimers with in vitro models of the blood brain barrier (BBB) was evaluated using Langmuir Blodgett monolayer techniques, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and lactate dehydrogenase measures of cell membrane toxicity. Results indicate that both G4 and G4 biotinylated PAMAM dendrimers disrupt the composition of the liquid condensed (LC) and liquid expanded (LE) phases of the 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) lipid monolayer. The disruption is concentration dependent and more marked for G4 biotinylated PAMAMs. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays using endothelial cell culture models of the BBB indicate that biotinylation results in higher levels of toxicity than non-biotinylation. This approach provides valuable information to assess nanoparticle toxicity for drug delivery to the brain.展开更多
Background:Placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)is a relatively common procedure used to treat complications of portal hypertension.However,only limited data exist regarding the hospital-r...Background:Placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)is a relatively common procedure used to treat complications of portal hypertension.However,only limited data exist regarding the hospital-readmission rate after TIPS placement and no studies have addressed the causes of hospital readmission.We therefore sought to identify the 30-day hospital-readmission rate after TIPS placement at our institution and to determine potential causes and predictors of readmission.Methods:We reviewed our electronic medical-records system at our institution between 2004 and 2017 to identify patients who had undergone primary TIPS placement with polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents and to determine the 30-day readmission rate among these patients.A series of univariable logistic-regression models were fit to assess potential predictors of 30-day readmission.Results:A total of 566 patients were included in the analysis.The 30-day readmission rate after TIPS placement was 36%.The most common causes for readmission were confusion(48%),infection(15%),bleeding(11%),and fluid overload(7%).A higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease(MELD)score corresponded with a higher rate of readmission(odds ratio associated with each 1-unit increase in MELD score:1.06;95%confidence interval:1.02–1.09;P=0.001).Other potential predictors,including indication for TIPS placement,were not significantly associated with a higher readmission rate.Conclusions:The 30-day readmission rate after TIPS placement with covered stents is high,with nearly half of these readmissions due to hepatic encephalopathy—a known complication of TIPS placement.Novel interventions to help reduce the TIPS readmission rate should be prioritized in future research.展开更多
Background: It is well-founded that empathy is an attribute that increases the likelihood of good communication between health professionals and patients, and it is usual that there is the conviction that empathy leve...Background: It is well-founded that empathy is an attribute that increases the likelihood of good communication between health professionals and patients, and it is usual that there is the conviction that empathy levels are higher in women than in men. Aims: A study comparing levels of empathy gender of students in 18 schools of dentistry from six Latin American countries was conducted. Method: An exploratory cross-sectional study of which empathy levels were measured by the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for dental students (S version) and these levels were compared between genders by t-student test, after verification of normal distribution and homoscedasticity. Results: Variability was found in the results of the comparisons. In some cases, empathy levels were higher in women, others in men and in most of them there were no differences between genders. Conclusions: The observed results do not support the belief that women are more empathetic than men. However, more studies must be performed in more powers and countries to verify that the results described constitute a scientific fact and not just a feature of dental students specifically in the countries studied.展开更多
Objective: The aim of this study is to check whether there are differences in the distribution of empathy levels in dental students from nine faculties of dentistry Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic....Objective: The aim of this study is to check whether there are differences in the distribution of empathy levels in dental students from nine faculties of dentistry Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic. Methods: The levels of empathy and matrices of empathy construct matrices are estimated dental students by using the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, the Spanish version for students (S version) culturally validated in Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic measured by arbitrator criteria. Cronbach α is estimated. Data of empathic orientation of the studied factors between faculties are analyzed and compared by ANOVA and Duncan test and matrices of empathy construct using discriminant analysis. Results: We find that there are differences in levels of empathy between universities, courses, gender and interaction between the Dental Faculty (University) and Course. The comparison between matrices shows unexplained variances and differences observed between the levels of empathy in student populations. Conclusions: Variability in empathy is observed in the studied factors and among student populations. The variability is an empirical finding, but is not possible in this work, to explain why.展开更多
Aerial herbicide drift caused mainly by weather and climatic conditions may be the most challenging problem facing farmers. Spray drift reaching off-target areas can destroy sensitive crops;pollute air and water resou...Aerial herbicide drift caused mainly by weather and climatic conditions may be the most challenging problem facing farmers. Spray drift reaching off-target areas can destroy sensitive crops;pollute air and water resources thus causing serious health problems to humans and animals. Nonetheless, buffer zones of 500 meters are indicated to limit these negative impacts of spray drift. The Guyana Sugar Corporation controls weeds and ripens canes by aerial herbicide application. The corporation, in the 1990s, instituted 750-metre buffer zones, which greatly affected the optimization of aircraft use in herbicide application and ripening of cane. This study tested the utility of the 750-meters buffer zone on Rose Hall, Albion and Blairmont Sugar estates. The actual drift distances were determined within 06:00 hours and 09:00 hours for 9 herbicide applications. Drift patterns associated with the three 1- hour time periods were correlated with prevailing weather conditions to determine optimal flying periods for the locations. The droplets concentration per sensitive paper was collected for each period. It was noted that the drift is less with the distance from the field up to 510 m;thereafter the number of droplets was 2 or less per sensitive paper. The wind speed increases as time goes up, thus increasing the drift. The windward side is where 510 m were recorded to have droplets of 2 and nil at 510 m from the opposite side.展开更多
BACKGROUND:Disruptions in hypothalamic -gonadal and other endocrine axes due to energ y deficits are associ-ated with low levels of the adipocyte-secreted hormone leptin and may result in hypothalami c amenorrhea.We h...BACKGROUND:Disruptions in hypothalamic -gonadal and other endocrine axes due to energ y deficits are associ-ated with low levels of the adipocyte-secreted hormone leptin and may result in hypothalami c amenorrhea.We hypothesized that exogenous recomb inant leptin replace-ment would improve reproductive and neuroendocrine function in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea.METHODS:Eight women with hypothala mic amenorrhea due to strenuous exercise or low weig ht were studied for one month before receiving recombinant human leptin and then while receiving treatment for up to t hree months.Six con-trol subjects with hypothalamic ame norrhea received no treatment and were studied for a mean(±SD)of 8.5±8.1months.RESULTS:Luteinizing hormone(LH)-pulsatility,body weight,ovarian v ariables,and hormone levels did not change significantly over time in the controls and during a one -month control perio d before recombinant leptin therapy in the treated subjec ts.In contrast,recom-binant leptin treatment increased mean LH levels and LH pulse frequency after two weeks and i ncreased maximal follicular diameter,the number of d ominant follicles,ovarian volume,and estradiol levels over a period of three months.Three patients had an ovulatory menstrual cycle(P<0.05for the comparison with an expec ted rate of spontaneous ovulation of 10percent );two others had pre-ovulatory follicular development a nd withdrawal bleeding during treatment (P<0.05).Recombinant leptin signifi-cantly increased levels offree trii odothyronine,free thyrox-ine,insulin -like growth factor 1,i nsulin -like growth factor -binding protein 3,bone alkaline phosphatase,and osteocalcin but not cortisol,corti cotropin,or urinary Ntelopeptide.CONCLUSIONS:Leptin administration for the relative leptin deficiency in wo men with hypothalamic amenorrhea appears to improve repro ductive,thyroid,and growth hormone axes and markers of bone formation,sug-gesting that leptin,a peripheral signal reflecting the ade-quacy of energy stores,is required f or normal reproductive and 展开更多
Sialolithiasis is a common disease that affects the major salivary glands, which is characterized by obstruction of the gland itself or its excretory duct due to the formation of a sialolith, resulting in decreased sa...Sialolithiasis is a common disease that affects the major salivary glands, which is characterized by obstruction of the gland itself or its excretory duct due to the formation of a sialolith, resulting in decreased salivary flow. It mainly affects the submandibular glands (80% - 90%), probably because it has a long duct that surrounds the mylohyoid muscle and <span style="font-family:Verdana;">emerge</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">against gravity through the Wharton’</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s duct</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">. The size of the salivary calculus can vary from below 1 millimeter (mm) to a few centimeters in diameter, where most stay below 10 mm. Only 7% are greater than 15</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">mm and these are classified as giant calculi. This report presents a case of asymptomatic giant sialolith (approximately 60 mm </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">in</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">diameter</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">) located in the duct of the right submandibular gland, with 20 years of evolution. The treatment of choice was the surgical removal of the sialolith (calculus) through the salivary duct with maintenance of the gland. Although the individual did not present complaints related to the presence of the giant calculi, its removal had a great impact on their quality of life, since a significant respiratory improvement was reported by the individual. The major difference reported was</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">better sleep quality.</span>展开更多
The ideal treatment modality for metastatic cancer would be a local treatment that can destroy primary tumors while inducing an effective systemic anti-tumor response.To this end,we de-veloped laser immunotherapy,comb...The ideal treatment modality for metastatic cancer would be a local treatment that can destroy primary tumors while inducing an effective systemic anti-tumor response.To this end,we de-veloped laser immunotherapy,combining photothermal laser application with an immunoadju-vant for the treatment of metastatic cancer.Additionally,to enhance the selective photothermal effect,we integrated light-absorbing nanomaterials into this innovative treatment.Specifically,we developed an immunologically modified carbon nanotube combining single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWNTs)with the immunoadjuvant glycated chitosan(GC).To determine the ef-fectiveness of laser iradiation,a series of experiments were performed using two different irra-diation durations-5 and 10 min.Rats were inoculated with DMBA-4 cancer cells,a metastatic cancer cell line.The treatment group of rats receiving laser irradiation for 10 min had a 50%long-term survival rate without residual primary or metastatic tumnors.The treatment group of rats receiving laser irradiation for 5 min had no long-term survivors;all rats died with multiple metastases at several distant sites.Therefore,Laser+SWNT-GC treatment with 10 min of laser irradiation proved to be efective at reducing tumor size and inducing long-term anti-tumor immunity.展开更多
文摘This paper presents the significance analysis of a new type of hybrid composite sandwich wall panel which can be manufactured as modular panelised system. Two different types of natural fibers reinforced plastics (NFRP) laminate were incorporated into the new sandwich panel as an intermediate layer. The significance analysis in this research has been carried out using analysis of variance (ANOVA). As the aim of the analysis is to select the most appropriate natural fiber composites for the intermediate layer, the experiments were arranged as a single factor experiment in which 3 levels of a factor have been examined. The factor refers to the type of intermediate layer used in the sandwich panel. The result of this study shows that the incorporation of intermediate layer has significantly enhanced the load carrying capacity of the sandwich panels.
文摘The interaction of biotinylated G4 poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer conjugates and G4 PAMAM dendrimers with in vitro models of the blood brain barrier (BBB) was evaluated using Langmuir Blodgett monolayer techniques, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and lactate dehydrogenase measures of cell membrane toxicity. Results indicate that both G4 and G4 biotinylated PAMAM dendrimers disrupt the composition of the liquid condensed (LC) and liquid expanded (LE) phases of the 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) lipid monolayer. The disruption is concentration dependent and more marked for G4 biotinylated PAMAMs. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays using endothelial cell culture models of the BBB indicate that biotinylation results in higher levels of toxicity than non-biotinylation. This approach provides valuable information to assess nanoparticle toxicity for drug delivery to the brain.
基金supported in part by NIH grants U01 DK 061732,U01 AA1026976,and P50 AA024333.
文摘Background:Placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt(TIPS)is a relatively common procedure used to treat complications of portal hypertension.However,only limited data exist regarding the hospital-readmission rate after TIPS placement and no studies have addressed the causes of hospital readmission.We therefore sought to identify the 30-day hospital-readmission rate after TIPS placement at our institution and to determine potential causes and predictors of readmission.Methods:We reviewed our electronic medical-records system at our institution between 2004 and 2017 to identify patients who had undergone primary TIPS placement with polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stents and to determine the 30-day readmission rate among these patients.A series of univariable logistic-regression models were fit to assess potential predictors of 30-day readmission.Results:A total of 566 patients were included in the analysis.The 30-day readmission rate after TIPS placement was 36%.The most common causes for readmission were confusion(48%),infection(15%),bleeding(11%),and fluid overload(7%).A higher Model for End-Stage Liver Disease(MELD)score corresponded with a higher rate of readmission(odds ratio associated with each 1-unit increase in MELD score:1.06;95%confidence interval:1.02–1.09;P=0.001).Other potential predictors,including indication for TIPS placement,were not significantly associated with a higher readmission rate.Conclusions:The 30-day readmission rate after TIPS placement with covered stents is high,with nearly half of these readmissions due to hepatic encephalopathy—a known complication of TIPS placement.Novel interventions to help reduce the TIPS readmission rate should be prioritized in future research.
文摘Background: It is well-founded that empathy is an attribute that increases the likelihood of good communication between health professionals and patients, and it is usual that there is the conviction that empathy levels are higher in women than in men. Aims: A study comparing levels of empathy gender of students in 18 schools of dentistry from six Latin American countries was conducted. Method: An exploratory cross-sectional study of which empathy levels were measured by the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for dental students (S version) and these levels were compared between genders by t-student test, after verification of normal distribution and homoscedasticity. Results: Variability was found in the results of the comparisons. In some cases, empathy levels were higher in women, others in men and in most of them there were no differences between genders. Conclusions: The observed results do not support the belief that women are more empathetic than men. However, more studies must be performed in more powers and countries to verify that the results described constitute a scientific fact and not just a feature of dental students specifically in the countries studied.
文摘Objective: The aim of this study is to check whether there are differences in the distribution of empathy levels in dental students from nine faculties of dentistry Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic. Methods: The levels of empathy and matrices of empathy construct matrices are estimated dental students by using the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy, the Spanish version for students (S version) culturally validated in Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic measured by arbitrator criteria. Cronbach α is estimated. Data of empathic orientation of the studied factors between faculties are analyzed and compared by ANOVA and Duncan test and matrices of empathy construct using discriminant analysis. Results: We find that there are differences in levels of empathy between universities, courses, gender and interaction between the Dental Faculty (University) and Course. The comparison between matrices shows unexplained variances and differences observed between the levels of empathy in student populations. Conclusions: Variability in empathy is observed in the studied factors and among student populations. The variability is an empirical finding, but is not possible in this work, to explain why.
文摘Aerial herbicide drift caused mainly by weather and climatic conditions may be the most challenging problem facing farmers. Spray drift reaching off-target areas can destroy sensitive crops;pollute air and water resources thus causing serious health problems to humans and animals. Nonetheless, buffer zones of 500 meters are indicated to limit these negative impacts of spray drift. The Guyana Sugar Corporation controls weeds and ripens canes by aerial herbicide application. The corporation, in the 1990s, instituted 750-metre buffer zones, which greatly affected the optimization of aircraft use in herbicide application and ripening of cane. This study tested the utility of the 750-meters buffer zone on Rose Hall, Albion and Blairmont Sugar estates. The actual drift distances were determined within 06:00 hours and 09:00 hours for 9 herbicide applications. Drift patterns associated with the three 1- hour time periods were correlated with prevailing weather conditions to determine optimal flying periods for the locations. The droplets concentration per sensitive paper was collected for each period. It was noted that the drift is less with the distance from the field up to 510 m;thereafter the number of droplets was 2 or less per sensitive paper. The wind speed increases as time goes up, thus increasing the drift. The windward side is where 510 m were recorded to have droplets of 2 and nil at 510 m from the opposite side.
文摘BACKGROUND:Disruptions in hypothalamic -gonadal and other endocrine axes due to energ y deficits are associ-ated with low levels of the adipocyte-secreted hormone leptin and may result in hypothalami c amenorrhea.We hypothesized that exogenous recomb inant leptin replace-ment would improve reproductive and neuroendocrine function in women with hypothalamic amenorrhea.METHODS:Eight women with hypothala mic amenorrhea due to strenuous exercise or low weig ht were studied for one month before receiving recombinant human leptin and then while receiving treatment for up to t hree months.Six con-trol subjects with hypothalamic ame norrhea received no treatment and were studied for a mean(±SD)of 8.5±8.1months.RESULTS:Luteinizing hormone(LH)-pulsatility,body weight,ovarian v ariables,and hormone levels did not change significantly over time in the controls and during a one -month control perio d before recombinant leptin therapy in the treated subjec ts.In contrast,recom-binant leptin treatment increased mean LH levels and LH pulse frequency after two weeks and i ncreased maximal follicular diameter,the number of d ominant follicles,ovarian volume,and estradiol levels over a period of three months.Three patients had an ovulatory menstrual cycle(P<0.05for the comparison with an expec ted rate of spontaneous ovulation of 10percent );two others had pre-ovulatory follicular development a nd withdrawal bleeding during treatment (P<0.05).Recombinant leptin signifi-cantly increased levels offree trii odothyronine,free thyrox-ine,insulin -like growth factor 1,i nsulin -like growth factor -binding protein 3,bone alkaline phosphatase,and osteocalcin but not cortisol,corti cotropin,or urinary Ntelopeptide.CONCLUSIONS:Leptin administration for the relative leptin deficiency in wo men with hypothalamic amenorrhea appears to improve repro ductive,thyroid,and growth hormone axes and markers of bone formation,sug-gesting that leptin,a peripheral signal reflecting the ade-quacy of energy stores,is required f or normal reproductive and
文摘Sialolithiasis is a common disease that affects the major salivary glands, which is characterized by obstruction of the gland itself or its excretory duct due to the formation of a sialolith, resulting in decreased salivary flow. It mainly affects the submandibular glands (80% - 90%), probably because it has a long duct that surrounds the mylohyoid muscle and <span style="font-family:Verdana;">emerge</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">against gravity through the Wharton’</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">s duct</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">. The size of the salivary calculus can vary from below 1 millimeter (mm) to a few centimeters in diameter, where most stay below 10 mm. Only 7% are greater than 15</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">mm and these are classified as giant calculi. This report presents a case of asymptomatic giant sialolith (approximately 60 mm </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">in</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">diameter</span></b><span style="font-family:Verdana;">) located in the duct of the right submandibular gland, with 20 years of evolution. The treatment of choice was the surgical removal of the sialolith (calculus) through the salivary duct with maintenance of the gland. Although the individual did not present complaints related to the presence of the giant calculi, its removal had a great impact on their quality of life, since a significant respiratory improvement was reported by the individual. The major difference reported was</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">better sleep quality.</span>
基金supported by grants from the US National Institutes of Health (R21 EB0155091-01)Beijing Natural Science Foundation (4153064)from Beijing Nova program (Z131107000413104)。
文摘The ideal treatment modality for metastatic cancer would be a local treatment that can destroy primary tumors while inducing an effective systemic anti-tumor response.To this end,we de-veloped laser immunotherapy,combining photothermal laser application with an immunoadju-vant for the treatment of metastatic cancer.Additionally,to enhance the selective photothermal effect,we integrated light-absorbing nanomaterials into this innovative treatment.Specifically,we developed an immunologically modified carbon nanotube combining single-walled carbon nanotubes(SWNTs)with the immunoadjuvant glycated chitosan(GC).To determine the ef-fectiveness of laser iradiation,a series of experiments were performed using two different irra-diation durations-5 and 10 min.Rats were inoculated with DMBA-4 cancer cells,a metastatic cancer cell line.The treatment group of rats receiving laser irradiation for 10 min had a 50%long-term survival rate without residual primary or metastatic tumnors.The treatment group of rats receiving laser irradiation for 5 min had no long-term survivors;all rats died with multiple metastases at several distant sites.Therefore,Laser+SWNT-GC treatment with 10 min of laser irradiation proved to be efective at reducing tumor size and inducing long-term anti-tumor immunity.
