Search

To investigate the efficacy of all-arthroscopic glenoid bone augmentation surgery using the iliac crest autograft procedure. Furthermore, we sought to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of using screw versus button fixation, in patients with recurrent anterior shoulder instability. Between 2015 and 2019, 134 shoulders with persistent instability were surgically treated with an arthroscopically placed autologous iliac crest bone graft transfer procedure. Preoperative and postoperative clinical follow-up data were evaluated using the range of motion, and the Walch–Duplay, American Shoulder and Elbow Society, and Rowe scores. Radiologic assessment on 3-dimensional computed tomography scans was performed preoperatively, immediately after surgery, as well as postoperatively, at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and at the final follow-up stage. Graft positions, healing, and resorption were evaluated from postoperative images. This study included 102 patients who underwent arthroscopic iliac crest bone grafting procedure with 2 screws fixation (n = 37; group 1) and 2 button fixation (n = 65; group 2). The mean follow-up period was 37 months. There were no significant differences between groups in terms of clinical scores, shoulder motion range, graft healing, or graft positions on computed tomography scans (P >.05). In group 1, 1 patient showed mechanical irritation and persistent pain around the screw insertion site, being treated through the arthroscopic removal of the screws. The average postoperative bony resorption percentages were 20.3% and 11.2% at 6 months, and 32.4% and 19.3% at 12 months, in group 1 and group 2, respectively. A statistically significant difference was detected between the two groups (P <.05). In the arthroscopic iliac crest bone grafting procedure for the treatment of chronic osseous anterior shoulder instability, excellent functional results were obtained after both button fixation and screw fixation techniques. In addition, less graft resorption and no hardware-related complications were detected with suture button fixation technique. Level III, retrospective comparative therapeutic trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Normal skin flora and suboptimal skin antisepsis are the primary drivers of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Antimicrobial persistence of preoperative skin preparation is necessary to limit microorganisms on the skin and help minimize their entry into an incision or device-insertion site after application.Aim: To assess the antimicrobial persistence of two preoperative skin preparation solutions.Methods: A randomized, single-centre, partially blinded, clinical study was conducted in 103 healthy volunteers to evaluate the persistent antimicrobial properties of BD ChloraPrep™ (2% w/v chlorhexidine gluconate [CHG] + 70% v/v isopropyl alcohol [IPA]) and BD PurPrep™ (8.3% w/w povidone-iodine [PVPI] + 72.5% w/w IPA) skin preparations out to 7 days and 96 h, respectively, on abdomen and groin testing sites. An additional 32 healthy volunteers participated in a neutralization procedure to ensure that the study recovery solution was non-toxic to microorganisms, and a spore-recovery procedure to demonstrate that microorganisms could be successfully recovered from the PVP-I+IPA film-forming product.Findings: Both CHG+IPA and PVP-I+IPA produced a mean bacterial log10 reduction >2 and >3 on the abdomen and groin, respectively, 10 min after application. CHG+IPA maintained antimicrobial persistence out to 7 days post application, whereas PVP-I+IPA maintained antimicrobial persistence out to 96 h post application, the longest time-point selected for this product.Conclusion: CHG+IPA and PVP-I+IPA were both found to be effective, persistent antiseptic skin preparations. Overall, skin irritation was uncommon, and only one adverse event occurred following product application, which was not considered product-related but was considered procedure-related. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analysis of antiseptic solutions using in vitro and in vivo studies • Evaluation of antimicrobial activity, clinical efficacy, and adhesive strength • PVP-I+IPA and Iodine Povacrylex+IPA are both effective skin preparation solutions Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a persistent clinical challenge caused primarily by bacteria on the skin. Proper utilization of optimized antiseptic skin preparation solutions helps reduce the prevalence and impact of HAIs by decreasing patient skin microorganisms preoperatively. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of 2 antimicrobial solutions containing iodine and isopropyl alcohol (IPA): Povidone iodine (PVP-I) with IPA (ie, PVP-I+IPA, PurPrep) and Iodine Povacrylex+IPA (DuraPrep). The antimicrobial activity of the test solutions was evaluated in vitro by determinations of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) against 1105 diverse microbial isolates and a time-kill assay to evaluate efficacy against 120 strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and yeasts. Peel tests were performed between skin samples treated with test solutions and representative drape/dressing materials to determine effects of test solutions on the biomechanical adhesion properties. Finally, an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved, randomized, controlled, single-center, partially blinded in vivo study was performed to assess the immediate and persistent antimicrobial activity of the test solutions on the abdomen and groin. Both PVP-I+IPA and Iodine Povacrylex+IPA solutions demonstrated broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with MIC and MBC at less than 1% of the full-strength concentration of each product against a wide variety of microorganisms. In the time-kill tests, both solutions were able to successfully reduce all microbial populations by 99.99% (ie, 4 log 10) at the contact times of 30 seconds, 2 minutes and 10 minutes. The 2 solutions showed relatively similar adhesion results when tested with 3 representative operating room materials. Both PVP-I+IPA and Iodine Povacrylex+IPA met the expected Food and Drug Administration (FDA) efficacy requirements at 10 minutes and 6 hours post-treatment for both anatomic sites (ie, groin, and abdomen) in the clinical study, with no safety issues or adverse events. Analysis of the in vitro antimicrobial activity, biomechanical adhesive strength, and in vivo efficacy of PVP-I+IPA demonstrated similar results compared to Iodine Povacrylex+IPA. Both products were efficacious at reducing or eliminating a wide range of clinically-relevant microorganisms in lab-based and clinical settings, supporting their use as antiseptic skin preparation solutions to reduce bacteria on the skin that can cause infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-5, CD40L and HGF were elevated simultaneously in both AIS and hemorrhagic stroke patients. • IL-2R, IL-10, IL-16, MIP-3alpha and MMP-1 were differentially expressed in AIS patients compared to control group. • IL-6, IL-7, IL-20, IL-21, BAFF, BLC, IFN-alpha, MIP-1alpha and TRAIL were uniquely varied in hemorrhagic stroke patients compared to control group. • IL-6 and TNF-beta were found to be key cytokines among the 65 inflammatory factors to distinguish cerebral hemorrhage from cerebral ischemia. Sufficient understanding of the systemic inflammatory response after stroke will make the therapeutic strategy targeting inflammation more feasible. Here, we aimed to identify the globally alterations of circulating cytokines in super-acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A broad panel of 65 cytokines was measured in the plasma of twenty-eight AIS patients within 6 h after stroke onset (n = 28), cerebral hemorrhagic patients (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 18). The diagnostic power of the candidate cytokines and their relationship with the number of lymphocytes and neutrophils were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and spearman rank correlation respectively. The expression level of plasma IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-2R, IL-5, IL-10, CD40L, HGF, MIP-3alpha and MMP-1 were obviously up-regulated, while IL-16 was down-regulated in AIS patients compared to healthy controls. Among them, IL-2R, IL-10, IL-16, MIP-3alpha, and MMP-1 were specially altered in AIS patients, while IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-5, CD40L and HGF were elevated simultaneously in AIS and hemorrhagic stroke patients. Interestingly, IL-6 and TNF-beta were found to be key facytors among the 65 cytokines to distinguish hemorrhage from ischemia. Furthermore, IL-1beta, IL-16, CD40L and HGF were obviously correlated with the number of lymphocytes, and IL-1beta and IL-16 were significantly associated with the number of neutrophils in AIS patients. These results suggest that lymphocytes and neutrophils associated inflammation may play a pivotal role in AIS. Importantly, except for some mutual pathological processes, AIS and hemorrhage had their own distinctive pathogenesis, and transformation of this knowledge to further research may provide novel treatment strategy for AIS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CLA, IPCC inventory, and Input-Output Model account for CCEs from older population. • Dynamic trend of CCEs of the elderly per person in China is analyzed. • Random effects model is integrated to regression to explore influencing factors. • Mitigation strategies related to elderly CCEs are proposed for different actors. Climate change and population aging are inevitably the two most significant global challenges. Senior population growth in China is accompanied by an increase in consumption-induced carbon emissions (CCEs). The study's contribution of a deeper understanding of the intertemporal relationship between senior characteristics and multi-category CCEs provides the theoretical foundation for the formulation of mitigation strategies. This study utilizes panel data obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) surveys in 2013, 2015, and 2018 to compute the per capita CCEs for elderly adults across eight major consumption categories. It also exposes the dynamic influences of individual characteristics on CCEs by estimating the mixed effects model. Based on the findings, accommodation, transportation and communication, and food comprise the top three categories of CCEs. Furthermore, seniors' consumption preferences have gradually drifted from basic necessities to pleasurable experiences and healthcare services. Notably, seniors' characteristics (e.g., income, health, education, marital status, residential type, and the degree of urbanization) exert distinctively dynamic impacts on each type of CCEs over time. In pursuit of a greener aging society, this study proposes various implementation strategies for mitigating CCEs among different actors (the government, community, manufacturers, and older individuals) in light of the captured intricate mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air balancing is a key technology for improving indoor environmental quality and reducing ventilation system energy consumption. Existing air balancing methods just considered damper angles and fan control voltages, combined as single constraint strategy to balance air. Fan power, as the direct parameter affecting system electricity consumption, has not been included in air balancing modelling. On the other hand, single constraint strategy makes current methods inflexible to maintain airflow accuracy and energy efficiency together. This paper proposes a novel air balancing energy-saving model with multiple constraint control strategy. Damper angle, fan control voltage, and fan power are combined by an improved perceptron model. It is aimed at minimizing ventilation system energy consumption, by achieving optimal airflow accuracy and energy conservation. The proposed improved perceptron under multiple constraints (IPMC) method is validated on the experimental system with 5 terminals, air balancing relative errors within 6.0 %. Compared with the current high-precision and energy-saving methods in references, IPMC reduces energy consumption by 12.0 % and 7.6 %, respectively, with improved airflow prediction accuracy. The proposed air balancing method has three innovation: 1) Constrained by the fan power, the IPMC method improves ventilation energy efficiency; 2) Independent and flexible constraints enable more accurate airflow control; 3) Integrated by an improved perceptron, multiple constraints consider airflow prediction accuracy and energy conservation at the same time. This method is expected to better satisfy airflow demand and reduce effectively energy consumption of ventilation system, thus improving building ventilation energy utilization efficiency without losing thermal comfort and indoor air quality. • The novel method considers airflow accuracy and energy conservation at the same time. • Fan power, damper angle and fan voltage are combined as multiple constraints. • Flexible multiple parameter adjustment is achieved by an improved perceptron. • The energy consumption is reduced by 12.0 % compared with the typical reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First study to show circRNAs expression profile of neutrophil transcriptome in patients with asymptomatic MMD. • Involved in signaling pathways regulating pluripotency of stem cells, targeting neutrophil may alter stem cell fate. • Altered target genes of DE-circRNAs were enriched in nervous system development, in the plasma membrane and involved in binding activity. • Some target genes of DE-circRNAs were predicted enriched in angiogenesis related pathways including HIF-1 pathway. • DE-circRNAs included the ones derived from the protein-coding genes such as DLG5, PTPRK, ITGB7, EIF4G3, PUM2 and ACTB. Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare cerebrovascular disorder with higher incidences in Eastern Asian countries but the natural course remains uncertain. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been implicated in brain disorders, but their role in the development of MMD is unclear. Neutrophil depletion has been shown to affect stem cell migration, fate, and therapeutic outcomes. We investigated the circRNAs expression profile of neutrophil transcriptome in patients with asymptomatic MMD. Microarray based circRNAs profiling was determined between neutrophil samples from patients with asymptomatic MMD and healthy subjects. The microarray results were followingly confirmed by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses (KEGG) were adopted for annotation and predicting the functions of differentially expressed circRNAs. From this comparative circRNA microarray analysis of neutrophil samples from patients with asymptomatic MMD and healthy subjects, 123 circRNAs were identified differentially expressed between the two groups. Of these, 54 were upregulated and 69 were downregulated compared to controls (fold change >2.0 and P < 0.05). GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the differentially expressed circRNAs were mainly involved in immune responses, angiogenesis and metabolism in asymptomatic MMD. Besides, the hypoxia inducing factor-1α signaling pathway was found to be the critical pathway involved in the angiogenesis of disease pathogenesis. This is a pilot study on the neutrophils from the asymptomatic MMD and aberrantly expressed circRNAs in the profiling obtained by high-throughput microarray may help provide insights into MMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a seafood-borne Gram-negative bacteria causing diarrheal diseases in humans world wide. ToxR is a membrane-associated transcriptional factor which plays an important role in acid stress tolerance and regulates the expression of virulence genes including type III secretion system 1 (T3SS1) and type VI secretion system 1 (T6SS1) in V. parahaemolyticus. However, possible mechanisms of ToxR mediating virulence gene expression have not been fully understood. In this study, we demonstrated that ToxR is essential for V. parahaemolyticus to tolerate acid stress by constructing a ToxR deletion mutant (Δ toxR) and its complemented strain (toxR +). Quantitative PCR showed that the expression of toxR was up regulated under acid stress condition. RNA-seq analysis showed that ompU encoding one of outer membrane proteins was dramatically down regulated in Δ toxR. Furthermore, the mutation of ompU also led to a significant reduction in tolerating acid stress indicating that ToxR mediated acid stress through regulating ompU expression. RNA-seq results further confirmed that acid stress condition could alter multiple signaling pathways either depending on ToxR (e.g., quorum sensing, fatty acid metabolism) or independent of ToxR (e.g., biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, microbial metabolism in diverse environment, biosynthesis of antibiotics, biosynthesis of amino acids and carbon metabolism pathways). We also for the first time demonstrated that ToxR positively regulated the expression of T6SS2 gene and the interbacteria killing activity. Our study provides comprehensive understanding of signaling pathways which are regulated by both acid stress and ToxR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a Gram-negative halophilic bacterium that is mainly distributed in the seafood such as fish, shrimps and shellfish throughout the world. V. parahaemolyticus can cause diseases in marine aquaculture, leading to huge economic losses to the aquaculture industry. More importantly, it is also the leading cause of seafood-borne diarrheal disease in humans worldwide. With the development of animal model, next-generation sequencing as well as biochemical and cell biological technologies, deeper understanding of the virulence factors and pathogenic mechanisms of V. parahaemolyticus has been gained. As a globally transmitted pathogen, the pathogenicity of V. parahaemolyticus is closely related to a variety of virulence factors. This article comprehensively reviewed the molecular mechanisms of eight types of virulence factors: hemolysin, type III secretion system, type VI secretion system, adhesion factor, iron uptake system, lipopolysaccharide, protease and outer membrane proteins. This review comprehensively summarized our current understanding of the virulence factors in V. parahaemolyticus , which are potentially new targets for the development of therapeutic and preventive strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Along with increases in the aging population and the number of elderly facilities, the existing unsustainable patterns of building operations have caused a series of space-related problems such as space waste, increasing operational costs and poor living environment. An effective method to resolve these problems is sustainable space management (SSM), which is a particularly good fit for nonprofit elderly facilities with limited capital budgets. However, one critical barrier to SSM is the lack of a sustainability measurement model in recent studies and practices. To overcome this barrier, this paper first develops a conceptual sustainability framework with five elements, or sustainability dimensions (SDs): facility characteristics, facility management organization, economic sustainability, environmental sustainability and social sustainability. Afterwards, an initial list of indicators evaluating the sustainability of space management is identified through a literature review and interviews with experts. Meanwhile, several hypothesized relationships among the five SDs are proposed based on experience and prior studies. A questionnaire survey to collect raw data regarding stakeholders' views of China's elderly facilities is conducted to identify the significance of these sustainability indicators (SIs). Furthermore, a structural equation modeling analysis comprising confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis is conducted to examine the measurement model as well as the proposed hypotheses. Based on a discussion of the key SIs (KSIs), significant paths for driving sustainability in space management within elderly facilities are proposed. The findings will fill the blind spot that facility managers experience when practicing daily space management to promote sustainability. Highlights • A conceptual model describing five sustainable dimensions (SDs) are developed for space management in elderly facilities. • Sustainability indicators (SIs) underlying SDs for space management in elderly facilities are identified. • Five key sustainable indicators (KSIs) are selected using two-dimension significance analysis. • Relationships among SDs are explored, and the social sustainability dimension occupied the core position. • Paths for influencing the sustainability of space management in elderly facilities are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the study was to characterize subchondral bone remodeling by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histopathologic assessment of temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) and to analyze the correlations between them.Study Design: The retrospective study was based on 153 joints of 100 patients. These patients had undergone MRI and had been diagnosed with temporomandibular joint internal derangement Wilkes stage IV-V, followed by the failure of conservative or arthroscopic/anchorage treatment. We evaluated and compared 136 joints based on MRI and histopathologic observation. According to the modified Osteoarthritis Research Society International system and the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders system, the scores of histopathology and MRI were compared by using kappa categorical agreement analysis.Results: MRI showed subchondral bone changes in 153 joints, 136 of which had been subjected to surgical treatment and histopathologic assessment. Statistical tests revealed substantial agreement between MRI and histopathology (κ value: 0.779).Conclusions: MRI is an effective technique to evaluate the pathologic changes of TMJOA. Our histopathologic grading criteria contributed to the clarification of the occurrence and developmental process of TMJOA. Therefore, the evidence of MRI should be seen as a reference standard for the choice of nonsurgical or surgical therapy in the management of TMJOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To verify the feasibility of using the ultra-high ductility cementitious composites (UHDCC) for construction without steel reinforcement, the mechanical properties of UHDCC was experimentally tested at material, structural member and structure levels. The tensile strength of UHDCC was from 5 MPa to 20 MPa, the average tensile strain capacity was 8% with the maximum value up to 12%. Four-point bending tests demonstrated that the plain UHDCC beams can match the loading capacity of conventional reinforced concrete beams with the steel reinforcement ratio of 0.5–1.5%. The deflection-span ratio of all the plain UHDCC beams exceeded 1/50 at the peak load. The eccentric compressive loading tests showed that the loading capacity of plain UHDCC column was close to that of RC column with a steel ratio of 0.8%. Additionally, shaking table tests were implemented on a RC frame (steel reinforcement ratios of columns were about 2.0%) and a plain UHDCC frame. The UHDCC frame survived 3 kinds of earthquakes with the peak ground acceleration from 0.105 g to 1.178 g, and exhibited excellent inter-story drift control under extremely strong earthquakes. The performance of the UHDCC frame fulfilled the requirements of various seismic codes. The feasibility of non-steel reinforced UHDCC structure was preliminarily confirmed by this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus suis is an important zoonotic pathogen that causes severe infections and great economic losses worldwide. Understanding how this pathogen senses and responds to environmental signals during the infectious process can offer insight into its pathogenesis and may be helpful in the development of drug targets. Two-component regulatory systems (TCSs) play an essential role in this environmental response. In S. suis , at least 15 groups of TCSs have been predicted. Among them, several have been demonstrated to be involved in virulence and/or stress response. In this review, we discuss the progress in the study of TCSs in S. suis , focusing on the role of these systems in the virulence of this bacterium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid carbon source (SCS)-based denitrification is a promising technique for nitrogen removal from sewage. However, a sustainable and effective supply of carbon sources, crucial to denitrification performance, has always been challenging. This study developed four synthetic SCSs: biochar (BC), poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), PHBV loaded on biochar (BCP), and PHBV loaded on biochar-supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (BCPF), to examine their denitrification efficiency enhancement. Insufficient carbon sources caused low nitrate removal (<45%) in the BC reactor during the entire experiment. At the biofilm formation stage (influent nitrate: 40 mg L-1), the relatively higher nitrate removal in biochar-based SCS reactors than in the P reactor in the first 4 h indicated that the biochar's rapid release of carbon sources played a priming role in denitrification. Then, the subsequent sharp decrease in nitrate removal revealed the biochar's unsustainable release of carbon sources for the denitrifiers. Similar to the P reactor, the nitrate removal in BCP and BCPF reactors gradually increased after 12 h until the 48 h mark, where the high nitrate removal efficiency was stabilized (P: 79.93%−93.74%, BCP: 86.90%−100%, and BCPF: 91.68%−100%), except in the BC reactor. Evidently, the decomposed products from PHBV provided sustainable carbon sources for the denitrifiers. Compared with the P reactor in the continuous running stage, BCP and (especially) BCPF reactors exhibited excellent resistance to load impact. Here, PHBV supplied sustainable carbon sources and electron donors for denitrification, while nZVI served as extra electron donors. The biochar dominantly provided habitats for denitrifiers and functioned as an electron mediator. [Display omitted] • A novel SCSs was synthesized by loading PHBV on biochar-supported nZVI. • BCPF had the excellent denitrification performance and resistance to load impact. • Biochar provided habitats for denitrifiers and served as electron mediator. • PHBV provided the sustainable carbon sources and electron donors for denitrifiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To establish a goat model for traumatic temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and describe the gross appearance and histopathologic changes for the prognostic comparison of different types of TMJ trauma. Materials and Methods According to clinical traumatic types, 16 adult goats were randomly divided into 4 groups based on outcome of surgical induction: 1) disc displacement without reduction (DD), 2) condylar cartilage defect (CCD), 3) DD plus CCD, and 4) control. TMJs were removed and observed 2 weeks and 1 month after the operation. These specimens were compared and evaluated based on gross appearance and histopathologic observations with hematoxylin and eosin and toluidine blue stains. The histopathologic score of condylar cartilage was observed and compared across the 4 groups using SPSS 17.0 software. Result Three traumatic TMJ goat models were successfully established. At 2 weeks and 1 month after surgical induction, the DD group showed slightly irregular cartilage compared with the C group, with disordered cartilage composition, little angiogenesis, and proteoglycan degradation. The CCD group showed fibrous adhesion between the condyle and the disc without reparative cartilage tissues; the remaining cartilage was normal in composition and proteoglycan content. The DD + CCD group showed fibrous adhesions and irregular condylar cartilage with disordered cartilage composition and decreased matrix proteoglycans. The scores of cartilage degeneration among the 4 groups showed significant differences at 2 weeks and 1 month (DD + CCD > DD > CCD; P < .05). Conclusion Among the 3 traumatic TMJ models, DD plus CCD can cause osteoarthritis (OA) and adhesions in the joint, DD can cause only OA, and CCD with the disc in normal position merely affects the remnant cartilage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to present a systematic study on high-temperature creep and post-creep response of structural steels. A wide range of stress levels (0.4‐1.1 of the yield strength) was adopted to span all possible loads when conducting creep tests at temperature range from 300 to 800 °C. Their effects on plain steel Q345B and high-strength steel Q460GJ were compared. After cooling, the residual mechanical properties of the crept specimens were tested and analyzed. Based on the results of the high-temperature creep tests, densely connected network (DenseNet) model was proposed for predicting the creep response of the structural steels at varied temperatures and stress levels. The predicted values obtained from the model were in good agreement with the corresponding experimental results. The validated model is recommended for reference in structural fire design. [Display omitted] • The stress level and elevated temperature have a significant influence on the creep behavior of structural steel. • The higher steel strength is not attributed to improve the creep behavior. • Artificial neural network is a promising approach for predicting the creep behavior of structural steels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Two new components have been isolated from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. [•] The isolated components were evaluated for their antiplatelet aggregative activity. [•] The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data and CD analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The partial interaction in bolted-side-plated (BSP) beams is studied. [•] Theoretical and numerical studies are conducted to investigate its influence. [•] Two simple factors are used to indicate the degree of partial interaction. [•] A common value is recommended for these factors to simplify strengthening design. [•] Retrofitting schemes are proposed for lightly and moderately reinforced RC beams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Our aim was to describe the effects of soft tissue injury to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), to analyse possible reasons for it, and to evaluate the results of treatment. Eight patients (12 joints) who developed disorders of the TMJ after trauma to the mandible without fracture of the condyle were treated in our department from 2009 to 2010. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) were used to check the condition of the joint. Five patients had their joints explored to relieve pain and improve mouth opening. MRI showed all 12 joints had displaced discs. CT showed that the surface of the condylar bone was “intact” immediately after injury but destroyed later in 8 joints. Exploration showed fibrous ankylosis in 5, osteoarthritis with intra-articular adhesions in 2, and internal derangement in 1. Four were treated by costochondral graft (CCG) with 7 symptomatic joints. The disc was repositioned in 1 case with 1 affected joint. The mean maximal incision opening at follow-up were significantly better than the one before treatment (mean 34 compared with 23mm, p =0.02). Pain in the TMJ was relieved by operation in all patients so treated. The other 3 patients (4 joints) had no treatment because their symptoms were minor and mouth opening was not restricted. Soft tissue injuries of the TMJ can potentially lead to internal derangement, osteoarthrosis, and possibly fibrous ankylosis, which should be considered during follow-up. Displacement of the disc and damage to the condylar cartilage seem to be the causes of these complications. Surgical management is effective in the short term. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Our aim was to investigate the role of retention of the condylar cartilage in open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of intracapsular condylar fractures (ICFs) in growing goats by three-dimensional computed tomographic (CT) analysis. Twelve goats 6 months old were randomly divided into three groups. ICFs were created bilaterally in mandibular condyles and treated with ORIF. On the one side (n =4) the condylar cartilage was removed, and on the other side (n =4) it was retained. Condyles in the control group (n =4) were untouched. CT scans were taken immediately postoperatively, and 3 and 6 months later. The heights of the rami among the three groups were compared, There were significant reductions in the height of rami in the group from which the cartilage had been removed 3 and 6 months postoperatively compared with controls, but no significant differences between control group and the group in which it had been retained. We conclude that retaining condylar cartilage in the ORIF for ICF of growing goats has no harmful effect on condylar growth, but removal can limit growth. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]