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Laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) additive manufacturing (AM) enables production of complex metal parts. The PBF-LB process is, however, prone to the formation of voids, that can compromise the mechanical properties of the final product. Advancements to in-situ sensing and data processing enables the detection of void formation mid-process. If sensing data can be processed efficiently and in real-time, there is the possibility to mitigate voids in-situ, without relying on post-process methods, such as hot isostatic pressing (HIP). Mitigating defects in-situ reduces energy and material expense, limits the need for post-processing, and improves process reliability and consistency. This study investigates two in-situ strategies for targeted void mitigation in PBF-LB of Ti-6Al-4V: (1) targeted intralayer re-melt mitigation (TIRM, re-processing void regions before powder recoating) and (2) targeted interlayer parameter adjustment (TIPA, adjusting the laser power when processing in the void region on the subsequent layer after a void). For each mitigation strategy, the size of the mitigation area relative to the size of the void and the laser power used for mitigation were varied. To systematically assess mitigation success, surrogate voids were programmatically induced during part fabrication at known locations by decreasing the laser power when processing within predetermined regions over sequential layers. This work provides insight into the proper mitigation parameters to effectively heal voids and understanding into the limits of in-situ void mitigation. For both mitigation strategies, optimal mitigation parameters resulted in complete elimination of voids or a significant reduction in void volume. These results indicate that voids detected during PBF-LB AM can be reduced in volume or eliminated in-situ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhinitis is an allergic disease that causes troubles and restlessness for patients. In this research work we will focus on finding promising organic molecules with potential ability to target histamine receptor with no sedative side effect. Phalazines and their isosteres, pyrimidines and pyridines have been reported to target H1 receptors, for this reason we have searched for library of these basic scaffolds, this library which has 184 organic molecules will be subjected for further explorations through computer aided drug design techniques. Swiss ADMET will be used to gather these compounds in clusters. Cluster with low potential to penetrate BBB is selected for virtual screening through pharmacophore model. Then molecular docking that revealed the stability of the complex formed between the investigated molecules and H1 receptor. ADMET profile showed three compounds (XVIII), (XX), and (XXI) with no toxicity on liver and no effect on CYP2D6, these three compounds were subjected to molecular dynamic simulations and compound (XVIII) showed the most stable complex with the target protein (H1). Finally, we can say this work helped us to find new compounds with promising potential to target H1 without ability to penetrate BBB, so they can be used as useful candidates in treatment of rhinitis and deserve to be subjected for preclinical and clinical investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Robotic abdominoplasty to correct abdominal wall lateral bulging in adult PBS patients using longitudinal plication sutures to reinforce the fascial defect, followed by the application of a mesh, is feasible and presents good functional and cosmetic results. Prune belly syndrome (PBS) is defined by three major findings: deficiency of the abdominal musculature, bilateral undescended testicles and genitourinary tract anomalies [[1]]. There are several abdominal wall plication techniques for abdominoplasty in PBS patients, including open and laparoscopic techniques [[1], [3]]. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: The enhanced view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) concept first applied to inguinal hernias has become an important tool in the armamentarium of ventral hernia repair. The purpose of this report is to date the first brazilian robotic-assisted eTEP ventral hernia repair case series.Methods: A review of a prospectively maintained database was conducted in patients who underwent robotic-assisted enhanced view totally extraperitoneal (eTEP) for ventral hernia repair between June 2018 and January 2020. Patients demographics, preoperative hernia characteristics, intraoperative variables and postoperative outcomes were evaluated.Results: Our review identified 74 patients submitted to the procedure. Thirty-one patients (41.8%) presented primary ventral hernias (PVHs) and 43 patients (58.2%) presented incisional hernias (IHs). Female patients were predominant in both groups PVHs and IHs with 17 (22.9%) and 22 (29.7%) respectively, with a total of 39 patients (52.7%). Mean BMI was 29.1 kg/m2 (range 21.3-48.0 kg/m2) with higher mean BMI rates of 30.3 kg/m2 in the IHs group (range 22-48 years). A lateral dock setup was utilized in 55 cases (74.4%), having the inferior and superior dock setup in 18 (24.3%) and 1 (1.3%) cases respectively. Mean console time was 148.3 (range 75-277 min) and 192.6 min (range 66-301 min) in the PVHs and IHs groups respectively. There were no intraoperative complications or conversions. Average length of stay was 1.5 days. Four patients were readmitted within 30 days of surgery. There were no reoperation or cases of intraparietal herniation in this cohort. No hernia recurrence was verified during the mean 230.7 days of follow up in both groups.Conclusion: We present the first brazilian series to-date of the robotic assisted eTEP approach for ventral hernia repairs. Although long term outcomes require further analysis, its feasibility and reproducibility in experienced surgeons hands are evident, with safe and acceptable early postoperative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The introduction of the minimally invasive approach changed the way abdominal surgery was carried out. Open suture and mesh reinforcement in ventral hernia repair used to be the surgeon's choice of procedure. Although the laparoscopic approach, with defect bridging and mesh fixation, has been described since 1993, the procedure remains largely unchanged. Evidence shows that defect closure and retro-muscular mesh positioning have the best outcomes and are the best surgical practice. We therefore aimed to develop and demonstrate a procedure which combined the good results of open surgery using the Rives-Stoppa principles, particularly in terms of recurrence, with all the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.Methods: Between October 2012 and February 2014, 15 post-bariatric surgery patients underwent laparoscopic midline incisional hernia repair. The peritoneal cavity was accessed through a 5-mm optical view cannula at the superior left quadrant. A suprapubic and two right and left lower quadrant cannulas were inserted for inferior access and dissection. The defect adhesions were released. The whole midline was closed with an endoscopic linear stapler, including the defect, from the lower abdomen, 4 cm below the umbilicus, until the epigastric region, including posterior sheath mechanical suturing and cutting in the same movement. A retrorectus space was created in which a retro-muscular mesh was deployed. Fixation was done using a hernia stapler against the posterior sheath from the peritoneal cavity to the abdominal wall muscles. Selection was based on xifo-umbilical incisional midline hernias post open bariatric surgery. Pregnant women, cancer patients, or patients with clinical contraindications were excluded.Results: The patients mean age was 51.2 years (range 39-67). Four patients were men and eleven women. Two had well-compensated fibromyalgia, four had diabetes, and five had hypertension. The mean BMI was 29.5 kg/m2 (range 23-31.6). Surgery was performed successfully in all cases through four ports; the number of incisional hernias was 3 ± 2, with a mean maximum width of 3.75 cm (range 2.1-9) and maximum length of 14 cm (7.5-20.5). The mean surgical time was 114.3 min (range 85-170), and the median hospital stay was 1.4 days. No intra-operative or immediate post-operative complication or death occurred. One patient had a seroma treated conservatively 1 week after surgery and another had a retro-muscular infection treated with percutaneous drainage. CT-Scans made before and after the procedure, showed total closure of the defect. QOL questionnaire showed satisfaction, acceptance, and no complaints.Conclusion: Although the study involved a small number of patients, it has proved the technique to be feasible, easy to perform, and have the combined benefits of laparoscopic and open surgery. The results, shown by CT-scan, peri-operative, and QOL findings, were good. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrochemical removal of sulfide ions was achieved in salt water using graphite anodes in an autoclave under high temperatures and pressures, simulating geothermal fluids. The reaction products were characterized using microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). At low temperatures the reaction rate is quite small. It decreases rapidly with time down to a negligibly small value, which increases only slightly with temperature. The reaction produces elemental sulfur, which was seen under the microscope and identified using XPS. It passivates the electrode and hence diminishes its activity. Above about 115 °C, much higher removal rates can be sustained for much longer times, while the increase of temperature has a much stronger effect on the reaction rate. Under this condition, elemental sulfur was no longer detected among the reaction products, while the electrode retained its activity for continuous operation. The XPS spectra at high temperatures reveal the presence of oxygen bearing sulfur species, such as sulfates. The melting of sulfur (at 115 °C) has a much stronger effect on the efficiency of the process than the transition of orthorhombic to monoclinic sulfur (at 95 °C). A Clausius-Clapeyron’s analysis reveals that the melting point of sulfur inside the autoclave is nearly equal to its normal melting point. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through incubation of onion ( Allium cepa L.) seed samples on potato dextrose agar and moist filter papers at 28±2°C, 32 species and four varieties belonging to 19 genera of fungi were determined as seedborne in this crop. Among them, 23 species are new reports to the mycoflora of onion seeds. Aspergillus (11 species and three varieties, ∼42.1% of the total colony count of fungi) was the most prevalent genus: A. niger (∼19.7%) was found at the highest rate in the seeds, followed by A. parasiticus (∼17.3%, A. oryzae (∼17.3%) and A. flavus (∼14.5%). The genus Aspergillus was followed by Penicillium (∼12.4%), Sclerotium (∼7.1%), Fennellia, Rhizopus, Chaetomium, Drechslera and Alternaria (∼12.4%), Fusarium, Emericella and Byssochlamys (∼7.1%), whereas the remaining eight genera displayed a low level of infection (∼10%). Twenty-seven species, three varieties and 12 genera represent Hyphomycetes; four genera, three species and one variety — Ascomycotina; one genus and one species — Zygomycotina; two genera and two species — other Deuteromycotina; and one genus — Oomycetes. Some species, which are known to cause devastating pre- and postharvest diseases to onion crops, were recovered from the seeds of this crop, suggesting the high possibility of their transmission by seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to compare the inguinal area, known as "Hessert's triangle", in patients undergoing surgical treatment for inguinal hernia with the area in fresh cadavers without hernia. The 73 cadavers, which were not fixed in formalin, were examined within 15 h post mortem. A total of 132 measurements were made in these cadavers and compared with 130 measurements in 115 hernia patients. The average age was 44.2 years for patients and 32.7 years for cadavers. The mean height and weight were 1.68 m and 69.9 kg for hernia patients and 1.67 m and 70.0 kg for the cadavers, respectively. The mean area of Hessert's triangle was 8.97 cm2 (range 2.28-29.62 cm2) in the hernia patients and 2.95 cm2 (range 1.37-5.92 cm2) in the cadavers. This difference was statistically significant (P < 0.00). A larger triangle is created by a higher intersections of the internal oblique and transversus muscles and its aponeurosis to the rectus sheath. When these muscles contract, they move toward the inguinal ligament to occlude the triangle, but with a larger triangle, the occlusion is incomplete. Our anatomical measurements verified that the size of Hessert's triangle is an important factor in the etiology of inguinal hernia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this work was to investigate the effect of gamma irradiated entomopathogenic nematode EPN; Steinernema scapterisci on third and fourth larval instars of Culex pipiens under laboratory conditions and its effect on the elemental composition of the treated larvae. Results showed that normal and irradiated tested nematodes differed in their efficacies against third and fourth larval instars. The mortality rates increased with increasing the nematode concentration and the period after treatment, in most cases the mortality in fourth instar larvae was more than in third instar larvae under the same treatments, and the percentage of mortality in irradiated nematodes was more than that in unirradiated ones. Studying the elemental composition showed that phosphorus (P) was the highest concentration in untreated larvae or those treated with normal S. scapterisci, while calcium (Ca) was the highest concentration in gamma irradiated S. scapterisci. The lowest concentration in untreated larvae was zinc (Zn), while copper (Cu) was the lowest concentration in unirradiated and 2 Gy gamma irradiated S. scapterisci. In conclusion, the gamma irradiation of S. scapterisci enhanced its efficacy against C. pipiens, therefore it could serve as safe control method for C. pipiens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts of various studies on hernia management which includes umbilicoplasty in children with Huge umbilical hernia, laproscopic trans-abdominal midline reconstruction and single-incision laparoscopic total repair of spigelian and inguinal hernias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]