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Understanding crystal growth kinetics is of great importance for the development and manufacturing of crystalline molecular materials. In this work, the impact of additives on the growth kinetics of benzamide form I (BZM-I) crystals has been studied. Using our newly developed crystal growth setup for the measurement of facet-specific crystal growth rates under flow, BZM-I growth rates were measured in the presence of various additives previously reported to induce morphological changes. The additives did not have a significant impact on the growth rates of BZM-I at low concentrations. By comparison to other systems, these additives could not be described as "effective" since BZM-I showed a high tolerance of the additives' presence during growth, which may be a consequence of the type of growth mechanisms at play. Growth of pure BZM-I was found to be extremely defected, and perhaps those defects allow the accommodation of impurities. An alternative explanation is that at low additive concentrations, solid solutions are formed, which was indeed confirmed for a few of the additives. Additionally, the growth of BZM-I was found to be significantly affected by solution dynamics. Changes in some facet growth rates were observed with changes in the orientation of the BZM-I single crystals relative to the solution flow. Of the two sets of facets involved in the growth of the width and length of the crystal, the {10

Resumen Introduccion y objetivo Se han notificado resultados contradictorios sobre un aumento en la intensidad de la senal (IS) en las imagenes de resonancia magnetica (RM) ponderadas en T1 no realzadas en el globo palido y/o el nucleo dentado (ND) despues de la exposicion a varios agentes de contraste con gadolinio (ACG). Este cambio en la senal varia en funcion del ACG especifico. Nuestro objetivo fue investigar si existe un aumento en la IS del ND en imagenes ponderadas en T1 no realzadas en pacientes sometidos a multiples administraciones del ACG macrociclico gadoterato de meglumina. Se realizo una revision exhaustiva de la bibliografia para corroborar nuestros resultados. Materiales y metodos Se incluyeron pacientes que se habian sometido a mas de 10 estudios de RM con contraste y administracion exclusiva de gadoterato de meglumina. Se llevo a cabo un analisis cuantitativo mediante el uso de mediciones de regiones de interes en el ND y el puente en imagenes no realzadas ponderadas en T1. Se calcularon las proporciones ND-puente y las diferencias en las proporciones entre el inicio y la ultima RM realizada. Se utilizo una prueba de la t de una muestra para evaluar si las diferencias en la proporcion de la IS difieren de 0. Se realizo un analisis de subgrupos de pacientes con Resultados 54 pacientes (26 hombres) recibieron una media de 13,8 dosis ± 3,47 (desviacion estandar [DE]) (rango, 10-23 dosis). La diferencia en la proporcion de la IS ND-puente entre la primera y la ultima exploracion de RM fue de -0,0275 ± 0,1917 y no difirio significativamente de 0 P = 0,2968) en el analisis general y en el analisis de subgrupos [( Conclusiones Mas de 10 administraciones de gadoterato de meglumina no se asociaron a un aumento de la IS en el ND.

Purpose To conduct a scoping review to provide a systematic overview of outcomes used in nutritional intervention studies focused on the treatment of protein-energy malnutrition in older adults. Methods A systematic search of four electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) was performed to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published until March 9, 2020, that evaluated the effect of nutritional interventions to treat protein-energy malnutrition in older adults and those at risk for malnutrition. Two authors screened titles, abstracts and full texts independently. One author extracted data that were cross-checked by another author. Results Sixty-three articles reporting 60 RCTs were identified. Most frequently used outcomes included body weight/body mass index (75.0% of RCTs), dietary intake (61.7%), functional limitations (48.3%), handgrip strength (46.7%), and body circumference (40.0%). The frequencies differed by setting (community, hospital and long-term care). For some outcomes there was a preferred assessment method (e.g., Barthel index for functional limitations), while for other outcomes (e.g., functional performance) a much greater variation was observed. Conclusion A large variation in outcomes, not only across but also within settings, was identified in nutritional intervention studies in malnourished older adults and those at risk. Furthermore, for many outcomes there was a large variation in the used assessment method. These results highlight the need for developing a Core Outcome Set for malnutrition intervention studies in older adults to facilitate future meta-analyses that may enhance our understanding on the effectiveness of treatment.

The latest demands in reduction of emissions compel the automobile industry to lighten the structure of vehicles using third generation advanced high strength steels. Due to the novelty of these steels, there is a need to characterize its fracture behavior during the forming process. This paper presents a study of strain field, crack locus and instant of failure for 980 grade third generation advanced high strength steel using defined tests with two specimens. Numerical simulations and experiments have been performed to evaluate and to compare the obtained results for this steel. Numerical simulations with implemented Hosford-Coulomb damage model use the extended finite element method to predict the fracture occurrence. According to results, numerical simulation predicts crack locus similar to experimental tests. Failure of the material shows a high sensitivity to damage evolution law.

The hardening models have a significant influence on the accuracy of finite element analysis (FEA). Although, isotropic hardening models are the most widely used, it is known that kinematic hardening models (describing the Bauschinger effect and permanent softening) can significantly improve the accuracy of FEA results. However, when considering sheet metal materials, the parameters of kinematic hardening models are difficult to identify due to the challenges of obtaining experimental results from test with strain path inversions. This work considers an experimental procedure that enables the analysis of the mechanical behaviour of sheet metal materials submitted to reverse loadings. A miniaturized test device was developed to perform tension and compression tests, with reverse loadings, for sheet metal materials. This specimen design has two main advantages: (1) reduces buckling during compression (compared to standard tensile test specimens) and, consequently, (2) enables the characterization of the mechanical behaviour under reverse tension-compression strain paths changes. The small size of the specimens, with 2 x 2 mm gauge area, poses the main challenge of the current methodology, namely the measurement of the strain field distribution using the Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique. The results obtained from tension-compression tests with mini-specimens are validated by comparison with standard tensile and shear (reverse loading) and tests.

Advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) have become increasingly popular in the automotive industry due to their high yield and ultimate tensile strengths, enabling the production of lighter car body structures while meeting safety standards. However, they have some setbacks compared to conventional steels, such as edge cracking through sheet thickness caused by forming components with shear-cut edges. When characterizing the formability of sheet metal materials, the hole expansion test is an industry-standard method used to evaluate the stretch-flangeability of their edges. However, accurately visualizing the first cracking is usually tricky and may be subjective, often leading to inconsistent results and low reproducibility with some impact of the operator on both direct and post-processing measurements. To address these issues, a novel digital image processing method is presented to reduce operator reliance and enhance the accuracy and efficiency of the hole expansion test results. By leveraging advanced image processing algorithms, the proposed approach detects the appearance of the first edge cracks, enabling a more precise determination of the hole expansion ratio (HER). Furthermore, it provides valuable insights into the evolution of the hole diameter, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of the material behavior during the test. The proposed method was evaluated for different materials, and the corresponding HER values were compared with the traditional method.

Patient perspectives are now widely recognized as a key element in the evaluation of health interventions. Therefore, the provision of specific and validated Patient Reported Outcome Measures that emphasize the lived experience of patients suffering from specific diseases is very important. In the field of sarcopenia, the only validated specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instrument available is the Sarcopenia Quality of Life questionnaire (SarQoL). This self-administrated HRQoL questionnaire, developed in 2015, consists of 55 items arranged into 22 questions and has currently been translated into 35 languages. Nineteen validation studies performed on SarQoL have consensually confirmed the capacity of SarQoL to detect difference in HRQoL between older people with and without sarcopenia, its reliability and its validity. Two further observational studies have also indicated its responsiveness to change. A short form SarQoL, including only 14 items has further been developed and validated to reduce the potential burden of administration. Research on the psychometric properties of SarQoL questionnaire is still encouraged as the responsiveness to change of SarQoL has not yet been measured in the context of interventional studies, as limited prospective data currently exist and as there is still not cut-off score to define a low HRQoL. In addition, SarQoL has mainly been used in community-dwelling older individuals with sarcopenia and would benefit to be studied in other types of populations. This review aims to provide to researchers, clinicians, regulators, pharmaceutical industries and other stakeholders a clear summary of comprehensive evidence on the SarQoL questionnaire published up to January 2023Query.

Organic compounds can crystallise in different forms known as polymorphs. Some polymorphs have disappeared from the physical world, never to be recrystallised again under the same conditions. The most infamous of these cases is that of the HIV drug ritonavir: once its reluctant stable form II was unwillingly nucleated for the first time, its desired but metastable form I could never be produced again with the same manufacturing process. The disappearance of metastable polymorphs remains a mysterious phenomenon, and the lack of control over it can be frustrating and costly for drug development. Here we show that Ritonavir’s extraordinary disappearing polymorph can be consistently produced by ball-mill grinding. Our work shows that not only crystal size, but also crystal shape and molecular conformation dictate polymorph stability switches in the mill. Through population balance modelling simulations, we also demonstrate how the size and shape of crystals at the steady state are determined by crystal breakage, dissolution and growth kinetics in the mill, which in turn can be controlled by the milling conditions. This work highlights the huge potential of mechanochemistry in polymorph discovery, and the manufacturing and control of complex flexible drug compounds such as Ritonavir.

Objetivo: Establecer si hay asociación entre la sobrecarga del cuidador y el apoyo social percibido en cuidadores de adultos mayores. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio correlacional, transversal, en una muestra de 138 cuidadores de adultos mayores a quienes se les aplicó la Escala de Zarit y la Escala Multidimensional Apoyo Social Percibido. Resultados: La mayoría de los cuidadores (84,8%) soportan sobrecarga; el apoyo social predomina en un nivel bajo (69,9%). Conclusiones: Existe correlación inversa media (- 0,240) entre la sobrecarga del cuidador y el apoyo social percibido en los cuidadores de adultos mayores; se ha determinado que la mayoría de los cuidadores (84,8%) soportan una sobrecarga; en todas las dimensiones de apoyo social predomina el nivel bajo, por lo que la mayoría de los cuidadores perciben un bajo nivel de apoyo social; existe correlación inversa entre la variable sobrecarga y la dimensión apoyo familiar; no existe correlación entre la sobrecarga y apoyo de amigos; y existe correlación inversa entre la sobrecarga y apoyo de otros significativos.

Increased demands for safety and environment concerns have led to a greater use of advanced high strength in the automobile industry. The consequent challenges to sheet metal forming processes include higher contact pressures between dies and blanks with resulting consequences in increased wear and failures. In this article a numerical model is applied to analyze contact pressure along the tool die radius, where wear is particularly severe. Several sheet metal materials are numerically investigated, in order to quantify the pressure distribution along the radii which in turn has important effects on tool wear. The results show that different materials, its strength and behavior affect not only the contact pressure, but also the contact distribution at different zones of analysis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The autonomic nervous system is an important regulator of stress responses and exhibits functional changes in chronic pain states. This review discusses potential overlap among autonomic dysregulation, osteoarthritis (OA) progression, and chronic pain. From this foundation, we then discuss preclinical to clinical research opportunities to close gaps in our knowledge of autonomic dysregulation and OA. Finally, we consider the potential to generate new therapies for OA pain via modulation of the autonomic nervous system. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent reviews provide a framework for the autonomic nervous system in OA progression; however, research is still limited on the topic. In other chronic pain states, functional overlaps between the central autonomic network and pain processing centers in the brain suggest relationships between concomitant dysregulation of the two systems. Non-pharmacological therapeutics, such as vagus nerve stimulation, mindfulness-based meditation, and exercise, have shown promise in alleviating painful symptoms of joint diseases, and these interventions may be partially mediated through the autonomic nervous system. SUMMARY: The autonomic nervous system appears to be dysregulated in OA progression, and further research on rebalancing autonomic function may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for treating OA pain.