Search

In situ ground improvement by deep mixing the soil with stabilising agents or binders as lime, cement, cement kiln dust or a combination of these is the most common method applied in the Nordic countries. In Norway, soil stabilisation with deep mixing has been applied to soft-to-medium stiff clays with sensitivity ranging from about 5 to over 100. This paper presents a large database of laboratory results from laboratory-stabilised Norwegian clays. For example the data show that shear strength of the stabilised clays decreases when the water-to-binder ratio (i.e. total clay water-to-binder content ratio) increases, and that the stiffness development is mainly controlled by time. Some observations from more advanced laboratory testing on samples taken from stabilised columns in the field highlight the anisotropic behaviour of the stabilised clays and the increase in strength with in situ stresses. The data presented can be used as a guide on the selection of binder mixes for specific project applications and it should always be supplemented by testing on site-specific laboratory-mixed specimens.

Measuring bone density (BD) is a common method of determining bone quality; however, the relationship between condylar BD and the occurrence of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders has not been investigated. To address this knowledge gap, we aimed to investigate condylar BD in terms of TMJ disk displacement (TMJ DD) using computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We classified TMJ MRI results according to the position of the disk: normal disk position (Normal), anterior disk displacement with reduction (ADDR), and anterior disk displacement without reduction (ADDNR). After retrospectively evaluating 86 female condyles, we determined the total, cortical, and trabecular BD in the upper-joint portion of the condyle and the whole condyle using CT data. To standardize condylar BD, we calculated the BD ratios by dividing the condylar BD by the cervical axis BD. The Kruskal-Wallis test analyzed the differences in BD measurements in the TMJ DD patient groups and showed significant between-group differences in condylar BD. The total and trabecular BD was significantly higher in ADDNR condyles than in Normal or ADDR condyles (Normal = ADDRADDNR). However, there was no significant difference in the cortical BD among the three TMJ DD groups. The BD ratios showed a similar tendency with condylar BD. These results suggest that increased condylar BD - specifically total and trabecular BD - may be significantly associated with ADDNR condyles. Our findings will help clinicians determine the course of treatment for patients with disk-related TMJ disorders.

Rotor-step straight skewing is a common method to reduce electromagnetic vibration of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs). However, the difference of the radial electromagnetic forces received by different axial positions of the stator caused by the elastic-plastic material is generally ignored in the theoretical analysis to determine the skewing structure, which makes the vibration suppression effect of the structure far less than expected in practical applications. Take a 48-slot 8-pole interior PMSM as an example, this paper compares the suppression effects of rotor-step straight skewing and rotor-step zigzag skewing when the elastoplasticity of the stator material is considered. It is pointed out that the rotor-step zigzag skewing can overcome the limitation of the straight skewing in restraining electromagnetic vibration in practical application. Based on the theoretical formula and multi-physical field simulation, the selection rules of the rotor-step zigzag skewing angle and segment number are summarized. Finally, the rationality and effectiveness of the simulation method are verified by experiments on the prototype.

Reinforced concrete framed construction is a common method adopted in developing countries. Failure of these structures in seismic regions indicate that unconfined interaction between the infill and the RC bounding frame is a prime cause. During these failures infill failure leads to collapse of the structure. Since, masonry work in the frame increases the stiffness of otherwise Bare frame. Infills in these structures altered the ductile behavior of RC bare frame. To avoid this, an interface medium can be provided between the masonry work and the frame to significantly change the impact on masonry work under in-plane static-cyclic loading condition. In this study finite element analysis is carried out to study the structural performance of masonry infill and RC frame under static cyclic loading with and without interface medium which can change its stiffness. Such a medium is made up of tube filled with air, called as pneumatic medium. The structural parameters of masonry infilled RC frame with pneumatic interface with varying pressure is analyzed and compared with RC Bare frame and masonry infilled RC frame, under static monotonic loading.

The ligand exchange technique is a common method for postsynthesis isoreticular structures of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Here, an interesting framework transformation after linker exchange wa...

Vitrification is the most common method of cryopreservation of gametes in fertility clinics due to its improved survival rates compared to slow freezing techniques. For the Open Cryotop® vitrification device, the number of oocytes, or embryos, mounted onto a single device can vary.In this work, a mathematical model is developed for the cooling of oocytes and embryos (samples). The model is solved computationally, to investigate whether varying the number of samples mounted onto the Open Cryotop® affects the cooling rates, and consequently the survival rates, of vitrified samples. Several realistic spatial arrangements of samples are examined, determining their temperature over time. In this way we quantify the effect of spatial arrangement on the cooling rate.Our results indicate that neither the spatial arrangement nor the number of mounted samples has a large effect on cooling rates, so long as the volume of the cryoprotectant remains minimal. The time taken for cooling is found to be on the order of half a second, or less, regardless of the spatial arrangement or number of mounted samples. Hence, rapid cooling can be achieved for any number or arrangement of samples, as long as device manufacturer guidelines are adhered to.

Autoantibody assays are reported in a variety of formats. Results only slightly above established cut-offs provide lower likelihood ratios; therefore, their clinical significance may be more uncertain, which is not readily communicated with dichotomous qualitative reporting. Line immunoassays (LIA) are a common method for detecting antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) and myositis-associated antibodies. However, recommended positive cut-offs are contentious. We distributed a survey via e-mail to participants in the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Program (RCPAQAP) Immunology modules and to a dedicated immunology mailing list in Australasia. Questions explored general viewpoints surrounding autoantibody reporting, as well as current laboratory practices, with particular focus on interpretation and reporting of the most commonly used ENA LIA manufactured by Euroimmun. There were 31 responders, representative of at least 17 unique laboratories across Australia (8 public, 5 private) and New Zealand (4 laboratories). Responses suggest that autoantibody reporting is not standardised; there was variation in general viewpoints and reporting practices, particularly regarding the interpretation of and positive cut-offs used for the Euroimmun ENA LIA, which were contrary to the manufacturer's guidelines in a majority of the responses. Interpretative qualitative reporting based on results from other investigations and the clinical history was a common theme. There is large variation in the reporting of autoantibody assays within Australasia, especially by LIA. A majority of respondents report the most commonly used ENA LIA contrary to manufacturer's guidelines; alternative positive cut-offs are commonly utilised. LIA reports should indicate the level of positivity to enhance their relevance in the clinical decision-making process.

Introduction Bibliographic analysis using quantitative measurements such as citation number and citation density is a common method used to evaluate the impact of previously published studies on current research. Several bibliographic endodontic studies ranking publications based on their number of citations have been published. However, to date, a focus on the most cited articles related to the outcome of endodontic treatment is lacking. The purpose of this study was to identify the most cited publications and their citation density as related to the outcome of nonsurgical root canal treatment (NSRCT), nonsurgical root canal retreatment (NSRCR), and root canal surgery (RCS). Methods A search of all citations regarding the outcome of NSRCT, NSRCR, and RCS was performed using the Web of Science platform. The search included key words covering all relevant categories. Only publications in the English language published between May 1960 and July 2021 were included. The publications were divided into the following groups: NSRCT, NSRCR, and RCS. Each group was further subdivided into experimentation studies and review studies. The publications were analyzed and sorted in descending order according to the number of citations that each publication has received. Only publications with 100 citations or more were included. Citation density was also assessed. Results The total number of NSRCT citations found was 257; 221 (86%) were experimentation studies, and 36 (14%) were review studies. Of the 221 NSRCT experimentation studies, 41 (18.55%) had 100 citations or more. Of the 36 NSRCT review studies, 9 (25%) had 100 citations or more. The total number of NSRCR citations found was 61; 51 (83.6%) were experimentation studies, and 10 (16.4%) were review studies. Of the 51 NSRCR experimentation studies, 5 (9.8%) had 100 citations or more. Of the 10 NSRCR review studies, 2 (20%) had 100 citations or more. The total number of RCS citations found was 119; 90 (75.6%) were experimentation studies, and 29 (24.4%) were review studies. Of the 90 RCS experimentation studies, 11 (12.2%) had 100 citations or more. Of the 29 RCS review studies, 2 (6.9%) had 100 citations or more. In total, 70 publications on the outcome of endodontic treatment had 100 or more citations. Fifty publications (71.4%) pertained to the NSRCT groups, 7 publications (10%) to the NSRCR groups, and 13 publications (18.6%) to the RCS groups. Conclusions Bibliographic analysis is a beneficial aid for assessing the impact of publications studying the outcome of endodontic treatment on the field of endodontics.

The most common method of preventing the formation of emulsions in the petroleum industry is by the application of a de-emulsifier chemical. The standard approach of selecting an appropriate de-emulsifying agent is by scanning different chemistries with changing properties to identify the emulsion breaking region. However, the disadvantage is that these tests are time-consuming. This work presents a faster alternative for choosing de-emulsifier chemicals by using machine learning. For data to train and test machine learning models, several bottle tests are analyzed at different combination of essential parameters. For both non-EOR/normal and EOR-induced emulsion, the models are validated with real crude oil to output a list of de-emulsifiers that work in breaking the emulsion and rank them for success based on probability. An application workflow of this de-emulsifier prediction tool is also created for deploying the model to provide guideline for quick de-emulsifier chemical selection.

Solid-state nanopore (SSNP) or synthetic nanopore using semiconductor materials have established themselves as a single molecule bio-detection platform. Although biological nanopore with fixed dimension has been successfully utilized for many sensing applications, SSNP has unique characteristics of distinctly potent geometries and relaxation of modification. The most common method of molecular detection is to measure the temporal variations of the ionic current in the pore. In this review, the principles of the SSNP and the improvement of device performance for the molecular detection platform are discussed elaborately. Moreover, different experimental aspects of the SSNP are discussed in detail. For instance, the enhancement of spatial resolution, modification of temporal resolution with the difficulties of its analyte-detection, as well as reduction of the electrical noise for the improvement of device sensing functionalities, all are addressed in designated chapters for better conception. In addition, the typical and updated applications of SSNP including DNA, protein and virus are briefly discussed. Finally, this article offers the context needed to comprehend current research trends and promote molecular sensing through synthetic nanopores.

Oxygen therapy is a common method of respiratory support, but its use involves the risk of carbon dioxide recycling and the development of hypercapnia in the patient.The aim of the study. Assess the carbon dioxide tension in the oxygen tent depending on the patient's body position in the experimental newborn Model.Materials and Methods. The study was performed on the phantom of the newborn. Influence of 3 patient positions at fresh mixture feed rate 2.5, 5, 7 and 10 l/min is evaluated. Monitoring of the carbon dioxide tension was carried out using Testo 480, measurements were carried out for 60 minutes.Results of the study. A clear relationship was established between the position of the newborn's body and the tension of carbon dioxide in the oxygen tent. The minimum tension of carbon dioxide is noted in the patient's position ≪on the back≪ at a fresh mixture feed rate of 7.5 l/minute and is 527 ± 64 ppm, and the maximum ‒ in the child's position ≪on the stomach≪ at the same oxygen-air mixture feed rate: 1180 ± 63 ppm.Conclusion. The position of the newborn baby's body is the main factor affecting the carbon dioxide stress in the oxygen tent.

Hot air drying is a common method for drying potato slices. In this paper, the three-dimensional (3D) morphological changes incurred during hot air drying of potato slices were investigated. The effect of drying on the thickness and diameter of potato slices was of special interest. The results showed that the potato slices underwent stages of regular warping, collapse, and curling during the drying process. After classifying the numerical variation in characteristics into the standard deviation in mean height (SDMH) and the rate of change in mean height (RCMH) of potato slices, the RCMH was selected to describe the 3D morphological changes in the potato drying process. A critical point and a termination point for RCMH of potato slices in the drying process were observed. Samples varied widely after the critical point was reached. A logarithmic function model was used to assess differences in the RCMH at the critical point and the termination point. The R-squared (R2) value of 0.9 suggested a strong correlation between the parameters of the experiment and changes in slice thickness and diameter. The model proposed in this paper could accurately characterize the late-stage changes in potato slice qualities during hot air drying of potato slices., Graphical abstract Image 1, Highlights • Drying potato slices underwent stages of regular warping, collapse and curling. • A correlation between the fitted results and the changes in thickness and diameter. • A height change model in the later stage of hot air drying of potato slices.

Listening to music is a common method of regulating unpleasant emotions such as sadness, but music listening has not been compared to prototypical interpersonal emotion-regulation strategies. We examined music’s response-independent benefits (i.e., benefits that do not require a response from another person) and response-dependent benefits (i.e., benefits that do require a response from another person) and compared those to other regulation strategies such as talking to a friend and asking someone for advice. College students ( N = 353) completed an online survey in which they rated their likelihood of using eight different strategies to regulate sadness and the benefits of using each strategy. Repeated-measures ANOVAs revealed listening to music was the most likely strategy used when sad. Moreover, listening to music provided the most response-independent benefits of any strategy we examined, including talking to a friend and asking someone for advice. Talking to a friend provided more interpersonal support than listening to music did, but listening to music did not provide any less of a shared experience than talking to a friend or asking someone for advice. These findings suggest that listening to music shares much in common with interpersonal emotion-regulation strategies such as talking with other people when sad.

Water injection is a common method for enhancing oil recovery from oil reservoirs. However, there is a possibility of forming different precipitations when the injected water and the formation wate...

Suicides are among the 10 leading causes of death in U.S. children 12 years of age and younger. The purpose of this study was to examine trends and methods of suicide in children by race and gender from 2010 to 2019, the most recent years of data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Child suicides statistically significantly increased for black (95%), white (158%), male (95%), and female (300%) children during the decade. Additionally, the methods children used to commit suicide did not significantly differ by race or gender. The leading method of suicide used by children was strangulation/suffocation depending on race and gender (67%-85%). The second most common method of suicide was by the use of a firearm, again depending on race and gender (11%-30%). Northeastern states had the fewest child suicides during the decade and Texas and California had the most child suicides. Policymakers need to commit more resources and research funding to better detect risk factors, protective factors, and effective interventions for reducing child suicides.

Many animals, including insects, need to solve the problem of self-righting if inverted and substrate is one understudied factor that could affect righting ability. In this study we ask the questions, how does Halyomorpha halys self-right and does variation in substrate affect self-righting? To address our questions we used four substrates with different features and filmed H. halys righting response on each substrate (n = 22 individuals). We also used two synced cameras to film the most common righting method and quantified its kinematics. Self-righting metrics did vary depending on substrate in terms of diversity of righting methods used, duration of the successful righting event, number of fails per attempt, and stance width. We also determined that the symmetrical forward flip is the most common method used by H. halys. In the forward flip H. halys creates a tripod of support using the hindlegs and the tip of the abdomen to elevate the anterior portion of the body off the substrate and pitch forward onto its feet. In addition to demonstrating that substrate can impact self-righting and quantifying the symmetrical forward flip, we also provide a foundation for future explorations of sensory feedback and adaptive motor control using H. halys.

The most common method of treating of the congenital funnel-shaped chest is thoracoplasty method by D. Nuss. During this surgery, a significant mechanical effect is created on the ribs, sternum, spinal column, which act instantly and continuously for a long time and create new biomechanical conditions for the «chest – rib – spine» system. Objective. To construct a functional model of the chest with a spinal column, which takes into account the movements in the costal-vertebral joints, it allows modeling the funnel-shaped deformation in conditions close to the reality, its operative correction, predicting the results and choosing the optimal parameters of thoracoplasty. Methods. Normal and funnel-shaped chest models based on the articular connection of the ribs to the spine were created using SolidWorks. The main calculations were made using the ANSYS program. To estimate the stress-strain state (SSS), stresses are selected by Mises. Results. The created dynamic mathematical model of the chest makes it possible to conduct a reliable analysis of the biomechanical interaction of the plate with the chest, to analyze the stress-strain state of the constructed models in the norm, with and without taking into account the movements in the costal-vertebral joints. In addition, it allows to simulate the operation by D. Nuss and to study the biomechanical changes in conditions close to reality, occurring in the «chest – rib – spine» system, to determine the areas of maximum loads and safety boundaries. Conclusions. The reproduction of articular ribs rotation in the dynamic model changes the picture of the SSS distribution. In the case of modeling the correction of funnel-shaped deformation of the chest by the method by D. Nuss, the largest zone of stress concentration was found on the outer posterior surface of the sixth pair of ribs. The most tense vertebrae were ThV– ThVI, but the maximum values did not exceed the permissible values. In the case of a lower plate conduction, the correction is achieved with better SSS values in the higher elements of the «chest – ribs – spine» system.

Vacuum preloading is an effective and common method used for clay soil improvement. However, the smear zone generated by the installation of prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) hinders additional efficiency improvements. PVD combined with heat is applied to overcome this problem. This study presents a series of model tests conducted on clayey soil improved by vacuum preloading with different rectangular-wave temperature circulation modes to investigate the effects of cyclic temperature on vacuum consolidation. During the test, the settlement, pore-water pressure, and drainage were monitored. The degree of consolidation was analyzed to evaluate the effectiveness of this method, and the coefficient of energy consumption was used to quantify the energy consumption at different cyclic temperature modes. The results indicated that the rectangular-wave temperature circulation mode of 30–75–30 °C was the most effective. The results of this study contribute substantially to the state of knowledge regarding the cyclic temperature effects on dredged slurry performance subjected to vacuum preloading. Concurrently, a novel approach is introduced for the determination of the optimal soil consolidation.

From the perspective of the development of steel structures in China, the existing steel structure had experienced decades of service. However, due to the change of its functionality, and the erosion caused due to the surrounding environment, reinforcement of steel has become necessary. Thus, the research on reinforcement theory and methods of the existing steel structures has become an important measure in the “reinforcement period”. Steel angle welding on the surface of steel columns is a common method used in practical engineering. However, the traditional continuous welding angle steel reinforcement of rectangular steel pipe columns leads to a large amount of welding work on the construction site, thus prolonging the construction time and increase the project cost. Moreover, the quality of welding also cannot be guaranteed. Therefore, in order to reduce the cost of field welding and reinforcement of the construction project, intermittent welding is proposed in this work. In this paper, the finite element analysis of rectangular steel tube column models that were strengthened using different intermittent welded angle steel under axial and eccentric compression is discussed out and the results are compared with the experimental results for validation. Further, a large number of numerical models with different parameters are analyzed. From the analysis, the ultimate bearing capacity and the load transfer mechanism of the rectangular steel tube columns that were strengthened using intermittent angle steel under eccentric and axial compression are studied, and the optimal weld spacing and weld length are obtained. The results provide a theoretical base for future practical engineering applications.

External fixation a common method for treatment of open fractures with different degrees caused by many mechanisms. It is very vital in case of stabilization of fractures of poly-traumatized patients. Perfection in the fixation and good stability of the fixator will affect the outcome of treatment and induce early fracture healing. Faulty external fixation is a common problem in our locality. The aim of our study is to discover and categorize the faulty fixation and try to know the reasons behind these faults and what is best way to overcome it. We randomly studied (212) external fixators, 168 (79%) patients and 44 (21%) x-rays. These (168) patients were, 163 (97%) males and 5 (3%) females aged from (5-56) years and have been treated in many hospitals during the period from the 5th of October 2014 till the 10th of November 2015. (85%) of the patients that were treated by external fixation were due to military and mass casualties' injuries. (1145) pins distributed on (212) fixators were studied. X-rays of the fracture and the external fixation site have been taken and carefully examined. We found that 350 pins (35%) were over penetrated to the far cortex, 112 pins (9.7%) in the fracture, 45 pins (3.9%) just anchored in near cortex, 16 (1.3%) broken pins and 9 pins (0.7%) in the joint. Regarding the faults of the fixator as whole, we found that 33 fixators (15.6%) with pins far away from the fracture line, 88 fixators (41.5%) with pins not ideally separated on each segment of the fracture, 15 fixators (7.1%) with insufficient number of pins, 4 fixators (1.9%) with wrong decision for fixation, 7 fixators (3.3%) with wrong site for pin insertion. We discovered that 131 fixators (61.8%) were applied without accepted anatomical reduction to the fractured bone. As a final result of the (212) fixators we studied, there were (199) faulty external fixators which accounted for (94%). We concluded that the faulty external fixation in our locality is much more than what we expect. Lack of full awareness about the AO principles of external fixation is the main reason beyond this high rate of faulty fixation.

Inoculum production is an important part of conducting research with soilborne Phytophthora species. One common method is to incubate Phytophthora cultures in nutrient-amended vermiculite. However, inoculum levels often vary among batches of inoculum, even when production methods remain the same, and incubation typically takes ≥6 weeks, increasing risks for delayed experiments if the resulting inoculum level is too low. A more reliable and rapid method is needed for future studies. Experiments were conducted to determine inoculum levels of Phytophthora cinnamomi and Phytophthora plurivora after incubation in V8 juice-amended vermiculite (standard method); evaluate how inoculum viability was affected by air-drying; develop a modified method that takes less time to produce a vermiculite-based inoculum; and evaluate the effect of storage on inoculum viability. Results showed that the standard method produced inoculum levels from 716 to 1,808 colony forming units (CFUs)/g and that drying to 1 day generally reduced inoculum viability. Although inoculum levels from the modified method were lower than the standard method, inoculum levels for each isolate were more consistent between trials, and the modified method was 6 to 8 weeks faster. Production with the modified method can also be easily scaled up by infesting a greater volume of vermiculite with additional cultures of Phytophthora. These results are important because they help explain variability in soilborne Phytophthora inoculum production and storage and provide a new method for producing inoculum more quickly.

Healthcare facilities play an essential role in response to terrorist attacks, but they also can be "soft targets" due to their accessibility and limited security. In this review, the authors used the Global Terrorism Database to conduct a search on terrorist attacks directed against hospitals and healthcare facilities between 1970 and 2018. Search terms included "healthcare," "doctor," "nurses," "vaccinators," "clinic," and "hospital," which resulted in 2,322 healthcare-related entries. The dataset was then manually searched for attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in a total of 901 attacks in 74 different countries. The prevalence of healthcare facility attacks has increased, with 57% (515) occurring after 2001. The most common method of attack was bombing, followed by direct attacks on healthcare infrastructure and armed assaults. Healthcare facilities remain vulnerable to violence, and lessons learned in the aftermath of these incidents can be used to raise awareness about important safety-related concerns within the national response framework. Healthcare and security experts must be aware of the vulnerability of this crucial infrastructure and take active steps to prevent attacks.

Background: The inguinal hernia is a protrusion of abdominal contents into the inguinal canal through an abdominal wall defect, and the risk of inguinal hernia increases with age. Currently, inguinal hernia repair with a mesh is the mostly common method through surgical procedure. Objective: To compare the outcome of laparoscopic versus open repair for inguinal hernias. Patients and Methods: This prospective comparative study conducted at General Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University at the period between January 2021 till July 2021, between open technique (preperitoneal approach, conventional Lichtenstein repair) versus laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and totally extraperitoneal (TEP) mesh repair of inguinal hernia. 24 patients were randomized into 2 groups by the closed envelop method, 12 patients underwent open repair operation and 12 patients underwent laparoscopic repair operation. The clinical diagnosis of inguinal hernia was based on symptoms and signs elicited during clinical assessment. Results: we found that mean duration of operation in laparoscopic group was longer than open group with significant difference, as regard length of hospital stay there was significant differences between two groups. Return to daily activity (Days) was early among laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair group with mean 1.67±0.49 and range from 1 to 2 days versus 4.58±1.5 with range from 3 to 7 days in open repair for inguinal hernia group, the difference was highly statistically significant. Conclusions: Laparoscopic surgical techniques for inguinal hernia repair (TAPP and TEP) can be carried out with a very low rate of predominantly harmless complications and with an acceptable duration of operation.

Soft and wet actuator systems have attracted great attention in some applications, such as assistive technologies for rehabilitation, training and regenerative biomedicines. Three-dimensional (3D) printing methods have realized the rapid fabrication of complex structures without the need for expensive dies or post processing. In this review, a comprehensive description is presented on stimuli-responsive hydrogels fabricated by light-responsive and extrusion-based 3D printing technologies. Mechanisms of actuations have been introduced based on stimuli types. As the most common method for 3D printed hydrogel actuators, direct-ink-writing has been discussed, including the two printing parameters of resolution and rheology. In addition, applications of 3D printed hydrogel actuators are presented followed by introductions of recent contributions on enhancing the toughness of 3D printed hydrogel and robust design tools, such as finite element analysis and artificial intelligence.

INTRODUCTION: Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) holds great promise for managing several clinical conditions. However, the low engraftment efficiency and obscurity to harvest these cells without compromising the cellular viability, structural and functional properties from the culture niche still remain major obstacles for preparing intact regenerative constructs. Although few studies have demonstrate different methods for generating cell-liberated amniotic scaffolds, a common method for producing completely cell-liberated amnion (D-HAM) and chorion (D-HCM) scaffolds and their cytocompatibility with hMSCs yet to be demonstrated. METHODS: A common process was developed for preparing D-HAM and D-HCM scaffolds for assessing hMSCs engraftment efficiency, proliferation and molecular shifts to generate cell-laden biological discs. The structural and functional integrity of D-HAM and D-HCM was evaluated using different parameters. The compatibility and proliferation efficiency of hMSCs with D-HAM and D-HCM was evaluated. RESULTS: Histological analysis revealed completely nucleic acid-free D-HAM and D-HCM scaffolds with intact extracellular matrix, mechanical and biological properties almost similar to the native membranes. Human MSCs were able to adhere and engraft on D-HCM better than D-HAM and expanded faster. Ultrastructural observations, crystal violet staining and expression studies showed better structural and functional integrity of hMSCs on D-HCM than D-HAM and control conditions. CONCLUSION: A common, simple and reliable process of decellularization can generate large number of cell-liberated amniotic scaffolds in lesser time. D-HCM has better efficiency for hMSCs engraftment and proliferation and can be utilized for preparing suitable cell-laden constructs for tissue engineering applications.

Актуальность работы. Месторождения часто имеют сложную неоднородную структуру с трудно извлекаемыми запасами, разработка которых осложнена ещё и тем, что различные пропластки имеют разную проницаемость. В результате использования технологии заводнения, наиболее распространенного метода повышения нефтеотдачи, месторождение достаточно быстро становится неэффективным, так как вода после начальной стадии нефтевытеснения начинает фильтроваться к добывающим скважинам по уже промытым высокопроницаемым каналам. Решением данной проблемы является применение блокирующих реагентов из химических композиций, закрывающих промытые каналы и вынуждающих воду вытеснять нефть из ранее незадействованных (низкопроницаемых) зон. Цель работы: сравнительный анализ эффективности действия композиций на основе карбамида и уротропина в качестве блокирующих экранов для высокопроницаемых зон нефтеносного пласта, предварительно промытых водой. Методы: моделирование процесса нефтевытеснения на установке SAP-700 с двумя параллельно работающими колонками; газовый метод определения проницаемости породы. Результаты. В лабораторных условиях на установке SAP-700 с колонками насыпного типа была экспериментально подтверждена эффективность применения композиций на основе карбамида и уротропина в качестве основных компонентов для формирования блокирующих экранов с целью повышения коэффициента извлечения нефти. Так, по первому эксперименту с применением композиции, содержащей в своем составе карбамид, общий коэффициент извлечения нефти составил 0,4, из которых величина 0,16 является добавочной. Во втором же эксперименте общий коэффициент извлечения нефти составил 0,38, при этом 0,24 добавочные. Данные технологии для месторождений с разной проницаемостью пластов позволяют значительно увеличить степень выработки запасов по сравнению с обычным заводнением.

Medicinal plants for modern society today are still one of the alternative options in healthcare treatment. This condition is due to the local culture, tradition, and wisdom of a group of people that are still solid and thick. This study aims to analyze the types of medicinal plants used by the community in Rantau Panjang, Simpang Hilir District, North Kayong Regency. This research uses the survey method by conducting interviews with the community and identifying medicinal plants in the field. A sampling of the people who became respondents was done with a purposive sampling technique. The total number of respondents is 333 people distributed in several sub-village, namely Sepakat Jaya 71 people, Tembok Baru 65 people, Ampera 37 people, Makmur 61 people, Sinar Palung 25 people, Kebal Manuk 12 people, Sinar Selatan 35 people and Siput Lestari 27 people. The data obtained were analyzed for Use Value (UV) and Fidelity Level (FL). The village community of Rantau Panjang utilizes 69 types of medicinal plants, with the predominant plant family is Zingiberaceae. The highest use of plant parts is leaves (37.68%), the most common method of processing is boiled (57.97%), and the most extensive way of use is drunk as much as (60.86%). The plants with the highest UV values are turmeric (Curcuma longa L) (0.42), red liyak (Zingiber officinale Linn) (0.34), white turmeric (Curcuma zedoaria L) (0.28), and betel (Piper betle L) (0.22). The types of plants have the highest FL value (100), namely simpur, ketumbar, sawo, leban, pulai, jantung pisang, bunga raya, alalang, durian, nipah, kopi, selo daging, keladi, paku ikan, pegage, kumis kucing, mahkota dewa, belange, belimbing pelunjuk, asam jawa, andong, limau sambal, jambu biji, lidah buaya, pinang, leban, mentimun, daun salam, mentimun, manggis, bajakah, cempedak, pandan wangi, pasak bumi, tebu merah, jengkol, cengkodok, anggrek dan ketepeng.

Missing observations in r × c contingency tables often occur in medical, bio-pharmaceutical and epidemiological researches. The most common method to analyze incomplete contingency tables simply re...

The aim of the research is to identify the psychological and pedagogical principles of distance learning for children with cognitive development disorder in primary school. During the exploratory and empirical research, it was observed that the actual conditions of distance learning for pupils with cognitive development disorder cover the categories as follows: ZOOM is the most common method of distance learning; distance learning is more difficult to manage; distance learning is more stressful compared to face-to-face training. The triads of psychological and pedagogical fundamentals for organizing distance learning have been formalized, namely: the name and content of the component of educational activity, psychological - correctional objectives, and techniques used in distance learning. The features of the course of cognitive processes in the context of the psychological and pedagogical principles of organizing distance learning for children of primary school age with cognitive development disorder have been revealed.

Context: The rating of perceived effort (RPE) is a common method used in clinical practice for monitoring, loading control, and resistance training prescription during rehabilitation after rupture and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). It is suggested that the RPE results from the integration of the afferent feedback and corollary discharge in the motor and somatosensory cortex, and from the activation of brain areas related to emotions, affect, memory, and pain (eg, posterior cingulate cortex, precuneus, and prefrontal cortex). Recent studies have shown that rupture and ACLR induce neural adaptations in the brain commonly associated with the RPE. Therefore, we hypothesize that RPE could be affected because of neural adaptations induced by rupture and ACLR. Study Design: Clinical review. Level of Evidence: Level 5. Results: RPE could be directly altered by changes in the activation of motor cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and prefrontal cortex. These neural adaptations may be induced by indirect mechanisms, such as the afferent feedback deficit, pain, and fear of movement (kinesiophobia) that patients may feel after rupture and ACLR. Conclusion: Using only RPE for monitoring, loading control, and resistance training prescription in patients who had undergone ACLR could lead to under- or overdosing resistance exercise, and therefore, impair the rehabilitation process. Strength-of-Recommendation Taxonomy: 3C.

Determination of serum or plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations is important to recognize pregnant and non-pregnant ewes, and also to predict the number of carried lambs. The 2 most common methodologies for the detection of plasma P4 are radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA). RIA is very expensive, and not all laboratories are equipped to perform this test; EIA is commercially available for human use, but only a few companies produce species-specific kits, which are expensive. We verified for ovine plasma a less expensive and easily available ELISA kit (DiaMetra) designed to quantify P4 in humans. Pools of ovine and human plasma were used to compare repeatability, accuracy, sensitivity, and stability of P4 measured by the DiaMetra kit. Repeatability data were within 15%, and accuracy values were ~90% for both plasma matrices. Stability data showed a loss of

Sun basking is the most common method for freshwater turtles, such as the European pond turtle, to maintain optimal body temperature. The attributes of the macro- and microhabitat features around the basking sites affect the basking site selection of the European pond turtle. To protect the European pond turtle, it is important to know the basking habits among the biological characteristics of the species, along with the effects of the habitat characteristics and the choice of the type of basking sites. The purpose of our research was to detect the effects of macro- and microhabitat features on the selection of basking sites. We wanted to determine basking site type selection according to the carapace length classes and if there is any difference in the choice of basking trunks and branches with different thicknesses. Turtles choose basking sites with less closed vegetation in their environment. We have detected seasonal differences in the microhabitat features. The closing reed and Typha sp. had a negative effect on the number of observed basking turtles. The most popular type of basking sites in the pond system was the commonly occurred fallen tree trunks and branches in the water, regardless of turtle body size. Most turtles used thinner tree trunks and branches for basking. In the meantime, we found differences in the choice of basking trunks between the turtles with different body sizes. Younger turtles with smaller bodies appeared in larger numbers on emergent branches with smaller diameters.

Evaluating the influence of geometric errors in rotary axes is a common method used by a five-axis machine tool for improving the machining accuracy. In conventional geometric error models, the table coordinate system is considered as the final workpiece coordinate system. In this study, an additional workpiece coordinate transformation was proposed to identify the influence of geometric error. First, a cubic machining test was conducted. Second, the necessity of workpiece coordinate transformation was analyzed, and a method for coordinate transformation was proposed. In addition, both machining simulation and an actual machining experiment of the cubic machining test were conducted to verify the efficiency of the proposed method. The results indicate that the workpiece coordinate transformation is an essential part of the geometric error model for accurately simulating the geometric error influence. The method for identifying the geometric error influence considering the workpiece coordinate transformation is applicable in manufacturing.

Increasing disease incidence and prevalence has led to tremendous increase in the use of medications. The consumers are not able to use all the dispensed medications because of various reasons. The improper disposal of these unused medicines has led to environmental contamination to an alarming extent. The present study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical personnel about disposal of unused medicines. The study was conducted on post graduate medical students, MBBS and nursing students of a tertiary care hospital of North India. It was cross sectional, descriptive study based on a structured questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice about the disposition of left over medications. Descriptive statistical analysis of the results was done. Stockpiling was reported by 100% of the students. The most common reason for stockpiling was excess purchase of medicines (41%). The most commonly procured medicine was NSAID (55.9%). The most common method of disposal was with household waste (69%). Majority of the respondents answered that take back programmes and government interference is the solution to this problem. : Majority of the people are having unused medicines at home and most commonly they dispose it by throwing along with rubbish. Lack of knowledge regarding proper disposal is the main reason behind this. Initiatives should be taken to spread awareness regarding proper disposal methods of unused medicines.

Anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF) is the common method to treat the cervical disc degeneration. The most serious problems in the fusion cages are adjacent disc degeneration, loss of lordosis, pain, subsidence, and migration of the cage. The objective of our work is to develop the three-dimensional finite element (FE) model from C3-C6 and virtually implant a designed S-type dynamic cage at C4-C5 segment of the model. The dynamic cage design will provide mobility in the early stage after ACDF surgery. Titanium (Ti) and PEEK (polyether ether ketone) were used as the material property for the cages. We applied the physiological motions at different loads from 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2.0 Nm to evaluate the dynamic cage design and the biomechanical performances of the designed S-type dynamic cage. It was observed that in all the loading condition the range of motion in the adjacent level was maintained and the maximum stress at the adjacent disc was reduced. The clinical significance of the S-type dynamic cage is better stress profile at the fusion level and adjacent segments which translates into higher rate of fusion, lower risk of cage subsidence, lower risk of adjacent segment degeneration, and good mechanical stability.

Hand weeding is a common method of weed control on vegetable farms, especially in developing countries. It requires considerable physical labour and is a significant economic burden, yet comparativ...

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: Az öngyilkosság régóta jelentős probléma hazánkban. Célkitűzés: Az elmúlt 20 év során elkövetett, befejezett öngyilkosságok elemzése három időintervallumban (2000–2006, 2006–2010, 2010–2019) nemek, korcsoportok, az elkövetési mód, a családi állapot és a munkanélküliség szempontjából. További célunk volt a pszichiátriai ellátást negatívan érintő, 2007. évi egészségügyi reform suicid halálozással való összefüggéseinek vizsgálata. Módszer: A suicid halálozást a Központi Statisztikai Hivatal adatainak felhasználásával elemeztük. Az évenkénti suicid rátát 100 000 lakosra adtuk meg. Az adatok statisztikai feldolgozásához az Excel 2011-es, az SPSS 23-as és az amerikai NIH Jointpoint programjának 4.8.0.1-as verzióját használtuk. Eredmények: 2000 és 2019 között 51,4%-kal csökkent a suicid halálozás (nők: 15,57 vs. 7,69/100 000 fő; férfiak: 51,5 vs. 24,73/100 000 fő, összlakosság: 32,61 vs. 15,85/100 000 fő). A legnagyobb mértékben a férfiak és a középkorúak körében csökkent a mortalitási ráta, a legkevésbé a fiatal, egyedülálló nőknél. A leggyakoribb elkövetési mód változatlanul az akasztás (58,4%). A 20 évig tartó rátacsökkenés 2006 után több évre megtorpant, és egészen 2010-ig nagyjából konstans maradt (24,43 vs. 24,88/100 000 fő). Azt feltételezzük, hogy ennek hátterében jelentős részben a pszichiátriai ellátórendszert negatívan érintő, 2007-ben bevezetett egészségügyi reform állt. Ez a megtörés kimutatható volt szinte minden korcsoportnál, a leggyakoribb elkövetési módoknál, és egyaránt érintette a hajadonokat/nőtleneket, a házasokat, az özvegyeket és az elváltakat. Csak 2010 után kezdődött újra a suicid mortalitás szignifikáns csökkenése. Az utolsó 10 év alatt 36,3%-kal csökkent a suicid mortalitás (24,88 vs. 15,85/100 000 fő), ami kiemelkedő eredmény az európai országok körében. Következtetés: Egy elhibázott, a pszichiátriai ellátórendszert sújtó egészségügyi reform következményeként az addig egyenletesen csökkenő suicid halálozás üteme 2006 után megtört, és néhány évig stagnált. Több évig tartott, mire bizonyos mértékig rendeződött a pszichiátriai ellátórendszer, és ennek köszönhetően 2010 után ismét folyamatosan és szignifikánsan csökkent a suicid mortalitás. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(32): 1283–1296. Summary. Introduction: In Hungary, suicide has been a major public health issue for a long time. Objective: Our objective was to examine data on completed suicide cases in Hungary from a 20-year period divided into three intervals (2000–2006; 2006–2010; 2010–2019) grouped by sex, age, methods of commitment, marital and employment statuses. An auxiliary aim was to assess the associations between the healthcare reform in 2007 (with unfavourable impacts on the psychiatric care system) and suicide mortality. Method: Data on suicide were provided by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office. In all cases, the yearly suicide rates were given for 100 000 inhabitants. For statistical calculations, we used Excel 2011, SPSS v. 23 and NIH Joinpoint Regression Program v. 4.8.0.1. Results: Between 2000 and 2019, there was a 51.4% reduction in the suicide mortality (females: 15.57 vs. 7.69/100 000; males: 51.5 vs. 24.73/100 000; total population: 32.61 vs. 15.85/100 000). The greatest declines occurred among males and middle-aged. At the same time, the rate of young single females declined only slightly. The most common method of commitment remained hanging (58.4%). During the 20-year-long period investigated, there was a temporary halt between 2006 (24.43/100 000) and 2010 (24.88/100 000) in the otherwise steadily declining trend of the rate. One of the major underlying causes of this plateau is presumed to be the healthcare reform commenced in 2007 with negative impacts on psychiatric services. This plateau was observable in almost all subpopulations irrespective of their age, marital status and the suicide method they used. The decline of the rate restarted only after 2010. In the last 10 years, suicide mortality has decreased by 36.3% (from 24.88 to 15.85/100 000) in Hungary, which is a very good result in a European comparison. Conclusion: Due to an unsound health reform threatening the psychiatric care, the previously experienced declining trend of the suicide rate halted in 2006 and has remained almost unchanged for a few years during which psychiatric services could be restored in some degree. From 2010, as a consequence of this restoration, the marked decline of the suicide rate restarted and has been remained stable. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(32): 1283–1296.

Brazing, as a common method of bonding ceramic and metal, has been applied in microelectronics, aerospace, machinery and other domains extensively. The residual thermal stress in the brazed joint has direct effects on the mechanical properties of the joint, so how to control the generation of residual thermal stress has become the vital point. In this paper, the methods of reducing residual thermal stress in the brazing process in recent years are reviewed. The generation and effects of residual thermal stress in the brazed joint are introduced. Besides, the methods of detecting residual thermal stress are discussed, and different methods of reducing residual thermal stress in brazed joints are also analyzed. Finally, the future development directions of reducing residual thermal stress in the brazed joint are proposed.

The most common method for modeling forest attributes with airborne lidar, the area-based approach, involves summarizing the point cloud of individual plots and relating this to attributes of interest. Tree- and voxel-based approaches have been considered as alternatives to the area-based approach but are rarely considered in an area-based context. We estimated three forest attributes (basal area, overstory biomass, and volume) across 1680 field plots in Arizona and New Mexico. Variables from the three lidar approaches (area, tree, and voxel) were created for each plot. Random forests were estimated using subsets of variables based on each individual lidar approach and mixtures of each approach. Boruta feature selection was performed on variable subsets, including the mixture of all lidar-approach predictors (KS-Boruta). A corrected paired t test was utilized to compare six validated models (area-Boruta, tree-Boruta, voxel-Boruta, KS-Boruta, KS-all, and ridge-all) for each forest attribute. Based on significant reductions in error (SMdAPE), basal area and biomass were best modeled with KS-Boruta, while volume was best modeled with KS-all. Analysis of variable importance shows that voxel-based predictors are critical for the prediction of the three forest attributes. This study highlights the importance of multiresolution voxel-based variables for modeling forest attributes in an area-based context.

Large group settings display no signs of disappearing. Most surgeons charged with this education have received no formal training. Lecturing remains the most common method of educating large groups. Even though factors required for an excellent lecture are known, their inconsistent application results in variation of effectiveness. Long-standing principles of rhetoric and recent advances in neuroscience, cognitive science, learning models, and teaching theory play a role in achieving effectiveness. This article makes recommendations for creating and delivering lectures, including active learning opportunities and modern innovations in information technology supporting teaching methods. Effective lecturing skills are acquired by persistent deliberate practice.

Although deletion of cases is still a common method of dealing with item nonresponse, imputation is a major alternative. With traditional methods of imputation, though, the usual variance formulas understate the variance of estimates. This paper proposes that items be imputed from distributions more diffuse than those of the real data, thereby compensating for the underestimation of variance by the usual formulas. The impact on covariances is considered in the design of the method. The method is intended for use by data analysts applying techniques based on functions of first and second moments of means only.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) and its α receptor in soluble form (sIL-2Rα) are considered biomarkers for cancers and immune-related diseases. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is the most common method used to evaluate biomarkers in clinical practice; it is precise but time-consuming and involves complicated procedures. Here, we have developed a rapid yet accurate modality for cancer diagnosis that enables on-site evaluation of cancer markers, that is, IL-2 and sIL-2Rα, without complicated pretreatment of cancer patient-derived blood samples. Surface plasmon resonance and bioresponsive microgels conjugated with IL-2 receptors, that is, IL-2Rβ and IL-2Rγ, were utilized to measure IL-2 and sIL-2Rα levels via multivalent protein binding (MPB) between the ligands and their receptors. Our results showed that this novel method enables us to perform cancer diagnosis with a 1000-fold dilution of serum in 10 min. The advantage of MPB-based cancer diagnosis originates from its great selectivity for a target molecule and tolerance to a myriad of nonspecific substances in serum, which allows on-site clinical evaluation. Importantly, our finding implies that MPB-based cancer diagnosis provides a new paradigm not only for improving cancer treatment but also for evaluating a target molecule in unpurified and complex solutions such as blood.

The two one-sided tests (TOST) procedure is the common method for assessing bioequivalence between two different drugs or formulations of the same drug. Several solutions to Behrens-Fisher problem ...

To review bedside diagnostic techniques in the modern dermatologic landscape. Microscopy has been a commonly used bedside technique for the diagnosis of various fungal, parasitic, and bacterial infections. Tzanck smears are another useful technique often used for diagnosing herpesvirus lesions, but evidence shows that its use could be expanded to include other conditions as well. Wood’s light fluorescence is a simple non-invasive technique that has often been utilized to diagnose various bacterial, fungal, and pigmentation disorders, although its list of uses has not been exhausted. Cellophane tape scraping can provide a scalpel-free alternative to traditional scrapings. With the ever-decreasing costs of technologies such as PCR, swabbing for PCR may become a more common method of diagnosing more infectious skin pathologies. Bedside diagnostic techniques in dermatology are a useful adjunct to the dermatologic physical exam to confirm a diagnosis rapidly, affordably, and accurately.

Concept of disinfection or fumigation is very important as every host has not optimum level of immunity to defence himself against pathogens causing diseases and so it is commonly practised in many developed nations to prevent transmission of viral diseases which are airborne in nature such as COVID -19. However various review of modern fumigating physical & chemical agents e.g. Formalin which are expensive, having crumblesome technique & toxic nature are generally used for this purpose.Therefore, current situation of COVID pandemic demands for the replacement in Ayurveda e.g. Dhoopana Karma for such techniques.As it is cost effective, safe, convenient, effective, and lucrative method of sterilizaion. Main aim of this paper is to compile all scattered information regarding Dhoopana Karma from different Ayurvedic sculptures. All information of these karma which is in dispursed form is complied & described under different heads such as history pf Dhoopana Karma, synonyms, classification, indications (general & specific), various drugs useful for Dhoopana, their period for collection, different formulations for Dhoopana, instruments for Dhoopana, different modes of administration / procedure, method of storing and preservation of Dhoopana Dravya & duration of procedure in descriptive manner & tabular form. Extensive review related with Dhoopana Karma shows that that Dhoopan Karma which is a most common method of sterilization described in an ayurveda & it is categorised under topical (Bahiparimarjana) treatment.Broad spectrum utility of these different formulations of Dhoopana suggests demands for researches in future to study their various pharmacological properties & actions such as bacteriostatic or bactericidal, wormicidal, anti-inflammatory ,antiseptic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, insecticidal anti –pyretic. Suchpe of vivid research may become helpful to prevent the need for medical intervention in entities such as COVID-19. On the basis of this review, it can be concluded that Dhoopana Karma can be used as a type of fumigation for massive & local sterilization in current dreadful outbreak of COVID-19.

Background Competence in ultrasonography is essential for pulmonary and critical care medicine (PCCM) fellows, but little is known about fellow-reported barriers to acquiring this crucial skill during fellowship training. Research Question How do PCCM fellows acquire experience performing and interpreting ultrasonography during their training, what is their perspective on barriers to acquiring ultrasound expertise during fellowship, and what is their comfort with a range of ultrasound examinations? Study Design and Methods A 20-item survey including questions about procedural training and acquisition of ultrasound skills during PCCM fellowship was developed. The survey instrument was sent to PCCM fellowship program directors to distribute to their fellows at program directors’ discretion. Results Four hundred seventy-five responses were received. The most common method of learning ultrasonography was performing it independently at the bedside. Fellows reported that the greatest barrier to acquiring ultrasound skills was the lack of trained faculty experts, followed by lack of a formal curriculum. Fellow comfort was greatest with thoracic ultrasound and least with advanced cardiac ultrasound. Interpretation Significant barriers to ultrasound training during PCCM fellowship exist, and future educational efforts should address these barriers at both program and institutional levels.

Background: Suicide is a public health problem in the world. In Chile, suicide rates increased since 1990 with regional differences in rates. Aim: To analyze the geographical distribution of deaths due to suicide that occurred in the Region of Araucanía between the years 2004-2015. Material and Methods: The geographic distribution of suicide in the Araucania Region at district level (2004-2015) was analyzed using death data available at the web page of the Ministry of Health. Socio-demographic variables of suicide were characterized. The spatial distribution of suicide rates was represented using cartography, and suicide spatial clusters were identified through spatial-temporal exploration. Results: There were 1,562 suicides, 86% in men, with a mean rate of 13.07 x105 inhabitants. The highest rates were registered in people aged over 70 years. Most individuals committing suicide were active workers. Hanging was the most common method to accomplish suicide. The territories from the coastal area in Cautín, and Nahuelbuta registered the highest suicide rates. Two statistically significant conglomerates with high incidence of suicide cases were identified. Conclusions: The use of geographic methods and the disaggregation of suicide cases at district level, allowed the identification of territorial variability in the distribution of suicide rates within the Araucanía Region. Spatial patterns of areas with high suicide risk were found.