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BACKGROUND: Recently, the number of implants placed worldwide has increased tremendously, so as the prevalence of peri-implant complications. AIM: This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of peri-implant diseases and technical complications of the implant-supported single crown (ISC) in the population of Kedah State, Malaysia. The characteristics of patients and implants associated with the peri-implant diseases were also explored. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the patients who received an ISC between January 2008 and December 2016 at a public periodontal clinic and had a loading time between 2 and 10 years were identified. Their medical and radiographic records were examined. A patient and implant-based prevalence analysis of peri-implant diseases and complications were conducted. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients with a total of 43 implants were included in the analysis. Most of the patients were under 65 years of age (69.6%). The prevalence of peri-mucositis and peri-implantitis at the patient's level were both 30.4%. They respectively involved 20.9% and 18.6% of the implants. Poor oral hygiene at the time of last follow-up showed a significant association with the peri-implant diseases. However, the roles of the implants characteristics were insignificant. No implants failed after the placement of a supra-structure, while 3 implants (7%) were reported to have technical complications. CONCLUSIONS: The complications of ISC took placed in a considerable proportion of the studied population during long-term follow-up. As the poor plaque control proved to be the major risk factor of peri-implant diseases, strategies to improve their awareness of oral hygiene are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Waterborne polyurethane dispersions (WPUDs) containing a renewable palm oil-based 9,10-dihydroxystearic acid (DHSA) as an isocyanate-reactive compound bearing ionizable carboxylic group to incorporate hydrophilic groups into the polymer chain have been successfully prepared. The WPUDs were prepared by using polyether and polyester polyols of 2000 molecular weight, DHSA and its traditional petroleum-based counterpart 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)-propionic acid (DMPA), and an aliphatic diisocyanate (isophorone diisocyanate, IPDI). A comparison was made between the properties of WPUDs obtained using blends of DHSA and DMPA at different molar ratios and a reference WPUD based on DMPA. The particle size of polyester type WPUDs containing DHSA was reduced at a 0.5 to 0.5 molar ratio of DMPA to DHSA. A lower initial temperature was used in the preparation of NCO-prepolymers with DHSA as compared to DMPA and this eased the preparation of WPUDs. The effect of molar ratio of DMPA to DHSA on the properties of films and coatings prepared with WPUDs was evaluated. The best properties were obtained with WPUDs prepared with a 0.5 to 0.5 molar ratio of DMPA to DHSA. The incorporation of renewable palm oil-based DHSA into WPUDs improved water resistance (lower water uptake) and exhibited good combination of properties including hardness, adhesion strength, tensile strength, and elasticity. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43614. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, olive oil was used for the preparation of three-component high internal phase emulsions with oil volume fraction of more than 0.77 stabilized by palm-based polyoxyethylene lauryl ether for the first time. These emulsions were investigated on their morphology, structural properties, stability, and hydration efficacy. Droplet size distribution observed from the optical micrographs was in agreement with the light scattering results, which suggested that droplet size was influenced by oil phase and surfactant concentrations. Rheological results exhibiting flow curves cross-over implied structural build-up that gave rise to high stability which was supported by stable three-month storage at an elevated temperature. The hydration efficacy of the emulsion was examined in vivo using a corneometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on a study validation of flow quantification using a fluorescence imaging system for intraoperative coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) assessment. CABG patency assessment using intraoperative fluorescence imaging provides qualitative images. Quantification would permit more accurate evaluation of intraoperative graft function. There is a strong inverse correlation between frame count and flow volume. Similar trends observed between in vitro and clinical settings indicate its potential for practical application in the assessment of coronary artery bypass graft flow.

The highly strained ring in epoxides makes these compounds very versatile intermediates. Epoxidized vegetable oils are gaining a lot of attention as renewable and environmentally friendly feedstock with various industrial applications such as plasticizers, lubricant base oils, surfactants, etc. Numerous papers have been published on the development of the epoxidation methods and the number is still growing. This review reports the synthetic approaches and applications of epoxidized vegetable oils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2007 the University of British Columbia Global Health Initiative, a student-led organization, has collaborated with local leaders in Spiti Valley of the Indian Himalayas to determine and address their major health concerns. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and etiology of anemia and observe the effects of iron supplementation. Hemoglobin levels of children in Spiti were measured annually with a b-hemoglobin photometer and results were adjusted for altitude, age and gender based on CDC recommendations. In 2007, there was a high prevalence of anemia at 88.4% (n=379) and thus yearly iron supplementation for 3 months was implemented in 2007 and 2008 based on WHO guidelines. Anemia levels dropped in 2008 to 78.3% (n=384) and to 71.3% (n=416) in 2009. Iron supplementation was not administered in 2009 and as such hemoglobin levels rose back to 89.5% in 2010. Peripheral blood smears obtained in 2008 revealed 57% of cases were normocytic normochromic RBCs, which could be attributed to mixed nutritional deficiencies and/or early iron deficiency and 11% showing hypochromic anisocytic RBCs, which is likely due to iron deficiency. Nutritional deficiencies can be attributed to minimal meat consumption and lack of fruits and vegetables during the winter months. Diarrheal diseases caused by intestinal pathogens due to poor water sanitation and hygiene may also contribute to the anemia burden. Anemia remains highly prevalent and results demonstrate the potential benefits of continuing iron supplementation and the need for more nutrient-dense food, water sanitation interventions and hygiene education to eliminate anemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flow and viscoelastic properties of a lubricating grease formed from a thickener composed of lithium hydroxystearate and a high-boiling-point mineral oil were investigated as a function of thickener concentration. The flow properties of grease were measured using continuous shear rheometry, while the viscoelastic properties were measured using oscillatory shear measurements. The flow properties show that grease is a shear-thinning fluid with a yield stress that increases with thickener concentration. At concentrations of lithium hydroxystearate greater than 5% by volume, the storage modulus, G', was found to be greater than the loss modulus, G", with both moduli increasing with increasing thickener concentration, below this critical concentration G" was greater than G'. Slip at the wall of the measuring platens was a major problem encountered during the rheological measurement of grease, this is hardly surprising, and greases are designed to slip in their lubricating functions. Therefore the measuring platens were roughened by sandblasting and significantly higher yield values were recorded with the roughened geometries. Creep experiments were also performed. In the creep test, yield stresses of greases could be obtained. Zero shear viscosity was also calculated from the creep experiment and as a result viscosities over nine orders of magnitude were obtained. The power law index of the scaling law of the elastic modulus and yield stress with increasing volume fraction was found to be 4.7+/-0.2 suggesting that the flocculation of the particles that compose the grease is likely to be of the chemically limited aggregation variety.