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Introduction: Trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition (LRTI) arthroplasty is a reliable surgical procedure for the treatment of thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis, which provides good long-term outcomes. However, it remains unclear when the greatest benefit of this procedure can be obtained, and how long these benefits will continue. Therefore, we investigated the middle- to long-term advantages of this procedure by analysing the chronological changes in clinical outcomes by following the same patients from 1 year to a median 5 years after trapeziectomy with LRTI. Materials and methods: Sixteen thumbs that completed consecutive clinical and radiographic evaluations preoperatively, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, and median 5 years (range 4–8 years) after trapeziectomy with LRTI were included in this study. We investigated grip strength, pinch strength, range of motion (ROM) of the thumb, a visual analogue scale for pain, Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, Hand20 questionnaire score, trapezial space height, and trapezial space ratio at every time point. Results: Hand strength (grip, pulp, and lateral pinch), palmar abduction, DASH score, and Hand20 questionnaire score were improved at 1 year postoperatively while the radial abduction showed significant improvement at the final follow-up. Moreover, pulp pinch strength, DASH score, and Hand20 questionnaire score continued to improve significantly from 1 year postoperatively to the final follow-up. Conversely, trapezial space height and ratio continuously decreased up to the final follow-up. Conclusions: Trapeziectomy with LRTI consecutively improved the pinch strength, ROM of the thumb, DASH score, and Hand20 questionnaire score up to 5 years postoperatively. It also maintained the improvement of the other clinical outcomes up to 5 years postoperatively except for radiological findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a powerful separation tool for multicomponent analysis, but the necessity of switching the inlet end of the capillary between the vials of sample and running buffer for the sample injection complicates the operation and contributes to the irreproducibility, leading to poor compatibility with on-line analysis. Herein, coupling of capillaries with the aid of a plastic microchip was achieved for consecutive analysis. An assembly of 3 pieces of capillary with a cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) microchip was fabricated by thermal bonding of the COC plates with capillaries embedded in the micro-grooves with a cross-type configuration. Two capillaries acted as a sampling channel and the third capillary was used for separation. A buffer reservoir was installed on the microchip, which connected to the joint of the capillaries. The relative liquid levels of this reservoir and the vials at the other ends of the capillaries determine the length of the sample plug. With this assembly, the RSD of peak height and peak area for consecutive analysis were 0.54 % and 2.27 % (n = 9), the sample carryover was less than 0.32 %. The applicability of the device was confirmed by monitoring the leaching process of K+ in a green tea and vitamin C effervescent tablets.

A 1/5 scaled 12-story RC shear wall structure was constructed and tested on the shaking table under three earthquake records. Different from traditional shaking table test, in which only three or more earthquake levels are usually investigated, 15 levels were involved in this study. Then the IM-EDP curves were plotted, where the peak ground motion acceleration was the intensity measure and the maximum inter-story drift angle was the engineering demand parameter (EDP). Referring to the processing method of IDA curves, limit states were defined by associating some feature points on the curves with the change of structure performance; the response values of the structure under frequent, basic and rare earthquake levels can be obtained and deterministic seismic performance evaluation can be done by incorporating the observed damage. Incremental dynamic analyses were performed with the finite element model built by ABAQUS and consecutive analysis based on the shaking table test sequence was conducted further to consider the accumulated damage in the shaking table test. Conclusions are drawn by comparing IM-EDP curves and their 50%fractile curves. The test IM-EDP curves are basically the lower envelope of the IDA curves, which means the shaking table test generates conservative probability-based seismic performance evaluation results. Consecutive analysis results agree well with those of the test and accumulated damage can be effectively considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fine-grained aluminum-matrix hybrid nanocomposite reinforced with TiO 2 , MgO and Al 3 Ti nanoparticles was prepared via reactive friction stir processing (FSP) of an Al–Mg sheet with pre-placed TiO 2 particles (50 nm; 3.1 vol%). The microstructure of the hybrid nanocomposite comprises high-angle grain boundaries (~90%) with an average size of 2 µm and hard inclusions with sizes in the range of 30–50 nm. Evaluation of the hot deformation behavior of the nanocomposite by uniaxial tensile testing at different temperatures (300–450 °C) and strain rates (0.001–0.1 s −1 ) shows that the deformation apparent activation energy of the nanocomposite is 137 kJ mol −1 at ≤300 °C. The values of the activation energy for the Al–Mg alloy before and after FSP at this temperature range are about 105 and 135 kJ mol −1 , respectively. This observation highlights the role of ultrafine hard particles and the structural changes induced by FSP on the deformation process. At the higher temperatures, the deformation activation energy for the aluminum alloy without and with the reinforcing particles is 303 and 456 kJ mol −1 , respectively. Detailed microstructural analysis by electron back scattered diffraction and transmission electron microscopy suggests that dynamic recrystallization is responsible for the deformation behavior at the elevated temperatures. Meanwhile, the presence of the hard nanoparticles operates as a grain growth inhibitor improving the thermal stability of the fine-grained aluminum alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study considers the empty container repositioning problem of shipping companies that use standard and 3-in-1 foldable containers with more advanced designs. A mathematical model is developed to compare the total management costs of container repositioning of various patterns in different cargo shipping demand scenarios. Numerous scenario analyses and simulations of empty container repositioning were conducted, focusing on a liner shipping service in the Pacific Islands where empty containers are likely to be present because of the imbalance between inbound and outbound flows of containers, including static analysis and consecutive analysis with demand fluctuation in different approaches. Results show that with the introduction of foldable containers, depending on the growth rate of container cargo shipping demand, the total management costs of empty container repositioning can be reduced. However, introducing a large number of foldable containers may increase the total management costs of container repositioning. Moreover, the cost reduction effect of adding another containership increases in cases where future cargo shipping demand increases substantially. Furthermore, the introduction of foldable containers not only effectively reduces the management costs of empty containers, but also makes costs more stable and predictable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new calibration approach based on the adaptation of Integrated Calibration Method (ICM) to consecutive two components analysis in separation science is presented. Consecutive ICM method (C-ICM) was conceptually developed and applied to determination of two excitatory amino acids – glutamate and aspartate in cerebrospinal fluids collected by the use of brain microdialysis from freely-moving animals. Both analytes as a neurotransmitters play an important role in formation of the memory trace, and thus the processes of learning and memory. Due to their low concentration and presence of interferences, considered analytical system – animal brain – was a big challenge. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detection (ECD) was used in all experimental work. The most important feature of proposed method is integration of interpolative and extrapolative ways to calculate analyte concentration in single calibration procedure, which consequently leads to obtain series of six estimations of analytical result. Comparison of individual estimations with each other allows for a more in-depth analysis of systematic errors. It was proved that C-ICM approach enables diagnosis and compensation of systematic errors induced by occurrence of interference effects and improvement of accuracy of analytical results. Most of all, it was demonstrated that application of this method is efficient and useful analytical tool in analysis of complicated biological samples in pharmacology and neuroscience. Image 1 • Novel calibration method to two component determination is proposed. • The new approach is based on Integrated Calibration Method. • Method is applied to the determination of aspartate and glutamate. • Utility of the method is confirmed by examination of biological samples. • The principles, features and applicability of the method are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]