I materiali alloplastici vengono frequentemente utilizzati negli interventi di chirurgia plastica sul volto, quali la rinoplastica e la chirurgia ricostruttiva del naso. Ad oggi non è stato ancora ...individuato un materiale alloplastico con caratteristiche ottimali. Il presente studio sperimentale si propone di valutare la risposta tissutale e la resistenza nel tempo di cinque nuovi polimeri proposti come materiali alloplastici. Il presente studio è stato condotto presso un ospedale universitario di terzo livello. Sono state ricavate sei tasche sottocutanee sul dorso di 10 conigli che sono state usate per l’impianto di ciascuno dei polimeri testati più una tasca di controllo. Ciascuna delle tasche è stata escissa congiuntamente al tessuto circostante dopo tre mesi, ed è stata sottoposta ad un esame istopatologico. È stata quindi condotta una valutazione semi quantitativa con focus su neo angiogenesi, infiammazione, fibrosi, formazione di ascessi, presenza di cellule giganti multinucleate contenenti corpi estranei e stato dei polimeri testati. E’ stata inoltre effettuata una valutazione statistica, che per quanto riguarda la comparazione diretta fra la tasca di controllo e i polimeri II, III e IV non ha mostrato differenze significative in merito alla neo vascolarizzazione, all’infiammazione, alla fibrosi, alla presenza di ascessi ed alla presenza di cellule giganti multinucleate. Il polimero I ha invece mostrato un grado di fibrosi inferiore rispetto alla tasca di controllo (p = .027) and V (p = .018), benché le altre variabili prese in considerazione fossero sostanzialmente uguali. L’integrità nel tempo dei polimeri III (9 intatti, uno frammentato) e IV (8 intatti, 2 assenti) è stata migliore di quella ottenuta con gli altri polimeri testati. Questo gruppo di nuovi polimeri può essere considerato interessante per future applicazioni cliniche. Tutti i polimeri hanno mostrato risultati accettabili in termini di risposta dei tessuti, tuttavia i fenomeni di integrazione fibrovascolare sono stati maggiori nel caso dei polimeri II, III e IV. Inoltre la durata nel tempo dei polimeri III e IV è stata la migliore in assoluto.
During the past years, there has been an increasing interest in the construction of alternative basis sets for electronic systems. .In this work, by the use of generalized exponential functions ...approach, new efficient exponential type basis sets which include the B functions in the radial part have been constructed. Additional variational flexibility for the radial part of B functions is obtained by replacing the radial variable by rμ, with μ optimisable. Thus, the new variational parameter μ in generalized B functions greatly improves the quality of atomic orbitals in the LCAO calculations. Results obtained using generalized B function basis sets within the minimal basis framework are compared to the results of the standard B functions basis sets and numerical Hartree-Fock values for atomic systems.
Mass injuries caused by the violations of multinational firms are becoming more and more common in today’s globalised economy as goods and services are sold worldwide, and the harm these goods and ...services cause affects many widely scattered victims in different countries. Even if the same or almost identical factual situations injure consumers worldwide, whether they obtain any remedies varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction as each country designs its class action procedure differently. In order to overcome jurisdictional variations and compensate consumers with small claims in a more effective and efficient manner, this article deliberates on the idea of incorporating blockchain-based dispute resolution methods into class action proceedings. In this light, the article discusses to what extent blockchain-based dispute resolution systems can be used in class actions to provide better access to justice to consumers at the global level.
1. Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) is a skeletal disorder in broilers that has financial implications, necessitating dietary modifications to reduce the prevalence of this disease. This study explored ...how arginine silicate inositol complex (ASI) supplementation affected tibial growth plate (TGP) and overall bone health in broilers with manganese (Mn) deficiency-induced TD.
2. A total of 240 broiler chicks were divided into four groups, each consisting of 60 birds (15 replicates of four broilers each) as follows: i) Control, with 60 mg Mn per kg of diet; ii) ASI, with 60 mg Mn and 1 g ASI per kg of diet; iii) TD, with 22 mg Mn per kg of diet, and iv) TD+ASI, with 22 mg Mn and 1 g ASI per kg of diet.
3. It was found that ASI supplementation increased tibial bone length in Mn-deficient TD broilers (p = 0.007). There was no Mn x ASI interaction for other bone morphometry variables (p > 0.05). However, both tibial bone mineral content and density were affected by Mn and ASI (p < 0.05). With ASI supplementation, serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin levels were elevated in the TD+ASI group compared to the TD group (p < 0.001). In the TD group, osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels in the TGP decreased compared to the control groups (p < 0.001).
4. In contrast, ASI supplementation in the TD broilers counteracted the decrease in OPG compared to TD broilers without ASI supplementation (p < 0.001). The Mn level and ASI supplementation significantly influenced the OPG/receptor activator of the nuclear factor-κB ligand ratio (p < 0.001).
5. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that inclusion of ASI in broiler diets could enhance bone formation variables by controlling OPG levels in the TGP, potentially serving as an effective method to decrease the occurrence of TD.
Objective: This study aimed to ultrasonographically determine the presence of short and long umbilical cords in full-term, uncomplicated pregnancies before delivery.
Methods: A total of 681 pregnant ...women aged between 18 and 35 years who had a single pregnancy and an intact amniotic membrane, and who were past the 37th week of gestation, were included. Umbilical cord lengths were ultrasonographically evaluated using a new method, and were compared with postnatal umbilical cord length.
Results: The mean index values for short, normal, and long umbilical cords were 2.96, 5.36, and 6.98, respectively. The cut-off index value for a short umbilical cord was 3.75 and the sensitivity and specificity were calculated as 67 and 97%, respectively, for a value ≤3, and as 92 and 80%, respectively, for a value ≤4. The cut-off index value was 6.25 for a long umbilical cord and the sensitivity and specificity were calculated as 75 and 78%, respectively, for a value ≥6, and as 85 and 64%, respectively, for a value ≥6.5.
Conclusions: Calculation of the umbilical cord length index is a new ultrasonographic method that can be easily used to predict short and long umbilical cords during routine amniotic fluid evaluation in full-term pregnancies.
The calcium isotopes are an ideal system to investigate the evolution of shell structure and magic numbers. Although the properties of surface nucleons in calcium have been well studied, probing the ...structure of deeply bound nucleons remains a challenge. Here, we report on the first measurement of unbound states in 53Ca and 55Ca, populated from 54,56Ca(p,pn) reactions at a beam energy of around 216 MeV/nucleon at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotopes Beam Factory. The resonance properties, partial cross sections, and momentum distributions of these unbound states were analyzed. Orbital angular momentum l assignments were extracted from momentum distributions based on calculations using the distorted wave impulse approximation (DWIA) reaction model. The resonances at excitation energies of 5516(41)keV in 53Ca and 6000(250)keV in 55Ca indicate a significant l =3 component, providing the first experimental evidence for the ν0f7/2 single-particle strength of unbound hole states in the neutron-rich Ca isotopes. The observed excitation energies and cross-sections point towards extremely localized and well separated strength distributions, with some fragmentation for the ν0f7/2 orbital in 55Ca. These results are in good agreement with predictions from shell-model calculations using the effective GXPF1Bs interaction and ab initio calculations and diverge markedly from the experimental distributions in the nickel isotones at Z=28.
Background
Sleep, which is crucial for restoring of physiological functions and health, is reportedly impaired in psoriasis. The role of different potential sleep confounding factors, including ...detailed pruritus characteristics, and the complex interplay between psychological variables (anxiety and depression), pruritus and sleep disturbance in psoriasis remain insufficiently investigated.
Objectives
To investigate sleep characteristics and to identify clinical, demographic and psychological factors associated with sleep disturbance in psoriasis.
Methods
This cross‐sectional study included 334 psoriasis patients (response rate 86%) and 126 control subjects (response rate 82%). Measures included sleep quality Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), psoriasis severity, pruritus characteristics, including average pruritus intensity visual analogue scale (VAS), severity of comorbidities, anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale – HADS) and quality of life (Dermatology Life Quality Index – DLQI, and Short Form 12 – SF12).
Results
Fifty‐nine per cent of patients and 34% of control subjects (P < 0.001) suffered from sleep disturbance (PSQI > 5). Patients slept 1 h less than control subjects (median 6 vs. 7 h, P < 0.001). Patients without pruritus had less impaired sleep (global PSQI) than patients with strong (P < 0.001) and very strong pruritus (P < 0.001). Anxiety (HADS‐A) and depression (HADS‐D) levels were the strongest predictors of sleep impairment, followed by pruritus exacerbation at night, age, female sex, pruritus exacerbation in the morning, average pruritus intensity (VAS), diagnosed depression and gastroesophageal reflux disease, altogether explaining 32%–37% of the variance in global sleep quality. Both anxiety (HADS‐A) and depression (HADS‐D) were significant mediators explaining the association between pruritus intensity (VAS) and sleep impairment in 42% and 37% respectively.
Conclusions
Sleep disturbance in patients with psoriasis is highly prevalent. Patients with psoriasis should be assessed for sleep impairment, pruritus, anxiety and depression. Reduction in pruritus should be considered as an important therapeutic goal, along with therapies aimed at reducing anxiety and depression.
The cascading 3.21 and 4.44 MeV electric quadrupole transitions have been observed from the Hoyle state at 7.65 MeV excitation energy in C12, excited by the C12(p,p′) reaction at 10.7 MeV proton ...energy. From the proton-γ−γ triple coincidence data, a value of Γrad/Γ=6.2(6)×10−4 was obtained for the radiative branching ratio. Using our results, together with ΓπE0/Γ from Eriksen et al. Phys. Rev. C 102, 024320 (2020) and the currently adopted Γπ(E0) values, the radiative width of the Hoyle state is determined as Γrad=5.1(6)×10−3 eV. This value is about 34% higher than the currently adopted value and will impact models of stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis.
High-quality cameras are fundamental sensors in assisted and autonomous driving. In particular, long-range forward-facing cameras can provide vital information about the road ahead, including ...detection and recognition of objects and early hazard warning. These automotive cameras should provide high-resolution images consistently under extreme operating conditions of the car for robust operation. This paper aims to introduce the design of fixed-focus, passively athermalized lenses for next-generation automotive cameras. After introducing an overview of essential and desirable features of automotive cameras and state-of-the-art, based on these features, two different camera designs that can achieve traffic sign recognition at 200 m distance are presented. These lenses are designed from scratch, with a unique design approach that starts with a graphical lens material selection tool and arrives at an optimized design with optical design software. Optical system analyses are performed to evaluate the lens designs. The lenses are shown to accomplish high contrast from − 40 °C to 100 °C and allow for a 4 × increase in resolution of automotive cameras.
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