A microfabricated linear heater array operating in a constant voltage mode has been used to study the effect of nanoparticle size on the evaporation and dryout characteristics of strongly pinned ...nanofluid droplets. Four different nanofluids have been tested, containing 2-nm Au, 30-nm CuO, 11-nm Al2O3, and 47-nm Al2O3 nanoparticles, each of 5-μL droplets with 0.5 vol % in water. Nanofluid droplets show strong pinning along the droplet perimeter and, upon evaporation, leave a ring-shaped nanoparticle stain. Particle size is seen to have a clear and strong effect on the dryout stain pattern, while heater temperature seems to have little effect. With the assumption of axi-symmetry, tomographic deconvolution of measured data from the linear heater array allows for examination of the spatially and temporally resolved temperature and heat flux characteristics of the evaporating nanofluid droplets.
Various stains have been devised to reveal degenerative or reactive cell phenotypes, or the disintegrative and/or neuropathic lesions associated with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Pick's diseases, ...Down's syndrome, or chemical toxicity. Utilization of silver staining has allowed researchers to elucidate neural pathways promoting a greater understanding of the functional connections between brain regions. All of these methods employing silver can be characterized as ‘directed staining technologies’.
The argyrophilic proteins (AgNOR) staining protocol was modified to stain nucleoli in thick sections prepared for stereological evaluation of brain tissue. Nucleoli appeared as black dots against a pale amber background. Tissue sections were counterstained with Toluidine Blue, or reduced-strength Tyrosine Hydroxylase immunohistochemistry to facilitate visualization of basic cellular morphology and regional nucleus identification. Here, we present a modified method for nucleolar staining in free-floating thick sections of brain embedded in a gelatin matrix. The modifications in our procedure include incubation in HCl to denature (‘unravel’) the DNA, a bleaching step to reduce non-specific background silver staining, and counterstaining with Toluidine Blue or reduced-strength tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry.
Prior to the development of immunohistochemistry, silver staining was used primarily to identify pathological profiles and trace axon pathways; however, in many cases, a combination of silver staining and immunohistochemistry are required to fully visualize pathomorphology. The mechanism of these stains requires the binding of silver ions to cellular components and the subsequent reduction of the ions to metallic silver. Dilutions of TH primary antibody were evaluated to maximize identification of neurons and the nucleolus amongst the soma and processes present in the thick section. The use of stereology as a tool to estimate cell number has become increasingly prevalent in neuroscience experiments. As requirements for the preparation of experimental tissue have been refined, researchers have begun to use thicker sections, between 40 to 80 microns, to increase the number of optical planes available for analysis. These thick sections require modified staining protocols to assure complete penetration of stains throughout the tissue section.
This method is particularly useful in nucleolar identification for Stereology, and automated counting methods. Use of the nucleolus avoids some of the problems associated with use of the nucleus. The nucleolus is smaller than the nucleus and is less susceptible to transection during sectioning. It has a higher density than the nucleus and is easier to visualize. It is generally darker staining than the immunohistochemical reaction product that provides the identification marker for the cells to be counted. Examples of the method in several brain sections of the rat are shown, though the method has been also proven in other mammalian models.
Neuroscience; Stereology; Neurohistology; Staining; Nucleolus
Objectives
Chronic cough is a common and debilitating problem. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) block for neurogenic cough through a ...placebo‐controlled, prospective trial.
Methods
Patients were recruited in an outpatient tertiary care center. Inclusion criteria included a history consistent with neurogenic cough and age ≥ 18. Exclusion criteria included patients with untreated other etiologies of chronic cough (i.e., uncontrolled reflux) and current neuromodulating medication use. Patients were randomized into the treatment (1–2 mL of a 1:1 triamcinolone 40 mg: 1% lidocaine with 1:200,000 epinephrines) or placebo (saline) group and received two unilateral injections at approximately 2‐week intervals. Outcomes were measured primarily by the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) and a patient symptom log including a visual analog scale of cough severity.
Results
17 patients completed the study, including 10 in the treatment group and seven in the placebo group. Eight (80%) patients in the treatment group reported improvement with at least one of the injections, whereas only 1 (14.3%) patient reported improvement in the placebo group (p < 0.0001). Average total LCQ scores increased in the treatment group from 10.09 to 13.15 (p = 0.03), with the most change occurring in the social domain. There was no statistically significant change in LCQ scores for the placebo group. There were no serious adverse events.
Conclusion
An SLN block is a safe and efficacious procedure for the treatment of neurogenic cough. Further studies are needed to optimize treatment protocol and assess long‐term follow‐up of patient outcomes.
Level of Evidence
2 Laryngoscope, 133:3068–3074, 2023
Superior laryngeal nerve blocks were found to be an effective treatment option for patients with chronic cough when compared to placebo injections. There were no major side effects associated with the in‐office injections.
Ultra-cold neutrons (UCN), neutrons with energies low enough to be confined by the Fermi potential in material bottles, are playing an increasing role in measurements of fundamental properties of the ...neutron. The ability to manipulate UCN with material guides and bottles, magnetic fields, and gravity can lead to experiments with lower systematic errors than have been obtained in experiments with cold neutron beams. The UCN densities provided by existing reactor sources limit these experiments. The promise of much higher densities from solid deuterium sources has led to proposed facilities coupled to both reactor and spallation neutron sources. In this Letter we report on the performance of a prototype spallation neutron-driven solid deuterium source. This source produced bottled UCN densities of 145±7 UCN/cm3, about three times greater than the largest bottled UCN densities previously reported. These results indicate that a production UCN source with substantially higher densities should be possible.
This paper examines the structures of capitalism in Southeast Asia. Following the lead of Gordon Redding and others, it argues that parallel to varieties of capitalism elsewhere, there are ...distinctive features to the Southeast Asian business system, but that institutions play a relatively large role compared to firm specific resources or industry structures. Historically, with the exception of Thailand all the countries in the region are former colonies. All including Thailand share a distinctive style of nationalism, and partly as a result of this, all are governed by states that claim to be strong and lay wide claims but whose capacities are low. Typical features of the region, particularly the roles of large business groups and the Chinese minority, also can be interpreted as a result of this history. One of the outcomes of the analysis is an extension of the varieties of capitalism approach along the dimensions of state capacity and state direction, and of the approach to the internationalizing firm along the dimensions of dynamic capacity and control of subsidiaries. A further outcome is a questioning of the traditional picture of indigenous Southeast Asian business people as lacking in entrepreneurial skills, or more broadly of Southeast Asian nations as lacking in entrepreneurial values. Rather, the past history of these countries has resulted in a set of structures that militate against successful entrepreneurial activity.
This article examines cultural change in the triad regions, Japan, the United States, and Western Europe. In doing so it attempts to respond to calls to incorporate contextual and temporal factors in ...the analysis of national culture and their implications for the management of international operations. A four-stage model of development is proposed, derived in dialogue with conceptualizations from anthropology and sociology and with the specialist literature on nationalism. Created by narrow elites over the 19th century, the national cultures of the triad became arenas of violent confrontation in the early twentieth century, and then fragmented into a postmodern diversity in the generation following the Second World War. These tensions reflect broader processes of development that have transformed culture, especially the global forces of rising incomes, rising educational levels, and expansion of the public sphere. In the triad regions these processes have led through a series of stages to a world where individuals choose their own culture. The model therefore predicts in broad outline the likely course of development in emerging nations. The concluding section outlines some possible directions of development and implications for researchers and practitioners.
La modélisation des identités nationales et des changements culturels : comparaison d'expériences en Europe occidentale, au Japon et aux Etats-Unis (Frank B. (Ben) Tipton)
Cet article examine les changements culturels dans trois régions : le Japon, les Etats-Unis et l'Europe occidentale. Ce faisant, il vise à répondre, d'une part, aux demandes d'intégration de facteurs contextuels et temporels à l'analyse de la culture nationale et, d'autre part, aux implications en ce qui concerne la gestion d'opérations internationales. Un modèle de développement en quatre étapes est proposé, duquel est ensuite tiré un dialogue autour de diverses conceptualisations tirées de l'anthropologie et de la sociologie et autour de la littérature spécialisée sur le nationalisme. Créée par des élites au cours du 19 ème siècle, les cultures nationales des trois régions devinrent, au début du siècle suivant, les lices de confrontations violentes avant de se fragmenter, avec la génération de l'après guerre (la 2 nde guerre mondiale), en une diversité postmoderne. Ces tensions reflètent les processus du développement qui ont transformé la culture, particulièrement les forces mondiales qui se manifestent par des revenus en hausse, des niveaux d'éducation en hausse et de l'expansion de l'espace public. Dans ces trois régions, ces processus, par une série d'étapes successives, ont donné lieu à un monde où l'individu choisit sa propre culture. Le modèle offre donc les grandes lignes de l'évolution probable du développement des nations émergeantes. La conclusion dresse les grandes lignes de directions possibles de développement et d'implications pour les chercheurs et les praticiens.
Objective To examine the impact of increased body mass index (BMI) on (1) tracheotomy timing and (2) short‐term surgical complications requiring a return to the operating room and 30‐day mortality ...utilizing data from the Multi‐Institutional Study on Tracheotomy (MIST). Methods A retrospective analysis of patients from the MIST database who underwent surgical or percutaneous tracheotomy between 2013 and 2016 at eight institutions was completed. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to assess the impact of obesity on tracheotomy timing and complications. Results Among the 3369 patients who underwent tracheotomy, 41.0% were obese and 21.6% were morbidly obese. BMI was associated with higher rates of prolonged intubation prior to tracheotomy accounting for comorbidities, indication for tracheotomy, institution, and type of tracheostomy ( p = 0.001). Morbidly obese patients (BMI ≥35 kg/m 2 ) experienced a longer duration of intubation compared with patients with a normal BMI (median days intubated IQR 25%–75%: 11.0 days 7–17 days versus 9.0 days 5–14 days; p < 0.001) but did not have statistically higher rates of return to the operating room within 30 days ( p = 0.12) or mortality ( p = 0.90) on multivariable analysis. This same finding of prolonged intubation was not seen in overweight, nonobese patients when compared with normal BMI patients (median days intubated IQR 25%–75%: 10.0 days 6–15 days versus 10.0 days 6–15 days; p = 0.36). Conclusion BMI was associated with increased duration of intubation prior to tracheotomy. Although morbidly obese patients had a longer duration of intubation, there were no differences in return to the operating room or mortality within 30 days. Level of Evidence III Laryngoscope , 2024
We aimed to discern clinico-demographic predictors of large (≥8) tracheostomy tube size placement, and, secondarily, to assess the effect of large tracheostomy tube size and other parameters on odds ...of decannulation before hospital discharge.
Factors determining choice of tracheostomy tube size are not well-characterized in the current literature, despite evidence linking large tracheostomy tube size with posttracheotomy tracheal stenosis. The effect of tracheostomy tube size on timing of decannulation is also unknown, an important consideration given reported associations between endotracheal tube size and probability of failed extubation.
We collected information pertaining to patients who underwent tracheotomy at 1 of 10 U.S. health care institutions between 2010 and 2019. Tracheostomy tube size was dichotomized (≥8 and <8). Multivariable logistic regression models were fit to identify predictors of (1) large tracheostomy tube size, and (2) decannulation before hospital discharge.
The study included 5307 patients, including 2797 (52.7%) in the large tracheostomy cohort. Patient height (odds ratio OR = 1.060 per inch; 95% confidence interval CI 1.041-1.070) and obesity (1.37; 95% CI 1.1891.579) were associated with greater odds of large tracheostomy tube; otolaryngology performing the tracheotomy was associated with significantly lower odds of large tracheostomy tube (OR = 0.155; 95% CI 0.131-0.184). Large tracheostomy tube size (OR = 1.036; 95% CI 0.885-1.213) did not affect odds of decannulation.
Obesity was linked with increased likelihood of large tracheostomy tube size, independent of patient height. Probability of decannulation before hospital discharge is influenced by multiple patient-centric factors, but not by size of tracheostomy tube.
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