Organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) are considered in technological applications for which low cost or mechanical flexibility are crucial factors. The environmental stability of the organic ...semiconductors used in OFETs has improved to a level that is now sufficient for commercialization. However, serious problems remain with the stability of OFETs under operation. The causes for this have remained elusive for many years. Surface potentiometry together with theoretical modeling provide new insights into the mechanisms limiting the operational stability. These indicate that redox reactions involving water are involved in an exchange of mobile charges in the semiconductor with protons in the gate dielectric. This mechanism elucidates the established key role of water and leads in a natural way to a universal “stress function”, describing the stretched exponential‐like time dependence ubiquitously observed. Further study is needed to determine the generality of the mechanism and the role of other mechanisms.
In an organic field‐effect transistor redox reactions at the surface of the gate dielectric involving water can lead to conversion of holes in the accumulation layer into protons. The protons diffuse into the gate dielectric and cause a shift of the threshold voltage of the transistor.
Several authors propose that a change in sacral slope of ≤10° between the standing and relaxed-seated positions (ΔSSstanding→relaxed-seated) identifies a patient with a stiff lumbar spine and has ...suggested the use of dual-mobility bearings for such patients undergoing a total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of this study was to assess how accurately ΔSSstanding→relaxed-seated can identify patients with a stiff spine.
A prospective, multicentre, consecutive cohort series of 312 patients had standing, relaxed-seated, and flexed-seated lateral radiographs prior to THA. ΔSSstanding→relaxed-seated was determined by the change in sacral slope between the standing and relaxed-seated positions. Lumbar flexion (LF) was defined as the difference in lumbar lordotic angle between standing and flexed-seated. LF ≤20° was considered a stiff spine. The predictive value of ΔSSstanding→relaxed-seated for characterizing a stiff spine was assessed.
A weak correlation between ΔSSstanding→relaxed-seated and LF was identified (r2 = 0.13). Eighty six patients (28%) had ΔSSstanding→relaxed-seated ≤10° and 19 patients (6%) had a stiff spine. Of the 86 patients with ΔSSstanding→relaxed-seated ≤10°, 13 had a stiff spine. The positive predictive value of ΔSSstanding→relaxed-seated ≤10° for identifying a stiff spine was 15%.
In this cohort, ΔSSstanding→relaxed-seated ≤10° was not correlated with a stiff spine. Using this simplified approach could lead to a 7-fold overprediction of patients with a stiff lumbar spine and abnormal spinopelvic mobility, unnecessary use of dual-mobility bearings, and incorrect component alignment targets. Referring to patients with ΔSSstanding→relaxed-seated ≤10° as being stiff is misleading. The flexed-seated position should be used to effectively assess a patient’s spine mobility prior to THA.
Abstract
The effect of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors on cardiovascular and renal outcomes has not been systematically reviewed across baseline kidney function groups. We ...conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials (RCTs) with SGLT-2 inhibitors in patients with and without CKD. We performed a PubMed/Medline search of randomized, placebo-controlled, event-driven outcome trials of SGLT-2 inhibitors versus active or placebo control in patients with and without diabetes from inception to November 2022. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73m
2
(PROSPERO registration CRD4202016054). The primary outcome was cardiovascular death. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization for heart failure, major adverse cardiovascular events, CKD progression, all-cause mortality, treatment discontinuation, and acute kidney injury (AKI). The relative risk (RR) was estimated using a random-effects model. Twelve RCTs were included in this meta-analysis (89,191 patients, including 38,949 with eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73m
2
). Use of an SGLT-2 inhibitor in patients with CKD was associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular death (RR 0.87; 95% CI 0.79–0.95) and of heart failure (RR 0.67; 95% CI 0.61–0.75), compared with placebo. Heart failure risk reduction with SGLT-2 inhibitors was larger among patients with CKD compared with patients without CKD (RR for the interaction 0.87, 95% CI 0.75–1.02, and p-value for interaction 0.08). SGLT-2 inhibitors were associated with a lower incidence of CKD progression among patients with pre-existing CKD: RR 0.77 (95% CI 0.68–0.88), compared with placebo. Among patients with CKD, a lower risk of AKI (RR 0.82; 95% CI 0.72–0.93) and treatment discontinuation was seen with SGLT-2 inhibitors compared with placebo. SGLT-2 inhibitors offer substantial protection against cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with CKD. These results strongly advocate in favor of using them in patients with CKD and keeping them as kidney function declines.
•Spent coffee ground (SCG) was extracted by solvent and supercritical CO2 (SCFE).•Yield of oil using SCFE + 30% ethanol (v/w) at 300 bar/50 °C/90 min was 16.02%.•SCG oil showed high antioxidant ...activities.•Spent SCG residue exhibited prebiotic and antioxidant activities.•Cookies baked with SCG residues (7% w/w) showed good overall acceptability.
The present work was aimed at the valorization of roasted spent coffee grounds (SCG), a major valuable and functional by-product of the coffee processing industry by supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) of the oil therefrom using carbon dioxide, and utilizing the spent residue for the development of functional cookies. The process parameters of SCFE were optimized and compared with conventional Soxhlet extraction using n-hexane, following which the effect of different entrainers was evaluated under optimized conditions of SCFE (300 bar/50 °C/90 min) to obtain the maximum yield of spent coffee oil. SCFE with methanol and ethanol as entrainers at 30% (v/w) of SCG showed marginally better yields of 17.65% w/w and 16.02% w/w than 15.89% w/w obtained by hexane extraction for 16 h. The residue obtained after extraction (SCGR) was analyzed for total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activities. The SCGR was used for the preparation of cookies and compared with SCG for their textural, bioactivity, prebiotic activity, and sensory analysis. SCGR at 7% (w/w) showed the highest overall acceptability (7.3) in terms of texture and taste. Thus, the biorefinery approach presented in this work would enable the use of coffee oil as well as the defatted SCGR as a novel ingredient enriched with prebiotic activity in future food formulations.
Patients undergoing primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) who have spinal deformity and a stiff spine are the highest-risk group for instability. Despite the increasing use of dual-mobility cups and ...large femoral heads, dislocation remains a major complication after THA. Preoperative planning becomes a critical aspect of ensuring precise component positioning within a safe zone. The purpose of this study was to investigate dislocation rates over a 9-year period.
A retrospective review of 4,731 THAs performed by 3 orthopaedic surgeons between January 2014 and March 2023 was performed. Spinopelvic measurements were conducted to determine the hip–spine classification group for each patient. Only patients classified as 2B (pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis > 10° and Δsacral slope < 10°) were eligible. Both absolute and relative dislocation frequencies were then analyzed using time-series analysis techniques and Fisher’s exact tests.
A total of 281 hip–spine 2B patients undergoing primary THA were eligible for analysis (57% women; mean age, range: 66 years, 23 to 87; mean body mass index, range: 28, 16 to 45). The overall dislocation rate was 4.3%. Use of femoral head sizes ≥ 40 mm increased from 4% in 2014 to 2019 to 37% in 2020 to 2023 (P < .001), while the use of dual-mobility cups decreased from 100% in 2014 to 2019 to 37% in 2020 to 2023 (P < .001). Acetabular component planning was changed from the supine plane to the standing plane in February 2020. Those changes in surgical practice were notably correlated with a significant decrease in dislocation rates from 6.8% in 2014 to 2019 to 1.5% in 2020 to 2023 (P = .03).
Our study demonstrates that the introduction of advanced preoperative THA planning to the standing plane, coupled with precise intraoperative technology for implant placement, can significantly reduce the risk of instability in high-risk THA patients. Notably, we observed a significant decrease in dislocation rates, which aligned with the shift in surgical practice.
IV.
Reconstructing the behavior of extinct species is challenging, particularly for those with no living analogues. However, damage preserved as paleopathologies on bone can record how an animal moved in ...life, potentially reflecting behavioral patterns. Here, we assess hypothesized etiologies of pathology in a pelvis and associated right femur of a Smilodon fatalis saber-toothed cat, one of the best-studied species from the Pleistocene-age Rancho La Brea asphalt seeps, California, USA, using visualization by computed tomography (CT). The pelvis exhibits massive destruction of the right hip socket that was interpreted, for nearly a century, to have developed from trauma and infection. CT imaging reveals instead that the pathological distortions characterize chronic remodeling that began at birth and led to degeneration of the joint over the animal's life. These results suggest that this individual suffered from hip dysplasia, a congenital condition common in domestic dogs and cats. This individual reached adulthood but could not have hunted properly nor defended territory on its own, likely relying on a social group for feeding and protection. While extant social felids are rare, these fossils and others with similar pathologies are consistent with a spectrum of social strategies in Smilodon supported by a predominance of previous studies.
Background
The evolution in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) includes the highly cross-linked polyethylene (HXLPE) which has been reported as an effective manner to reduce the wear of the polyethylene ...and the osteolysis. The purpose of the present study is to synthesize the results of comparative studies between HXLPE and conventional polyethylenes and determine their effect in primary TKA.
Methods
The US National Library of Medicine (PubMed/MEDLINE) and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were queried for publications utilizing the following keywords: “cross-linked”, “polyethylene”, “HXLPE”, “conventional”, “total knee arthroplasty”, “TKA”, “total knee replacement” and “TKR” combined with Boolean operators AND and OR.
Results
Ten studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the present meta-analysis with 962,467 patients. No significant difference was found regarding the revision rate for any reason between the patients who received HXLPE and those with conventional liner (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.39–1.18;
I
2
: 97.7%). In addition, there was no difference regarding the radiolucent lines between the two types of liners (OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.20–1.49;
I
2
: 69.4%). However, with data coming from seven studies enrolling a total of 411,543 patients, it was demonstrated that patients who received HXLPE were less likely to be revised due to aseptic loosening compared to the patients with conventional liners (OR 0.35; 95% CI 0.31–0.39;
I
2
: 0.0%).
Conclusion
The present meta-analysis showed that regarding the overall revision rate and radiographic outcomes there was no significant difference between the two types of liners. On the other hand, the significantly less revision rate due to loosening supports the routine continued use of HXLPE in primary TKA.
Active Brownian particles (ABPs) are physical models for motility in simple life forms and easily studied in simulations. An open question is to what extent an increase of activity by a gradient of ...fuel, or food in living systems, results in an evolutionary advantage of actively moving systems such as ABPs over non-motile systems, which rely on thermal diffusion only. It is an established fact that within confined systems in a stationary state, the activity of ABPs generates density profiles that are enhanced in regions of low activity, which is thus referred to as 'anti-chemotaxis'. This would suggest that a rather complex sensoric subsystem and information processing is a precondition to recognize and navigate towards a food source. We demonstrate in this work that in non-stationary setups, for instance as a result of short bursts of fuel/food, ABPs do in fact exhibit chemotactic behavior. In direct competition with inactive, but otherwise identical Brownian particles (BPs), the ABPs are shown to fetch a larger amount of food. We discuss this result based on simple physical arguments. From the biological perspective, the ability of primitive entities to move in direct response to the available amount of external energy would, even in absence of any sensoric devices, encompass an evolutionary advantage.
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