Investigation of Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Al 5083-ZrSiO4-Gr Hybrid Composite

In this present work, an attempt is made to compare the microstructural, mechanical and tribological properties of Al 5083-5% and 10% Gr, Al 5083-5% and 10% ZrSiO4 composite with Al 5083-5, 10% Gr-5 and 10% ZrSiO4 hybrid composite. The samples were prepared by using the stir casting technique, and the characterizations of composites and hybrid composite were observed by using SEM, EDAX and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mechanical properties such as hardness, tensile, compressive strength of hybrid composite were found to be better than those of composites. The wear test was carried out by using a pin-on-disc wear tribometer by varying parameters like normal load (5, 10[Formula: see text]N), sliding speed (1, 1.5, 2[Formula: see text]m/s) with constant sliding distance (2000[Formula: see text]m). The worn surface of the samples is examined by using SEM, and the wear properties of the hybrid composite are found to exhibit superior wear resistance properties than composites.

The Impact of an Emergency Department Front-End Redesign on Patient-Reported Satisfaction Survey Results

Introduction

For emergency department (ED) patients, delays in care are associated with decreased satisfaction. Our department focused on implementing a front-end vertical patient flow model aimed to decrease delays in care, especially care initiation. The physical space for this new model was termed the Flexible Care Area (FCA). The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of this intervention on patient satisfaction.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of patients discharged from our academic ED over a one-year period (7/1/2013–6/30/2014). Of the 34,083 patients discharged during that period, 14,075 were sent a Press-Ganey survey and 2,358 (16.8%) returned the survey. We subsequently compared these survey responses with clinical information available through our electronic health record (EHR). Responses from the Press-Ganey surveys were dichotomized as being “Very Good” (VG, the highest rating) or “Other” (for all other ratings). Data abstracted from the EHR included demographic information (age, gender) and operational information (e.g. – emergency severity index, length of stay, whether care was delivered entirely in the FCA, utilization of labs or radiology testing, or administration of opioid pain medications). We used Fisher’s exact test to calculate statistical differences in proportions, while the Mantel-Haenszel method was used to report odds ratios.

Results

Of the returned surveys, 62% rated overall care for the visit as VG. However, fewer patients reported their care as VG if they were seen in FCA (53.4% versus 63.2%, p=0.027). Patients seen in FCA were less likely to have advanced imaging performed (12% versus 23.8%, p=0.001) or labs drawn (24.8% vs. 59.1%, p=0.001). Length of stay (FCA mean 159 ±103.5 minutes versus non-FCA 223 ±117 minutes) and acuity were lower for FCA patients than non-FCA patients (p=0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between patient-reported ratings of physicians or nurses when comparing patients seen in FCA vs. those not seen in FCA.

Conclusion

Patients seen through the FCA reported a lower overall rating of care compared to patients not seen in the FCA. This occurred despite a shorter overall length of stay for these patients, suggesting that other factors have a meaningful impact on patient satisfaction.

Influence of perfluorocarbons on Carbamazepine and Benzodiazepine for a neuro-lung protective strategy

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) is commonly characterized by a triad of features including multiple seizure types, intellectual disability or regression. LGS type of seizures is epilepsy which is due to abnormal vibrations occurring in seizures. During the time of such abnormal vibrations, both the seizures and the lungs suffer a lack in oxygen content to a considerable extent. This results in prolonged vibrations and loses of nervous control. As a neuro-lung protective strategy, a novel attempt has been made to enrich both seizures and lungs with oxygen content through the support of Perfluorodecalin (an excellent oxygen carrier) C₁₀F₁₈ (PFD) and Perfluorohexane C₆F₁₄ (PFH) along with an enhancement in the antiepileptic activity by the two chosen antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) Carbamazepine (CBZ) and Benzodiazepine (BDZ). Perfluorodecalin C₁₀F₁₈ (PFD) and Perfluorohexane C₆F₁₄ (PFH) emulsions were prepared by sonication process with combination of nonionic emulsifier, Lecithin (l-α-phosphatidylcholine) as a surfactant in Aqueous phase medium. These emulsions were mixed with Carbamazepine (CBZ) and Benzodiazepine (BDZ) drugs maintained at a temperature of about -20°C to 20°C and were set to slow evaporation process. The products are subjected to Optical microscope, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) - Energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Study reveals the co-existence of fluorine and drug ensuring the oxygen uptake by the drug. Morphology of TEM, Optical microscopic images and the particle diameter estimated through Image_J confirms this analysis.

Study of the sign change of exchange bias across the spin reorientation transition in Co(Cr1-x Fe x )2O4 (x = 0.00-0.125)

We present the evolution of novel phenomena of magnetic compensation effect, exchange bias (EB) effect and the field induced anomalies in '[Formula: see text]' substituted multiferroic compound [Formula: see text]. A few percent of '[Formula: see text]' substitution for '[Formula: see text]' in [Formula: see text] results in the reversal of field cooled magnetization under low applied fields below compensation temperature T _comp. Further, increase in the field leads to the spin reorientation transition (T _SR). Signature of EB in a narrow temperature window in the vicinity of T _SR and its sign change across T _SR is observed. Magnitude of EB depends on the amount of compensation and rigidity of the spin reorientation. We also notice the appearance of positive EB below the lock-in transition (T _L). Presence of unidirectional anisotropy developed in the commensurate spin-spiral below T _L could be responsible for the appearance of EB below T _L.

A Biomechanical Comparison of Shape Design and Positioning of Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Cages

STUDY DESIGN

Cadaveric biomechanical analysis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to compare three interbody cage shapes and their position within the interbody space with regards to construct stability for transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

METHODS

Twenty L2-L3 and L4-L5 lumbar motion segments from fresh cadavers were potted in polymethyl methacrylate and subjected to testing with a materials testing machine before and after unilateral facetectomy, diskectomy, and interbody cage insertion. The three cage types were kidney-shaped, articulated, and straight bullet-shaped. Each cage type was placed in a common anatomic area within the interbody space before testing: kidney, center; kidney, anterior; articulated, center; articulated, anterior; bullet, center; bullet, lateral. Load-deformation curves were generated for axial compression, flexion, extension, right bending, left bending, right torsion, and left torsion. Finally, load to failure was tested.

RESULTS

For all applied loads, there was a statistically significant decrease in the slope of the load-displacement curves for instrumented specimens compared with the intact state (p < 0.05) with the exception of right axial torsion (p = 0.062). Among all instrumented groups, there was no statistically significant difference in stiffness for any of the loading conditions or load to failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results failed to show a clearly superior cage shape design or location within the interbody space for use in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion.

NIK regulates MT1-MMP activity and promotes glioma cell invasion independently of the canonical NF-κB pathway

A growing body of evidence implicates the noncanonical NF-κB pathway as a key driver of glioma invasiveness and a major factor underlying poor patient prognoses. Here, we show that NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK/MAP3K14), a critical upstream regulator of the noncanonical NF-κB pathway, is both necessary and sufficient for cell-intrinsic invasion, as well as invasion induced by the cytokine TWEAK, which is strongly associated with tumor pathogenicity. NIK promotes dramatic alterations in glioma cell morphology that are characterized by extensive membrane branching and elongated pseudopodial protrusions. Correspondingly, NIK increases the phosphorylation, enzymatic activity and pseudopodial localization of membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP/MMP14), which is associated with enhanced tumor cell invasion of three-dimensional collagen matrices. Moreover, NIK regulates MT1-MMP activity in cells lacking the canonical NF-κB p65 and cRel proteins. Finally, increased expression of NIK is associated with elevated MT1-MMP phosphorylation in orthotopic xenografts and co-expression of NIK and MT1-MMP in human tumors is associated with poor glioma patient survival. These data reveal a novel role of NIK to enhance pseudopodia formation, MT1-MMP enzymatic activity and tumor cell invasion independently of p65. Collectively, our findings underscore the therapeutic potential of approaches targeting NIK in highly invasive tumors.

Design, synthesis and computational evaluation of a novel intermediate salt of N-cyclohexyl-N-(cyclohexylcarbamoyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl) benzamide as potential potassium channel blocker in epileptic paroxysmal seizures

The narrow therapeutic range and limited pharmacokinetics of available Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have raised serious concerns in the proper management of epilepsy. To overcome this, the present study attempts to identify a candidate molecule targeting voltage gated potassium channels anticipated to have superior pharmacological than existing potassium channel blockers. The compound was synthesized by reacting (S)-(+)-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4] benzodiazepine5,11(10H,11aH)-dione with 4-(Trifluoromethyl) benzoic acid (C₈H₅F₃O₂) in DMF and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) which lead to the formation of an intermediate salt of N-cyclohexyl-N-(cyclohexylcarbamoyl)-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzamide with a perfect crystalline structure. The structure of the compound was characterized by FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR analysis. The crystal structure is confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) studies revealed that substituent of fluoro or trifluoromethyl moiety into the compound had a great effect on the biological activity in comparison to clinically used drugs. Employing computational approaches the compound was further tested for its affinity against potassium protein structure by molecular docking in addition, bioactivity and ADMET properties were predicted through computer aided programs.