The composition of paper cups creates a challenge for the recycling industry,as the paperboard–plastic film composite is hard to separate.Therefore,paper cups are sent to landfills or waste incinerators.This study ex...The composition of paper cups creates a challenge for the recycling industry,as the paperboard–plastic film composite is hard to separate.Therefore,paper cups are sent to landfills or waste incinerators.This study explores the combined use of red worms(Eisenia fetida)and Greater wax moth(Galleria mellonella)in the biodegradation of paper cups.The study investigates the conditions and combinations that promote using Eisenia fetida and Galleria mellonella for degrading paper cups.The study considered the influence of environmental temperature,the presence of food waste,varying the number of Eisenia fetida worms,and the presence of a Galleria mellonella growth-slowing agent on the degradation process.To achieve the study objectives,the study followed a quantitative approach.The study monitored the degradation of paper cup cuts that were placed in jars containing different combinations of Eisenia fetida worms,Galleria mellonella larvae,food waste,bedding material,and Galleria mellonella growth-slowing agents.The study found that the best operating temperature is 30oC.The study found that using food waste improves the performance of Eisenia fetida worms and Galleria mellonella larvae significantly.The study found that adding a Galleria mellonella growth-slowing agent slightly enhances the degradation of the paper cup.Finally,a numerical model was obtained to simulate the paper cup degradation efficiency.展开更多
Major defects in forming of conical cups are wrinkles and rupture.Hydrodynamic deep drawing assisted by radial pressure(HDDRP) is a sheet hydroforming process for production of shell cups in one step.In this work,pr...Major defects in forming of conical cups are wrinkles and rupture.Hydrodynamic deep drawing assisted by radial pressure(HDDRP) is a sheet hydroforming process for production of shell cups in one step.In this work,process window diagrams(PWDs) for Al1050-O,pure copper and DIN 1623 St14 steel are obtained for HDDRP process.The PWD is determined to provide a quick assessment of part producibility for sheet hydroforming process.Finite element method is used for this purpose considering the process parameters including pressure path,and the blank material and its thickness.Numerical results are validated by experiments.It is shown that the sheets with less initial thickness and higher strength show better formability and uniformity of thickness distribution on final product.The results demonstrate that the obtained PWD can predict appropriate forming area and probability of rupture or wrinkling occurrence under different pressure loading paths.展开更多
Hydrodynamic deep drawing assisted by radial pressure is an advanced sheet forming technology with great advantages such as higher drawing ratio, good surface quality and higher dimensional accuracy. In this process, ...Hydrodynamic deep drawing assisted by radial pressure is an advanced sheet forming technology with great advantages such as higher drawing ratio, good surface quality and higher dimensional accuracy. In this process, both the bottom surface and the peripheral edge of sheets are under hydrodynamic pressure, so that the forming procedure is more uniform with low failure probability. Multi-layered sheets with complex geometries could be formed more easily with this technique compared with other traditional methods. Rupture is the main irrecoverable failure form in sheet forming processes. Prediction of rupture occurrence is of great importance for determining and optimizing the proper process parameters. In this research, a theoretical model was proposed to calculate the critical rupture pressure in production of double layered conical parts with hydrodynamic deep drawing process assisted by radial pressure. The effects of other process parameters on critical rupture pressure, such as punch tip radius, drawing ratio, coefficient of friction, sheet thickness and material properties were also discussed. The proposed model was compared with finite element simulation and validated by experiments on Al1050/St13 double layered sheets, where a good agreement was found with analytical results.展开更多
Acetabular cups,which are among themost important implants in total hip arthroplasty,are usually made from titanium alloys with high porosity and adequate mechanical properties.The current three-dimensional(3D)printin...Acetabular cups,which are among themost important implants in total hip arthroplasty,are usually made from titanium alloys with high porosity and adequate mechanical properties.The current three-dimensional(3D)printing approaches to fabricate customized acetabular cups have some inherent disadvantages such as high cost and energy consumption,residual thermal stress,and relatively low efficiency.Thus,in this work,a direct ink writing method was developed to print a cup structure at room temperature,followed by multi-step heat treatment to form microscale porous structure within the acetabular cup.Our method is facilitated by the development of a self-supporting titanium-6 aluminum-4 vanadium(Ti64)ink that is composed of Ti64 particles,bentonite yield-stress additive,ultraviolet curable polymer,and photo-initiator.The effects of Ti64 and bentonite concentrations on the rheological properties and printability of inks were systematically investigated.Moreover,the printing conditions,geometrical limitations,and maximum curing depth were explored.Finally,some complex 3D structures,including lattices with different gap distances,honeycomb with a well-defined shape,and an acetabular cup with uniformly distributed micropores,were successfully printed/fabricated to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.展开更多
Bacterial transfer is a concern when sharing food and drink, so to address this concern, this study examined the bacterial transfer onto and into plastic drinking cups. Two experiments were performed to: 1) test bacte...Bacterial transfer is a concern when sharing food and drink, so to address this concern, this study examined the bacterial transfer onto and into plastic drinking cups. Two experiments were performed to: 1) test bacterial transfer to the rim of a plastic drinking cup, and 2) test residual bacteria in the liquid that was consumed from the cup. Bacteria were enumerated from the cup rim and the water in the cup. The results for both types of transfer showed higher bacterial populations on cups exposed to drinking compared to those where no drinking occurred. However, there was more bacterial transfer to the rim of the plastic cup than the liquid inside the cup.展开更多
Plastic cups commonly used by communities of Uganda lose color with time as they are used. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of copper, lead and chromium in drinks placed in blue and green ...Plastic cups commonly used by communities of Uganda lose color with time as they are used. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of copper, lead and chromium in drinks placed in blue and green plastic cups from two companies (anonymized as A and B) in Uganda. New blue and green polyethylene plastic cups produced from unrecycled material were purchased from company A and company B while control cups of Luminarc white (Saudi Arabia) and porcelain white glazed (China) were purchased from shops in Mbarara city. The ash from the burnt blue and green plastic cups was digested using Aqua Regia. After a holding time of 30 and 60 minutes, milk and tea samples in the four different cups were also digested using Aqua Regia. Sample analysis for the supernatants was done in triplicates using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The ash of blue and green cups from company A was found to contain the highest concentration of heavy metals which ranged from 0.73 to 1.86 ppm for lead, 8.05 to 38.32 ppm of copper, and 655.80 to 756.57 ppm for chromium. For company B, the heavy metal concentrations ranged from 0.76 to 1.43 ppm, 5.51 to 22.85 ppm, and 756.67 to 815.25 ppm, respectively. The concentration of the leached metals ranged from 0.001 to 5.75 ppm for copper, 0.001 to 0.60 ppm for chromium, and 0.001 to 0.41 ppm for lead for the cup of company A. For the cup from company B, the concentration ranges for the leached metals were from 0.001 to 3.59 ppm, 0.001 to 1.08 ppm, and 0.001 to 0.29 ppm, respectively. Most of the values obtained for the leached concentrations of the metals studied were above the respective drinking water in WHO and USEPA permissible limits of 1 ppm (copper), 0.05 ppm (lead) and 0.1 ppm (chromium). The blue and green plastic cups from both companies had leached concentrations of copper, lead and chromium below the permissible limits at 25°C, pH 6.2 (milk) and a holding time of 30 minutes. The control cups did not leach detectable amounts of copper, chromium and lead under the study conditions, hence it may be safe for holding the hot drinks at the temperatures experimented in this study.展开更多
Rubber latex is an important economic resource. However, the residues from its harvesting are thrown away, even though they contain lipids that can be recycled. This recovery of the residues from the bottom of the cup...Rubber latex is an important economic resource. However, the residues from its harvesting are thrown away, even though they contain lipids that can be recycled. This recovery of the residues from the bottom of the cup requires first and foremost their characterization. The aim of this study is therefore to determine the main physical and chemical characteristics of rubber latex cup bottom oil. Oil’s physical parameters determination shows that it has a density of 951 kg∙m−3, a kinematic viscosity of 48.57 cSt and a water content of 0.0845%. Chemical parameters, meanwhile, indicate that this cup bottom residue has a fat content of 95.96%, an acid number of 2.805 mg KOH/g and an iodine number of 92.42 g I2/100g. Therefore, rubber latex cup bottom oil can be used in the formulation of biofuels, biolubricants, paints, varnishes, alkyd resins, polishing oils, soaps, and insecticides.展开更多
BACKGROUND The use of uncemented cups during total hip arthroplasty(THA)has gained popularity in recent years.The Robert Mathys(RM)pressfit cup,an uncemented monoblock implant is expected to preserve bone density due ...BACKGROUND The use of uncemented cups during total hip arthroplasty(THA)has gained popularity in recent years.The Robert Mathys(RM)pressfit cup,an uncemented monoblock implant is expected to preserve bone density due to its composition and external surface,while reducing backside wear with its monoblock construction.These factors should lead to a high survival rate of the implant.AIM To evaluate the mid-term survival and functional outcome of the RM Pressfit cup in a large study population.METHODS Between 2011 and 2020,we included 1324 patients receiving a primary THA using the RM pressfit cup.Final clinical follow-up was performed at 2 years postoperatively with the Dutch arthroplasty register used to assess implant status thereafter.Revision for acetabular failure and reason for revision were reported to evaluate implant survival,while the hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score(HOOS)scores were used to assess functional outcome.RESULTS The mean age at surgery was 64.9 years.The mean follow-up was 4.6 years.Of the 1324 THAs performed,13 needed cup revisions within 5 years after index THA:5 due to aseptic loosening,6 due to infection,2 due to dislocation and 2 due to other causes.This resulted in a 5-year cup survival of 98.8%(95%CI:98.1-99.5).Nine of the cup revisions occurred within the first year after index THA.HOOS scores increased significantly in all domains during the first year and levelled out during the second year.CONCLUSION In the present study,the RM pressfit cup demonstrated excellent clinical outcomes at mid-term follow-up;however,future studies are needed to assess the long-term outcomes of this acetabular implant.展开更多
BACKGROUND Total hip arthroplasty(THA)is a common procedure for end stage osteoarthritis.The learning curve for THA is complex and challenging.One of the most difficult skills to master is acetabular reaming.We wish t...BACKGROUND Total hip arthroplasty(THA)is a common procedure for end stage osteoarthritis.The learning curve for THA is complex and challenging.One of the most difficult skills to master is acetabular reaming.We wish to identify if experience in arthroplasty leads to preservation of more bone stock.AIM To investigate if increasing surgeon experience will predict an ever decreasing acetabular cup size.METHODS A retrospective case series of four attending orthopaedic surgeons was completed.All uncemented elective total hip arthroplasties since appointment were selected for inclusion.The size of acetabular cup used was noted and logistic regression was used to identify if a trend to smaller cups existed.RESULTS A total of 1614 subjects were included with a mean age of 64 years.Overall cups were on average 0.18mm smaller per year(95%confidence interval-0.25 to-0.11,P<0.001).Individual surgeon trends showed cup sizes to decrease 0.27 mm/year for surgeon A,0.02 mm/year for surgeon B,0.15 mm/year for surgeon C and 0.29 mm/year for surgeon D.Three of the four surgeons had a more pronounced trend to smaller cups for male subjects than their female counterparts.CONCLUSION We found increasing surgeon experience to be associated with an ever-decreasing acetabular cup size.Smaller acetabular cup size may act as a surrogate marker of surgical proficiency by virtue of decreased acetabular reaming.展开更多
Coaxial plasma guns are a type of plasma source that produces plasma which propagates radially and axially controlled by the shape of the ground electrode, which has attracted much interest in several applications. In...Coaxial plasma guns are a type of plasma source that produces plasma which propagates radially and axially controlled by the shape of the ground electrode, which has attracted much interest in several applications. In this work, a 120° opening angle of CPG nozzle is used as a plasma gun configuration that operates at the energy of 150 J. The ionization of polyethylene insulator between the electrodes of the gun produces a cloud of hydrogen and carbon plasma.The triple Langmuir probe and Faraday cup are used to measure plasma density and plasma temperature. These methods are used to measure the on-axis and off-axis plasma divergence of the coaxial plasma gun. The peak values of ion densities measured at a distance of 25 mm on-axis from the plasma gun are(1.6±0.5)×10^(19)m^(-3)and(2.8±0.6)×10^(19)m^(-3)for hydrogen and carbon plasma respectively and the peak temperature is 3.02±0.5 eV. The mean propagation velocity of plasma is calculated using the transit times of plasma at different distances from the plasma gun and is found to be 4.54±0.25 cm/μs and 1.81±0.18 cm/μs for hydrogen and carbon plasma respectively. The Debye radius is obtained from the measured experimental data that satisfies the thin sheath approximation. The shot-to-shot stability of plasma parameters facilitates the use of plasma guns in laboratory experiments. These types of plasma sources can be used in many applications like plasma opening switches, plasma devices, and as plasma sources.展开更多
On June 15th,the one-month European Football Championship(hereinafter referred to as the European Cup)kicked off in Germany.In 2023,Germany’s GDP shrank by 0.3%,which was the worst performance among the world’s majo...On June 15th,the one-month European Football Championship(hereinafter referred to as the European Cup)kicked off in Germany.In 2023,Germany’s GDP shrank by 0.3%,which was the worst performance among the world’s major economies.This year,Germany is pinning its hopes on the European Championship to stimulate consumption and boost the economy.展开更多
In this work,we aim to introduce some modifications to the Anam-Net deep neural network(DNN)model for segmenting optic cup(OC)and optic disc(OD)in retinal fundus images to estimate the cup-to-disc ratio(CDR).The CDR i...In this work,we aim to introduce some modifications to the Anam-Net deep neural network(DNN)model for segmenting optic cup(OC)and optic disc(OD)in retinal fundus images to estimate the cup-to-disc ratio(CDR).The CDR is a reliable measure for the early diagnosis of Glaucoma.In this study,we developed a lightweight DNN model for OC and OD segmentation in retinal fundus images.Our DNN model is based on modifications to Anam-Net,incorporating an anamorphic depth embedding block.To reduce computational complexity,we employ a fixed filter size for all convolution layers in the encoder and decoder stages as the network deepens.This modification significantly reduces the number of trainable parameters,making the model lightweight and suitable for resource-constrained applications.We evaluate the performance of the developed model using two publicly available retinal image databases,namely RIM-ONE and Drishti-GS.The results demonstrate promising OC segmentation performance across most standard evaluation metrics while achieving analogous results for OD segmentation.We used two retinal fundus image databases named RIM-ONE and Drishti-GS that contained 159 images and 101 retinal images,respectively.For OD segmentation using the RIM-ONE we obtain an f1-score(F1),Jaccard coefficient(JC),and overlapping error(OE)of 0.950,0.9219,and 0.0781,respectively.Similarly,for OC segmentation using the same databases,we achieve scores of 0.8481(F1),0.7428(JC),and 0.2572(OE).Based on these experimental results and the significantly lower number of trainable parameters,we conclude that the developed model is highly suitable for the early diagnosis of glaucoma by accurately estimating the CDR.展开更多
Background:The incidence of lumbar disc herniation(LDH)is notably high.Consensus among experts highlights non-surgical treatments as the primary therapeutic approach for LDH.Contemporary medicine frequently employs ph...Background:The incidence of lumbar disc herniation(LDH)is notably high.Consensus among experts highlights non-surgical treatments as the primary therapeutic approach for LDH.Contemporary medicine frequently employs pharmacotherapy and epidural injections in such treatments,which are associated with numerous adverse effects.Prolonged use can severely impair the liver and kidney functions of patients.Hence,the role of safe and effective traditional Chinese medicine techniques becomes pivotal.Among various traditional Chinese medicine approaches for treating LDH,fire dragon cupping,renowned for its remarkable efficacy,cost-effectiveness,and ease of application,is extensively utilised in clinical settings for managing LDH.Nonetheless,there is a scarcity of systematic and standardised evidence from evidence-based medicine studies.Therefore,conducting a meta-analysis is imperative.Methods:A comprehensive computerised search was conducted in databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure,WanFang Data,VIP,China Biology Medicine disc,PubMed,EMbase,The Cochrane Library,Web of Science,and CINAHL.The search aimed to gather randomised controlled trials on fire dragon cupping therapy for LDH,spanning from the inception of these databases until December 2023.Two researchers independently screened the literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria,extracted data,and assessed the methodological quality of the studies included,utilising RevMan 5.3 software for meta-analysis.Results:The results show that the fire dragon cupping therapy group had better clinical effectiveness(relative risk=1.23,95%confidence interval(CI)(1.14,1.33),P<0.00001),less pain(standardized mean difference=–1.33,95%CI(–1.49,–1.16),P<0.00001),and some improvement in lumbar function(Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores:mean difference=3.37,95%CI(2.31,4.43),P<0.00001.Conclusion:The fire dragon cupping therapy significantly alleviates LDH,warranting its extensive application.However,considering the limitations in the number and quality of studies included,the aforementioned conclusion necessitates further validation through more high-quality research.展开更多
基金funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at the University of Jordan.
文摘The composition of paper cups creates a challenge for the recycling industry,as the paperboard–plastic film composite is hard to separate.Therefore,paper cups are sent to landfills or waste incinerators.This study explores the combined use of red worms(Eisenia fetida)and Greater wax moth(Galleria mellonella)in the biodegradation of paper cups.The study investigates the conditions and combinations that promote using Eisenia fetida and Galleria mellonella for degrading paper cups.The study considered the influence of environmental temperature,the presence of food waste,varying the number of Eisenia fetida worms,and the presence of a Galleria mellonella growth-slowing agent on the degradation process.To achieve the study objectives,the study followed a quantitative approach.The study monitored the degradation of paper cup cuts that were placed in jars containing different combinations of Eisenia fetida worms,Galleria mellonella larvae,food waste,bedding material,and Galleria mellonella growth-slowing agents.The study found that the best operating temperature is 30oC.The study found that using food waste improves the performance of Eisenia fetida worms and Galleria mellonella larvae significantly.The study found that adding a Galleria mellonella growth-slowing agent slightly enhances the degradation of the paper cup.Finally,a numerical model was obtained to simulate the paper cup degradation efficiency.
文摘Major defects in forming of conical cups are wrinkles and rupture.Hydrodynamic deep drawing assisted by radial pressure(HDDRP) is a sheet hydroforming process for production of shell cups in one step.In this work,process window diagrams(PWDs) for Al1050-O,pure copper and DIN 1623 St14 steel are obtained for HDDRP process.The PWD is determined to provide a quick assessment of part producibility for sheet hydroforming process.Finite element method is used for this purpose considering the process parameters including pressure path,and the blank material and its thickness.Numerical results are validated by experiments.It is shown that the sheets with less initial thickness and higher strength show better formability and uniformity of thickness distribution on final product.The results demonstrate that the obtained PWD can predict appropriate forming area and probability of rupture or wrinkling occurrence under different pressure loading paths.
文摘Hydrodynamic deep drawing assisted by radial pressure is an advanced sheet forming technology with great advantages such as higher drawing ratio, good surface quality and higher dimensional accuracy. In this process, both the bottom surface and the peripheral edge of sheets are under hydrodynamic pressure, so that the forming procedure is more uniform with low failure probability. Multi-layered sheets with complex geometries could be formed more easily with this technique compared with other traditional methods. Rupture is the main irrecoverable failure form in sheet forming processes. Prediction of rupture occurrence is of great importance for determining and optimizing the proper process parameters. In this research, a theoretical model was proposed to calculate the critical rupture pressure in production of double layered conical parts with hydrodynamic deep drawing process assisted by radial pressure. The effects of other process parameters on critical rupture pressure, such as punch tip radius, drawing ratio, coefficient of friction, sheet thickness and material properties were also discussed. The proposed model was compared with finite element simulation and validated by experiments on Al1050/St13 double layered sheets, where a good agreement was found with analytical results.
基金supported by the Micro Grant (PG20473) at the University of Nevada, Reno, USA
文摘Acetabular cups,which are among themost important implants in total hip arthroplasty,are usually made from titanium alloys with high porosity and adequate mechanical properties.The current three-dimensional(3D)printing approaches to fabricate customized acetabular cups have some inherent disadvantages such as high cost and energy consumption,residual thermal stress,and relatively low efficiency.Thus,in this work,a direct ink writing method was developed to print a cup structure at room temperature,followed by multi-step heat treatment to form microscale porous structure within the acetabular cup.Our method is facilitated by the development of a self-supporting titanium-6 aluminum-4 vanadium(Ti64)ink that is composed of Ti64 particles,bentonite yield-stress additive,ultraviolet curable polymer,and photo-initiator.The effects of Ti64 and bentonite concentrations on the rheological properties and printability of inks were systematically investigated.Moreover,the printing conditions,geometrical limitations,and maximum curing depth were explored.Finally,some complex 3D structures,including lattices with different gap distances,honeycomb with a well-defined shape,and an acetabular cup with uniformly distributed micropores,were successfully printed/fabricated to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
文摘Bacterial transfer is a concern when sharing food and drink, so to address this concern, this study examined the bacterial transfer onto and into plastic drinking cups. Two experiments were performed to: 1) test bacterial transfer to the rim of a plastic drinking cup, and 2) test residual bacteria in the liquid that was consumed from the cup. Bacteria were enumerated from the cup rim and the water in the cup. The results for both types of transfer showed higher bacterial populations on cups exposed to drinking compared to those where no drinking occurred. However, there was more bacterial transfer to the rim of the plastic cup than the liquid inside the cup.
文摘Plastic cups commonly used by communities of Uganda lose color with time as they are used. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of copper, lead and chromium in drinks placed in blue and green plastic cups from two companies (anonymized as A and B) in Uganda. New blue and green polyethylene plastic cups produced from unrecycled material were purchased from company A and company B while control cups of Luminarc white (Saudi Arabia) and porcelain white glazed (China) were purchased from shops in Mbarara city. The ash from the burnt blue and green plastic cups was digested using Aqua Regia. After a holding time of 30 and 60 minutes, milk and tea samples in the four different cups were also digested using Aqua Regia. Sample analysis for the supernatants was done in triplicates using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The ash of blue and green cups from company A was found to contain the highest concentration of heavy metals which ranged from 0.73 to 1.86 ppm for lead, 8.05 to 38.32 ppm of copper, and 655.80 to 756.57 ppm for chromium. For company B, the heavy metal concentrations ranged from 0.76 to 1.43 ppm, 5.51 to 22.85 ppm, and 756.67 to 815.25 ppm, respectively. The concentration of the leached metals ranged from 0.001 to 5.75 ppm for copper, 0.001 to 0.60 ppm for chromium, and 0.001 to 0.41 ppm for lead for the cup of company A. For the cup from company B, the concentration ranges for the leached metals were from 0.001 to 3.59 ppm, 0.001 to 1.08 ppm, and 0.001 to 0.29 ppm, respectively. Most of the values obtained for the leached concentrations of the metals studied were above the respective drinking water in WHO and USEPA permissible limits of 1 ppm (copper), 0.05 ppm (lead) and 0.1 ppm (chromium). The blue and green plastic cups from both companies had leached concentrations of copper, lead and chromium below the permissible limits at 25°C, pH 6.2 (milk) and a holding time of 30 minutes. The control cups did not leach detectable amounts of copper, chromium and lead under the study conditions, hence it may be safe for holding the hot drinks at the temperatures experimented in this study.
文摘Rubber latex is an important economic resource. However, the residues from its harvesting are thrown away, even though they contain lipids that can be recycled. This recovery of the residues from the bottom of the cup requires first and foremost their characterization. The aim of this study is therefore to determine the main physical and chemical characteristics of rubber latex cup bottom oil. Oil’s physical parameters determination shows that it has a density of 951 kg∙m−3, a kinematic viscosity of 48.57 cSt and a water content of 0.0845%. Chemical parameters, meanwhile, indicate that this cup bottom residue has a fat content of 95.96%, an acid number of 2.805 mg KOH/g and an iodine number of 92.42 g I2/100g. Therefore, rubber latex cup bottom oil can be used in the formulation of biofuels, biolubricants, paints, varnishes, alkyd resins, polishing oils, soaps, and insecticides.
文摘BACKGROUND The use of uncemented cups during total hip arthroplasty(THA)has gained popularity in recent years.The Robert Mathys(RM)pressfit cup,an uncemented monoblock implant is expected to preserve bone density due to its composition and external surface,while reducing backside wear with its monoblock construction.These factors should lead to a high survival rate of the implant.AIM To evaluate the mid-term survival and functional outcome of the RM Pressfit cup in a large study population.METHODS Between 2011 and 2020,we included 1324 patients receiving a primary THA using the RM pressfit cup.Final clinical follow-up was performed at 2 years postoperatively with the Dutch arthroplasty register used to assess implant status thereafter.Revision for acetabular failure and reason for revision were reported to evaluate implant survival,while the hip disability and osteoarthritis outcome score(HOOS)scores were used to assess functional outcome.RESULTS The mean age at surgery was 64.9 years.The mean follow-up was 4.6 years.Of the 1324 THAs performed,13 needed cup revisions within 5 years after index THA:5 due to aseptic loosening,6 due to infection,2 due to dislocation and 2 due to other causes.This resulted in a 5-year cup survival of 98.8%(95%CI:98.1-99.5).Nine of the cup revisions occurred within the first year after index THA.HOOS scores increased significantly in all domains during the first year and levelled out during the second year.CONCLUSION In the present study,the RM pressfit cup demonstrated excellent clinical outcomes at mid-term follow-up;however,future studies are needed to assess the long-term outcomes of this acetabular implant.
文摘BACKGROUND Total hip arthroplasty(THA)is a common procedure for end stage osteoarthritis.The learning curve for THA is complex and challenging.One of the most difficult skills to master is acetabular reaming.We wish to identify if experience in arthroplasty leads to preservation of more bone stock.AIM To investigate if increasing surgeon experience will predict an ever decreasing acetabular cup size.METHODS A retrospective case series of four attending orthopaedic surgeons was completed.All uncemented elective total hip arthroplasties since appointment were selected for inclusion.The size of acetabular cup used was noted and logistic regression was used to identify if a trend to smaller cups existed.RESULTS A total of 1614 subjects were included with a mean age of 64 years.Overall cups were on average 0.18mm smaller per year(95%confidence interval-0.25 to-0.11,P<0.001).Individual surgeon trends showed cup sizes to decrease 0.27 mm/year for surgeon A,0.02 mm/year for surgeon B,0.15 mm/year for surgeon C and 0.29 mm/year for surgeon D.Three of the four surgeons had a more pronounced trend to smaller cups for male subjects than their female counterparts.CONCLUSION We found increasing surgeon experience to be associated with an ever-decreasing acetabular cup size.Smaller acetabular cup size may act as a surrogate marker of surgical proficiency by virtue of decreased acetabular reaming.
基金supported by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of IndiaDepartment of Atomic Energy, Government of India for financial assistance under DAE Doctoral Fellowship Scheme-2018。
文摘Coaxial plasma guns are a type of plasma source that produces plasma which propagates radially and axially controlled by the shape of the ground electrode, which has attracted much interest in several applications. In this work, a 120° opening angle of CPG nozzle is used as a plasma gun configuration that operates at the energy of 150 J. The ionization of polyethylene insulator between the electrodes of the gun produces a cloud of hydrogen and carbon plasma.The triple Langmuir probe and Faraday cup are used to measure plasma density and plasma temperature. These methods are used to measure the on-axis and off-axis plasma divergence of the coaxial plasma gun. The peak values of ion densities measured at a distance of 25 mm on-axis from the plasma gun are(1.6±0.5)×10^(19)m^(-3)and(2.8±0.6)×10^(19)m^(-3)for hydrogen and carbon plasma respectively and the peak temperature is 3.02±0.5 eV. The mean propagation velocity of plasma is calculated using the transit times of plasma at different distances from the plasma gun and is found to be 4.54±0.25 cm/μs and 1.81±0.18 cm/μs for hydrogen and carbon plasma respectively. The Debye radius is obtained from the measured experimental data that satisfies the thin sheath approximation. The shot-to-shot stability of plasma parameters facilitates the use of plasma guns in laboratory experiments. These types of plasma sources can be used in many applications like plasma opening switches, plasma devices, and as plasma sources.
文摘On June 15th,the one-month European Football Championship(hereinafter referred to as the European Cup)kicked off in Germany.In 2023,Germany’s GDP shrank by 0.3%,which was the worst performance among the world’s major economies.This year,Germany is pinning its hopes on the European Championship to stimulate consumption and boost the economy.
基金funded byResearchers Supporting Project Number(RSPD2024R 553),King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘In this work,we aim to introduce some modifications to the Anam-Net deep neural network(DNN)model for segmenting optic cup(OC)and optic disc(OD)in retinal fundus images to estimate the cup-to-disc ratio(CDR).The CDR is a reliable measure for the early diagnosis of Glaucoma.In this study,we developed a lightweight DNN model for OC and OD segmentation in retinal fundus images.Our DNN model is based on modifications to Anam-Net,incorporating an anamorphic depth embedding block.To reduce computational complexity,we employ a fixed filter size for all convolution layers in the encoder and decoder stages as the network deepens.This modification significantly reduces the number of trainable parameters,making the model lightweight and suitable for resource-constrained applications.We evaluate the performance of the developed model using two publicly available retinal image databases,namely RIM-ONE and Drishti-GS.The results demonstrate promising OC segmentation performance across most standard evaluation metrics while achieving analogous results for OD segmentation.We used two retinal fundus image databases named RIM-ONE and Drishti-GS that contained 159 images and 101 retinal images,respectively.For OD segmentation using the RIM-ONE we obtain an f1-score(F1),Jaccard coefficient(JC),and overlapping error(OE)of 0.950,0.9219,and 0.0781,respectively.Similarly,for OC segmentation using the same databases,we achieve scores of 0.8481(F1),0.7428(JC),and 0.2572(OE).Based on these experimental results and the significantly lower number of trainable parameters,we conclude that the developed model is highly suitable for the early diagnosis of glaucoma by accurately estimating the CDR.
基金supported by the 2022 study on the effectiveness of Fire Dragon Cupping in treating cold-dampness obstructive type shoulder stiffness,funded by the Bao'an District Healthcare Research Project in Shenzhen(Shen Bao Ke[2023]No.13,Project No.2022JD237)2023 study on the therapeutic observation and mechanism exploration of Fire Dragon Cupping in cold-dampness obstructive type acute gout,funded by the Guangdong Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine(Yue Zhong Yi Han[2023]No.205,Project No.20242077)+1 种基金National Clinical Key Specialty(Traditional Chinese Medicine)Construction Project(2013-239)Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen(No.SZZYSM202206014).
文摘Background:The incidence of lumbar disc herniation(LDH)is notably high.Consensus among experts highlights non-surgical treatments as the primary therapeutic approach for LDH.Contemporary medicine frequently employs pharmacotherapy and epidural injections in such treatments,which are associated with numerous adverse effects.Prolonged use can severely impair the liver and kidney functions of patients.Hence,the role of safe and effective traditional Chinese medicine techniques becomes pivotal.Among various traditional Chinese medicine approaches for treating LDH,fire dragon cupping,renowned for its remarkable efficacy,cost-effectiveness,and ease of application,is extensively utilised in clinical settings for managing LDH.Nonetheless,there is a scarcity of systematic and standardised evidence from evidence-based medicine studies.Therefore,conducting a meta-analysis is imperative.Methods:A comprehensive computerised search was conducted in databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure,WanFang Data,VIP,China Biology Medicine disc,PubMed,EMbase,The Cochrane Library,Web of Science,and CINAHL.The search aimed to gather randomised controlled trials on fire dragon cupping therapy for LDH,spanning from the inception of these databases until December 2023.Two researchers independently screened the literature according to inclusion and exclusion criteria,extracted data,and assessed the methodological quality of the studies included,utilising RevMan 5.3 software for meta-analysis.Results:The results show that the fire dragon cupping therapy group had better clinical effectiveness(relative risk=1.23,95%confidence interval(CI)(1.14,1.33),P<0.00001),less pain(standardized mean difference=–1.33,95%CI(–1.49,–1.16),P<0.00001),and some improvement in lumbar function(Japanese Orthopaedic Association scores:mean difference=3.37,95%CI(2.31,4.43),P<0.00001.Conclusion:The fire dragon cupping therapy significantly alleviates LDH,warranting its extensive application.However,considering the limitations in the number and quality of studies included,the aforementioned conclusion necessitates further validation through more high-quality research.