Complete Fragmentation Research Articles

Stone density can predict the number of ESWL treatments needed in patients with pancreatic duct calculi

Objectives Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) with endotherapy (ET) is the first-line treatment in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and main pancreatic duct stone (PDS). Our study aimed to evaluate factors that predict the outcome of ESWL in CP patients with PDS. Methods We retrospectively analyzed data of 166 patients with CP and radiopaque PDS. Computed tomography (CT) images were evaluated for stone density, stone size, main pancreatic duct (MPD) size, and skin-to-stone distance (SSD). Long-term pain relief results were determined via telephone interview in 100 patients. Results Mean stone density (MSD) > 1336 HU predicted the need to perform more than one ESWL session (odds ratio [OR]: 1.002; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001 to 1.003; p = 0.002), cut-off 1336 HU yielding 71% sensitivity and 65% specificity. Denser stones required more ESWL and following ET, with ≥4 ET sessions resulting in better technical success. (OR: 3.222; 95% CI: 1.240 to 8.371; p = 0.016). Overall technical success (complete stone fragmentation in ESWL or placing a stent past the stone in ET) rate was 81.3%. Clinical success (complete or partial pain relief at the end of the treatments) rate was 83.7% and remained at the same level also in the long-term follow-up (median 5.5 years). Stone size, MPD size, or SSD were not associated with any of the study outcomes. Conclusions Higher MSD than 1336 HU predicts the need for more than one ESWL and ET sessions to fragment the stone and clear the duct, but when successful the long-term result is favorable.

Bag film rupture mechanisms in droplet fragmentation under uniform airflows

The fragmentation of a droplet under aerodynamic forces induced by the surrounding flow is a fundamental phenomenon crucial to various spray applications. Bag breakup represents a fragmentation regime characterized by the formation of a forward-facing, hollow “bag” or thin film around the droplet, which ultimately ruptures, resulting in the generation of multiple smaller fragments. We perform three-dimensional numerical simulations to investigate the rupture of the liquid film, referred to as the “bag film,” which forms during the bag breakup of a droplet. Three different combinations of Reynolds and Weber numbers are used to examine the impact of the wake gas flow structures on bag film breakup. The temporal evolution of the bag's length and diameter agrees very well with previous results in the literature. The shape of the wake flow structures is found to vary with Reynolds numbers. The gas enstrophy on the leeward side of the bag film indicates that film rupture is associated with a rise in enstrophy. Just prior to breakup, an attached vortical structure is observed at the film interface at the rupture location. This structure induces localized pressure fluctuations within the film, which subsequently lead to the formation of weak spots that precede hole formation. Using a critical thickness, independent of grid size, to artificially perforate the bag film allows for an accurate representation of the formed holes and the subsequent holes merging. The droplet size distribution, following the complete fragmentation of the bag film, exhibits a lognormal distribution, which closely aligns with experimental results.

Importance of Postreduction CT Scans in Posterior and Transverse Posterior Wall Acetabular Fracture-Dislocations.

To report the frequency of patients with pre-reduction and postreduction computed tomography (CT) scans associated with acetabular fracture-dislocations and the change in position of associated intra-articular fragments occurring with joint reduction. Retrospective case series. Regional Level 1 trauma center. Patients who sustained Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopedic Trauma Association 62A1 and 62B1 posterior wall or transverse posterior wall acetabular fracture-dislocations with pre-reduction and postreduction CT imaging from February 2020 to July 2023. Intra-articular fragments were identified, and change in position (fossa to cranial, intra-articular to extra-articular, etc.) was noted from pre-reduction to postreduction scans. Operative reports and postoperative CT scans were reviewed to determine the frequency of fragment retrieval. One hundred nineteen (30.2%) of 394 patients meeting fracture pattern inclusion criteria received a CT scan before hip reduction. Of the 394 patients, 100 (25.9%) had pre-reduction and postreduction CT scans and were studied [average age of 35.5 years (range 16-87 years), 59 male patients]. Forty-five (45%) of 100 patients had pre-reduction CT imaging demonstrating the presence of intra-articular fragment(s). Thirty (66.7%) of 45 patients with a pre-reduction intra-articular fragment had an intra-articular fragment location change during the reduction. Of the 55 patients who did not have an intra-articular fragment on pre-reduction imaging, 28 (50.9%) had at least 1 intra-articular fragment on the postreduction CT. Complete fragment retrieval was performed in 71.4% of patients. The study demonstrated that 30.2% of patients with posterior wall and transverse posterior wall acetabular fracture-dislocations received a CT scan before hip reduction. It was common to find intra-articular fragments on the postreduction CT in patients who did not have them on the pre-reduction CT. Obtaining and scrutinizing the postreduction CT scan provided accurate knowledge of the location of all osseous fragments associated with the fracture-dislocations, which facilitated thorough preoperative planning, intraoperative implementation, and hopeful long-term patient outcomes. Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Identifying priority areas for conservation based on the evaluation of ecological network resilience in the Hyrcanian Forest ecosystem

Abstract Habitat loss and fragmentation in forest ecosystems are serious threats that lead to reduced resilience. The integrity and stability of the ecosystem is fostered by recognizing and protecting areas that are essential to maintaining the resilience of the ecological network. Research in the field of ecological network resilience has garnered attention in recent years, although the necessity of developing various assessment methods for network resilience is evident. Taking Hyrcanian Forest ecosystem as a case study, this research aimed to identify the most important areas of the ecological network in maintaining and enhancing the resilience. To achieve this goal, first, a combination of the morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) method and the assessment of the significance of ecosystem services were used to extract ecological source areas. Next, utilizing circuit theory and the least-cost path method, a network connecting sources was constructed, and pinch points were identified. After that, high-risk areas in ecological sources were found using the habitat risk assessment method. Using this integrated approach leads to the identification of valuable areas that are vulnerable to human threats and disturbances. Finally, the node removal method coupled with the calculation of network resilience indices, connectivity, and efficiency was employed to prioritize conservation areas. The results of the study indicated that the most important nodes were located in the northern edges of the forest, which have been under threat in recent years. Additionally, the region ranked moderately in terms of connectivity, indicating the importance of focusing on the conservation of forest patches before the complete fragmentation of the area. Furthermore, our findings underscore the importance of considering landscape connectivity and ecological network resilience in conservation planning for policymakers and managers aiming to protect biodiversity in the Hyrcanian Forest ecosystem.

Management of a Right Tibial Proximal Third Open Comminuted Fracture: Surgical Disarticulation of Right Stifle Joint in a 1-Year-Old Hen Pigeon (Columba livia domestica)

Traumatic pelvic limb fractures in pet birds are rare and primarily result from trauma. Avian bones are fragile and prone to fragmentation due to various natural and anthropogenic events. This case report describes the diagnosis, anesthesia protocol, surgical management, post-operative care, and remarkable outcome of a right tibial comminuted fracture in a one-year-old hen pigeon (Columba livia domestica). A one-year-old hen pigeon was presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Jos, Nigeria, with a broken right pelvic limb after being attacked by a young lad. The attack occurred 30 minutes prior to presentation. Clinical examination revealed extensive tissue damage including an open wound with a complete fracture and bone fragment at the proximal third of the right tibia, accompanied by hemorrhages, tenderness, pale ocular mucous membranes, and lethargy. The impact of the attack was the primary cause of the comminuted fracture. Due to logistical constraints and the patient's critical condition, pre-operative radiographic imaging was not feasible. A definitive diagnosis of right tibial proximal third open comminuted fracture was readily made based on the gross tissue damage. Following standard aseptic protocol, stifle disarticulation was performed under local anesthesia to alleviate the bird's excruciating pain. Local anesthesia was achieved with 10mg lidocaine hydrochloride via local infiltration at the stifle. Due to the bird's critical condition, local anesthesia was preferred over general anesthesia. A 5mm stab skin incision was made distal to the right stifle, followed by blunt dissection of the musculature and disarticulation at the tibiofemoral joint. 5mm musculature distal to the stifle was transected and the skin was routinely sutured with size 3/0 silk suture. Post-operative care included injectable amoxicillin, piroxicam, and iron dextran administration, along with alternative-day wound dressing. Skin sutures were removed eight days post-surgery. The pigeon made a remarkable recovery, regaining balance and flying comfortably. Post-recovery imaging was not feasible as all arrangements made with the client following the bird's recovery ultimately fell through. To our knowledge, this case represents the first reported instance of a comminuted tibial fracture in a pigeon managed with stifle disarticulation. The successful outcome of this case proves stifle disarticulation to be an effective treatment option for complex fractures in birds, underscoring the importance of innovative strategies, prompt surgical intervention and addressing a significant gap in the literature. At the time of this report, the pet bird is currently nesting and brooding its eggs. Keywords: Hen pigeon, Comminuted tibial fracture, Proximal third, Stifle disarticulation.

The comparative study on the anti-penetration performance of high-strength material and normal-strength concrete based on experiments and simulation

Abstract To comparatively study the penetration resistance characteristics of typical robust targets including superhard granite rock, C130 ultra-high strength concrete, and C40 normal-strength concrete, dynamic penetration comparative experiments and simulation were conducted, and the remarkable difference in penetration mechanisms between dense rocks and concrete was revealed. Cause of similar quasi-rigid penetration mechanism and similar damage behavior of target observed in experiments, the penetration resistance equivalent relationship between C130 concrete and C40 concrete was established by simulation based on the principle of energy consumption similarity. Despite with similar strength grade, the penetration mechanism transforming from quasi-rigid penetration in C130 high-strength concrete to complete fragmentation penetration in granite rock was observed, indicating that it is impractical to conduct equivalent evaluations of the anti-intrusion capabilities of granite using high-strength concrete of the same strength grade. These research findings can provide technical support for the efficient destruction and equivalent evaluation of ultra-hard targets.

Concerto for domra and orchestra No. 3 by Valery Ivko: vectors of intonational development and genre features

The relevance of the study consists in highlighting a kind of synthesis of general features of the concert genre and individual features of V. Ivko's compositional style in Сoncerto No. 3 for domra and orchestra. Main objective of the study is to characterize Concerto No. 3 for Domra and Orchestra by V. Ivko, with emphasis on the vectors of intonational development and the embodiment of the genre's characteristic features. The methodology includes methods of historical and biographical (to clarify the circumstances of the Concerto's composition), as well as structural-functional, genre, and intonationaldramaturgical methods (for a comprehensive analysis of the work). Results and conclusions. A detailed analysis of the Concerto No. 3 for Domra and Orchestra by the outstanding Ukrainian performer, educator and composer Valery Ivko has been conducted. This piece summarizes the composer’s long-term work in the concerto genre while showcasing meticulous intonational-thematic development, characteristic of his overall creative method. The principle of continuous intonational development in the concerto is traced at two levels: working with microelements — motifs or even intervals on which these motifs are based — and the repetition or variation of more elaborate structures — musical themes or their relatively complete fragments. The specific features of the compositional organization of the concert cycle and each of its parts have been examined in detail. The relationship between the solo domra part and the orchestra part has been analyzed, highlighting the aspiration for their equality in dramaturgical unfolding. Attention is drawn to the extreme virtuosity of the solo domra part, which requires exceptional technical preparation from the soloist and makes mastery of the technique of intonated virtuosity — a method introduced by V. Ivko in the educational process — almost a prerequisite for adequate performance. The concerto embodies the principle of play, represented by a mosaic structure and realized through the combination of intonational-thematic elements. It is concluded that Concerto No. 3 is the final homage of the outstanding musician to his beloved instrument, revealing the rich potential of the domra while also reflecting virtuosity as the essence of the Master’s life and creativity

Theoretical Study on the Dissociation Mechanism of Thiophene in the UV Photoabsorption, Ionization, and Electron Attachment Processes

ABSTRACTA computational study on the intricate mechanism of thiophene ring‐fragmentation (TRF) in the UV photodissociation, dissociative ionization, and dissociative electron attachment process has been performed. The complete fragmentation process is studied using high level G4 composite method for neutral, cationic, and anionic species by elucidating a detailed mechanism for various reaction channels. The study shows that for neutral thiophene, the major pathway is the migration of H atom and subsequent fragmentation through a transition state yielding acetylene (HC≡CH) and H2C=C=S. However, for the thiophene cation, the acetylene (HC≡CH)+H2C=C=S+ channel is a two‐step and barrier less process. The onset of CH3+HC=C=C=S channel has been observed in both the thiophene cation and anion which was absent in the neutral analogue. Similarly, the onset of H2S+HC≡C—C≡CH channel has been found to operate only in the thiophene cation. Others, such as HCS and HS elimination channels have been found in all the species showing similar dissociation mechanism. For the thiophene anion, the TRF process is very much similar to that of thiophene cation. However, the reaction enthalpies of the various elimination channels in the anionic species are lower as compared to that of cationic species. During the study, the ionization energies and electron affinities of various molecules/radicals produced during the fragmentation process of thiophene were also computed.

Exploring the potential of extrachromosomal DNA as a novel oncogenic driver.

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) is a form of circular DNA mostly found in tumor cells. Unlike the typical chromosomal DNA, ecDNA is circular, self-replicating, and carries complete or partial gene fragments. Although ecDNA occurrence remains a rare event in cancer, recent studies have shown that oncogene amplification on ecDNA is widespread throughout many types of cancer, implying that ecDNA plays a central role in accelerating tumor evolution. ecDNA has also been associated with increased tumor mutation burden, chromosomal instability, and even tumor microenvironment remodeling. ecDNA may be crucial in influencing tumor heterogeneity, drug sensitivity, oncogenic senescence, and tumor immunogenicity, leading to a worsening prognosis for tumor patients. In this way, several clinical trials have been conducted to investigate the importance of ecDNA in clinical treatment. In this review, we summarize the biogenesis, characteristics, and current research methods of ecDNA, discuss the vital role of ecDNA-caused tumor heterogeneity in cancers, and highlight the potential role of ecDNA in cancer therapy.

From cornfield to catalyst support: Eco-friendly synthesis of Cu/CuO nanoparticles, immobilization on the waste corn husk fibers, photocatalytic exploration and bioactivity evaluation

From cornfield to catalyst support: Eco-friendly synthesis of Cu/CuO nanoparticles, immobilization on the waste corn husk fibers, photocatalytic exploration and bioactivity evaluation

Compressing and Recovering Short-Range MEMS-Based LiDAR Point Clouds Based on Adaptive Clustered Compressive Sensing and Application to 3D Rock Fragment Surface Point Clouds.

Short-range MEMS-based (Micro Electronical Mechanical System) LiDAR provides precise point cloud datasets for rock fragment surfaces. However, there is more vibrational noise in MEMS-based LiDAR signals, which cannot guarantee that the reconstructed point cloud data are not distorted with a high compression ratio. Many studies have illustrated that wavelet-based clustered compressive sensing can improve reconstruction precision. The k-means clustering algorithm can be conveniently employed to obtain clusters; however, estimating a meaningful k value (i.e., the number of clusters) is challenging. An excessive quantity of clusters is not necessary for dense point clouds, as this leads to elevated consumption of memory and CPU resources. For sparser point clouds, fewer clusters lead to more distortions, while excessive clusters lead to more voids in reconstructed point clouds. This study proposes a local clustering method to determine a number of clusters closer to the actual number based on GMM (Gaussian Mixture Model) observation distances and density peaks. Experimental results illustrate that the estimated number of clusters is closer to the actual number in four datasets from the KEEL public repository. In point cloud compression and recovery experiments, our proposed approach compresses and recovers the Bunny and Armadillo datasets in the Stanford 3D repository; the experimental results illustrate that our proposed approach improves reconstructed point clouds' geometry and curvature similarity. Furthermore, the geometric similarity increases to 0.9 above in our complete rock fragment surface datasets after selecting a better wavelet basis for each dimension of MEMS-based LiDAR signals. In both experiments, the sparsity of signals was 0.8 and the sampling ratio was 0.4. Finally, a rock outcrop point cloud data experiment is utilized to verify that the proposed approach is applicable for large-scale research objects. All of our experiments illustrate that the proposed adaptive clustered compressive sensing approach can better reconstruct MEMS-based LiDAR point clouds with a lower sampling ratio.

Feasibility study of a single-primer extension-based microhaplotype NGS system.

DNA degradation has been a thorny problem in forensic science. Shortening the amplicon length of the genetic markers improves the analysis of degraded DNA effectively. Microhaplotype (MH) has been proposed as a potential genetic marker that can be used for degraded DNA analysis. In the present study, a 146-plex MH-next-generation sequencing (NGS) system with an average Ae of 6.876 was constructed. Unlike other MH studies, a single-primer extension (SPE)-based NGS library preparation method was used to improve the detection of MH markers for degraded DNA. SPE employs a locus-specific and universal primer to amplify target fragments, reducing the necessity for complete fragment sequences. SPE might effectively mitigate the impact of degradation on amplification. However, SPE produces amplicons of varying lengths, posing challenges in allele calling for SPE-NGS data. To address this issue, this study proposed a flexible allele-calling strategy to improve amplicon detection. In addition, this study evaluated the forensic efficacy of the system using 12 low-template samples (from 1ng to 7.8pg), 10 mock-degraded DNA with various degrees of degradation, and 8 forensic casework samples. When the template is as low as 7.8pg, our system can accurately detect at least 37 loci and achieves a random match probability (RMP) of 10-30 using the complete allele-calling strategy. Eighty-two loci can be detected, and RMP can reach 10-54 using a flexible allele-calling strategy. After 150min of 98°C treatment, 36 loci can still be detected, and an RMP of 10-5 can be obtained using the flexible allele-calling strategy. Furthermore, the number of single nucleotide polymorphism detected at different DNA amounts and degradation levels suggests that the SPE method combined with a flexible allele-calling strategy is effective.

Thermo-mechanical processing characteristics and strain-rate-sensitive degradation properties of Mg-Er-Ni alloys

Thermo-mechanical processing characteristics and strain-rate-sensitive degradation properties of Mg-Er-Ni alloys

Factors and nomograms determining the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in children with urolithiasis: a literature review

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is currently the priority method for treating urolithiasis in children. Due to the lack of extended indications for the application of this technique, an active search has been made over the past 30 years to define factors predicting ESWL outcome, to create objective preoperative planning tools, to increase ESWL effectiveness and to reduce the number of anesthetics and unnecessary surgical interventions. Search for the information on predictive factors of ESWL successful intervention and on modern statistical tools predicting lithotripsy effectiveness in children with urolithiasis was made in foreign and domestic sources, like MEDLINE, eLIBRARY, CyberLeninka. The literature analysis has showed that the following factors predispose positive ESWL outcomes: age before six years, smaller calculi size, and shorter skin-to-stone distance. Stone location in the lower calyx group, multiple concrements, and their high density has a negative impact at complete fragment detachment after ESWL. The probability of complete detachment of stone fragments from the lower calyx group decreases under the following anatomic features of kidney collecting system: number of draining calyces is more than one, calyx neck diameter is less than 4 mm, acute angle between the lower infundibulum and renal pelvis. Body mass index and prestenting have a controversial effect at successful ESWL too. Nomograms and scoring systems based on predicting factors are widely used in both adult and pediatric practice. The two most commonly used nomograms in pediatric urology are Onal and Dogan nomograms developed in 2012 and 2015 in Turkey. These nomograms include the following parameters: patient's sex and age, history of ipsilateral surgical interventions as well as stone localization, number and size. Thus, predicting ESWL outcomes using preoperative planning allows to choose the most appropriate treatment modality for a particular patient considering his/her individual anatomical and physiological characteristics and characteristics of the calculi.

Biological Performance of Hexadeca-Substituted Metal Phthalocyanine/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanobioagents.

This study presents a tetra-substituted phthalonitrile derivative, namely, diethyl 2-(3,4-dicyano-2,5-bis(hexyloxy)-6-(4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenoxy)phenyl)malonate (a), cyclotetramerizing in the presence of some metal salts. The resultant hexadeca-substituted metal phthalocyanines [M= Co, Zn, InCl)] (b-d) were used for the modification of reduced graphene oxide for the first time. The effect of the phthalonitrile/metal phthalocyanines on biological features of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was extensively examined by the investigation of antioxidant, antimicrobial, DNA cleavage, cell viability, and antibiofilm activities of nanobioagents (1-4). The results were compared with those of unmodified rGO (nanobioagent 5), as well. Modification of reduced graphene oxide with the synthesized compounds improved its antioxidant activity. The antioxidant activities of all the tested nanobioagents also enhanced as the concentration increased. The antibacterial activities of all the nanobioagents improved by applying the photodynamic therapeutic (PDT) method. All the phthalonitrile/phthalocyanine-based nanobioagents (especially phthalocyanine-based nanocomposites) exhibited DNA cleavage activities, and complete DNA fragmentation was observed for nanobioagents (1-4) at 200 mg/L. They can be used as potent antimicrobial and antimicrobial photodynamic therapy agents as well as Escherichia coli microbial cell inhibitors. As a result, the prepared nanocomposites can be considered promising candidates for biomedicine.

Biofouling mitigation of Nb2AlC and Mo3AlC2 MXene-precursors doped polyether sulfone mixed matrix membranes for pathogen microorganisms

Biofouling mitigation of Nb2AlC and Mo3AlC2 MXene-precursors doped polyether sulfone mixed matrix membranes for pathogen microorganisms

Cascadic failure and preferential decay via pruning mediated percolation on interdependent networks: implications for schizophrenia

IntroductionDuring adolescence the brain is dynamically changing. Destabilization and acceleration of the normal adolescent synaptic pruning process is likely a contributing factor to the neuropathology of schizophrenia. Details on whether normal pruning effects weaker synapses more or uniformly all synapses with different strengths, needs to be further evaluated. Widespread impairment in structural connectivity in schizophrenic patients involving several cortical and subcortical areas, has been previously described. In this computational study, we investigated a stochastic percolation process in interdependent networks, motivated by pathological synaptic pruning. We examined preferential decay in the connectivity decremental process, as well as differential pruning in interconnected subnetworks. Finally, the speed of the percolation process, as well as the potential for pharmacological interventions of percolation in random networks was explored. Statistical structural properties of decaying networks pinpointed several network attributes which the disintegration and phase transitions qualitatively depended on.ObjectivesThe following objectives were explored: 1.) Apart from a random percolation process, we investigated preferential decay of the connections. We introduced different percolation rules for various connection types. 2.) Based on previous experimental results, we assumed that different interconnected neural subpopulations prune differently, therefore we explored differential pruning process in the subnetworks. 3.) The speed of the percolation was studied and the pharmacological synaptic connectivity change was also analyzed.MethodsWe considered two inter-connected randomly connected networks, where the connections were removed during the percolation process. Simulations were partially performed using Octave on a Lenovo Thinkpad running the Linux operating system and partially performed on a supercomputer at UPPMAX (NAISS Small Compute 2023 Dnr: NAISS 2023/22-102).ResultsWe found that the coupled network system shows rich percolation behaviors with phase transitions for various coupling strength and coupling patterns. The phase transitions of both layers are altered qualitatively between discontinuous, mixed and continuous. Recursively developing percolation in interdependent networks can cause complete fragmentation of these networks, resulting in cascadic failure which might be related to schizophrenia symptoms.Conclusions This computational study analyzes the pruning-mediated percolation in interdependent neural networks. Consequences of the pathological overpruning were related to the attributes of the interdependent network properties. Implications for schizophrenia development and predictions for compensatorial iatrogenic percolation was also pinpointed and discussed.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Production and immunological characterization of the novel single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies against the epitopes on Opisthorchis viverrini cathepsin F (OvCatF)

Production and immunological characterization of the novel single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies against the epitopes on Opisthorchis viverrini cathepsin F (OvCatF)

Modelling the brittle rock failure by the quaternion-based bonded-particle model in DEM

Modelling the brittle rock failure by the quaternion-based bonded-particle model in DEM

Development of a novel CT-based index for predicting the number of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) sessions required for successful fragmentation of obstructing pancreatic duct stones

Development of a novel CT-based index for predicting the number of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) sessions required for successful fragmentation of obstructing pancreatic duct stones