Internal Stability Research Articles

The internal joint stabilizer for elbow instability: current concepts

The management of residual elbow instability is challenging in both acute and chronic injuries. Among the available devices, the hinged external fixator provides an additional joint stabilization while allowing an early motion, but it is clumsy and associated to high rate of pin track complications. To address these issues, an internal joint stabilizer (IJS) has been recently developed. An easier recreation of the axis of rotation coupled to the reduced lever arm of the hinge is the root of the consistent and satisfactory results thus far observed. In addition, the device is more comfortable for the patients being an internal stabilizer. Nonetheless, a second surgery for the device removal is necessary, of which the timing is still not standardized. This current concepts paper describes literature regarding outcomes of the IJS focusing on the rate of maintained radiographic joint reduction, the resultant range of motion, and the associated complication profile.

Effect of Ti3C2Tx MXenes on the structure, morphology, fluorescence and temperature-sensitive properties of Eu3+-doped (YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7 rare-earth high-temperature ceramic powders

The rapid development of rare-earth fluorescent materials based on the fluorescence intensity ratio method allows the monitoring of internal temperature, stability and service life of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). In this paper, Eu3+ doped (YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7 rare-earth ceramic materials was firstly prepared by chemical co-precipitation technique, and the doping content of Eu3+ was optimized by comparing its effect on morphology, luminescence and temperature sensitive performance of (YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7. Then the Ti3C2Tx MXene was subsequently blended into the optimal (YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7: Eu3+ powders by mechanical milling. The influence of Ti3C2Tx MXenes on the structure, morphology, fluorescence properties and temperature sensitivity of (YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7: Eu3+ powders was further investigated systematically. Results showed that (YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7: Eu3+ powders were compound of M′-YTaO4 and YSZ in tetragonal phase. The optimal doping content of Eu3+ is 1.5 mol%. The adding of Ti3C2Tx MXene did not affect the structure of (YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7:Eu3+ powders. After addition of Ti3C2Tx MXenes, part of (YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7:Eu3+ particles embedded in the middle of the accordion-shaped MXenes sheet, while the other part wrapped around MXenes. Ti3C2Tx MXenes could significantly improve the luminescence intensity, fluorescence lifetime and temperature-sensitive performance of (YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7: Eu3+powders. The optimal addition amount of Ti3C2Tx MXenes is 0.6 wt%. The absolute and relative sensitivities of MXene/(YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7:Eu3+ powders archived 2 times of (YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7: Eu3+ powders. Therefore, MXene/(YSZ)0.3-(YTaO4)0.7: Eu3+ could be used as temperature-indicating ceramic materials with highly efficient fluorescent properties for real-time monitoring of internal temperature of TBCs.

Assessment of the migration processes on the example of Kazakhstan

Today's migration is a rather complex and controversial process. Having a number of advantages and positive results for the development of the receiving and sending countries, it also leads to negative consequences. The more a country's population is involved in migration processes, the more acutely its consequences manifest. The situation is also aggravated by the increasing economic and political crises, which negatively affect the ability of third countries to maintain internal stability. The issue does not exclude the Central Asian region in the context of the intensification of local armed conflicts in adjacent territories and current geopolitical aspects. The study purpose is to assess migration processes and their impact on the Republic of Kazakhstan as the one of the ‘host’ countries in Central Asia. A chronology of key economic events regarding strategic opportunities in the migration processes was carried out. Taking into account the current regional and global challenges, it has been established that the current trends in migration processes have a positive effect on the development of the labor market as an important component of the national economy, contributing to an increase in the welfare of the country. At the same time, the policy of Kazakhstan is also trying to pursue a pragmatic immigration policy to prevent the negative impact of immigrants on the local population.

Complete fractures through osseous cyst‐like lesions of the proximal phalanx in three horses

SummaryThis case series describes three cases of osseous cyst‐like lesions of the proximal phalanx (P1), which were associated with a complete fracture. The fractures and osseous cyst‐like lesions were analysed through radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) images for fracture configuration and prodromal factors, such as subchondral sclerosis and periosteal new bone formation. Internal stabilisation was performed in all cases through placing transcortical bone screws under CT guidance. In conclusion, the presence of osseous cyst‐like lesions in the proximal P1 as well as the addition of prodromal markers, such as localised periosteal new bone formation and subchondral bone sclerosis, suggest pathological subchondral bone with the potential to fracture and stabilisation should be prioritised.

Validity and reliability of Korean version of the nursing staff preparedness for palliative and end-of-life care in long-term care homes: A methodological study

Purpose: Globally, the issue of palliative and end-of-life care (PEOLC) in nursing homes is a common concern, and the need to measure the preparedness of nursing staff for end-of-life care is increasing. This study aimed to verify the validity and reliability of the Korean version of the self-reported scale for the Staff Preparedness for PEOLC in long-term care homes. Methods: A total of 161 staff took part in the study; among them were nine nurses, 19 nursing assistants, 133 care workers at four nursing homes located in Wonju and Suncheon cities, South Korea. The scale was translated according to the guidelines of World Health Organization guidelines and Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments, and its reliability and validity were evaluated through assessing its internal consistency, stability, and construct validity (confirmatory factor analysis, CFA). Results: CFA confirmed that the measurement tool had a good fit (comparative fit index=.96, Turker-Lewis index=.95, root mean-squared error of approximation=.07). The items’ internal consistencies of the items were found to be reliable with Cronbach’s alpha=.94; the Pearson’s correlation coefficient between test and retest of the tool was .86 (p<.001); and the intraclass correlation coefficient value was .91 (95% confidence interval: .85~.96). Conclusion: The Korean version of the Staff Preparedness for PEOLC in long-term care homes was confirmed to be a useful and reliable scale for measuring the preparedness of nursing staff in Korean long-term care facilities in Korea for PEOLC.

Insight into the action mechanism of Ce4+ doping in improving cycling stability of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 from internal stress and structure stability

Insight into the action mechanism of Ce4+ doping in improving cycling stability of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 from internal stress and structure stability

A comparison study on polysaccharides extracted from banana flower using different methods: Physicochemical characterization, and antioxidant and antihyperglycemic activities

This work investigated and compared the physicochemical characteristics, and antioxidant and antihyperglycemic properties in vitro of polysaccharides from a single banana flower variety (BFPs) extracted by different methods. BFPs extracted using hot water (HWE), acidic (CAE), alkaline (AAE), enzymatic (EAE), ultrasonic (UAE) and hot water-alkaline (HAE) methods showed different chemical composition, monosaccharide composition, molecular weight, chain conformation and surface morphology, but similar infrared spectra characteristic, main glycosidic residues, crystalline internal and thermal stability, suggesting that six methods have diverse impacts on the degradation of BFPs without changing the main structure. Then, among six BFPs, the stronger antioxidant activity in vitro was found in BFP extracted by HAE, which was attributed to its maximum uronic acid content (21.67 %) and phenolic content (0.73 %), and moderate molecular weight (158.48 kDa). The highest arabinose and guluronic acid contents (18.59 % and 1.31 % in molar ratios, respectively) and the lowest uronic acid content (14.30 %) in BFP extracted by HWE contributed to its better α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in vitro (66.55 %). The data offered theoretical evidence for choosing suitable extraction methods to acquire BFPs with targeted biological activities for applications, in which HAE and HWE could serve as beneficial methods for preparing antioxidant BFP and antihyperglycemic BFP, respectively.

A Fast Transient Response Capacitor-Less LDO with Transient Enhancement Technology.

This paper proposes a fast transient load response capacitor-less low-dropout regulator (CL-LDO) for digital analog hybrid circuits in the 180 nm process, capable of converting input voltages from 1.2 V to 1.8 V into an output voltage of 1 V. The design incorporates a rail-to-rail input and push-pull output (RIPO) amplifier to enhance the gain while satisfying the requirement for low power consumption. A super source follower buffer (SSFB) with internal stability is introduced to ensure loop stability. The proposed structure ensures the steady-state performance of the LDO without an on-chip capacitor. The auxiliary circuit, or transient enhancement circuit, does not compromise the steady-state stability and effectively enhances the transient performance during sudden load current steps. The proposed LDO consumes a quiescent current of 47 µA and achieves 25 µV/mA load regulation with a load current ranging from 0 to 20 mA. The simulation results demonstrate that a settling time of 0.2 µs is achieved for load steps ranging from 0 mA to 20 mA, while a settling time of 0.5 µs is attained for load steps ranging from 20 mA to 0 mA, with an edge time of 0.1 µs.

Edge Substitution Effects of Histidine Tautomerization Behaviors on the Structural Properties and Aggregation Properties of Aβ(1-42) Mature Fibril.

Histidine behaviors play critical roles in folding and misfolding processes due to the changes in net charge and the various N/N-H orientations on imidazole rings. However, the effect of histidine tautomerization (HIE (Nε-H, ε) and HID (Nδ-H, δ) states) behaviors on the edge chain of Aβ mature fibrils remains inadequately understood, which is critical for finding a strategy to disturb fibril elongation and growth. In the current study, eight independent molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to investigate such impacts on the structural and aggregation properties. Our results from three different binding models revealed that the binding contributions of edge substitution effects are primarily located between chains 1 and 2. Histidine states significantly influence the secondary structure of each domain. Further analysis confirmed that the C1_H6//C1_E11 intrachain interaction is essential in maintaining the internal stability of chain 1, while the C1_H13//C2_H13 and C1_H14//C2_H13 interchain interactions are critical in maintaining the interchain stability of the fibril structure. Our subsequent analysis revealed that the current edge substitution leads to the loss of the C1_H13//C1_E11 intrachain and C1_H13//C2_H14 interchain interactions. The N-terminal regularity was significantly directly influenced by histidine states, particularly by the residue of C1_H13. Our study provides valuable insights into the effect of histidine behaviors on the edge chain of Aβ mature fibril, advancing our understanding of the histidine behavior hypothesis in misfolding diseases.

Control of Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation, Nucleation, and Growth of L‐Menthol Single Crystals from Water–Ethanol Solvent Mixtures

AbstractL‐Menthol is a commonly used material in food production for flavor enhancement and fragrances, as well as in pharmaceuticals. However, during the solution crystallization process of L‐menthol, there is a major issue of oiling out or liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in most organic solvents and their mixtures. The objective of the current work is to prevent the LLPS phenomenon and grow high‐quality single crystals of L‐menthol. A water–ethanol mixed solvent with nine different mixing ratios is used, ranging from 0.99W:0.01E to 0.91W:0.09E, through the conventional slow evaporation process. The findings indicate that the mixing composition of the solvent plays a significant role in the variation of solubility, refractive index, LLPS, nucleation, and crystallization. This is clearly demonstrated in the phase diagram. The occurrence of LLPS phenomenon, nucleation, growth behavior, and morphology of L‐menthol single crystals through optical microscopy is identified. Additionally, the internal structure and thermal stability of the grown polymorphs using PXRD, SCXRD, and DSC analyses are confirmed.

The bricolage mode of emergency medical teams in China: deficient and in urgent need of transformation-A qualitative study.

Emergency medical rescue plays a vital role in alleviating the harm of all kinds of emergencies to people's physical and mental health and life safety. The current emergency medical teams (EMTs) formation model is not unified. We focused on the disadvantages of the bricolage mode of China EMTs and put forward empirical-based countermeasures to improve the emergency management ability of EMTs. From March to September 2022, 23 leaders of EMTs in North China (Tianjin) were selected by objective sampling method to conduct one-to-half structured in-depth interviews. Nvivo12.0 software was used for three-level coding. The disadvantages of the bricolage model of EMT were analyzed. Based on the three-level coding, 150 initial concepts, 36 sub-coding, 17 main coding, six categories, and two core categories were sorted out. Management structure, internal stability, and support are recognized as the crucial elements armed with the EMTs. The bricolage EMTs have disadvantages such as a chaotic management structure, weak internal stability, and inadequate support. It is necessary to construct full-time EMTs that incorporate a standardized personnel admission mechanism, full-time training and exercise mechanism, diversified incentive mechanism, and multi-agent cooperation mechanism, etc.

Assessing Risks on China’s Natural Gas Supply under Carbon Peaking Policies from Foreign–Domestic Perspectives

China’s natural gas supply has been challenged in the past few years by non-traditional risks such as trading conflicts, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the country’s own emission policy. To ensure energy security and supply, conducting an up-to-date risk analysis of China’s natural gas supply status is crucial. This research utilized the Fuzzy-AHP method to compose a risk index and assessed the key links within China’s natural gas supply chain from the import side to the domestic side. The results indicate that (a) for China’s gas import, the most influential risks are the correlated dependence risk, international relation risk, and supplier internal stability risk. (b) While the dependence risk and transport risk have decreased sharply in the past decade, the import risk is still China’s major concern on natural gas supply. (c) Emissions-peaking and carbon neutrality targets are potential challenges, which the country would possibly face in the near future.

Translation and validation of the Persian version of the perception to care in acute situations (PCAS-P) scale in novice nurses

BackgroundNovice nurses providing care in acute conditions should have satisfactory performance. Accurate and appropriate evaluation of the performance of novice nurses in providing care in acute situations is essential for planning interventions to improve the quality of patient care. This study was conducted to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Perception to Care in Acute Situations (PCAS-P) scale in novice nurses.MethodsIn this methodological study, 236 novice nurses were selected by the convenience sampling method. 17-item scale PCAS-P was translated into Persian by the forward-backward process. Then, this version was used for psychometric evaluation. For this purpose, face validity, content validity, and construct validity were assessed using confirmatory factor analysis. Internal consistency and stability reliability were calculated. The data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software.ResultsThe PCAS-P scale maintained the meaning of the original English version and was clear, explicit, and understandable for novice nurses. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that this Persian version is consistent with the proposed model and confirmed the fit of the three-factor model. The values of Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, McDonald’s omega, Coefficient H, and average inter-item correlation were excellent for the overall scale and its dimensions, and the three latent factors had good convergent and discriminant validity. Additionally, the average measurement size was 0.944 ICC (95% CI 0.909 to 0.969).ConclusionThe PCAS-P scale is valid and reliable for measuring novice nurses’ perception of acute situations.

Psychometric Quality of the German HEXACO-60 Personality Inventory-Revised

Abstract: Striving for more valid personality judgments is desirable as more sound decisions can be expected with increasing measurement accuracy. In this study, the psychometric qualities of the German HEXACO-60 personality inventory are evaluated. Extending previous studies, we examined the third-person observer-report form in addition to the first-person rating format, which allowed us to examine the psychometric quality beyond self-reports, such as cross-rater agreement, rank-order stability, structural validity, and measurement invariance. Data from 3,046 self-raters (61% female; age range: 14–90) and ratings from 2,199 well-informed acquaintances (partners, friends, or relatives of the self-raters) were analyzed. Satisfying internal consistency, 2-year and 4-year rank-order stabilities, agreement among self- and informant-raters, and consensus among informant-raters were found. Moreover, the six-factor structure was confirmed in structural equation models that incorporated the perspectives of both self-raters and informant-raters. Finally, partial strict measurement invariance was demonstrated across rater perspectives. Previous validation of the German HEXACO-60 self-report form could thus be replicated and expanded by highlighting the psychometric soundness of the third-person observer-report form and the convergent as well as discriminant validity of HEXACO trait measures across rater perspectives. The informant perspective provides valid additional benefits for the assessment of personality traits within the HEXACO framework.

Improved design of passive damping for single phase grid‐connected LCL filtered inverter considering impedance stability

AbstractGrid‐connected inverters with an inductor–capacitor–inductor (LCL) filter usually require the implementation of damping in the filter to suppress the resonance associated with the filter and hence ensure internal stability. The value for the damping resistor is commonly chosen as one‐third of the capacitive reactance at the resonance frequency of the LCL filter. However, this commonly‐used principle does not take into account the external stability of the inverter, i.e. the potential for an interaction between the inverter output impedance and the grid impedance. This work discusses a new design for the damping resistor to assure the external stability of the voltage source inverter as well as its internal stability. The analysis shows that the proposed design can ensure the external stability of the voltage source inverter with different grid impedances as well as robustness against the variations of the filter parameters while maintaining low power losses and an acceptable attenuation rate for high‐frequency harmonics. To validate the theoretical analysis, a 1 kW, 110 V laboratory prototype is implemented. The obtained results confirm the applicability of the proposed design approach.

Reconfigured passivity‐based control strategy of LCL‐type grid‐connected inverter under complex grid conditions

SummaryLCL‐type grid‐connected inverters have seen extensive use of the passivity‐based control (PBC) system. However, traditional PBC systems rarely take time delay into account while designing the system or doing a stability study. Therefore, utilizing Lyapunov's criterion to conclude that the system is stable is not accurate. The analysis revealed that the differential terms of PBC loops with the Euler–Lagrange (EL) mathematical model could induce instability considered control delay for LCL‐type grid‐connected inverter system. Compared with traditional EL‐PBC method, this paper proposed a reconstructed EL‐PBC scheme by properly optimizing the noise term. Then, the equivalent output impedance of the grid‐connected inverter system with proposed controller is analyzed with frequency domain passivity theory. The controller parameters are also optimized to ensure both the internal stability of LCL‐type grid‐connected inverter and the risk of interactive resonance in complex weak and nonideal grid. Results from simulation and experimentation support the modified control structure's efficacy and performance.

Concomitant internal joint stabilizer augmentation with isometric lateral ulnar collateral ligament repair for unstable elbow dislocations: a surgical technique

Complex unstable elbow fracture dislocations can be a challenging pathology to treat for orthopedic surgeons. Historical treatment methods of persistent elbow instability after bony and ligamentous pathology have been addressed include prolonged immobilization, trans-articular pinning, and static or hinged external fixators. However, they can be associated with significant complications and unacceptable rates of unsatisfactory clinical outcomes. As a result, a movable internal fixator known as an internal joint stabilizer (IJS) was developed to help mitigate these complications. The IJS, when utilized, often is inserted at the origin of the lateral ulnar collateral ligament (LUCL). The rotating humeral pin of the IJS must be placed in the elbow’s center axis of rotation at the distal humerus to function properly. The competition for the same footprint makes concomitant anatomic repair of the LUCL challenging. This paper seeks to describe a surgical technique that allows for isometric humeral pin placement of the IJS without sacrificing the ability to restore the LUCL to its anatomic footprint by combining the LUCL suture anchor and IJS humeral pin sites.

Directional and Orderly Arranged Ni0.9Mn0.1(OH)2 Enables the Synthesis of Single-Crystal Ni-Rich Co-Free LiNi0.9Mn0.1O2 with Enhanced Internal Structural Stability.

In this paper, the effect of the structure characteristics of the precursor on the electrochemical properties of a single-crystal cobalt-free high-nickel LiNi0.9Mn0.1O2 cathode is systematically studied. Precursors with different morphologies are synthesized by adjusting the coprecipitation reaction conditions. The results of SEM and XRD show that with the increase in the orderly stacking arrangement of internal primary nanosheets of Ni0.9Mn0.1(OH)2, the exposed active {010} planes at the surface increase. The prepared cathode materials finally inherit the structural features of the precursor, and the single-crystal Co-free Ni-rich LiNi0.9Mn0.1O2 cathode with highly exposed active {010} planes shows a well-ordered crystal structure and low Li+/Ni2+ cation mixing. The characterization results reveal that the high percentage of {010} planes will improve the Li+ transportation kinetics, decrease electrochemical impedance, and significantly alleviate the accumulation of rock-salt phases. Therefore, the material with this structure shows good electrochemical performance.

Evaluation of cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Persian version of the health literacy for school-aged children scale: Methodological study.

Health literacy (HL) is an essential determinant of health in children. Inadequate HL causes problems for individuals and society, such as more hospitalizations, medication errors, poor health, and higher mortality and health care costs. A valid and reliable scale is needed to measure this population's HL. This study evaluated the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Persian version of the HL for School-Aged Children (HLSAC) Scale. In this methodological research, the HL scale of school-aged children was translated from English to Persian using the Backward-Forward translation protocol. The content validity, face validity, construct validity (Exploratory Factor Analysis [EFA] and Confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]), plus reliability, were evaluated by Internal consistency and stability methods. Two hundred forty samples from south of Tehran were selected by multi-stage sampling method to assess the construct validity. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v24 and Jamovi v2.2. A qualitative evaluation of face and content validity showed that experts and the target group approved all items on the scale. The results of EFA indicated the existence of one factor, explaining 47.17% of the total variance of the scale. The CFA results showed that the one-factor model of the Persian version of the HL scale for children is almost acceptable. (χ 2/df = 2.94, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.09, Normed-Fit Index = 0.89, Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.89, Comparative Fit Index = 0.92). Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the whole scale was 0.80, and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient value for the whole scale was calculated as 0.78 using the single-rating, absolute-agreement, 2-way mixed-effects method. The study validates the HLSAC Scale, affirming its suitability for assessing HL in Persian-speaking child populations.

Psychometric evaluation of the Persian version of the Sense of Belonging in Nursing School (SBNS): a quantitative and cross-sectional design

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the psychometric indicators of the Persian version of the Sense of Belonging in Nursing School scale (SBNS).MethodsThe study conducted in Shahroud and Semnan schools of nursing and midwifery in Iran examined nursing students using a cross-sectional approach by convenience sampling method from 3/6/2023 to 24/8/2023. To assess the SBNS scale, the forward–backward procedure was used to translate it into Persian. Face and content validity were evaluated, and exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted with sample sizes of 200 and 182, respectively. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, MacDonald's omega, and intra-class correlation coefficient.ResultsThe exploratory factor analysis resulted in the exclusion of four items, leaving a final selection of 15 items. These items were categorized into three factors: classmates, clinical staff, and inclusive educational environment, which accounted for 49.16% of the overall variance. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the model was a good fit for the observed data, and the subscales had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.752 to 0.880) and stability (intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.889 to 0.968).ConclusionAccording to the results, it can be concluded that the Persian version of the SBNS scale demonstrates sufficient validity and reliability in assessing students' sense of belonging to the nursing school.