Number Of Cushions Research Articles

Bulking for stress urinary incontinence in men: A systematic review.

An updated literature review on outcomes in men treated with currently commercially available bulking agents was performed to determine whether this is a reasonable option in selected patients. The review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework of systematic reviews. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Medline, and Embase was undertaken. Abstracts were independently screened by two investigators to include men with stress urinary incontinence treated with a peri-urethral injection of bulking agents currently available in the market. Only eight original articles met the inclusion criteria. The bulking agents used were Macroplastique in five studies (total 123 patients), Opsys, Durasphere, and Urolastic in one study each (10, 7, and 2 patients, respectively). Only one study was randomized; Macroplastique vs AUS in men with mild or total incontinence. The included populations were heterogeneous and encompassed endoscopic, perineal, abdominal and laparoscopic prostate surgery as well as spinal cord injuries and urethral sphincter insufficiency. Significant dissimilarity was evident for the duration of incontinence (9-108 months), mean volume of bulking agent used (2.3-13.5 mL), number of cushions (1-5), depth and position of the cushions. The outcomes varied significantly, with reported dry rates between 0% and 83%. Outcomes were limited by relatively short follow-up in most studies. Following initial enthusiasm and then dismay with collagen-based compounds, sparse and heterogeneous literature data were produced on newer non-migrating and nonabsorbable bulking agents. Some studies have suggested encouraging, if short term outcomes, however, future studies are needed in this field to support recommendations for widespread use.

Evaluation of plus trees in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) for growth, flower, yield and yield contributing characters during the initial growth phase

The aim of this study was to evaluate the plus trees of cocoa for growth, flower, yield and yield contributing characters during the initial growth phase. Thirty five (35) plus trees in two different farmer’s field were recorded for their growth, flower, yield and yield contributing traits. Among the 35 plus trees, first branching height was observed highest in Tc (Vedapatti) 41, maximum stem girth was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 64, maximum number of fan branches was noticed in Tc (Vedapatti) 1. Flower characters like maximum number of flowers per cushion, number of cushions per tree and number of flowers per tree was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 61, while highest pod set percentage was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 121. The yield parameters like pod length, pod girth, pod weight, fresh seed weight per pod, single fresh bean weight, bean length, single dry bean weight and dry bean weight per pod was found maximum in Tc (Vedapatti) 99, while number of pods per tree was recorded maximum in Tc (Vedapatti) 110. The maximum husk weight and husk thickness was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 31, while lowest pod value index was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 99. The maximum number of bold beans per pod, number of beans per pod was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 72, while highest number of flat beans per pod was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 15. Among the 35 plus trees husk to seed ratio was highest in Tc (Vedapatti) 111 and highest estimated dry bean yield per tree was recorded in Tc (Vedapatti) 91. This study showed the variability for growth, flower, yield and yield contributing characters during initial growth phase and the variability present in the plus trees can be used in future breeding program to identify a suitable type for yield or these identified plus trees can be effectively utilized as parents for hybridization programme.

Further and higher education markets’ cushions: portability of policy and potential to pay

This article explores the coincidence of global, supranational and local demands on a small EU member state. Pressures to open up an internal and external market in further and higher education (F&HE) derive from outside the local education state, most notably from the ‘knowledge’ economy’s competition imperative, from the obligations of EU membership regarding employment and Research and Development and from local demands for labour market growth. Normatively employing neoliberal market discourses, lead actors provide a number of cushions for the market, which include not only disinvestment and commodification, but also (ir)regulation, through the delays in establishing a regulatory framework, leading to a specific spatio‐temporal fix. Using the metaphor of a ‘two‐goal cushion’, this article asks whether the cushions themselves may not lead to the jeopardy of F&HE goals, especially regarding access, quality and increased Research Development Training and Innovation (RDTi)? Here, the portability of competitive market F&HE policies from the supranational to the local, and from the local ICT training industry to the tertiary education sector, provide evidence not only of ‘cushions’, but also of how F&HE ‘market’ policy is traded between discursive sites and scales.

Changes between 1927 and 2004 and effect of rock climbing on occurrence of Saxifraga paniculata and Draba aizoides, two glacial relicts on limestone cliffs of the Swabian Jura, southern Germany

A number of glacial relicts can be found on limestone cliffs of the Swabian Jura in southern Germany. In general, they are rare and endangered, particular on cliffs where rock climbing is allowed. Two glacial relicts, Saxifraga paniculata Mill. and Draba aizoides L., were quantitatively surveyed on 28 cliffs in 2004 to investigate their occurrence compared to former surveys and to analyse the effect of rock climbing on species abundance. Number of cushions per cliff and number of rosettes per cushion were counted, smallest and largest diameter of cushions and rosettes, as well as aspect and inclination were also measured. S. paniculata was found on 75% and D. aizoides on 30% of the cliffs. Up to 150 S. paniculata and 370 D. aizoides cushions were noted per cliff, in total there were 696 S. paniculata and 705 D. aizoides cushions. In cliff areas where rock climbing takes place, S. paniculata was only located in relatively uninfluenced parts of the cliffs. In contrast, D. aizoides was found with at a significantly higher frequency on climbed cliffs, and surprisingly, also at the foot of the cliffs, which means that climbing activities even increased numbers of D. aizoides . Rosettes might have been cut of by trampling and climbing and fell to positions where they established new cushions at the base of the cliff. Compared to earlier studies in 1927 and 1966, a higher number of cliffs containing both glacial relicts were found. It can be assumed that not all cliffs had been surveyed in the past and that cliffs were not surveyed as completely as possible. The former locations were confirmed except for one cliff where D. aizoides did not exist anymore. From the cliffs studied, D. aizoides and S. paniculata do not seem to be directly in danger of disappearance in the near future. Nevertheless, rock climbing or visits of hikers on certain cliffs can be a threat, in particular to S. paniculata . This study provides the groundwork for future quantitative monitoring of these two glacial relicts.

Cushioning performance of flexible polyurethane foams

AbstractImpact cushioning and deformation of flexible open‐cell polyester polyurethane (PU) foams were studied as a function of specimen geometry, including the incorporation of controlled voids. It was shown that cushioning behavior is dependent on sample geometry, which was in trun due to a complex balance of air compression and air flow, which changes with surface area‐to‐volume ratio of the impact specimen. Deformation studies show that impact compression proceeded initially by crushing the surface layers with little or no deformation of the center layers. As bulk compression was increased, deformation progressively propagated for the collapsed layers tending to a more uniform strain distribution at high bulk compression strains. Local asymmetric strain patterns were exaggerated using square cushions, because of cornr effects which complicated air flow paths. It was concluded that cushion curve determination of open‐cell foams would be more accurately performed using circular samples and deflecting air pressure form the top surface of the cushion to more closely simulate practical conditions. When designing at or near the margin, the number of cushions should be kept to a minimum and open surface area to volume ratios minimized by adopting square rather than strip cushions.

Burning Behavior of Upholstered Furniture Mockups

Furniture mockups consisting of various arrangements of full-size cushions were tested in the NBS furniture calorimeter. Measurements included heat release, combustion product concentrations, and flame spread characteristics. Major variations in burning were observed: neoprene mockups only smoldered, flame retardant treated polyurethane mockups burned more slowly than un treated mockups but eventually reached similar maximum heat release rates. Fabrics were ranked, in terms of maximum heat release rate and several other measured characteristics, from low to high: heavy cotton fabric; light cotton and heavy olefin, and light olefin. Flame spread rate measured on the mockups cor related with the time to reach a 100 kW heat release rate. Heat release rate and combustion product concentration generally increased with increasing number of cushions per mockup. Thinner cushions burned more rapidly than thicker ones.

A SIMPLE SUBSTITUTE FOR THE ORDINARY SAND-BAG IN GALLBLADDER SURGERY

I have observed that many of the patients requiring surgical work on the gallbladder are very heavy, and that the placing of the sand-bag under the back after anesthesia is complete is not an easy matter. Also, the ordinary sand-bag is very uncomfortable to the patient, and many complain of strain following the operation. I worked out a scheme with the local automobile tire repair dealer whereby he cut a section from an old truck tube about 24 inches long and sealed and vulcanized both ends, placing an ordinary tire valve in one end. This cushion is placed under the patient without inflation before the anesthetic is started, and when anesthesia is complete the nurse or anesthetist inflates the cushion by the means of an ordinary automobile pump until the surgeon is satisfied with the position. The variations as to size and number of cushions seem to be innumerable, and