Onset Time Research Articles

The development of high-performance kinetic hydrate inhibitors by introducing N-vinyl caprolactam and vinyl ether homopolymers into PVCap

Low dosage kinetic hydrate inhibitors (KHIs) are a kind of alternative chemical additives to prevent gas hydrate formation in oil & gas production wells and transportation pipelines. In this work, a series of KHIs were experimentally synthesized with N-vinyl caprolactam (N-VCap) and vinyl ether including vinyl ether, vinyl n-butyl ether, vinyl isobutyl ether, triethylene glycol divinyl ether, with the mole ratio ranging from 9:1 to 5:5. The inhibition performance of new-synthesized KHIs on the formation process of methane hydrate were examined and compared with that of commercial N-vinyl caprolactam PVCap. Several ethylenediamine reagents were used as synergists and tested to improve the inhibition capacity of new-synthesized KHIs. The experimental results demonstrate that the introduction of ether groups on PVCap improves the performance of hydrate inhibitors. PVCap-VNBE (N-VCap: vinyl n-butyl ether = 5:5) showed the best inhibition performance for methane hydrate, which could extend the TVO to 1251 min under 6 K subcooling. N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine shows the best synergistic effect for PVCap-VNBE (5:5), and extends the TVO by 2.75 times at 7 K subcooling. Additionally, the relationship between hydrate inhibition performance and interfacial tension of newly-synthesized KHIs under high pressure were studied. It shows that the lower interfacial tension of KHIs would result in longer onset time, exhibiting better inhibition performance.

Prevalence of continuous positive airway pressure-related aerophagia in obstructive sleep apnea: an observational study of 753 cases undergoing CPAP/BiPAP treatment in a sleep clinic - part one of a two-part series.

Aerophagia occurring during continuous positive airway pressure (C-aerophagia in CPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disturbs CPAP therapy. However, the diagnostic criteria and exact prevalence of C-aerophagia are not well documented; therefore, this study aimed to evaluate them. Newly developed criteria (flatulence, eructation, and abdominal bloating, with quantitative evaluation of these symptoms and a clear timing of onset) were used to diagnose C-aerophagia. The study included 753 adults with OSA who underwent follow-up visits for positive airway pressure treatment (including CPAP and bilevel positive airway pressure). The observation period ranged from 6 months to 3 years past the survey date (between May 1 and July 31, 2023). Medical records of patients were retrospectively analyzed. Discomfort associated with C-aerophagia was examined using a visual analog scale (VAS); a score ≥ 7 was associated with definite discomfort. Association of patient demographics and CPAP parameters with occurrence of C-aerophagia was analyzed using multivariate analysis. The prevalence of C-aerophagia was 7.2%. Although more than half of these patients reported discomfort associated with aerophagia, only 44.4% reported to their physician. The multivariate analysis showed that increased CPAP pressure level (odds ratio [OR] = 1.24) and comorbid gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; OR = 2.52) promote C-aerophagia, while increased age (OR = 0.76) and body mass index (BMI; OR = 0.88) inhibit it. The prevalence of C-aerophagia was 7.2%. Most patients with C-aerophagia experience discomfort, but may not report these symptoms. High CPAP pressure and GERD promoted C-aerophagia, while aging and increased BMI prevented it.

Intranasal esketamine versus esketamine-dexmedetomidine combination for premedication in pediatric patients undergoing strabismus surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Preoperative fear and anxiety are prevalent in children undergoing surgery. The combination of esketamine and dexmedetomidine has been proposed as a promising premedication for enhancing preoperative sedation and analgesia. This study compared the premedication efficacy of intranasal esketamine alone and esketamine-dexmedetomidine combination in pediatric patients undergoing strabismus surgery. One hundred and eighty preschool children aged 2-6 years scheduled for strabismus surgery were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of the three groups: intranasal premedication with esketamine 2 mg/kg (Group K), esketamine 1 mg/kg and dexmedetomidine 1 µg/kg (Group KD1), or esketamine 0.5 mg/kg and dexmedetomidine 2 µg/kg (Group KD2). The primary outcome was the level of sedation following the intervention, as measured by the modified Yale preoperative anxiety scale (mYPAS) and sedation scale (SS). Secondary outcomes included onset time of sedation, the successful rate of peripheral intravenous cannulation, parental separation anxiety scale (PSAS), mask acceptance scale (MAS), wake-up time, duration of stay in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), and premedication-related adverse effects. After premedication, the mYPAS score gradually decreased in the three groups, with lower values in Group K than in Group KD1 and Group KD2 patients in 1, 5, and 10 min. SS in Group KD1 and Group KD2 steadily increased until 40 min after premedication, while SS in Group K increased in the first 5 min after premedication and maintained consistent levels during the remaining time. Sedation onset was substantially faster in Group K patients (11.4±7.8 min) than Group KD1 (18.1±7.5 min, P=0.006) and Group KD2 (18.4±6.8 min, P<0.001). PSAS, separation status, the successful rate of peripheral intravenous cannulation, and MAS were comparable among groups. There was no significant difference in terms of emergence time or duration of stay in the PACU among groups. More gastrointestinal events were observed in Group K (P<0.001). Intranasal premedication with 2 mg/kg esketamine produced a more rapid onset of sedation accompanied by more gastrointestinal reactions compared with a combination of esketamine and dexmedetomidine. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04757675.

Relationship Between Environmental Meteorological Factors and the Incidence of Epistaxis in Different Age Groups in Yangzhou.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between environmental and meteorological factors and the incidence of epistaxis in different age groups in Yangzhou, as well as to provide a reference and theoretical basis for epistaxis prevention and treatment. Methods: The patients with epistaxis who were treated in Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital of Jiangsu Province from January 2016 to December 2020 were reviewed, and the relationship between the local environmental meteorological factors at the time of onset and the incidence of epistaxis in different age groups was analyzed, and the potential environmental meteorological risk factors of epistaxis in each age group were determined by Stepwise logistic regression. Results: From 2016 to 2020, there were 24,407 cases of epistaxis, mostly males and children. The effects of O3 concentration, average humidity, average temperature, NO2 concentration, sunshine duration, average wind speed, CO concentration, and temperature difference on the study population were statistically significant (P < .05). Analysis by age group showed that there were differences in environmental and meteorological factors related to epistaxis in different age groups. Conclusions: In Yangzhou, epistaxis is more prevalent among males and children. The environmental meteorological factors are related to the incidence of epistaxis in Yangzhou, among which the average humidity and temperature difference are negatively correlated with the incidence of epistaxis. In contrast O3 concentration, average temperature, NO2 concentration, sunshine duration, average wind speed, and CO concentration are positively correlated with epistaxis occurrence. However, the impact of these environmental and meteorological factors varies in different age groups.

Effect of ultrasound-guided nerve blocks on anesthesia and pulmonary function in patients undergoing distal radius fracture surgery.

This study aimed to assess the impact of ultrasound (US)-guided nerve blocks (NBs) on anesthesia and their protective effect on pulmonary function (PF) in patients undergoing distal radius fracture (DRF) surgery. A total of 122 patients undergoing DRF surgery between April 2020 and June 2023 were included. According to the type of peripheral NB technique, these patients were randomized into a control group (CG; n = 60) receiving brachial plexus block (BPB) using blinded techniques, and an observation group (OG; n = 62) receiving US-guided supraclavicular BPB. Anesthetic effects, BPB-related indexes, adverse events, PF parameters (forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow), and serum biochemical indexes (interleukin [IL]-6/10) were compared. The OG showed a relatively higher proportion of good anesthetic effects, shorter onset and completion times of block, and longer block duration compared to the CG, with a lower AE rate. Despite reductions in PF parameters and IL-10 levels after intervention, the OG maintained higher values than the CG. IL-6 levels increased significantly in the OG but remained lower than in the CG. In conclusion, US-guided NBs demonstrated significant anesthetic efficacy and apparently reduced anesthesia adverse events while also exerting a protective effect on PF in DRF surgery patients.

Quantification of the Uncertainty in Ultrasonic Wave Speed in Concrete: Application to Temperature Monitoring with Embedded Transducers.

This article presents an overall examination of how small temperature fluctuations affect P-wave velocity (Vp) measurements and their uncertainties in concrete using embedded piezoelectric transducers. This study highlights the fabrication of custom transducers tailored for long-term concrete monitoring. Accurate and reliable estimation of ultrasonic wave velocities is challenging, since they can be impacted by multiple experimental and environmental factors. In this work, a reliable methodology incorporating correction models is introduced for the quantification of uncertainties in ultrasonic absolute and relative velocity measurements. The study identifies significant influence quantities and suggests uncertainty estimation laws, enhancing measurement accuracy. Determining the onset time of the signal is very time-consuming if the onset is picked manually. After testing various methods to pinpoint the onset time, we selected the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) due to its ability to produce sufficiently reliable results. Then, signal correlation was used to determine the influence of temperature (20 °C to 40 °C) on Vp in different concrete samples. This technique proved effective in evaluating velocity changes, revealing a persistent velocity decrease with temperature increases for various concrete compositions. The study demonstrated the capability of ultrasonic measurements to detect small variations in the state of concrete under the influence of environmental variables like temperature, underlining the importance of incorporating all influencing factors.

Comparison of lidocaine bicarbonate with fentanyl and chloroprocaine for epidural anesthesia during cesarean section: a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial.

Chloroprocaine and lidocaine bicarbonate are commonly used for epidural anesthesia because of their rapid onset, particularly in the case of conversion from epidural labor analgesia to emergency cesarean section. However, it is unclear whether lidocaine bicarbonate combined with fentanyl has an advantage over chloroprocaine alone in emergency cesarean section. In this study, 102 women who underwent elective cesarean section received 15mL 3% chloroprocaine and 1mL saline (CP group) or 15mL 1.73% lidocaine bicarbonate and 1mL fentanyl 50μg (LF group) for epidural anesthesia. Nociceptive block level was assessed by pinprick and recorded every minute. The primary outcome was the onset time to T6 block. The median onset time to T6 analgesia was 10 [10, 10] min in the CP group and 10 [7, 10] min in the LF group (COX model for CP versus LF, HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23-0.95, p = 0.035). The median onset time to T8 analgesia was 7 [5, 9] min in CP group and 5 [4, 7] min in LF group (COX model for CP versus LF, HR 0.61, 95% CI 0.39-0.95, p = 0.027). The proportion of hypotension episodes occurring before delivery in LF group was lower than that in CP group (p = 0.011). The incidence of block level ≥ T4 after supplemental dosing in the LF group was lower than that in the CP group (p = 0.031). Compared with 3% chloroprocaine, 1.73% lidocaine bicarbonate combined with fentanyl 50μg has a slightly faster onset time and less hypotension in epidural anesthesia for cesarean section. Clinical Trial Registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.html, identifier ChiCTR2200056180.

Endocrine immune-related adverse events by immune checkpoint inhibitors and potential predictive markers: a prospective study from a single tertiary center.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can trigger immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The appearance pattern of irAEs, who is prone to them, and their mechanisms are still uncertain. In this study, we aimed to monitor patients initiated on ICIs for endocrinological aspects and to investigate the potential predictive markers in the development of endocrine-irAEs. The study prospectively included 43 patients with metastatic disease scheduled for anti-PD-1/L1 therapy. Endocrinological follow-up was conducted at specified intervals as well as in response to any additional reported complaints. Serum concentrations of CXCL10, IL-1beta, and IL-17A were measured prior to ICI and during the endocrine-irAEs. A total of 39.5% of the patients experienced endocrine-irAEs, with a median onset time of 3 months. Among patients, 34.9% developed thyroid-related adverse events, and 4.6% experienced hypophysitis. Thyroid autoantibodies were associated with a higher incidence of thyroid-related irAEs (P = 0.004). In the irAE group, median pre-ICI CXCL10 and baseline thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly higher, baseline total testosterone level in men was lower than in the non-irAE group (P < 0.05), whereas IL-1beta and IL-17A levels did not differ (P > 0.05). Serum CXCL10, IL-1beta, and IL-17A concentrations did not differ significantly pre-ICI and during adverse events (P > 0.05). Pre-ICI CXCL10 concentration was correlated positively with anti-TPO levels in patients with at least one thyroid autoantibody positivity (r = 0.706, P = 0.01) and negatively with baseline total testosterone level of men (r = 0.509, P = 0.002). Our results suggest that higher pre-ICI serum CXCL10 and TSH levels might have a predictive role in the development of endocrinopathies. Besides, baseline thyroid antibody measurements could be beneficial in predicting thyroid dysfunction.

A Scoping Review on the Intersection Between Voice and Swallowing Measures in Healthy and Disordered Populations.

Voice and swallowing are distinct functions that share anatomical and physiological properties; however, research investigating their intersection is limited. The purpose of this scoping review was to explore the literature surrounding the relationship between voice and swallowing measures in healthy adults and those with non-degenerative disorders. Specifically, we aimed to elucidate whether objective voice measures could be used as correlates of swallowing function. We systematically searched four databases (Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, and Web of Science) for relevant literature using a combination of key words and controlled vocabulary generated from the Yale Mesh Analyzer. The inclusion criteria consisted of peer-reviewed studies in the English language that reported on healthy adults and/or patients with non-degenerative neurological disorders and pulmonary diseases and contained instrumental and/or objective voice and swallowing measures. Two raters completed the abstract screening process followed by independent full-text reviews. Case studies, review studies, gray literature, or abstract-only studies were excluded. Among 5,485 screened studies, 182 were fully reviewed, with only 11 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. Eight studies found an association between voice and swallowing objective measures, whereas the other three did not. Significant voice measures that were related to swallowing safety and/or physiology included maximum fundamental frequency (F0), F0 range, maximum phonation time, biomechanics of effortful pitch glides, and voice onset time. Although there was heterogeneity in the measures used, specific objective voice measures showed promise in clinical practice as a screening tool for dysphagia. Further investigations are needed to validate the clinical utility of these measures across diverse patient populations.

Sleep onset time as a mediator in the association between screen exposure and aging: a cross-sectional study.

Excessive screen exposure has become a significant health concern. This study investigates the impact of screen time on aging in middle-aged and elderly populations. Healthy working adults over 45years old in Shanghai, China, underwent general and ocular examinations. Questionnaires collected demographics, medical history, and screen exposure details. Aging was assessed using the retinal age gap, defined as the difference between the retinal age predicted by deep learning algorithms based on fundus images and chronological age. Pathway analysis tested the mediation effect of sleep duration and onset time on the relationship between screen usage and retinal age gap. The retinal age gap increased with longer screen exposure, from 0.49 ± 3.51years in the lowest tertile to 5.13 ± 4.96years in the highest tertile (Jonckheere-Terpstra test, p < 0.001). Each additional hour of screen exposure accelerated the retinal age gap by 0.087years (95% CI, 0.027, 0.148, p = 0.005) in the fully adjusted linear model. Sleep onset time mediated the impact of screen usage on the retinal age gap (indirect effect, β = 0.11; 95% CI 0.04-0.24). The impact of screen usage in a light-off environment on the retinal age gap was fully mediated by sleep onset time (indirect effect, β = 0.22; 95% CI 0.07-0.38), with the proportion being 100%. Our study identified a correlation between excessive screen time and a wider retinal age gap in middle-aged and elderly individuals, likely due to delayed sleep onset. To mitigate the adverse effects on the retina and aging, it is important to limit screen usage and avoid screens before bedtime.

Association between antipsychotics and pulmonary embolism: a pharmacovigilance analysis.

Previous studies have documented an increased risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with schizophrenia taking antipsychotics (APs). However, specific data from real-world studies remain limited. This study aims to investigate the potential relationship between APs and PE. In the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), from the first quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of 2023, all PE cases suspected of being induced by APs were collected for disproportionality analysis, and the reporting odds ratio (ROR) was used to evaluate associations. Mortality, life-threatening events, and hospitalizations were also analyzed for each APs. A total of 1,676 cases of PE related to APs were included. APs were significantly associated with PE (ROR 2.00, 1.91-2.10), including chlorpromazine (n = 41), haloperidol (n = 164), loxapine (n = 37), olanzapine (n = 461), paliperidone (n = 161), quetiapine (n = 526), risperidone (n = 274), aripiprazole (n = 254), and clozapine (n = 234). The median onset time of PE was 29 days. Among all cases, 347 (20.7%) resulted in death, with haloperidol (53.2%) having a higher mortality rate than other APs. APs may increase the risk of PE in patients with schizophrenia.

Prediction and timely identification of postpartum depression: results of the longitudinal RiPoD study in the context of the literature

The first 4-6 weeks after childbirth are defined as the onset time for postpartum depression (PPD). Despite this known time frame there are significant gaps in the identification and treatment of PPD. The risk for postpartum depression (RiPoD) study investigated specific risk factors and predictors of postpartum psychological adjustment processes and the results are presented within the framework of astate of the art review of research. The dynamic neuroplastic changes in the maternal brain during pregnancy and the postpartum period appear to be closely linked to peripartum hormone fluctuations, which jointly influence the development of postpartum mood disorders. Hormonal risk factors such as baby blues and premenstrual syndrome have been found to have abearing on PPD. The combination of these two factors predicts the risk of PPD with 83% sensitivity within the first week postpartum. Follow-up digital monitoring of symptom development in the first 6 weeks postpartum has enabled an accurate identification of women with PPD. Understanding the interaction between hormone fluctuations, neuroplasticity and psychiatric disorders should be an important target for future research. Early identification and diagnosis of PPD can be easily integrated into the clinical routine and everyday life.

Ischemic core volumes and collateral status have diurnal fluctuations – A retrospective cohort study of 18,137 patients

IntroductionRecent observations suggest that circadian rhythms are implicated in the timing of stroke onset and the speed of infarct progression. We aimed to replicate these observations in a large, multi-center, automated imaging database. MethodsThe RAPID Insights database was queried from 02/01/2016 to 01/31/2022 for patients with perfusion imaging and automated detection of an ischemic stroke due to a presumed large vessel occlusion. Exclusion criteria included: patient age ≤25, mismatch volume of <0 cc, and failure to register a positive value on either relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) reduction of 38% less than normal or total mismatch volume. Imaging time was subdivided into three epochs: Night: 23:00h-06:59h and Day: 07:00h-14:59h, and Evening: 15:00h-22:59h. Perfusion parameters were defined using standard conventions for core volume, penumbra, and collateral circulation (measured via the Hypoperfusion Intensity Ratio, HIR). Statistical significance was tested using a sinusoidal regression analysis. ResultsA total of 18,137 cases were analyzed. The peak incidence of stroke imaging of patients with LVOs occurred around noon. A sinusoidal pattern was present, with larger ischemic core volumes and higher HIR during the night compared to the day: peak ischemic core volume of 23.4 cc occurred with imaging performed at 3:56 AM (p<0.001) and peak HIR of 0.35 at 3:40 AM (p<0.001). ConclusionWe found that ischemic core volumes were larger and collateral status worse at nighttime compared to daytime in this large national database. These findings support prior data suggesting that poor collateral recruitment with subsequent larger ischemic stroke volumes may occur at night.

Investigation of bi-directional relations between pre-sleep electronic media use and sleep: A seven-day dairy study

The current study aimed to examine the bi-directional relationships between pre-sleep electronic media use and sleep, and to assess the relative predictive strength of different types of electronic media use in the evening on subsequent sleep. Eighty-eight young adults (20.57 ± 0.99, 27 males) completed an online intake survey and received notifications to complete daily diaries for seven consecutive days. Results of dynamic structural equation models (DSEM) revealed that the total screen time, sleep onset time, sleep latency, sleep duration, and sleep quality showed significant positive autoregressive parameters. In contrast, the results revealed no statistically significant cross-lagged associations between the total screen time in the evening and sleep outcomes. Inspection of the predictive strength of various types of screen activities at the within-person level revealed that increased active social media use is linked to delayed sleep onset, while internet browsing is associated with shorter sleep latency. At the between-person level, screen time of T.V. watching, video streaming, social media use, and shopping correlated with delayed sleep onset. Shopping was also connected to longer sleep latency. Additionally, more time spent on T.V., video streaming, non-work internet browsing, and shopping was linked to reduced total sleep duration. These findings indicated a screen activity-dependent association between pre-sleep screen time and subsequent sleep. More objective assessments of electronic media use (e.g., app recording screen time) and sleep (e.g., actigraphy) and longitudinal monitoring over a relatively long period (i.e., several weeks or months) are warred to further elucidate (cross-lagged) relationships between electronic media use and sleep.

Microbiological Profile of Instrumented Spinal Infections: 10-Year Study at a French Spine Center.

The objective was to compare the microbiological characteristics and treatment of early and late surgical site infections (SSIs) in instrumented spinal surgery. Those patients admitted for SSIs in a single center between January 2010 and December 2022 were included. The subjects were divided into early (eSSIs) and late (lSSIs) SSIs, and demographic, microbiological, treatment, and follow-up data were collected. Instrumented spinal surgery was performed in 2136 patients. Ninety-six cases of infections were identified (prevalence = 4.5%), with 47.9% eSSIs and 52.1% lSSIs. In 58.7% of the cases, the eSSIs were monomicrobial: Staphylococcus aureus (37%) and Enterobacterales (33.3%) were the main bacteria involved. In 66% of the cases, the lSSIs, were monomicrobial: Cutibacterium acnes (30.3%) and staphylococci were predominant. Enterobacterales were isolated in more than 70% of the polymicrobial samples in both the eSSIs and lSSIs. The treatment of the eSSIs mostly consisted of lavage-debridement surgery associated with antibiotic treatment, while the treatment of the lSSIs combined hardware removal or replacement and long-duration antibiotic treatment. A negative outcome was observed in 17.1% of the eSSIs and 5.7% of the lSSIs. Enterobacterales were associated with negative outcomes of eSSIs. Enterobacterales were found in most of the polymicrobial infections regardless of the time of infection onset. Further large studies should be conducted to precisely determine the management and prevention regarding the increasing Gram-negative bacteria SSIs.

IV Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke with Unknown Onset in Patients on Oral Anticoagulation

Introduction: IV thrombolysis (IVT) is established in the unknown or extended time window based on multimodal imaging. Further, increasing evidence exists regarding IVT in patients on oral anticoagulation including direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). However, data on IVT in ischemic stroke patients on oral anticoagulation with unknown time of stroke onset are sparse. Methods: This study bases on the longitudinal cohort study Stroke Research Consortium in Northern Bavaria (STAMINA; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04357899). Acute ischemic stroke patients treated with IVT in the unknown or extended time window from January 2015 to December 2019 were included. Patient selection was based on multimodal CT or MRI. Patients on oral anticoagulation (vitamin-K antagonist [VKA] or DOAC within 48 h) were eligible for IVT based on INR measurement (VKA) or plasma levels (DOAC) according to an institutional protocol. Primary outcomes were the incidence of any and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Results: Of 170 ischemic stroke patients treated with IVT in the unknown or extended time window, 151 had no oral anticoagulation at stroke onset and 19 were on oral anticoagulation (6 on VKA and 13 on DOAC). The risk of symptomatic ICH according to ECASS II criteria was similar between the patients with and without oral anticoagulation (1 [5.3%] vs. 4 [2.7%], p = 0.453). After adjustment for confounding factors, pre-medication with oral anticoagulation was not associated with symptomatic ICH (aOR 1.02 [0.09–11.02], p = 0.988). Conclusion: IVT for ischemic stroke with unknown onset appeared safe in selected patients on oral anticoagulation with both DOAC and VKA.

Sensitivity to Vibrotactile Stimulation in the Hand and Wrist: Effects of Motion, Temporal Patterns, and Biological Sex.

We investigated the impact of low-tempo, repetitive hand movements on vibrotactile sensitivity by employing various temporal and spatial patterns in the hand and wrist area. The investigation of a human's ability to perceive vibrotactile stimuli during dynamic hand movements remains understudied, despite the prevalence of slow to mild hand motions in applications such as hand navigation or gesture control using haptic gloves in Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). We investigated vibrotactile sensitivity, analyzing the impact of various factors, including Motion (static and low-tempo repetitive hand movements), Temporal Patterns (Single or Double vibrations with varying onset times), Tactor Placements (hand and wrist), Spatial Patterns, and Biological Sex. Our study revealed that Motion significantly influences vibrotactile sensitivity in the hand and wrist areas, leading to reduced accuracy rates during dynamic conditions. Additionally, as the stimulus onset approached in Double vibrations, accuracy rates markedly decreased. Notably, Hand Placement resulted in significantly higher accuracy rates compared to the Wrist Placement. Our findings underscore the impact of motion in reducing vibrotactile sensitivity on the back of the hand and around the wrist. This research has wide-ranging practical applications, particularly in the field of VR/AR experiences, rehabilitation programs, and accessibility solutions through the use of haptic gloves. Insights from our study can be harnessed to enhance the efficacy of haptic gloves in conveying vibrotactile cues within these contexts.

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of obturator hernia in the recent decade with long-term follow-up: A single center experience.

Obturator hernia (OH) is a rare and dangerous disease that can lead to life-threatening consequences, and pelvic computed tomography (CT) is widely used for its diagnosis. There is no consensus regarding the surgical approach and repair methods. Retrospective analysis of the clinical and follow-up data of 15 cases of incarcerated hernias patients admitted to the Department of General Surgery, affiliated to Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, from January 2011 to December 2022. OH could be precisely diagnosed with pelvic CT scan, except for occult OH and non-strangulated OH. Thirteen patients underwent emergency surgery, with a total complication rate of 76.9% and no mortality. Ten patients underwent open surgery, and 3 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery, which had advantages in terms of total cost and postoperative hospital stay (P < .05). Emergency patients all underwent simple peritoneal closure, and hernial sac excision was simultaneously performed in 6 of them. A recurrence (7.7%) was detected at 38 months after the first operation. There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 tissue repair methods in terms of recurrent rate. Pelvic CT can be used as a gold standard for the diagnosis of incarcerated OH, but it has limited value in occult OH and non-strangulated OH. Laparoscopic surgery is recommended for patients with a short onset time and no abdominal physical signs. Tissue repair is sufficient for incarcerated OH and hernial sac excision may be unnecessary.

Particle transport in reduced turbulence neutral beam heated discharges at Wendelstein 7-X

A spontaneous reduction in anomalous particle transport in the plasma core is seen experimentally in reproducible, purely neutral beam heated plasma phases at Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X). Heating and fueling the plasma exclusively with the neutral beam injection system for several seconds leads to continuously peaking plasma density profiles with strong gradients inside mid minor radius. A significant acceleration of the density peaking occurs after a certain onset time and is examined with a detailed particle transport analysis in several discharges. By invoking the particle continuity equation, the total experimental radial electron flux is deduced from the time evolution of the electron density profile and the radially resolved particle sources. Subtracting the modeled neoclassical particle flux contribution gives the anomalous particle flux. Exploiting the evolving plasma conditions, anomalous diffusion and convection coefficients are computed from the flux variation with density and density gradients. In several discharges a significant and consistent change of the anomalous transport coefficients is seen when crossing a specific normalized density gradient length.

Experiments and SOLEDGE3X modeling of dissipative divertor and X-point Radiator regimes in WEST

X-Point Radiator (XPR) regimes have been obtained in WEST tokamak experiments with nitrogen seeding during the experimental campaigns of 2023 and 2024. These experiments showed the formation of a stable toroidal radiating ring near the X-point, similar to observations in other devices such as JET, ASDEX-Upgrade, TCV, and COMPASS. In WEST, the onset of this regime is associated with a sharp transition of the divertor plasma from hot to cold and dense conditions, with increased particle fluxes, indicating that the plasma is not detached. At the same time, core conditions are significantly improved. These scenarios were successfully controlled in WEST using an interferometry line-of-sight passing through the X-point. Interpretative modeling of these discharges with the SOLEDGE3X-EIRENE code reveals that a physics mechanism needed to stabilize WEST nitrogen XPRs is not present when driving the simulations at constant power. On the contrary, a stable XPR can be obtained by increasing the power injected at the time of the XPR onset to represent the reduction of W contamination, highlighting the need to describe the plasma dynamics and go toward integrated core–edge simulations.