Plastic Template Research Articles

Learning to distinguish between predators and non-predators: understanding the critical role of diet cues and predator odours in generalisation.

It is critical for prey to recognise predators and distinguish predators from non-threatening species. Yet, we have little understanding of how prey develop effective predator recognition templates. Recent studies suggest that prey may actually learn key predator features which can be used to recognise novel species with similar characteristics. However, non-predators are sometimes mislabelled as predators when generalising recognition. Here, we conduct the first comprehensive investigation of how prey integrate information on predator odours and predator diet cues in generalisation, allowing them to discriminate between predators and non-predators. We taught lemon damselfish to recognise a predator fed a fish diet, and tested them for their response to the known predator and a series of novel predators (fed fish diet) and non-predators (fed squid diet) distributed across a phylogenetic gradient. Our findings show that damselfish distinguish between predators and non-predators when generalising recognition. Additional experiments revealed that generalised recognition did not result from recognition of predator odours or diet cues, but that damselfish based recognition on what they learned during the initial conditioning. Incorporating multiple sources of information enables prey to develop highly plastic and accurate recognition templates that will increase survival in patchy environments where they have little prior knowledge.

Accuracy of a Simple Digital Templating in Primary Uncemented Total Hip Arthroplasty.

To introduce a simple preoperative digital templating in uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) and to determine its accuracy for preoperative size selection of the prostheses. A prospective study of digital planned THAs was performed on 90 hips with different types of prostheses from August 2013 to Angust 2014. The plastic templates of different types of prostheses were scanned for desired digital templating and the scanned images were then processed to the transparent, digital templates using Photoshop software. We calibrated the scales of the digital templates with the preoperative radiographs, and then selected the right size of the component. The preoperatively digital planned component sizes were compared to the actual sizes used in the operation, as well as the preoperatively traditional planned sizes. In either cup or stem templating, no difference was found among the groups with different types of prostheses, and the accuracy of digital templating was statistically higher than traditional templating. In cup templating, digital planned and implanted cup sizes were identical in 43.33% of the cases, 78.89% of the cup sizes were predicted within 1 size (± 2mm) and 95.56% were predicted within 2 sizes (± 4 mm), all significantly higher than the results of traditional planned sizes (30.00%, P=0.044; 61.11%, P=0.007; 82.22%, P=0.004). The exact femoral stem size was predicted in 40.00% of cases using the digital templating, 84.44% of stem sizes were predicted within 1 size, and 93.33% within 2 sizes, better than using traditional templating (25.56%, P=0.028; 53.33%, P<0.001; 77.77%, P=0.003). This simple digital preoperative templating is an accurate and reproducible process to preoperatively predict the implant size of uncemented THA.

Image-guided techniques improve accuracy of mosaic arthroplasty.

Mosaic arthroplasty is a surgical technique in which a set of cylindrical osteochondral grafts is transplanted from non-load-bearing areas of the joint to repair damaged articular cartilage. Incongruity between the graft surface and the adjacent cartilage at the repair site results in inferior clinical outcomes. This paper compares technical outcome using three mosaic arthroplasty techniques (conventional, optoelectronic, and patient-specific template) on femur models. Three distinct sets of femur models with defects were created. Preoperatively, the harvest and delivery sites were planned using custom software. Five orthopedic surgeons were recruited; each surgeon performed each of the three surgical techniques on each of the three bone models with defect. During the optoelectronic trials, the instrument position and orientation were tracked and superimposed onto the surgical plan. For the patient-specific template trials, plastic templates were manufactured to fit over the defects with cylindrical holes to guide the surgical tools according to the plan. Postoperatively, the femur models were computer tomography and laser scanned. Several measures were made to compare surgical techniques: operative time; surface congruency; defect coverage; graft surface area that is proud or recessed; air volume below the grafts; and distance and angle of the grafts from the surgical plan. The patient-specific template and optoelectronic techniques resulted in improved surface congruency, defect surface coverage, and below-graft air gap volume in comparison with the conventional technique. However, the conventional technique had a shorter operative time. Image-guided techniques can improve the accuracy of mosaic arthroplasty, which could result in better clinical outcomes.

Happy Birthday, ChemDraw

The following is a guest editorial by Amanda Yarnell, C&EN’s managing editor, editorial. Like many chemists of a certain age, Derek Lowe remembers the exact moment when he learned about the chemical-structure-drawing program we now call ChemDraw. It was 1986, when Lowe, now a chemist at Vertex and the author of the influential In the Pipeline blog, was still in grad school at Duke University. “I remember the room, and where I was standing in it,” he said at a June 18 event in Cambridge, Mass., marking the program’s 30th anniversary. “The phrase ‘killer app’ applied.” Before ChemDraw, Lowe and his fellow chemists had to draw chemical structures by hand. Even with the help of the classic plastic template to create ring structures and rub-on letters to insert atoms, drawing structures pre-ChemDraw was painstaking work. Copying them, resizing them, or linking them within a reaction scheme was downright painful. Make ...

Application of bacteriophages to reduce biofilms formed by hydrogen sulfide producing bacteria on surfaces in a rendering plant.

Hydrogen sulfide producing bacteria (SPB) in raw animal by-products are likely to grow and form biofilms in the rendering processing environments, resulting in the release of harmful hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas. The objective of this study was to reduce SPB biofilms formed on different surfaces typically found in rendering plants by applying a bacteriophage cocktail. Using a 96-well microplate method, we determined that 3 SPB strains of Citrobacter freundii and Hafnia alvei are strong biofilm formers. Application of 9 bacteriophages (10(7) PFU/mL) from families of Siphoviridae and Myoviridae resulted in a 33%-70% reduction of biofilm formation by each SPB strain. On stainless steel and plastic templates, phage treatment (10(8) PFU/mL) reduced the attached cells of a mixed SPB culture (no biofilm) by 2.3 and 2.7 log CFU/cm(2) within 6 h at 30 °C, respectively, as compared with 2 and 1.5 log CFU/cm(2) reductions of SPB biofilms within 6 h at 30 °C. Phage treatment was also applied to indigenous SPB biofilms formed on the environmental surface, stainless steel, high-density polyethylene plastic, and rubber templates in a rendering plant. With phage treatment (10(9) PFU/mL), SPB biofilms were reduced by 0.7-1.4, 0.3-0.6, and 0.2-0.6 log CFU/cm(2) in spring, summer, and fall trials, respectively. Our study demonstrated that bacteriophages could effectively reduce the selected SPB strains either attached to or in formed biofilms on various surfaces and could to some extent reduce the indigenous SPB biofilms on the surfaces in the rendering environment.

Computer assisted modeling of endodontic access in mandibular and maxillary molars

The paper describes the elaborated method of computer assisted manufacturing of plastic templates for optimal topography of endodontic access in molars according to CT and laser surface scanning data. The method was tested on extracted teeth, its use in clinical practice will greatly reduce the errors rate and minimize the hard tissues loss by endodontic assess creation.

Using microwave and macroscopic samples of dielectric solids to study the photonic properties of disordered photonic bandgap materials.

Recently, disordered photonic materials have been suggested as an alternative to periodic crystals for the formation of a complete photonic bandgap (PBG). In this article we will describe the methods for constructing and characterizing macroscopic disordered photonic structures using microwaves. The microwave regime offers the most convenient experimental sample size to build and test PBG media. Easily manipulated dielectric lattice components extend flexibility in building various 2D structures on top of pre-printed plastic templates. Once built, the structures could be quickly modified with point and line defects to make freeform waveguides and filters. Testing is done using a widely available Vector Network Analyzer and pairs of microwave horn antennas. Due to the scale invariance property of electromagnetic fields, the results we obtained in the microwave region can be directly applied to infrared and optical regions. Our approach is simple but delivers exciting new insight into the nature of light and disordered matter interaction. Our representative results include the first experimental demonstration of the existence of a complete and isotropic PBG in a two-dimensional (2D) hyperuniform disordered dielectric structure. Additionally we demonstrate experimentally the ability of this novel photonic structure to guide electromagnetic waves (EM) through freeform waveguides of arbitrary shape.

Using Microwave and Macroscopic Samples of Dielectric Solids to Study the Photonic Properties of Disordered Photonic Bandgap Materials

Recently, disordered photonic materials have been suggested as an alternative to periodic crystals for the formation of a complete photonic bandgap (PBG). In this article we will describe the methods for constructing and characterizing macroscopic disordered photonic structures using microwaves. The microwave regime offers the most convenient experimental sample size to build and test PBG media. Easily manipulated dielectric lattice components extend flexibility in building various 2D structures on top of pre-printed plastic templates. Once built, the structures could be quickly modified with point and line defects to make freeform waveguides and filters. Testing is done using a widely available Vector Network Analyzer and pairs of microwave horn antennas. Due to the scale invariance property of electromagnetic fields, the results we obtained in the microwave region can be directly applied to infrared and optical regions. Our approach is simple but delivers exciting new insight into the nature of light and disordered matter interaction. Our representative results include the first experimental demonstration of the existence of a complete and isotropic PBG in a two-dimensional (2D) hyperuniform disordered dielectric structure. Additionally we demonstrate experimentally the ability of this novel photonic structure to guide electromagnetic waves (EM) through freeform waveguides of arbitrary shape.

Incisional trans‐scleral biopsy of choroidal melanoma

AbstractBACKGROUND: In our experience, trans‐scleral fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) does not provide sufficient tissue for all the required histological and genetic investigations, especially with thin tumours. TECHNIQUE: The author has developed a simple technique for performing incisional choroidal tumour biopsy, immediately before ruthenium plaque insertion. Briefly, the tumour is localized by transillumination and its margins are marked on the sclera with a pen. A plastic plaque template is temporarily sutured to the sclera with releasable bows and its position checked by trans‐scleral transillumination and binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy. After removing the template, a rectangular, lamellar scleral flap is made, which is hinged posteriorly. A small incision is made in the deep sclera and several tumour samples are obtained with Essen forceps. The flap is closed with tissue glue, without suturing. The ruthenium plaque is then sutured to the sclera, using the pre‐placed sutures. DISCUSSION: Tumor samples yielded using this method are larger than obtained with FNAB. The glue prevents tumour seeding into orbit and the lamellar flap protects the delicate ruthenium plaque surface from damage by the hardened glue.

Facile fabrication of plastic template for three-dimensional micromixer-embedded microfluidic device

We report on a simple way to produce three-dimensional (3D) microstructures embedded in microchannel which is used as a micromixer in a microfluidic device. The micromilling machine has great capability of easily transferring the microstructured matter design onto the device substrate. According to the determined microstructure design, the different channel depths, widths, and complicated designs of microstructure are easily realized by the micromilling machine and thermoplastic substrate. These results provide a cost-effective way to produce master molds or their replica for the generation of complicated 3D micromixer embedded microfluidic devices. Furthermore, the complicated microstructure is suitable to use as micromixer which is important in microfluidicbased applications.

Multistep pedicle screw insertion procedure with patient-specific lamina fit-and-lock templates for the thoracic spine

Pedicle screw fixation is a standard procedure of spinal instrumentation, but accurate screw placement is essential to avoid injury to the adjacent structures, such as the vessels, nerves, and viscera. The authors recently developed an intraoperative screw guiding method in which patient-specific laminar templates were used, and verified the accuracy of the multistep procedure in the thoracic spine. Preoperative bone images of the CT scans were analyzed using 3D/multiplanar imaging software and the trajectories of the screws were planned. Plastic templates with screw guiding structures were created for each lamina by using 3D design and printing technology. Three types of templates were made for precise multistep guidance, and all templates were specially designed to fit and lock on the lamina during the procedure. Plastic vertebra models were also generated and preoperative screw insertion simulation was performed. Surgery was performed using this patient-specific screw guide template system, and the placement of screws was postoperatively evaluated using CT scanning. Ten patients with thoracic or cervicothoracic pathological entities were selected to verify this novel procedure. Fifty-eight pedicle screws were placed using the screw guide template system. Preoperatively, each template was found to fit exactly and to lock on the lamina of the vertebra models, and screw insertion simulation was successfully performed. Intraoperatively the templates also fit and locked on the patient lamina, and screw insertion was completed successfully. Postoperative CT scans confirmed that no screws violated the cortex of the pedicles, and the mean deviation of the screws from the planned trajectories was 0.87 ± 0.34 mm at the coronal midpoint section of the pedicles. The multistep, patient-specific screw guide template system is useful for intraoperative pedicle screw navigation in the thoracic spine. This simple and economical method can improve the accuracy of pedicle screw insertion and reduce the operating time and radiation exposure of spinal fixation surgery.

The Digital Pre-Operative Planning of Hip Surgical Interventions

Computer technology has many applications in different fields of industry, health care and medicine. This encompasses paper-based information processing as well as data processing machines (Hospital information system or Clinical information system) and image digitalization of a large variety of medical diagnostic equipment (e.g. computer images of X-ray, MR, CT). The aim of the computer technology in medicine is to achieve the best possible support of patient care, preoperative surgery planning and administration by electronic data processing. At the present time in many countries of the worlds preoperative planning of interventions for lumbar joint is realized with caliper, protractor, plastic templates and x-ray images. Orthopaedic surgeons use transparent template radiographs as part of pre-operative planning in order to gauge the suitability and correct size of an implant. The newly developed CoXaM software offers a simple solution of the problems by using the digital x-ray images and handmade transparent plastic templates. The CoXaM software was developed in Visual Studio 2005 in the Visual C++ programming language at the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Measurement at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Technical University of Kosice. The software was designed for pre-operative planning and helps to determine on the X-ray image a length dimensions, a center of rotation, an angle values. It enables the digitalization of plastic templates from several producers, which will assess the suitability of the type of implant.

Outpatient High-Dose-Rate Interstitial Brachytherapy in the Treatment of Gynecologic Malignancies

to have recurrence either local or metastatic. Initial data were obtained for 85 women. Treatment data: There was a significant relationship between the average baseline scores and patient age (P 50:037) for the vagina scale score and also for sexual dysfunction (P 50:038). There was no significant relationship for vagina scores and stage of disease (P 5 0:054) or for sexual dysfunction and stage P 50:44. There was a significant relationship between the maximum vagina scores at baseline and age (P 50:039), but not for stage of disease (P 5 0:077). For sexual dysfunction maximum scores there was no significant association with age (P 50:095) or disease stage. (P 50:31). Nineteen of the 85 patients had prior treatment with surgery and both their average vagina scores (P 50:025) and maximum vagina (P 50:045) scoreswere significantly lower than those for non-surgically treated patients. Similarly for sexual dysfunction scores,the averages scores (P 50:042) for those patients who had prior surgery were lower than those who had no surgery and the maximum score was significantly different (P 50:027). Statistical analysis of data: The mean subjective sexual function and satisfaction score was highest (0.4601) in patients in which gap between treatment and interview was 11 years and maximum score was highest (0.94) in same group. Average subjective LENT SOMA score was highest in patients who were interviewed after 11 years of treatment in comparison to other patients. The objective mean score VG (Vagina) was highest (0.6444) in patients who were interviewed after 11 years of treatment and maximum score (0.80) was highest (0.80) in patients in which gap between treatment and interview was 10 years. Average objective LENT SOMA score was highest in patients who were interviewed after 11 years of treatment in comparison to other patients (p value0.693). Average overall LENT SOMA score was highest in patients in which gap between treatment and interview was 11 years. (p value0.705) Conclusions: The LENT SOMA system was acceptable and feasible to use and gave us an insight into the morbidity in our patients. Since it is one of few studies in India on late morbidity in treated patients of carcinoma uterine cervix, it is an important step in comparing our data with the Western literature. It will also help us to develop effective management plans to reduce the post treatment symptoms and improve quality of life in patients of carcinoma uterine cervix.

Image-Guided Techniques Improve the Short-Term Outcome of Autologous Osteochondral Cartilage Repair Surgeries: An Animal Trial.

Objective:Autologous osteochondral cartilage repair is a valuable reconstruction option for cartilage defects, but the accuracy to harvest and deliver osteochondral grafts remains problematic. We investigated whether image-guided methods (optically guided and template guided) can improve the outcome of these procedures.Design:Fifteen sheep were operated to create traumatic chondral injuries in each knee. After 4 months, the chondral defect in one knee was repaired using (a) conventional approach, (b) optically guided method, or (c) template-guided method. For both image-guided groups, harvest and delivery sites were preoperatively planned using custom-made software. During optically guided surgery, instrument position and orientation were tracked and superimposed onto the surgical plan. For the template-guided group, plastic templates were manufactured to allow an exact fit between template and the joint anatomy. Cylindrical holes within the template guided surgical tools according to the plan. Three months postsurgery, both knees were harvested and computed tomography scans were used to compare the reconstructed versus the native pre-injury joint surfaces. For each repaired defect, macroscopic (International Cartilage Repair Society [ICRS]) and histological repair (ICRS II) scores were assessed.Results:Three months after repair surgery, both image-guided surgical approaches resulted in significantly better histology scores compared with the conventional approach (improvement by 55%, P < 0.02). Interestingly, there were no significant differences found in cartilage surface reconstruction and macroscopic scores between the image-guided and the conventional surgeries.

Repair of fractured abutment teeth under pre-existing crowns: An alternative approach

This article describes a technique for repair of abutment tooth which fractured during removal of a provisional restoration before bisque trial. The technique uses plastic templates to fabricate new composite core foundation for the existing crowns. This technique helps the dentist to rebuild the core in a single appointment.

Application and Analysis of GMT Plastic Template in Engineering

According to a construction case of residential buildings in Ningbo, this paper describes the technology performance, construction technology and innovation of the GMT template. Comparison with other common template, it has proved that this new building template has the advantages of smooth surface, easy remolding, light weight, good corrosion resistance, formwork turnover frequency and recyclable. So it has a good application value.

Osteoplasty for Cam Type Impingement Is More Accurate When Performed Open than Arthroscopic (SS-41)

Osteoplasty for Cam Type Impingement Is More Accurate When Performed Open than Arthroscopic (SS-41)

Building flexible circuits with self‐assembly

Purpose – The paper's aim is to present a method for integrating high‐performance circuit components onto flexible substrates using self‐assembly. The basic process of self‐assembly at the micrometer‐scale is reviewed and recent work in building functional parts such as silicon transistors and compound semiconductor light emitting diodes, as well as their integration onto flexible plastic templates, is reported.Design/methodology/approach – A micron‐scale self‐assembly method was used for building flexible circuits. In micron‐scale self‐assembly, functional micro‐components are independently microfabricated and subsequently allowed to self‐assemble on a template with electrical interconnects and corresponding binding sites in a fluid.Findings – The self‐assembly process can achieve heterogeneous integration with a potentially very high yield. Successful assembly of functional micro‐components such as LEDs and transistors on plastic has been demonstrated.Originality/value – The paper demonstrates fabricati...

In situX-ray analysis of protein crystals in low-birefringent and X-ray transmissive plastic microchannels

Plastic microchannel crystallization template designs made from inexpensive cyclic olefin copolymers have been shown to be low-birefringent, X-ray transmissive and compatible with microfluidic fabrication in restricted geometry. The model proteins thaumatin, lysozyme and bacteriorhodopsin demonstrated the feasibility of conducting counter-diffusion equilibration within the new plastic configuration. Crystals of each of these proteins were directly evaluated in situ using synchrotron radiation and their diffraction quality was evaluated without invasive manipulation or cryofreezing. Protein crystals able to produce complete X-ray data sets were used to calculate electron-density maps for structure determination. Fluidic crystallization in the plastic platform was also coupled with a commercialized automated imager and an in situ X-ray scanner that allowed optical and X-ray inspection of crystallization hits. The results demonstrate the feasibility of rapid nanovolume counter-diffusion crystallization experiments without the need for additional instrumentation.

Optical Nanoimprint using Plastic Template and Visible Light-Curable Resin

To eliminate the releasing defects of template in UV nanoimprint lithography (NIL), a novel process without using anti-sticking layer is proposed in combination with a plastic template and a visible light (VL)-curable resin. We newly use poly-propylene (PP) as a plastic template, which has low surface energy and is easily removed from polymers. However, plastic materials such as PP have generally poor transmittance for UV light, but have certain transmittance for VL. We apply a newly developed VL-curable resin for use of the plastic template. Using the VL-curable resin, the anti-reflection structure is successfully fabricated on a triacetylcellulose (TAC) film by the optical NIL from the PP template. With respect to the anti-reflection structure, the experimental result of reflectance shows less than 0.5%.