Significant Impact Research Articles

Research on The Relationship Between Work Motivation, School Principal Leadership, and Teacher Performance in Madrasah Ibtidaiyah At Taufiq Lakarsantri Surabaya

Education is crucial in shaping and optimizing students' potential to succeed. One sign of educational success isthe level of student participation in learning activities, which reflects the level of student involvement and activityin the learning process. This research analyses the influence of assignment methods and social interaction onstudents' active learning at Islamic Elementary School or Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) Darul Ulum Tandes. Thisresearch involved 216 MI Darul Ulum Tandes students as a population, with 36 class VI students selected assamples using total sampling. The research results show that the assignment method significantly influencesstudents' active learning. This method provides opportunities for students to apply the concepts learned andencourages their direct involvement in the learning process. Social interactions also have a significant impact,engaging students in communication, collaboration, and emotional connection. This research makes a theoreticalcontribution by improving understanding the complexity of the relationship between learning methods and socialinteraction.

Impact of preoperative persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation on inhospital mortality after coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an arrhythmia that has a well-established impact on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the role of this arrhythmia plays on surgical risk remains uncertain. Objective: to evaluate the impact of preoperative persistent or permanent AF on in-hospital mortality after isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Methods: prospective cohort with 2,377 patients submitted to isolated CABG between January 2014 and December 2021. Sixty-two variables, including baseline factors, operative characteristics, and outcomes, were analyzed. Patients were divided into two study groups: No preoperative AF (n=2,287) and preoperative persistent or permanent AF (N=90). The comparison between the groups was performed initially by descriptive and univariate analysis. Subsequently, the analysis of mortality predictors was performed using binary logistic regression - multivariate adjusted analysis. Results: patients with preoperative AF were older, had a higher prevalence of pulmonary hypertension and anemia, had lower ejection fraction and had higher surgical risk scores when compared with patients with no history of atrial fibrillation. The in-hospital death was more frequent in patients with a history of AF (3.2% vs 8.9%, P=0.010). Through the multivariate analysis, it was possible to verify that preoperative AF is independently associated with the occurrence of in-hospital mortality after CABG (OR 2.68; 95% CI 1.21-5.94, P=0.015). Conclusion: Preoperative persistent or permanent AF has been shown to have a significant impact on in-hospital mortality rates after CABG even after adjusted multivariate analysis, being an independent risk predictor for the occurrence of postoperative death.

Construction and Influencing Factors of Voluntary Compensation Subjects for Herders—From the Perspective of Sustainable Utilization of Grassland Resources

The grassland ecological compensation mechanism is a basic guarantee for promoting the sustainable utilization of grassland resources, and the reasonable determination of the compensation subject is the basic premise for the effective operation of the grassland ecological compensation mechanism. At present, grassland ecological compensation is mainly based on government compensation, and the compensation method generally adopted is financial transfer payment with a single source of compensation funds. Therefore, establishing diversified compensation entities is of great significance in expanding the sources of compensation funds. As important users of grassland resources, herders should become the main representatives of grassland ecological compensation according to the principle of “whoever uses, pays”. In this study, based on survey data with respect to pastoral areas in Inner Mongolia, we used a multivariate ordered logistic regression model to empirically analyze the factors influencing the establishment of a voluntary compensation entity for herders. The results of this study showed that (1) the resource endowment factors of the respondents, including livestock inventory, grazing area, and cutting grassland area, have a significant positive impact on the willingness of herdsmen to voluntarily serve as the main representatives of grassland ecological compensation. When each influencing factor increased by one unit, the probability of voluntarily becoming a compensation subject increased by 3.5%, 1.91%, and 1.41%, respectively. (2) The factor of prohibited pasture area in the endowment of herders had a significant negative effect on their willingness to become compensation subjects, which indicates that the larger the prohibited pasture area owned by herders, the lower their grassland utilization rate and the lower their willingness to voluntarily become compensation subjects. (3) Among the cognitive factors of the respondents, “whether they will continue to support the implementation of the grassland compensation policy” had a positive promoting effect on herdsmen voluntarily becoming compensation subjects, showing that the higher the support of herdsmen for the ecological compensation system, the more willing they were to become compensation subjects. This article is based on the perspective of the sustainable utilization of grassland resources and empirically analyzes the influencing factors of herders’ willingness to reduce their number of livestock. Through the voluntary reduction of livestock by herders, a voluntary compensation entity for herders is constructed. Based on the research conclusions, relevant countermeasures and suggestions are proposed, providing a reference for improving grassland ecological compensation policies and promoting the sustainable utilization of grassland resources.

The impact of adverse childhood events on service support and educational outcomes of children who are autistic: A theory-guided analysis using structural equation modeling.

Autistic children who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may have barriers to receiving special education or other developmental services-thus, impacting educational outcomes. Our objective was to model such a pathway using the 2016-2021 National Survey of Children's Health datasets. We extracted data for school outcomes, use of special education and autism-related specialty services and sociodemographic characteristics among autistic children within the data. Associations between sociodemographics and ACEs (categorized as 0, 1-3, and 4+) were tested using design-based X2 tests. We then used structural equation modeling to map the quasi-causal pathways. The sample for our analysis included 4717 autistic children-38.94% were aged 6-10 years, 35.73% of children aged 11-14 years, and 25.32% were between 15 and 17 years-with 88.70% living in metropolitan areas. The X2 showed significant relationships between ACEs and age, ethnoracial groups, and urbanicity among others. The SEM showed ACEs were directly associated with poorer school outcomes (β = -0.14 (0.04), p = 0.002) and through their inverse relationship with support services (β = -0.08 (0.04), p = 0.023)- when support services were increased, school outcomes improved (β = 0.62, p < 0.001). Findings suggested ACEs have a significant direct and indirect impact on school outcomes of autistic children, and 10.76% of children who are autistic have experienced four or more ACEs-which were more likely to occur with severe autism symptomatology and in rural areas. Results highlight the need for communities to recognize the potential long-term impact of ACEs on the academic outcomes of autistic children.

Prevalence and Impact of Dysmenorrhea on the Academic Performance of Students at Medical and Health Sciences University

Introduction: Dysmenorrhea is painful menstruation and is the most common menstrual symptom affecting adolescents. Evidence suggests that worldwide prevalence can be high and can significantly affect academic performance through its impact on activity, absenteeism, and other aspects of learning. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey using a pre-validated questionnaire incorporating demography, menstrual history, severity, and effects on academic performance. Female students selected by non-probability sampling of Ras al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University were included (calculated sample size=249). Results and Discussion: A total of 252 students participated (mean age 20.14 years). The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 80.5%. Pain was severe for 25.1% (≥7/10 score),14.7% reported severely restricted daily activity, 66% received regular treatment, and 24(11.8%) required hospitalization during the last year due to pain. More than 50% of students missed academic sessions, 68% had trouble concentrating, 70. 4% were unable to study. 59% had an inability to complete assignments, 58% had trouble concentrating during examinations, and 8.8% missed assessments due to dysmenorrhea. The majority missed 1-2 days each month. Dysmenorrhea was a significant predictor of academic domains (AD) like reduced concentration, inability to complete assignments, missing lectures, and assessments [ adjusted OR-2.25, 5.57, 4.32, 3.96] with p less than .05 in each. Moderate to severe pain was an independent predictor of all AD compared to mild pain (score less than 3) (p=.026). Moderate to severe dysmenorrhea had a significant negative impact on academic performance(p=.02). Conclusion: Dysmenorrhea is a prevalent health problem among university students and has a significant negative impact on education.

A comparative analysis of COVID-19 pandemic effects on students’ academic performance in higher education sector

Purpose This study aims to focus on exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the students’ academic performance in Jordanian higher education during the outbreak of the pandemic, evaluating the e-learning education and evaluating online education in practical lessons during the pandemic according to the university type, educational level, academic year and different specializations or faculty. Design/methodology/approach This study provides quantitative and qualitative analysis on the students’ e-learning performance during the pandemic. It presents the analysis of online learning preference of 424 questionnaires and 85 structured interviews with the university’s students and examines whether there is significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their academic performance. Findings The findings of this study present evidence of students’ improvement in their academic performance and lend credence to the notion that organizational characteristics may play a role in the adaptation of emergency remote teaching. This was evident that more scientific-based faculties (engineering, pharmaceutical and medicine) faced more challenges during the pandemic, and it negatively influenced students’ performance. This was justifiable to the need for a more practical one-to-one interaction and integration. Originality/value The findings of this research present evidence of students’ improvement in their academic performance and lend credence to the notion that organizational characteristics may play a role in the adaptation of emergency remote teaching. This was evident that more scientific-based faculties (engineering, pharmaceutical and medicine) faced more challenges during the pandemic and it negatively influenced students’ performance. This was justifiable to the need for a more practical one-to-one interaction and integration.

Simulation of Vortex-Induced Vibration for a Cylinder with Different Rounded Corners under Re = 150

A comprehensive 2D numerical model was conscientiously developed to investigate the vortex-induced vibration phenomena in a cylindrical structure with rounded corners. The Navier-Stokes equation was adeptly solved under the specific condition of a Reynolds number (Re) of 150. The investigation reveals intricate details of the phenomena. The study aimed to systematically analyze the interaction between drag and lift force coefficients, cylinder vibration amplitude, and the patterns of vortex shedding modes under various conditions. This study systematically altered the radius of the cylinder’s rounded corners to evaluate their effects on both structural and hydrodynamic responses. This variation was crucial in comprehending how slight alterations in the cylinder’s geometry impact significant changes in the flow dynamics and correlated vibration behavior. The model’s numerical results revealed the significant impact of the curved edge ratio on both the hydrodynamic forces acting on the cylinder and its vibration response. The variation in edge curvature resulted in changes in drag and lift coefficients, leading to a significant impact on the amplitude of vibration. This elucidates the crucial role of geometric design in controlling and optimizing the structural behavior of cylindrical structures under fluid flow conditions.

Total femoral spanning for distal femur "fragility" fractures utilising nail-plate fixation "short-term experience of a district general hospital".

Our primary objective was to investigate the time to radiological union following linked nail-plate fixation of distal femur "fragility" fractures. Secondary objectives were to evaluate all-cause reoperations, 90-day mortality, rate of blood transfusion and the impact on quality of life. In this retrospective study of all adults (≥ 65years) with native or periprosthetic distal femur fragility fractures, underwent a linked nail-plate fixation, data were retrieved on fracture classifications, clinical frailty score, blood transfusion, length of hospital stay, 90-day mortality, time to radiological union, overall complication rates and EuroQoL-5D. In total, 18 out of 23 patients completed sequential follow-up. Radiological union was observed in 14 patients (median 143days; range 42-414). Three patients underwent reoperations. There were no implant failures or a subsequent periprosthetic fractures. Ninety-day mortality was 17.4%. Eighteen patients required blood transfusion. The QoL was significantly lower after index surgery (0.875 vs. 0.684; p < 0.01). Based on our observation, with short-term follow-up, the linked nail-plate yields optimal stability to allow immediate weight bearing, in a cohort with moderate frailty. It is reproducible,with variable radiological union rates. The concept of "total femoral spanning" reduces the risk of subsequent periprosthetic fractures. The additional intervention has increased the rates of allogenic blood transfusion. There is significant impact on overall QoL, with almost 50% being more dependent in self-care.

Impact of Mental Health Treatment on Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure and Ischemic Heart Disease.

There is conflicting evidence as to the impact of mental health treatment on outcomes in patients with heart disease. The aim of this study was to examine whether individuals who received mental health treatment for anxiety or depression after being hospitalized for ischemic disorders or heart failure had a reduced frequency of rehospitalizations, emergency department visits, or mortality compared with those who did not receive treatment. A population-based, retrospective, cohort design was used to examine the association between psychotherapy or antidepressant medication prescription and health service utilization and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease or heart failure and comorbid anxiety or depression. Those receiving versus not receiving mental health treatment were compared based on the frequency of rehospitalization, emergency department visits, and mortality. The study sample included 1563 patients who had a mean age of 50.1 years. Individuals who received both forms of mental health treatment for anxiety or depression were 75% less likely to be rehospitalized, 74% less likely to have an emergency department visit, and 66% less likely to die from any cause. Mental health treatment for anxiety or depression has a significant impact on outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease consisting of reduced hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and in some conditions improved survival.

Assessment of Nutritional Potentials and Economic Significance of Sesame Seed Meal (Sesamum indicum) in the Diet of Growing Snails (Archachatina marginata)

The purpose of this study was to assess the economic effects of replacing the groundnut cake meal portion of the diet with sesame seed meal (SSM) on the performance traits, carcass analysis, and cost benefits of the feeding strategy. One hundred and twenty snails, weighing an average of 175±2.7g, were divided into four dietary regimens at random and reproduced three times. Each replication had ten snails in it, following a completely randomized design. Four diets were formulated to contain SSM at 0% (SSM1) Control, 50% (SSM2), 75% (SSM 3), 100% (SSM 4) as replacement for soybean meal fraction in the diet of growing snails. The diets were formulated to contain about 24% crude protein and energy of 2400 kcal/kgME. Data were collected on Feed intake, weight gain, shell length, thickness and width, Feed conversion ratio and cost per weight gain. The findings indicate that the different inclusion levels of SSM in the diet had a significant impact on the mean total feed intake (P&lt;0.05). The feed intake and mean total weight gain showed similar trends. (P&lt;0.05) was the greatest mean weight gain. The ratio of feed intake to weight gain, or feed conversion ratio (FCR), was essentially constant across all treatments. The diet with the highest level of SSM4 (100%) inclusion had the lowest cost per weight (CPW) gain (N170.61), while the control diet with 0% SSM1 inclusion had the highest CPW gain (N221.88). It is however interesting also to note that as feed intake (kg) increases, CPW (N) gain reduces. The dressing percent (DP) of the snail was significantly influenced by the dietary treatments.

Water masses influence the variation of microbial communities in the Yangtze River Estuary and its adjacent waters.

The Yangtze River estuary (YRE) are strongly influenced by the Kuroshio and terrigenous input from rivers, leading to the formation of distinct water masses, however, there remains a limited understanding of the full extent of this influence. Here the variation of water masses and bacterial communities of 58 seawater samples from the YRE and its adjacent waters were investigated. Our findings suggested that there were 5 water masses in the studied area: Black stream (BS), coastal water in the East China Sea (CW), nearshore mixed water (NM), mixed water in the middle and deep layers of the East China Sea (MM), and deep water blocks in the middle of the East China Sea (DM). The CW mass harbors the highest alpha diversity across all layers, whereas the NM mass exhibits higher diversity in the surface layer but lower in the middle layers. Proteobacteria was the most abundant taxa in all water masses, apart from that, in the surface layer masses, Cyanobacterium, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota were the highest proportion in CW, while Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota were the highest proportion in NM and BS; in the middle layer, Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota were dominant phylum in CW and BS masses, but Cyanobacterium was main phylum in NM mass; in the bottom layer, Bacteroidota and Actinobacteriota were the dominant phylum in CW, while Marininimicrobia was the dominated phylum in DM and MM masses. Network analysis suggests water masses have obvious influence on community topological characteristics, moreover, community assembly across masses also differ greatly. Taken together, these results emphasized the significant impact of water masses on the bacterial composition, topological characteristics and assembly process, which may provide a theoretical foundation for predicting alterations in microbial communities within estuarine ecosystems under the influence of water masses.

Exploring an innovative decellularization protocol for porcine nerve grafts: a translational approach to peripheral nerve repair.

Peripheral nerves are frequently affected by lesions caused by traumatic or iatrogenic damages, resulting in loss of motor and sensory function, crucial in orthopedic outcomes and with a significant impact on patients' quality of life. Many strategies have been proposed over years to repair nerve injuries with substance loss, to achieve musculoskeletal reinnervation and functional recovery. Allograft have been tested as an alternative to the gold standard, the autograft technique, but nerves from donors frequently cause immunogenic response. For this reason, several studies are focusing to find the best way to decellularize nerves preserving either the extracellular matrix, either the basal lamina, as the key elements used by Schwann cells and axons during the regenerative process. This study focuses on a novel decellularization protocol for porcine nerves, aimed at reducing immunogenicity while preserving essential elements like the extracellular matrix and basal lamina, vital for nerve regeneration. To investigate the efficacy of the decellularization protocol to remove immunogenic cellular components of the nerve tissue and to preserve the basal lamina and extracellular matrix, morphological analysis was performed through Masson's Trichrome staining, immunofluorescence, high resolution light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Decellularized porcine nerve graft were then employed in vivo to repair a rat median nerve lesion. Morphological analysis was also used to study the ability of the porcine decellularized graft to support the nerve regeneration. The decellularization method was effective in preparing porcine superficial peroneal nerves for grafting as evidenced by the removal of immunogenic components and preservation of the ECM. Morphological analysis demonstrated that four weeks after injury, regenerating fibers colonized the graft suggesting a promising use to repair severe nerve lesions. The idea of using a porcine nerve graft arises from a translational perspective. This approach offers a promising direction in the orthopedic field for nerve repair, especially in severe cases where conventional methods are limited.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the world's major economies: based on a multi-country and multi-sector CGE model.

To quantitatively assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on public health, as well as its economic and social consequences in major economies, which is an international public health concern. The objective is to provide a scientific basis for policy interventions. This study utilizes a multi-country, multi-sector CGE-COVID-19 model to analyze the repercussions of the pandemic in 2022. The re-search focuses on quantifying the effects of COVID-19 on the macroeconomy and various industry sectors within six economies: the United States, China, the EU, the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea. The COVID-19 pandemic shock had the most significant impact on China and the EU, followed by notable effects observed in the United States and the United Kingdom. In contrast, South Korea and Japan experienced relatively minimal effects. The reduction in output caused by the pandemic has affected major economies in multiple sectors, including real industries such as forestry and fisheries, and the services such as hotels and restaurants. The overall negative macroeconomic impact of the epidemic on major economies has been significant. Strategic interventions encompassing initiatives like augmenting capital supply, diminishing corporate taxes and fees, offering individual subsidies, and nurturing international cooperation held the potential to mitigate the detrimental economic consequences and enhance the global-economic amid the pan-demic. Consequently, this study contributes to the advancement of global anti-epidemic policies targeting economic recovery. Moreover, using the CGE-COVID-19 model has enriched the exploration of general equilibrium models in PHEIC events.

Effectiveness of Butorphanol in alleviating intra- and post-operative visceral pain following microwave ablation for hepatic tumor: a dual-central, randomized, controlled trial

Many patients who underwent hepatic percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) reported experiencing pain during the procedure. This study utilized a well-designed multicentral, randomized, and placebo-controlled format to investigate the effects of Butorphanol. Patients who underwent MWA were randomly assigned to either Butorphanol or normal saline group. The primary outcomes of the study were assessed by measuring the patients' intraoperative pain levels using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included measuring postoperative pain levels at the 6-h mark (VAS) and evaluating comprehensive pain assessment outcomes. A total of 300 patients were divided between the control group (n = 100) and the experimental group (n = 200). Butorphanol showed statistically significant reductions in intraoperative pain levels compared to the placebo during surgery (5.00 ± 1.46 vs. 3.54 ± 1.67, P < 0.001). Significant differences were observed in postoperative pain levels at the 6-h mark and in the overall assessment of pain (1.39 + 1.21 vs. 0.65 + 0.81, P < 0.001). Butorphanol had a significant impact on reducing the heart rate of patients. The empirical evidence supports the effectiveness of Butorphanol in reducing the occurrence of visceral postoperative pain in patients undergoing microwave ablation for hepatic tumor. Furthermore, the study found no noticeable impact on circulatory and respiratory dynamics.

THE EFFECT OF QUICK WRITE STRATEGY ON STUDENTS’ ABILITY IN WRITING EXPOSITION TEXT

Good writing skills are very important for students in facing academic challenges. However, students often have difficulty in writing exposition texts well. This study examines the effect of a speed writing strategy on students' writing ability in the context of analytical exposition texts. The type of research is experimental. The population in this study were all students of SMA Negeri 3 Sungai Penuh, and the samples were the control class (XI IPS 2) and the experimental class (XI IPA 1) determined by random sampling technique. data was collected by a test on exposition text writing skills. The results showed that the control class did not show significant improvement in their writing skills, as the average scores on both tests fell into the "less good" category. However, the experimental class showed significant improvement, with the average post-test score categorized as "excellent". The t-test analysis showed the calculated t value (12.146) &gt; the critical t value (1.713) at the 0.05 significance level. These results indicate that the rapid writing strategy had a positive and significant impact on students in the experimental class, improving their ability to write analytical exposition texts, thus the importance of using effective teaching methods in improving students' writing ability.

Research on dynamic characteristics of railway side-cracked slab for train-track coupled system

The Ballastless track have been extensively implemented in high-speed railways. However, during the long-term operational process, degradation, such as side crack or defect phenomena produced on the slab inevitably, poses a threat to the stability and the durability of the track structure. Consequently, it is imperative to propose a dynamic approach that can effectively predict the impact of side-cracked slab (SCS) on the vehicle-track coupled system. This paper utilizes co-simulation technology to investigate the dynamic behavior of the slab with and without side crack. Firstly, the dynamic substructure of the finite element model of the SCS is obtained by eigenvalue analysis. Secondly, the SCS model has been applied to the classical vehicle-track coupled dynamic system, and the coupled dynamic model of the train-side cracked slab (TSCS) is established, which considers the multi-rigid-body vehicle subsystem, the flexible rail subsystem, the flexible SCS and subgrade foundation subsystem, and the wheel-rail nonlinear contact model. Later, the accuracy and reliability of the proposed model are verified by the comparison with field tests. Finally, the differences in the vibration characteristics of the vehicle and track structure with and without a side crack are compared and analyzed, and its dynamic stress of the slab as variable train speeds is revealed. The results indicate that the existence of a side crack will reduce the natural frequency of the slab, with a maximum decrease of 22.31%. Although the SCS has a minor effect on the vehicle responses, the existence of a side crack has a significant impact on the slab, especially on the root mean square (RMS) of the vibration acceleration of the slab, with a maximum difference of 74.10% laterally and an increase of 55.16% vertically. Meanwhile, the train speed remarkably affects the crack tip dynamic stress of the SCS, with a maximum increase of 76.07% in the longitudinal direction, 50.34% in the lateral direction and 49.09% in the vertical direction. Higher train speeds will further exacerbate crack propagation under long-term train loading. This study may contribute to the dynamic modeling of TSCS systems and the maintenance of the slab ballastless track.

Regional 3D geological modeling along metro lines based on stacking ensemble model

This paper presents a regional 3D geological modeling method based on the stacking ensemble technique to overcome the challenges of sparse borehole data in large-scale linear underground projects. The proposed method transforms the 3D geological modeling problem into a stratigraphic property classification problem within a subsurface space grid cell framework. Borehole data is pre-processed and trained using stacking method with five different machine learning algorithms. The resulting modelled regional cells are then classified, forming a regional 3D grid geological model. A case study for an area of 324 km2 along Xuzhou metro lines is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. The study shows an overall prediction accuracy of 85.4%. However, the accuracy for key stratigraphy layers influencing the construction risk, such as karst carve strata, is only 4.3% due to the limited borehole data. To address this issue, an oversampling technique based on the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) algorithm is proposed. This technique effectively increases the number of sparse stratigraphic samples and significantly improves the prediction accuracy for karst caves to 65.4%. Additionally, this study analyzes the impact of sampling distance on model accuracy. It is found that a lower sampling interval results in higher prediction accuracy, but also increases computational resources and time costs. Therefore, in this study, an optimal sampling distance of 1 m is chosen to balance prediction accuracy and computation cost. Furthermore, the number of geological strata is found to have a negative effect on prediction accuracy. To mitigate this, it is recommended to merge less significant stratigraphy layers, reducing computation time. For key strata layers, such as karst caves, which have a significant impact on construction risk, further on-site sampling or oversampling using the SMOTE technique is recommended.

Effect of shear stresses on fibre direction tensile failure using a new simple and reliable test method with thin plies

A new method of creating in-plane combined tension-shear stress states using only tensile loading is proposed. Thin-ply angle-ply carbon/epoxy laminates are sandwiched between unidirectional glass layers to eliminate any stress concentration around the samples ends and gripping zone. Use of the thin plies successfully suppresses early occurrence of other modes of failure i.e. matrix cracking and free-edge delamination, so the first mode of failure is fibre failure in the angle-ply carbon sub-laminate. Compared with other methods of creating combined tension-shear stresses, the proposed technique has a simpler geometry, is significantly easier and cheaper to manufacture and test. Therefore, it provides more repeatable low-scatter experimental results.The obtained experimental results showed that the presence of in-plane shear stresses did not have a significant impact on the tensile fibre-direction failure strain of the tested carbon/epoxy laminate, suggesting that even at high shear stresses, the longitudinal tensile strength of the carbon/epoxy laminate is not significantly reduced.

Silicone implant surface microtopography modulates inflammation and tissue repair in capsular fibrosis.

Excessive fibrous capsule formation around silicone mammary implants (SMI) involves immune reactions to silicone. Capsular fibrosis, a common SMI complication linked to host responses, worsens with specific implant topographies. Our study with 10 patients investigated intra- and inter-individually, reduced surface roughness effects on disease progression, wound responses, chronic inflammation, and capsular composition. The results illuminate the significant impact of surface roughness on acute inflammatory responses, fibrinogen accumulation, and the subsequent fibrotic cascade. The reduction of surface roughness to an average roughness of 4 μm emerges as a promising approach for mitigating detrimental immune reactions, promoting healthy wound healing, and curbing excessive fibrosis. The identified proteins adhering to rougher surfaces shed light on potential mediators of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic processes, further emphasizing the need for meticulous consideration of surface design. The composition of the implant capsule and the discovery of intracapsular HSP60 expression highlight the intricate web of stress responses and immune activation that can impact long-term tissue outcomes.

Enhanced Interstitial Fluid Extraction and Rapid Analysis via Vacuum Tube-Integrated Microneedle Array Device.

Advancing the development of point-of-care testing (POCT) sensors that utilize interstitial fluid (ISF) presents considerable obstacles in terms of rapid sampling and analysis. Herein, an innovative strategy is introduced that involves the use of a 3D-printed, hollow microneedle array patch (MAP), in tandem with a vacuum tube (VT) connected through a hose, to improve ISF extraction efficiency and facilitate expedited analysis. The employment of negative pressure by the VT allows the MAP device to effectively gather ≈18µL of ISF from the dermis of a live rabbit ear within a concise period of 5min. This methodology enables the immediate and minimally invasive measurement of glucose levels within the body, employing personal healthcare meters for quantification. The fusion of the VT and MAP technologies provides for their effortless integration into a comprehensive and mobile system for ISF analysis, accomplished by preloading the hose with custom sensing papers designed to detect specific analytes. Moreover, the design and functionality of this integrated VT-MAP system are intuitively user-friendly, eliminating the requirement for specialized medical expertise. This feature enhances its potential to make a significant impact on the field of decentralized personal healthcare.