Stable Ratios Research Articles

A Symmetric FDTD Subgridding Method With Guaranteed Stability and Arbitrary Grid Ratio

A finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) subgridding method is proposed to efficiently and accurately solve three-dimensional electromagnetic problems. Based on the reciprocal and symmetric interpolation operators between coarse and subgridding meshes, spatial coupling matrices are carefully designed to guarantee long-time stability. To further enhance its capability of handling multiscale structures, arbitrary grid ratios and nested subgridding meshes are extended to be supported in the proposed method. In addition, the rigorous analysis shows that the proposed FDTD subgridding method is theoretically stable. Five numerical examples including a simple cavity with perfect electric conductors, a rectangular TEM waveguide, a dielectric resonator, a single-layer substrate integrated waveguide, and a large airplane platform with a dipole are carried out to validate its effectiveness. Results show that it is stable, accurate, efficient, and easy to model complex structures.

Effect of addition of methionine and histidine on physicochemical and rheological characteristics of water chestnut starch as revealed by molecular dynamic simulations

The effect of addition of amino acids including methionine (Met) and histidine (His) at selected concentrations (2, 6, 10, and 15%) on the physicochemical, pasting, and rheological properties of water chestnut starch (WS) was evaluated. A higher quantity of amino acids considerably (p < 0.05) inhibited the ability of starch-amino acid blends to expand their solubility index and swelling capacity. The addition of amino acids also significantly decreased peak viscosity (952.33–540.67 cP), hot paste viscosity (917–528 cP), cold paste viscosity (1209.67–659 cP), and setback (277.67–131 cP) of WS. Addition of amino acids enhanced the stability ratio (SR) of WS. All the studied samples displayed storage moduli (G′) values higher than loss moduli (G′′) but rheologically weak gel characteristics. Molecular dynamics simulation studies revealed that interactions between amino acids and water greatly reduced the number of starch–water hydrogen bonds while preserving a higher number of starch-starch intramolecular interactions. This study could provide important insights for better understanding of modification of water chestnut starch functionality under the influence of amino acid residues.

Drip fertigation with food waste biogas effluent in a humid area is possible but challenging due to increased soil soluble sodium

To assess changes in soil salinity and salinity leaching following rainfall when food waste biogas effluent was used as a fertilizer in a humid region, a field experiment was conducted in 2020–2022 focused on broccoli drip fertigation with different percentages of biogas effluent. Five treatments consisted of 0% (CF), 25% (T25), 50% (T50), 75% (T75), and 100% (T100) biogas effluent blended with fresh water, with the same total N, P, and K. The experiment included a control (CK) that consisted of drip irrigation without fertilizer. The electrical conductivity of soil saturation paste extract (ECe), soluble sodium, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), cation ratio of structural stability (CROSS), and broccoli yield were monitored. Drip fertigation with biogas effluent (electrical conductivity=19.0 dS/m) increased soil salinity and the ECe rose as the biogas effluent percentage increased, especially in the 0–20 cm soil profile. The T25, T50, T75, and T100 treatment ECe values were 1.2–2.2 times those of the CF treatment. Soluble sodium, SAR, and CROSS increased during the fertilization season. However, compared with CF, 25–100% biogas effluent drip fertigation did not significantly affect broccoli yield. During the post season, the soil salinity was effectively leached by rainwater. After one study year of rotation, there was almost no significant difference in ECe between treatments, but the soluble sodium, SAR, and CROSS values were significantly higher in T100 than in the CF treatment. In other words, when the total applied fresh water amount (including rainfall and irrigation) is more than 45–48 times the biogas effluent application amount (i.e., irrigation with a biogas effluent concentration of ≤75%), it may not significantly increase the soil soluble sodium. In conclusion, drip fertigation with biogas effluent can be used for broccoli fertigation in humid areas, and treatment with≤ 75% biogas effluent is suggested. Combined with the local rainfall depth, a biogas effluent application depth of ≤ 28–30 mm/year may be feasible.

Comparative analysis of soil organic matter fractions, lability, stability ratios, and carbon management index in various land use types within bharatpur catchment, Chitwan District, Nepal

BackgroundLand use and land cover changes have a significant impact on the dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM) and its fractions, as well as on overall soil health. This study conducted in Bharatpur Catchment, Chitwan District, Nepal, aimed to assess and quantify variations in total soil organic matter (TSOMC), labile organic matter fraction (CL), stable organic matter fraction (CS), stability ratio (SR), and carbon management index (CMI) across seven land use types: pastureland, forestland, fruit orchards, small-scale conventional agricultural land, large-scale conventional agricultural land, large-scale alternative fallow and conventional agricultural land, and organic farming agricultural land. The study also explored the potential use of the Carbon Management Index (CMI) and stability ratio (SR) as indicators of soil degradation or improvement in response to land use changes.ResultsThe findings revealed significant differences in mean values of TSOMC, CL, and CS among the different land use types. Forestland and organic farming exhibited significantly higher TSOMC (3.24%, 3.12%) compared to fruit orchard lands (2.62%), small scale conventional farming (2.22%), alternative fallow and conventional farming (2.06%), large scale conventional farming (1.84%) and pastureland (1.20%). Organic farming and Forestland also had significantly higher CL (1.85%, 1.84%) and CS (1.27%, 1.39%) compared to all other land use types. Forest and organic farming lands showed higher CMI values, while pastures and forests exhibited higher SR values compared to the rest of the land use types.ConclusionsThis study highlights the influence of various land use types on soil organic matter pools and demonstrates the potential of CMI and SR as indicators for assessing soil degradation or improvement in response to land use and land cover changes.

Comparative analysis of historical human and biogeomorphic interactions in large river-floodplain systems under different climate contexts

Worldwide, trajectories of deterioration of large rivers’ natural structure and functioning have been described and related to anthropogenic pressures acting at different spatio-temporal scales. However, the variety of methodologies, time-scale resolutions and the lack of standard indicators frequently hinder the comparison of outcomes among rivers in different geographic and climatic regions. Covering between 204 and 36 years, this study applied the same multi-temporal analysis of riverine trajectories (i.e., anthropization, changeless, progression, and regression) in five large river segments within temperate (Rhine River, France and Germany), Mediterranean (Ebro and Tagus Rivers, Spain), and semi-arid climates (Aras and the Zayandeh-rud Rivers, Iran). This transferable GIS-based method includes the assessment of historical balances within natural dynamics (Natural Trajectory Index, NTI), the degree of anthropization (Anthropization Ratio, AR), and the degree of stability (Stability Ratio, SR) in the studied river-floodplain systems.Results show similarities among the European case studies (i.e., Rhine, Ebro and Tagus rivers) in response to hydromorphological impacts, with percentage increases in human-induced changes (i.e., anthropization), and habitat development (i.e., progression). Apart from the Zayandeh-rud River, that presents a marked tendency toward progression, processes of habitat rejuvenation (i.e., regression) have almost disappeared in all case studies, and riverine forms remain unchanged. The differences found between the European and the Asian case studies are considered related to the aims and methods of engineering choices for historical river management, with a long history of river reprofiling and impounding in European rivers, while Iranian regulation is relatively recent, and involves extensive inter-basin water transfers.

Study of Internal Flow in Open-End and Closed Pressure-Swirl Atomizers with Variation of Geometrical Parameters

This study delves into the examination of internal flow characteristics within closed (with nozzles) and open-end pressure-swirl atomizers (lacking nozzles). The number of inlet channels “n” and the opening parameter “C” were manipulated in this study, as they play a pivotal role in understanding various atomizer attributes, such as uniformity of the air-core diameter, the discharge coefficient, spray angle, and more, all of which hold significance in the design of bipropellant atomizers for liquid rocket engines (LREs). To validate our findings, six distinct hexahedral meshes were generated using Ansys ICEM software 2023. Subsequently, we employed Ansys Fluent, considering the RNG k-ε turbulence model and the VOF (volume-of-fluid) multiphase model to identify the liquid–gas interface, to aid in analyzing the uniformity of the air core, which is directly linked to the even distribution of mass, the mixing ratio of propellants, combustion efficiency, and stability. The results indicate that the uniformity of the air core is not solely contingent on an increase in parameter “n” but is also influenced by an increase in the parameter “C”. It is worth noting that the key dimensions of these six atomizers were determined using a mathematical model based on Abramovich and Kliachko theories.

ПРАВИЛА РЕГИСТРАЦИИ И ЭКСПЕРТИЗЫ ЛЕКАРСТВЕННЫХ СРЕДСТВ В РАМКАХ ЕВРАЗИЙСКОГО ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО СОЮЗА: ОЦЕНКА КЛЮЧЕВЫХ ИЗМЕНЕНИЙ

The formation of a common pharmaceutical market within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union requires the harmonization and unification of procedures for registration and examination of medicines. Changes made annually to the Rules for Registration and Expertise, their analysis and evaluation contribute to the optimization of this process. The goal is to evaluate the key changes made to the Rules for Registration and Expertise of Medicines over the past two years by a group of experts. Materials and methods. The expert group included 38 specialists with experience in registration of medicinal products and making changes to the registration dossier. The evaluation was carried out according to the Likert scale using the developed expert evaluation card. Results. It is shown that, in general, experts are very positive about the changes, both from the standpoint of their practical significance and the optimal ratio of stability and flexibility, and in terms of accuracy, correctness and clarity of formulations. Particularly noted were the creation of the necessary conditions for the active circulation of orphan drugs, their accelerated use in a number of individual cases, the increase in the availability of unregistered drugs in special cases, the exclusion of the annual re-evaluation of the “benefit-risk” indicator for a number of drugs, accelerating mutual recognition procedures in several Member States through simultaneous initiation. Conclusion. The strengths and weaknesses of the amendments to the Rules for Registration and Expertise of Medicines have been established. The need for a more detailed consideration of the amendments concerning the terms of the procedures for registration and expertise of medicines, as well as the assessment of changes in the annexes to the Rules, is shown.

Correlation of Glenoid Concavity With Surgical Failure After Arthroscopic Stabilization for Recurrent Anterior Shoulder Instability

Background: Glenoid concavity compression by rotator cuff muscle contraction is one of the key mechanisms in the stability of the glenohumeral joint. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of glenoid concavity, as represented by the bony shoulder stability ratio (BSSR) and other factors, including glenoid bone defect size, on the surgical failure of arthroscopic stabilization procedures for recurrent anterior shoulder instability. The authors also aimed to determine the critical value of BSSR. It was hypothesized that both glenoid concavity and glenoid bone defect size would be correlated with surgical failure, with glenoid concavity having a stronger correlation. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 120 patients who underwent arthroscopic stabilization procedures for recurrent anterior shoulder instability were included. Patients with bony Bankart lesions were excluded to eliminate the postoperative effects of bony fragment restoration on the glenoid concavity. For each patient, variable factors including BSSR, glenoid bone defect size, presence of off-track Hill-Sachs lesions, and age at first dislocation were recorded. Chi-square analysis and Student t test were performed to analyze the effect of each variable on surgical failure. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the combined effect of >2 variables on surgical failure. The critical value of BSSR was analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: Nine patients (7.5%) had recurrent instability requiring revision surgery. BSSR (patients with recurrence, 18.6% ± 19.4%; patients without recurrence, 41.8% ± 10.5%; P = .01), glenoid bone defect size (17.5% ± 3.6% vs 11.7% ± 7.0%; P = .02), age at the time of first dislocation (18.8 ± 3.9 years vs 22.0 ± 6.5 years; P = .04), and number of suture anchors used (4.1 ± 0.3 vs 5.8 ± 1.6; P < .001) showed significant differences between patients with and without surgical failure. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed surgical failure to be correlated with BSSR (odds ratio, 0.849; P = .02) and the number of suture anchors used (odds ratio, 0.070; P = .03). The critical value of BSSR was 29.3% (area under the curve, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.67-1.00; P < .001; sensitivity, 78%; specificity, 93%). Conclusion: Glenoid concavity is strongly correlated with surgical failure after arthroscopic stabilization procedures for anterior shoulder instability. The value of BSSR reflects shoulder instability caused by glenoid bone morphology more accurately than glenoid bone defect size.

The Multi-Objective Optimization Design and Hydrothermal Performance Evaluation of Anhydrous Calcium Sulfate Whisker and Polyester Fiber Compound Modified Asphalt Mixture in Hot-Humid Areas.

In hot and humid climates, asphalt pavements frequently encounter environmental factors such as elevated temperatures and rainfall, leading to rutting deformations and potholes, which can affect pavement performance. The primary objective of this study was to enhance the hydrothermal characteristics of asphalt mixtures through an investigation into the impact of anhydrous calcium sulfate whisker (ACSW) and polyester fiber (PF) on the hydrothermal properties of asphalt mixtures. In this paper, a central composite concatenation design (CCC) was employed to determine the optimal combination of ACSW and PF contents, as well as the asphalt aggregate ratio (AAR). Each influencing factor was assigned three levels for analysis. The evaluation indexes included dynamic stability, retained Marshall stability, and tensile strength ratio. Using the analysis methods of variance and gray correlation degree analysis, the hydrothermal properties of the asphalt mixture were examined in relation to the contents of ACSW, PF, and AAR based on the CCC results. Consequently, the optimal mix design parameters for composite modified asphalt mixture incorporating ACSW and PF were determined. The results indicated that the asphalt mixtures with hydrothermal qualities exhibited optimal performance in terms of 4.1% ARR, 11.84% ACSW, and 0.4% PF. The interaction between AAR and ACSW content had a greater effect on the dynamic stability and tensile strength ratio of the asphalt mixture, whereas the incorporation of ACSW and PF had a greater effect on the retained Marshall stability of the asphalt mixture. Among the three contributing factors, AAR exhibited the strongest relationship with the hydrothermal characteristics of the asphalt mixture, followed by the ACSW content; the correlation of PF content was the lowest. Therefore, to enhance the hydrothermal characteristics of the asphalt mixture, it is important to conduct a full evaluation of the constituents of ACSW and PF, along with the AAR in hot-humid regions.

Experimental investigation on the preparation and surface treatment of biomass fibers for stone mastic asphalt mixtures modification

With the sustainable development of infrastructure construction materials, the use of renewable biomass resources in asphalt mixtures could contribute to better sustainability. The bamboo fibers and corn straw fibers with lengths ranging from 1.5 to 12 mm were produced in the laboratory through the proposed crushing, steaming, and grinding processes. A surface treatment with the phenolic resin copolymer modifier was utilized to reconstruct the micro-surface of biomass fibers. The surface treatment effectively reduced the oil absorption multiplier and mass loss of proposed biomass fibers by about 0.6 and 2 %, respectively. The FI-IR absorption peak and change of micromorphology also validated the effective surface reconstructive. Afterward, the virgin asphalt (70#) mixtures and SBS-modified asphalt mixtures with/without biomass fibers were produced for road performance tests and fatigue resistance tests. The results showed that the proposed biomass fibers contributed to about 20 % to 30 % improvement in the high-temperature performance, while the low-temperature cracking resistance was also obviously increased. In addition, the moisture damage resistance and fatigue life were also improved after the addition of biomass fiber modifier, in which the residual stability and tensile strength ratio were increased by about 9 % and 6 % by comparing that with fibreless mixtures, respectively. By comparing the effect of different types and lengths of fiber modifiers, the long bamboo fiber with surface treatment represented the optimized strengthening efficiency. The enhancement mechanism of proposed biomass fiber modifiers was revealed through the microstructure observation. The feasibility of using proposed biomass fibers with surface treatment for producing high-performance SMA has been verified, which can be utilized in the field application for replacing the lignin fiber modifiers for achieving better sustainability.

Effect of injector geometry in breakup of liquid jet in crossflow – insights from POD

The present study aims to investigate the role of injector geometry, particularly injector tube length to diameter ratio (L/D) in liquid jet stability and breakup in presence of crossflow. Water is injected into a crossflow of air. Aerodynamic Weber number (We) and liquid Reynolds number (Rel) are systematically varied to observe various breakup modes. Bag breakup and surface stripping is observed for different operating conditions. Time-resolved jet trajectory images are processed using Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) algorithm. POD mode shapes and corresponding Power Spectral Density (PSD) plots are analyzed to study breakup process and probe role of injector geometry effects. Further, high-resolution images are captured for the near-nozzle region. Detailed comparison is made for various cases. It is observed that with increase in (L/D), the jet surface becomes more turbulent and unstable. This results in early breakup and lower jet penetration

Toroidal Dipole BIC-Driven Highly Robust Perfect Absorption with a Graphene-Loaded Metasurface.

Achieving perfect absorption in few-layer two-dimensional (2D) materials plays a crucial role in applications such as optoelectronics and sensing. However, the underlying mechanisms of all reported works imply a strongly inherent dependence of the central wavelength on the structural parameters. Here, we propose a structure-parameter-deviation immune method for achieving perfect absorption at any desired wavelength by harnessing the toroidal dipole-bound state in the continuum (TD BIC). We experimentally demonstrate the versatile design with a monolayer-graphene-loaded compound grating structure. Such a TD BIC built upon the TE31 mode allows for the transition from BIC to quasi-BIC without breaking the structural symmetry, enabling the stable resonance wavelength while tailoring the quality factors via variation of the gap distance. Comparison with traditional literature further reveals the superiority of our method in realizing highly robust perfect absorption, with a wavelength stability ratio of >15. Remarkably, this approach can be straightforwardly applied to other 2D materials.

Evaluation of Renewable Energy Hosting Capacity of Grid with Multi-Infeed HVDC

Considering the impact of large-scale renewable energy access to a multi-infeed HVDC receiving-end system on its voltage stability and multi-infeed short circuit ratio, a renewable energy acceptance evaluation method based on an improved holomorphic embedding method is proposed. Firstly, to construct a model containing only an AC system, the DC inverter is simplified into an AC source model; secondly, the sigma index is used to judge the static voltage stability of the system bus and determine the access location of renewable energy, and sensitivity index is used to determine the scheme of replacing conventional units with renewable energy; then, with the voltage crossing the set range as the constraint condition, the analytical expression of each bus voltage obtained by the holomorphic embedding method is used to solve the maximum renewable energy capacity of the system; finally, under the maximum hosting scenario of renewable energy, verify the multi-infeed short circuit ratio at each DC drop point. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified on an improved IEEE39-bus system.

중국기업의 사회적책임(CSR)활동과 재무비율이 이익조정에 미치는 영향

[Purpose]This study aims to study how Chinese companies’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and financial ratios affect earning management. In general, companies that perform corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities have an incentive not to earning management, and certain variables among financial ratio variables using corporate financial statements can be useful for managers’ earning management behavior.&#x0D; [Methodology]Among Chinese listed companies, the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities and financial ratios on earning management from 2016 to 2020 was empirically analyzed for A shares of the Shenzhen Exchange.&#x0D; [Findings]As a result of empirical analysis, it was verified that financial ratio indicators that have a significant impact on earning management include growth ratio, profitability ratio, liquidity and stability ratio, and activity ratio.&#x0D; [Implications]According to these financial ratio variables, it is believed that earning management can be controlled in advance by utilizing financial ratio variables that affect profit adjustment and social responsibility activities.

Role of the Lactide:Glycolide Ratio in PLGA Nanoparticle Stability and Release under Lysosomal Conditions for Enzyme Replacement Therapy of Lysosomal Storage Disorders.

Prior studies demonstrated that encapsulation in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) enhanced the delivery of enzymes used for replacement therapy (ERT) of lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs). This study examined how the copolymer lactide:glycolide ratio impacts encapsulation, physicochemical characteristics, stability, and release under lysosomal conditions. Hyaluronidase, deficient in mucopolysaccharidosis IX, was encapsulated in NPs synthesized using 50:50, 60:40, or 75:25 lactide:glycolide copolymers. All NPs had diameters compatible with cellular transport (≤168 nm) and polydispersity indexes (≤0.16) and ζ-potentials (≤-35 mV) compatible with colloidal stability. Yet, their encapsulation efficiency varied, with 75:25 NPs and 60:40 NPs having the lowest and highest EE, respectively (15% vs. 28%). Under lysosomal conditions, the 50:50 copolymer degraded fastest (41% in 1 week), as expected, and the presence of a targeting antibody coat did not alter this result. Additionally, 60:40 NPs destabilized fastest (<1 week) because of their smaller diameter, and 75:25 NPs did not destabilize in 4 weeks. All formulations presented burst release under lysosomal conditions (56-78% of the original load within 30 min), with 50:50 and 60:40 NPs releasing an additional small fraction after week 1. This provided 4 weeks of sustained catalytic activity, sufficient to fully degrade a substrate. Altogether, the 60:40 NP formulation is preferred given its higher EE, and 50:50 NPs represent a valid alternative, while the highest stability of 75:25 NPs may impair lysosomes. These results can guide future studies aiming to translate PLGA NP-based ERT for this and other LSDs.

The TOFr of 0.75 to 0.85 is the optimal timing for IONM during thyroid surgery: a prospective observational cohort study

BackgroudRecurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury is one of the serious complications of thyroid tumour surgery, surgical treatment of thyroid cancer requires careful consideration of the RLN and its impact on glottis function. There has been no unified standard for precise neuromuscular block monitoring to guide the monitoring of RLN in thyroid surgery. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between Train-of-four stabilization ratio (TOFr) and neural signal values of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (INOM) during thyroid operation, and further to determine the optimal timing for INOM during thyroid operation.MethodsPatients scheduled for thyroid tumour resection with INOM and RLN monitoring from April 2018 to July 2018 in our center were recruited. Electromyography (EMG) signals and corresponding TOFr were collected. All nerve stimulation data were included in group VR. Vagus nerve stimulation data were included in Subgroup V. RLN stimulation data were included in Subgroup R. The timing of recording was as follows: Vagus nerve EMG amplitude after opening the lateral space between the thyroid and carotid sheath and before the initiation of thyroid dissection, RLN EMG amplitude at first recognition, RLN EMG amplitude after complete thyroid dissection (Repeat three times), and Vagus nerve EMG amplitude after resection of the thyroid (Repeat three times). Correlation analysis of continuous variables was described by a scatter diagram. Pearson correlation analysis or Spearman correlation analysis was used for the two groups of variables.ResultsFinally, 134 vagus nerve signals and 143 RLN signals were analysed after matching with TOFr. The EMG amplitude in the VR group and subgroups after nerve stimulation was positively correlated with TOFr (p < 0.05). In the VR, V and R group, the incidence of EMG ≥ 500 µV in the 0.75 < TOFr ≤ 0.85 interval was significantly higher than the 0 < TOFr ≤ 0.75 interval (P = 0.002, P = 0.013 and P = 0.029), and has no statistical difference compared to 0.85 < TOFr ≤ 0.95 interval (P > 0.05).ConclusionsThe EMG signals of the RLN and vagus nerve stimulation during thyroid surgery were positively correlated with TOFr. TOFr > 0.75 could reflect more than 50% of the effective nerve electrophysiological signals, 0.75 < TOFr ≤ 0.85 interval was the optimal timing for IONM during thyroid surgery.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1800015797) Registered on 20/04/2018. https://www.chictr.org.cn.

Formulation and Scale-up of Delamanid Nanoparticles via Emulsification for Oral Tuberculosis Treatment.

Delamanid (DLM) is a hydrophobic small molecule therapeutic used to treat drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB). Due to its hydrophobicity and resulting poor aqueous solubility, formulation strategies such as amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) have been investigated to enhance its aqueous dissolution kinetics and thereby improve oral bioavailability. However, ASD formulations are susceptible to temperature- and humidity-induced phase separation and recrystallization under harsh storage conditions typically encountered in areas with high tuberculosis incidence. Nanoencapsulation represents an alternative formulation strategy to increase aqueous dissolution kinetics while remaining stable at elevated temperature and humidity. The stabilizer layer coating the nanoparticle drug core limits the formation of large drug domains by diffusion during storage, representing an advantage over ASDs. Initial attempts to form DLM-loaded nanoparticles via precipitation-driven self-assembly were unsuccessful, as the trifluoromethyl and nitro functional groups present on DLM were thought to interfere with surface stabilizer attachment. Therefore, in this work, we investigated the nanoencapsulation of DLM via emulsification, avoiding the formation of a solid drug core and instead keeping DLM dissolved in a dichloromethane dispersed phase during nanoparticle formation. Initial emulsion formulation screening by probe-tip ultrasonication revealed that a 1:1 mass ratio of lecithin and HPMC stabilizers formed 250 nm size-stable emulsion droplets with 40% DLM loading. Scale-up studies were performed to produce nearly identical droplet size distribution at larger scale using high-pressure homogenization, a continuous and industrially scalable technique. The resulting emulsions were spray-dried to form a dried powder, and in vitro dissolution studies showed dramatically enhanced dissolution kinetics compared to both as-received crystalline DLM and micronized crystalline DLM, owing to the increased specific surface area and partially amorphous character of the DLM-loaded nanoparticles. Solid-state NMR and dissolution studies showed good physical stability of the emulsion powders during accelerated stability testing (50 °C/75% RH, open vial).

Contributing factors to postural stability in Prader-Willi syndrome

BackgroundPrader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder affecting multiple functional parameters. This study examined postural stability and associated gait and neuromuscular factors in young adults with PWS. MethodsParticipants included 10 adults with PWS [7 M/3F; Body Fat % 40.61 ± 7.79]; ten normal weight (NW) adults [7 M/3F; Body Fat % 23.42 ± 7.0]; ten obese (OB) adults [7 M/3F; Body Fat % 42.40 ± 5.62]. Participants completed the Sensory Organization Test (SOT)®. Condition (C) specific and a composite equilibrium score (CES) were calculated (maximum = 100). Quadriceps strength was assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer. Three-dimensional gait analyses were completed along a 10 m walkway using a motion capture system and two force plates. A gait stability ratio (GSR) was computed from gait speed and step length (steps/m). ResultsThe PWS group had lower scores for C1, C3, C4 and CES compared to the NW (p < .039 for all) and lower scores for C4 and CES than the OB (p < .019 for both) groups, respectively. In C5 (eyes closed, sway-referenced support) and C6 (sway-referenced vision and support), 33.3% of participants with PWS fell during the first trial in both conditions (X2 [2] 7.436, p = .024) and (X2 [2] 7.436, p = .024) but no participant in the other groups fell. Those with PWS showed higher GSR than participants with NW (p = .005) and those with obesity (p = .045). ConclusionIndividuals with PWS had more difficulty maintaining standing balance when relying on information from the somatosensory (C3), visual-vestibular (C4) and vestibular systems (C5, C6). A more stable walk was related to shorter steps, slower velocity and reduced peak quadriceps torque. Participation in multisensory activities that require appropriate prioritization of sensory system(s) input for controlling balance in altered sensory environments should be routinely included. In addition, exercises targeting muscular force and power should be included as part of exercise programming in PWS.

Effect of Glenohumeral Joint Bone Morphology on Anterior Shoulder Instability: A Case-Control Study.

Glenohumeral joint compatibility and bone morphology are among the most critical factors in shoulder stabilization. Our study investigated the effect of the bone morphological structure of the shoulder joint on anterior shoulder dislocation. In our study, people with a history of shoulder dislocation were selected as the patient group. In the control group, patients with shoulder MRIs for any reason and no history of shoulder dislocation were included. Those who have a fracture around the shoulder, a congenital deformity in the shoulder region, arthrosis of the shoulder, those whose MRI images cannot be measured, those with Hill-Sachs lesion, connective tissue diseases (such as Ehler Danlos), who are unsure of their diagnosis, or who have incomplete and incorrect suspicious information in their patient file have been excluded. In our retrospective case-control study, glenoid width, glenoid height, glenoid's height-to-width ratio, glenoid's depth, glenoid's version, glenoid's inclination, humerus radius of curvature, glenoid radius of curvature, and bony shoulder stability ratio were measured on MRI images of the patients. The sample size for each group was determined using a power analysis method. The intra-class coefficient (ICC) assessed interobserver and intraobserver reliability. A total of 80 patients, 40 each in the control and patient groups, were included in the study. Glenoid width was measured as 24.27 ± 1.58 in the patient group, 25.61 ± 1.72 in the control group; glenoid height was as measured 36.49 ± 2.26 in the patient group, 36.74 ± 1.99 in the control group; height-to-width ratio was measured as 1.5 ± 0.08 in the patient group, 1.43 ± 0.05 in the control group; glenoid version was as measured -0.53 ± 1.17 in the patient group, -1.44 ± 1.1 in the control group; glenoid inclination was measured as 1.44 ± 3.93 patient group, 2.64 ± 3.81 in the control group; glenoid depth was measured as 1.69 ± 0.41 in the patient group, 2.12 ± 0.53 in the control group; humerus radius of curvature was measured as 29.70 ± 6.76 in the patient group, 24.98 ± 3.22 in the control group; glenoid axial radius of curvature was measured as 61.8 ± 13.52 in the patient group, 52.53 ± 15.69 in the control group; glenoid coronal radius of curvature was measured as 43.01 ± 7.47 in the patient group, 37.74 ± 6.89 in the control group; the bony shoulder stability ratio was measured as 0.35 ± 0.06 in the patient group and 0.44 ± 0.06 in the control group. In the statistical evaluation, the glenoid width (p < 0.001), the glenoid height/width ratio (p < 0.001), the glenoid version (p < 0.001), the depth of the glenoid cavity (p < 0.001), and the radius of curvature measurements of the humeral head (p < 0.001) and the glenoid (axial, p < 0.007; coronal, p < 0.001) were found to be significantly different. Glenoid height and inclination were similar in both groups. The detection of bone morphological features that constitute risk factors for shoulder dislocations plays an important role in preventing shoulder dislocations. In this way, it provides essential data on personalized rehabilitation programs and treatment selection for recurrent dislocations.

Study on the possibility of using steel slag in Ba Ria Vung Tau for the Stone Mastic Asphalt (SMA)

Currently, the source of materials using to construct transport infrastructure is increasingly scarce in Vietnam. Therefore, it is very necessary to study solutions for utilizing steel slag as aggregates for asphalt concrete. This paper evaluated initially the possibility of use of 50% and 75% steel slag in Ba Ria-Vung Tau replacement aggregates for stone mastic asphalt with a nominal maximum aggregate size of 12,5mm (SMA 12,5). Based on the laboratory experiments, the study evaluated the required technical parameters of SMA 12,5 in terms of drain down characteristic, Cantabro abrasion loss, Marshall stability, Marshall stability ratio, and rutting according to TCCS36:2021/TCDBVN. Test results indicated the possibility of use of 50% steel slag replacement aggregates for SMA 12,5 in pavement construction.