Consolidation Stage Research Articles

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: literature review and clinical case

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a severe hyperinflammatory syndrome induced by aberrantly activated macrophages and cytotoxic.T cells, the cause of which is most often infection. The article presents a clinical case of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a 34-year-old patient with a history of follicular lymphoma, who was treated at the A.F. Tsyba Medical Radiological Research Center. Six courses of R-CHOP were performed for follicular lymphoma with a complete response and further supportive therapy with rituximab. A month after the end of therapy, the patient complained of pain in his right side. According to morpho-immunohistochemical examination, the diagnosis of B-lymphoblastic lymphoma was established. Treatment according to the ALL-2016 protocol at the stage of consolidation III was complicated by a long period of three-stage cytopenia with the addition of sepsis. According to the results of an additional examination and assessment according to risk scales, the diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis was confirmed. After a few days of therapy with ruxolitinib, the general somatic status of the patient improved, blood parameters were restored and hematopoiesis was normalized according to myelogram data.A generalized infectious process can be assumed as the cause of the development of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in this patient.

IMPROVING THE FUNCTIONING OF TERRITORIAL PUBLIC SELF-GOVERNMENT (USING THE EXAMPLE OF THE KHABAROVSK CITY URBAN DISTRICT)

Based on the results of the analysis of individual stages of legislative consolidation of TPSG, in this article the author comes to the conclusion, firstly, that there are three such stages, which are related to the number of adopted legislative acts on local self-government, and, secondly, about the changes in regional legal regulation in this area. Due to the imperative norm of the lack of powers of the subjects of the Russian Federation for the legal regulation of the organization and functioning of TPSG, regions currently have the right at the legislative level to establish only forms of support for TPSG. The rationale for the need to legislate forms of TPSG support at the Khabarovsk Territory level in the article is also related to the dynamics of TPSG growth and the effectiveness of their activities in the city of Khabarovsk, which is confirmed by statistical data. Purpose. The article is devoted to the characteristics of the legal and organizational regulation of TPSG. The author provides an analysis of the dynamics of the implementation of CBT projects and the problems of their functioning. Methodology. The research is based on the dialectical-materialistic method of cognition of objective reality and general scientific and private scientific methods based on it. The key research methods were statistical and sociological. The results of the study are to formulate the problems of creating and implementing TPSG projects. The author formulates a proposal to eliminate administrative barriers in the implementation of TPSG projects using the example of the Khabarovsk City urban district. The scope of the results. The results of the study can be applied in the field of municipal management and municipal law.

Prefabricated vertical drain alleviating clogging mechanism of soft ground by air-boosted vacuum preloading method

The prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) alleviating clogging mechanism under different air injection pressure and time is not clear for air-boosted vacuum preloading. The computational fluid dynamic-discrete element method (CFD-DEM) is developed to dynamically observe PVD clogging and investigate the PVD clogging mechanism. i.e., PVD discharge rate, soil particle migration, and porosity change under the different air injection patterns of vacuum preloading with no air injection, constant air injection pressure of 75 kPa, and variable air injection pressure of 25∼150 kPa. Compared with conventional vacuum preloading with no air injection, the water discharge rate of PVD can be increased, clogging layer area can be reduced significantly for air-boosted vacuum preloading. The porosity near the air injection port is greater than that close to the PVD. The consolidation mechanism of air-boosted vacuum preloading the disturbance effect in the early stage of consolidation, the pressurization effect in the middle stage of consolidation, and the clogging effect in the later stage of consolidation are revealed. Three kinds of laboratory model tests are run to demonstrate air injection alleviating PVD clogging. The results demonstrate that increasing the air injection pressure can significantly alleviate PVD clogging.

DETERMINING THE DISTANCE OF DIAPHYSAL FRACTURES OF LONG TUBULAR BONES BASED ON THE RADIOGRAPHY METHOD

Backgraund: the study of skeletal trauma is one of the main ones in the work of a forensic expert when conducting an examination of living persons. In the conditions of the non-obviousness of the crime committed against the health of the individual, the deliberate concealment by those involved in the case of the circumstances and date of injury, and the delayed request for medical help, determining the age of fractures presents certain difficulties. In such cases, an important source of information is the results of x-rays of the damaged bone. Aims: identification of radiological features of diaphyseal fractures of long tubular bones, characteristic of a certain stage of consolidation. Materials and methods: a retrospective study was conducted of 192 radiographs (primary and control, during follow-up) of 56 people (men and women) aged 20 to 80 years with fractures of long tubular bones in conditions of metal osteosynthesis and without it. The dynamics of changes in the X-ray picture of fractures at different stages of consolidation were consistently studied, the main morphological signs were described, their systemic analysis, comparison in groups and structuring were carried out. Results: clear time periods of consolidation have been determined, basic reference signs have been established that allow tracking the dynamics of healing; a consistent change in the morphology of the fracture during healing was established; there is no significant difference in the dynamics of consolidation by gender; the MOS operation did not play a significant role in the speed of consolidation. Conclusions: the X-ray picture of a diaphyseal fracture of a long tubular bone has its own morphological features depending on the duration of the injury. Keywords: duration of fractures of tubular bones, timing of consolidation of diaphyseal fractures, radiological morphological features of fractures.

One-dimensional consolidation analysis of layered foundations with continuous drainage boundaries considering soil structure and physical properties

IntroductionMany theories of consolidation for soils have been proposed in the past, but most of them have ignored the structural characteristics of clay, yet the natural layered soils are widely distributed around the world.MethodsA theoretical model is established to analyze the one-dimensional consolidation behavior of layered soils, in which a time-dependent drainage boundary and the structural characteristics of the soil are taken into account. Using the integral transform and characteristic function methods, the analytical solution is derived, the effectiveness of which is evaluated against the degradation of solutions and the numerical results calculated using the finite element method.Results and discussionFinally, the influences of interface parameter, soil permeability coefficient and soil compressibility on consolidation behaviors are discussed. Results show that in structured soils, early dissipation of excess pore water pressure and consolidation rates are predominantly influenced by interface parameters, permeability, and volume compression coefficients. Higher values of these parameters accelerate early stages of consolidation, which is especially evident in the upper soil layers. Over time, the distinct effects of interface and permeability coefficients on consolidation diminish. Higher volume compression coefficients, while initially beneficial, eventually slow down the consolidation process, indicating an interaction with the ongoing soil structural changes.

Use of Shear Wave Velocity to assess Champlain Marine Clay Fabric Anisotropy

This paper investigates the anisotropic characteristics of Champlain marine clay soil using a combination of laboratory techniques. A modified oedometer cell with a piezoelectric ring actuator technique was used to measure shear wave velocity during consolidation stages. The axisymmetric design of the oedometer allowed for the determination of shear wave velocity in both the vertical and horizontal planes. The preliminary findings reveal that the sensitive marine clay is inherently anisotropic, with lower preconsolidation pressure for horizontally consolidated specimens and faster propagation of shear waves in the plane parallel to the bedding layer. High-precision strain gauges integrated into the consolidation ring were used to evaluate horizontal stress during the one-dimensional consolidation test. The ability to determine mean effective stress enables the normalization of shear wave velocities using this stress, providing more coherent empirical correlations in terms of shear wave velocity. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the microstructure of clay specimens, providing qualitative and quantitative insight into the restructuring and reorientation of clay platelets under consolidation stress. The consistency of the results through both micro and macro-scale analyses confirms the reliability of the experimental approach, highlighting its potential for future studies on the anisotropy of Champlain marine clay fabrics.

Compression Law and Settlement Calculation Method of Over-Wet Soil Based on Large Samples

Previous studies have shown that over-wet soil is challenging to compact and exhibits large creep deformation. The consolidation test of small specimens cannot accurately reflect the compression law, and creep is underestimated owing to size effects, which affects the engineering quality. In order to accurately analyze the compression process of over-wet soil and establish its settlement calculation method, this study focuses on over-wet soil in Anhui Province, China, and uses a large-sized tester to load and analyze its compression law. The thermogravimetric analysis method was employed to investigate the changes in water with different binding forces during the compression process, and the settlement calculation method for over-wet soil was explored. The results show that the creep of over-wet soil is large and long-lasting, and the three-stage consolidation division method based on the d−t curve is more effective in analyzing its regularity. The creep of over-wet soil is directly proportional to its water content. When the load exceeds the pre-consolidation pressure, the creep deformation becomes more significant, accounting for about 60% of the deformation under a single level load. It is recommended to use the creep coefficient (λ) for calculation. The results of the thermogravimetric analysis indicate that during the primary consolidation stage, free water is discharged, and weakly bound water is mainly discharged during the third consolidation stage, which is the main cause of creep. Finally, based on the relationship between the creep strain and water content of large samples, a calculation method for the settlement of over-wet soil foundations based on the layered summation method was established, which had a higher prediction accuracy than the conventional layered summation method. The results of this study will help clarify the deformation process and principle of over-wet soil and improve the quality of engineering.

The president in the System of State Bodies in the Republic of Croatia – from the Semi-presidential System to Parliamentarism

The Republic of Croatia has undergone many transformations in the last twenty years, becoming a democratic state. The functioning of the independent Republic of Croatia can be divided into two periods. The first is the stage of formation and consolidation of statehood, the second occurred after the death of F. Tudjman when the process of democratization and construction of a social market economy took place and the Constitution was amended with a view to replacing the semi-presidential system with a parliamentary-cabinet system. The subject of the analysis is the institution of the president in the system of state organs of the Republic of Croatia, with particular emphasis on his powers and functions in relation to the various organs of government.

One-Dimensional Creep Consolidation Model for Peat Soil

Peat soil exhibits significant creep deformation, and its consolidation law differs from that of soft soil. This study examines the strain characteristics of peat soils during three stages of consolidation using indoor one-dimensional creep consolidation tests. The results showed that the rebound deformation after the primary consolidation stage and the secondary consolidation stage is equivalent to the deformation seen during the primary consolidation stage, about 1.003 times. However, once the deformation stabilizes, the rebound deformation decreases to 0.32–0.85 times that of the deformation observed during the primary consolidation stage. The elastic and time-independent plastic strains of the peat soil showed two-stage linear changes with lnσz′. When the load was greater than the pre-consolidation pressure, the deformation modulus increases by approximately 2.10 and 1.56 times, respectively. On this basis, this study, for the first time, defines the creep rate according to the strain rate in the tertiary consolidation stage in the strain versus the time curve (εz~t). Based on the timeline, a one-dimensional creep consolidation model is established that can accurately predict the strain during the consolidation of the peat soil foundation. The results reveal distinct strain behaviors during each stage and improve the theoretical basis for the study of creep.

Behavioural interference at event boundaries reduces long-term memory performance in the virtual water maze task without affecting working memory performance

Narrative episodic memory of movie clips can be retroactively impaired by presenting unrelated stimuli coinciding with event boundaries. This effect has been linked with rapid hippocampal processes triggered by the offset of the event, that are alternatively related either to memory consolidation or with working memory processes. Here we tested whether this effect extended to spatial memory, the temporal specificity and extent of the interference, and its effect on working- vs long-term memory. In three computerized adaptations of the Morris Water Maze, participants learned the location of an invisible target over three trials each. A second spatial navigation task was presented either immediately after finding the target, after a 10-s delay, or no second task was presented (control condition). A recall session, in which participants indicated the learned target location with 10 ‘pin-drop’ trials for each condition, was performed after a 1-h or a 24-h break. Spatial memory was measured by the mean distance between pins and the true location. Results indicated that the immediate presentation of the second task led to worse memory performance, for both break durations, compared to the delayed condition. There was no difference in performance between the delayed presentation and the control condition. Despite this long-term memory effect, we found no difference in the rate of performance improvement during the learning session, indicating no effect of the second task on working memory. Our findings are in line with a rapid process, linked to the offset of an event, that is involved in the early stages of memory consolidation.

Beginning Psychologists: Entering The Profession, Professional Fears, Self-Concept

Introduction. The article is aimed at analyzing and summarizing the identified features of professional self-awareness of novice psychologists. The relevance of the study is explained by the increased interest in psychological services, which increases the demand for specialists in this field. In this regard, the graduation of young psychologists by educational institutions is also increasing and they may postpone starting work despite the education they have received. This can be explained by fears about the working process, which arise due to certain peculiar professional self-concepts.Objective. To analyze and generalize the data on the specificity of psychologists’ entry into the profession, which is expressed in the peculiarities of professional self-concept.The phenomenon of professional self-concept and its importance in the system of professional development of personality. The authors provide the main theoretical data regarding the phenomenon of self-concept of a person and its variety - professional self-concept of a person. Thus, professional self-concept is defined as a part of the general self-concept, which includes the attitudes of a person regarding his/her profession (its requirements, society’s expectations from it) and himself/herself in it (place, role, his/her professional qualities, personal qualities that are necessary for the profession), which are expressed in the cognitive, emotional and behavioral component of this phenomenon.Formation of professional self-concept and mature professional identity as a desired developmental outcome. The authors describe the main stages of development and changes in the professional self-concept of an individual, such as the stage of awakening, research, consolidation, preservation and retirement. As the main phenomenon reflecting professional self-consciousness, the authors single out professional identity, understood as an individual’s value orientation to a certain profession.Discussion. The authors’ ideas about the existence of specific features of professional self-concept in novice psychologists are confirmed by the data of other researchers. Fatalism, somewhat pessimistic views of the world and people around them, inflated standards for a specialist in psychology, and aspiration for professional development stand out among the peculiarities of young specialists’ professional self-concept. The author’s position is expressed in the position that these features can lead to the following fears of young professionals: fear of not helping or helping incorrectly, fear of violating moral norms, fear of snapping at the client, fear of remaining unrecognized, fear of revealing oneself, fear of setting a price for work, fear of change.

Enhancing agricultural land valuation in land consolidation projects through cooperative game theory and genetic algorithm optimization

The purpose of land valuation in land consolidation projects is to determine the relative value between lands of different quality, location and etc. This principle is crucial for ensuring fairness and justice among participants. Efficient land utilization and rural progress are hindered by the fragmentation of agricultural lands, necessitating land consolidation. However, fair valuation of parcels remains a challenge, impeding the success of consolidation efforts. This study delves into the intricate issues related to land consolidation and complex dynamics of decision-making in agricultural land valuation. This study aims to address the challenge of fair valuation in land consolidation projects by introducing a novel methodology that integrates cooperative game theory with metaheuristic algorithms. The goal is to increase the likelihood of stakeholders accepting land consolidation schemes by utilizing the interactive components of the decision-making process. This approach takes into account individual preferences of land owners and utilizes game theory to model competition, interaction, and cooperation among them. Central to this concept are genetic algorithm, which plays a key role in producing diverse solutions taking into account various landowners' priorities. A case study in Fartan village, Esfarayen city, Iran, is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the method. Two scenarios are examined: one combining unanimity fallback bargaining technique with Nash bargaining, and another incorporating fallback bargaining with impasse technique with Nash bargaining. Upon comparative analysis, the second scenario proves to be better in ensuring equity among stakeholders. It encourages landowners to negotiate decisively, using a process that integrates fallback bargaining with impasse and Nash bargaining, taking into account the varying levels of each owner's negotiation power in both steps. This ensures a negotiated outcome that respects the diverse priorities of each landowner. This scenario considers variations in individual negotiating power not only in Nash bargaining step but also in fallback bargaining and ensures a comprehensive and fair decision-making process during land valuation. This research introduces a novel strategy to enhance group decision-making in agricultural land valuation, fostering stakeholders' agreement and facilitating successful land consolidation projects. The proposed method provides a land valuation approach that can receive high degree of farmers' agreement and provides a good base to enter the next stages of the land consolidation.

Research on seeds compression‐structural damage and castor oil extraction mechanism with in situ observation

AbstractCastor oil has attracted large attention for wide applications, including lubrication oil and bioenergy resources. Castor seeds mechanical pressing is widely used for oil extraction. To better research castor seeds mechanical‐structural damage behavior and oil extraction mechanism during extrusion, a self‐developed mechanical pressing test setup combined with in situ observation is built for oil output behavior. Influencing factors of working pressure, speed, temperature and creep time on oil outflow were investigated. The results indicate that seeds squeezing extraction can be divided into three stages, preloading, oil discharging, compressing consolidation stage, matching with pressing cake structural evolution. As working pressure increases, oil yield shows an upper parabola relation with pressure. When pressure exceeding 25 MPa, castor oil yield increasing tends to stabilize, reaching 38%. Speed effect showed down parabola relation on oil yield, opposite to stress factor. Creep time promoted oil output with upper parabola within 720 s. When temperature below 120°C, a linear increasing relation on oil yield presents. Oil yield decreases when above 120°C. This research provides in‐depth theoretical guidance for industrial castor oil extraction.Practical ApplicationsCastor seeds are rich in oil content. Extracted castor oil has been widely used for industrial applications such as biodiesel, lubricants, medicine. Mechanical extraction working parameters optimization can improve oil yield of castor seeds. The research provides a basic working optimization for castor seeds oil extraction. Castor oil has unique properties and has been proved to be a high promising renewable and independent energy sources. Compared with solvent oil extraction, mechanical oil pressing extraction method has higher oil quality and safety. The mechanical extracted oil is pure without organic solvent. In the research, castor seeds compression‐structural damage property and oil extraction mechanism were studied. Besides, the influence factors including compression pressure, speed, temperature and creep time are analyzed, working optimization for castor seeds oil extraction. The research provides important reference value for the mechanical pressing process and mechanical design of castor seeds in the practical applications.

Features of the formation of bone regenerate and metabolism of bone formation markers in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus and diabetic neuroosteoarthropathy (Charcot foot)

Background: Surgical treatment of diabetic neuroosteoarthropathy is a complex area in traumatology — orthopedics not only because of severe biomechanical disorders and gross deformations of the distal segment of the lower limb, but also because these phenomena are accompanied by many disorders of the somatic status. Of particular importance is a pronounced decrease in bone mineral density. This case is intended to illustrate the features of the treatment of this pathology. Clinical case description: A clinical case of treatment of a 34-year-old young female patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus, development of diabetic neuroosteoarthropathy (Charcot foot), and aseptic necrosis of the talus of the right foot is presented. From 2019–2020 conservative and surgical treatment was carried out aimed at stopping the active stage of Charcot foot, correcting deformity and stabilizing the distal segment of the limb (calcaneotibial arthrodesis). A satisfactory treatment result was achieved, complete activation 8 months after the operation. However, in 2021 The patient suffered a closed low-energy fracture of the distal metaphysis of the right tibia. Regarding this episode, the patient comes in at the stage of consolidation of a displaced fracture and complaints of recurrence of varus deformity, even greater shortening of the limb, and swelling of the ankle joint. The fact of injury is denied, which allows us to regard the existing fracture of the tibia as pathological. In this regard, an operation was performed: osteotomy of the fibula and tibia in the area of consolidation of the pathological fracture in order to correct the deformity and compensate for the existing shortening of the limb due to the formation of a distraction regenerate. During the treatment, malnutrition and delayed formation of bone regenerate were noted, which required prolonged use of an external fixation device and specific drug therapy aimed at stimulating osteogenesis and improving bone mineral density. At the end of the course, there was an increase in the mineral density of the tissue, the density of the regenerate radiologically and laboratory (control of bone formation markers) and a satisfactory functional result. CONCLUSION: A successful result in this clinical case was achieved by combining orthopedic surgical and conservative treatment with specific drug therapy in a comorbid patient with reduced bone mineral density and a high probability of complications in a multidisciplinary approach.

A two‐stage combined filtration‐consolidation model for slurry ground treated by vacuum preloading

AbstractThe vacuum preloading technique is extensively employed for ground improvement, particularly for slurry ground characterized by high‐water content and low strength. Such ground frequently exhibits a delay in pore water pressure dissipation when treated with prefabricated vertical drains. To clarify the drainage and consolidation behaviour of high‐water content slurry ground under vacuum preloading, this study proposed a two‐stage combined model that integrates both filtration and consolidation processes. Initially, an axisymmetric filtration model was used to describe the formation of the soil column through the radial migration and compaction of the particles. The end‐of‐filtration radial distributions of void ratio, permeability coefficient, and effective pressure served as initial conditions for the consolidation stage analysis. This stage was depicted using a large strain consolidation model based on the free strain condition. The results showed the necessity of incorporating the filtration stage to capture the overall drainage mechanism and characteristics of slurry ground with vacuum preloading treatment.

Release of PAHs from sediments to seawater under wave: Indoor microcosms and level IV fugacity models

Estuaries and coasts are located at the land-sea interface, where sediment liquefaction due to strong wave action results in significant material exchange at the sediment-seawater system. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as organic pollutants, are distributed across various media. Herein, the impact of wave was studied on the release of PAHs through indoor microcosmic experiments combined with a level IV fugacity model. Comparison revealed that the release amount and rate of PAHs during static consolidation stage were minimal, whereas wave action substantially enhanced the release. Particularly the sediments in a liquefied state, the PAHs release in Stage III was 1.55–1.86 times that in Stage II, reaching 84.73 μg/L. The loss of soil strength and strong hydrodynamic effects resulted in a substantial release of PAHs into seawater along with suspended solids. Due to volatility of 2-ring PAHs and difficult desorption of 6-ring PAHs, 3–5-ring PAHs are the main contributors to releases into seawater. The model results also indicated that the three PAHs had different fates in the sediment-seawater system, with sediment serving as an important "reservoir" for benzo[a]pyrene entering seawater, while functioning as both a "sink" and a "source" for pyrene.

#2581 Cryptococcosis in kidney transplant recipients: a nationwide multicenter retrospective cohort study—CRITERE study

Abstract Background and Aims Cryptococcosis stands as the third most common invasive fungal infection in solid organ transplant recipients. Clinical management and prognosis of the disease remains largely unexplored in the context of kidney transplant recipients. Our main objective was to describe the natural history of cryptococcosis after kidney transplantation from the graft patterns of kidney injury to the long term outcomes. Method We established a nationwide cohort of adult kidney transplant recipients diagnosed with cryptococcosis between 2002 and 2019 in France. All data were gathered starting from the transplantation date and encompassed up to the latest follow-up consultation. All putative causes of AKI as claimed by the attending clinicians were recorded. Cases were matched (ratio 1:6) with kidney transplant recipients from the French prospective multicenter cohort DIVAT with parameters at time of transplant including immunosuppression and known risk factors of cryptococcosis such as age, history of smoke, history of cancer and HIV status. Transplant outcomes (graft failure and patient death) were then compared between matched patients. Results 88 patients were included. Patients were predominantly male (n = 61, 69.3%), with a mean age of 57.0 years [SD ±13.3]. The majority of patients were primary kidney transplants (n = 71, 80.7%) with a median time from ESRD to transplantation of 2.8 years [IQ 1.25-5]. The majority of patients received ATG as induction therapy for their transplant (n = 50, 69.4%)Acute kidney injury (AKI) at diagnosis involved 37.3% of the patients with 13.3% requiring renal replacement therapy. AKI staging was distributed as follows, AKI grade 1 in 12.5% of patients, grade 2 in 13.3% of patients, and grade 3 in 11.5% of patients. During the induction stage, 39% of patients developed amphotericin B-related AKI. AKI resulting from tacrolimus overdose subsequent to tacrolimus/fluconazole interaction occurred in 25.7% of patients during the consolidation stage. Among the patients alive at 3 months following the diagnosis of cryptococcosis, 33.7% of patients exhibited graft dysfunction. Following cryptococcosis, 5 patients displayed T cell rejection and 4 patients developed antibody-mediated rejection. A total of 41 patients with cryptococcosis were matched to 246 controls (ratio 1:6), after a median follow-up of 52.3 [28.1-90.2] months, patients with cryptococcosis exhibited a higher risk of mortality with 35.9% compared with 9.8% (p < 0.001) and graft failure with 33.3% compared with 15.0% (p = 0.0005). Conclusion This study has shown that kidney injury manifests itself through a sequential, multi-step process that initially includes pre-renal impairment, ATN and iatrogenic mechanisms. Amphotericin B-related AKI, followed by tacrolimus overdose represent common causes of AKI.

Correlation between the region of interest in digital radiography, Hounsfield units, and histological maturation on Wistar rats submitted to tibial fracture

Objective: Study the relationship between the region of interest (ROI) and Hounsfield units (HU) in the tibial bone callus. Methods: Twenty-one adult Wistar rats were submitted to tibial fracture. The fracture was radiographed after their euthanasia, and the bone calluses were analyzed histologically after being stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Euthanasia occurred between the 2nd and 6th weeks after fracture and fixation, thus obtaining various consolidation stages. Histologically, vessels, chondroblasts, connective tissue (collagen), maximum size of the chondrocyte, and the concentration of chondrocytes were quantified. Results: It was observed that the higher the HU, the more mature and closer to bone consolidation it is, proving that the use of ROI and bone callus measurement with HU is reliable for the histological process of maturation of the bone callus and can be safely used as proof of evolution of the bone healing process. Conclusion: The ROI was successfully used in digital radiography to observe HU in fractured bones. Level of Evidence IV; Therapeutic Studies; Case Series.

Hot Powder Bed Compaction: A Rapid Fabrication Approach for Thermoplastic Composite Components

Traditionally thermoplastic composite prepreg fabrication methods often rely on molds or costly tooling, limiting the agility and efficiency of the fabrication process. A compelling need for a high-performance thermoplastic composite prepreg fabrication approach that eliminates the dependence on molds, simplifies the fabrication process and accelerates prototyping, enabling rapid iterations in product development. The proposed hot powder bed compaction (HPBC) technique eliminates the need for specialized molds and still provides fully consolidated components. The HPBC process involved a three-step sequence comprising powder densification, heating, and consolidation stages. These stages help effectively control time–temperature-pressure parameters to achieve good fusion between the prepreg sheets. This paper showcased the HPBC process on a hinge bracket made from glass fiber-reinforced nylon prepreg sheets to illustrate its performance. Experimental mechanical characterization was carried out on treated HPBC coupons and compared with the molding process. Notably, the experimental flexural test results indicated a flexural modulus of 13.79 GPa and flexural strength of 295 MPa for HPBC-treated specimens, placing them in a comparable range with molded components. Microscopy analysis revealed the complete fusion interface of the prepreg sheets, and DSC analysis shows increases in crystalline fraction from 31.5 % to 44.1 % in PA6. Hence, the HPBC process presents a versatile and effective approach for fabricating high-performance, complex-shaped, void-free, components using thermoplastic composite prepreg.

Факторы риска развития рецидивов перианальных инфекционных осложнений у пациентов с опухолевыми заболеваниями системы крови: результаты одноцентрового проспективного исследования

Aim. To study risk factors for relapses of perianal infection (PI) in patients with hematological tumors.
 Materials & Methods. This single-center prospective clinical trial (2016–2020) enrolled all oncohematological patients at the National Research Center for Hematology who developed PI at various stages of chemotherapy. To assess the impact of some factors on relapsing perianal infectious complications, the distribution of clinical characteristics in groups of patients with single or multiple PI episodes was analyzed.
 Results. The trial addressed 158 PI episodes in 132 patients; there were 64 men and 68 women, the median age was 40 years (range 18–77 years). PI relapses were identified in 22 (16.67 %) patients, with a higher incidence in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (63.64 %). Recurrent PI episodes were usually registered on program therapy of acute leukemias (73.08 %), more often at consolidation stage (38.46 %) than at other stages of treatment (17.42 %) (hazard ratio [HR] 2.96; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.19–7.35; p < 0.031). With the follow-up of 360 days from the first episode, the probability of PI relapses was 16.2 %, and it was higher in AML patients (24.3 %). In non-remission AML patients having the first PI episode, the probability of PI relapses considerably increased and accounted for 52.6 %. In case of cryptogenic pararectal abscesses, it was 20 %, if solely abscess drainage was performed at the first stage. However, no relapses were registered after the surgical treatment of pararectal fistulas. The risk factors for recurrent PI, as was shown by univariate analysis, were AML diagnosis (HR 2.94; 95% CI 1.14–7.62; p < 0.032) and the lack of remission of hematological tumor by the time of the first PI episode (HR 2.98; 95% CI 1.13–7.90; p < 0.034). By multivariate analysis, the significant risk factor was non-remission AML diagnosis by the time of the first PI episode (HR 6.94; 95% CI 2.93–16.66; p < 0.0001).
 Conclusion. The significant risk factor for PI relapses is non-remission AML diagnosis by the time of the first infectious episode. This category of patients shows the maximal probability of relapsing perianal infectious complications, which is 52.6 %. To prevent PI relapses in patients with cryptogenic pararectal abscesses, abscess drainage should be combined with scheduled surgery of anal fistulas.