Values Of Length Research Articles

Analysis on the Propagation and Assembly of Metallic Nanoparticles through Subwavelength Apertures with Overlapping Electrical Double Layers.

Hybrid nanoplasmonic structures composed of subwavelength apertures in metallic films and nanoparticles have recently been demonstrated as ultrasensitive plasmonic sensors. This work investigates the electrokinetically driven propagation of the assembly mechanism of the metallic nanoparticles through nanoapertures. The Debye-Hückel approximation for a symmetric electrolyte solution with overlapping electrical double layers (EDLs) is used to obtain an analytical solution to the problem. The long-term silver nanoparticle concentration response is derived using the homogenization method and a multiscale analysis. The results indicate that uncharged nanoparticles will flow through the nanohole array if the nanochannel height is larger than the Debye length (h 0 > λD), while a trapping mechanism occurs, due to the overlapping of the EDL, when h 0 ∼ 3.8λD. For charged nanoparticles, the response to the electric field occurs locally with the walls of the nanochannel, regardless of its height. For a critical value of the nanochannel length, the leading order of the concentration field becomes purely diffusive.

Comparative analysis of hidden damage caused by the stem borer Ceutorhynchus species in oilseed rape using computer tomography

Abstract The weevils of the Ceutorhynchus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are significant pests, posing a threat to oilseed rape cultivation in Central Europe. Due to their lifestyle, these weevils cause hidden damage within the stems. Our non‐invasive computer tomography‐based study aimed to compare the damage characteristics of three species within this genus: C. pallidactylus (Marsham), C. napi (Gyll.), and C. picitarsis (Gyll.), in oilseed rape stems. During the CT analysis of the plant samples from axial, coronal, and sagittal approaches at different points, we measured the length of the damaging larvae, their number per plant, their distance from each other, the volume of the formed cavity, and the diameter of the damaged plant stems. Additionally, we investigated the closeness of the connections between these forms of damage. Our study found that damage to plant samples during the period of interest was species‐specific. Significant differences were observed in the longitudinal size dimensions of the larvae, the volume of the formed cavities, and the diameters of the stems of the attacked plants among the species causing the damage. The Pearson correlation results confirmed a strong correlation between the volumes of the formed cavities and the values of larval length (l) and stem diameter (⌀), as well as between stem diameter and larval length data for each species (C. pallidactylus: l = 6.903 ± 1.332 mm, ⌀ = 11.43 ± 0.707 mm; C. napi: l = 9.868 ± 0.617 mm, ⌀ = 23.11 ± 2.813 mm; C. picitarsis: l = 3.772 ± 0.967 mm, ⌀ = 11.16 ± 0.365 mm). These results suggest that the damages caused by these hidden lifestyle stem pests of oilseed rape are species‐specific.

Determining Hydroxyapatite Filling Volume for the Treatment of Post-Extraction Alveoli Based on Measurements of Alveolar Volume in Relation to the Body Weight of Dogs

Filling post-extraction alveoli with hydroxyapatite-based materials is becoming an increasingly common procedure in veterinary dentistry. In dogs, tooth roots vary in structure depending on the weight of the dog, but data on tooth length and volume have not yet been described. This study aimed to establish reference data on tooth root length and post-extraction alveolar volume for mature maxillary and mandibular incisors and canines in dogs. We determined the mean length and volume of these teeth in dogs in the weight ranges of 1–5 kg, 5–10 kg, 10–20 kg, and over 20 kg. The obtained values given showed a correlation between tooth length and alveolar volume in a specific weight range. A review of the commercially available hydroxyapatite-based bone substitute materials was then conducted. A table is presented which shows how to calculate the volume of bone substitute material required to fill a post-extraction alveolus with a given material. Statistics were used to assess significant differences between the mass of the bone substitute product used (μL) for specific weight ranges and to demonstrate the correlation between tooth length and alveolar volume for a specific weight range. The data obtained in this study can serve as reference values for tooth crown length and alveolar volume, allowing operators to plan a specific volume of bone substitute material for filling post-extraction alveoli. This research is interesting because it shows that the weight of an animal is an important aspect in planning the amount of bone substitute material for tooth extraction. In clinical work, it is much easier to weigh an animal than it is to make calculations based on the length of the tooth root.

Determination of Crack Limits in Sinter Components by Compaction Process Performance Analysis

Cracks in sinter component production are a significant concern in the field of powder metallurgy, and predicting and avoiding them is crucial for ensuring the quality and reliability of the final products. This study aims to contribute to this effort by investigating the variability of cracks under constant press settings by studying the performance of the compaction process. To this end, we intentionally induced cracks at different levels and studied the respective process performance. Our results show that with the same settings of the powder compaction press, 99% of the produced cracks could be found within a range of ±25% of the overall mean of the crack lengths. The lower and upper limits of crack lengths found and the approach presented for their determination can be used in future for the classification of good and bad parts on the basis of the availability of only a few crack measurements and permissible values of crack lengths that have yet to be defined.

Health status and morphometrics of Galápagos magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens magnificens) determined by hematology, biochemistry, blood gas, and physical examination.

The magnificent frigatebird (Fregata magnificens; MFB) is a widely distributed seabird. It has breeding areas in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean (extending along Central America up to Baja California) (Schreiber & Burger, 2001). The Fregata magnificens magnificens (MFB-Gal) subspecies is native to the Galápagos Islands. This is the first-time hematology and blood chemistry parameters have been published for the F. m. magnificens (MFB-Gal) from the Galápagos Islands. Analysis was run on blood samples drawn from n = 16 adult MFB-Gal captured by hand at their nests at North Seymour and Daphne Major Islands in the Galápagos Islands (n = 10 MFB-Gal in June 2017 and n = 6 MFB-Gal in July 2022). There were ten female birds and six male birds in total. A portable blood analyzer (iSTAT) was used to obtain near immediate field results for total carbon dioxide (TCO2), hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), ionized calcium (iCa), total protein (TP), anion gap and glucose. Blood lactate was measured using a portable Lactate Plus™ analyzer. Average heart rate, respiratory rate, body weight, body temperature, biochemistry and hematology parameters were comparable to healthy individuals of other Fregatidae of the same species (magnificent frigatebird subspecies from Brazil, Fregata magnificens, likely F. m. rothschildi) or similar species (great frigatebird, Fregata minor, from the Galápagos Islands). There were some statistically significant differences between the males and females F. m. magnificens (MFB-Gal) in the Galápagos, including bill depth, bill width, wing length, weight, and chloride blood value. The reported results provide baseline data that can be used for comparisons among populations and in detecting changes in health status among Galápagos magnificent frigatebirds and other populations of magnificent frigatebirds.

Investigation of thyroid tissue in berry ligament by dissecting 103 cadavers

ObjectıvesIn this study, we investigated the relationship between berry ligament and thyroid tissue through cadaver dissection.Methods103 randomly selected cases from routine autopsy cases performed at the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute between December 2013 and May 2014 were included in the study. Demographic data of the cases, length and berry ligament length average values, section positivity and section positivity rates by side were examined.ResultsThere was histological section positivity in 22 (21.4%) of the cases. Histological section positivity was on the right side in 2.9% of the patients, on the left in 2.9%, and on both sides in 1.3%. There was no significant (p˃0.05) correlation between age and length and berry length. There was a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between length and berry length. Length and berry length values of male and female patients did not differ significantly (p˃0.05).ConclusıonIt has been observed that the aim of leaving almost no thyroid tissue, which we think will be more important especially in total thyroidectomies performed due to thyroid cancer, will technically fail in approximately 21% of cases and some thyroid tissue will remain within the berry ligament.

TPE-xgboost for explainable predictions of concrete compressive strength considering compositions, and mechanical and microstructure properties of testing samples

The use of machine learning (ML) for predicting concrete compressive strength (CCS) has shown promising and accurate results, making it a valuable tool in the field. However, efficient prediction requires not only a robust ML approach but also a comprehensive and well-curated dataset. This study addresses this challenge by investigating an extensive and integrated dataset of (1) concrete compositions (mixture proportions) and (2) testing conditions (mechanical and microstructure properties of concrete testing samples), containing 1525 observations relating to 39 parameters. On algorithms side, this research proposes novel tree-structured parzen estimator based extreme gradient boosting (TPE-xgboost) for accurate and confident CCS predictions. Moreover, SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analysis was performed to provide a comprehensive understanding of feature importance, dependencies, and interactions. Compared to prior research, this study demonstrates significant improvements in CCS prediction accuracy for separate investigations on concrete compositions (3.77%) and mechanical and microstructure properties (28.57%), while maintaining reasonable accuracy for the integrated dataset despite its complexity and sparseness. SHAP analysis reveals key influential factors, including age and water-to-binder ratio in concrete composition, and peak load and height of testing samples, as well as microstructural characteristics such as mean values of global autocorrelation length and its integral range. This research provides valuable insights into model optimization, predictive performance, and feature dependencies and interactions, contributing to the development of more accurate and reliable CCS prediction models.

Exploring changes in epibenthic food web structure after implementation of a water-sediment regulation scheme

The water-sediment regulation scheme (WSRS) in the Yellow River is a large-scale initiative to artificially regulate the flow of sediment to the sea, thereby increasing the flood-carrying capacity of the riverbed and reservoirs. Currently, systematic studies on ecological impacts of WSRS at ecosystem-level are still insufficient. This limitation hampers the pursuit of a ‘green’, healthy, ecosystem and sustainable fisheries. This study constructed the topological structure of food webs in the Yellow River Estuary (YRE) before, during, and after implementation of the WSRS, analyzing changes in food web complexity and key species based on fishery independent data collected in June, July, and August 2023. The results showed decreases from 59 to 52 in the number of trophic species, and from 539 to 395 in the number of feeding relationships after WSRS implementation. Increased node density, decreased link density, and decreased structural complexity index also indicated a simplification of the YRE food web structure after WSRS implementation. The relatively low value of the characteristic path length indicated that the YRE food web has high connectivity with short path lengths of trophic interaction. Based on the ranking of various topological indices, Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicas) and mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla oratoria) persisted as the key species. Our research revealed limited potential ecological effects that WSRS may have on the YRE food web over a short period. The effects did not persist, and omnivorous key species were identified as being critical in contributing to overall system resilience. These omnivores with high complexity, connectivity and low path lengths allowed the food web to quickly dissipate the exogenous disruption from the WSRS. This provides a theoretical basis for assessing the future ecological health and scientific management of YRE fisheries and similar large estuaries for which sediment transport mitigation is under consideration.

Ankle fractures reduction under direct visualization. Superiority of anatomical landmarks versus radiological evaluation- A randomised control trial.

Distal tibiofibular joint injury is quite common in rotational ankle fractures, with high malreduction rates reported. Although several intraoperative techniques evaluate the optimal tibiofibular reduction, they are critically debated due to high error rates and subjective interpretation of the results. We attempted to describe specific anatomical landmarks and anatomical relationships of the ankle joint through capsulotomy and inspection of the anterior incisura fibularis corner and evaluate their reliability regarding optimal tibiofibular reduction. Sixty patients with malleolar fractures and concomitant distal tibiofibular joint disruption were randomized into two groups. Patients of Group A were treated with a standard approach. In Group B, the reduction was performed following specific anatomical landmarks of the anterolateral ankle joint through capsulotomy. Reduction quality was evaluated with postoperative bilateral ankle CT. Distal tibiofibular joint reduction after direct visualization resulted in significantly better rotation and fibula length values than patients treated with the standard approach. In addition, clinical scores were better in the 3rd and 6th postoperative months.Direct visualization of the anterolateral ankle joint can provide trustworthy anatomical landmarks to achieve high-quality reduction of the distal tibiofibular joint in ankle fractures. Additional repair of the ligamentocapsular structures of the corner enhances joint stability and provides better clinical outcomes in 12 months.

Impact of Treatment Technique on Testicular Dose and Sexual Activity in Rectal Cancer Patients

Abstract Objective To estimate the incidental radiation dose delivered to the testicles in three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) in rectal cancer patients and its impact on sexual activity using a quality-of-life questionnaire. Materials and Methods The present study included 40 male patients, aged between 25 and 50 years. with locally-advanced rectal cancer, who would undergo neoadjuvant radiotherapy at a dose of 45 Gray (Gy) in 25 fractions (fr) in the supine position. Planning was performed for three techniques: 3DCRT, IMRT, and VMAT. The testicular dose, testicular volume, planning target volume (PTV), the distance of the tumor from the anal verge, and tumor thickness and length in each plan were recorded. A quality-of-life questionnaire pertaining only to sexual activity by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer–Quality of Life in Colorectal (EORTC QLQ-CR29) and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Colorectal (FACT-C) were used to assess the posttreatment effect on sexual life. Results The mean values for tumor length, thickness, and PTV were of 8.9 cm, 1.77 cm and 1,352 cm3 respectively. The mean dose to the right and left testicles (in centigray, cGy) were as follows: 3DCRT – 336.23 and 206.65; IMRT – 165.15 and 140.25; and VMAT – 209.2 and 229.2 respectively. A significant correlation was observed involving the PTV and testicular volume and the incidental testicular dose received. The questionnaire-based analysis of sexual activity included 31 patients who were alive, of whom 27 had resumed their normal sexual life 3 months after the treatment without difficulty (score 4). Conclusion The IMRT showed a significant reduction in the testicular dose when compared to 3DCRT and VMAT. The PTV and testicular volume presented a statistically significant impact on the testicular dose, and the main reason for abstinence was nervousness about disease recurrence.

Occurrence, Bioaccumulation, and Trophic Transfer of Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs) in a Marine Food Web from Laizhou Bay, Bohai Sea (Eastern China)

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) are a persistent organic pollutant, and limited information is available on their bioaccumulation and trophic transfer, which would be affected by carbon chain length, chlorine content, and hydrophobicity. In this study, relevant data on SCCPs in water, sediments, and organisms collected from Laizhou Bay were analyzed to investigate the specific distribution of SCCPs and their bioaccumulation and trophic transfer. In water and sediments, the average SCCP concentrations (ΣSCCPs) were 362.23 ± 81.03 ng/L and 609.68 ± 90.28 ng/g d.w., respectively. In 28 species of organisms, the ΣSCCPs varied from 70.05 to 47,244.13 ng/g l.w. (average = 648 ± 7360) and the predominant homologs were C13 (average = 34.91%) and Cl5–7 (average = 93.13%), differing from those in water (average = C11 32.75% and average = Cl5–7 88%) and sediments (average = C13 31.60% and average = Cl6–8 87.16%). The logarithm bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of ΣSCCPs were 1.18–2.74 and were positively correlated with the log Kow. A significant negative linear relationship was observed between biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) and log Kow. It is suggested that the hydrophobicity may affect the bioaccumulation of SCCPs. SCCPs demonstrated a trophic magnification factor (TMF) ranging from 2.19 to 3.00 (average = 2.51) and exhibited a significant linear correlation with carbon chain length (p &lt; 0.05) and log Kow values (p &lt; 0.05), suggesting that SCCPs have biomagnification potential in Laizhou Bay that is affected by hydrophobicity and carbon chain length.

The asymmetry in the sagitta of the European eel Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) collected from the Söke District of Aydın Province in Western Anatolia, Türkiye

AbstractOtolith features (length, width and weight) of 74 individuals of Anguilla anguilla collected from the Söke District of Aydın Province in Western Anatolia, Türkiye were studied for the first time to evaluate the level of asymmetry in the otolith features selected for this study. The asymmetry value of the otolith length was greater than that of otolith width and otolith weight. The asymmetry value of the three otolith features increased with an increase in the fish's length. The likely cause of asymmetry in the otolith parameters examined has been discussed in relation with the variability in growth provoked by ecological influence associated with the discrepancy in habitat setting and contaminants present in the Söke District of Aydın Province in Western Anatolia, Türkiye.

Comparative Analysis of Physical and Engineering Properties of New Egyptian Paddy Rice (Giza 183) Adapted to Mitigate Effects of Climate Change

One of the major challenges for crop breeding scientists is climate change. Their task is to develop new crop varieties that can withstand this phenomenon. For this study, a new Egyptian paddy variety called Giza 183, which is designed to adapt to mitigate the effects of climate change, was chosen. We focused on examining the physical and engineering properties of this variety in order to design strategies for storage, handling, transportation, drying, parboiling, and processing equipment in rice mills. The goal was to minimize post-harvest losses during the milling process, thereby maximizing high-quality yields while reducing losses. The physical properties of the rice grains, such as the length, width, and thickness, were measured at an average moisture content of 13.7% ± 0.25% (wet basis). The results reveal that the mean values of length, width, and thickness averaged 7.50 mm, 3.18 mm, and 2.19 mm, respectively. Additionally, the geometric mean diameter, the equivalent mean diameter, surface area, arithmetic mean diameter, and volume were approximately 3.74 mm, 2.38 mm, 37.37 mm2, 4.29 mm, and 28.23 mm3, respectively. The mean of sphericity was 49.9%, and the grain shape (length/width) was 2.19. The true density was measured at 1218.28 kgm−3, while the bulk density was 572.17 kgm−3. The porosity was found to be 53.03%. Furthermore, the milling production rates for brown rice, hull, white rice, and broken rice were determined to be 76.83%, 23.15%, 67.97%, and 17.36%, respectively. The average weight of one thousand grains was 25.49 g. A linear regression model for describing the mass of rough rice grain was investigated. The mass was estimated with the single variable of the grain aspect ratio (width/length) with a determination coefficient of 0.9908. Information gained from the current study will be useful in designing post-harvest processing and storage structures in rice processing industries..

Detailed thermo-hydraulic investigation of 3D octet lattice structure integrated heat sink

The present research work examined the thermo-fluidic characteristics of a heat sink packed with octet-structured periodic metal foam having varying porosity (0.83–0.93) and unit cell lengths (UCL) of 2.5–5 mm for electronic cooling application. AlSi10Mg material is considered for the octet lattice structure with water as the cooling medium, with the inlet velocity ranging from 0.02 to 0.05 m/s and a steady heat flux of 10 W/cm2 applied at base of the substrate. The effect of the porosity, unit cell length, and inlet velocity on pressure gradient, friction factor, Nusselt number, wall temperature, heat transfer coefficient, and thermo-hydraulic performance parameter is analyzed. Larger pressure gradients are observed for lower values of porosity and unit cell length, with a maximum value of approximately 5000 Pa/m for the thermal system having 0.83 porosity, 2.5 mm UCL, and 0.05 m/s inlet velocity. The wall temperature drops with a rise in inlet velocity and a reduction in porosity and UCL, with the lowest value of 311 K for the case of 0.83 porosity, 2.5 mm UCL, and 0.05 m/s inlet velocity. The case of 0.83 porosity, 5 mm UCL, and 0.02 m/s velocity was determined as optimum design based on thermo-hydraulic performance parameter.

Sex differences in shoulder acromiohumeral contact surface arc length on three-dimensional computed tomography imaging

Anatomy-based guidelines for shoulder surgery have established the routine preoperative evaluation of the humeral head. Despite recognized sex differences in humeral head size, there has been limited investigation into sex-specific variations in acromiohumeral contact surface (AHCS) arc length. This study aims to assess sex differences in the AHCS arc length within a sample of the Chinese population. We retrospectively analyzed 169 normal shoulder CT images from a single medical center, collected between 2011 and 2021. The AHCS arc length was defined as the distance from the superior glenoid tubercle to the lateral edge of the greater tuberosity, measured using a three-dimensional reconstruction algorithm. Physiological reference values for the AHCS arc length were determined at three abduction angle intervals. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the correlation between the AHCS arc length and abduction angle in both sexes. The reference values for AHCS arc length were significantly lower in women across three abduction angle intervals (male 48.07 ± 3.37 mm vs. female 43.54 ± 2.54 mm, (0–10] °, p < 0.001; male 45.07 ± 2.34 mm vs. female 40.78 ± 2.06 mm, (10–20] °, p < 0.001; male 42.08 ± 2.03 mm vs. female 38.09 ± 2.44 mm, > 20 °, p = 0.001, respectively). Additionally, the AHCS arc length was linearly and negatively correlated with the abduction angle (male R2 = 0.436, p < 0.001; female R2 = 0.434, p < 0.001, respectively). The present study identified a significant sex difference in the anatomical AHCS arc length in a sample of the normal Chinese population. Preoperative assessment of the AHCS arc length may be necessary for certain shoulder surgeries in the future.

Image-based random fields in numerical modeling of heterogeneous materials

Modeling of spatial variability using random fields is nowadays standard in computational modeling of heterogeneous materials. The only difficulty remains in determining the input parameters of the random field in order to represent the modeled material morphology as accurately as possible. The most frequent method of constructing a random field relies on various covariance kernels that primarily use as input the values of the correlation lengths, which are typically estimated ad-hoc. However, another possibility is to extract input parameters from the modeled material morphology. Moreover, this approach enables to calculate the covariance kernel itself. The performance of the image-based procedure is compared with standard methods of random field construction on the response of the two-phase elastic material.

Impact of post RFA treatment on neosquamous epithelium microstructure

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is effective treatment for Barrett’s esophagus (BE). Product of successful RFA is neosquamous epithelium (NSE), which resembles native squamous epithelium and has lower risk for neoplastic transformation. Dilated intercellular spaces (IS) are common microscopic feature of reflux induced injury of esophagus. The aim of this study was to analyze the ultrastructure of NSE by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), depending on the post RFA treatment modalities and to asses impact of these findings on BE recurrence. Prospective observational clinical study based on TEM analysis of biopsy of specimens obtained from patients in whom CE of BE was achieved minimum 6 months after the last RFA session. In each patient biopsies were taken from NSE and proximal esophagus. Two groups of patients were defined according to the post RFA treatment: proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s) or laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF). Comparative analysis of IS length was made between two groups. Endoscopic surveillance with biopsies was conducted for 5 years. Overall 22 patients with CE of BE after RFA underwent complete study protocol, out of whom in 10 LNF was performed, while 12 were treated with PPI’s. The mean values of IS length in the proximal esophagus and NSE in LNF group were 0.378 ± 0.116 µm and 0.878 ± 0.354, while in PPI’s group 0.724 ± 0.325 µm and 1.228 ± 0.226 µm, respectively. Mean lenghts of IS were statistically significantly higher in PPI’s group both in NSE (p = 0.032) and proximal esophagus (p = 0.009). There were 5 BE recurrences after 5 years surveillance, 4 in PPI group and 1 in LNF group, without statistical significance (p = 0.084). Dilated IS are commonly presented in NSE of patients with CE of BE with RFA who are treated with PPI’s. LNF provides may offer better reflux protection of NSE than PPI’s and may reduce the rates of recurrence after successful RFA treatment.

The required experience of open pancreaticoduodenectomy before becoming a specialist in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeons: a multicenter, cohort study of 334 open pancreaticoduodenectomies.

Open pancreaticoduodenectomy (OPD) is an essential surgical procedure for expert hepato-biliary-pancreatic (HBP) surgeons. However, there is no standard for how many surgeries must be performed by a surgeon in training before they are considered to have enough experience to ensure surgical safety. Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) analysis was performed using the surgical data of OPDs performed during the training period of board-certified expert surgeons of the Japanese Society of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery. Fourteen HBP surgeons participated in this study and performed 334 OPDs during their training period. The median (interquartile range) values for operative time, blood loss, and length of hospital stay were 455 (397-519) minutes, 450 (234--716) ml, and 28 (21-38) days, respectively. CUSUM analysis showed inflection points at 20 surgeries performed for operative time. After 20 procedures, operative time was significantly shorter (461min vs. 425min, p = 0.021) and blood loss was significantly lower (470ml vs. 340ml, p = 0.038). No significant differences between within 20 and after 21 procedures were found in the complication rate (53% vs. 48%, p = 0.424) and rate of in-hospital deaths (1.5% vs.1.4%. p = 0.945). Up to 20 surgeries, PDAC and another malignant tumor had longer operative time than benign/low malignant diseases (486min vs. 472min vs. 429min, p < 0.001), and higher blood loss (500ml vs. 502ml vs. 355ml, p < 0.001). Mortality rate was higher at PDAC cases (5% vs. 0% vs. 0%, p = 0.01). After the 21 procedures, these outcomes were improved and no differences in by primary disease were observed. Multivariable analysis showed that within 20 surgeries were independent risk factors of longer operative time (HR2.6, p = 0.013) and higher blood loss (HR2.0, p = 0.049). To stabilize the surgical outcome of OPD for malignant disease, at least 20 surgeries should be performed at a certified institution during surgeon training. Clinical trial number: Not applicable.

A new method for conductivity prediction in polymer carbon nanofiber system by the interphase size and total conductivity of constituents

Current modeling approaches for the conductivity of polymer composites containing carbon nanofiber (CNF) called as PCNFs exhibit limitations. Herein, we introduce an enhanced Ouali model to accurately forecast the PCNF conductivity by incorporating the operative CNF amount and the conductivity contributions of CNFs, interphase region, and tunneling zones. The effective CNF volume fraction is derived from the dimensions of both CNFs and interphase, while the overall conductivity calculation integrates the resistances of interphase region and tunnels. The model's accuracy is validated through empirical conductivity measurements of various PCNF samples and extensive parametric analyses. An interphase depth (t) of less than 8 nm renders the composite insulative, whereas peak conductivity of 0.04 S/m is achieved at an interphase depth of 40 nm and interphase conductivity of 400 S/m. These results underscore the significant influence of interphase depth and conductivity on the overall electrical performance of the composites. Furthermore, a CNF length (l) below 13 μm or a contact diameter (d) under 10 nm also results in an insulative composite. Conversely, maximum values of CNF length (80 μm) and contact diameter (40 nm) enhance the composite's conductivity to 0.1 S/m. These findings illustrate the advantageous impact of longer nanofibers and wider tunnels on the electrical conductivity of PCNFs.

Predictors of the efficacy of CO2 laser therapy for female stress urinary incontinence

Background: Predictors of the efficacy of a single-session of CO2 laser therapy for female stress urinary incontinence are important for pretreatment consultation. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate these predictors. Methods: All consecutive women who underwent vaginal CO2 laser therapy for stress urinary incontinence were prospectively enrolled. Results: The median duration of subjective improvement (defined as ≥1 on the global response assessment) was 18.3 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 12.1 to 18.3 months, n = 75). Multivariable analysis revealed that low voided volume (dL, hazard ratio [HR] = 0.707; area under the curve [AUC] = 0.66, cutoff value of voided volume ≤4.0 dL), high postvoid residual volume (dL, HR = 2.714; AUC = 0.60, cutoff value of postvoid residual volume ≥1.0 dL), and low functional profile length (HR = 0.956; AUC = 0.58, cutoff value of functional profile length ≤2.8 cm) were predictors of subjective failure. A logit(p) = 1.0 - 0.5 x (voided volume) + 0.9 x (postvoid residual volume) can be used to predict failure (HR = 1.775; AUC = 0.71, cutoff value of logit(p) ≥0.0). Pad weights decreased at 3 and 6-month follow-up visits. At 6 months, 8 women (21%) were cured (&lt;1 g pad weight), and 16 women (42%) showed improvement (&gt;50% decrease in pad weight). Overactive bladder symptoms improved at 3 and 6 months. However, there was no change in female sexual function from baseline. Conclusion: A low voided volume and high postvoid residual volume can be used to predict subjective failure after one session of transvaginal CO2 laser therapy. However, the subjective therapeutic effect may diminish within a median duration of 18 months.