Characterization of the dynamic stretching stages of polymeric fibers using dispersion measurements.

In this paper, we characterize the dynamics of the molecular chains at different stages of stretching polymeric monofilament fibers. The main stages characterized in this work are shear-bands, necking, crazes, cracks, and fracture regions. Digital photoelasticity and white-light two-beam interferometry are utilized to study each phenomenon by finding the dispersion curves and the 3D birefringence profiles using a single-shot pattern, which is performed for the first time, to our best knowledge. We also suggest an equation to find the full-field distribution of the oscillation energy. This study presents a clear vision on the behavior of the polymeric fibers at a molecular level during dynamic stretching until reaching its fracture point. Patterns of these deformation stages are given for illustration.

Experimental investigation of craze morphology of isotactic polypropylene using computed tomography.

In this paper we investigated the morphology of crazes formed during the fracture process of polymeric fibres. Computed tomography technique was applied to reconstruct the image of fibrils-voids structure of crazes. This allowed us to investigate the initial stages of crazes formation during the fracture process of mechanically stretched isotactic polypropylene fibres. The density and morphology of crazes were studied at different regions inside the stretched sample. Accordingly, we are able to visualize the internal structure of the stretched fibres in three dimensions. This revealed in-depth information on the fracture process of polymeric fibres.

A novel method for identifying the order of interference using phase-shifting digital holography.

In this paper, we introduced a mathematical method for measuring the optical path length differences (OPDs), which is suitable for large OPD values where the fringes connections are difficult to detect. The proposed method is based on varying the width of the fringes, without changing the wavelength of the used coherent source. Also, in this work, we discussed the need for such method in off-axis phase-shifting digital holography. Low-resolution off-axis holograms failed to detect the correct interference order. In general, off-axis phase-shifting digital holography is limited by the resolution of the captured holograms. The results obtained using our proposed technique were compared to the results obtained using off-axis phase-shifting digital holograms and conventional two-beam interferometry. Holograms were given for illustration.

A proposed method to reconstruct the three-dimensional dispersion profile of polymeric fibres based on variable wavelength interferometry.

In this paper, we suggest a modification to the conventional variable wavelength interferometry. This modification allowed us to calculate the dispersion curve of each point inside polymeric fibres instead of calculating the mean dispersion of these fibres. This modified mathematical treatment was used to calculate the three-dimensional dispersion profile of isotactic polypropylene fibres suffering from necking deformation. The different steps of calculating the three-dimensional dispersion profile of the fibre were demonstrated. The application of this modified method revealed the variation of the fibre material dispersion before, inside and after the necking region. In addition, the birefringence profile of the necked isotactic polypropylene was determined using the proposed mathematical treatment. This allowed us to diagnose the interaction of the incident waves with necked polypropylene fibres, which gives extensive information on the orientation of the molecular chains during the formation of the necking phenomenon.

Nonray-tracing determination of the 3D refractive index profile of polymeric fibres using single-frame computed tomography and digital holographic interferometric technique.

In this paper, we present a nonray-tracing technique for evaluating the three dimensional distribution of the refractive index values inside polymeric fibres. This technique, named 'single-frame computed-tomography (SFCT)', is applied to digital holography. A comparative study between the calculated optical phase values using ordinary tomography and SFCT is carried out, and a negligible deviation is detected. The proposed technique is used to determine the three-dimensional refractive index profile of isotactic Polypropylene fibres, IPP. The variation of the optical properties is measured before, during and after the formation of the necking phenomenon. In addition, SFCT technique is applied to the online determination of the change of the optical properties of IPP fibres. Holograms are given for illustration.

A novel double-image Fizeau system for accurate investigation of anisotropic polymer fibres.

This paper introduces a double-image multiple-beam Fizeau fringes system. The introduced system can dynamically determine the variations of the refractive indices for both parallel and perpendicular polarization simultaneously. This is achieved by the simultaneous capturing of two multiple-beam interference patterns during the mechanical processing of isotactic polypropylene fibre. This parallel determination of the refractive indices of both polarization directions allowed us to determine the full-field distribution of the stress vector, S. To accomplish this, a mathematical model was deduced to calculate the components of the stress vector, S, i.e. parallel stress component, S1, and perpendicular stress component, S2. Double-image Fizeau fringes system and the deduced mathematical model were used to investigate the variation of the refractive index and stress components of the fibre during the stretching process and propagation of necked regions.

A novel simultaneous photoelastic and two-beam interferometric system: I. Dynamic full-field evaluation of the elasticity modulus profile of polymeric fibres.

A novel optical setup for simultaneous capturing of photoelastic and two-beam interference patterns was designed. The designed optical setup was used to simultaneously record two types of patterns. The first pattern is two-beam interference pattern, and the second one is photoelastic interference pattern produced by objects under stress. This simultaneous capturing of the two patterns allowed us to calculate the full-field distribution of the elasticity modulus profile of fibres. A mathematical expression of the profile of the elasticity modulus was derived. This was applied to evaluate the elasticity modulus of anisotropic isotactic polypropylene fibres during stretching processes. The profile of the elasticity modulus was determined for both static and dynamic in situ cases where the propagation of different structural deformations was observed and studied using the designed optical setup. Patterns were given for illustration.

Effects of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Supplementation on Performance, Digestibility, and Blood Biochemistry of Californian Male Rabbits Under Hot Climatic Conditions.

This study aims to investigate the effects of nanoparticles of zinc oxide (Nano-ZnO) supplementation on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, mineral retention, and blood biochemistry of Californian male rabbits under hot climatic conditions. A total of 100 Californian male rabbits 90 days of age (BW: 1790 ± 13 g) were randomly assigned to one of five treatment diets: Nano-ZnO at 0, 25, 50, 75, or 100 mg/kg, respectively, for 90 days. The rabbits were raised in an open house system (average ambient temperature of 39 °C, relative humidity of 30-35%, and temperature-humidity index of 33.6-34.0). Each treatment had 20 rabbits, and each rabbit was considered as a replicate. During the entire study period, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in BW, BW gain, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio between the treatment groups. Nano-ZnO supplementation at 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg enhanced the digestibility coefficient of crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) considerably (quadratically, P < 0.05) when compared to the control group. In addition, when Nano-ZnO was supplemented at 25, 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg, serum levels of creatinine, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were considerably lower than the non-supplemented control group. Furthermore, when comparing the control and Nano-ZnO-fed rabbits, serum testosterone concentrations increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the treated groups. In addition, compared to the other groups, the 50 mg/kg Nano-ZnO group had the highest cecal Lactobacilli spp. count. These findings suggest that supplementing Californian male rabbits with 50 mg/kg dietary Nano-ZnO enhanced CP and EE digestibility, cecal Lactobacilli spp., as well as serum testosterone levels, and decreased serum ALT and AST levels under hot climatic conditions.

The natural history of low-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: a collaborative multi-centre study.

BACKGROUND: International guidelines vary in terms of their definition and recommendation for management of low-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (LRNMIBC). The ideal management for this large subset of bladder cancer patient remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate long-term outcomes of patients with LRNMIBC. As a secondary objective, to assess for intergroup heterogeneity in disease-specific outcomes between G1 and G2LG diseases. METHODS: A multi-centre, retrospective study of patients who met the 2015 NICE definition of LRNMIBC. Timeline of diagnosis ranged from 01/01/2012 to 30/06/2016. RESULTS: A total 390 patients had available follow-up data (G1: 142, G2LG: 249). Over a median follow-up time of 36 months (IQR 25-50), 29.2% of the patients developed a recurrence. G2LG patients were statistically more likely to develop a recurrence (G1: 26.8%, G2LG: 33.7%, p < 0.05). 51.8% of recurrences occurred after 1 year of surveillance. Progression to high-grade disease occurred in 1.8% (n = 7, G1: 3, G2LG: 4) and a further 1.0% (n = 4, G1:3, G2LG: 1) of patients developed muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). CONCLUSION: The majority of recurrences occurred after 1 year of surveillance. The risk of disease progression was low; however, this was observed in a cohort of patients with regular cystoscopic follow-up. The risk may be higher if patients were pre-maturely discharged. If a 5-year surveillance programme were to be followed, 96.5% of recurrences would be captured. Lastly, there appears to be intergroup heterogeneity within LRNMIBC with G2LG patients having a statistically higher risk of recurrence compared to G1.

Resting energy expenditure in white and non-white severely obese women.

This study aimed to compare the resting energy expenditure (REE) of white and non-white severely obese Brazilian women. REE was examined in 83 severely obese Brazilian women (n = 58 white and 25 non-white) with mean (+/- SD) age 42.99 +/- 11.35 and body mass index 46.88 +/- 6.22 kg/m(2) who were candidates for gastric bypass surgery. Body composition was assessed by air displacement plethysmography (ADP) BOD PODO body composition system (Life Measurement Instruments, Concord, CA) and REE was measured, under established protocol, with an open-circuit calorimeter (Deltatrac II MBM-200, Datex-Ohmeda, Madison, WI, USA). There was no significant difference between the REE of white and non-white severely obese women (1,953 +/- 273 and 1,906 +/- 271 kcal/d, respectively; p = 0.48). However, when adjusted for fat free mass (MLG), REE was significantly higher in nonwhite severely obese women (difference between groups of 158.4 kcal, p < 0.01). REE in white women was positively and significantly correlated to C-reactive protein (PCR) (r = 0.418; P < 0.001) and MLG (r = 0.771; P < 0.001). In the non-white women, REE was only significantly correlated to MLG (r = 0.753; P < 0.001). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that skin color, MLG and PCR were the significant determinants of REE (R(2) = 0.55). This study showed that, after adjustment for MLG, non-white severely obese women have a higher REE than the white ones. The association of body composition inflammation factors and REE in severely obese Brazilian women remains to be further investigated.

Interferometric investigation of the opto-mechanical and structural properties of iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers.

Fibers that missing specific features and functionalities could be innovated and functionalised via nano additives, in particular metal oxides. Titanium oxide (TiO2 ) nanoparticles have been added to isotactic polypropylene (iPP) to form iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers. Three samples of iPP/TiO2 fibers were extruded at three extrusion speeds 25, 50, and 78 m/min were considered in this study. Mach-Zehnder interferometer was used to assess the changes in the opto-mechanical and geometrical parameters of iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers along the fiber axis. The mechanical drawing device along with Mach-Zehnder interferometer was utilized to stretch the filaments to different draw ratios. The effect of mechanical cold drawing and extrusion speed on the optical and physical characteristics of iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers were determined along the fiber axis. The optical and physical variation along the nanocomposite samples were characterized by measuring their refractive indices, birefringence, refractive index profile along the fiber axis. The diffraction of He-Ne laser beam was used to define the variation of the fiber diameter along the fiber axis through their cross-sectional area and shape. A sample of uniform diameter from neat iPP fibers was used as reference material for studying the variation of the iPP/TiO2 fiber diameter along the fiber axis. As result, the iPP/TiO2 nanocomposite fibers exhibited nonuniform diameters. The dispersion of TiO2 particles in nanocomposite fibers influences the properties' consistency along and across the fiber.

A novel dynamic opto-thermo-mechanical stress testing device 2: In situ stretching process of polymeric fibers.

In this article, we used the opto-mechanical stress testing-device to stretch a monofilament of isotactic Polypropylene, iPP, fibers. This device was used to obtain the mechanical behavior of these fibers by measuring the complete stress-strain curves at different stretching conditions. Using this device, the different regions of iPP fiber where the mechanical deformation takes place was characterized, including the necking region and fracture initiation process. The obtained mechanical behavior of iPP fibers was correlated to the variations of different optical parameters by attaching the device with the Pluta polarizing interference microscope. This microscope and the stress device allowed us to simultaneously measure the optical parameters and stress-strain data during stretching process at different stretching speeds. These data provide us with comprehensive information on the opto-mechanical behavior of polymeric fibers. Interferograms are included for illustration. The opto-mechanical stress testing-device was used to stretch a monofilament of, iPP, fibers. The mechanical deformation takes place was characterized, including the necking region and fracture initiation process at different stretching speeds.

A novel dynamic opto-thermo-mechanical stress testing device 1: Design of the device.

This article presents a dynamic opto-thermo-mechanical stress testing device to characterize fiber properties. The device has multi-modes and consists of many functions. These modes include stretching, bending, rotating, twisting, and heating processes. Every process can be controlled by micro-controller unit via software programs specially designed for this purpose. The micro-controller unit can execute two different processes at the same time. Such as, dynamic stretching process under the effect of thermal treatment, dynamic stretching process and relaxation, bending process under the effect of thermal treatment, and so forth. Software programs with their flow charts are designed for the application of these processes. The advantage of this device is that it can be done statically and dynamically to characterize all types of fibers (polymer and optical). The device is designed to be attached with two-beam polarizing interference microscope to investigate the dynamic opto-thermo-mechanical properties of the tested fiber under the effect of different applied stresses. Isotactic polypropylene, iPP, fiber is used for some applications of this device, as examples, in stretching, rotation, and twisting modes. Interferograms and graphs are given for illustration.

Taeniectomy pouch as neorectum after low rectal resection.

Background and purpose The functional outcomes of incontinence and high stool frequency resulting from restorative surgery are often criticised. The aim of this study was to assess the taeniectomy pouch in comparison with other pouches described in the literature. Material and methods This was a prospective cohort study. All patients who were candidate for low rectal resection presenting to the colorectal unit at Cairo University hospitals during the period February 2013 to February 2015 were included in the study (90 patients). Safety and feasibility of the new technique were assessed, including operative time, leakage, postoperative urgency, incontinence, number of daily motions and difficulty in evacuation. These parameters were assessed clinically, by means of defecography and anorectal manometry. Results The mean age of patients was 49.6 years. Percentages of postoperative mortality and leakage were 2.2% and 3.4%, respectively. Mean operative time was 117 minutes. Mean numbers of daily motions were 3.04 and 1.52 at 3 and 12 months, respectively. Mean Wexner score for continence at 3 and 12 months were 3.21 and 1.32, respectively. Mean resting pressure was 51.63 mmHg, squeeze pressure was 130.42 mmHg and mean threshold volume was 118.68 ml. Conclusions Taeniectomy is a novel technique for pouch formation after low rectal resection, which can be used as an alternative to other pouches, especially the widely used transverse coloplasty.

Surgical Management of Stuttering Ischemic Priapism: A Case Report and Concise Clinical Review.

Stuttering priapism is an extremely rare and poorly understood entity. We present a rare case of a 47-year-old Afro-Caribbean gentleman who required proximal shunt procedure to treat his ischemic stuttering priapism after he had failed medical management. We provided a concise review of the literature on the surgical management of ischemic priapism. This case highlighted the importance of prompt surgical intervention in prolonged stuttering priapism to avoid serious psychological and functional complications.

[Hospital hyponutrition]. / Desnutrición hospitalaria.

Identifying hyponutrition is essential at the hospital setting to avoid or minimize the impact on the patients' clinical course and its association with more severe complications, longer hospital staying, and increased mortality, and all of this is associated with increased costs for the institution and the society. The aims of this study were to disbelieve the epidemiology of hospital hyponutrition, the types of hyponutrition, the body response to fasting, the clinical course of the patient with hyponutrition and the consequences of hyponutrition in the different live stages and, thus, we carried out a review on hospital hyponutrition. We found that hyponutrition prevalence is high in the hospital setting, hyponutrition influences genetic, metabolic, and hormonal factors of the human being and leads to harmful effects from the intrauterine fetal development until the adulthood. There are also different types of hyponutrition, the differentiation being important to decide the best therapy. We also found that hyponutrition is related to inflammation. When inflammation is chronic and mild to moderate (such as in organ failure, pancreatic cancer, obesity, rheumatoid or sarcopenic arthritis), the term "hyponutrition-related chronic disease", and when inflammation is acute and severe (severe infection, burns, trauma or head trauma), the preferred term is "hyponutrition-related acute disease or hyponutrition-related lesions". Finally, the patient with hyponutrition has worse clinical course than the patient with an appropriate nutritional status.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of biliary reconstruction techniques in orthotopic deceased donor liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Biliary complications remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in liver transplantation and the biliary anastomosis technique could increase this risk. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of biliary reconstruction techniques in orthotopic liver transplantation on the incidence of biliary complications. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis using the Medline-PubMed, EMBASE, Scielo-LILACS, and Cochrane Databases were performed comparing biliary reconstruction techniques in liver transplantation with regard to the occurrence of biliary complications. Number needed to treat (NNT) was calculated at a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Fifty-seven articles were selected (3 randomized clinical trials, 6 clinical trials, and 48 historical cohort studies). There was a lower risk for biliary complications (NNT = 6) using end-to-end choledochocholedochostomy (EECC) without drainage compared with EECC with drainage. The biliary complication risk was lower (NNT = 4) for side-to-side choledochocholedochostomy (SSCC) with drainage compared with SSCC without drainage. No difference was found between EECC without drainage and SSCC with drainage. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, considering the highest level of evidence available in the literature, we suggest that biliary reconstruction in liver transplantation should be performed using EECC or SSCC, without drainage in the former, and with drainage in the latter.

Desnutrición hospitalaria / Hospital hyponutrition

Identificar la desnutrición es fundamental en el ambiente hospitalario para evitar o minimizar la repercusión en la evolución clínica de los enfermos e la asociación con mayores complicaciones, mayor tiempo de estancia hospitalaria e incremento en la mortalidad, y eso está asociado a costos aumentados para la institución y la sociedad. Los objetivos dese estudio fueran descreer la epidemiologia de la desnutrición hospitalaria, los tipos de desnutrición, la respuesta orgánica al ayuno, la evolución clínica del enfermo con desnutrición e las consecuencias de la desnutrición en las diferentes etapas de la vida, para tanto, realizamos una revisión sobre desnutrición hospitalaria. Encontramos que la prevalencia de desnutrición es elevada en el ambiente hospitalario, la desnutrición influencia factores genéticos, metabólicos y hormonales del organismo humano y conlleva a efectos perjudiciales desde el desarrollo fetal intrauterino hasta la vida adulta. Hay también diferentes tipos de desnutrición, siendo la diferenciación importante para decidir el mejor tratamiento. También, encontramos la desnutrición está relacionada con la inflamación. Cuando la inflamación es crónica y de grado leve a moderado (como el fallo de un órgano, cáncer pancreático, obesidad, artritis reumatoide o sarcopénica) se puede utilizar el término «enfermedad crónica relacionada con de la desnutrición», y, cuando la inflamación es aguda y de grado severo (infección grave, quemaduras, trauma o lesión en la cabeza cerrada), el término «enfermedad aguda o lesiones relacionadas con la desnutrición» es preferido. Por último, el paciente con desnutrición tiene peor evolución clínica que el paciente que presenta un adecuado estado de nutrición (AU)

Identifying hyponutrition is essential at the hospital setting to avoid or minimize the impact on the patients' clinical course and its association with more severe complications, longer hospital staying, and increased mortality, and all of this is associated with increased costs for the institution and the society. The aims of this study were to disbelieve the epidemiology of hospital hyponutrition, the types of hyponutrition, the body response to fasting, the clinical course of the patient with hyponutrition and the consequences of hyponutrition in the different live stages and, thus, we carried out a review on hospital hyponutrition. We found that hyponutrition prevalence is high in the hospital setting, hyponutrition influences genetic, metabolic, and hormonal factors of the human being and leads to harmful effects from the intrauterine fetal development until the adulthood. There are also different types of hyponutrition, the differentiation being important to decide the best therapy. We also found that hyponutrition is related to inflammation. When inflammation is chronic and mild to moderate (such as in organ failure, pancreatic cancer, obesity, rheumatoid or sarcopenic arthritis), the term «hyponutrition-related chronic disease», and when inflammation is acute and severe (severe infection, burns, trauma or head trauma), the preferred term is «hyponutrition-related acute disease or hyponutrition-related lesions». Finally, the patient with hyponutrition has worse clinical course than the patient with an appropriate nutritional status (AU)

Resting energy expenditure in white and non-white severely obese women / Gasto energético en reposo de mujeres obesas severas blancas y no blancas

This study aimed to compare the resting energy expenditure (REE) of white and non-white severely obese Brazilian women. REE was examined in 83 severely obese Brazilian women (n = 58 white and 25 non-white) with mean (± SD) age 42.99 ± 11.35 and body mass index 46.88 ± 6.22 kg/m2 who were candidates for gastric bypass surgery. Body composition was assessed by air displacement plethysmography (ADP) BOD PODÒ body composition system (Life Measurement Instruments, Concord, CA) and REE was measured, under established protocol, with an open-circuit calorimeter (Deltatrac II MBM-200, Datex-Ohmeda, Madison, WI, USA). There was no significant difference between the REE of white and non-white severely obese women (1,953 ± 273 and 1,906 ± 271 kcal/d, respectively; p = 0.48). However, when adjusted for fat free mass (MLG), REE was significantly higher in nonwhite severely obese women (difference between groups of 158.4 kcal, p < 0.01). REE in white women was positively and significantly correlated to C-reactive protein (PCR) (r = 0.418; P < 0.001) and MLG (r = 0.771; P < 0.001). In the non-white women, REE was only significantly correlated to MLG (r = 0.753; P < 0.001). The multiple linear regression analysis showed that skin color, MLG and PCR were the significant determinants of REE (R2 = 0.55). This study showed that, after adjustment for MLG, non-white severely obese women have a higher REE than the white ones. The association of body composition inflammation factors and REE in severely obese Brazilian women remains to be further investigated (AU)

El presente estudio tenía como objetivo comparar el gasto energético en reposo (GER) de mujeres brasileñas obesas severas, blancas y no blancas. Se examinó el GER en 83 mujeres brasileñas obesas severas (n = 58 blancas y 25 no blancas) con un promedio de edad (± SD) de 42,99 ± 11,35 e índice de masa corporal de 46,88 ± 6,22 kg/m2, que serían sometidas a cirugía de bypass gástrico. Se evaluó la composición corporal por medio de una pletismografía por desplazamiento de aire (ADP) BOD PODÒ sistema de composición corporal (de Life Measurement Instruments, Concord, California, EE.UU.) y se evaluó el GER, de acuerdo con el protocolo establecido, con un calorímetro de circuito abierto (fabricado por Deltatrac II MBM-200, Datex-Ohmeda, Madison, Wisconsin, EE.UU.). No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre el GER de mujeres obesas severas blancas y no blancas (1.953 ± 273 y 1.906 ± 271 kcal/d, respectivamente; p = 0,48). Sin embargo, al ajustarse en masa libre de grasa (FFM, por sus siglas en inglés), el GER fue considerablemente superior en mujeres obesas severas no blancas (diferencia de 158,4 kcal, p < 0,01 entre los grupos). El GER de las mujeres blancas mostró una correlación positiva y significativa con la proteína C-reactiva (CRP) (r = 0,418; P < 0,001) y FFM (r = 0,771; P < 0,001). En las mujeres no blancas, el GER mostró una correlación positiva sólo con FFM (r = 0,753; P < 0,001). El análisis de regresión lineal múltiple arrojó que el color de la piel, FFM y CRP eran factores significativamente determinantes de GER (R2 = 0,55). El presente estudio reveló que, después de realizar el ajuste para FFM, las mujeres obesas severas no blancas tienen un GER superior al de las blancas. La asociación entre los factores de inflamación de la composición corporal y el GER en mujeres brasileñas obesas severas es un tema que se debe seguir investigando (AU)