42CrMo4 steel flow behavior characterization for high temperature closed dies hot forging in automotive components applications.

The application of new forming processes as the high temperature hot forging in closed dies in an industrial environment still requires further investigation due to the lack of flow stress data at these temperatures. To determine the flow behavior of the 42CrMo4 steel at high temperatures hot compression tests have been carried out in a Gleeble® 3800 thermomechanical tester for a temperature range that covers the material behavior from the hot forging until the Nil Ductility Temperature (1250 °C-1375 °C) and for three different orders of magnitudes for the strain rates (0.1 s-1, 1 s-1 and 10 s-1). Then, the Hansel-Spittel model, widely used in automotive commercial software as FORGE®, has been employed to obtain the adequate constants of the constitutive equation for high temperatures. Finally, the newly obtained flow behavior model has been validated by comparison between experimental and simulated compression tests and by the process simulation of a commercial automotive component comparing the results of the simulation with the already made experimental tests in a laboratory cellule of the new technology. Hence, this paper shows the procedure for the determination and the obtention of a new constitutive model for the 42CrMo4 steel flow stress characterization at a temperature range between 1250 °C-1375 °C. This will contribute in the knowledge of material flow stress behavior models at high temperatures and will allow the prediction or simulation of high temperature hot forging in closed dies processes, enhancing the possibility of the application of these technologies from an industrial point of view.

Safety and Effectiveness of Sclerotherapy for Nonparasitic Splenic Cysts: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: To assess the reported safety and effectiveness of sclerotherapy for the treatment of nonparasitic splenic cysts through a systematic review and meta-analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library through July 2023 was performed. Studies including at least 5 patients reporting percutaneous sclerotherapy of nonparasitic splenic cysts, initial and posttreatment cyst size, clinical symptoms as well as adverse events (AEs), and recurrence rates were included. A 0-8-point scale for case reports and case series was used to assess bias. Data were analyzed using random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-three of 833 citations were selected for full-text assessment, and 7 studies were included for a total of 99 patients. The methodological quality of the studies included scored 3-7. Composite analysis demonstrated 38% (95% CI, 23%-55%) rate of recurrence after treatment with significant heterogeneity; however, when assessed for a cyst size of <8 cm, recurrence dropped to 7% (95% CI, 2%-20%). Residual symptoms after treatment completion were present in 17% (95% CI, 7%-33%). Intraprocedural and postprocedural AE rates were 6% (95% CI, 3%-13%) and 6% (95% CI, 3%-12%) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Sclerotherapy of splenic cysts seemed to be safe, with a high rate of recurrence for cysts ≥8 cm.

Differences in the microRNAs Levels of Raw Milk from Dairy Cattle Raised under Extensive or Intensive Production Systems.

Studying microRNA (miRNAs) in certain agri-food products is attractive because (1) they have potential as biomarkers that may allow traceability and authentication of such products; and (2) they may reveal insights into the products' functional potential. The present study evaluated differences in miRNAs levels in fat and cellular fractions of tank milk collected from commercial farms which employ extensive or intensive dairy production systems. We first sequenced miRNAs in three milk samples from each production system, and then validated miRNAs whose levels in the cellular and fat fraction differed significantly between the two production systems. To accomplish this, we used quantitative PCR with both fractions of tank milk samples from another 20 commercial farms. Differences in miRNAs were identified in fat fractions: overall levels of miRNAs, and, specifically, the levels of bta-mir-215, were higher in intensive systems than in extensive systems. Bovine mRNA targets for bta-miR-215 and their pathway analysis were performed. While the causes of these miRNAs differences remain to be elucidated, our results suggest that the type of production system could affect miRNAs levels and potential functionality of agri-food products of animal origin.

Headache History-Taking in an Emergency Department: Impact Evaluation of a Training Session.

INTRODUCTION: Headache represents about 25% of the total neurological consultations at the emergency department (ED). Up to 80% of these consultations are represented by primary headaches, in which an accurate and directed history-taking may help reach the specific diagnosis avoiding unnecessary complementary tests and reducing diagnostic latencies. METHODS: We carried out a training session on headache management at the ED, focusing on history-taking and primary headaches' diagnoses and management. We retrospectively compared the number of variables included in the medical reports and the percentage of patients who were diagnosed and/or treated for a primary headache between two months before and two months after the training session. RESULTS: A total of 369 medical histories were analyzed for this study (196 before and 173 after the training session). The number of essential variables regarding pain characteristics included in the medical reports showed a post-intervention increment from 4.34 ± 1.224 to 4.67 ± 1.079 (P = .007) and the number of total items registered also increased from 6.87 ± 1.982 to 7.53 ± 1.686 (P = 0.001). The percentage of patients that were given a specific diagnosis for primary headache showed an increment of 11.8% (P = .002) in the post-intervention group. CONCLUSION: Educational interventions can improve history-taking in headache patients in the ED. This fact grants them as potential efficient measures to optimize patient management at Emergency Room.

Pediatric Pelvic Fractures and Differences Compared With the Adult Population.

INTRODUCTION: Although pelvic fractures in children are rare, because of anatomical differences between an adult's skeleton and a child's skeleton, these lesions in the pediatric population have specific characteristics that need to be borne in mind when dealing with them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on the pelvic fractures in skeletally immature patients treated in our hospital in the last 20 years. RESULTS: Eighty-one pelvic fractures in children were treated between 1993 and 2013. The mean age was 9.98 years, with 61.7%(50/81) boys and 38.2% (31/81) girls. A traffic accident was the main injury mechanism (74%, 60/81), and height fall was in second place (16%, 13/81). Following Tile pelvic fracture classification, type A2 was the most frequent (58.04%, 47/81); and following Torode and Zieg classification, type IIIA (45.68%, 37/81).Associated injuries were present in 77.8% (63/81) of the patients; fractures of other bones and head trauma were the most frequent. An acetabular fracture was present in 13.5% (11/81) of the patients.Nonsurgical treatment was chosen for all the pelvic fractures except in 4 patients, which required surgical management for their pelvic injuries. Blood transfusion was required in 32% (26/81) of the patients, and arterial embolization was not needed in any case. Furthermore, 11.1% (9/81) required a stay in the pediatric care unit, and the death rate was 8.64% (7/81).The mean length of hospital stay was 12.4 days. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the specific characteristics of pelvic fractures in children, fracture patterns are less severe than those of adults, but the injury mechanisms are high-energy traumas. The rate of associated injuries is very high, and a multidisciplinary management in pediatric trauma centers is needed to treat these patients.