Generation of segmental chips in metal cutting modeled with the PFEM.

The Particle Finite Element Method, a lagrangian finite element method based on a continuous Delaunay re-triangulation of the domain, is used to study machining of Ti6Al4V. In this work the method is revised and applied to study the influence of the cutting speed on the cutting force and the chip formation process. A parametric methodology for the detection and treatment of the rigid tool contact is presented. The adaptive insertion and removal of particles are developed and employed in order to sidestep the difficulties associated with mesh distortion, shear localization as well as for resolving the fine-scale features of the solution. The performance of PFEM is studied with a set of different two-dimensional orthogonal cutting tests. It is shown that, despite its Lagrangian nature, the proposed combined finite element-particle method is well suited for large deformation metal cutting problems with continuous chip and serrated chip formation.

High-density polytetrafluoroethylene membranes in guided bone and tissue regeneration procedures: a literature review.

Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) has been used successfully as a membrane barrier for regeneration procedures. However, when exposed to the oral cavity, its high porosity increases the risk of early infection, which can affect surgical outcomes. An alternative to e-PTFE is non-expanded and dense polytetrafluoroethylene (n-PFTE), which results in lower levels of early infection following surgical procedures. The aim of this literature review was to analyze and describe the available literature on n-PFTE, report the indications for use, advantages, disadvantages, surgical protocols, and complications. The medical databases Medline-PubMed and Cochrane Library were searched and supplemented with a hand search for reports published between 1980 and May 2012 on n-PTFE membranes. The search strategy was limited to animal, human, and in vitro studies in dental journals published in English. Twenty-four articles that analyzed the use of n-PTFE as a barrier membrane for guided tissue regeneration and guided bone regeneration around teeth and implants were identified: two in vitro studies, seven experimental studies, and 15 clinical studies. There is limited clinical and histological evidence for the use of n-PTFE membranes at present, with some indications in guided tissue regeneration and guided bone regeneration in immediate implants and fresh extraction sockets.

Effects of exercise and human contact on animal welfare in a dog shelter.

The aim of the study is to investigate the reduction of stress in dogs in municipal shelters through easy-to-implement activities, ie, 25-minute sessions of exercise and human contact, that do not require a significant investment in terms of funding, staff or time. The results demonstrate that the dogs taking part in these sessions have lower salivary cortisol levels (F=121.42; P<0.05) and achieve better scores on a behaviour test (t(17)=4.27; P=0.001). It can therefore be affirmed that the exercise and human contact protocol proposed in the present study diminishes stress and improves the welfare of dogs housed in shelters.

Aplicación de una pauta terapéutica revisada de otitis media en una consulta pediátrica / Application of a revised therapeutic guidelines for acute otitis media in a pediatric clinic

Objetivo: Evaluar la implantación de la Guía de Práctica Clínica de la otitis media aguda (OMA) en las consultas de pediatría de un centro de atención primaria (CAP) y la efectividad de las propuestas terapéuticas incluidas en la Guía. Material y métodos: Estudio analítico anterior y posterior de todos los pacientes diagnosticados clínicamente de OMA en las 3 consultas de pediatría de un CAP durante el primer trimestre del año 2000, y posteriormente a la implantación de la Guía durante el mismo período del año 2001. Los pacientes eran niños en edades comprendidas entre 2 y 15 años. Las variables estudiadas fueron: edad, tratamiento farmacológico prescrito, recurrencias, existencia de cultivo, derivaciones al especialista y su justificación. Resultados: Se han evaluado 200 diagnósticos de OMA, 102 en el año 2000 y 98 en el año 2002, con una media de edad de 5,7 años y la moda de 2,5 años. La amoxicilina-ácido clavulánico fue el antibiótico más prescrito antes de la aplicación de la Guía (35,2 por ciento) y la amoxicilina sola el más prescrito después de la intervención (73,4 por ciento). Se ha producido un total de 32 recurrencias (año 2000: 16 por ciento, año 2001: 7 por ciento) sin diferencias significativas. Se remitió al especialista un total de 9 OMA (4,5 por ciento), cuatro durante el año 2000 y cinco en el 2001, y todas por motivos incluidos en la guía. Conclusiones: Según nuestro estudio, el tratamiento de elección en episodios de OMA no complicada es la amoxicilina sola a dosis elevadas, procedimiento que evita más complicaciones y disminuye el coste económico del tratamiento (AU)

Sensibility assay for topical agents. A new method.

We present a new laboratory method to test the sensibility of clinically isolated strains to topical agents. It is a method of dilution of the whole cream in a solid medium. The cream is weighted, suspended in sterile water, and maintained at 45 degrees C. Then a volume of that suspension is added to the agar, maintained at 45 degrees C also. The mixture is agitated and plated. Afterwards 25 strains are inoculated by a Multinoculator (Cetin, Bs. As., Argentina). After incubation (18 hours at 37 degrees C), the results are obtained by observing the presence or absence of bacterial development. The minimal inhibitory concentration is calculated as the lowest concentration that inhibited growth. It is a simple, economical, and reproducible method.