Mechanical and Abrasive Wear Performance of Titanium Di-Oxide Filled Woven Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composites by Using Taguchi and EDAS Approach

Two-body abrasive wear behavior of glass fabric reinforced (GC) epoxy and titanium dioxide (TiO₂) filled composites have been conducted out by using a tribo test machine. GC and TiO₂ filled GC composites were produced by the hand layup technique. The mechanical performances of the fabricated composites were calculated as per ASTM standards. Three different weight percentages were mixed with the polymer to develop the mechanical and abrasive wear features of the composites. Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS), a multi-criteria decision technique is applied to find the best filler content. Based on the output, 2wt% TiO₂ filler gave the best result. Abrasive wear tests were used to compare GC and TiO₂ filled GC composites. The abrasion wear mechanisms of the unfilled and TiO₂ filled composites have also been studied by scanning electron microscopy. The outcome of the paper suggests the correct proportion of filler required for the resin in order to improve the wear resistance of the filled composites. Taguchi combined with Multi-Criteria Decision Method (MCDM) is used to identify the better performance of the TiO₂ filled epoxy composites.     

Quantifying the breadth of antibiotic exposure in sepsis and suspected infection using spectrum scores

A retrospective cohort study. Studies to quantify the breadth of antibiotic exposure across populations remain limited. Therefore, we applied a validated method to describe the breadth of antimicrobial coverage in a multicenter cohort of patients with suspected infection and sepsis. We conducted a retrospective cohort study across 21 hospitals within an integrated healthcare delivery system of patients admitted to the hospital through the ED with suspected infection or sepsis and receiving antibiotics during hospitalization from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2017. We quantified the breadth of antimicrobial coverage using the Spectrum Score, a numerical score from 0 to 64, in patients with suspected infection and sepsis using electronic health record data. Of 364,506 hospital admissions through the emergency department, we identified 159,004 (43.6%) with suspected infection and 205,502 (56.4%) with sepsis. Inpatient mortality was higher among those with sepsis compared to those with suspected infection (8.4% vs 1.2%; P < .001). Patients with sepsis had higher median global Spectrum Scores (43.8 [interquartile range IQR 32.0–49.5] vs 43.5 [IQR 26.8–47.2]; P < .001) and additive Spectrum Scores (114.0 [IQR 57.0–204.5] vs 87.5 [IQR 45.0–144.8]; P < .001) compared to those with suspected infection. Increased Spectrum Scores were associated with inpatient mortality, even after covariate adjustments (adjusted odds ratio per 10-point increase in Spectrum Score 1.31; 95%CI 1.29–1.33). Spectrum Scores quantify the variability in antibiotic breadth among individual patients, between suspected infection and sepsis populations, over the course of hospitalization, and across infection sources. They may play a key role in quantifying the variation in antibiotic prescribing in patients with suspected infection and sepsis.     

Highly sensitive pork meat detection using copper(ii) tetraaza complex by electrochemical biosensor

Three copper(ii) tetraaza complexes [Cu(ii)LBr]Br (1a), [Cu(ii)L(CIO₄)](CIO₄) (2a) and [Cu(ii)L](CIO₄)₂ (2b), where L = 5,5,7,12,12,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-7,14-diene were prepared and confirmed by FTIR, ¹HNMR and ¹³CNMR. The binding interaction of complex (1a, 2a, 2b) with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated using UV-vis absorption, luminescence titrations, viscosity measurements and molecular docking. The findings suggested that complex 1a, 2a and 2b bind to DNA by electrostatic interaction, and the strengths of the interaction were arranged according to 2b > 1a > 2a. The differences in binding strengths were certainly caused by the complexes'' dissimilar charges and counter anions. Complex 2b, with the biggest binding strength towards the DNA, was further applied in developing the porcine sensor. The developed sensor exhibits a broad linear dynamic range, low detection limit, good selectivity, and reproducibility. Analysis of real samples showed that the biosensor had excellent selectivity towards the pork meat compared to chicken and beef meat.

The electrochemical biosensor of porcine using copper(ii) tetraaza complex gave excellent performance with a broad dynamic range, low detection limit, good selectivity and reproducibility. The biosensor could sensitively detect pork DNA in real meat samples.     

Metabolic signatures associated with a NAD synthesis inhibitor-induced tumor apoptosis identified by 1H-decoupled-31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

PURPOSE: Attempts to selectively initiate tumor cell death through inducible apoptotic pathways are increasingly being exploited as a potential anticancer strategy. Inhibition of NAD+ synthesis by a novel agent FK866 has been recently reported to induce apoptosis in human leukemia, hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro, and various types of tumor xenografts in vivo. In the present study, we used 1H-decoupled phosphorus (31P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to examine the metabolic changes associated with FK866 induced tumor cell death in a mouse mammary carcinoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Induction of apoptosis in FK866-treated tumors was confirmed by histology and cytofluorometric analysis. FK866-induced changes in mammary carcinoma tumor metabolism in vivo were investigated using 1H-decoupled 31P MRS. To discern further the changes in metabolic profiles of tumors observed in vivo, high-resolution in vitro 1H-decoupled 31P MRS studies were carried out with perchloric acid extracts of mammary carcinoma tumors excised after similar treatments. In addition, the effects of FK866 on mammary carcinoma tumor growth and radiation sensitivity were studied. RESULTS: Treatment with FK866 induced a tumor growth delay and enhanced radiation sensitivity in mammary carcinoma tumors that was associated with significant increases in the 31P MR signal in the phosphomonoester region and a decrease in NAD+ levels, pH, and bioenergetic status. The 31P MRS of perchloric acid extracts of treated tumors identified the large unresolved signal in the phosphomonoester region as the resultant of resonances originating from intermediates of tumor glycolysis and guanylate synthesis in addition to alterations in pyridine nucleotide pools and phospholipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that FK866 interferes with multiple biochemical pathways that contribute to the increased cell death (apoptosis) and subsequent radiation sensitivity observed in the mammary carcinoma that could be serially monitored by 31P MRS.     

Broken tracheostomy tube-unusual presentations

Sporadically cases are reported about broken Tracheostomy tube as foreign-body in the tracheo-bronchial tree. The latest is from DR. S. C. Gupta (Journal of laryngology and otology, August 1987). Accordingly only twenty one have been reported. He reported nine cases over a period of eight years from Allahabad. We share our experience and views about the three cases of broken Fuller’s metallic Tracheostomy tubes as foreign-body removed from the nasophanynx and tracheo-bronchial tree (including a migratory type) within a period of one month (Apr. 1988) in the Institute of Oto-rhino-Iaryngology, Madras.     

Mail Versus Telephone Administration of the Oxford Knee and Hip Scores

Telephone and postal methods of administration of the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) and the Oxford Hip Score (OHS) were compared on 85 and 61 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and total hip arthroplasty (THA), respectively. The test for equivalence was significant for both the knee (P < 0.001) and hip participants (P < 0.001) indicating that the modes of administration yielded similar results. The ICCs of the OKS and OHS were 0.79 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.70, 0.86) and 0.87 (0.79, 0.92) respectively. The 95% limits of agreement were wide for both scores (OKS LOA, − 8.6, 8.2; OHS LOA, − 7.7, 5.3). The two modes of administration of the OKS and OHS produce equivalent survey responses at a group level but the same method of administration should be constant for individual monitoring in a clinical setting.