Wettability and Surface Roughness Analysis of Laser Surface Texturing of AISI 430 Stainless Steel

Due to its wide applicability in industry, devising microstructures on the surface of materials can be easily implemented and automated in technological processes. Laser Surface Texturing (LST) is applied to modify the chemical composition, morphology, and roughness of surfaces (wettability), cleaning (remove contaminants), reducing internal stresses of metals (hardening, tempering), surface energy (polymers, metals), increasing the adhesion (hybrid joining, bioengineering) and decreasing the growth of pathogenic bacteria (bioengineering). This paper is a continuation and extension of our previous studies in laser-assisted texturing of surfaces. Three different patterns (crater array-type C, two ellipses at 90° overlapping with its mirror-type B and 3 concentric octagons-type A) were applied with a nanosecond pulsed laser (active medium Nd: Fiber Diode-pumped) on the surface of a ferritic stainless steel (AISI 430). Micro texturing the surface of a material can modify its wettability behavior. A hydrophobic surface (contact angle greater than 90°) was obtained with different variations depending on the parameters. The analysis performed in this research (surface roughness, wettability) is critical for assessing the surface functionality, characteristics and properties of the stainless steel surface after the LST process. The values of the surface roughness and the contact angle are directly proportional to the number of repetitions and inversely proportional to the speed. Recommendations for the use of different texturing pattern designs are also made.     

Relationships matter: contraceptive choices among HIV-positive women in Tanzania

Efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Tanzania are guided by a four-prong strategy advocated by the World Health Organization (WHO). Prong 2, prevention of unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV, has, however, received the least attention and contraceptive use to prevent unintended pregnancies remains low. This study explored the perceived barriers to the use of modern methods of contraception, and factors influencing contraceptive choice among HIV-positive women in urban Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. A qualitative multi-site study was conducted, utilising in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 37 sexually active HIV-positive women aged between 20 and 44 years, attending three health facilities within Dar-es-Salaam. The theoretical framework was a patient centred model. Four barriers were identified: the influence of the women’s spousal relationships; personal beliefs and the relationship of these in understanding her disease; the influence of the social demands on the woman and her relationships; and the importance of a woman’s relationship with her healthcare provider/healthcare system. Being the bearers of bad news (HIV-positive status) the pregnant women experienced conflicts, violence, abandonment and rejection. The loss in negotiating power for the women was in relation to their intimate partners, but also in the patient–healthcare provider relationship. The role of the male partner as a barrier to contraceptive use cannot be understated. Therefore, the results suggest that healthcare providers should ensure patient-focused education and provide support that encompasses the importance of their relationships. Additional research is required to elucidate the functional association between contraceptive choices and personal and social relationships.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hunter disease eClinic:</Emphasis>interactive,computer-assisted,problem-based approach to independent learning about a rare genetic disease

Background  

Computer-based teaching (CBT) is a well-known educational device, but it has never been applied systematically to the teaching of a complex, rare, genetic disease, such as Hunter disease (MPS II).     

Using the internet to identify women's sources of breast health education and screening

Health professionals, women's groups, the media and the Internet have all played a role in educating the public about breast health and breast screening methods. Yet, with all the information that is available to women, their participation rates have been less than optimal. This paradox has resulted in the need to learn more about the sources that influence women to participate in breast screening. In an innovative study using the Internet, over 800 women, primarily from Canada and the United States, were surveyed about their knowledge, attitudes and influences regarding their breast screening practices. Current health status, screening practices and influences of various health professionals on women's health promotion activities were analyzed. Comparisons of the women's perceptions across age groups and national differences between Canadian and American respondents are presented. Women in the older age group reported receiving more encouragement for breast screening activities from physicians, nurses and others than did younger women. American respondents reported perceiving more support from nurses for breast screening than did their Canadian counterparts. A high number of American respondents reported having been diagnosed with breast cancer, while only a small number of Canadian respondents reported this diagnosis. The results from this study can be used in planning health promotion activities relevant to various populations of women. Benefits and limitations of using the Internet as a research medium are briefly discussed.     

Macroglossia: a case study

A young child with macroglossia of unknown cause was seen for treatment to modify resting tongue posture and improve speech sound production. Evaluation of the treatments indicated positive change in resting tongue posture and a modest change in speech sound production. Treatment for such patients can be complex and must consider orthodontic and/or surgical interventions, because an enlarged tongue can influence growth, development, and physiology of the oropharyngeal complex. The speech-language pathologist must be prepared to deal with the complex of problems demonstrated by patients with macroglossia during growth and development. LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to describe the sequelae of macroglossia. (2) As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to identify appropriate treatment options for children with macroglossia.     

Towards optimization of selective photothermolysis: prothrombotic pharmaceutical agents as potential adjuvants in laser treatment of port wine stains. A theoretical study

For the past two decades much research on selective photothermolysis of port wine stain vasculature has been devoted to optimizing laser parameters. Unfortunately, 60% of patients still respond suboptimally to laser therapy, despite significant innovations in treatment strategies and laser technology. Here we present a novel treatment approach based on combining selective photothermolysis with the administration of prothrombotic and/or anti-fibrinolytic pharmaceutical agents, with the aim of enhancing vaso-occlusion and post-treatment remodelling in difficult-to-target vessels. A hypercoagulable state of blood will instill laser-induced occlusive thrombosis in a wider array of vessel diameters at greater dermal depths, whereby larger vascular segments will ultimately undergo the chronic inflammatory processes that result in blood volume reduction, and thus lesional blanching. With thrombosis as a primary trigger for these inflammatory processes, we have extrapolated the threshold damage profile that is required for clinically relevant thrombus formation. Consequently, a recently proposed model of thrombus organization, in which recanalization is associated with endothelial progenitor cell-mediated neovasculogenesis, is elaborated in the framework of lesional blanching and juxtaposed to angiogenic reconstruction of affected dermal vasculature. Since neovasculogenesis and angiogenesis are regulated by the degree of vaso-occlusion and corollary drop in local oxygen tension, both can be manipulated by the administration of procoagulant pharmaceuticals. Lastly, in an effort to optimally balance selective photothermolysis with pharmacokinetics and clinical safety, the use of a gold nanoshell drug delivery system, in which the procoagulant drugs are encapsulated by a wavelength-modulated, gold-coated polymer matrix, is proposed. We have termed this modality site-specific pharmaco-laser therapy.     

The extraperitoneal transomphalic drainage of the postoperative hydatid cavity through the transposed round ligament detached from the liver

The transomphalic and then the transligamentary extraperitoneal drainage imagined by D. Burlui and its multiple use in the liver and the biliary tract surgery, is well known. Concerning the hepatic hydatid cysts, the drainage of the remaining cavity by the round ligament way is possible for most of the locations of the parasite, but it is less performed in the right liver lateral segments locations, too far situated, and also in the left liver locations. On the other hand, this specific method implies to place the drainage tube using the round ligament "in situ ", normally placed and inserted. We encountered an extremely large hydatid cyst of the left hepatic lobe, adherent to the anterior and posterior abdominal wall, spleen, stomach, pancreas and large bowel, which required to extend the incision to the left and make the necessary segmentation of the round ligament at its hepatic insertion. After pericystotomy and the evacuation of the cyst, the remaining cavity drainage was performed through the same round ligament whose free end was tightly fixed to the partial pericystotomy border. This transposition allowed the exteriorisation of the drainage tube in the same way as for the transligamentary and total extraperitoneal original method.