Touch-Screen Computerized Education for Patients with Brain Injuries

The use of computer technology for patient education has increased in recent years. This article describes a study that measures the attitudes and perceptions of healthcare professionals and laypeople regarding the effectiveness of a multimedia computer, the Brain Injury Resource Center? (BIRC), as an educational tool. The study focused on three major themes: (a) usefulness of the information presented, (b) effectiveness of the multimedia touch-screen computer methodology, and (c) the appropriate time for making this resource available. This prospective study, conducted in an acute care medical center, obtained healthcare professionals' evaluations using a written survey and responses from patients with brain injury and their families during interviews. The findings have yielded excellent ratings as to the ease of understanding and usefulness of the BIRC. By using sight, sound, and touch, such a multimedia learning center has the potential to simplify patient and family education.     

Experimental and Numerical Studies of Tool Wear Processes in the Nibbling Process

The work concerns an analysis of the wear mechanisms of punches in the nibbling process. The nibbling process is the multiple punching of holes or external contours using circular punches, the diameter of which is much smaller than the size of the punched shapes. Analytical, numerical and experimental studies were carried out. In the analytical solution, formulas for determining the pressures in the contact zone were developed, thus enabling a simple estimation of the designed nibbling tools. In numerical studies, the influence of the punch rounding radius on the fatigue wear was investigated. It has been shown that the change in the punch cutting edge radius from r = 0 mm to r = 0.5 mm enables a seven-fold increase in the fatigue wear resistance. It was found that the change in the punch cutting edge rounding radius has an impact on the quality of the product (the greater the radius r, the worse the technological quality of the product). In experimental studies, the abrasive wear process was primarily investigated. For this purpose, the nibbling process was tested on S235JR + AR steel sheets with tools made of NC11LV/1.2379 steel without any coating and with an AlCrTiN layer. It was found that the special AlCrTiN layer used allowed for an increase in the resistance to abrasive wear, and thus increased the service life by approx. three times. The last element of the work is an assessment of the technological quality of the product after nibbling depending on the degree and type of stamp wear (quantitative and qualitative assessment).     

Patient education resource assessment: project management

To thrive in today's health care environment, hospitals are constantly striving to exceed their customers' expectations in delivering quality care in a cost-effective manner. Meeting the patient educational needs of the consumer is one well-recognized aspect of quality care. Delivering quality care does not happen by chance; rather, it requires intense planning. Our academic medical center formalized this process by empowering professional staff from Nursing Development to develop and implement a patient education strategic plan. This article outlines the project management for the assessment phase of this strategic planning process. The findings were instrumental in outlining the future direction for patient education initiatives that will benefit both the patient and the organization.     

Influence of different bleaching systems on fracture toughness and hardness of enamel

This study evaluated the influence of different bleaching procedures on the fracture toughness and microhardness of enamel. The labial aspects of 72 bovine incisors were prepared for microhardness determination. At baseline, Knoop hardness (KH) determination was conducted on each specimen. Moreover, the fracture toughness (FT) of enamel was assessed using Vickers hardness indentations with a load of 9.8 N. The length of both indentations and enamel cracks were recorded and used for calculation of FT. The samples were divided among six (A-F) groups (n = 12) and sectioned, resulting in a control and an experimental half. The samples were stored in artificial saliva for 10 days. The experimental halves were removed from the saliva and subjected to bleaching according to manufacturers' instructions (A: Opalescence Xtra, B: Opalescence Quick, C: Rapid White, D: Whitestrips, E: Opalescence 10%, F: Opalescence PF 15%). Bleaching with C-F was conducted daily (C: twice per day for 10 minutes, D: twice per day for 30 minutes, E: 8 hours, F: 4 hours), systems A-B were applied on the first and fifth day (A: twice for 10 minutes, B: 1 hour). Finally, Knoop hardness and FT were assessed and statistically compared to baseline values using Wilcoxon-tests (p < 0.05). KH and FT of the controls remained stable during storage in saliva. All bleaching regimens resulted in a statistically significant percentage loss of KH (mean + standard error of means): A: 17.3 +/- 2.8%, B: 8.6 +/- 3.3%; C: 83.5 +/- 0.61%, D: 29.0 +/- 1.9%, E: 9.0 +/- 2.91%, F: 5.4 +/- 2.2%. The percentage changes (mean + standard error of means) of FT in the experimental specimens were as follows: A: 3.9 +/- 9.5%, B: 0.1 +/- 4.7%; D: -8.2 +/- 7.1%, E: -18.9 +/- 4.7%, F: -12.0 +/- 4.7%. Due to severe surface softening, FT could not be determined for the samples in Group C. Applying Opalescence 10% resulted in a significant reduction in FT compared to baseline. In the remaining groups, changes in FT were not statistically significant.     

Advanced Structural and Technological Method of Reducing Distortion in Thin-Walled Welded Structures

The article presents an innovative method of reducing welding distortions of thin-walled structures by introducing structural and technological changes. The accuracy of the method was demonstrated on the example of welding the stub pipes to the outer surface of a thin-walled tank with large dimensions, made of steel 1.4301 with a wall thickness of 1.5 × 10⁻³ (m). During traditional Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), distortions of the base are formed, the flatness deviation of which was 11.9 × 10⁻³ (m) and exceeded the permissible standards. As a result of structural and technological changes, not only does the joint stiffness increase, but also a favorable stress state is introduced in the flange, which reduces the local welding stresses. Numerical models were developed using the finite element method (FEM), which were used to analyze the residual stresses and strains pre-welding, in extruded flanges, in transient, and post-welding. The results of the calculations for various flanges heights show that there is a limit height h = 9.2 × 10⁻³ (m), above which flange cracks during extrusion. A function for calculating the flange height was developed due to the required stress state. The results of numerical calculations were verified experimentally on a designed and built test stand for extrusion the flange. The results of experimental research confirmed the results of numerical simulations. For further tests, bases with a flange h = 6 × 10⁻³ (m) were used, to which a stub pipe was welded using the GTAW method. After the welding process, the distortion of the base was measured with the ATOS III scanner (GOM a Zeiss company, Oberkochen, Germany). It has been shown that the developed methodology is correct, and the introduced structural and technological changes result in a favorable reduction of welding stresses and a reduction in the flatness deviation of the base in the welded joint to 0.39 × 10⁻³ (m), which meets the requirements of the standards.     

Einfluss unterschiedlicher Anrührflüssigkeiten auf die mechanischen und mikromorphologischen In-vitro-Eigenschaften von Hydroxylapatitzement

Aim

In reconstructive craniofacial surgery a new synthetic hydroxyapatite cement has been used in the last few years. Tetra- and dicalcium phosphates react with either slow setting aqua bidest. or with faster setting sodium monophosphate solution to hydroxyapatite. The aim of this study was to investigate the two mixing fluids of hydroxyapatite for resulting micromorphology, pressure strength, and interactions with fibroblasts.

Material and methods

Pressure strength tests of hydroxyapatite cement test samples (n=80) were performed after a setting time of 3 and 24 h. The micromorphology of surfaces of the resulting particles was assessed under an electron microscope. In cell cultures L-929 and HEp2 cells were incubated with test samples and cell growth was assessed by light and electron microscopy.

Results

The test samples mixed with sodium monophosphate solution showed statistically significantly higher values of pressure strength. The resulting pressure strength depended on respective mixing fluids, setting time, and pressure of application. In general, test samples mixed with sodium monophosphate solution showed a more load-stable, homogeneous anorganic matrix whereas test samples mixed with aqua bidest. had a porous microarchitecture which was more fragile. In cell culture the porous structure showed disintegration in cell culture medium.

Conclusion

To what extent the two mixing liquids of hydroxyapatite cement influence the resorption and bony substitution has to be shown in further studies.     

Memory effect of resorbable polymers]

BACKGROUND: The present study analyzed the memory effect of resorbable polymers. Depending on temperature, this effect describes the ability of different materials to "remember" their original form after mechanical deformation. Resorbable polymers serve as materials to stabilize and fix bone fractures. Compared to metal transplants, resorbable polymers are able to undergo thermoplastic deformation. The precise adaptation of the transplant to the surrounding bone guarantees an exact anatomical reconstruction. However, during normal applications, it was observed that these biodegradable plastic materials tend to revert to their original form at body temperature. This "memory effect" could result in negative consequences for the medical treatment. METHODS: By the process of compression molding, geometrically formed specimens (lattice, rod, plate) consisting of different polyglycolides and polylactides were prepared. After warming up the specimens to 50 degrees C (water bath) they were deformed into definite angles. Following this procedure, the specimens were put in a water bath at 37 degrees C to mimic the adaptation of the transplant at body temperature. The retroflexion of the material (memory effect) was measured using an XY-measuring desk. RESULTS: The present study clearly reveals that highly deformed specimens react with stronger retroflexions. In addition, the results indicate that the memory effect depends on geometrical design as well as on chemical composition. All tested polymers showed a strong initial memory effect that decreased with time.     

Lexicon of disease spread modelling terms

Over the past decade there has been a notable increase in the magnitude and variety of modelling work in the realm of animal health. Similarly, there has been an increase in the extent to which modelling is used as a component in the development of animal health policy. The increased dependency on modelling creates a need to enhance understanding and linkages between policy-makers (those that pose the policy or scientific questions, commission modelling work and use model outputs in the development of policy), intermediaries (those that are responsible for working with modellers and communicating model results to policy-makers), and modellers. Development of a lexicon of disease spread modelling terms can help support clear communication and collaboration between all players.