Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of hinge microflow fields of bileaflet mechanical heart valves implanted in different sinus shape and downstream geometry

The characterization of the bileaflet mechanical heart valves (BMHVs) hinge microflow fields is a crucial step in heart valve engineering. Earlier in vitro studies of BMHV hinge flow at the aorta position in idealized straight pipes have shown that the aortic sinus shapes and sizes may have a direct impact on hinge microflow fields. In this paper, we used a numerical study to look at how different aortic sinus shapes, the downstream aortic arch geometry, and the location of the hinge recess can influence the flow fields in the hinge regions. Two geometric models for sinus were investigated: a simplified axisymmetric sinus and an idealized three-sinus aortic root model, with two different downstream geometries: a straight pipe and a simplified curved aortic arch. The flow fields of a 29-mm St Jude Medical BMHV with its four hinges were investigated. The simulations were performed throughout the entire cardiac cycle. At peak systole, recirculating flows were observed in curved downsteam aortic arch unlike in straight downstream pipe. Highly complex three-dimensional leakage flow through the hinge gap was observed in the simulation results during early diastole with the highest velocity at 4.7 m/s, whose intensity decreased toward late diastole. Also, elevated wall shear stresses were observed in the ventricular regions of the hinge recess with the highest recorded at 1.65 kPa. Different flow patterns were observed between the hinge regions in straight pipe and curved aortic arch models. We compared the four hinge regions at peak systole in an aortic arch downstream model and found that each individual hinge did not vary much in terms of the leakage flow rate through the valves.
Dynamic anatomy of aortic root and its potential role in TAVR prostheses further development and modification.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular disorder. Surgical aortic valve replacement is the definitive therapy for patients with severe AS. In the last years transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has been developed as an alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement with promising results. Despite being less invasive than open-chest aortic valve replacement, good outcome and effectiveness of TAVR procedure, it remains associated with the potential for serious complications and short-time durability. Today there are two TAVR prostheses that have CE marks and FDA approved: Edwards Valves and CoreValve. Besides there are many other newly developed TAVR prostheses on the stage of clinical trials. However, no one of them had been developed on the base of data for dynamic anatomy of human aortic root because of the lack of appropriate imaging modality. Today, different two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques are used for aortic root examination. But no one of them has been accepted as a “gold standard” imaging modality for assessment of dynamic anatomy of aortic root. The existing imaging modalities such as transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, angiography, CT and MRI scans provide tangential cut plane view which did not reflect the real sizes of the annulus and other aortic root rings and structures. Obtained with these modalities images did not reflect the changes of the size and shapes of the anatomic structures of aortic root during the different phase of cardiac cycles either. Today there are strict needs for imaging Mini-review Article Zarayelyan; BJMMR, 5(12): 1534-1546, 2015; Article no.BJMMR. 2015.173 1535 modality which could assist in assessment of dynamic aortic root to push the TAVR prosthesis design and modification on new level.
Eficácia da fonoterapia em disfagia neurogênica usando a escala funcional de ingestão por via oral (FOIS) como marcador

PURPOSE: to evaluate efficacy of speech therapy treatments and the interference of risk factors in adult patients admitted to the wards with neurological diseases and symptoms of dysphagia, using the functional oral intake scale as parameter of safe progression for oral feeding. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study on forty-nine patients with neurogenic dysphagia under speech therapy sessions while in the wards and a comparison between the results of the functional oral intake scale before and after the therapy sessions(measuring the amount and type of orally-taken food in a safe manner by the patients). Possible factors affecting the therapy such as etiology of the neurologic disease, age, respiratory and clinical conditions, alertness, time and duration of the therapy sessions were studied. RESULTS: over the 49 studied patients, 36 showed improvement in the FOIS after speech therapy sessions. Regarding possible factors affecting the therapy, statistical analysis showed that deterioration of clinical condition, clinical intercurrences and decreased level of alertness were significant factors for the lack of progress to oral feeding during the speech therapy sessions. The other factors, etiology of disease, age, respiratory condition, time and number of sessions, did not demonstrate statistical significance. However, they did not interfere in improving or worsening the patients' clinical condition. CONCLUSION: there is an effective improvement in feeding by oral intake in patients with neurogenic dysphagia being treated by speech therapy sessions in the hospital wards. However, it cannot be achieved if the patient shows clinical intercurrences and decreased alertness level.
Evaluation of the protective capacity of baseball helmets for concussive impacts

The purpose of this research was to examine how four different types of baseball helmets perform for baseball impacts when performance was measured using variables associated with concussion. A helmeted Hybrid III headform was impacted by a baseball, and linear and rotational acceleration as well as maximum principal strain were measured for each impact condition. The method was successful in distinguishing differences in design characteristics between the baseball helmets. The results indicated that there is a high risk of concussive injury from being hit by a ball regardless of helmet worn.
Computational modeling of shear forces and experimental validation of endothelial cell responses in an orbital well shaker system

Vascular endothelial cells are continuously exposed to hemodynamic shear stress. Intensity and type of shear stress are highly relevant to vascular physiology and pathology. Here, we modeled shear stress distribution in a tissue culture well (R = 17.5 mm, fill volume 2 ml) under orbital translation using computational fluid dynamics with the finite element method. Free surface distribution, wall shear stress, inclination angle, drag force, and oscillatory index on the bottom surface were modeled. Obtained results predict nonuniform shear stress distribution during cycle, with higher oscillatory shear index, higher drag force values, higher circular component, and larger inclination angle of the shear stress at the periphery of the well compared with the center of the well. The oscillatory index, inclination angle, and drag force are new quantitative parameters modeled in this system, which provide a better understanding of the hydrodynamic conditions experienced and reflect the pulsatile character of blood flow in vivo. Validation experiments revealed that endothelial cells at the well periphery aligned under flow and increased Kruppel-like Factor 4 (KLF-4), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation. In contrast, endothelial cells at the center of the well did not show clear directional alignment, did not induce the expression of KLF-4 and COX-2 nor increased eNOS phosphorylation. In conclusion, this improved computational modeling predicts that the orbital shaker model generates different hydrodynamic conditions at the periphery versus the center of the well eliciting divergent endothelial cell responses. The possibility of generating different hydrodynamic conditions in the same well makes this model highly attractive to study responses of distinct regions of the same endothelial monolayer to different types of shear stresses thereby better reflecting in vivo conditions.
Influence of the strategies and biomechanical parameters on the capacity to handle balance perturbation: a numerical assessment

Influence of the strategies and biomechanical parameters on the capacity to handle balance perturbation: a numerical assessment P. Vallée & T. Robert To cite this article: P. Vallée & T. Robert (2015) Influence of the strategies and biomechanical parameters on the capacity to handle balance perturbation: a numerical assessment, Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 18:sup1, 2074-2075, DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2015. 1069613 To link to this article: http://dx.doi. org/10.1080/10255842.2015. 1069613
Gait synthesis for an anthropomorphic human model with articulated feet

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Fertility preservation options in pediatric and adolescent patients with cancer

The incidence of childhood cancer has steadily increased since the 1950s, with approximately 16,000 children diagnosed each year. However, with the advent of more effective multimodal therapies, childhood cancer survival rates have continued to improve over the past 40 years, with >80% of patients now surviving into adulthood. Fertility preservation (FP) has become an important quality‐of‐life issue for many survivors of childhood cancer. As a result, the therapeutic options have become less gonadotoxic over time and more patients are being offered FP options. This review examines the indications for consultation, male and female FP options both in the prepubertal patient and adolescent patient, and the unique ethical issues surrounding FP in this vulnerable population. Cancer 2018;124:1867‐76. © 2018 American Cancer Society.
Finite element modelling approaches for well-ordered porous metallic materials for orthopaedic applications: cost effectiveness and geometrical considerations

Abstract The mechanical properties of well-ordered porous materials are related to their geometrical parameters at the mesoscale. Finite element (FE) analysis is a powerful tool to design well-ordered porous materials by analysing the mechanical behaviour. However, FE models are often computationally expensive. This article aims to develop a cost-effective FE model to simulate well-ordered porous metallic materials for orthopaedic applications. Solid and beam FE modelling approaches are compared, using finite size and infinite media models considering cubic unit cell geometry. The model is then applied to compare two unit cell geometries: cubic and diamond. Models having finite size provide similar results than the infinite media model approach for large sample sizes. In addition, these finite size models also capture the influence of the boundary conditions on the mechanical response for small sample sizes. The beam FE modelling approach showed little computational cost and similar results to the solid FE modelling approach. Diamond unit cell geometry appeared to be more suitable for orthopaedic applications than the cubic unit cell geometry.
Bare Below the Elbows: Professionalism vs Infection Risk

In September 2007 the Department of Health (DH) published a document entitled Uniforms and workwear: An evidence base for developing local policy. This report tackled the issues of wearing and appropriately laundering workwear in an effort to advise employers when creating their local policy. It was based on two literature reviews carried out by Thames Valley University known as TVU1 and TVU2. These studies looked at the evidence surrounding the role of uniforms in the transmission of infection (TVU1), the efficacy of laundry practices in removing contamination (TVU1) and how public perception of both the individual and the organisation is altered by uniforms (TVU2).
Real-time inverse kinematics and inverse dynamics for lower limb applications using OpenSim

Abstract Real-time estimation of joint angles and moments can be used for rapid evaluation in clinical, sport, and rehabilitation contexts. However, real-time calculation of kinematics and kinetics is currently based on approximate solutions or generic anatomical models. We present a real-time system based on OpenSim solving inverse kinematics and dynamics without simplifications at 2000 frame per seconds with less than 31.5 ms of delay. We describe the software architecture, sensitivity analyses to minimise delays and errors, and compare offline and real-time results. This system has the potential to strongly impact current rehabilitation practices enabling the use of personalised musculoskeletal models in real-time.
The optimal density of cellular solids in axial tension

Abstract For cellular bodies with uniform cell size, wall thickness, and shape, an important question is whether the same volume of material has the same effect when arranged as many small cells or as fewer large cells. To answer this question, for finite element models of periodic structures of Mooney-type material with different structural geometry and subject to large strain deformations, we identify a nonlinear elastic modulus as the ratio between the mean effective stress and the mean effective strain in the solid cell walls, and show that this modulus increases when the thickness of the walls increases, as well as when the number of cells increases while the volume of solid material remains fixed. Since, under the specified conditions, this nonlinear elastic modulus increases also as the corresponding mean stress increases, either the mean modulus or the mean stress can be employed as indicator when the optimum wall thickness or number of cells is sought.
Multi-scale analysis of the effect of nano-filler particle diameter on the physical properties of CAD/CAM composite resin blocks

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the effect of silica nano-filler particle diameters in a computer-aided design/manufacturing (CAD/CAM) composite resin (CR) block on physical properties at the multi-scale in silico. CAD/CAM CR blocks were modeled, consisting of silica nano-filler particles (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 nm) and matrix (Bis-GMA/TEGDMA), with filler volume contents of 55.161%. Calculation of Young’s moduli and Poisson’s ratios for the block at macro-scale were analyzed by homogenization. Macro-scale CAD/CAM CR blocks (3 × 3 × 3 mm) were modeled and compressive strengths were defined when the fracture loads exceeded 6075 N. MPS values of the nano-scale models were compared by localization analysis. As the filler size decreased, Young’s moduli and compressive strength increased, while Poisson’s ratios and MPS decreased. All parameters were significantly correlated with the diameters of the filler particles (Pearson’s correlation test, r = −0.949, 0.943, −0.951, 0.976, p < 0.05). The in silico multi-scale model established in this study demonstrates that the Young’s moduli, Poisson’s ratios, and compressive strengths of CAD/CAM CR blocks can be enhanced by loading silica nanofiller particles of smaller diameter. CAD/CAM CR blocks by using smaller silica nano-filler particles have a potential to increase fracture resistance.
Predictive simulation of surgery effect on cerebral palsy gait

Surgery planning in cerebral palsy is a complex task given the number of surgical procedures that can be combined in the same operation. Decision-making is usually based on physical examination and 3-D clinical gait analysis, but the surgery outcome remains difficult to predict. Some decision-making tools have recently been developed to predict surgery outcome (Desailly et al., 2013; Hicks et al., 2011; Reinbolt et al., 2011), but most of these predictions are whether qualitative (‘good’ and ‘bad’ outcomes), or adapted to unique surgical procedures or gait patterns, which makes difficult to imagine how the patient would walk after the surgery. Galarraga et al. (2017) predicts postoperative kinematics for several surgical combinations, but the contribution of each surgical procedure is unclear. The objective of this study is to simulate the effect of surgery on gait of children with cerebral palsy in order to predict the most likely outcome and the probable contribution of each considered surgical procedure.
BRAF (V600E) mutation analysis on liquid‐based cytology‐processed aspiration biopsies predicts bilaterality and lymph node involvement in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Activating mutations in the valine‐to‐glutamic acid substitution at position 600 of the v‐raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF‐1) gene are detected frequently in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). These mutations have been identified in approximately 29% to 69% of PTCs and in >80% of PTCs of the tall cell variant, whereas they have not been detected in benign lesions or in the majority of those (80%) with the follicular variant of PTC. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the role of liquid‐based cytology (LBC) for the detection of BRAF mutations in the outcome of patients who have thyroid PTC measuring ≤1 cm and, hence, in guiding their clinical and surgical management.
Assessing the use of 3H–3He dating to determine the subsurface transit time of cave drip waters

3H–3He measurements constitute a well-established method for the determination of the residence time of young groundwater. However, this method has rarely been applied to karstified aquifers and in particular to drip water in caves, despite the importance of the information which may be obtained. Besides the determination of transfer times of climate signals from the atmosphere through the epikarst to speleothems as climate archives, 3H–3He together with Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe data may also help to give new insights into the local hydrogeology, e.g. the possible existence of a perched aquifer above a cave. In order to check the applicability of 3H–3He dating to cave drips, we collected drip water samples from three adjacent caves in northwestern Germany during several campaigns. The noble gas data were evaluated by inverse modelling to obtain recharge temperature and excess air, supporting the calculation of the tritiogenic 3He and hence the 3H–3He age. Although atmospheric noble gases were often found to be close to equilibrium with the cave atmosphere, several drip water samples yielded an elevated 3He/4He ratio, providing evidence for the accumulation of 3He from the decay of 3H. No significant contribution of radiogenic 4He was found, corresponding to the low residence times mostly in the range of one to three years. Despite complications during sampling, conditions of a perched aquifer could be confirmed by replicate samples at one drip site. Here, the excess air indicator ΔNe was about 10 %, comparable to typical values found in aquifers in mid-latitudes. The mean 3H–3He age of 2.1 years at this site presumably refers to the residence time in the perched aquifer and is lower than the entire transit time of 3.4 years estimated from the tritium data.
ISOIMMUNIZATION IN PREGNANCY: ITS POSSIBLE BEARING ON THE ETIOLOGY OF ERYTHROBLASTOSIS FOETALIS

A number of transfusion accidents in pregnancy have been reported in the literature, even though the donor, frequently the husband, was in the same blood group as the patient.1In one instance analyzed by Levine and Stetson2it was assumed that the accident could be attributed to an agglutinin resulting from immunization of the mother by factors in the fetus inherited from the father. Analysis of a series of 12 cases in which atypical agglutinins could be demonstrated revealed the significant fact that these patients presented obstetric histories characterized by a number of complications such as toxemia, macerated fetus, repeated abortions, miscarriages or stillbirths.3 Recently 5 additional patients with atypical agglutinins were observed, 3 of whom gave birth to infants suffering from erythroblastosis foetalis. The obstetric histories of these cases are so striking as to merit brief mention. One patient, J. L. (decigravida, sextipara), now pregnant and
Opportunities for cytotechnologists in a changing environment

Ms. Cahill is the quality/education supervisor for the division of anatomic pathology and a senior cytotechnologist at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System in Richmond, Virginia. She is a member of the American Society of Cytopathology, for which she is currently serving on the Clinical Practice Committee. She has served on the Executive Board as well as chair of the Cytotechnology Advisory Committee. She has participated in several American Society of Cytopathology-sponsored Task Forces such as the Professional Identity of the Cytotechnologist Task Force, the “Future of Cytopathology Summit,” and the drafting of the white paper entitled “Facing the Future of Cytopathology: Discerning the Future Needs of Our Profession” as an Executive Board member. She has also served on the Cytotechnology Programs Review Committee, and is cochair of the Cytopathology Committee for the American Society for Clinical Pathology.
Changes in the Extracellular Matrix Are Associated With the Development of Serous Tubal Intraepithelial Carcinoma Into High-Grade Serous Carcinoma

Objective The identification of a marker for early progression of preinvasive lesions into invasive pelvic high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) may provide novel handles for innovative screening and prevention strategies. The interplay between cancer cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) is one of the main principles in cancer development and growth, but has been largely neglected in preinvasive lesions. This is the first study addressing the involvement of the ECM in the “step-by-step” transition of normal fallopian tube epithelium into preinvasive lesions, and eventually the progression of preinvasive lesions into invasive HGSC. Methods The expression of highly sulfated chondroitin sulfate (CS-E), a characteristic glycosaminoglycan of the cancer-associated ECM, was assessed by immunohistochemistry in a large cohort of precursor lesions of the full spectrum of HGSC development, including 97 serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas (STICs), 27 serous tubal intraepithelial lesions, and 24 p53 signatures. In addition, the immunological reactivity in the microenvironment was evaluated. Results Increased stromal expression of highly sulfated CS-E was observed in 3.7%, 57.7%, and 90.6% of serous tubal intraepithelial lesions, STICs, and invasive HGSCs, respectively (P < 0.001). No or limited expression was found in p53 signatures and normal tubal epithelium (compared with STIC, P < 0.001). A gradual increase in the amount of CS-E expression between STIC and paired HGSC was demonstrated. Intense stromal CS-E expression in STIC was significantly associated with an immune infiltrate (P < 0.001). Conclusions Our study showed that increased stromal CS-E expression is related to the degree of the tubal epithelium abnormality. Specific alterations in the ECM (ie, CS-E expression) occur early in pelvic HGSC development and may represent a novel biomarker of early cancer progression, useful for the identification of novel clinical strategies.