Development of a Flexible Dielectric Sensor for Flow Monitoring of the Liquid Resin Infusion Process.

The analysis and design of a novel flexible dielectric sensor, which can be integrated into a composite materials manufacturing process to measure the resin frontal flow, is presented in this paper. The proposed sensor consists of two parallel line electrodes and a ground plane covered by a dielectric material. The analytical description and the electrostatic modelling were considered for the design of the sensor and to enhance the understanding of the response of the sensor to the resin impregnation of a carbon fabric during the infusion phase. The optimization of the sensor's response and the increase of its sensitivity with regards to the geometric characteristics and the materials used were the main objectives of this study. An experimental set-up for the vacuum infusion process which includes the proposed sensor was used to measure the capacitance and validate the derived resin flow against visual measurements. The results indicate that the sensor can provide information on the resin frontal flow within 2% accuracy against visual measurements, which make this technology promising for monitoring the liquid resin infusion processes.

Transforming Medical Education is the Key to Meeting North Carolina's Physician Workforce Needs.

To meet the needs of the population of North Carolina, an epic transformation is under way in health care. This transformation requires that we find new ways to educate and train physicians and other health care professionals. In this commentary, we propose that the success of the Brody School of Medicine in preparing a primary care physician workforce can serve as a model for meeting the state's future physician workforce needs. Other considerations include increasing graduate medical education positions through state funding and providing incentives for medical students who stay in North Carolina.

Meeting North Carolina's health care needs through interprofessional education and practice.

To meet the future health care needs of North Carolinians, health professions students must learn how to work together as part of an interdisciplinary team. This commentary describes how interprofessional education and team-based care can decrease the number of adverse events, improve health care delivery, and support consistent outcomes.

Transverse sinus thrombosis after internal jugular vein ligation.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral vein and dural sinus thrombosis is a rare condition with a wide range of causes and a highly variable presentation. It can lead to significant morbidity, but scant literature is available describing diagnosis and treatment when this occurs after ligation of the internal jugular vein. OBJECTIVES: To discuss potential risk factors for cerebral vein and dural sinus thrombosis after ligation of the internal jugular vein, and present current options for diagnosis and treatment. CASE REPORT: A 23-year-old male construction worker was brought to the Emergency Department by Emergency Medical Services after sustaining a severe neck laceration from a hand-held grinder. He was treated with ligation of the left internal jugular vein, but subsequently developed severe headaches and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure. A magnetic resonance venogram of the head revealed a left transverse sinus thrombosis requiring treatment with anticoagulation. The placement of a lumboperitoneal shunt was ultimately needed for relief of his symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis and aggressive therapeutic interventions are critical to prevent further morbidity in patients who develop cerebral vein and dural sinus thrombosis after ligation of the internal jugular vein.

A surgical rat model of human Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Obesity affects 30% of the United States population and its detrimental effects are obesity-related metabolic diseases. For patients refractory to conventional weight loss therapy, gastric bypass surgery is one of the proven methods for inducing a sustained weight loss and reversing the metabolic sequelae of obesity. To understand the mechanisms of weight loss and the amelioration of related metabolic comorbid conditions, a reproducible animal model is needed. We report our developmental experience with rat models of sequential Roux-en-Y gastric bypass after reproducing the diet-induced obesity that characterizes the hallmarks of human obesity. Four experiments were performed to induce weight reduction through successive modifications: In Experiment 1 a 20% stapled gastric pouch with a 16 cm biliary-pancreatic limb and a 10 cm alimentary limb accomplished sufficient weight loss within 10 days to ameliorate metabolic changes associated with obesity, but the occurrence of gastrogastric fistulas prevented sustained weight loss; in Experiment 2 the model was improved by dividing the stomach to avoid gastrogastric fistula, but again sustained weight loss was not achieved; in Experiment 3 the biliary-pancreatic limb was lengthened from 16 to 30 cm, reducing the common channel to approximately 18 cm. Sustained weight loss was achieved for 28 days. In Experiment 4 the model in Experiment 3 was modified by dividing the stomach between two rows of staples. Sustained weight loss was observed for 67 days. We developed a reproducible rat model of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. The existence of this model opens a new field of research in which to study the metabolic sequelae of obesity and the mechanisms of weight loss.

Muscle fiber type is associated with obesity and weight loss.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that muscle fiber type is related to obesity. Fiber type was compared 1) in lean and obese women, 2) in Caucasian (C) and African-American (AA) women, and 3) in obese individuals who lost weight after gastric bypass surgery. When lean (body mass index 24.0 +/- 0.9 kg/m(2), n = 28) and obese (34.8 +/- 0.9 kg/m(2), n = 25) women were compared, there were significant (P < 0.05) differences in muscle fiber type. The obese women possessed fewer type I (41.5 +/- 1.8 vs. 54.6 +/- 1.8%) and more type IIb (25.1 +/- 1.5 vs. 14.4 +/- 1.5%) fibers than the lean women. When ethnicity was accounted for, the percentage of type IIb fibers in obese AA was significantly higher than in obese C (31.0 +/- 2.4% vs. 19.2 +/- 1.9%); fewer type I fibers were also found in obese AA (34.5 +/- 2.8% vs. 48.6 +/- 2.2%). These data are consistent with the higher incidence of obesity and greater weight gain reported in AA women. With weight loss intervention, there was a positive relationship (r = 0.72, P < 0.005) between the percentage of excess weight loss and the percentage of type I fibers in morbidly obese patients. These findings indicate that there is a relationship between muscle fiber type and obesity.