The Ogden and the extended tube model as backbone in describing electroactive polymers: advancements in modelling nonlinear behaviour and fracture.

Hyperelastic constitutive relations form the basis of advanced models for novel materials. Such elastic deformation potentials are the backbone for complex material formulations at elastic and inelastic deformations, especially when embedded into powerful frameworks like generalized standard materials, as well as multiphysical and multiscale formulations. With the focus on electroactive polymers, the article at hand demonstrates the derivation of a variational, rate-dependent electromechanical model for quasi-incompressible polymers and the derivation of an electromechanical model for regularized fracture mechanics by means of the phase-field method. Starting at the prominent Ogden and the extended tube model, some developments from the last decades are revisited and presented via the principle of virtual power, for instance, the established mixed element formulation, nonlinear viscoelasticity and electromechanical coupling. An electromechanically fully coupled representative crack element is used to derive a novel phase-field model for fracture. A key property of the proposed model is the ability to describe the electrical free-space behaviour inside the crack gap, which is demonstrated by adopting three common crack-face conditions. This article is part of the theme issue 'The Ogden model of rubber mechanics: Fifty years of impact on nonlinear elasticity'.

Validation of automated fluorescent-based technology for measuring total nucleated cell viability of hematopoietic progenitor cell products.

BACKGROUND: A reliable rapid method for measuring total nucleated cell (TNC) viability is essential for cell-based products manufacturing. The trypan blue (TB) exclusion method, commonly used to measure TNC viability of hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) products, is a subjective assay, typically uses a microscope, and includes a limited number of cells. The NucleoCounter NC-200 is an automated fluorescent-based cell counter that uses pre-calibrated cartridges with acridine orange and DAPI dyes to measure cell count and viability. This study describes the validation of the NC-200 for testing HPC's viability. METHODS: Samples from 189 fresh and 60 cryopreserved HPC products were included. Fresh products were tested for viability after collection by both TB and NC-200. 7-aminoactinomycin D (7AAD) CD45+ cell viability results were obtained from a flow cytometry test. Cryopreserved products thawed specimens were tested for viability by both TB and NC-200. The NC-200 viability results were compared with the other methods. Acceptability criteria were defined as ≤10% difference between the NC-200 method and the other methods for at least 95% of the samples. RESULTS: Fresh products' mean viability difference between NC-200 and TB or 7AAD CD45+ method was 4.9% (95%CI 4.6-5.4) and 2.8% (95%CI 2.2-3.4), respectively. Thawed products' mean viability difference between NC-200 and TB was 3.0% (95%CI 0.4-5.6). CONCLUSION: The NC-200 automated fluorescent-based method can be used effectively to determine HPC's viability for both fresh and cryopreserved products. It can help eliminate human bias and provide consistent data and operational ease.

A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label Trial Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Monoclonal Anti-Rh (D) Immunoglobulin with Polyclonal Anti-Rh (D) Immunoglobulin for the Prevention of Maternal Rh-Isoimmunization.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy and safety of monoclonal anti-Rhesus (anti-D) immunoglobulin (IgG) with polyclonal anti-D IgG in the prevention of maternal Rh-isoimmunization. METHODS: This was a randomized, multicenter, open-label, comparative clinical trial conducted in the obstetric in-patient departments of nine tertiary care hospitals in India. 206 Rhesus (D)-negative women, not sensitized to Rh antigen, and delivering Rh positive babies, received postpartum intramuscular administration of monoclonal or polyclonal anti-D IgG. The main outcome measures were the proportion of subjects protected from Rh-isoimmunization, identified by a negative indirect Coombs test (ICT) result, at day 180 after anti-D IgG administration, and incidence of adverse events. RESULTS: 105 subjects were randomized to the monoclonal group and 101 to the polyclonal group. 94 from the monoclonal group had a negative ICT result and none had a positive ICT result at day 180, whereas 87 from the polyclonal group had a negative ICT result and one had a positive ICT result; the rest (11 and 13 subjects respectively) were lost to follow-up. A total of 5 adverse events were reported (3 in the monoclonal group and 2 in the polyclonal group); only one of these was serious. All the adverse events were judged to be unrelated to the interventional drug. None of the subjects in the monoclonal group developed immunogenic reaction to the monoclonal anti-D. CONCLUSION: The efficacy and safety of the monoclonal preparation of anti-D was comparable to the polyclonal preparation of anti-D when used in the prevention of maternal Rh-isoimmunization.Trial registration Clinical Trial Registration Number: CTRI/2015/09/006172.

Effects of Epidural Labour Analgesia in Mother and Foetus.

OBJECTIVE: Aim of study was to determine effect of epidural analgesia on progress of labour and mode of delivery, to find out its complications in labour and puerperium and to evaluate neonatal outcome in terms of APGAR score. METHOD: The present study was conducted in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Government Medical College Aurangabad over period of 2 years from June 2014 to June 2016 after taking approval from institutional ethical board. Hundred low-risk primigravidas were included in the study, 50 women received epidural analgesia for relief of labour pain at 3-4 cm and 50 women served as control. The important  outcome  FACTORS studied were the following : (1) duration of active phase of I stage, and II stage, (2) mode of delivery, (3) APGAR scores, (4) untoward reactions and intrapartum complications, (5) overall satisfaction of the mother. RESULTS: The operative delivery rates were not significantly different in both the groups (8% in the control group and 6% in the study group: p value NS, i.e. > 0.05). The duration of first stage (our study showed no significant difference in the duration of first stage in both the study and control groups p value > 0.05) and second stage of labour (p value NS > 0.05) and the need for oxytocin were comparable in the two groups. The side effects observed were minimal. It has given excellent pain relief and improved neonatal outcome (5 min). EA is associated with rates of vaginal delivery (88 v/s 84%) and LSCS rate (8 v/s 6%) which are comparable with control group. CONCLUSION: Epidural analgesia is a very promising, safe and effective method of pain relief. No major complications and a good APGAR score make it a good option of care in modern obstetrics.

Role of fetal Doppler and non-stress test in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.

OBJECTIVES: To study the efficacy of fetal Doppler and non-stress test (NST) in predicting fetal compromise in preeclampsia and growth-restricted fetuses. METHODS: ln a prospective study, 189 pregnant women beyond 32 weeks of gestation with preeclampsia or growth-restricted fetuses confirmed by ultrasound were evaluated by Doppler velocimetry (umbilical and middle cerebral artery) and non-stress testing. The outcome of pregnancy was recorded according to Group I (n = 109, Doppler and NST normal), Group II (n = 48, Doppler abnormal and NST normal), Group III (n = 14, Doppler normal and NST abnormal), and Group IV (n = 18, Doppler and NST both abnormal). The evaluation was done by Chi square testing. RESULTS: Both Doppler and NST had a better specificity and negative predictive value, indicating that these tests were more predictive of a healthy fetus. The fetal compromise in terms of APGAR scores, NICU admissions, birth weight, etc., was greater when both Doppler and NST were abnormal. Doppler detected changes earlier in the disease cascade than NST as evidenced by the lead time of 5.86 days. CONCLUSION: The use of both the tests is necessary as it helps in detecting a spectrum of fetuses compromised at various stages of disease affection.

Clinical Study of Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2 (ATCC PTA-11748) in the Treatment of Patients with Bacterial Vaginosis.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most prevalent vaginal infection worldwide and is characterized by reduction of native lactobacilli. Antimicrobial therapy used to cure the disease is often found to be ineffective. We postulate that Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2 (Unique Biotech Limited, India) might provide an appendage to antimicrobial treatment and improve curing rate. In the present study 40 Indian women diagnosed with BV by the presence of symptoms including white discharge, pH greater than 4.7, burning micturation, itching, soreness and redness at vulva. The subjects were divided in 2 groups probiotic (n = 20) and control (n = 20) based on age (control group, 33 ± 3 years and probiotic group, 32.5 ± 3 years), history of previous vaginosis (control group, 75% or 15/20 and probiotic group, 75% or 15/20) and severity of current vaginosis infection (burning micturation and itching, 35% in each group). Probiotic group subjects were assigned to receive a dose of antibiotic therapy [Ofloxacin-Ornidazole with strength of 200-500 mg per capsule/day for 5 days along with vaginal peccaries (co-kimaxazol) for 3 days] simultaneously with two probiotic capsules (10(9) CFUs of Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2 per capsule). The control group received only antibiotic therapy. At the end of the treatment the 80% of probiotic group subjects showed significant positive response as revealed by reduction of vaginosis symptoms compared to the control group which exhibited reduction in 45% subjects only. Thus, the results of present study indicate that strain Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2 can provide benefits to women being treated with antibiotics to cure an infectious condition.

The rising incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus and the role of environmental factors--three decade experience in a primary care health center in Saudi Arabia.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of type 1 diabetes has been increasing all over the world including Saudi Arabia and environmental factors have been suggested to play an important role in its etiology. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate if there are any contributory roles of various environmental factors in the rising incidence of type 1 diabetes in children in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of Saudi Arab subjects (n = 119) diagnosed between 1980 and 2009 with type 1 diabetes and these subjects were classified to six groups on the basis of the onset of diabetes. RESULTS: 119 subjects (61 boys and 58 girls) with confirmed diagnosis of type 1 diabetes met the study eligibility criteria. 89 children (74%) presented with ketoacidosis. The mean age of onset was 4 3/4 years for Group II and age of onset increased to above 8 years on subsequent years. Excessive weight gain was noted in all study groups. No etiological influences of maternal age at birth, birth order, birth weight, early introduction of cow's milk and cereals, infections and vaccines as well as nitrate levels in drinking water were noted in any of the groups. The predicted doubling of diabetes in young children below 5 years as in previous studies was not found in our study. CONCLUSIONS: The rising incidence of type 1 diabetes over the last 30 years is not proved to have been influenced by various environmental factors.

Genetic resistance to Heterakis gallinarum in two chicken layer lines following a single dose infection.

Groups of White Leghorn and New Hampshire male and female chicks were reared under helminth-free conditions and divided into two groups at an age of 8 weeks. One group was artificially infected with 100 embryonated Heterakis gallinarum eggs, while the other group was kept as uninfected control. After 8 weeks all animals were harvested and worm burden was established. Maximum of 60 worms per bird randomly selected were measured for length. Body weights were recorded at 8 and 16 weeks of age. Total worm burden was significantly (P<0.0001) higher in infected males than in infected females. Furthermore, White Leghorns showed a significantly (P=0.011) higher number of worms when compared with New Hampshire animals. Average worm lengths were not significantly different between the breeds (P=0.155) and sexes (P=0.062). Correlations between worm burden and worm length was 0.08 (P=0.140). The daily weight gains between 8 and 16 weeks of age of the infected animals were significantly (P=0.038) lower when compared with the control group. There was no significant correlation between daily weight gain and worm burden. The estimated heritabilities for logarithm (ln) worm burden were 0.41 (S.E.+/-0.086) in White Leghorn and 0.31 (S.E.+/-0.126) in New Hampshire, respectively. Based on the estimated heritabilities it is possible to select for H. gallinarum resistance in both genetically distinct chicken breeds. This approach may be of importance for chickens kept in floor husbandry systems.

Tipos y técnicas de blanqueamiento dental

Detalla tipos y técnicas actuales de blanqueamiento. Requisitos previos para su lectura: registro del usuario y creación de contraseña, acceso a través del programa Acrobat Reader o similar.

Evaluation of intracranial cysts by intraoperative MR.

Eleven patients with intracranial cystic collections were evaluated in the open-bore intraoperative MR system. In each case, the cystic collection or the surrounding cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space was injected with .02 to .5 cc of .5 mol/l gadopentetate dimeglumine. Serial imaging was performed using T1-weighted imaging. In seven patients, free communication was demonstrated between the cystic collection and the surrounding CSF spaces. In four cases, the cyst did not communicate with the CSF; two of these were drained in the intraoperative MR system with reduction in symptoms. One patient developed an aseptic meningitis 10 days after the study, which was successfully treated with steroids; no other complications were noted. We conclude that the communication of intracranial cystic collections with the cisterns and ventricles can be safely and effectively elucidated with gadolinium injection in the intraoperative MR system.

Knowledge and practice of mothers regarding pulse polio immunization in National Capital Territory of Delhi.

PIP: Poliomyelitis continues to be a major public health problem in India leading to high morbidity and mortality among children under age 5 years. To address this problem, pulse polio immunization (PPI) on two National Immunization Days was conducted in the country in 1995. This paper presents findings of a study that was conducted in the National Capital Territory of Delhi to examine mothers' knowledge regarding PPI and routine Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) immunization schedule and their practice regarding the availing of its services. A total of 481 mothers participated in the study. Findings showed that 97.7% of mothers were aware of this special poliomyelitis vaccination program, while 2.3% were unaware of it. 75% of mothers correctly reported the age group of children receiving OPV to be less than 3 years, while 11% reported that it was being given to all age groups. Moreover, awareness of mothers regarding some aspects of routine OPV immunization was very low. 43% of mothers had incorrect knowledge regarding age of initiation of OPV, and 68% had incorrect knowledge regarding the number of primary doses of OPV. Given the consistently high coverage of the three primary doses of OPV in Delhi, these findings could be explained on the basis of poor emphasis of information, education, and communication activities in routine functioning by health professionals and paramedical workers.^ieng