Distribution of Mode I Stress Intensity Factors for Single Circumferential Semi-Elliptical Crack in Thick Cylinder

In this paper, mode I stress intensity factors (SIFs) are calculated numerically by finite element software ANSYS, for a single semi-elliptical circumferential crack on a thick cylinder. The examined cracks were located either on the external or internal surface of the cylinder and subjected to two different types of loadings, tension and internal pressure, applied separately. To present results in a more comprehensive form, dimensionless analysis is used, and a wide variation limit of parameters that define the crack geometry is considered. The ratio of crack depth to crack length ranging between 0.4 to 1.2, the ratio of crack depth to cylinder wall thickness vary between 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8, and the ratio of the cylinder wall thickness to the cylinder internal radius 0.25. Based on the obtained results, distributions of SIFs found to be symmetric along the crack front. The location where the maximum SIFs on the crack front attained is strongly affected by the change of aspect ratio, and external cracks generally exhibit a higher SIFs than those of internal cracks. It is also found a significant effect for the relative depth of the crack on SIFs value, which could accelerate the fracture process

Maternal thyroid function in women undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation during IVF and its relation to reproductive outcome.

A prospective observational study undertaken in 2013 at Medically Assisted Conception unit of UKM Medical Centre. The study was carried out among women scheduled for COH in preparation in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). A total of 88 were included for final analysis. Serum thyroid levels were measured at 4 points; before stimulation (T1), day 10 –13 of cycle (T2), during oocyte retrieval (T3) and at one week following embryo transfer (T4). Results were analyzed according to reproductive outcome

Monitoring of physical activity promotion in children and adolescents in the EU: Current status and future perspectives

Background: Policy action is required to address physical inactivity in boys and girls. This action can be supported by international data collection, comparisons and sharing of good practices. Thus, this study aims to present and discuss the ongoing monitoring of physical activity (PA) indicators in children and adolescents in the 28 EU Member States. Methods: Data on PA recommendations, PA prevalence, physical education (PE) and PA promotion programs for children and adolescents were provided by governments in a joint EU/WHO survey on the implementation status of the EU Council Recommendation on Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) across Sectors. Results: In 23 countries, national recommendations on PA are available. Detailed PA prevalence data among children and adolescents was available in 27 countries, in most cases separately for sex/gender and age groups. The total amount of PE lessons in schools differed greatly between countries and lessons were predominantly mandatory. After-school HEPA promotion programs were mostly implemented in EU Member States (78.6%), followed by active school breaks (57.1%), active travel to school (57.1%) and active breaks during school lessons (53.6%). Conclusions: This study summarizes the monitoring of PA indicators among children and adolescents in all EU Member States by providing a comprehensive overview of the status of PA promotion and monitoring across the region. Based on our findings, it could be concluded that the current EU monitoring system on PA promotion should be adapted to provide evidence that can inform future policy development. © 2021 The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association

Intracystic haemorrhage in a non-endometriotic Mullerian vaginal cyst: an unexpected phenomenon

We report a case of rare, Mullerian vaginal cyst with intracystic haemorrhage in the absence of endometrial components. To date, this is the second case reported in the literature. A 51-year-old post-menopausal woman with history of anterior vaginal wall cyst was misdiagnosed to have cystocele. The cyst was excised and the content was old blood mixed with mucous. Histopathological examination revealed a Mullerian vaginal cyst without endometrial component. Thus, diagnosis and management of vaginal cyst was revisited and discussed

Sago enterprise / Hanani Omar... [et al.]

SAGO ENTERPRISE is a business that focuses on producing products based from the sago palm (Metroxylon sp.). Our products are sago flour and Tebalui and had certificated from Sabah Forestry Department. All of these products are high demand especially in northern Sabah because it is highly used on a tourism sector. Unfortunately, the producers of sago products is very limited suppliers and about only 3 suppliers around Sabah. For the reason, we produce sago products to local people and small holders. According to the Sabah's history (early 1940), sago has saving many of people around Kuala Penyu and Beaufort on Japanese colonization. At that moment, the local people don't have any source of food especially rice because all of food sources has been taken by Japanese soldiers. Nowadays, the sago palm became as a commercial plant that can give better profit for those who involve with these plant. This is because only several areas in our country get benefit from it. As we know, sago is also has a potential to be a substitute product for substituting the starch flour

Study recruitment factors in advanced cancer: the Prognosis in Palliative care Study II (PiPS2) - a multicentre, prospective, observational cohort project.

Objectives: The Prognosis in Palliative care Study II (PiPS2) was a large multicentre observational study validating prognostic tools in patients with advanced cancer. Many palliative care studies fail to reach their recruitment target. To inform future studies, PiPS2 rigorously monitored and identified any potential recruitment barriers. / Methods: Key recruitment stages (ie, whether patients were eligible for the study, approached by the researchers and whether consent was obtained for enrolment) were monitored via comprehensive screening logs at participating sites (inpatient hospices, hospitals and community palliative care teams). The reasons for patients’ ineligibility, inaccessibility or decision not to consent were documented. / Results: 17 014 patients were screened across 27 participating sites over a 20-month recruitment period. Of those, 4642 (27%) were ineligible for participation in the study primarily due to non-cancer diagnoses. Of 12 372 eligible patients, 9073 (73%) were not approached, the most common reason being a clinical decision not to do so. Other reasons included patients’ death or discharge before they were approached by the researchers. Of the 3299 approached patients, 1458 (44%) declined participation mainly because of feeling too unwell, experiencing severe distress or having other competing priorities. 11% (n=1841/17 014) of patients screened were enrolled in the study, representing 15% (n=1841/12 372) of eligible patients. Different recruitment patterns were observed across inpatient hospice, hospital and community palliative care teams. / Conclusions: The main barrier to recruitment was ‘accessing’ potentially eligible patients. Monitoring key recruitment stages may help to identify barriers and facilitators to enrolment and allow results to be put into better context

Impact of the First Wave of COVID-19 on Physical Activity Promotion in the European Union: Results From a Policymaker Survey

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is a major challenge for societies and governments around the world that severely affects all aspects of health promotion. This study assesses the potential influence of the first wave of the pandemic on national physical activity promotion policy in the European Union (EU). Methods: Data were collected using an online survey among members of the EU Physical Activity Focal Point Network, which consists of government officials from all EU member states. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected physical activity promotion across the EU. In particular, experts indicated that it has negatively impacted opportunities for physical activity in their countries. There have, however, been positive effects of the crisis on public awareness of physical activity. While almost all countries were able to issue physical activity recommendations during quarantine, opinions varied regarding the overall impact of the pandemic on governmental capacities for physical activity promotion and policy. Conclusions: This study shows that the COVID-19 crisis has had both negative and positive effects on physical activity promotion in the EU. The positive experiences reported by some members of the Focal Point Network may assist other countries in identifying potential policy windows and strategies for the ongoing pandemic

Physicochemical properties of cocoa butter replacers from supercritical carbon dioxide extracted mango seed fat and palm oil mid-fraction blends

Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2 ) extracted mango seed fat (MSF) was blended with palm oil mid-fraction (POMF) to obtain cocoa butter replacers (CBRs). The fatty acid constituents and physicochemical properties of the formulated blends were analysed by gas chromatography (GC). In this study, the fatty acid constituents and other physicochemical properties such as iodine value (43.2 to 43.4 g I2 /100 g fat), saponification value (195.7 to 195.9 mg KOH/g fat), acid value (2.1 to 2.7%), and slip melting point (33.8 to 34.9°C) of blends MSF/POMF at ratios 85/15, 80/20, 75/25, and 70/30 were found similar to the physicochemical properties of commercial cocoa butter. Thus, it could be concluded that the MSF/POMF blends that are blends 85/15, 80/20, 75/25, and 70/30 (3 to 6) could be suggested as CBRs in terms of the physicochemical properties like fatty acid constituents, iodine, saponification and acid values and slip melting poin

Correction to: The prognosis in palliative care study II (PiPS2): study protocol for a multi-centre, prospective, observational, cohort study

After publication, the authors noticed some minor errors in "Nested qualitative sub-study" section, first paragraph of the section, page 7 of the published article. The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-018-0352-