Tensile Response of Adhesively Bonded Composite-to-composite Single-lap Joints in the Presence of Bond Deficiency

This paper studies the quasi-static tensile response of adhesively bonded composite-to-composite single-lap joints in the presence of weak and kissing bonds, as an attempt for characterisation of bond deficiencies likely to occur in polymer composite bonded repair. Cytec FM®94 adhesive film (0.25 mm nominal thickness) was used for all joints to bond two 2mm-thickness carbon fibre polymer composite laminates manufactured from unidirectional Hexcel M21/T800S pre-pregs. Peel-ply surface treatment was used for all joints. The bonds were deteriorated via five methods: pre-curing the centre of bond area prior to the cure of the bond edges, increasing the curing temperature rate, reducing the curing time, and embedding PTFE films over the centre of the bond. For the last method, the studies were carried out by embedding PTFE films on one and two sides of the adhesive film. The bond deterioration was followed by non-destructive inspections using ultrasound C-scanning. The ultimate failure load of the joints with defected bonds (i.e. weak and kissing bonds) was measured and compared to that of the joints with no defect (i.e. good bonds). It was found that rapid curing and short-time curing reduces more than 50% of the load carrying capacity of the single-lap joins in tension while the joints with weak bonds introduced by pre-curing of a large area of the bond (>60%) can take up more than 65% of the ultimate load of the joint with good bond. Also, optical microscopy of the bond surfaces after failure showed changes in failure type for the rapid and short-time cure, strongly correlated with their significant failure load reduction

Antipsychotic dose escalation as a trigger for Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): literature review and case series report

Background: “Neuroleptic malignant syndrome” (NMS) is a potentially fatal idiosyncratic reaction to any medication which affects the central dopaminergic system. Between 0.5% and 1% of patients exposed to antipsychotics develop the condition. Mortality rates may be as high as 55% and many risk factors have been reported. Although rapid escalation of antipsychotic dose is thought to be an important risk factor, to date it has not been the focus of a published case series or scientifically defined. <p/>Aims: To identify cases of NMS and review risk factors for its development with a particular focus on rapid dose escalation in the 30 days prior to onset. <p/>Methodology: A review of the literature on rapid dose escalation was undertaken and a pragmatic definition of “rapid dose escalation” was made. NMS cases were defined using DSM-IV criteria and systematically identified within a secondary care mental health service. A ratio of titration rate was calculated for each NMS patient and “rapid escalators” and “non rapid escalators” were compared. <p/>Results: 13 cases of NMS were identified. A progressive mean dose increase 15 days prior to the confirmed episode of NMS was observed (241.7mg/day during days 1-15 to 346.9mg/day during days 16-30) and the mean ratio of dose escalation for NMS patients was 1.4. Rapid dose escalation was seen in 5/13 cases and non rapid escalators had markedly higher daily cumulative antipsychotic dose compared to rapid escalators. <p/>Conclusions: Rapid dose escalation occurred in less than half of this case series (n=5, 38.5%), although there is currently no consensus on the precise definition of rapid dose escalation. Cumulative antipsychotic dose – alongside other known risk factors - may also be important in the development of NMS

Bridging the gap from medical to psychological safety assessment: consensus study in a digital mental health context

Background: Digital Mental Health Interventions (DMHIs) that meet the definition of a medical device are regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK. The MHRA uses procedures that were originally developed for pharmaceuticals to assess the safety of DMHIs. There is recognition that this may not be ideal, as is evident by an ongoing consultation for reform led by the MHRA and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Aims: The aim of this study was to generate an experts’ consensus on how the medical regulatory method used for assessing safety could best be adapted for DMHIs. Method: An online Delphi study containing three rounds was conducted with an international panel of 20 experts with experience/knowledge in the field of UK digital mental health. Results: Sixty-four items were generated, of which 41 achieved consensus (64%). Consensus emerged around ten recommendations, falling into five main themes: Enhancing the quality of adverse events data in DMHIs; Re-defining serious adverse events for DMHIs; Reassessing short-term symptom deterioration in psychological interventions as a therapeutic risk; Maximising the benefit of the Yellow Card Scheme; and Developing a harmonised approach for assessing the safety of psychological interventions in general. Conclusion: The implementation of the recommendations provided by this consensus could improve the assessment of safety of DMHIs, making them more effective in detecting and mitigating risk

Quality of life in purely ocular myasthenia in Japan

Background: Since there has been no conclusive evidence regarding the treatment of ocular myasthenia, treatment guidelines were recently issued by the European Federation of Neurological Societies/European Neurological Society (EFNS/ENS). However, the therapeutic outcomes concerning the quality-of-life (QOL) of patients with ocular myasthenia are not yet fully understood.Methods: We investigated the therapeutic outcomes of patients with purely ocular myasthenia in a multicenter cross-sectional survey in Japan. To evaluate the severity of ocular symptoms, we used the ocular-quantitative MG (QMG) score advocated by Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America. We used the Japanese translated version of the MG-QOL15, a self-appraised scoring system.Results: Of 607 myasthenia gravis (MG) patients with an observation-duration of illness ? 2 years, the cases of 123 patients (20%) were limited to ocular muscles (purely ocular myasthenia). During the entire clinical course, 81 patients experienced both ptosis and diplopia, 36 had ptosis alone, and six had diplopia alone. Acetyl-cholinesterase inhibitors and prednisolone were used in 98 and 52 patients, respectively. Treatment improved ocular symptoms, with the mean reduction in ocular-QMG score of 2.3 ± 1.8 points. However, 47 patients (38%) failed to gain minimal manifestation or a better status. Patients with unfavorable outcomes also self-reported severe QOL impairment. Multivariate analyses showed that the pretreatment ocular-QMG score was associated with unfavorable outcomes, but not associated with the patient\u27s QOL.Conclusion: A treatment strategy designed in accord with a patient\u27s ocular presentation must be considered in order to improve ocular symptoms and the patient\u27s QOL

Woven Glass Fiber Composites with Aligned Carbon Nanotube Sheet Interlayers

This investigation describes the design, fabrication, and testing of woven glass fiber reinforced epoxy matrix laminates with aligned CNT sheets integrated between plies in order to improve the matrix dominated through thickness properties such as the interlaminar fracture toughness at ply interfaces. Using aligned CNT sheets allows for a concentration of millimeter long CNTs at the most likely point of laminate failure. Mode I and Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness of various CNT modified samples were investigated using double cantilever beam (DCB) and end notched flexure (ENF) experiments, respectively. Short beam strength (SBS) and in-plane tensile properties of the CNT modified samples were also investigated. Moderate improvement was observed in Mode I and Mode II fracture toughness at crack initiation when aligned CNT sheets with a basis weight of 0.354 g/m2 were used to modify the ply interface. No compromise in the in-plane mechanical properties of the laminate was observed and very little improvement was observed in the shear related short beam strength of the CNT modified laminates as compared to the control samples. Integration of aligned CNT sheets into the composite laminate imparted in-plane and through thickness electrical properties into the nonconductive glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite laminates

Synthesis and evaluation of anti-tubercular activity of some novel 2-pyrazoline derivatives

Purpose: Pyrazolines and its derivatives are reported to possess a wide spectrum of biological activities. Many class of chemotherapeutic agents containing pyrazoline nucleus are in clinical use. The purpose of this present study was to examine whether the molecular modification might result in detection of new potent anti-tubercular agent. Materials and Methods: A series of 2-pyrazoline compounds (P13-P24) have synthesized by treating N-(substituted aryl)-acrylamide (C13-C24). The starting material was synthesized from substituted P-aminoacetophenone and substituted benzaldehyde. Their structure was confirmed by infrared and 1 H NMR spectral data. The synthesized compounds were screened for anti-tubercular activity by Microplate Alamar Blue Assay method. Results: Compound P 15 and P 20 have shown excellent anti-tubercular activity; compound P 16 and P 22 have shown significant activity as compared with the standard and rest of them have shown moderate to low anti-tubercular activity. Conclusion: These compounds may result in the potent anti-tubercular entity with molecular modification and manipulations