Viscoelastic modelling of fibre-reinforced thermoplastics in hygrothermal circumstances

© 2022 The authors. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11043-022-09566-9Thermoplastics are favourable to the automotive industry due to their recycling possibility. Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics (CFRTP) are passed through the automotive paint shop. The imposed thermal loading presents a challenge to implementing economically feasible CFRTP in body structures. The present study provides a simulation approach to analyse the anisotropic viscoelastic deformation behaviour to assess this scenario. Validation experiments were conducted by optically measuring the out-of-plane displacement of dry and moisture-saturated specimens subjected to a simulated cathodic dip painting-dryer. Preliminary lay-up assessment for the automotive painting process is deemed possible due to the good agreement between simulation and experiments.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.Published versio

Increased central artery stiffness in impaired glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes - The Hoorn study

Impaired glucose metabolism (IGM) and type 2 diabetes (DM-2) are associated with high cardiovascular disease risk. Increases in peripheral and central artery stiffness may represent pathophysiologic pathways through which glucose tolerance status leads to cardiovascular disease. Peripheral artery stiffness increases with deteriorating glucose tolerance status, whereas this trend remains unclear for central artery stiffness. Therefore, we investigated the associations between glucose tolerance status and estimates of central arterial stiffness. We performed a population-based study of 619 individuals (normal glucose metabolism, n=261; IGM, n=170; and DM-2, n=188) and assessed central artery stiffness by measuring total systemic arterial compliance, aortic pressure augmentation index, and carotid-femoral transit time. After adjustment for sex, age, heart rate, height, body mass index, and mean arterial pressure, DM-2 was associated with decreased total systemic arterial compliance, increased aortic augmentation index, and decreased carotid-femoral transit time. IGM was borderline significantly associated with decreased total systemic arterial compliance. Respective regression coefficients (95% confidence intervals) for IGM and DM-2 compared with normal glucose metabolism were -0.05 (-0.11 to 0.01) and -0.13 (-0.19 to -0.07) mL/mm Hg for total system carterial compliance; 1.1 (-0.2 to 2.5) and 1.6 (0.2 to 3.0) percentage points for aortic augmentation index; and -0.85 (-5.20 to 3.49) and -4.95 (-9.41 to -0.48) ms for carotid-femoral transit time. IGM and DM-2 are associated with increased central artery stiffness, which is more pronounced in DM-2. Deteriorating glucose tolerance is associated with increased central and peripheral arterial stiffness, which may partly explain why both DM-2 and IGM are associated with increased cardiovascular risk

Outcome Measures in Adult Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus:A Case Series of Women Diagnosed as Juveniles

OBJECTIVES: Studies on the consequences of juvenile vulvar lichen sclerosus (JVLS) in adulthood are limited. A number of measuring tools are available for analyzing adult vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS), but these have not been applied in studies on JVLS. The aim is to study physical findings, quality of life, sexual well-being, and self-image in adult women with a history of juvenile VLS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult women with a biopsy proven history of JVLS were recruited to be examined and surveyed using available standardized measurement tools. This took place in an outpatient setting by physicians who were not involved in the treatment of participants. RESULTS: Twenty-seven women (median age 29 years) with a history of JVLS and median time since biopsy of 19.5 years were recruited. Of these women, 59% currently had symptoms, 63% had signs of active disease, and 85% had moderate to severe architectural changes. Despite these residual signs, vulvar specific-quality of life and vulvar self-image scored favorably while generic health-related quality of life was somewhat effected. CONCLUSIONS: JVLS has consequences in adulthood involving physical findings and vulvar quality of life. The use of standardized outcome measures for clinical practice and research purposes facilitates a better understanding of the sequelae to JVLS.</p

What are the validity and reliability of the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale-Short Form in children less than 2 years old?

Background: Accurate measurement of preoperative anxiety is important for pediatric surgical patients’ care as well as for monitoring anxiety-reducing interventions. The modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale-short form is well validated for this purpose in children aged 2 years and above, but not in younger children. Aims: We aimed to validate the Dutch version of the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale-short form for measuring preoperative anxiety in children less than 2 years old. Methods: Two investigators independently assessed infants’ anxiety at the holding area and during induction of anesthesia with the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale-short form and the COMFORT-Behavior scale—live and from video observations. Construct validity and responsiveness of both scales were tested with Pearson correlation coefficient. Internal con

Plasma Apolipoprotein CI and CIII Levels Are Associated With Increased Plasma Triglyceride Levels and Decreased Fat Mass in Men With the Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVE—To determine whether, in accordance with observations in mouse models, high concentrations of the lipoprotein lipase inhibitors apolipoprotein (Apo) CI and ApoCIII are associated with increased triglyceride concentrations and decreased fat mass in men with the metabolic syndrome

Plasma Apolipoprotein CI and CIII Levels Are Associated With Increased Plasma Triglyceride Levels and Decreased Fat Mass in Men With the Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVE—To determine whether, in accordance with observations in mouse models, high concentrations of the lipoprotein lipase inhibitors apolipoprotein (Apo) CI and ApoCIII are associated with increased triglyceride concentrations and decreased fat mass in men with the metabolic syndrome