Diagnostic accuracy of mediastinal width measurement on posteroanterior and anteroposterior chest radiographs in the depiction of acute nontraumatic thoracic aortic dissection

We aimed to explore the diagnostic accuracy of various mediastinal measurements in determining acute nontraumatic thoracic aortic dissection with respect to posteroanterior (PA) and anteroposterior (AP) chest radiographs, which had received little attention so far. We retrospectively reviewed 100 patients (50 PA and 50 AP chest radiographs) with confirmed acute thoracic aortic dissection and 120 patients (60 PA and 60 AP chest radiographs) with confirmed normal aorta. Those who had prior history of trauma or aortic disease were excluded. The maximal mediastinal width (MW) and maximal left mediastinal width (LMW) were measured by two independent radiologists and the mediastinal width ratio (MWR) was calculated. Statistical analysis was then performed with independent sample t test. PA projection was significantly more accurate than AP projection, achieving higher sensitivity and specificity. LMW and MW were the most powerful parameters on PA and AP chest radiographs, respectively. The optimal cutoff levels were LMW = 4.95 cm (sensitivity, 90 %; specificity, 90 %) and MW = 7.45 cm (sensitivity, 90 %; specificity, 88.3 %) for PA projection and LMW = 5.45 cm (sensitivity, 76 %; specificity, 65 %) and MW = 8.65 cm (sensitivity, 72 %; specificity, 80 %) for AP projection. MWR was found less useful and less reliable. The use of LMW alone in PA film would allow more accurate prediction of aortic dissection. PA chest radiograph has a higher diagnostic accuracy when compared with AP chest radiograph, with negative PA chest radiograph showing less probability for aortic dissection. Lower threshold for proceeding to computed tomography aortogram is recommended however, especially in the elderly and patients with widened mediastinum on AP chest radiograph

Treating of Rayon-flocked Fabric by Atmospheric Pressure Plasma

This study investigates hydrophobisation of the surface of rayon-flocked fabric by means of atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) treatment with tetramethylsilane (TMS). Plasma deposition of TMS is regarded as an effective, single-step low pollution method. A detailed study of the process parameters was conducted. A highly hydrophobic surface was successfully fabricated on rayon-flocked fabric and the hydrophobic surface was found to have good stain resistance to coffee and milk tea

Bipolar Endoscopic Enucleation of Big Benign Prostate Enlargement

Large benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) has been a major health problem and the surgical management could be technically challenging to urologists due to the limitation of conventional monopolar transurethral resection of prostate. Bipolar endoscopic enucleation of prostate aimed to remove the adenoma of BPE by stepwise adenoma devascularization and maximal adenoma removal through minimally invasive surgery. In this chapter we described the general principle, the surgical techniques of bipolar endoscopic enucleation and the related modifications of the technique in the recent years. As compared with open prostatectomy, bipolar endoscopic enucleation avoided the wound complications but achieved similar functional outcome. Bipolar endoscopic enucleation also allowed much more adenoma removal comparing with transurethral resection of the prostate. Unlike Holmium laser or thulium laser enucleation of the prostate, the required instruments for bipolar endoscopic enucleation of the prostate were familiar and more readily available to most urologists

Comparison and Analysis of Colorant in Toner Cartridges: A Material Safety Data Sheet Study

Nowadays, electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets are gadgets that have become common in most people’s daily lives. Although people often use tablets to read files, newspapers, or other papers, printing some documents is still necessary and convenient for most people. Therefore, a printer is one of the basic machines that many people use for work or to learn. Toner cartridges are the main components that print high-quality images or text on paper and are therefore of research value. Existing literature lacks research on performance of different printers and toners. Therefore, this study investigated and analyzed different types and brands of toners. In the study, toner cartridges provided by the four major suppliers were compared with data provided in material safety data sheets (MSDS) based primarily on different products. A comprehensive review and analysis of the concentration, function, definition, and impact involved in the product was conducted in this study

Colour Reflectance Investigation of Decolourized Sulfur Dyed Cotton Knitted Fabric via Ozone Plasma Treatment

Ozone plasma treatment is accessible to be applied on shading adjustment and colour fading because of the capacity of ozone production. It is a green process that treats dyed cotton fabric under dry condition so as to avoid chemical pollutants. This study means to explore colour reflectance of decolourized sulfur dyed cotton texture using ozone plasma treatment. Sulfur dyed cotton textures with various colour depths (0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%) were set up to be treated different plasma parameters, including ozone air concentrations (10%, 30%, 50%, 70%), water contents in terms of weight percentage (35%, 45%) of fabric and ozone air plasma treatment periods (10 mins, 20 mins, 30 mins). The colour fading result is assessed by the colour reflectance in percentage (R%) utilizing spectrophotometer under CIE standard illuminant D65. The valid colour fading based on high percentage of reflectance was demonstrated from plasma treatment under higher ozone air concentration (50% and 70% ozone in air) and longer time length of plasma treatment (20 mins and 30 mins). The level of water content contained in the cotton fabrics is appeared to have noteworthy relationship with the degree of decolourization

Effective Photodegradation of Methyl Orange Using Fluidized Bed Reactor Loaded with Cross-Linked Chitosan Embedded Nano-CdS Photocatalyst

Chitosan-based photocatalyst composites containing CdS nanocrystals with and without glutaraldehyde or epichlorohydrin cross-linking treatments were investigated and the catalyzed photodegradation of methyl orange in aqueous solution was examined. In addition, the effects of catalyst dosage, initial dye concentration, and initial pH of the dye solution on the photodegradation kinetics were investigated. In this study, the effect of initial solution pH was more important than other factors. The photocatalyst composite could remove 99% dye in 80 minutes at pH 4. The catalyst composite was characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), and visible reflectance spectroscopy. The dye removal mechanism of methyl orange involved an initial sorption process followed by photodegradation. The sorption process underwent the pseudo-second order kinetics, while photodegradation followed the Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetics. Although the glutaraldehyde cross-linked chitosan enhanced the initial dye sorption, the epichlorohydrin cross-linked catalyst composite demonstrated a better overall dye removal performance, especially in the photodegradation step. Both chitosan encapsulated catalyst with and without epichlorohydrin cross-linking demonstrated the same pseudo-first order photodegradation kinetic constant of 0.026 min−1 and the same dye removal capacity. The catalyst composite could be reused but the photocatalytic activity dropped successively in each cycle

Hematopoietic stem cell quiescence and DNA replication dynamics maintained by the resilient β-catenin/Hoxa9/Prmt1 axis

Maintenance of quiescence and DNA replication dynamics are two paradoxical requirements for the distinct states of dormant and active hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are required to preserve the stem cell reservoir and replenish the blood cell system in response to hematopoietic stress respectively. Here, we show that key self-renewal factors, β-catenin or Hoxa9, largely dispensable for HSC integrity in fact have dual functions in maintaining quiescence and enabling efficient DNA replication fork dynamics to preserve the functionality of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). While β-catenin or Hoxa9 single knockout (KO) exhibited mostly normal hematopoiesis, their co-inactivation led to severe hematopoietic defects stemmed from aberrant cell cycle, DNA replication and damage in HSPCs. Mechanistically, β-catenin and Hoxa9 function in a compensatory manner to sustain key transcriptional programs that converge on the pivotal downstream target and epigenetic modifying enzyme, Prmt1, which protects the quiescent state and ensures an adequate supply of DNA replication and repair factors to maintain robust replication fork dynamics. Inactivation of Prmt1 phenocopied both cellular and molecular phenotypes of β-catenin/Hoxa9 combined KO, which at the same time could also be partially rescued by Prmt1 expression. The discovery of the highly resilient β-catenin/Hoxa9/Prmt1 axis in protecting both quiescence and DNA replication dynamics essential for HSCs at different key states provides not only novel mechanistic insights into their intricate regulation but also a potential tractable target for therapeutic intervention

Spatial analysis of the impact of urban geometry and socio-demographic characteristics on COVID-19, a study in Hong Kong

The World Health Organization considered the widespread of COVID-19 over the world as a pandemic. There is still a lack of understanding of its origin, transmission, and treatment methods. Understanding the influencing factors of the COVID-19 can help mitigate its spread, but little research on the spatial factors has been conducted. Therefore, this study explores the effects of urban geometry and socio-demographic factors on the COVID-19 cases in Hong Kong. For each patient, the places they visited during the incubation period before going to hospital were identified, and matched with corresponding attributes of urban geometry (i.e., building geometry, road network, greenspace) and socio-demographic factors (i.e., demographic, educational, economic, household and housing characteristics) based on the coordinates. The local cases were then compared with the imported cases using the stepwise logistic regression, the logistic regression with case-control of time, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression to identify factors influencing local disease transmission. Results show that the building geometry, road network and certain socio-economic characteristics are significantly associated with COVID-19 cases. In addition, the results indicate that urban geometry is playing a more important role than the socio-demographic characteristics in affecting the COVID-19 incidences. These findings provide a useful reference to the government and the general public as to the spatial vulnerability of the COVID-19 transmission and to take appropriate preventive measures in high-risk areas