Synthesis and characterization of a narrow size distribution of zinc oxide nanoparticles

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were synthesized via a solvothermal method in triethanolamine (TEA) media. TEA was utilized as a polymer agent to terminate the growth of ZnO-NPs. The ZnO-NPs were characterized by a number of techniques, including X-ray diffraction analysis, transition electron microscopy, and field emission electron microscopy. The ZnO-NPs prepared by the solvothermal process at 150°C for 18 hours exhibited a hexagonal (wurtzite) structure, with a crystalline size of 33 ± 2 nm, and particle size of 48 ± 7 nm. The results confirm that TEA is a suitable polymer agent to prepare homogenous ZnO-NPs

Oral health status, knowledge, attitude and practice of patients with heart disease

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients about their oral health status. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed the data of 150 CVD patients that collected by a self-administered questionnaire consists of demographic characteristics and KAP. Oral health indicators calculated based on the results of oral examination by an expert dentist. RESULTS: CVD patients had an overall moderate level of knowledge and attitude, but their practice was lower than moderate. There were important associations between knowledge scores with gender, education, residential area and financial status, between attitude scores with education and residential area, and between practice scores with education and financial status. There were no associations between KAP and age, marital status or job. Significant positive correlations were found between KAP components. Significant negative correlations were found between oral hygiene index with knowledge and practice. CONCLUSION: The practice of heart disease patients about their oral health was poor, and declares that increasing awareness and attitude may not promote practice. Efficient programs are needed to promote oral health practice of adult populations in special groups. © 2016, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved

Radiographic Vertical Bone Loss Evaluation around Dental Implants Following One Year of Functional Loading

Objective: Vertical bone loss evaluations in the Nobel Biocare Replace® Select Tapered TM implant system in the human after one-year loading time.Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 31 patients (14 men, 17 women; mean age, 60.39 years) receiving 170 implants (mean, 5.48 for each patient) of Groovy and Non-groovy designs in the Nobel Biocare Replace® Select Tapered TM system. The marginal bone loss was measured at mesial and distal aspects of the implants on OPG x-rays after one-year follow-up. The data regarding the patient's gender, age, history of disease, smoking, bone type at implant location, loading time of prosthesis and implant, implant design, diameter and length were recorded by the patients'records and interview. The data were subjected to multiple linear regression and Pearson coefficient ratio regarding different factors.Results: The mean (standard deviation) distal, mesial and overall bone loss was 0.688 mm (0.851), 0.665 mm (0.849) and 0.935 mm (0.905), respectively in the studied implants. No significant differences were found regarding implant location, bone quality at the implant region, implant design and bone graft reception. In addition, no significant correlation was found between the occurred bone loss and implant diameter, length and number of usedsplints.Conclusion: Due to the criteria mentioned for implant success in term of bone loss values after one-year loading time, Noble Biocare Replace® Select Tapered TM implant system is an acceptable treatment option for implant restorations in this regard

Therapeutically dosed low molecular weight heparins in renal impairment:a nationwide survey

Purpose International guidelines vary in their recommendations whether or not to reduce the therapeutic dose of low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) in renal impairment. The use of anti-Xa monitoring as a basis of dose adjustments is also a matter of debate. As this may lead to variations in treatment policies, we aimed to study the treatment policies of therapeutically dosed LMWHs in renal impairment in Dutch hospitals. Methods An 11-item survey was distributed between June 2020 and March 2021 to hospital pharmacists, representing Dutch hospital organisations. Primary outcomes were the dosing regimens of therapeutically dosed LMWHs in renally impaired patients. Secondary outcomes were the proportion of hospitals that used anti-Xa monitoring and the anti-Xa target range used. Results There was a response from 56 of 69 (81%) Dutch hospital organisations where in each case a hospital pharmacist completed the survey. In these hospitals, 77 LMWH regimens were in use. In 76 of 77 (99%) regimens, a regular dose reduction was used at the start of treatment. Fifty-five of these hospitals used a dose reduction if estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 50 ml/min and 17 used a dose reduction if eGFR < 30 ml/min. Anti-Xa levels were not routinely monitored in 40% of regimens, while 22% monitored anti-Xa if eGFR < 50 ml/min, 27% if eGFR < 30 ml/min and 10% in other eGFR cutoff values. Target ranges of 1.0-2.0 IU/ml (once daily) and 0.5/0.6-1.0 IU/ml (twice daily) were used in 69% of regimens that included monitoring of anti-Xa. Conclusion Treatment policies show substantial diversity in therapeutically dosed LMWHs in renally impaired patients. The most commonly used treatment regimen was a regular dose reduction if eGFR is < 50 ml/min, without anti-Xa monitoring

SIMULASI PENDISTRIBUSIAN AIR MINUM PADA SUMBER AIR GUA SEROPAN KABUPATEN GUNUNG KIDUL

Kabupaten Gunung Kidul adalah salah satu wilayah yang mempunyai potensi air berlimpah tapi penduduk kekurangan air. Karena sebagian besar kondisi alamnya merupakan pegunungan kapur, maka digunakan teknologi untuk memperoleh air. Tujuan dari penulisan ini adalah adalah membuat simulasi jam pendistribusian air yang efektif khusus untuk kecamatan Ngawen dengan bantuan program Epanet 2.0, sehingga diperoleh waktu pendistribusian sesuai dengan kebutuhan pelanggan dengan waktu distribusi dilihat dari kebiasaan masyarakat mengkonsumsi atau menggunakan air dalam aktifitas sehari-harinya. Metode yang digunakan pada penulisan ini yaitu deskripsi komperatif yaitu mejelaskan pengaturan pendistribusian air yang terdapat di Kecamatan Ngawen dibandingkan dengan pengaturan simulasi dengan bantuan program Epanet 2.0, sehingga diperoleh simulasi pendistribusian yang efektif. Berdasarkan hasil analisa jaringan air minum kecamatan Ngawen untuk waktu pelayanan kondisi eksisting 12 jam selalu terjadi kekurangan. Sedangkan hasil simulasi jam pendistribusian kecamatan Ngawen untuk waktu distribusi 24 jam masih terjadik kekurangan. Dari hal tersebut diatas perlu adanya penelitian lebih lanjut tentang masalah yang menyebabkan jaringan air minum di kecamatan Ngawen sering terjadi kekurangan

Fixed Versus Variable Dosing of Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for Bleeding Complications of Vitamin K Antagonists:The PROPER3 Randomized Clinical Trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine if a fixed dose of 1000 IU of 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) is as effective as traditional variable dosing based on body weight and international normalized ratio (INR) for reversal of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) anticoagulation. METHODS: In this open-label, multicenter, randomized clinical trial, patients with nonintracranial bleeds requiring VKA reversal with 4F-PCC were allocated to either a 1,000-IU fixed dose of 4F-PCC or the variable dose. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with effective hemostasis according to the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis definition. The design was noninferiority with a lower 95% confidence interval of no more than -6%. When estimating sample size, we assumed that fixed dosing would be 4% superior. RESULTS: From October 2015 until January 2020, 199 of 310 intended patients were included before study termination due to decreasing enrollment rates. Of the 199 patients, 159 were allowed in the per-protocol analysis. Effective hemostasis was achieved in 87.3% (n=69 of 79) in fixed compared to 89.9% (n=71 of 79) in the variable dosing cohort (risk difference 2.5%, 95% confidence interval -13.3 to 7.9%, P=.27). Median door-to-needle times were 109 minutes (range 16 to 796) in fixed and 142 (17 to 1076) for the variable dose (P=.027). INR less than 2.0 at 60 minutes after 4F-PCC infusion was reached in 91.2% versus 91.7% (P=1.0). CONCLUSION: The large majority of patients had good clinical outcome after 4F-PCC use; however, noninferiority of the fixed dose could not be demonstrated because the design assumed the fixed dose would be 4% superior. Door-to-needle time was shortened with the fixed dose, and INR reduction was similar in both dosing regimens

Two-magnon bound state causes ultrafast thermally induced magnetisation switching.

There has been much interest recently in the discovery of thermally induced magnetisation switching using femtosecond laser excitation, where a ferrimagnetic system can be switched deterministically without an applied magnetic field. Experimental results suggest that the reversal occurs due to intrinsic material properties, but so far the microscopic mechanism responsible for reversal has not been identified. Using computational and analytic methods we show that the switching is caused by the excitation of two-magnon bound states, the properties of which are dependent on material factors. This discovery allows us to accurately predict the onset of switching and the identification of this mechanism will allow new classes of materials to be identified or designed for memory devices in the THz regime

Bridged Carbon Fabric Membrane with Boosted Performance in AC Line Filtering Capacitors

High frequency responsive capacitors with lightweight, flexibility, and miniaturization are among the most vital circuit components because they can be readily incorporated into various portable devices to smooth out the ripples for circuits. Electrode materials no doubt are at the heart of such devices. Despite tremendous efforts and recent advances, the development of flexible and scalable high frequency responsive capacitor electrodes with superior performance remains a great challenge. Herein, a straightforward and technologically relevant method is reported to manufacture a carbon fabric membrane glued by nitrogen doped nanoporous carbons produced through a polyelectrolyte complexation induced phase separation strategy. The as obtained flexible carbon fabric bearing a unique hierarchical porous structure, and high conductivity as well as robust mechanical properties, serves as the free standing electrode materials of electrochemical capacitors. It delivers an ultrahigh specific areal capacitance of 2632 F cm amp; 8722;2 at 120 Hz with an excellent alternating current line filtering performance, fairly higher than the state of the art commercial ones. Together, this system offers the potential electrode material to be scaled up for AC line filtering capacitors at industrial level