Quality of life in total knee replacement (TKR) patients – A review

Worldwide, severe pain and disability are caused to patients by Osteoarthritis, which is a common condition of the joints. A need for knee replacement had become a great option for patients when conventional treatment fails in granting appropriate relief in them, especially in elderly patients. Like all joint replacement surgeries, a total knee replacement procedure is also a quite painful and risky procedure that requires sufficient postoperative rehabilitation and therapies to prevent further complications. Post-surgical pain had a great influence on the patients' quality of life and a need to measure pain intensity had become a basic requirement. Measuring pain intensity can be done using traditional pain scales like a visual analogue scale (VAS), and a numerical rating scale (NRS). A risk assessment and predictor tool (RAPT) determines the discharge accuracy in patients. The WOMAC scale which is the abbreviated form of the questionnaire for checking the health status of the patients known as the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index.  This questionnaire is used to assess the quality of life of the osteoarthritis patients after a surgery for the total knee replacement. The results of the assessment show that pain had become a significant factor in the reduction in quality of life. In conclusion, a well-designed multimodal analgesic regimen should be incorporated into the patient's rehabilitation care, which in turn will intensify the patient's quality of life, lessen the hospital stay, and minimize the socio-economic burde

Figure-of-Merits (FOM) for Direct Current TENG (Triboelectric Nanogenerator): Structural vs Dimensionless

This review paper provides a detailed overview of figure-of-merits (FOM) of Direct Current triboelectric nanogenerators (DC-TENGs). TENG represent a potentially ground-breaking technology for extracting mechanical energy from the environment. The FOM is a critical parameter that determines the efficiency of the energy conversion. This paper discusses the various working modes of DC-TENGs and also the research done to maximize output charge density. The review looks at recent different FOMs that could be formulated to improve the analysis of the performance and efficiency of TENGs more accurately. Finally, the paper concludes with a comparison between two different types of FOMs namely structural FOMs and dimensionless FOMs. It provides a valuable resource for researchers working in the field of TENGs and it sheds light on the key factors that influence the FOM of DC-TENGs. This enables the development of more efficient energy harvesting devices

Global digital tool review for agroecological transitions

This report summarizes a global review of digital resources relevant to climate change-informed agroecological transitions. The goal of the review was to identify exemplary features of digital tools for socially inclusive and climate-informed agroecological transitions. We cataloged digital resources available globally that provided either technical advisory services or performance assessment, as functions that directly support scaling up new practices. We reviewed the tools’ functions (i.e., the purpose of using a tool) against indicators for exemplary features (i.e., the channels through which a user can engage with the tool). To address social inclusion, we gave special attention to farmers’ co-creation of knowledge for on-the-ground practices

X-Ray-Induced Modification of the Photophysical Properties of MAPbBr3Single Crystals

Methylammonium lead tribromide (MAPbBr3) perovskite single crystals demonstrate to be excellent direct X-ray and gamma-ray detectors with outstanding sensitivity and low limit of detection. Despite this, thorough studies on the photophysical effects of exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation on this material are still lacking. In this work, we present our findings regarding the effects of controlled X-ray irradiation on the optoelectronic properties of MAPbBr3 single crystals. Irradiation is carried out in air with an imaging X-ray tube, simulating real-life application in a medical facility. By means of surface photovoltage spectroscopy, we find that X-ray exposure quenches free excitons in the material and introduces new bound excitonic species. Despite this drastic effect, the crystals recover after 1 week of storage in dark and low humidity conditions. By means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we find that the origin of the new bound excitonic species is the formation of bromine vacancies, leading to local changes in the dielectric response of the material. The recovery effect is attributed to vacancy filling by atmospheric oxygen and water

Reproducibility of a digital method to evaluate soft tissue modifications: A study of inter and intra-operative measurement concordance

Background: The soft tissue healing and quality around dental implant is a current debated topic in the recent literature. The free gingival margin and the quantity and quality of the mucosa around teeth and surrounding dental implants still determine the hard and soft tissue healing status. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess inter and intra-operative measurement concordance of a method aimed at evaluating the apicocoronal migration of free gingival margin, using intra-oral photography. Methods: The method was tested on peri-implant tissues that were treated with a connective tissue graft on the second stage surgery. Thirtyeight measurements on 13 implants in 8 patients were recorded. An intra-oral photograph was taken for the graft and the provisional crown, which enclosed a circular landmark with a previously determined diameter. The landmark was prepared with a red-resin by the same technician. Before crown cementation, the landmark was calibrated with a digital calibrator by the main investigator, to determine the precise diameter up to two decimal numbers. Results: On the intra-oral photograph, the distance was measured from the most apical point of the determined landmark to the zenith of the gingiva, using an image-processing program designed for scientific multidimensional images (Image J). Three independent examiners took these measurements. Conclusion: The main advantage of the present non-invasive technique is that the spatial plane of the prosthetic landmarks is the same of the tooth unlike the utilization of periodontal probe, which is generally positioned on different plans in the space (generally more vestibular)

An Underground Storage Tank Integrated Demonstration report. Volume 1, Waste Characterization Data and Technology Development Needs Assessment

The Waste Characterization Data and Technology Development Needs Assessment provides direct support to the Underground Storage Tank Integrated Demonstration (UST-ID). Key users of the study`s products may also include individuals and programs within the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Development (EM-50), the Office of Waste Operations (EM-30), and the Office of Environmental Restoration (EM-40). The goal of this work is to provide the UST-ID with a procedure for allocating funds across competing characterization technologies in a timely and defensible manner. It resulted in three primary products: 1. It organizes and summarizes information on underground storage tank characterization data needs. 2. It describes current technology development activity related to each need and flags areas where technology development may be beneficial. 3. It presents a decision process, with supporting software, for evaluating, prioritizing, and integrating possible technology development funding packages. The data presented in this document can be readily updated as the needs of the Waste Operations and Environmental Restoration programs mature and as new and promising technology development options emerge

Cytokine and angiogenic factors associated with efficacy and toxicity of pazopanib in advanced soft-tissue sarcoma: An EORTC-STBSG study

Background: Pazopanib has activity in relapsed non-adipocytic soft-tissue sarcomas (STS). A series of serum cytokines and angiogenic factors (CAFs) at baseline and changes in soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (sVEGFR2) or placental-derived growth factor (PlGF) levels during treatment were explored for their association with outcome.Methods:Twenty-three baseline CAFs, and sVEGFR2 and PlGF changes were measured in 85 and 32 patients, respectively. Associations between baseline CAF levels and efficacy parameters, plus between-week 12 sVEGFR2 and PlGF levels and pazopanib-specific toxicities were investigated.Results:At baseline, low interleukin (IL)-12 p40 subunit and MPC3 levels were associated with better progression-free survival (PFS) at 12 weeks (PFS 12wks), low basic nerve growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor with a better PFS, and low inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 and IL-2 receptor alpha with prolonged overall survival (OS; all P=0.05). Pazopanib decreased sVEGFR2 and increased PlGF levels. Low sVEGFR2 and high PlGF levels at week 12 were associated with higher-grade hypertension, with TSH elevations and with poorer PFS 12wks, and OS (both P=0.05).Conclusion:Several baseline CAFs were related to outcome parameters. Low sVEGFR2 and high PlGF at week 12 associate with several pazopanib-specific toxicities and poorer efficacy. If confirmed, these factors may be used as early markers for response to and toxicity from pazopanib, enabling further individualisation of STS treatment