A 3D cone beam computed tomography study of the styloid process of the temporal bone

Background: To investigate the length and three-dimensional orientation and to detail the morphological variations of the styloid process.Materials and methods: Forty-four patients undergoing temporal bone evaluation for different reasons were randomly selected and included in the present study. The length, angulation in the coronal and sagittal planes, as well as morphological variations of the styloid processes were assessed using conebeam computer tomography. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to test possible associations between the length of styloid process and angulations, as well as between angulations. Student’s t-test was used to compare the differencesbetween the sample mean length and angulations in normal and elongated styloid process groups.Results: The sagittal angle showed weak positive correlations with the styloid process length and the transverse angle (r = 0.24, p = 0.02, n = 88). A medium positive correlation was found between the sagittal and transverse angulations in the elongated styloid process group (r = 0.49, p = 0.0015, n = 38).There was a statistical significant difference between the mean sagittal angulation in elongated styloid and normal styloid process groups (p = 0.015). The styloid process morphology also varied in terms of shape, number, and degree of ossification.Conclusions: The morphometric and morphologic variations of the styloid process may be important factors to be taken into account not only from the viewpoint of styloid syndromes, but also in preoperatory planning and during surgery

Overview of retrospective data harmonisation in the MINDMAP project : process and results

publishedVersionPaid Open Acces

Thermal properties comparison of hybrid CF/FF and BF/FF cyanate ester-based composites

[EN] Insights within thermal expansion, conductivity, and decomposition dependencies with temperature on symmetrical and unsymmetrical layered carbon (CF) or basalt (BF) fabrics in combination with flax fibers (FF) were approached. Driven by commercial application and environmental concerns, the paper draws attention on a modified formula of cyanate ester with a common epoxy resin under an optimized ratio of 70:30 (vol%) as well as on the hybrid reinforcements stacking sequences. Synergetic effects were debated in terms of the CF and BF stacking sequences and corresponding volume fraction followed by comparisons with values predicted by the deployment of hybrid mixtures rules (RoHM/iRoHM). CF hybrid architectures revealed enhanced effective thermophysical properties over their BF counterparts and both over the FF-reinforced polymer composite considered as a reference. Thermal conductivities spread between 0.116 and 0.299 W m-1 K-1 from room temperature up to 250 C on all hybrid specimens, giving rise to an insulator character. Concerning the coefficient of thermal expansion, CF hybrid architectures disclosed values of 1.236 10-6 K-1 and 3.102 10-6 K-1 compared with BF affine exhibiting 4.794 10-6 K-1 and 6.245 10-6 K-1, respectively, with an increase in their volume fraction.The corresponding author gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of German Academic Exchange Service-DAAD that enabled and supported the internship with Fraunhofer Research Institution for Polymeric Materials and Composites-PYCO, Germany. Many thanks go to Dr. Christian Dreyer and Dr. Maciej Gwiazda for the resin formula and access to the composite manufacturing technology.Motoc, DL.; Ferrándiz Bou, S.; Balart, R. (2018). Thermal properties comparison of hybrid CF/FF and BF/FF cyanate ester-based composites. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. 133(1):509-518. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-018-7222-yS5095181331Assarar M, Zouari W, Sabhi H, Ayad R, Berthelot J-M. Evaluation of the damping of hybrid carbon–flax reinforced composites. Compos Struct. 2015;132:148–54.Duc F, Bourban PE, Plummer CJG, Månson JAE. Damping of thermoset and thermoplastic flax fibre composites. Compos A Appl Sci Manuf. 2014;64:115–23.Saba N, Jawaid M, Alothman OY, Paridah MT. A review on dynamic mechanical properties of natural fibre reinforced polymer composites. Constr Build Mater. 2016;106:149–59.Tian H, Zhang S, Ge X, Xiang A. Crystallization behaviors and mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2017;128(3):1495–504.Alvarez V, Rodriguez E, Vázquez A. Thermaldegradation and decomposition of jute/vinylester composites. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2006;85(2):383–9.Manfredi LB, Rodríguez ES, Wladyka-Przybylak M, Vázquez A. Thermal degradation and fire resistance of unsaturated polyester, modified acrylic resins and their composites with natural fibres. Polym Degrad Stab. 2006;91(2):255–61.Lazko J, Landercy N, Laoutid F, Dangreau L, Huguet MH, Talon O. Flame retardant treatments of insulating agro-materials from flax short fibres. Polym Degrad Stab. 2013;98(5):1043–51.Bar M, Alagirusamy R, Das A. Flame retardant polymer composites. Fibers Polym. 2015;16(4):705–17.Kollia E, Loutas T, Fiamegkou E, Vavouliotis A, Kostopoulos V. Degradation behavior of glass fiber reinforced cyanate ester composites under hydrothermal ageing. Polym Degrad Stab. 2015;121:200–7.Jawaid M, Abdul Khalil HPS. Cellulosic/synthetic fibre reinforced polymer hybrid composites: a review. Carbohyd Polym. 2011;86(1):1–18.Azwa ZN, Yousif BF, Manalo AC, Karunasena W. A review on the degradability of polymeric composites based on natural fibres. Mater Des. 2013;47:424–42.H-y Cheung, M-p Ho, K-t Lau, Cardona F, Hui D. Natural fibre-reinforced composites for bioengineering and environmental engineering applications. Compos B Eng. 2009;40(7):655–63.Dittenber DB, GangaRao HVS. Critical review of recent publications on use of natural composites in infrastructure. Compos A Appl Sci Manuf. 2012;43(8):1419–29.Faruk O, Bledzki AK, Fink H-P, Sain M. Biocomposites reinforced with natural fibers: 2000–2010. Prog Polym Sci. 2012;37(11):1552–96.Praveen RS, Jacob S, Murthy CRL, Balachandran P, Rao YVKS. Hybridization of carbon–glass epoxy composites: an approach to achieve low coefficient of thermal expansion at cryogenic temperatures. Cryogenics. 2011;51(2):95–104.Jawaid M, Abdul Khalil HPS, Alattas OS. Woven hybrid biocomposites: dynamic mechanical and thermal properties. Compos A Appl Sci Manuf. 2012;43(2):288–93.Swolfs Y, Gorbatikh L, Verpoest I. Fibre hybridisation in polymer composites: a review. Compos A Appl Sci Manuf. 2014;67:181–200.Rojo E, Alonso MV, Oliet M, Del Saz-Orozco B, Rodriguez F. Effect of fiber loading on the properties of treated cellulose fiber-reinforced phenolic composites. Compos B Eng. 2015;68:185–92.LeGault M. Natural fiber composites: market share, one part at the time. Compos World. 2016;5(2):68–75.Joshi SV, Drzal LT, Mohanty AK, Arora S. Are natural fiber composites environmentally superior to glass fiber reinforced composites? Compos A Appl Sci Manuf. 2004;35(3):371–6.Wambua P, Ivens J, Verpoest I. Natural fibres: can they replace glass in fibre reinforced plastics? Compos Sci Technol. 2003;63(9):1259–64.Bertomeu D, García-Sanoguera D, Fenollar O, Boronat T, Balart R. Use of eco-friendly epoxy resins from renewable resources as potential substitutes of petrochemical epoxy resins for ambient cured composites with flax reinforcements. Polym Compos. 2012;33(5):683–92.Alam M, Akram D, Sharmin E, Zafar F, Ahmad S. Vegetable oil based eco-friendly coating materials: a review article. Arab J Chem. 2014;7(4):469–79.Bakare FO, Ramamoorthy SK, Åkesson D, Skrifvars M. Thermomechanical properties of bio-based composites made from a lactic acid thermoset resin and flax and flax/basalt fibre reinforcements. Compos A Appl Sci Manuf. 2016;83:176–84.Pardauil JJR, de Molfetta FA, Braga M, de Souza LKC, Filho GNR, Zamian JR, et al. Characterization, thermal properties and phase transitions of amazonian vegetable oils. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2017;127(2):1221–9.Głowińska E, Datta J, Parcheta P. Effect of sisal fiber filler on thermal properties of bio-based polyurethane composites. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2017;130(1):113–22.Mosiewicki MA, Aranguren MI. A short review on novel biocomposites based on plant oil precursors. Eur Polym J. 2013;49(6):1243–56.Lligadas G, Ronda JC, Galià M, Cádiz V. Renewable polymeric materials from vegetable oils: a perspective. Mater Today. 2013;16(9):337–43.Fombuena V, Sanchez-Nacher L, Samper MD, Juarez D, Balart R. Study of the properties of thermoset materials derived from epoxidized soybean oil and protein fillers. J Am Oil Chem Soc. 2013;90(3):449–57.Pil L, Bensadoun F, Pariset J, Verpoest I. Why are designers fascinated by flax and hemp fibre composites? Compos A Appl Sci Manuf. 2016;83:193–205.Wooster TJ, Abrol S, Hey JM, MacFarlane DR. Thermal, mechanical, and conductivity properties of cyanate ester composites. Compos A Appl Sci Manuf. 2004;35(1):75–82.Mallarino S, Chailan JF, Vernet JL. Glass fibre sizing effect on dynamic mechanical properties of cyanate ester composites I. Single frequency investigations. Eur Polym J. 2005;41(8):1804–11.Sothje D, Dreyer C, Bauer M, editors. Advanced possibilities in thermoset recycling. In: The 3rd international conference on thermosets. 2013; Berlin, Germany.Yuan L, Huang S, Gu A, Liang G, Chen F, Hu Y, et al. A cyanate ester/microcapsule system with low cure temperature and self-healing capacity. Compos Sci Technol. 2013;87:111–7.Czigány T. Special manufacturing and characteristics of basalt fiber reinforced hybrid polypropylene composites: mechanical properties and acoustic emission study. Compos Sci Technol. 2006;66(16):3210–20.Marom G, Fischer S, Tuler FR, Wagner HD. Hybrid effects in composites: conditions for positive or negative effects versus rule-of-mixtures behaviour. J Mater Sci. 1978;13(7):1419–26.Torquato S. Random heterogeneous materials: microstructure and macroscopic properties. New York: Springer; 2002.Cherki A-B, Remy B, Khabbazi A, Jannot Y, Baillis D. Experimental thermal properties characterization of insulating cork–gypsum composite. Constr Build Mater. 2014;54:202–9.Bismarck A, Aranberri-Askargorta I, Springer J, Lampke T, Wielage B, Stamboulis A, et al. Surface characterization of flax, hemp and cellulose fibers; Surface properties and the water uptake behavior. Polym Compos. 2002;23(5):872–94.Motoc Luca D, Ferrandiz Bou S, Balart Gimeno R. Effects of fibre orientation and content on the mechanical, dynamic mechanical and thermal expansion properties of multi-layered glass/carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composites. J Compos Mater. 2014;49(10):1211–1221.CES EduPack. Granta Design; 2013.Monteiro SN, Calado V, Rodriguez RJS, Margem FM. Thermogravimetric behavior of natural fibers reinforced polymer composites—An overview. Mater Sci Eng, A. 2012;557:17–28

Green spaces, subjective health and depressed affect in middle-aged and older adults: a cross-country comparison of four European cohorts.

BACKGROUND: Studies on associations between urban green space and mental health have yielded mixed results. This study examines associations of green space exposures with subjective health and depressed affect of middle-aged and older adults in four European cohorts. METHODS: Data came from four Western-European and Central-European ageing cohorts harmonised as part of the Mindmap project, comprising 16 189 adults with an average age of 50-71 years. Green space exposure was based on the distance to the nearest green space and the amount of green space within 800 m buffers around residential addresses. Cohort-specific and one-step individual participant data (IPD) meta-analyses were used to examine associations of green space exposures with subjective health and depressed affect. RESULTS: The amount of green spaces within 800 m buffers was lowest for Residential Environment and CORonary heart Disease (Paris, 15.0 hectares) and highest for Health, Alcohol and Psychosocial factors In Eastern Europe (Czech Republic, 35.9 hectares). IPD analyses indicated no evidence of an association between the distance to the nearest green space and depressed affect (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.00) or good self-rated health (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.02). Likewise, the amount of green space within 800 m buffers did not predict depressed affect (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.00) or good self-rated health (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.02). Findings were consistent across all cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Data from four European ageing cohorts provide no support for the hypothesis that green space exposure is associated with subjective health or depressed affect. While longitudinal evidence is required, these findings suggest that green space may be less important for older urban residents

Exposome-Wide Association Study of Body Mass Index Using a Novel Meta-Analytical Approach for Random Forest Models

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity impose a considerable individual and social burden, and the urban environments might encompass factors that contribute to obesity. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research that takes into account the simultaneous interaction of multiple environmental factors. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to perform an exposome-wide association study of body mass index (BMI) in a multicohort setting of 15 studies. METHODS: Studies were affiliated with the Dutch Geoscience and Health Cohort Consortium (GECCO), had different population sizes (688-141,825), and covered the entire Netherlands. Ten studies contained general population samples, others focused on specific populations including people with diabetes or impaired hearing. BMI was calculated from self-reported or measured height and weight. Associations with 69 residential neighborhood environmental factors (air pollution, noise, temperature, neighborhood socioeconomic and demographic factors, food environment, drivability, and walkability) were explored. Random forest (RF) regression addressed potential nonlinear and nonadditive associations. In the absence of formal methods for multimodel inference for RF, a rank aggregation-based meta-analytic strategy was used to summarize the results across the studies. RESULTS: Six exposures were associated with BMI: five indicating neighborhood economic or social environments (average home values, percentage of high-income residents, average income, livability score, share of single residents) and one indicating the physical activity environment (walkability in formula presented buffer area). Living in high-income neighborhoods and neighborhoods with higher livability scores was associated with lower BMI. Nonlinear associations were observed with neighborhood home values in all studies. Lower neighborhood home values were associated with higher BMI scores but only for values up to formula presented . The directions of associations were less consistent for walkability and share of single residents. DISCUSSION: Rank aggregation made it possible to flexibly combine the results from various studies, although between-study heterogeneity could not be estimated quantitatively based on RF models. Neighborhood social, economic, and physical environments had the strongest associations with BMI. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13393.</p

Exposome-Wide Association Study of Body Mass Index Using a Novel Meta-Analytical Approach for Random Forest Models

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity impose a considerable individual and social burden, and the urban environments might encompass factors that contribute to obesity. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research that takes into account the simultaneous interaction of multiple environmental factors. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to perform an exposome-wide association study of body mass index (BMI) in a multicohort setting of 15 studies. METHODS: Studies were affiliated with the Dutch Geoscience and Health Cohort Consortium (GECCO), had different population sizes (688-141,825), and covered the entire Netherlands. Ten studies contained general population samples, others focused on specific populations including people with diabetes or impaired hearing. BMI was calculated from self-reported or measured height and weight. Associations with 69 residential neighborhood environmental factors (air pollution, noise, temperature, neighborhood socioeconomic and demographic factors, food environment, drivability, and walkability) were explored. Random forest (RF) regression addressed potential nonlinear and nonadditive associations. In the absence of formal methods for multimodel inference for RF, a rank aggregation-based meta-analytic strategy was used to summarize the results across the studies. RESULTS: Six exposures were associated with BMI: five indicating neighborhood economic or social environments (average home values, percentage of high-income residents, average income, livability score, share of single residents) and one indicating the physical activity environment (walkability in formula presented buffer area). Living in high-income neighborhoods and neighborhoods with higher livability scores was associated with lower BMI. Nonlinear associations were observed with neighborhood home values in all studies. Lower neighborhood home values were associated with higher BMI scores but only for values up to formula presented . The directions of associations were less consistent for walkability and share of single residents. DISCUSSION: Rank aggregation made it possible to flexibly combine the results from various studies, although between-study heterogeneity could not be estimated quantitatively based on RF models. Neighborhood social, economic, and physical environments had the strongest associations with BMI. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13393.</p

Social and physical neighbourhood characteristics and loneliness among older adults: Results from the MINDMAP project

Background: Loneliness is associated with several adverse mental and physical health outcomes in older adults. Previous studies have shown that a variety of individual-level and perceived area-level characteristics are associated with loneliness. This study examined the associations of objectively measured social and physical neighbourhood characteristics with loneliness. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from 1959 older adults (63-98 years) who participated in the Longitudinal Ageing Study Amsterdam (LASA; wave 2011/12) and the Health and Living Conditions of the Population of Eindhoven and Surroundings study (GLOBE; wave 2014) in the Netherlands. Study-specific loneliness scores were harmonised across both cohort studies and divided into tertiles denoting low, medium and high levels of loneliness. Objectively measured neighbourhood characteristics, including area-level percentages of low educated residents, social security beneficiaries and unoccupied dwellings, average income, crime levels and land use mix, were linked to individual-level data. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the associations of interest. Results: There was no statistical evidence for

LongITools:Dynamic longitudinal exposome trajectories in cardiovascular and metabolic noncommunicable diseases

The current epidemics of cardiovascular and metabolic noncommunicable diseases have emerged alongside dramatic modifications in lifestyle and living environments. These correspond to changes in our "modern" postwar societies globally characterized by rural-to-urban migration, modernization of agricultural practices, and transportation, climate change, and aging. Evidence suggests that these changes are related to each other, although the social and biological mechanisms as well as their interactions have yet to be uncovered. LongITools, as one of the 9 projects included in the European Human Exposome Network, will tackle this environmental health equation linking multidimensional environmental exposures to the occurrence of cardiovascular and metabolic noncommunicable diseases

Impact of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations on sustained virologic response in HCV-infected patients: Results from the GUARD-C Cohort

Background: Despite the introduction of direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, peginterferon alfa/ribavirin remains relevant in many resource-constrained settings. The non-randomized GUARD-C cohort investigated baseline predictors of safety-related dose reductions or discontinuations (sr-RD) and their impact on sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients receiving peginterferon alfa/ribavirin in routine practice. Methods: A total of 3181 HCV-mono-infected treatment-naive patients were assigned to 24 or 48 weeks of peginterferon alfa/ribavirin by their physician. Patients were categorized by time-to-first sr-RD (Week 4/12). Detailed analyses of the impact of sr-RD on SVR24 (HCV RNA <50 IU/mL) were conducted in 951 Caucasian, noncirrhotic genotype (G)1 patients assigned to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks. The probability of SVR24 was identified by a baseline scoring system (range: 0-9 points) on which scores of 5 to 9 and <5 represent high and low probability of SVR24, respectively. Results: SVR24 rates were 46.1 % (754/1634), 77.1% (279/362), 68.0% (514/756), and 51.3% (203/396), respectively, in G1,2, 3, and 4 patients. Overall, 16.9% and 21.8% patients experienced 651 sr-RD for peginterferon alfa and ribavirin, respectively. Among Caucasian noncirrhotic G1 patients: female sex, lower body mass index, pre-existing cardiovascular/pulmonary disease, and low hematological indices were prognostic factors of sr-RD; SVR24 was lower in patients with 651 vs. no sr-RD by Week 4 (37.9% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.0046) and Week 12 (41.7% vs. 55.3%; P = 0.0016); sr-RD by Week 4/12 significantly reduced SVR24 in patients with scores <5 but not 655. Conclusions: In conclusion, sr-RD to peginterferon alfa-2a/ribavirin significantly impacts on SVR24 rates in treatment-naive G1 noncirrhotic Caucasian patients. Baseline characteristics can help select patients with a high probability of SVR24 and a low probability of sr-RD with peginter-feron alfa-2a/ribavirin