HAAS AUTOMATION UMC750 5AXIS MILL ASSEMBLY PROCESS IMPROVEMENT

The improvement of the current assembly of the motor and casting components for the Haas UMC-750 5-Axis vertical CNC mill includes the evaluation, development and proposal of a new pair of material handling carts. To meet these deliverables, a student team began by assessing the assembly workstation, defining the problem to be solved, researching ergonomics in material handling equipment and drafting the final design of the improved cart models using SolidWorks. The final design considered the initial improvement request from the client, as well as better ergonomic features to enhance the safety of the operators. It was estimated that the new design can provide Haas Automation with savings in material cost and production of the cart. At the same time, by improving the design, the new carts reduce risk of employee injury by decreasing the use of an overhead crane for assembling the motor components. The SolidWorks models and engineering drawings will be presented to Haas Automation in the hope of a future implementation

Urtica dioica Induces Cytotoxicity in Human Prostate Carcinoma LNCaP Cells: Involvement of Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Depolarization and Apoptosis

Purpose: To evaluate the cytotoxic mechanisms of an extract from the leaves of the Urtica dioica (UD) plant in LNCaP prostate cancer cells.Methods: LNCaP cells were exposed to the UD extract for 24hrs and cell viability assessed using the MTT assay. Reactive oxygen species generation was assessed using the NBT assay and mitochondrial membrane potential using JCI-aggregation. DNA fragmentation patterns and cleavage of poly (ADPribose) polymerase were assessed using western blot and caspase activation via colorimetric assay.Results: The viability of LNCaP cells was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner following 24-h treatment with the UD extract. The reactive oxygen species levels were also significantly increased and mitochondrial depolarization was evident. DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage and an increase in the activities of caspases 3 and 9 were observed in cells treated with the UD extract and this confirmed the induction of apoptosis as the major cytotoxic modality for this extract.Conclusion: The results confirm that the cytotoxic activity of UD aqueous extract in LNCaP cells is mediated through oxidative stress and apoptosis. These findings could hold positive implications for the potential use of UD extract in prostate cancer therapy.Keywords: Urtica dioica, Cytotoxicity, DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, Caspases, Prostate cance

Qualitative exploration of barriers and facilitators of dental service utilization of pregnant women: A triangulation approach

Abstract Background Pregnant women are vulnerable to a wide range of oral health conditions that could be harmful to their own health and future child. Despite the usefulness of regular dental service utilization in prevention and early detection of oral diseases, it is notably low among pregnant women. In this qualitative study, we aimed to explore barriers and facilitators influencing pregnant women’s dental service utilization. Methods Using a triangulation approach, we included pregnant women (n = 22) from two public health centers, midwives (n = 8) and dentists (n = 12) from 12 other public centers in Tehran (Iran). Data was gathered through face-to-face semi-structured interviewing and focus group discussion methods. The analysis of qualitative data was performed using conventional content analysis with MAXQDA10 software. Results Reported barriers of dental service utilization among pregnant women were categorized under emerging themes: Lack of knowledge and misbelief, cost of dental care, physiological changes, fear and other psychological conditions, time constraint, dentists’ unwillingness to accept pregnant women treatment, cultural taboos and lack of interprofessional collaboration. Solutions proposed by dentists, midwives and pregnant women to improve dental care utilization during pregnancy were categorized under three themes: Provision of knowledge, financial support and establishing supportive policies. Conclusions Understanding perceived barriers of dental service utilization during pregnancy can serve as baseline information for planning and formulating appropriate oral health education, financial support, and legislations tailored for lower income pregnant women, midwives and dentists in countries with developing oral health care system

Care coordination among pediatricians and dentists: a cross-sectional study of opinions of North Carolina dentists

Abstract: Background: Care coordination between physicians and dentists remains a challenge. This study of dentists providing pediatric dental care examined their opinions about physicians’ role in oral health and identified factors associated with these opinions. Methods: North Carolina general and pediatric dentists were surveyed on their opinions of how physicians should proceed after caries risk assessment and evaluation of an 18-month-old, low risk child. We estimated two multinomial logistic regression models to examine dentists’ responses to the scenario under the circumstances of an adequate and a limited dental workforce. Results: Among 376 dentists, 52% of dentists indicated physicians should immediately refer this child to a dental home with an adequate dental workforce. With a limited workforce, 34% recommended immediate referral. Regression analysis indicated that with an adequate workforce guideline awareness was associated with a significantly lower relative risk of dentists’ recommending the child remain in the medical home than immediate referral. Conclusions: Dentists’ opinions and professional guidelines on how physicians should promote early childhood oral health differ and warrant strategies to address such inconsistencies. Without consistent guidelines and their application, there is a missed opportunity to influence provider opinions to improve access to dental care

How A North Carolina Program Boosted Preventive Oral Health Services For Low-Income Children

Dental caries, the most common chronic disease affecting young children, is exacerbated by limited access to preventive dental services for low-income children. To address this problem, North Carolina implemented a program to reimburse physicians for up to six preventive oral health visits for Medicaid-enrolled children younger than 36 months. Analysis of physician and dentist Medicaid claims from 2000 to 2006 shows the program substantially increased preventive oral health services. By 2006 approximately 30% of well-child visits for 6- to 36-month old children included these services. Additional strategies are needed to ensure preventive oral health care for more low-income children

Loss of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 in mice leads to progressive ectopic mineralization of spinal tissues resembling diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis in humans

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a noninflammatory spondyloarthropathy, characterized by ectopic calcification of spinal tissues. Symptoms include spine pain and stiffness, and in severe cases dysphagia and spinal cord compression. The etiology of DISH is unknown and there are no specific treatments. Recent studies have suggested a role for purine metabolism in the regulation of biomineralization. Equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) transfers hydrophilic nucleosides, such as adenosine, across the plasma membrane. In mice lacking ENT1, we observed the development of calcified lesions resembling DISH. By 12 months of age, ENT1-/- mice exhibited signs of spine stiffness, hind limb dysfunction, and paralysis. Micro-computed tomography (μCT) revealed ectopic mineralization of paraspinal tissues in the cervical-thoracic region at 2 months of age, which extended to the lumbar and caudal regions with advancing age. Energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis of lesions revealed a high content of calcium and phosphorus with a ratio similar to that of cortical bone. At 12 months of age, histological examination of ENT1-/- mice revealed large, irregular accumulations of eosinophilic material in paraspinal ligaments and entheses, intervertebral discs, and sternocostal articulations. There was no evidence of mineralization in appendicular joints or blood vessels, indicating specificity for the axial skeleton. Plasma adenosine levels were significantly greater in ENT1 -/- mice than in wild-type, consistent with loss of ENT1 - a primary adenosine uptake pathway. There was a significant reduction in the expression of Enpp1, Ank, and Alpl in intervertebral discs from ENT1-/- mice compared to wild-type mice. Elevated plasma levels of inorganic pyrophosphate in ENT1-/- mice indicated generalized disruption of pyrophosphate homeostasis. This is the first report of a role for ENT1 in regulating the calcification of soft tissues. Moreover, ENT1-/- mice may be a useful model for investigating pathogenesis and evaluating therapeutics for the prevention of mineralization in DISH and related disorders. © 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. Copyright © 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research

Barriers to Pediatricians’ Adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics Oral Health Referral Guidelines: North Carolina General Dentists’ Opinions

Purpose—The purposes of this study were to: (1) assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of North Carolina general dentists (GDs) regarding American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) dental referral guidelines; and (2) determine factors that influence pediatricians’ ability to comply with AAP guidelines. Methods—One thousand GDs were surveyed to determine barriers toward acceptance of physician referrals of infants and toddlers. The primary outcome using ordered logistic regression was GDs’ acceptance of children described in five case scenarios, with different levels of risk and oral health status. Results—GDs believed pediatricians should refer patients at risk for caries to a dentist. While 61 to 75 percent of GDs were willing to accept low caries risk referrals of infants and toddlers, only 35 percent would accept referrals when caries was present. Predictors of referral acceptance were correct knowledge about AAP guidelines (OR=2.0, 95%CI=1.2-3.3), confidence in pro- viding preventive care to infants and toddlers (OR=2.6, 95%CI=1.3-4.9), and agreement that parents see importance in dental referrals (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.2-3.6). Conclusions—This study identified factors influencing acceptance of pediatrician referrals for the age one dental visit among North Carolina GDs and highlighted challenges pediatricians face in referring young children for dental care

Internal validity of a household food security scale is consistent among diverse populations participating in a food supplement program in Colombia

Objective: We assessed the validity of a locally adapted Colombian Household Food Security Scale (CHFSS) used as a part of the 2006 evaluation of the food supplement component of the Plan for Improving Food and Nutrition in Antioquia, Colombia (MANA – Plan Departamental de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutricional de Antioquia). Methods: Subjects included low-income families with pre-school age children in MANA that responded affirmatively to at least one CHFSS item (n = 1,319). Rasch Modeling was used to evaluate the psychometric characteristics of the items through measure and INFIT values. Differences in CHFSS performance were assessed by area of residency, socioeconomic status and number of children enrolled in MANA. Unidimensionality of a scale by group was further assessed using Differential Item Functioning (DIF). Results: Most CHFSS items presented good fitness with most INFIT values within the adequate range of 0.8 to 1.2. Consistency in item measure values between groups was found for all but two items in the comparison by area of residency. Only two adult items exhibited DIF between urban and rural households. Conclusion: The results indicate that the adapted CHFSS is a valid tool to assess the household food security of participants in food assistance programs like MANA