Effect Of Geometric Shape On The Crushing Performance Of Natural Jute Mat/Epoxy Specimens Under Axial Quasi-Static Compression

The interest in the using of natural composite has been increased significantly in recent years in many engineering fields due to their distinctive characteristics; these as low weights, high-energy dissipation ability, and it's considered ecofriendly. In this paper, an experimental investigation is done on the effect of structure geometry on the crashworthiness characteristics of woven jute mat/epoxy composite specimens. The main objective is to understand the influence of the geometrical shape, and layers numbers on the energy absorption of composite specimens under uniaxial quasi-static loading. The twelve hollow specimens were manufactured by combination of manual lay-up and vacuum bladder moulding technique using bi-directional natural jute mat (with two and three layers) and epoxy resin, each with 50mm inner diameter and 100mm length. Three different cross-sectional shapes were used; the hexagonal, octagonal, and decagonal of specimens. From the current unique experiment, it was exhibited most of the composite samples demonstrated stable and progressive deformation with acceptable repeatability during the test process. It also showed that the deformation characteristics and the energy absorption of the octagonal cross-section shape are better than the other cross-section shapes such as hexagonal and decagonal cross-sections shapes. Furthermore, the three laminated layers contributed to high specific energy absorption (SE) and better crushing efficiency (ɳc) for each profile. Overall, the octagonal pattern configuration with three plies can be considered as optimal for crashworthiness of structure application compared to other composite samples

Second Line Palliative Endobronchial Radiotherapy with HDR Ir 192 in Recurrent Lung Carcinoma

Purpose To observe the efficiency of reirradiation with high dose rate intraluminal brachytherapy in symptomatic palliation of recurrent endobronchial tumors. Materials and Methods Between January 1994 and June 1998, 21 patients diagnosed with recurrent endobronchial tumors following external beam radiotherapy were treated palliatively with high dose rate intraluminal irradiation at Hacettepe University Oncology Institute. A single fraction of 10 Gy was prescribed to the specified area in 9 patients and 15 Gy to 12. Results Endobronchial treatment improved the performance and reduced symptomatology in 17 (81%) patients. Ten dyspneic patients (10/14, 71%) recovered clinically with an accompanying radiological downstaging. The median symptomatic palliation was 45 days (range, 0 - 9 months), and the overall median survival was 5.5 months (range, 4 - 12 months). The palliative intrabronchial brachytherapy was well tolerated, with the exception of in one patient with a fatal hemorrhage, and another with medically salvaged bronchospasm and intrabronchial edema. Conclusion Recurrent patients with a history of previous thoracic external beam irradiation can be effectively palliated with high dose rate endobronchial reirradiation if the symptoms are directly related to the endobronchial tumor

Medical thoracoscopy/pleuroscopy: is it underutilized?

PubMe

Pulmonary Embolism Due To Metal Coil: Case Report

Radiological studies may sometimes reveal unexpected findings. A 42-year-old male patient was referred to our center because of metallic opacities observed on the chest X-ray. Physical examination was unremarkable except for macular lesions on both lower extremities. A detailed medical history revealed that the patient had a varicocele in the right testis which was obliterated with coil embolization 12 years ago. The metallic opacities observed on the chest X-ray were considered to result from the migration of the coils from testis to the lungs. Coil embolization is an effective and safe procedure in the treatment of varicocele. However, as presented in the case, the procedure may cause complications in a certain subgroup of patients. Migration of coils from the varicose testicular veins to the pulmonary vessels may be clinically insignificant; however, when found incidentally, it may pose a diagnostic problem that needs to be solved by the clinician.WoSScopu

A Text Messaging-Based Smoking Cessation Program for Adult Smokers: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Despite promising data in Western countries, there is a dearth of research into the efficacy of text messaging-based smoking cessation programs in other settings, including the Middle East, where smoking prevalence rates are higher. Objective: This paper reports cessation rates observed in SMS Turkey, a text messaging-based smoking cessation program for adult smokers in Ankara, Turkey. Methods: This study was a small-scale, parallel-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Ankara, Turkey. Participants were adult daily smokers who were seriously thinking about quitting in the next 15 days and living in Ankara, Turkey. The text messaging intervention, SMS Turkey, provided 6 weeks of daily messages aimed at giving participants skills to help them quit smoking. Messages were sent in an automated fashion, except 2 days and 7 days after the initial quit day. On days 2 and 7, the research assistant manually assigned participants to content " paths" based on whether they were still not smoking or had relapsed. The control arm received a brochure that provided similar information about smoking cessation. The main outcome measure was self-reported 3-month sustained abstinence, verified by carbon monoxide (CO) readings. Neither participants nor researchers were blinded to arm assignment. Results: The 151 participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: 76 to the SMS Turkey intervention group and 75 to the brochure control group. Using intention to treat, all 151 participants were included in analyses. Three-month cessation trends were not significantly higher in the intervention group: 11% intervention vs 5% control had quit (chi(2) 1= 1.4, P=. 24; R2= 2.0, 95% CI 0.62-6.3). When the sample was stratified by sex, female intervention participants (14%, n= 5) were significantly more likely to have quit at 3 months than female control participants (0%, n= 0;.2 1= 3.7, P=. 05). Among light smokers (ie, those smoking less than 20 cigarettes per day), intervention participants (17%, n= 5) also were significantly more likely to have quit compared to control participants (0%, n= 0;.2 1= 5.3, P=. 02). We noted no difference in cessation rates for males or heavy smokers. Participants experienced significant technology problems during the study. Some participants received duplicate text messages at least once during the trial; others failed to receive some program messages. Neither receiving duplicate messages (chi(2) 1= 0.12, P=. 73), or missing 5 or more program messages (chi(2) 1= 0.75, P=. 39) negatively affected quitting rates. Conclusions: Although the study was not powered to detect statistically significant differences, as the primary aim was to provide estimates of effect size that could be used to better inform a power analysis for a larger trial, findings provide optimism that SMS Turkey may be able to affect quitting rates in environments with high smoking prevalence, such as Ankara, Turkey. The SMS Turkey software program did not work as well as it did 2 years previous. The system will need to be updated to maintain software compatibility with ongoing technology evolution.WoSScopu