a review

Primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a reliable procedure with reproducible long-term results. Nevertheless, there are conditions related to the type of patient or local conditions of the knee that can make it a difficult procedure. The most common scenarios that make it difficult are discussed in this review. These include patients with many previous operations and incisions, and those with severe coronal deformities, genu recurvatum, a stiff knee, extra-articular deformities and those who have previously undergone osteotomy around the knee and those with chronic dislocation of the patella. Each condition is analysed according to the characteristics of the patient, the pre-operative planning and the reported outcomes. When approaching the difficult primary TKA surgeons should use a systematic approach, which begins with the review of the existing literature for each specific clinical situation. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B(10 Suppl A):30–9

Therapeutic Effects of Lactoferrin in Ocular Diseases: From Dry Eye Disease to Infections

Lactoferrin is a naturally occurring iron-binding glycoprotein, produced and secreted by mucosal epithelial cells and neutrophils in various mammalian species, including humans. It is typically found in fluids like saliva, milk and tears, where it reaches the maximum concentration. Thanks to its unique anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, topical application of lactoferrin plays a crucial role in the maintenance of a healthy ocular surface system. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the clinical applications of lactoferrin in ocular diseases. Besides the well-known antibacterial effect, novel interest has been rising towards its potential application in the field of dry eye and viral infections. A growing body of evidence supports the antimicrobial efficacy of lactoferrin, which is not limited to its iron-chelating properties but also depends on its capability to directly interact with pathogen particles while playing immunomodulatory effects. Nowadays, lactoferrin antiviral activity is of special interest, since lactoferrin-based eye drops could be adopted to treat/prevent the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which has conjunctivitis among its possible clinical manifestations. In the future, further data from randomized controlled studies are desirable to confirm the efficacy of lactoferrin in the wide range of ocular conditions where it can be used

Corrosione e protezione del composito Al 6061 T6/Al2O3p in ambiente marino

I compositi a base di alluminio sono materiali tecnologicamente avanzati con elevate proprietà fisicomeccaniche e sono considerati un’alternativa alle sue leghe tradizionali per l’utilizzo in campo marino.Lo scopo di questo lavoro è stato quello di studiare l’influenza di alcuni parametri caratteristicidel composito Al 6061 T6/Al2O3p sul comportamento alla corrosione marina e testare il potere protettivoe antifouling di alcuni rivestimenti organici di nuova generazione, per un impiego in campo navale.I dati ottenuti per il materiale non protetto dai diversi tests, in accordo fra loro, hanno evidenziatoun attacco corrosivo inferiore quando il contenuto di particelle di allumina aumenta e quandoil composito è ottenuto mediante processo di estrusione. In prossimità della fase rinforzante, inoltre,non sono stati evidenziati inneschi di corrosione localizzata, altrimenti presenti nella matrice.Le prove effettuate con coatings a bassa energia di superficie hanno mostrato un marcato effettoanticorrosivo e antivegetativo, in particolare per i rivestimenti siliconici, in grado di incrementaree mantenere le performances del substrato

Amplitude concentration in a phase-modulated spectrum due to femtosecond filamentation

We present a method by which the spectral intensity of an ultrafast laser pulse can be accumulated at selected frequencies by a controllable amount. Using a 4-f pulse shaper we modulate the phase of the frequency components of a femtosecond laser. By inducing femtosecond filamentation with the modulated pulse, we can concentrate the spectral amplitude of the pulse at various frequencies. The phase mask applied by the pulse shaper determines the frequencies for which accumulation occurs, as well as the intensity of the spectral concentration. This technique provides a way to obtain pulses with adjustable amplitude using only phase modulation and the nonlinear response of a medium. This provides a means whereby information which is encoded into spectral phase jumps may be decoded into measurable spectral intensity spikes

Assessing performance of modern Brillouin spectrometers

Brillouin spectroscopy and imaging has experienced a renaissance in recent years seeing vast improvements in methodology and increasing number of applications. With this resurgence has come the development of new spontaneous Brillouin instruments that often tout superior performance compared to established conventional systems such as tandem Fabry-Perot interferometers (TFPI). The performance of these new systems cannot always be thoroughly examined beyond the scope of the intended application, as applications often take precedence in reports. We therefore present evaluation of three modern Brillouin spectrometers: two VIPA-based spectrometers with wavelength-specific notch filters, and one scanning 6-pass TFPI. Performance analysis is presented along with a discussion about the dependence of measurements on excitation laser source and the various susceptibilities of each system

Life Cycle Assessment of Luminescent Solar Concentrators Integrated into a Smart Window

The main goal of this paper is to assess the life cycle environmental impacts of a multifunctional smart window luminescent solar concentrator (SW-LSC) prototype through the application of the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. To the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first studies on the topic. The analysis followed a cradle to gate approach, considering the assembly and maintenance phase as well as the end of life, examined separately through a recycling/landfill scenario. A comparison of the impacts of LSC modules with those of some building-integrated photovoltaic technologies was carried out. Results showed that the global warming potential (100 years) for SW-LSC was 5.91 x 10(3) kg CO2eq and the manufacturing phase had the greatest impact (about 96%). The recycling/landfill scenario results showed the possibility to reduce impacts by an average of 45%. A dominance analysis of SW-LSC components showed that the aluminum frame was the main hotspot (about 60% contribution), followed by the light-shelf (about 19%). Batteries and motors for the shading system were the biggest contributors in the abiotic depletion potential category (36% and 30%, respectively). An alternative scenario, which involved the use of 75% recycled aluminum for the window frame, highlighted the possibility to reduce environmental impacts from 3% to 46%. Finally, the comparison results showed that the LSC modules' impacts were on average 870% lower than that of various PV technologies when compared on the basis of m(2); on the contrary, LSC modules had the highest impacts in all categories (from 200% to 1900%) when compared with other PV technologies on the basis of 1 kWh of energy generated. The results could be used for the definition of eco-design strategies for the examined device, in order to support the scaling-up process and to put "greener" systems onto the market

structural connectivity analysis in children with segmental callosal agenesis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Segmental callosal agenesis is characterized by the absence of the intermediate callosal portion. We aimed to evaluate the structural connectivity of segmental callosal agenesis by using constrained spherical deconvolution tractography and connectome analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the clinical-radiologic features of 8 patients (5 males; mean age, 3.9 years). Spherical deconvolution and probabilistic tractography were performed on diffusion data. Structural connectivity analysis, including summary network metrics, modularity analysis, and network consistency measures, was applied in 5 patients and 10 age-/sex-matched controls. RESULTS: We identified 3 subtypes based on the position of the hippocampal commissure: beneath the anterior callosal remnant in 3 patients (type I), beneath the posterior callosal remnant in 3 patients (type II), and between the anterior and posterior callosal remnants in 2 patients (type III). In all patients, the agenetic segment corresponded to fibers projecting to the parietal lobe, and segmental Probst bundles were found at that level. Ectopic callosal bundles were identified in 3 patients. Topology analysis revealed reduced global connectivity in patients compared with controls. The network topology of segmental callosal agenesis was more variable across patients than that of the control connectomes. Modularity analysis revealed disruption of the structural core organization in the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Three malformative subtypes of segmental callosal agenesis were identified. Even the absence of a small callosal segment may impact global brain connectivity and modularity organization. The presence of ectopic callosal bundles may explain the greater interindividual variation in the connectomes of patients with segmental callosal agenesis

Plan de negocio de una empresa consultora en gestión de contratos de construcción

Uno de los principales problemas en la ejecución de proyectos de construcción son las controversias por los mayores plazos de ejecución y sobre las contraprestaciones para lograr el objetivo del cliente. Estas controversias se pueden gestionar a través de los mecanismos que los propios contratos estipulan, o por la normativa y la regulación vigente. El presente plan de negocios de una empresa consultora en gestión de contratos de construcción tiene como objetivo principal determinar la rentabilidad y la viabilidad del negocio, basado en que la cantidad de procesos arbitrales por obras de construcción por año en el Perú se ha ido incrementando desde el 2008. Ello nos muestra que existe una tendencia en cuanto a cómo los clientes y los contratistas solucionan sus controversias. Es así cómo lo más recomendable es desplegar una eficiente gestión de contrato, ya sea para mitigar controversias o para estar en mejor posición y capacidad de justificar una determinada posición, ya sea como cliente o contratista. Es por ello por lo que una consultora que ayude a contratistas y clientes a poder dar un juicio de valor, ya sea mediante una evaluación técnica específica o un acompañamiento en la gestión del contrato, se convierte en una oportunidad frente a una problemática existente y que cada vez es más frecuente en los proyectos de construcción en el Perú, tanto en el sector público como el privado. En la medida en que los contratistas y los clientes consideren atractivo gestionar y resolver sus controversias usando las buenas prácticas en la industria, así como metodologías y procedimientos recomendados internacionalmente, la idea de negocio será más atractiva y rentable