Correlation between Short-Form 36 Scores and Neck Disability Index in Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Study Design Case control study. Purpose To determine how the Neck Disability Index (NDI), a cervical spine-specific outcome, reflects health-related quality-of-life, and if NDI is correlated to the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) scores. Overview of Literature NDI is a useful tool for assessing health-related quality of life in patients with neck pain. Methods We used the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient to assess the validity of all items under NDI and SF-36, and the Pearson’s correlation coefficient to assess the correlation between NDI and total SF-36 scores. The primary outcome measures were spine-specific health status- and general health status-measures after spine surgery, and these were evaluated every year for 2 years, using both NDI and SF-36 scores. Results NDI had a strong linear correlation with SF-36 and its two scales, the Physical Component Score (PCS) and the Mental Component Score (MCS), attesting to the validity of these two instruments. Among the eight subscales of SF-36, there was a strong linear correlation between NDI and PCS-physical functioning, PCS-bodily pain, and MCS-role emotional. Further, a moderate linear correlation was observed between NDI and subscales of PCS-role physical, PCS-general health, and MCS-social functioning, and between NDI and MCS-vitality and MCS-mental health. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the NDI adequately reflects the patient’s physical and mental quality of life, implying that the use of NDI to assess functional outcomes can also be ultimately used to evaluate the patient’s quality of life

Development of Rechargeable Seawater Battery Module

Rechargeable seawater batteries (SWBs) use Na+ ions dissolved in water (seawater or salt-water) as the cathode material. They are attracting attention for marine applications such as light buoys, marine drones, auxiliary power for sailing boats and so on. So far, SWB design has been developed from the coin-type to prismatic-shape cell for research purposes to investigate cell components and electrochemical behaviors. However, for commercial applications, that generally require >12 V and >15 W, the development of an SWB module is required, including cell assembly and packing design. The purpose of this work was to conduct research on the SWB cell assembly method while considering the SWB's properties and minimizing current imbalance. Additionally, a 5 Series (S) 4 Parallel (P) SWB module is constructed and validated using commercially available light buoys (12 V, 15 W)

An endoscope with integrated transparent bioelectronics and theranostic nanoparticles for colon cancer treatment

The gastrointestinal tract is a challenging anatomical target for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for bleeding, polyps and cancerous growths. Advanced endoscopes that combine imaging and therapies within the gastrointestinal tract provide an advantage over stand-alone diagnostic or therapeutic devices. However, current multimodal endoscopes lack the spatial resolution necessary to detect and treat small cancers and other abnormalities. Here we present a multifunctional endoscope-based interventional system that integrates transparent bioelectronics with theranostic nanoparticles, which are photoactivated within highly localized space near tumours or benign growths. These advanced electronics and nanoparticles collectively enable optical fluorescence-based mapping, electrical impedance and pH sensing, contact/temperature monitoring, radio frequency ablation and localized photo/chemotherapy, as the basis of a closed-loop solution for colon cancer treatment. In vitro, ex vivo and in vivo experiments highlight the utility of this technology for accurate detection, delineation and rapid targeted therapy of colon cancer or precancerous lesions.

Remote health monitoring services in nursing homes

Aged people are challenged by serious complications from chronic diseases, such as mood disorder, diabetes, heart disease, and infectious diseases, which are also the most common causes of death in older people. Therefore, elderly care facilities are more important than ever. The most common causes of death in elderly care facilities were reported to be diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and pneumonia. Recently, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have a great impact on blind spots of safety where aged people were isolated from society. Elderly care facilities were one of the blind spots in the midst of the pandemic, where major casualties were reported from COVID-19 complications because most people had one or two mortality risk factors, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Therefore, medical governance of public health center and hospital, and elderly care facility is becoming important issue of priority. Thus, remote health monitoring service by the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) sensors is more important than ever. Recently, technological breakthroughs have enabled healthcare professionals to have easy access to patients in medical blind spots through the use of IoT sensors. These sensors can detect medically urgent situations in a timely fashion and make medical decisions for aged people in elderly care facilities. Real-time electrocardiogram and blood sugar monitoring sensors are approved by the medical insurance service. Real-time monitoring services in medical blind spots, such as elderly care facilities, has been suggested. Heart rhythm monitoring could play a role in detecting early cardiovascular disease events and monitoring blood glucose levels in the management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, in aged people in elderly care facilities. This review presents the potential usefulness of remote monitoring with IoMT sensors in medical blind spots and clinical suggestions for applications

Tailored growth of single-crystalline InP tetrapods

Despite the technological importance of colloidal covalent III-V nanocrystals with unique optoelectronic properties, their synthetic process still has challenges originating from the complex energy landscape of the reaction. Here, we present InP tetrapod nanocrystals as a crystalline late intermediate in the synthetic pathway that warrants controlled growth. We isolate tetrapod intermediate species with well-defined surfaces of (110) and ((1) over bar(1) over bar(1) over bar) via the suppression of further growth. An additional precursor supply at low temperature induces [(1) over bar(1) over bar(1) over bar]-specific growth, whereas the [110]-directional growth occurs over the activation barrier of 65.7 kJ/mol at a higher temperature, thus finalizes into the (111)-faceted tetrahedron nanocrystals. We address the use of late intermediates with well-defined facets at the sub-10 nm scale for the tailored growth of covalent III-V nanocrystals and highlight the potential for the directed approach of nanocrystal synthesis

Recent progress on nanostructured 4 v cathode materials for Li-ion batteries for mobile electronics

Mobile electronics have developed so rapidly that battery technology has hardly been able to keep pace. The increasing desire for lighter and thinner Li-ion batteries with higher capacities is a continuing and constant goal for in research. Achieving higher energy densities, which is mainly dependent on cathode materials, has become a critical issue in the development of new Li-ion batteries. In this review, we will outline the progress on nanostructured 4 V cathode materials of Li-ion batteries for mobile electronics, covering LiCoO2, LiNixCoyMn1-x-yO 2, LiMn2O4, LiNi0.5Mn 1.5O4 and Li-rich layered oxide materials. We aim to provide some scientific insights into the development of superior cathode materials by discussing the advantages of nanostructure, surface-coating, and other key properties.open2

A Unified Material Model For Multiaxial Ductile Fracture And Extremely Low Cycle Fatigue Of Inconel 718

This paper summarizes an extensive work of experimental and numerical studies of extremely low cycle fatigue (ELCF) on IN718 under room temperature. The ELCF is focused on low numbers of cyclic loading (fewer than 100 cycles) of fatigue failure. The IN718 cyclic plasticity behavior and the Bauschinger effect are studied and simulated using the well-known nonlinear kinematic hardening law by J.L. Chaboche and his co-workers under different strain amplitudes and different stress states. Moreover, the Vocé isotropic hardening law was used in combination with the Bai-Wierzbicki plasticity model. The Bai-Wierzbicki plasticity model was used to capture the effect of different stress states on ELCF based on the stress triaxiality and Lode angle parameters. On the other hand, the modified Mohr–Coulomb (MMC) ductile fracture model for monotonic loading was extended by a new damage evolution rule to cover the ELCF regime. A new parameter was introduced to represent the effect of the cyclic loading at ELCF. The new parameter is responsible to capture the change of non-proportional loading direction between the current stress and the backstress tensors. A comparison between the experimental data and the finite element simulation results (by Abaqus/Explicit) shows excellent correlations. Lastly, a fractographic examinations and fracture modes simulations are presented

Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs) Immersed in Fire Prevention Material for Fire Safety and Heat Management

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have emerged as the most commercialized rechargeable battery technology. However, their inherent property, called thermal runaway, poses a high risk of fire. This article introduces the “Battery Immersed in Fire Prevention Material (BIF)”, the immersion-type battery in which all of the LIB cells are surrounded by a liquid agent. This structure and the agent enable active battery fire suppression under abusive conditions while facilitating improved thermal management during normal operation. Abuse tests involving a battery revealed that the LIB module experienced fire, explosions, and burnouts with the target cell reaching temperatures of 1405 °C and the side reaching 796 °C. Conversely, the BIF module exhibited a complete lack of fire propagation, with temperatures lower than those of LIBs, particularly 285 and 17 °C, respectively. Under normal operating conditions, the BIF module exhibited an average temperature rise ~8.6 times lower than that of a normal LIB. Furthermore, it reduced the uneven thermal deviation between the cells by ~5.3 times more than LIB. This study provides a detailed exploration of the BIF and covers everything from components to practical applications. With further improvements, this technology can significantly enhance fire safety and prevent the thermal degradation of batteries in the real world

A Study Of Inconel 718 Dependency On Stress Triaxiality And Lode Angle In Plastic Deformation And Ductile Fracture

A numerical and experimental study of monotonic tensile tests on Inconel 718 with different stress states has been investigated. Focus was put to dependencies of stress triaxiality and Lode angle parameter on plastic behavior and ductile fracture. The constitutive plasticity model proposed by Bai and Wierzbicki (2008) and the modified Mohr-Coulomb (MMC) ductile fracture model (Bai and Wierzbicki, 2010) were adapted with suitable extensions. Experimental results were used to calibrate the models. By setting up parameter optimization for model calibration, the experimental results and numerical simulations were well correlated. Finally, the MMC fracture model well predicted both fracture initiation and fracture propagation modes