Effect of TiO2 Nano-Filler on Electrical Properties of Na+ Ion Conducting PEO/PVDF Based Blended Polymer Electrolyte

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - Nanocomposite polymer electrolyte (NCPE) films based on a blend of two polymers poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly (vinylidene...     

The maximum watts factor as a measure of detrusor contractility independent of outlet resistance

The maximum watts factor (WFmax) is often used to characterize detrusor contractility. It was recently shown that the WFmax may increase in some patients with chronic outlet obstruction. It is, however, unclear whether this increase reflects a dependence of the WFmax on the degree of outlet obstruction or whether it represents a true increase in detrusor contractility secondary to chronic outlet obstruction. Therefore, this study was performed to investigate this issue using a canine model of acute outlet obstruction. Urodynamic studies were performed on adult canines with surgically exposed lower urinary tracts. Pressure transducers were used to measure the intravesical and the distal urethral pressures, whereas an ultrasonic flow meter was used to obtain a simultaneous measure of the urinary flow rate. Detrusor contractions were induced by electrically stimulating the pelvic nerves bilaterally. Varying degrees of outlet obstruction were created using an inflatable sphincter cuff secured around the bladder outlet. The WFmax, the detrusor pressure at voiding terminus (Pdet.clos), and the passive urethral resistance (R) were computed from measured pressure-flow rate data at each degree of outlet obstruction. The WFmax was not significantly correlated to either the sphincter cuff volume (r = 0.025, p = 0.871), the Pdet.clos (r = 0.286, p = 0.073) or the R (r = 0.110, p = 0.509). The WFmax was not significantly different among mild, moderate, and severe degrees of outlet obstruction (p = 0.176). Our results suggest that the WFmax is independent of the degree of acute outlet obstruction (defined in terms of the sphincter cuff volume, Pdet.clos and R). This validates the current practice of using the WFmax to evaluate detrusor function in patients with voiding dysfunction regardless of outlet resistance. Further, since the WFmax is independent of outlet obstruction acutely, it is reasonable that it would also be independent of outlet obstruction under chronic conditions. Our results, therefore, also imply that the increase in the WFmax with chronic outlet obstruction may represent a true increase in detrusor contractility and not a WFmax dependence on outlet resistance.     

Structural basis of geriatric voiding dysfunction. VI. Validation and update of diagnostic criteria in 71 detrusor biopsies

PURPOSE: Refined criteria of distinctive patterns of detrusor ultrastructure in geriatric voiding dysfunctions have been developed as standard protocols for pathological evaluation of detrusor biopsies. This study was performed to test completeness and routine applicability of these protocols, corroborate our original ultrastructural/urodynamic correlations in larger material and identify subtle correlations that may have been elusive in our original study of 35 cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 71 endoscopic detrusor biopsies was obtained from 44 elderly subjects grouped following comprehensive clinical and urodynamic evaluation into those with normal aging bladder, detrusor overactivity, impaired detrusor contractility, bladder outlet obstruction or a combination. Biopsies were evaluated ultrastructurally and randomly, and blinded to clinical information. Using standard protocols the primary ultrastructural pattern(s) was identified, additional auxiliary features were recorded and pathological diagnoses were made. Biopsies were grouped accordingly, still blindly, and correlated with urodynamic groups determined independently prior to biopsy. RESULTS: Our observations confirmed that the standard protocols are complete and readily applicable to routine ultrastructural evaluation of detrusor biopsies. They corroborated our previously reported ultrastructural/urodynamic matching of the biopsies in every case and revealed new constant features of the normally aging detrusor. We identified ultrastructural correlates distinguishing moderate and severe from mild or borderline (but not moderate from severe) impairment of detrusor contractility. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed protocols are consistently applicable to the routine pathological diagnosis of geriatric voiding dysfunction in detrusor biopsies. A diagnostic algorithm was developed to serve as a practical guide for making such diagnoses, and gaining insights into the pathophysiology of geriatric and possibly other voiding dysfunctions.     

Bladder cancer and squamous metaplasia in spinal cord injury patients

The influence of long-term indwelling urethral catheterization was studied by random bladder and urethral biopsies in 62 spinal cord injury patients. Six patients (10 per cent) had diffuse squamous cell bladder carcinoma, 4 of whom had no tumor visible endoscopically. Five of the patients with cancer were among 25 patients (20 per cent) managed with an indwelling urethral catheter for more than 10 years (average 21 years, range 15 to 30 years). The other cancer patient had been free of the catheter for 27 years after suprapubic cystotomy for 4 years. Gross and microscopic hematuria was associated with cancer. Squamous metaplasia of the bladder was significantly greater in patients who had been catheterized for more than 10 years (80 per cent), compared to those catheterized for less than 10 years (42 per cent) and patients without catheters (20 per cent). Urethral squamous metaplasia increased slightly in long-term catheterization patients. Urinary infection was universal and did not distinguish patients with inflammation, metaplasia or cancer. Therefore, the duration of indwelling catheterization seems to be the major factor in squamous changes in these patients.     

Effect of semolina and absorption level on extrusion of spaghetti containing non‐traditional ingredients

Specific mechanical energy (SME), mechanical energy, extrusion rate and temperature of extruded spaghetti were monitored to determine the effects of semolina, hydration level and non‐traditional ingredients on pasta extrusion using a semi‐commercial pasta press with a fixed screw speed of 25 rpm. SME transferred to the dough during extrusion and the temperature of extruded spaghetti were greater with strong than with weak gluten semolina and at low than at high absorption levels. When compared with semolina hydrated to 300 g kg^?1 absorption, SME transferred to the dough was 13 kJ kg^?1 lower for semolina mixed with buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) bran flour, 47 kJ kg^?1 lower for semolina mixed with flaxseed (Linum usitativissimum L.) flour and 7 kJ kg^?1 lower for semolina mixed with wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum L.) bran. Weak gluten semolina, high absorption levels and non‐traditional ingredients reduced the mechanical energy required for extrusion more than they reduced extrusion rate. The target temperature for extruded spaghetti was 45 °C. The temperature of extruded spaghetti containing flaxseed flour was below 45 °C whereas the temperature of spaghetti containing wheat bran was above 45 °C, regardless of semolina type or absorption level. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Practical applications of the “energy–triaxiality” state relationship in metal cutting

Most of the energy spent on metal cutting is due to the unavoidable plastic deformation of the layer being removed during its transformation into the chip. Based on the new principle of metal cutting being a purposeful fracture process, the dominant parameter that controls this process in orthogonal metal cutting (OMC) is the triaxiality state. Therefore, the chip triaxiality state in the deformation zone can be correlated to the energy of the unwanted plastic deformation for a particular cutting configuration. This article investigates this type of correlation by changing the cutting tool geometry. A series of finite element (FE) simulations were performed for various tool rake angles shows a strong relationship between the stress triaxiality state parameter in the deformation zone and the required cutting force components.     

Microbial loads, mycotoxins, and quality of durum wheat from the 2001 harvest of the northern plains region of the United States

The 2001 durum wheat crop grown in the Northern Plains was surveyed for microbial loads, mycotoxins, and quality. Correlations among these factors were identified. Effects of cleaning, milling, and pasta processing on microbial loads and deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations were determined. Aerobic plate counts (APCs), mold and yeast counts (MYCs), internal mold infection (IMI), and internal Fusarium infection (IFI) were lowest in grain samples from Montana and highest in grain from northeastern North Dakota. DON and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON) were not detected in samples from Montana. Nivalenol was not detected in any samples. DON in North Dakota samples ranged from none detected to 23 micrograms/g. 15-ADON was detected in a few North Dakota samples, with a maximum of 0.8 microgram/g. DON positively correlated with APCs, MYCs, IFI, damaged kernels, total defects, U.S. grade number, and tombstone kernel content and negatively correlated with test weight, vitreous kernel content, and kernel weight. APCs, MYCs, and DON concentrations were lower in semolina than whole grain. Processing semolina into spaghetti did not change DON concentrations. APCs for spaghetti were reduced 2.2 to 4.1 logs from those for semolina, whereas MYCs were reduced 0.1 to 1.7 log. Some APCs in durum flour and semolina were higher than certain industry specifications would allow, although other factors were acceptable. However, microbial loads in the spaghetti were all within specifications found in the available literature.     

Dynamic Load Simulator: Actuation Strategies and Applications

The development of a multiple-actuator dynamic load simulator (DLS), for the simulation of correlated dynamic loads on small-scale structural components and substructures, or on bench-scale system assemblage is presented in this paper. Conceptually, the DLS employs actuators to simulate a desired dynamic loading environment due to wind, waves, or earthquakes, which in special cases may serve as a replacement for conventional facilities such as wind tunnels, wave tanks and shaking tables. The actuation strategy of the DLS is based on force-control rather than the customary motion control (displacement/velocity) scheme. The load simulator is ideal for structural components and for systems that can be idealized as lumped mass systems. An actuation strategy for the DLS based on an innovative scheme that utilizes the coupled control system is developed. For implementation of this scheme, the nonlinear control system toolbox in MATLAB is used. In this scheme, the tuning of control parameters in the time domain is carried out by solving a constrained optimization problem. A suite of loading protocols that includes sinusoidal, two-point correlated fluctuations in wind loading, earthquake induced loading and loads characterized by strong non-Gaussian features is simulated by employing the control scheme introduced here. The load simulation examples presented here demonstrate that the loading time histories generated by utilizing the DLS matched the target values with high fidelity.     

Detrusor contractility and compliance characteristics in adult male patients with obstructive and nonobstructive voiding dysfunction

PURPOSE: To understand better the contractility and compliance characteristics of the detrusor in patients with varying degrees of outlet obstruction, we analyzed urodynamic studies in elderly men with obstructive and nonobstructive voiding dysfunction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients were evaluated with video urodynamics, including cystometry, isometric tests, voiding profilometry and post-void residual measurement. Bladder compliance, detrusor contractility, detrusor reserve, detrusor instability and the severity of outlet obstruction were determined in each patient. Patients were stratified into 4 groups: urodynamically normal, detrusor instability, outlet obstruction and outlet obstruction with detrusor instability. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between the maximum isometric contraction pressure and the severity of obstruction in 168 patients. Maximum isometric contraction pressure was significantly greater in patients with than without obstruction, independent of detrusor instability. Although compliance was not significantly different among the groups, the proportion of patients with poor compliance (less than 30 ml./cm. water) was lowest in the normal group. The detrusor reserve was significantly less in patients with chronic retention (post-void residual more than 200 ml.) than in those with lower post-void residuals. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in detrusor contractility with increasing outlet obstruction suggests a compensatory response to obstruction. Furthermore, a decrease in bladder compliance does not appear to be a consistent finding in patients with outlet obstruction, although the proportion of patients with poor compliance is higher in the group with obstruction and/or detrusor instability than in those with normal urodynamic findings. The decrease in detrusor reserve in patients with high post-void residual volumes suggests that the detrusor reserve reflects the degree of detrusor decompensation.