Systematic Review: Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells,Platelet-Rich Plasma and Biomaterials as New Regenerative Strategies in Chronic Skin Wounds and Soft Tissue Defects

The number of clinical trials evaluating adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs), platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and biomaterials efficacy in regenerative plastic surgery has exponentially increased during the last ten years. AD-MSCs are easily accessible from various fat depots and show intrinsic plasticity in giving rise to cell types involved in wound healing and angiogenesis. AD-MSCs have been used in the treatment of soft tissue defects and chronic wounds, employed in conjunction with a fat grafting technique or with dermal substitute scaffolds and platelet-rich plasma. In this systematic review, an overview of the current knowledge on this topic has been provided, based on existing studies and the authors’ experience. A multistep search of the PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, PreMEDLINE, Ebase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Clinicaltrials.gov, Scopus database, and Cochrane databases has been performed to identify papers on AD-MSCs, PRP, and biomaterials used in soft tissue defects and chronic wounds. Of the 2136 articles initially identified, 422 articles focusing on regenerative strategies in wound healing were selected and, consequently, only 278 articles apparently related to AD-MSC, PRP, and biomaterials were initially assessed for eligibility. Of these, 85 articles were excluded as pre-clinical, experimental, and in vitro studies. For the above-mentioned reasons, 193 articles were selected; of this amount, 121 letters, expert opinions, commentary, and editorials were removed. The remaining 72 articles, strictly regarding the use of AD-MSCs, PRP, and biomaterials in chronic skin wounds and soft tissue defects, were analyzed. The studies included had to match predetermined criteria according to the patients, intervention, comparator, outcomes, and study design (PICOS) approach. The information analyzed highlights the safety and efficacy of AD-MSCs, PRP, and biomaterials on soft tissue defects and chronic wounds, without major side effects.     

Toward optimization of a robust low-cost sulfonated-polyethersulfone containing layered double hydroxide for PEM fuel cells

Polyethersulphone (PES) is an aromatic thermoplastic, at low environmental impact, evaluated in this work as a promising candidate for new polymer electrolytes in the PEMFCs technology. A sulfonation procedure has been tuned in order to graft sulfonic acid groups on the polymer chains (sPES) and to make it hydrophilic. Homogeneous membranes with different polymer's sulfonation degrees (SD%) have demonstrated excellent mechanical properties and very low permeability toward methanol (important in the DMFCs), even if low proton conductivity. Nanocomposite sPES membranes were prepared by dispersion of highly hydrophilic lamellar particles such as layered double hydroxide (LDH) in the polymer. Deep investigations performed by a combination of PFG-NMR, EIS, XRD, DMA, and scanning electron microscopy have evidenced the exfoliation of the lamellae in polymer matrix. However, a certain anisotropy was evidenced both in the morphology and molecular diffusion, favored in the longitudinal direction (parallel to surface), while completely inhibited in the cross-section. This finding is most likely induced by the polymer structure, therefore particular attention must be paid to the choice of the filler and preparation of the composites. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47884.     

Feasibility of a long-term low-sodium diet in mild hypertension

The present study set out to assess the feasibility of long-term moderate dietary sodium restriction in patients with mild hypertension in general practice. After screening and a run-in phase of 6-8 weeks, a total of 77 previously undiagnosed mildly hypertensive patients were identified. Half of them were randomized to receive a few simple dietary instructions from their general practitioners in order to reduce salt usage; the others were randomized to receive no advice. The patients were followed up for 12 months with quarterly visits. A total of 56 patients (72.7%) completed the study, 26 on a low-sodium diet (LD) and 30 on their usual diet (UD). At each visit in the diet phase, patients provided 24h urine, which was analysed for volume and sodium concentration in order to assess their sodium intake. Blood pressure, heart the rate and body weight were recorded. The mean urinary sodium excretion for all diet phase visits overlapped in the two groups (177.0 +/- 32.9 vs. 169.3 +/- 49.4 mEq/24h respectively in the LD and UD groups). Nevertheless the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures for all diet phase visits were significantly lower in the LD than in UD group (144.2 +/- 11.1/91.6 +/- 6.4 and 148.0 +/- 13.7/95.6 +/- 4.7 mmHg respectively, P less than 0.01). Our data suggest that it is not feasible at present to reduce sodium intake in mild hypertensives with simple and inexpensive dietary instructions, the only ones suitable for widespread application in general practice.     

From the individual element test to finite element templates: Evolution of the patch test

This paper starts a sequence of three articles that follow an unconventional approach in finite element research. The ultimate objective is to construct high-performance elements and element-level error estimators for those elements. The approach takes off from our previous work in high-performance elements and culminates with the development of finite element templates. The present paper concentrates on the patch test and evolved versions of the test that have played a key role in this research. Following a brief review of the historical roots, we present the Individual Element Test (IET) of Bergan and Hanssen in an expanded context that encompasses several important classes of new elements. The relationship of the IET to the multielement forms A, B and C of the patch test and to the single-element test are investigated. An important consequence of the IET application is that the element stiffness equations decompose naturally into basic and higher-order parts. The application of this decomposition to the “sanitization” of the non-convergent BCIZ element is described and verified with numerical experiments. Two sequel papers in preparation are subtitled ‘the algebraic approach’ and ‘element-level error estimation’. These apply the fundamental decomposition to the derivation of templates for specific mechanical elements and to the construction of element-level error estimators, respectively.     

了解高级处理器特点提高编码效率

如今的数字信号处理器(DSP)在性能、外围设备集成、功耗和成本方面都具备很多优势,很多系统设计人员希望在原有系统设计中利用DSP获得比传统处理器更好的效益。但其中一个     

Direct Methods Optimised for Solving Crystal Structure by Powder Diffraction Data: Limits,Strategies, and Prospects

The ab-initio crystal structure solution by powder diffraction data requires great efforts because of the collapse of the experimental information onto the one dimensional 2θ axis of the pattern. Different strategies will be described aiming at improving the process of extraction of the integrated intensities from the experimental pattern in order to make more straightforward the structure solution process by direct methods. Particular attention will be devoted to the EXPO program. Some of its performance will be analysed and results will be shown.     

Blackfin处理器面向开源应用

在嵌入式应用中。随着“开源”C／C 代码越来越成为流行的用于替代基于版权算法的另一选择，挑战也随之而来。其中，最重要的问题是如何优化代码．使其在选定的处理器中更好地运行。本文将探讨开源算法在Blockfin处理器上的移植以及代码优化。     

Toward two-dimensional self-organization of nanostructures using wafer bonding and nanopatterned silicon surfaces

The structure of ultrathin silicon layers obtained by molecular hydrophobic bonding is investigated. The twist and tilt angles between the two crystals are accurately controlled. The buried Si|Si interface is observed by transmission electron microscopy and by grazing incidence X-ray techniques. For low twist angle values (/spl psi/<5/spl deg/) plane view observations reveal well-defined dislocation networks. Cross-section observations give evidence that the dislocation networks are localized at the bonding interfacial plane with no threading dislocation. Grazing incidence small angle X-ray scattering measurements confirm the good quality of the bonding interface as well as the quality of the dislocation networks. Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction is also used and shows the long-range order of the periodic strain field in the silicon layer. It shows, especially, the interaction between the dislocations. X-ray reflectivity was employed and estimated that the interfacial thickness (i.e., thickness of the bonding) lower than 1 nm decreases when the twist angle increases. The nanopatterned surface is then investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray methods. To validate these substrates for long-range order self-organization, the growth of Si and Ge quantum dots is finally achieved.     

Simultaneous detection of HPV and other sexually transmitted agents in chronic urethritis

Three tests are routinely done to assess blood status of selenium in cattle: serum selenium, whole blood selenium, and glutathione peroxidase. The objective of this study was to compare the various analytical methods for determining blood selenium status in groups of mature cows and beef calves. Twenty to 30 blood samples per herd were collected from 8 beef herds in central Alberta and 1 dairy in Alberta herd twice a year from the spring of 1992 through the fall of 1995, and once from 185 spring calves in 2 beef herds in Saskatchewan. Serum and whole blood samples were submitted to 1 laboratory and whole blood samples were submitted to a 2nd laboratory. Samples for glutathione peroxidase determinations were submitted to a 3rd laboratory. Pearson's correlation coefficients and Cohen's kappa were calculated for each possible comparison among the different measures. The best agreement was observed between serum and whole blood analysis within Laboratory A. The remaining comparisons reflected poor agreement. Comparison of herd-level assessment resulted in better agreement than comparison of individual sample results among laboratories and procedures for all combinations tested. Serum selenium analysis was the only laboratory procedure for which external reference material was utilized. Serum selenium, whole blood selenium, and glutathione peroxidase measure different compartments of the blood selenium pool. The time frame of interest, supplementation practices, and the stability of recent dietary intake determine the optimum assessment method for individual animals or herds. Determination of the serum status or of blood selenium is more consistently measured at the herd-level than for individual samples.