Biological function following radical photo-polymerization of biomedical polymers and surrounding tissues: Design considerations and cellular risk factors

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 011301
Author(s):  
Gabriella C. J. Lindberg ◽  
Khoon S. Lim ◽  
Bram G. Soliman ◽  
Alexander Nguyen ◽  
Gary J. Hooper ◽  
...  
2017 ◽  
Vol 140 (12) ◽  
pp. 2667-2677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise A. Brinton ◽  
Baffour Awuah ◽  
Joe Nat Clegg‐Lamptey ◽  
Beatrice Wiafe‐Addai ◽  
Daniel Ansong ◽  
...  

1998 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-204
Author(s):  
Marie-Christine Roy ◽  
Katherine Roy ◽  
Lyne Bouchard

Many organizations have implemented radical changes through business process re-engineering (BPR) in recent years. In most cases, these changes have been necessary to meet the requirements of a more competitive and global market. Rather than focus on these economic objectives, this paper describes how several organizational transformations took human dimensions into account. The literature in information technology implementation and organizational change provides some important guidelines for integrating human factors into design considerations. Furthermore, it shows that technical, technological, and human dimensions must be jointly optimized to obtain the most significant improvements in productivity. Given the significance of the changes brought in through BPR, we might assume that those having to live with these changes would be quite involved in designing and implementing them. However, four case studies and a survey of 38 projects indicate that even though human aspects are considered to be important risk factors, most BPR efforts are technically oriented. We present some possible explanations and suggest improvements to current design strategies.


2011 ◽  
Vol 300 (3) ◽  
pp. R586-R594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao-Hung Wang ◽  
I-Chang Hsieh ◽  
Jong-Hwei Su Pang ◽  
Wen-Jin Cherng ◽  
Shing-Jong Lin ◽  
...  

Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) are undergoing extensive investigations to tackle certain deliberating cardiovascular diseases. However, the success of this approach depends on a thorough understanding of ECFC biology. This study sought to determine the factors associated with the purity, biological function, and activation potential of ex vivo expanded ECFCs. Seventy-three patients with newly diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD) and 24 controls were studied. ECFCs were cultured for up to 10 passages to investigate changes in and the impact of coronary risk factors on ECFC biological functions and the atherogenic potential. Passages 3–5 of ECFCs exhibited higher endothelial phenotype expression and better biological functions, in terms of nitric oxide secretion and tubular formation, but lower activation potentials compared with later passages ( P <0.05). Studies on passage 3 showed that endothelial phenotype expression and biological functions were impaired, and the activation potentials of the ECFCs were significantly upregulated in subjects with coronary risk factors and especially those with CAD ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, ECFCs were already activated before inflammatory stimulation in subjects with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and CAD. Atorvastatin upregulated the endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression of ECFCs in CAD patients ( P < 0.01), although not up to the baseline level of controls. In conclusion, the passage number and a variety of coronary risk factors were associated with the purity, biological function, and activation potential of ex vivo-expanded ECFCs. Functional assessments and manipulations of ECFCs have to be pursued in patients with extensive risk factors.


Author(s):  
S.D. Smith ◽  
R.J. Spontak ◽  
D.H. Melik ◽  
S.M. Buehler ◽  
K.M. Kerr ◽  
...  

When blended together, homopolymers A and B will normally macrophase-separate into relatively large (≫1 μm) A-rich and B-rich phases, between which exists poor interfacial adhesion, due to a low entropy of mixing. The size scale of phase separation in such a blend can be reduced, and the extent of interfacial A-B contact and entanglement enhanced, via addition of an emulsifying agent such as an AB diblock copolymer. Diblock copolymers consist of a long sequence of A monomers covalently bonded to a long sequence of B monomers. These materials are surface-active and decrease interfacial tension between immiscible phases much in the same way as do small-molecule surfactants. Previous studies have clearly demonstrated the utility of block copolymers in compatibilizing homopolymer blends and enhancing blend properties such as fracture toughness. It is now recognized that optimization of emulsified ternary blends relies upon design considerations such as sufficient block penetration into a macrophase (to avoid block slip) and prevention of a copolymer multilayer at the A-B interface (to avoid intralayer failure).


Author(s):  
Y. Harada ◽  
K. Tsuno ◽  
Y. Arai

Magnetic objective lenses, from the point of view of pole piece geometry, can he roughly classified into two types, viz., symmetrical and asymmetrical. In the case of the former, the optical properties have been calculated by several authors1-3) and the results would appear to suggest that, in order to reduce the spherical and chromatic aberration coefficients, Cs and Cc, it is necessary to decrease the half-width value of the axial field distribution and to increase the peak flux density. The expressions for either minimum Cs or minimum Cc were presented in the form of ‘universal’ curves by Mulvey and Wallington4).


2019 ◽  
Vol 133 (22) ◽  
pp. 2283-2299
Author(s):  
Apabrita Ayan Das ◽  
Devasmita Chakravarty ◽  
Debmalya Bhunia ◽  
Surajit Ghosh ◽  
Prakash C. Mandal ◽  
...  

Abstract The role of inflammation in all phases of atherosclerotic process is well established and soluble TREM-like transcript 1 (sTLT1) is reported to be associated with chronic inflammation. Yet, no information is available about the involvement of sTLT1 in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Present study was undertaken to determine the pathophysiological significance of sTLT1 in atherosclerosis by employing an observational study on human subjects (n=117) followed by experiments in human macrophages and atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E (apoE)−/− mice. Plasma level of sTLT1 was found to be significantly (P<0.05) higher in clinical (2342 ± 184 pg/ml) and subclinical cases (1773 ± 118 pg/ml) than healthy controls (461 ± 57 pg/ml). Moreover, statistical analyses further indicated that sTLT1 was not only associated with common risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in both clinical and subclinical groups but also strongly correlated with disease severity. Ex vivo studies on macrophages showed that sTLT1 interacts with Fcɣ receptor I (FcɣRI) to activate spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK)-mediated downstream MAP kinase signalling cascade to activate nuclear factor-κ B (NF-kB). Activation of NF-kB induces secretion of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) from macrophage cells that plays pivotal role in governing the persistence of chronic inflammation. Atherosclerotic apoE−/− mice also showed high levels of sTLT1 and TNF-α in nearly occluded aortic stage indicating the contribution of sTLT1 in inflammation. Our results clearly demonstrate that sTLT1 is clinically related to the risk factors of CAD. We also showed that binding of sTLT1 with macrophage membrane receptor, FcɣR1 initiates inflammatory signals in macrophages suggesting its critical role in thrombus development and atherosclerosis.


2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-62
Author(s):  
Joseph Donaher ◽  
Christina Deery ◽  
Sarah Vogel

Healthcare professionals require a thorough understanding of stuttering since they frequently play an important role in the identification and differential diagnosis of stuttering for preschool children. This paper introduces The Preschool Stuttering Screen for Healthcare Professionals (PSSHP) which highlights risk factors identified in the literature as being associated with persistent stuttering. By integrating the results of the checklist with a child’s developmental profile, healthcare professionals can make better-informed, evidence-based decisions for their patients.


2010 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 76-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Donaher ◽  
Tom Gurrister ◽  
Irving Wollman ◽  
Tim Mackesey ◽  
Michelle L. Burnett

Parents of children who stutter and adults who stutter frequently ask speech-language pathologists to predict whether or not therapy will work. Even though research has explored risk-factors related to persistent stuttering, there remains no way to determine how an individual will react to a specific therapy program. This paper presents various clinicians’answers to the question, “What do you tell parents or adults who stutter when they ask about cure rates, outcomes, and therapy efficacy?”


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