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Materials (Basel, Switzerland) May 2022In order to improve the impact resistance mechanical properties of bolt, the requirements of rock burst roadway support must be met. Based on the requirements that the...
In order to improve the impact resistance mechanical properties of bolt, the requirements of rock burst roadway support must be met. Based on the requirements that the anchor should have a reasonable deformation load threshold, high stroke efficiency, constant reaction force and stable repeatable deformation damage mode. A constant resistance anti-impact device was designed, and a new constant resistance energy-absorbing impact anchor rod was designed in combination with a conventional anchor rod, and the working principle of a constant resistance energy-absorbing impact anchor rod was given. ABAQUS finite element software was used to analyze the mechanical properties of bolt and the results showed that the constant resistance energy-absorbing anti-shock anchor has a stable and repeatable deformation damage mode under both static and impact loads, and the three indexes of the constant resistance energy-absorbing anti-shock anchor, such as yield distance, impact resistance time and energy absorption, are significantly better than those of the conventional anchor. The impact energy and impact velocity have less influence on the load-bearing capacity and stroke efficiency of the impact device. The impact velocity has less influence on the indices of the rod yield load, breaking load, absorbed energy and the yield distance of a conventional anchor and constant resistance energy-absorbing anti-stroke anchor, and the impact resistance time decreases non-linearly with the increase in the impact velocity.
PubMed: 35629491
DOI: 10.3390/ma15103464 -
Poultry Science May 2021On-farm euthanasia of poultry is a necessity for minimizing disease spread and removing sick or injured birds to maintain optimum animal welfare. There are numerous...
On-farm euthanasia of poultry is a necessity for minimizing disease spread and removing sick or injured birds to maintain optimum animal welfare. There are numerous methods that are approved for euthanasia of poultry by organizations like the American Veterinary Medical Association; however, all approved methods are not easily carried out on-farm or as effective as one another. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare several captive bolt devices (Turkey Euthanasia Device, Zephyr-EXL, Jarvis Stunner, Experimental Crossbow), mechanical cervical dislocation (Broomstick method [BRM] and Koechner Euthanasia Device [KED]), and manual cervical dislocation (MAN) methods on 8 and 12-week-old turkey hens. Each method was assessed for impact on loss of brain stem reflexes, euthanasia success, and torn skin. The cervical dislocation techniques were also analyzed via radiograph for proper dislocation. Furthermore, each device was assessed for physical parameters. Turkeys (n = 1,400) were euthanized on 20 sampling days, 10 sampling days for each age period. All methods resulted in euthanasia of all turkeys in this study. The captive bolt devices all resulted in immediate loss of nictitating membrane and pupillary reflex at both the ages tested. The cervical dislocation methods differed in both nictitating membrane and pupillary reflex cessation at both ages (P < 0.05). The pattern was the same at both ages with the KED device have longer latencies to cessation of both reflexes when compared to the BRM and MAN methods (P < 0.05). Cessation of movement was also generally longer in dislocation methods compared to captive bolt at both ages. However, captive bolt devices resulted in more lacerations of the skin in general. MAN was also found to result in less damage to the vertebrae and proper location of separation than the mechanical methods of dislocation. All methods resulted in effective euthanasia; however, captive bolt methods resulted in immediate loss of brain stem reflexes indicating that they maybe more humane than cervical dislocation methods.
Topics: Animal Welfare; Animals; Chickens; Euthanasia, Animal; Farms; Turkeys
PubMed: 33774372
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.101053 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2023External ventricular drainage (EVD) is a common emergency neurosurgical procedure, but it is not free of adverse events. The aim of this study is to compare the...
BACKGROUND
External ventricular drainage (EVD) is a common emergency neurosurgical procedure, but it is not free of adverse events. The aim of this study is to compare the complication rate of two frequently used EVD types, namely, tunneled antibiotic-impregnated catheters (Bactiseal) and bolt-connected non-coated devices (Camino).
METHODS
All EVDs placed between 1 March 2015 and 31 December 2017 were registered. Procedures performed with any catheter different from Bactiseal or Camino EVD with incomplete follow-up and those EVDs placed due to infectious disease were excluded. Demographic and clinical variables, as well as the overall complication rate (infection, hemorrhage, obstruction, malposition of the catheter, and involuntary pull-out of the device) and the need for replacement of the EVD, were collected.
RESULTS
A total of 77 EVDs were finally considered for analysis (40 Bactiseal and 37 Camino). There was a statistically significant difference in diagnosis and also in the location of the procedure, as more bolt-connected EVD was placed outside the operating room (97.3 vs. 23.5%, < 0.001) due to emergent pathologies such as vascular diseases and spontaneous hemorrhages. In the univariate analysis, a statistically significantly higher rate of catheter involuntary pull-out (29.7 vs. 7.5%, = 0.012) and the need for EVD replacement (32.4 vs. 12.5%, = 0.035) was found in the Camino cohort. However, those differences could not be confirmed with multivariable analysis, which showed no association between the type of catheter and any of the studied complications. Ventriculostomy duration was identified as a risk factor for infection (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.18).
CONCLUSION
No significant differences were observed regarding infection, hemorrhage, obstruction, malposition, involuntary catheter pull-out, and the need for EVD replacement when comparing non-impregnated bolt-connected EVDs (Camino) with tunneled antibiotic-impregnated catheters (Bactiseal). The duration of EVD was associated with an increased risk of infection.
PubMed: 37638173
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1202954 -
Future Cardiology Mar 2022Major advances have been made in coronary artery stent technology over the last decades. Drug-eluting stents reduced in-stent restenosis and have shown better outcomes... (Review)
Review
Major advances have been made in coronary artery stent technology over the last decades. Drug-eluting stents reduced in-stent restenosis and have shown better outcomes compared with bare metal stents, yet some limitations still exist to their use. Because they delay healing of the vessel wall, longer dual antiplatelet therapy is mandatory to mitigate against stent thrombosis and this limitation is most concerning in subjects at high risk for bleeding. The COBRA PzF nanocoated coronary stent has been associated with accelerated endothelialization relative to drug-eluting stents, reduced inflammation and thromboresistance in preclinical studies, suggesting more flexible dual antiplatelet therapy requirement with potential benefits especially in those at high bleeding risk. Here, we discuss the significance of COBRA PzF in light of recent experimental and clinical studies.
Topics: Coated Materials, Biocompatible; Coronary Restenosis; Drug-Eluting Stents; Fibrinolytic Agents; Humans; Prosthesis Design; Stents; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 34521223
DOI: 10.2217/fca-2021-0057 -
Poultry Science Sep 2022Efficacious euthanasia by applying manual cervical dislocation can be difficult on large and mature poultry. The challenge with using manual cervical dislocation is that...
Efficacious euthanasia by applying manual cervical dislocation can be difficult on large and mature poultry. The challenge with using manual cervical dislocation is that the strength required to hold heavy poultry and swiftly apply cervical dislocation can be physically impossible for most people. Therefore, alternative methods of euthanasia are needed for mature and large poultry. Mechanical cervical dislocation using the Koechner Euthanizing Device (KED), captive bolt using the Turkey Euthanasia Device (TED), carbon dioxide (CO), and electrical euthanasia were evaluated for use on 65-wk-old broiler breeders at flock termination. Following application of each method, physiological reflexes including the eye nictitating membrane reflex, mouth gaping, and body movement, broken skin, blood loss, kill success, time to cessation of heartbeat, and blood plasma corticosterone levels were assessed. Birds euthanized using the KED had longer response durations for eye nictitating membrane (91 s) and reflexive mouth gaping (161 s) compared to TED, CO, and electrical euthanasia (0-7 s). Body movement durations were also longer for KED (214 s) and TED (209 s) than for CO and electrical euthanasia (0-8 s). The highest percentages of broken skin (93%) and blood loss (96%) were observed for TED, followed by KED (71%, 68%), then CO (0%, 6%) and electrical euthanasia (0%, 3%). No significant differences (P = 0.1781) were observed for kill success rates with 98% for KED, 100% for TED, 97% for CO, and 100% for electrical euthanasia at 4-min. Time to heartbeat cessation did not differ between KED (659 s), TED (427 s), or CO (583 s) euthanasia methods. No heartbeat was detected following electrical euthanasia. Blood plasma corticosterone levels did not differ between preeuthanasia or posteuthanasia from any of the methods applied. Based on these results each euthanasia method is acceptable for use with broiler breeders.
Topics: Animals; Carbon Dioxide; Chickens; Corticosterone; Euthanasia, Animal; Farms; Humans; Poultry
PubMed: 35901644
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102000 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2017Rock bolts have been widely used as rock reinforcing members in underground coal mine roadways and tunnels. Failures of rock bolts occur as a result of overloading,... (Review)
Review
Rock bolts have been widely used as rock reinforcing members in underground coal mine roadways and tunnels. Failures of rock bolts occur as a result of overloading, corrosion, seismic burst and bad grouting, leading to catastrophic economic and personnel losses. Monitoring the health condition of the rock bolts plays an important role in ensuring the safe operation of underground mines. This work presents a brief introduction on the types of rock bolts followed by a comprehensive review of rock bolt monitoring using smart sensors. Smart sensors that are used to assess rock bolt integrity are reviewed to provide a firm perception of the application of smart sensors for enhanced performance and reliability of rock bolts. The most widely used smart sensors for rock bolt monitoring are the piezoelectric sensors and the fiber optic sensors. The methodologies and principles of these smart sensors are reviewed from the point of view of rock bolt integrity monitoring. The applications of smart sensors in monitoring the critical status of rock bolts, such as the axial force, corrosion occurrence, grout quality and resin delamination, are highlighted. In addition, several prototypes or commercially available smart rock bolt devices are also introduced.
PubMed: 28379167
DOI: 10.3390/s17040776 -
Poultry Science Mar 2021On-farm euthanasia of poultry, including turkeys, may not be possible for most people as birds gain weight; thus alternative mechanical methods have been developed. Our...
On-farm euthanasia of poultry, including turkeys, may not be possible for most people as birds gain weight; thus alternative mechanical methods have been developed. Our objective was to compare mechanical cervical dislocation with the Koechner Euthanizing Device (KED), captive bolt euthanasia with the Turkey Euthanasia Device (TED), head-only CO euthanasia (CO), and electric euthanasia as potential humane methods for euthanizing individual, heavy turkeys. We assessed their impact on loss of brain stem reflexes, acute distress (corticosterone, CORT), kill success, torn skin, and blood loss. Turkeys (n = 174) were euthanized on 3 sampling days, while birds were restrained using a mobile bird euthanasia apparatus. Brain stem reflexes recorded were the cessation and return of induced nictitating membrane reflex (loss of consciousness and brain stem dysfunction), mouth gaping reflex (brain stem dysfunction), and musculoskeletal movements (spinal cord dysfunction). Overall, KED resulted in more frequent (at 4 min: KED 7 of 14; electric 0 of 13; TED 0 of 11; CO 2 of 14 birds on day 1) and longer durations of the induced nictitating reflex compared to the other methods (means of day 2 and 3: KED 233; electric 15; TED 15; CO 15 s). The mouth gaping reflex endured the longest after KED euthanasia (means of day 2 and 3: KED 197; electric 15; TED 51; CO 15 s). Musculoskeletal movements endured longest after KED euthanasia (means of day 2 and 3: KED 235; electric 15; TED 219; CO 15 s). Returning reflexes were more frequent after KED and TED compared to CO and electric euthanasia, where it was absent. CO, electric, and TED euthanasia showed comparable kill success (success: CO 42 out of 43; electric 44 of 45; TED 42 of 44), with KED resulting in most unsuccessful kills (unsuccessful: 8 out of 42). CORT responses were inconsistent. Torn skin and blood loss occurred more frequently after KED and TED compared to CO and electric applications. Therefore, we conclude that, based on a comparison of these 4 methods, the most discernibly humane was electric euthanasia, which consistently resulted in quick loss of consciousness within 15 s, no returning reflexes, and no torn skin or blood loss.
Topics: Animal Welfare; Animals; Euthanasia, Animal; Farms; Female; Turkeys
PubMed: 33518334
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.11.001 -
PloS One 2023Traditional tower cranes cannot meet the sustainable development goals as they use the cast-in-place concrete foundation, with large size, long construction period, and...
Traditional tower cranes cannot meet the sustainable development goals as they use the cast-in-place concrete foundation, with large size, long construction period, and demolition after construction, resulting in waste of resources and high costs. This paper proposes a bolt-connected prefabricated cross-shaped I-steel tower crane foundation. It offers significant advantages in terms of convenient connection, low amortization cost and recyclability. The split connection point of the foundation is determined through the force analysis of the I-steel. With the ratio of the fixed cross-sectional area to the web height-to-thickness ratio (i.e. total cost) being constant, the inertia moment and bending stiffness of the I-steel are optimized using modern optimization design methods with the ratio of the web plate area to the total section area of the I-steel as the design variable, yielding the ideal strength and stiffness of the I-steel section.
Topics: Bone Plates; Steel
PubMed: 37733764
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291982 -
Variation in regional implantation patterns of cardiac implantable electronic device in Switzerland.PloS One 2022There is a substantial geographical variation in the rates of pacemaker (PM), implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT)...
INTRODUCTION
There is a substantial geographical variation in the rates of pacemaker (PM), implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation across European countries. We assessed the extent of regional variation and potential determinants of such variation.
METHODS
We conducted a population-based analysis using discharge data for PM/ICD/CRT implantations from all Swiss acute care hospitals during 2013-2016. We derived hospital service areas (HSA) by analyzing patient flows. We calculated age- and sex-standardized rates and quantified variation using the extremal quotient (EQ) and the systemic component of variation (SCV). We estimated the reduction in variance of crude implantation rates across HSAs using multilevel regression models, with incremental adjustment for age and sex, language, socioeconomic factors, population health, diabetes mellitus, and the density of cardiologists on the HSA level.
RESULTS
We analyzed implantations of 8129 PM, 1461 ICD, and 1411 CRT from 25 Swiss HSAs. The mean age- and sex-standardized implantation rate was 29 (range 8-57) per 100,000 persons for PM, 5 (1-9) for ICD, and 5 (2-8) for CRT. There was a very high variation in PM (EQ 7.0; SCV 12.6) and ICD (EQ 7.2; SCV 11.3) and a high variation in CRT implantation rates (EQ 3.9; SCV 7.1) across HSAs. Adjustments for age and sex, language, socioeconomic factors, population health, diabetes mellitus, and density of cardiologists explained 94% of the variance in ICD and 87.5% of the variance in CRT implantation rates, but only 36.3% of the variance in PM implantation rates. Women had substantially lower PM/ICD/CRT implantation rates than men.
CONCLUSION
Switzerland has a very high regional variation in PM/ICD implantation and a high variation in CRT implantation rates. Women had substantially lower implantation rates than men. A large share of the variation in PM procedure rates remained unexplained which might reflect variations in physicians' preferences and practices.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices; Defibrillators, Implantable; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pacemaker, Artificial; Socioeconomic Factors; Switzerland; Young Adult
PubMed: 35171922
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262959 -
Structural Heart : the Journal of the... Aug 2022Reshaping the dilated left ventricle using a surgically implanted papillary muscle sling has been shown to provide long-term improvement in cardiac function compared to...
BACKGROUND
Reshaping the dilated left ventricle using a surgically implanted papillary muscle sling has been shown to provide long-term improvement in cardiac function compared to annuloplasty alone in patients with systolic heart failure. A papillary muscle sling which can be implanted via a transcatheter approach has the potential to make this treatment more widely available to patients.
METHODS
The Vsling transcatheter papillary muscle sling device was evaluated in a chronic animal model (sacrificed at 30 and 90 days), in a simulator, and in a human cadaver.
RESULTS
The Vsling device was successfully implanted in 10 pigs, 6 simulator procedures, and 1 human cadaver. Procedure complexity and device usability were rated as reasonable or better by 6 interventional cardiologists. Gross and histological analysis in chronic pigs through 90 days demonstrated near-complete endothelial coverage with mild inflammation and small hematoma formation but without adverse tissue reactions, thrombi, or embolization.
CONCLUSIONS
Preliminary feasibility and safety of the Vsling implant and implantation procedure have been demonstrated. Human trials are planned to begin in the summer of 2022.
PubMed: 37288331
DOI: 10.1016/j.shj.2022.100075