Search Results (23)

Background: Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are a significant issue in joint replacement surgery patients, affecting results and mortality. Recent research focuses on developing hydrogels (HG) and antimicrobial coatings to reduce pressure injuries, with DAC™ HG showing lower infection risk in hip revision surgery. However, the effectiveness of DAC™ hydrogel in PIJs is still unknown. Here, we attempt to update the literature in this field, pointing out methodological flaws and providing guidance for further research. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature review using the PRISMA guidelines. Quality assessment was performed with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) and the Coleman Methodology Score (CMS). Results: Among 27 records from the initial search, 3 studies resulted eligible for final evaluation. It was observed that following the three surgical procedures performed in combination with DAC™ loaded with specific antibiotics, the quality of life of the treated patients had improved. No side effects associated with DAC™ treatment were in fact observed. Conclusions: The amount and quality of scientific evidence are yet insufficient to either encourage or dissuade the use of such hydrogels in hip prosthesis, despite some intriguing first results. These challenges will be better addressed by randomized controlled trials or longitudinal prospective investigations. Full article

With additive manufacturing (AM) processes such as Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), components with complex shapes or with functional properties can be produced, with advantages in the areas of resource conservation, lightweight construction, and load-optimized production. However, proving component quality is a challenge because it is not possible to produce 100% defect-free components. In addition to this, statistically determined fluctuations in the wire quality, gas flow, and their interaction with process parameters result in a quality of the components that is not 100% reproducible. Complex testing procedures are therefore required to demonstrate the quality of the components, which are not cost-effective and lead to less efficiency. As part of the project “3DPrintFEM”, a sound emission analysis is used to evaluate the quality of AM components. Within the scope of the project, an approach was being developed to determine the quality of an AM part dependent not necessarily on its geometry. Samples were produced from WAAM, which were later cut and milled to precision. To determine the frequencies, the samples were put through a resonant frequency test (RFM). The unwanted modes were then removed from the spectrum produced by the experiments by comparing it with FEM simulations. Later, defects were introduced in experimental samples in compliance with the ISO 5817 guidelines. In order to create a database of frequencies related to the degree of the sample defect, they were subjected to RFM. The database was further augmented through frequencies from simulations performed on samples with similar geometries, and, hence, a training set was generated for an algorithm. A machine-learning algorithm based on regression modelling was trained based on the database to sort samples according to the degree of flaws in them. The algorithm’s detectability was evaluated using samples that had a known level of flaws which forms the test dataset. Based on the outcome, the algorithm will be integrated into an equipment developed in-house to monitor the quality of samples produced, thereby having an in-house quality assessment routine. The equipment shall be less expensive than conventional acoustic equipment, thus helping the industry cut costs when validating the quality of their components. Full article

To refine the fatigue lifespan of products such as automobiles, refrigerators, etc., parametric accelerated life testing (ALT), as a new method for ensuring structured reliability, put forward to assess designs by subjecting them to repeated loads. This method is based on identifying the failure mechanism and redesigning the product. It involves: (1) a parametric ALT procedure based on BX lifespan, (2) load evaluation for elevated life experiments, (3) a tailored sample of parametric ALTs with changes, and (4) a calculation of whether the product reaches the BX lifespan objective. As such, life-stress failure type are suggested along with effort idea, accelerated factor, and sample size. This method of structured reliability, such as parametric ALT, might help designers to discover the product flaws influencing reliability, as indicated by enhancement in life, L_B, and lower failure rate, λ, seen during the design phase. As a result, manufacturers may avoid recall due to market failure. As a test investigation, we redesigned a hinge kit system (HKS) in a household refrigerator. After tailoring the ALT parameters, HKSs with modifications were predicted to fulfil the life objective—B1 life of ten years. Full article

In this study, the effectiveness of an experimental clinical technique for the reproduction of attachments during an orthodontic treatment with clear aligners was evaluated using a new index (CorAl) for quality assessment that exploits the differential entropy of point clouds. The procedure involves the use of a pre-drilled template and a second pre-loaded template with a high-viscosity composite and is compared with the standard technique. Attachment planning was conducted on four prototypes of dental arches with extracted teeth which were divided into two groups according to the proposed operating procedures. Digital scans were utilized to capture dental impressions for both the purposes of virtual planning and to reproduce the clinical outcomes post-procedure. The point clouds obtained after the reproduction of the attachments were aligned with those from the virtual planning, and the deviation analysis was conducted using the quality index of the CorAl method. Though no significant discrepancies were found among the groups regarding morphological flaws, detachments, or maximum defect values, the differential entropy analysis revealed that the experimental technique offers good alignment in attachment placement. The outcome supports that the innovative procedure of the clinical reproduction of attachments proved to be reliable and operationally simple, with additional benefits derived from using the CorAl index. The advantages of CorAl include the use of a single comparison index, no problem of comparison commutativity, noise immunity, low influence from the presence of holes, and point cloud densities. This allows for the drawing of quality maps that show areas with the highest deviation. Full article

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a highly prevalent valvular heart disease that has been long overlooked, but lately its independent association with adverse cardiovascular outcomes was recognized. The time point to intervene and repair the tricuspid valve is defined by the right ventricular (RV) dilation and dysfunction that comes up at a later stage. While guidelines favor tricuspid valve repair before severe RV dysfunction ensues, the definition of RV dysfunction in a universal manner remains vague. As a result, the candidates for transcatheter or surgical TR procedures are often referred late, when advanced RV dysfunction is established, and any derived procedural survival benefit is attenuated. Thus, it is of paramount importance to establish a universal means of RV function assessment in patients with TR. Conventional echocardiographic indices of RV function routinely applied have fundamental flaws that limit the precise characterization of RV performance. More recently, novel echocardiographic indices such as strain via speckle-tracking have emerged, demonstrating promising results in the identification of early RV damage. Additionally, evidence of the role of alternative imaging modalities such as cardiac computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance, for RV functional assessment in TR, has recently arisen. This review provides a systematic appraisal of traditional and novel multimodality indices of RV function in severe TR and aims to refine RV function assessment, designate future directions, and ultimately, to improve the outcome of patients suffering from severe TR. Full article

Rock strength, specifically the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), is a critical parameter mostly used in the effective and sustainable design of tunnels and other engineering structures. This parameter is determined using direct and indirect methods. The direct methods involve acquiring an NX core sample and using sophisticated laboratory procedures to determine UCS. However, the direct methods are time-consuming, expensive, and can yield uncertain results due to the presence of any flaws or discontinuities in the core sample. Therefore, most researchers prefer indirect methods for predicting rock strength. In this study, UCS was predicted using seven different artificial intelligence techniques: Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs), XG Boost Algorithm, Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Elastic Net (EN), Lasso, and Ridge models. The input variables used for rock strength prediction were moisture content (MC), P-waves, and rebound number (R). Four performance indicators were used to assess the efficacy of the models: coefficient of determination (R²), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Square Error (MSE), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The results show that the ANN model had the best performance indicators, with values of 0.9995, 0.2634, 0.0694, and 0.1642 for R², RMSE, MSE, and MAE, respectively. However, the XG Boost algorithm model performance was also excellent and comparable to the ANN model. Therefore, these two models were proposed for predicting UCS effectively. The outcomes of this research provide a theoretical foundation for field professionals in predicting the strength parameters of rock for the effective and sustainable design of engineering structures Full article

Background. Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are often affected by cardiac arrhythmias requiring catheter ablation. Catheter ablation in this setting represents the treatment of choice but is flawed by frequent recurrencies. Predictors of arrhythmia relapse have been identified, but the role of cardiac fibrosis in this setting has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the extension of cardiac fibrosis, detected by electroanatomical mapping, in predicting arrhythmia recurrencies after ablation in ACHD. Materials and Methods. Consecutive patients with congenital heart disease and atrial or ventricular arrhythmias undergoing catheter ablation were enrolled. An electroanatomical bipolar voltage map was performed during sinus rhythm in each patient and bipolar scar was assessed according to the current literature data. During follow-up, arrhythmia recurrences were recorded. The relationship between the extent of myocardial fibrosis and arrhythmia recurrence was assessed. Results. Twenty patients underwent successful catheter ablation of atrial (14) or ventricular (6) arrhythmias, with no inducible arrhythmia at the end of the procedure. During a median follow-up period of 207 weeks (IQR 80 weeks), eight patients (40%; five atrial and three ventricular arrhythmias) had arrhythmia recurrence. Of the five patients undergoing a second ablation, four showed a new reentrant circuit, while one patient had a conduction gap across a previous ablation line. The extension of the bipolar scar area (HR 1.049, CI 1.011–1.089, p = 0.011) and the presence of a bipolar scar area >20 cm² (HR 6.101, CI 1.147–32.442, p = 0.034) were identified as predictors of arrhythmia relapse. Conclusion. The extension of the bipolar scar area and the presence of a bipolar scar area >20 cm² can predict arrhythmia relapse in ACHD undergoing catheter ablation of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Recurrent arrhythmias are often caused by circuits other than those previously ablated. Full article

Advances in semiconductor technology and wireless sensor networks have permitted the development of automated inspection at diverse scales (machine, human, infrastructure, environment, etc.). However, automated identification of road cracks is still in its early stages. This is largely owing to the difficulty obtaining pavement photographs and the tiny size of flaws (cracks). The existence of pavement cracks and potholes reduces the value of the infrastructure, thus the severity of the fracture must be estimated. Annually, operators in many nations must audit thousands of kilometers of road to locate this degradation. This procedure is costly, sluggish, and produces fairly subjective results. The goal of this work is to create an efficient automated system for crack identification, extraction, and 3D reconstruction. The creation of crack-free roads is critical to preventing traffic deaths and saving lives. The proposed method consists of five major stages: detection of flaws after processing the input picture with the Gaussian filter, contrast adjustment, and ultimately, threshold-based segmentation. We created a database of road cracks to assess the efficacy of our proposed method. The result obtained are commendable and outperform previous state-of-the-art studies. Full article

Background: The evaluation of scholarly articles’ impact has been heavily based on the citation metrics despite the limitations of this approach. Therefore, the quest for meticulous and refined measures to evaluate publications’ impact is warranted. Semantic Scholar (SS) is an artificial intelligence-based database that allegedly identifies influential citations defined as “Highly Influential Citations” (HICs). Citations are considered highly influential according to SS when the cited publication has a significant impact on the citing publication (i.e., the citer uses or extends the cited work). Altmetrics are measures of online attention to research mined from activity in online tools and environments. Aims: The current study aimed to explore whether SS HICs provide an added value when it comes to measuring research impact compared to total citation counts and Altmetric Attention Score (AAS). Methods: Dimensions was used to generate the dataset for this study, which included COVID-19-related scholarly articles published by researchers affiliated to Jordanian institutions. Altmetric Explorer was selected as an altmetrics harvesting tool, while Semantic Scholar was used to extract details related to HICs. A total of 618 publications comprised the final dataset. Results: Only 4.57% (413/9029) of the total SS citations compiled in this study were classified as SS HICs. Based on SS categories of citations intent, 2626 were background citations (29.08%, providing historical context, justification of importance, and/or additional information related to the cited paper), 358 were result citations (3.97%, that extend on findings from research that was previously conducted), and 263 were method citations (2.91%, that use the previously established procedures or experiments to determine whether the results are consistent with findings in related studies). No correlation was found between HICs and AAS (r = 0.094). Manual inspection of the results revealed substantial contradictions, flaws, and inconsistencies in the SS HICs tool. Conclusions: The use of SS HICs in gauging research impact is significantly limited due to the enigmatic method of its calculation and total dependence on artificial intelligence. Along with the already documented drawbacks of total citation counts and AASs, continuous evaluation of the existing tools and the conception of novel approaches are highly recommended to improve the reliability of publication impact assessment. Full article

Reality Capture (RC) is a state-of-the-art technology for digital data gathering and visualization of the actual environment through virtual means. In recent years, RC has contributed significantly to the digitalization of the construction industry globally. However, there are no systematic critical analyses of the benefits and challenges of RC technologies in construction project management (CPM) to drive its adoption. This research provides a detailed overview of the potential benefits and constraints of RC to tackle CPM concerns successfully and efficiently. This study uses the PRISMA procedure to conduct a systematic literature review. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria set for the study, 96 articles were considered relevant for review. The articles were analyzed using content analysis techniques to synthesize identify emerging themes. A four-step procedure was used to classify the articles into pre-construction planning, designing and construction. The review show that (a) RC is useful during the planning and designing stage, as the success of a construction project depends on accurate data to reduce the risk of cost and time overruns; (b) the benefits of RC adoption are accurate data, reduced time spent on project monitoring, progress tracking, and quality assessment; (c) RC on a construction site aids in the resolution of the industry’s fragmented nature through collaboration; quick and prompt decision making through remote monitoring and control of projects. RC is used as a visualization tool and for digital documentation of as-built models, construction verification, and flaw discovery, thereby improving work processes to achieve project success; (d) the most challenging aspect of incorporating RC on a construction site is the high investment cost. In the digital revolution era, this study could aid in the knowledge and optimal use of Reality Capture in numerous areas of CPM. Full article

It is well documented that the colonizers of Canada have long coveted the ancestral homelands of the Canadian Indigenous peoples for settlement and development. With this end goal in mind, it is not surprising that there exists an extensive history of assimilative efforts by the colonizers with respect to the Indigenous peoples of Canada—for example, legal assimilation through enfranchisement (voluntary and involuntary) and blood quantum requirements, and cultural assimilation through residential schools and the “sixties scoop”. Another form of assimilation is environmental assimilation, that is, colonial development on Indigenous homelands to the extent whereby Indigenous cultural activities can no longer be supported in the development-transformed environment. Herein, I examine Bill C-69, a Government of Canada omnibus bill, through an environmental justice lens in the context of development across Canada on Indigenous homelands and impacts on Indigenous cultural sustainability. Specifically, Part 1 (i.e., the Impact Assessment Act, 2019) and Part 3 (i.e., the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, 2019) of Bill C-69 pose significant threats to Indigenous cultural sustainability. Through an environmental justice lens, procedural aspects include the use of the project list and scheduled waterways, the discretionary decision-making powers of the Government of Canada representatives, and the lack of acknowledgement of procedural elements of the environmental assessment processes that are constitutionally protected in comprehensive land claims. While, distributive justice aspects consist of unsustainable development from an Indigenous perspective, whereby environmental costs and benefits have been (and will be) distributed inequitably. Bill C-69 is a flawed statute that reinforces the colonial policy of assimilation. Full article

Background: The application of virtual and augmented reality technologies to orthopaedic surgery training and practice aims to increase the safety and accuracy of procedures and reducing complications and costs. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarise the present literature on this topic while providing a detailed analysis of current flaws and benefits. Methods: A comprehensive search on the PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, and Embase database was conducted from inception to February 2021. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to improve the reporting of the review. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS) was used to assess the quality and potential bias of the included randomized and non-randomized control trials, respectively. Results: Virtual reality has been proven revolutionary for both resident training and preoperative planning. Thanks to augmented reality, orthopaedic surgeons could carry out procedures faster and more accurately, improving overall safety. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a promising technology with limitless potential, but, nowadays, its use in orthopaedic surgery is limited to preoperative diagnosis. Conclusions: Extended reality technologies have the potential to reform orthopaedic training and practice, providing an opportunity for unidirectional growth towards a patient-centred approach. Full article

This paper suggests parametric accelerated life testing (ALT) as a systematic reliability technique to generate the reliability quantitative (RQ) specification such as mission cycle for identifying design flaws in mechanical systems as exerting the accelerated load, defined as the reverse of stress ratio, R. Parametric ALT therefore is a procedure to improve the fatigue for mechanical products subjected to repetitive loading. It includes: (1) a system BX lifetime shaped on the parametric ALT plan; (2) a fatigue failure and design; (3) tailored ALTs with alternatives; and (4) an assessment of whether the design(s) of the product attains the targeted BX lifetime. A BX life ideas, a life-stress model, and a sample size formulation for parametric ALT are proposed. A reciprocating compressor in a domestic refrigerator is utilized to explain this methodology. The compressor was subjected to repetitive impact loading due to the pressure difference between condenser and evaporator, which results in the compressor field failure. To analyze and conduct parametric ALTs, as mass/energy balance was utilized on the vapor-compression refrigerating cycle, a simple pressure loading of the compressor in operating the refrigerator was investigated. At the first ALT, the compressor was locked due to the fractured suction reed valve made of Sandvik 20C carbon steel (1 C, 0.25 Si, 0.45 Mn). The dominant failure modes of the suction reed valve in the parametric ALTs were established to be very close to that of the fractured product from the marketplace. The root cause of the fatigue failure of the suction reed valve was an amount of overlap between the suction reed valve and the valve plate in combination of repeated pressure loading in the compressor. To supply sufficient mechanical strength, the design faults were altered by the trespan dimensions tumbling process, a ball peening and brushing process for the valve plate. At the second ALT, a compressor was locked due to the intrusion between the crankshaft and the thrust washer. The corrective action plan was to give heat treat the surface of crankshaft made of cast iron (0.45 C, 0.25 Si, 0.8 Mn, 0.03 P). After these alternations, there were no issues at the third ALT. The lifetime of the compressor was ensured to have B1 life 10 years. Full article

Technological advancements in healthcare influence medical practitioners as much as they impact the routine lives of the patients. The mandible reconstruction, which constitutes an important branch in facioplasty, has been a challenging task for medical professionals. As part of scientific innovation, tailor-made implants are valuable for sustaining and regenerating facial anatomy, as well as preserving the natural appearance. The challenge of choosing an acceptable implant design is a tedious process due to the growing number of designs with conspicuous effectiveness. The design should be agreeable, easy-to-design, sustainable, cost-effective, and undemanding for manufacturing. The optimal implant design can efficiently and effectively recover the structure and morphology of the flawed region. Evidently, among the many variants, the choice of appropriate design is one of the prevalent implant design problems and is still under consideration in most studies. This work is focused on the multiattribute decision-making (MCDM) approach to choosing the most effective implant design. The prevalence of subjectivity in decision-making and the presence of inconsistency from multiple sources emphasize the strategies that must take ambiguity and vagueness into account. An integrated MCDM methodology, assimilating two modern and popular techniques is adopted in this work. The preferred approach implements the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process based on the trapezoidal fuzzy number to extract the criteria weights in decision mapping and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution and VIKOR to assess design choices. A two-stage mechanism is the cornerstone of the established methodology. The first stage analyses the criteria from the point of view of the designer, the context of fabrication, and consumer experience. The second stage identifies the most viable and feasible design. The procedure applied in this analysis can be considered to choose the optimal implant design and to decide on areas of improvement that ensure greater patient experience. Full article

The present paper’s main objective is to derive a simple upper bound solution for a welded plate in pure bending. The plate contains a crack located in the weld. Both the weld and base materials are orthotropic. Hill’s quadratic yield criterion is adopted. The solution is semi-analytic. A numerical method is only required for minimizing a function of two independent variables. Six independent dimensionless parameters classify the structure. Therefore, the complete parametric analysis of the solution is not feasible. However, for a given set of parameters, the numerical solution is straightforward, and the numerical method is fast. A numerical example emphasizes the effect of plastic anisotropy and the crack’s location on the bending moment at plastic collapse. In particular, the bending moment for the specimen having a vertical axis of symmetry is compared with that of the asymmetric specimen. It is shown that the latter is smaller for all considered cases. The solution found can be used in conjunction with flaw assessment procedures. Full article