Tensile Properties of In Situ 3D Printed Glass Fiber-Reinforced PLA.

A 3D printed composite via the fused filament fabrication (FFF) technique has potential to enhance the mechanical properties of FFF 3D printed parts. The most commonly employed techniques for 3D composite printing (method 1) utilized premixed composite filaments, where the fibers were integrated into thermoplastic materials prior to printing. In the second method (method 2), short fibers and thermoplastic were mixed together within the extruder of a 3D printer to form a composite part.

3D-Printed Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites by Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM): Fiber Length and Fiber Implementation Techniques.

Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) is an actively growing additive manufacturing (AM) technology due to its ability to produce complex shapes in a short time. AM, also known as 3-dimensional printing (3DP), creates the desired shape by adding material, preferably by layering contoured layers on top of each other. The need for low cost, design flexibility and automated manufacturing processes in industry has triggered the development of FDM.

Streptococcus anginosus group infections in hospitalised children and young people.

Aim: The Streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) comprises three bacterial species colonising the mouth and gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts and capable of serious pyogenic infections. Although well-described in adults, studies in children are limited. Here, we characterise paediatric SAG infections from a single Australian centre.

Thyroid function testing in an inpatient mental health unit.

Objective: Thyroid function tests are a common screening investigation for patients admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit.

Method: This study aimed to retrospectively assess the clinical utility of routine thyroid function testing performed on newly admitted psychiatric patients over a 4-year period in Victoria, Australia via chart review of all abnormal results identified.

Results: Our retrospective audit revealed only two cases where identification of thyroid dysfunction informed patient management.

Optimization of NaOH Molarity, LUSI Mud/Alkaline Activator, and Na2SiO3/NaOH Ratio to Produce Lightweight Aggregate-Based Geopolymer.

This paper presents the mechanical function and characterization of an artificial lightweight geopolymer aggregate (ALGA) using LUSI (Sidoarjo mud) and alkaline activator as source materials. LUSI stands for LU-Lumpur and SI-Sidoarjo, meaning mud from Sidoarjo which erupted near the Banjarpanji-1 exploration well in Sidoarjo, East Java, Indonesia on 27 May 2006. The effect of NaOH molarity, LUSI mud/Alkaline activator (LM/AA) ratio, and Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio to the ALGA are investigated at a sintering temperature of 950 °C.

Mechanical and Microstructural Evaluations of Lightweight Aggregate Geopolymer Concrete before and after Exposed to Elevated Temperatures.

This paper presents the mechanical and microstructural characteristics of a lightweight aggregate geopolymer concrete (LWAGC) synthesized by the alkali-activation of a fly ash source (FA) before and after being exposed to elevated temperatures, ranging from 100 to 800 °C. The results show that the LWAGC unexposed to the elevated temperatures possesses a good strength-to-weight ratio compared with other LWAGCs available in the published literature. The unexposed LWAGC also shows an excellent strength development aging times, up to 365 days.

Changes in the length and diameter of the normal appendix throughout childhood.

Background/aim: It has been proposed that the narrow diameter of the appendix is important in providing a 'safe zone' for commensal intestinal flora, while the length of the appendix can be variable. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between appendiceal length, diameter and age, in children under the age of eighteen years, to determine if the appendix changes in size with age.

Methods: The histological records of all cases of children undergoing appendicectomy at the Royal Children's Hospital (Melbourne) between 2009 and 2011 were retrospectively reviewed.

The regulation of testicular descent and the effects of cryptorchidism.

The first half of this review examines the boundary between endocrinology and embryonic development, with the aim of highlighting the way hormones and signaling systems regulate the complex morphological changes to enable the intra-abdominal fetal testes to reach the scrotum. The genitoinguinal ligament, or gubernaculum, first enlarges to hold the testis near the groin, and then it develops limb-bud-like properties and migrates across the pubic region to reach the scrotum. Recent advances show key roles for insulin-like hormone 3 in the first step, with androgen and the genitofemoral nerve involved in the second step.

Fly ash-based geopolymer lightweight concrete using foaming agent.

In this paper, we report the results of our investigation on the possibility of producing foam concrete by using a geopolymer system. Class C fly ash was mixed with an alkaline activator solution (a mixture of sodium silicate and NaOH), and foam was added to the geopolymeric mixture to produce lightweight concrete. The NaOH solution was prepared by dilute NaOH pellets with distilled water.

Home transcutaneous electrical stimulation to treat children with slow-transit constipation.

Purpose: This study aimed to test the effectiveness of home transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) when patients with slow-transit constipation (STC) were trained by a naive clinician.

Methods: A surgeon was trained to teach the TES method to STC children who then self-administered at home (1 hour a day, 3-6 months) using a battery-powered interferential stimulator. Bowel diaries, PedsQL4.

Daily transabdominal electrical stimulation at home increased defecation in children with slow-transit constipation: a pilot study.

Purpose: Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) (3 sessions/wk) over the abdomen stimulated bowel functions in a randomized controlled trial. This pilot study assessed whether daily TES at home with a safe, portable machine would be possible and more efficacious than trial results.

Methods: Eleven patients (6 male/5 female; mean age, 14 years; range, 12-18 years) with slow-transit constipation who relapsed or responded poorly in the trial were recruited (11 +/- 5 months later).