Effect of Preheating Parameters on Extrusion Welding of High-Density Polyethylene Materials.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) has emerged as a promising alternative to fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) for small vessel manufacturing due to its durability, chemical resistance, lightweight properties, and recyclability. However, while thermoplastic polymers like HDPE have been extensively used in gas and water pipelines, their application in large, complex marine structures remains underexplored, particularly in terms of joining methods. Existing techniques, such as ultrasonic welding, laser welding, and friction stir welding, are unsuitable for large-scale HDPE components, where extrusion welding is more viable.

High-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of female reveals sex chromosome and gene organization.

is a crustacean genus belonging to the order Anostraca in the class Branchiopoda and lives in inland hypersaline lakes. Among the genus, is a valuable species as a fish food in the aquaculture industry or as an aquatic model organism for toxicity tests. However, genomic data for remains incomplete.

Clinical Pharmacology in Sarcoidosis: How to Use and Monitor Sarcoidosis Medications.

When sarcoidosis needs treatment, pharmacotherapy is usually required. Although glucocorticoids work reliably and relatively quickly for sarcoidosis, these drugs are associated with numerous significant side effects. Such side effects are common in sarcoidosis patients, as the disease frequently has a chronic course and glucocorticoid treatment courses are often prolonged.

Patient Perception of Cardiovascular Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) compared with age- and sex-matched controls. The objective of our study was to measure the knowledge of patients with RA about the association between their disease and cardiovascular (CV) risk and to measure the frequency of counseling by physicians based on patient report.

Methods: A telephone survey was conducted among patients with RA enrolled in the Consortium of Rheumatology Researchers of North America RA registry to collect data on medical and social history and on knowledge about CVD risk in RA and how they learned about that risk.

The development of sarcoidosis in patients receiving daclizumab: A case series from multiple clinical trials.

Introduction: Several drugs have been associated with druginduced sarcoidosis-like reactions (DISRs) that are clinically indistinguishable from sarcoidosis. Daclizumab is a humanized monoclonal IgG1 antibody that binds to CD25 that has been studied for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). During MS clinical trials of daclizumab, 12 subjects developed clinical conditions potentially consistent with sarcoidosis.

Luminescent mesoporous nanoreservoirs for the effective loading and intracellular delivery of therapeutic drugs.

Development of biocompatible and multifunctional nanocarriers is important for the therapeutic efficacy of drug molecules in the treatment of disease and tissue repair. A novel nanocarrier of luminescent hollowed mesoporous silica (L-hMS) was explored for the loading and controlled delivery of drugs. For the synthesis of L-hMS, self-activated luminescence hydroxyapatite (LHA) was used as a template.

Silica-based mesoporous nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery.

Drug molecules with lack of specificity and solubility lead patients to take high doses of the drug to achieve sufficient therapeutic effects. This is a leading cause of adverse drug reactions, particularly for drugs with narrow therapeutic window or cytotoxic chemotherapeutics. To address these problems, there are various functional biocompatible drug carriers available in the market, which can deliver therapeutic agents to the target site in a controlled manner.

Conceptualizing functional cognition in stroke.

Background: Up to 65% of individuals demonstrate poststroke cognitive impairments, which may increase hospital stay and caregiver burden. Randomized stroke clinical trials have emphasized physical recovery over cognition. Neuropsychological assessments have had limited utility in randomized clinical trials.

Measuring stroke impact with SIS: construct validity of SIS telephone administration.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the construct validity of the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) using telephone mode of administration.

Methods: Stroke patients were identified using national VA administrative data and ICD-9 codes in 13 participating VA hospitals. Stroke was confirmed by reviewing electronic medical records.

Measuring stroke impact with the stroke impact scale: telephone versus mail administration in veterans with stroke.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine response rate, mode effects, and reliability of the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) in a veteran stroke population using mail and telephone modes of administration.

Methods: Patients who had suffered a stroke were identified using national VA administrative data and International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision codes in 13 participating Veterans Affairs hospital. Stroke was confirmed by reviewing electronic medical records.

Disability measures in stroke: relationship among the Barthel Index, the Functional Independence Measure, and the Modified Rankin Scale.

Background And Purpose: Residual disability after stroke presents a major economic and humanistic burden. To quantify disability in patients, activities of daily living (ADL; Barthel Index [BI], and motor component of Functional Independence Measure [M-FIM]) and categorical disability measures (Modified Rankin Scale [MRS]) are used. The purpose of this study is to examine the predicting ability of ADL measures to global disability scale.