The response surface method-genetic algorithm for identification of the lumbar intervertebral disc material parameters.

Long-term compressive load on the lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) might lead to lumbar IVD herniation. Exploring the material parameters of normal and degenerative enucleated IVDs is the basis for studying their mechanical behavior. According to the inverse analysis principle of the parameter estimation, an optimization method was proposed to identify the parameters of the porous material of the lumbar IVD based on finite element inverse analysis.

[Application of orthodontic device in restoring teeth space in children].

Purpose: To assess the effect of removable and fixed orthodontic device in restoring teeth space loss in children.

Methods: Removable or fixed orthodontic device was used randomly to restore teeth space loss in 25 children, the advantages and disadvantages between the two methods were compared. SPSS 22 software package was used for data analysis.

Correlating ultrasonic impulse and addition of ZnO promoter with CO conversion and methanol selectivity of CuO/ZrO catalysts.

The thermal characteristics of Cu-based catalysts for CO utilization towards the synthesis of methanol were analysed and discussed in this study. The preparation process were varied by adopting ultrasonic irradiation at various impulses for the co-precipitation route and also, by introducing ZnO promoters using the solid-state reaction route. Prepared catalysts were characterised using XRD, TPR, TPD, SEM, BET and TG-DTA-DSC.

[Perindopril, amlodipine and telmisartan improve arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension].

Objective: To investigate the effect of perindopril, amlodipine and telmisartan on improving the artery stiffness in patients with hypertension.

Methods: Patients with primary hypertension were randomly assigned to perindopril (4 mg/day), Amlodipine (5 mg/day) and telmisartan (80 mg/day) regimen for 3 months (n = 34 each). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured by an automatic brachial ankle pulse wave velocity device before the treatment, one-month and three-month after the treatment.