Dragomir Vassilev^1,*, Nadezhda Petkova², Yulian Tumbarski³, Milena Koleva¹, Panteley Denev²

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.6, pp. 675-686, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.09279 - 12 May 2020

Abstract Undenicylic acid (10:1) is known as an antifungal agent and an active ingredient of many topical medicines [1–6]. The present research investigates the preparation of aliphatic esters of 10-undecylic acid with butanol and i-amyl alcohol by the conventional and ultrasound-assisted syntheses as well as the structural elucidation of the resulting compounds, by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. The antimicrobial properties of the obtained 10-undecylenic esters were tested against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus; Enterococcus faecalis; Listeria monocytogenes), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli; Salmonella sp.) and filamentous fungi (Penicillium sp.; Aspergillus niger; Fusarium moniliforme) using the conventional agar-well diffusion assay. The results demonstrated that all More >

Xiaozheng Sun^*, Qiang He, Yu Yang

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.4, pp. 447-460, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.09671 - 24 April 2020

Abstract Agricultural waste straw is the renewable resource with the highest annual yield in the world. In value-added applications of agricultural waste, dicarboxyl cellulose nanocrystals (DCCs) are prepared from rice, wheat, and corn straw by sequential periodate-chlorite oxidation. In this study, DCCs from rice, wheat, and corn straw were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The carboxyl content of the DCCs was also investigated. XRD results show that the crystallinity index decreased after sequential periodate-chlorite oxidation; however, the cellulose I structure was maintained. TEM… More >

Nadezhda Petkova^1,*, Radka Arabadzhieva¹, Dragomir Vassilev², Gergana Gencheva¹, Yulian Tumbarski³, Tsveteslava Ignatova-Ivanova⁴, Sevginar Ibryamova⁴, Mina Todorova¹, Milena Koleva², Panteley Denev¹

Journal of Renewable Materials, Vol.8, No.4, pp. 365-381, 2020, DOI:10.32604/jrm.2020.09292 - 24 April 2020

Abstract Microwave-assisted irradiation was performed for esterification of chicory inulin with high degree of polymerization with acetic anhydride without a solvent only with a catalyst. The resulting esters were characterized by melting point, hydrophilic-lipophilic balance, thin-layer chromatography, ultraviolet spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Inulin acetate demonstrated a high degree of acetylation (2.5–3.0) and presented a white, water-insoluble substance with bitter taste. The FTIR and NMR spectra confirmed esterification and demonstrated the incorporation of hydrophobic residue to the water soluble inulin backbone. Swelling capacity, water holding, oil-holding capacities, the foamability,… More >

Zhongmin Xiao¹, Wengang Zhang², Yanmei Zhang^{1, *}, Mu Fan³

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.62, No.1, pp. 267-280, 2020, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2020.06567

Abstract Fluctuated loadings from currents, waves and sea ground motions are observed on offshore steel pipelines, and they will result in small cracks to propagate continuously and cause unexpected damage to offshore/geotechnical infrastructures. In spite of the availability of efficient techniques and high-power computers for solving crack problems, investigations on the fatigue life of offshore pipelines with 3D interacting cracks are still rarely found in open literature. In the current study, systematic numerical investigations are performed on fatigue crack growth behaviours of offshore pipelines containing coplanar and non-coplanar cracks. Extended finite element method (XFEM) is adopted More >

Joanna Krajewska (Wojciechowska)¹, Katarzyna Kos·cielska-Kasprzak², Wojciech Krajewski³, Krzysztof Morawski¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.4, pp. 151-159, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2019.0439

Abstract Background: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is an autoimmune disorder of unknown etiology with dysregulated cytokines levels. Objectives: The main aim of this study was to assess the clinical correlation between antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) serum levels of the microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-32 and interleukin-6. Methods: Study included 71 patients, 47 with GPA and 24 with MPA. Serum IL-32 and IL-6 concentrations were analyzed in all patients, and compared with levels observed in 10 controls. IL-32 and IL-6 were evaluated using DuoSet and… More >

Carlos A. Batagello^1,2, Hugo D. Barone dos Santos¹, Andrew H. Nguyen², Luay Alshara², Jianbo Li³, Giovanni Scala Marchini^1,2, Fabio C. Vicentini¹, Fabio César Miranda Torricelli^1,2, Alexandre Danilovic¹, Jessica Goulart Pereira¹, Emily Rose², Miguel Srougi¹, Willian C. Nahas¹, Eduardo Mazzucchi¹, Manoj Monga²

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 9664-9674, 2019

Abstract Introduction: The optimal patient positioning for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) based on the complexity of stone burden is not yet defined. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the intraoperative parameters, effectiveness and complications of patients undergoing PCNL between the endoscopic-guided prone split-leg PCNL (ePSL) and the supine PCNL by stratifying patients according to Guy’s stone score (GSS).
Materials and methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients undergoing PCNL at two high-volume tertiary referral centers. At one center, patients underwent PCNL using the ePSL technique, while at the second center, patients underwent PCNL in supine. Patient demographics and… More >

Nicholas J. Farber, Nadiya Chuchvara, Parth K. Modi, Joshua Sterling, Sammy E. Elsamra

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.26, No.1, pp. 9660-9663, 2019

Abstract Introduction: To assess whether urologists are able to accurately estimate the cost of commonly used endourologic disposable devices.
Materials and methods: An anonymous questionnaire was presented to resident and attending urologists in one academic healthcare system. Respondents estimated the cost of 15 disposable devices commonly used in ureteroscopy. Twenty-five surgeons (9 residents and 16 attending urologists) participated, for a response rate of 96.2%. Respondents’ cost estimates were compared to actual institutional costs and considered accurate if the absolute percentage error was within 20%. Additional information obtained included: years in practice, participation in purchasing activities, practice setting, number… More >

Karen L. Stern¹, Donald Fedrigon III¹, Christopher J. Loftus², Manoj Monga¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.26, No.2, pp. 9733-9735, 2019

Abstract Introduction: Studies indicate that with a safety wire in the ureter, an increased amount of force is necessary to advance ureteral access sheaths up to the proximal ureter. Theoretically, the compression of the ureter with the wire could lead to an increase in number and severity of ureteral injuries secondary to placement of a sheath. This prospective study aims to evaluate if there is a correlation between the use of a safety wire and ureteral injury from sheath placement by evaluating the location of the wire in relation to the injury after ureteroscopy.
Materials and Methods: Fifty-nine… More >

Andrew Salner¹, Ilene Staff², Rene I. Jahiel¹, Keith M. Bellizzi³, Alison Champagne², Joseph Tortora², Alison G. Wong³, Tara McLaughlin⁴, Joseph Wagner⁴

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.26, No.2, pp. 9708-9714, 2019

Abstract Introduction: We compared the return-to-work interval (RTWI) after radical retro-pubic prostatectomy (RRP) and robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) in men being treated for early-stage prostate cancer.
Materials and methods: We mailed a 28-item questionnaire to a random sample of 2,696 patients who either had RRP from 1995 to 2004 or RALP from 2004 to 2011.
Results: We received analyzable questionnaires from 315 patients; 178 had RALP and 137 had RRP. The median RTWI was shorter in the RALP group than in the RRP group (3 versus 4 weeks, p = .016). The percent of subjects who had not returned More >

Shu Pan¹, Maria J. D’Amico², Ricardo Munarriz¹

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.26, No.4, pp. 9867-9870, 2019

Abstract Intracavernosal self-injection (ICI) is an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. A rare but serious complication is needle breakage. We report an unusual case of a 51-year-old transgender female patient who did not desire gender-affirming surgery, and used ICI to treat her longstanding erectile dysfunction. She presented to the emergency department 2 months after needle breakage during ICI, and was subsequently successfully treated with intraoperative fluoroscopy and needle fragment extraction. It is important to recognize transgender patients may desire to preserve sexual function, and for providers to engage in discussion surrounding sexual health throughout treatment for More >