Characterization of Opto-Electrical, Electrochemical and Mechanical Behaviors of Flexible PVA/(PANI+La2CuO4)/LiClO4-PC Polymer Blend Electrolyte Films

Murad Q. A. Al-Gunaid,Shashikala B. S.,Gayitri H. M.,Khaled Alkanad,Nabil Al-Zaqri,Ahmed Boshaala,Fares H. Al-Ostoot 한국고분자학회 2022 Macromolecular Research Vol.30 No.9

A new series of flexible nanocomposite-solid polymer electrolyte (SPEs) in the form of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) impregnated by core-shells polyaniline (PANI)-La2CuO4 (20:2 wt%) of nanofillers, 10wt% LiClO4 as electrolyte and various amount 2, 4, 6, and 8wt% of propylene carbonate, PC as plasticizer via solvent intercalation method. The obtained plasticized PVA-SPEs films were evaluated for their microstructural and morphological behaviors via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The surface morphology of plasticized PVA-SPEs films illustrated the finer dispersion of inclusion fillers in the PVA matrix with increasing the dosage of PC content. FTIR spectra showed a reduction in the characteristic peaks of PVA in composite films and that denoted the interaction between PVA-OH and fillers. Optical findings exhibited higher absorbance of PVA-SPE in the visible region compared with pure PVA; in addition, the band-gap energy was reduced to 2.68 eV for PVA-SPE containing 8wt% PC. The current-voltage characteristics showed a slight deviation for all PVA-SPE films denoting to non-ohmic behavior. Besides, the maximum ac-conductivity was found at 40.3 × 10−5 S/cm for PVA-SPE film containing 8wt% PC with enhanced their specific capacitance by two folds compared with pure PVA. Mechanical testing showed that elongation at break has been increased attributed to increasing flexibility of polymeric segments with the increase in PC content.

Dehydroxylation-assisted self-crosslinking of MXene-based pervaporation membranes for treating high-salinity water

Hasan Fareed,Kyunghoon Jang,Woojin Lee,In S. Kim,한승희 한국공업화학회 2023 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.119 No.-

In this study, an additive-free self-crosslinking technique was optimized to prepare pervaporation desalinationmembranes for brine treatment. MXene-coated membranes that were about 100 nm thick weresynthesized using the facile vacuum filtration technique. The MXene nanosheets were then crosslinkedat different temperatures from 25 C to 180 C, inspired by weight loss through thermogravimetric analysis. The MXene membrane self-crosslinked at 140 ℃ (M140) proved to be the optimal membrane interms of the permselectivity of brine with a stable d-spacing of 1.43 nm in distilled water and 1.48 nmin a 10 wt% NaCl solution. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopyrevealed TiAOATi bond formation induced by reverse hydrolysis of MXene, leading to increasedsurface roughness and decreased swelling tendency. M140 generated a permeation flux of 70 kg m-2h1with salt rejection up to 99.9 % for 100 g/L of NaCl solution at a feed temperature of 70 C. Furthermore,M140, tested with simulated brine for a 48 h operation test, showed successful suppression of salt transporton the permeate side, while maintaining 50 kg m-2h1 flux and 99.9 % salt rejection. M140 is recommendedfor pervaporation desalination, where a high salinity feed is expected.

Robotic and Navigation Systems in Orthopaedic Surgery: How Much Do Our Patients Understand?

Shivan S Jassim,Harry Benjamin-Laing,Stephen L Douglas,Fares S Haddad 대한정형외과학회 2014 Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery Vol.6 No.4

Background: Technology in orthopaedic surgery has become more widespread in the past 20 years, with emerging evidence of its benefits in arthroplasty. Although patients are aware of benefits of conventional joint replacement, little is known on patients’ knowledge of the prevalence, benefits or drawbacks of surgery involving navigation or robotic systems. Methods: In an outpatient arthroplasty clinic, 100 consecutive patients were approached and given questionnaires to assess their knowledge of navigation and robotics in orthopaedic surgery. Participation in the survey was voluntary. Results: Ninety-eight patients volunteered to participate in the survey, mean age 56.2 years (range, 19 to 88 years; 52 female, 46 male). Forty percent of patients thought more than 30% of National Health Service (NHS) orthopaedic operations involved navigation or robotics; 80% believed this was the same level or less than the private sector. One-third believed most of an operation could be performed independently by a robotic/navigation system. Amongst perceived benefits of navigation/robotic surgery was more accurate surgery (47%), quicker surgery (50%), and making the surgeon’s job easier (52%). Sixty-nine percent believed navigation/robotics was more expensive and 20% believed it held no benefit against conventional surgery, with only 9% believing it led to longer surgery. Almost 50% would not mind at least some of their operation being performed with use of robotics/navigation. Conclusions: Although few patients were familiar with this new technology, there appeared to be a strong consensus it was quicker and more accurate than conventional surgery. Many patients appear to believe navigation and robotics in orthopaedic surgery is largely the preserve of the private sector. This study demonstrates public knowledge of such new technologies is limited and a need to inform patients of the relative merits and drawbacks of such surgery prior to their more widespread implementation.

Online resources for information on shoulder arthroplasty: an assessment of quality and readability

Mohamad Y. Fares,Jaspal Singh,Amar S. Vadhera,Jonathan Koa,Peter Boufadel,Joseph A. Abboud 대한견주관절의학회 2023 대한견주관절의학회지 Vol.26 No.3

Background: Many patients use online resources to educate themselves on surgical procedures and make well-informed healthcare decisions. The aim of our study was to evaluate the quality and readability of online resources exploring shoulder arthroplasty. Methods: An internet search pertaining to shoulder arthroplasty (partial, anatomic, and reverse) was conducted using the three most pop¬ular online search engines. The top 25 results generated from each term in each search engine were included. Webpages were excluded if they were duplicates, advertised by search engines, subpages of other pages, required payments or subscription, or were irrelevant to our scope. Webpages were classified into different source categories. Quality of information was assessed by HONcode certification, Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, and DISCERN benchmark criteria. Webpage readability was assessed using the Flesch reading ease score (FRES). Results: Our final dataset included 125 web pages. Academic sources were the most common with 45 web pages (36.0%) followed by physician/private practice with 39 web pages (31.2%). The mean JAMA and DISCERN scores for all web pages were 1.96±1.31 and 51.4±10.7, respectively. The total mean FRES score was 44.0±11.0. Only nine web pages (7.2%) were HONcode certified. Websites specified for health¬care professionals had the highest JAMA and DISCERN scores with means of 2.92±0.90 and 57.96±8.91, respectively (P<0.001). HONcode-certified webpages had higher quality and readability scores than other web pages. Conclusions: Web-based patient resources for shoulder arthroplasty information did not show high-quality scores and easy readability. When presenting medical information, sources should maintain a balance between readability and quality and should seek HONcode certification as it helps establish the reliability and accessibility of the presented information.

Evaluation of online video content related to reverse shoulder arthroplasty: a YouTube-based study

Mohamad Y. Fares,Jonathan Koa,Peter Boufadel,Jaspal Singh,Amar S. Vadhera,Joseph A. Abboud 대한견주관절의학회 2023 대한견주관절의학회지 Vol.26 No.2

Background: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has evolved continuously over recent years, with expanded indications and better outcomes. YouTube is one of the most popular sources globally for health-related information available to patients. Evaluating the reliability of YouTube videos concerning RSA is important to ensure proper patient education. Methods: YouTube was queried for the term “reverse shoulder replacement.” The first 50 videos were evaluated using three different scores: Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, the global quality score (GQS), and the reverse shoulder arthroplasty-specific score (RSAS). Multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the presence of a relationship between video characteristics and quality scores. Results: The average number of views was 64,645.78±264,160.9 per video, and the average number of likes was 414 per video. Mean JAMA, GQS, and RSAS scores were 2.32±0.64, 2.31±0.82, and 5.53±2.43, respectively. Academic centers uploaded the highest number of videos, and surgical techniques/approach videos was the most common video content. Videos with lecture content predicted higher JAMA scores whereas videos uploaded by industry predicted lower RSAS scores. Conclusions: Despite its massive popularity, YouTube videos provide a low quality of information on RSA. Introducing a new editorial review process or developing a new platform for patients’ medical education may be necessary.

Leptin and uric acid as predictors of metabolic syndrome in jordanian adults

Ahmad A. Obeidat,Mousa N. Ahmad,Fares H. Haddad,Firas S. Azzeh 대한지역사회영양학회 2016 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.10 No.4

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a set of interrelated metabolic risk factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Studies regarding the specificity and sensitivity of serum levels of leptin and uric acid as predictors of MetS are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of leptin and uric acid in terms of their specificity and sensitivity as predictors of MetS in the studied Jordanian group. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In this cross sectional study, 630 adult subjects (308 men and 322 women) were recruited from the King Hussein Medical Center (Amman, Jordan). The diagnosis of MetS was made according to the 2005 International Diabetes Federation criteria. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the efficacy of serum levels of leptin and uric acid as predictors of MetS in the studied Jordanian group. RESULTS: Study results showed that for identification of subjects with MetS risk, area under the curve (AUC) for leptin was 0.721 and 0.683 in men and women, respectively. Serum uric acid levels in men showed no significant association with any MetS risk factors and no significant AUC, while uric acid AUC was 0.706 in women. CONCLUSION: Serum leptin levels can be useful biomarkers for evaluation of the risk of MetS independent of baseline obesity in both men and women. On the other hand, serum uric acid levels predicted the risk of MetS only in women.

Thermal stress effects on microtubules based on orthotropic model: Vibrational analysis

Taj, Muhammad,Khadimallah, Mohamed A.,Hussain, Muzamal,Fareed, Khurram,Safeer, Muhammad,Khedher, Khaled Mohamed,Ahmad, Manzoor,Naeem, M. Nawaz,Qazaq, Amjad,Qahtani, Abdelaziz Al,Mahmoud, S.R.,Alwabli, Techno-Press 2021 Advances in concrete construction Vol.11 No.3

Vibration of protein microtubules is investigated based upon Orthotropic Elastic Shell Model, considering the effect of thermal stresses. The complete analytical formulas of thermal vibration for microtubules are obtained. It is observed that the effects of thermal stresses on the vibrational frequency mode are more significant when the longitudinal and circumferential wave vectors are large enough. But when the length of wave vector reduces to 5 nm, these effects have no significant effects. The present results well agree with the lattice vibrations of microtubules. Moreover, the results show that the effects of thermal stresses due to small change in temperature are not so significant but with the increase in temperature its effects are obvious.

Leptin and uric acid as predictors of metabolic syndrome in jordanian adults

Obeidat, Ahmad A.,Ahmad, Mousa N.,Haddad, Fares H.,Azzeh, Firas S. The Korean Nutrition Society 2016 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.10 No.4

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a set of interrelated metabolic risk factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Studies regarding the specificity and sensitivity of serum levels of leptin and uric acid as predictors of MetS are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of leptin and uric acid in terms of their specificity and sensitivity as predictors of MetS in the studied Jordanian group. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In this cross sectional study, 630 adult subjects (308 men and 322 women) were recruited from the King Hussein Medical Center (Amman, Jordan). The diagnosis of MetS was made according to the 2005 International Diabetes Federation criteria. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the efficacy of serum levels of leptin and uric acid as predictors of MetS in the studied Jordanian group. RESULTS: Study results showed that for identification of subjects with MetS risk, area under the curve (AUC) for leptin was 0.721 and 0.683 in men and women, respectively. Serum uric acid levels in men showed no significant association with any MetS risk factors and no significant AUC, while uric acid AUC was 0.706 in women. CONCLUSION: Serum leptin levels can be useful biomarkers for evaluation of the risk of MetS independent of baseline obesity in both men and women. On the other hand, serum uric acid levels predicted the risk of MetS only in women.

The Value of Computed Tomography Scan in Three-dimensional Planning and Intraoperative Navigation in Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty

Mancino Fabio,Fontalis Andreas,Magan Ahmed,Plastow Ricci,Haddad Fares S. 대한고관절학회 2024 Hip and Pelvis Vol.36 No.1

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a frequently performed procedure; the objective is restoration of native hip biomechanics and achieving functional range of motion (ROM) through precise positioning of the prosthetic components. Advanced threedimensional (3D) imaging and computed tomography (CT)-based navigation are valuable tools in both the preoperative planning and intraoperative execution. The aim of this study is to provide a thorough overview on the applications of CT scans in both the preoperative and intraoperative settings of primary THA. Preoperative planning using CT-based 3D imaging enables greater accuracy in prediction of implant sizes, leading to enhancement of surgical workflow with optimization of implant inventory. Surgeons can perform a more thorough assessment of posterior and anterior acetabular wall coverage, acetabular osteophytes, anatomical landmarks, and thus achieve more functional implant positioning. Intraoperative CT-based navigation can facilitate precise execution of the preoperative plan, to attain optimal positioning of the prosthetic components to avoid impingement. Medial reaming can be minimized preserving native bone stock, which can enable restoration of femoral, acetabular, and combined offsets. In addition, it is associated with greater accuracy in leg length adjustment, a critical factor in patients’ postoperative satisfaction. Despite the higher costs and radiation exposure, which currently limits its widespread adoption, it offers many benefits, and the increasing interest in robotic surgery has facilitated its integration into routine practice. Conducting additional research on ultra-low-dose CT scans and examining the potential for translation of 3D imaging into improved clinical outcomes will be necessary to warrant its expanded application.

Genoprotective Effects of the Green Tea-Derived Polyphenol/Epicatechin Gallate in C6 Astroglial

Renata T. Abib,Andre´ Quincozes-Santos,Caroline Zanotto,Fares Zeida´n-Chulia,Paula S. Lunardi,Carlos-Alberto Gonc¸alves,Carmem Gottfried 한국식품영양과학회 2010 Journal of medicinal food Vol.13 No.5

In vitro and in vivo studies have recently reported significant chemopreventive effects of green tea-derived polyphenols in different diseases. However, it remains unclear how such effects could be triggered. In order to elucidate the effects of epicatechin gallate (ECG) in C6 cells, both by itself and against H2O2-induced genotoxicity, measurements of DNA strand breaks and chromosome loss were performed. DNA damage was measured by comet and micronucleus assays. The present study shows for the first time how ECG, the major green tea-derived polyphenol, is able to exert dose-dependent genoprotective effects in an H2O2-induced toxicity model of C6 astroglial cells. We demonstrate that doses of ECG in a range from 0.1 to 1μM were able to completely prevent H2O2-induced genotoxicity in vitro. In contrast, considerably higher concentrations of ECG (10μM) were able to reverse previous positive effects in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The same results were confirmed by both comet (F3,9=336,148; P<.001) and micronucleus (F3,9=23,228; P<.001) methods. Together, our data show ECG as a dose-dependent genoprotective compound in C6 astroglial cells. This indicates that small doses of polyphenols included in our diet could have beneficial effects on neural cells, contributing to prevention of oxidative stress-associated brain pathologies. In addition, our data highlight the importance of strictly modulating doses and/or consumption of antioxidant-fortified foods or additional supplements containing such beneficial molecules.