385 research outputs found
Essex-Lopresti Injuries
No full textThe Essex-Lopresti injury results from a high energy trauma to the upper extremity causing significant instability to the forearm joint. The radial head is fractured, the interosseous membrane is torn, and the distal radioulnar joint is disrupted. Frequently, the greatest challenge with this specific injury pattern is the diagnosis, because it is often missed in the emergency room. Once the diagnosis has been established, surgical treatment focuses on the elbow (radial head fracture) and the wrist (distal radioulnar joint disruption) to restore forearm length and stability. Chronic or untreated Essex-Lopresti lesions continue to challenge treating physicians and often require salvage or reconstructive procedures to minimize pain and return function
Crime Against Nature: Writing an Environmental Crime Novel
No full textWhat do New Jersey mobsters have to do with climate change?
Western Washington University Environmental Science Librarian Rob Lopresti explored this question when he presented “Crime Against Nature: Writing an Environmental Crime Novel,” at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19 in Special Collections at Wilson Library.
Lopresti is an award-winning author of more than 50 mystery short stories. In his latest comic crime novel, “Greenfellas,” he combines his interest in the environment with his mystery-writing skills to create a story about a mobster who decides to save the environment for his granddaughter. At the event, Lopresti will read from Greenfellas and explain the what his process was for writing the book
When Women Didn\u27t Count: The Chronic Mismeasure and Marginalization of American Women in Federal Statistics
No full textWestern Libraries government information librarian Robert Lopresti gave a talk about his recent book “When Women Didn\u27t Count, the Chronic Mismeasure and Marginalization of American Women in Federal Statistics,” from 4:00-5:00pm on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Western Libraries in the Reading Room (Wilson Library 4th floor Central). The event was free and open to the public.
Lopresti explored how women’s history has been hidden and distorted by 200 years of official government statistics, and how some of the statistics that have shaped perceptions of American women have often been incorrect or based on false assumptions, essentially misrepresenting the lives of women.
Lopresti’s book traces the development of data on population, employment, crime, health, and many other topics, beginning with the first Census in 1790 when only the male head of the household was listed by name. Lopresti examines problems with data and illustrates the importance of using critical thinking when analyzing information, even when that information is from seemingly official sources.
Lopresti is a librarian at Western, working with government information, Huxley College, and Canadian-American Studies. His new book, When Women Didn’t Count, is the result of four decades of work with government publications. Lopresti is also an award-winning author of several scholarly articles, two novels, and more than sixty mystery and fantasy stories.
This talk is offered as part of the Western Libraries Reading Series program, dedicated to showcasing the scholarly and creative work of Western faculty and staff by featuring diverse speakers from a variety of backgrounds and and disciplines who are engaged in research, writing, and teaching at Wester
To Catch a Map Thief
No full textRetired librarian from Western Libraries Robert Lopresti gave a talk called “To Catch a Map Thief” on Wednesday, February 27 at 4 p.m. at Western Washington University in the Map Collection, located in Wilson Library Room 290. This event was free and open to the public.
In 2006, there was a major map theft at Western Washington University. Lopresti will talk about the two-year investigation by Western Libraries personnel that eventually drew in the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and Montana State government, resulting in the conviction of a man who had stolen publications from more than 100 libraries around the country.
Lopresti retired in 2018 after 31 years as a librarian at Western, including eight years as map librarian. He is also an award-winning author of several scholarly articles, two novels, and more than sixty mystery and fantasy stories. Lopresti’s short stories have been finalists for the Derringer Award five times, winning three times. He has also won the Black Orchid Novella Award, and has been reprinted in Best American Mystery Stories and Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror. Lopresti’s recent work of nonfiction, When Women Didn’t Count, the Chronic Mismeasure and Marginalization of American Women in Federal Statistics, is the result of four decades of work with government publications, and won the Lane/Virginia F. Saunders Memorial Research Award in 2018.
This talk was offered as part of the Western Libraries Speaking of Maps lectures, designed to highlight the use and value of maps in research, in teaching and learning, and in daily life
Structure–property relationship and controlled drug release from multiphasic electrospun carvacrol-embedded polylactic acid/polyethylene glycol and polylactic acid/polyethylene oxide nanofiber mats
No full textElectrospinning technologies gained considerable interest over the last decade. In this study, it is proposed a systematic study of polylactic acid/polyethylene glycol (PLA/PEG) and polylactic acid/polyethylene oxide (PLA/PEO) electrospun blends at different concentrations. The effect of blend composition and PEG molecular weight on the morphological and mechanical properties of the mats was evaluated. Furthermore, the kinetic release of carvacrol as model drug in phosphate buffer saline at 37°C was studied and the data were then fitted using an exponential model. The scanning electron microscopy revealed that the morphology of the mats was strongly dependent on the relative ratio PLA:PEG, PLA:PEO and in the presence of carvacrol. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the mats as well as their carvacrol release rate were successfully tuned by changing the relative ratio of the blend components
Three-layered porous device in PCL/PEG blend for interface tissue engineering
No full textTissue interfaces, such as cartilage-to-bone, exhibit anisotropic
structural properties, which gradually vary from one tissue to another.
Consequently
a regenerative scaffold designed for interface tissues should
exhibit a gradient in composition, structure and mechanical features, mimicking
those of the native zones. In particular, the architecture of pores plays
a central role. Indeed, a biomedical implant should be designed with porosityand pore size gradients simulating the structure of the two interface tissues.
One of the most common techniques to prepare porous scaffolds is the particulate
leaching method, which involves the selective leaching of a mineral
or organic compound as porogen agents. The main advantage of particulate
leaching methods is the effective control of porosity and pore size by variation
of the amount and size of leachable particles
Effect of graphene and fabrication technique on the release kinetics of carvacrol from polylactic acid
No full textPorous membranes and thin films containing poly-lactic acid (PLA), carvacrol (CRV) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) were fabricated by electrospinning and solvent casting at different formulations. The systems were characterized from a mechanical, morphological, calorimetric and spectroscopic point of view. CRV release as a function of time was studied and a mathematical model was used to fit and interpret the data in order to investigate the release mechanism. The results indicate that the incorporation of GNP generally determined a simultaneous strengthening, stiffening and toughening effect, while preserving a good ductility. Furthermore, integrating GNP allowed tuning the amount and kinetics of CRV release, and proved to reduce the initial burst release effect
PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOPOLYMERIC POROUS STRUCTURES FOR ADVANCED APPLICATIONS
No full textPorous biopolymers received an increasing academic and industrial interest finding application in several fields such as tissue engineering, bioprocess intensification and waste removal.
Tissue engineering combines the knowledge of materials science and bioengineering in order to develop structures able to substitute and restore the normal function of injured or diseased tissues. In this context, polymeric 3D or 2D scaffolds are widely investigated as temporary cell guidance during the tissue restore.
Porous biomaterials can offer a versatile and cost effective way for immobilization of filamentous microorganisms in submerged fermentation processes for the production of biologically active compounds. Engineered biopolymeric membranes can lead to an increment of cell densities, improved gas–liquid mass transfer, stimulate microbial metabolism, protect cell from unfavorable agents, and preserve their physiological activity thus resulting in a net increment of bio-productivity.
Finally, in the recent years, much effort has been dedicated to the development of sustainable and inexpensive sorbent materials for oil/water separation based on natural fibers, which combine attractive properties such as renewability, biodegradability, high specific strength and modulus, low density and environmental friendliness. In this context, porous bio-materials can act as a multifunctional devices able a combining the properties of sorbents materials and that of the organic carrier able to enhance the activity and viability of oil-degrading cells for bioremediation
PLA/PCL nanofibrous blends via multi-jet electrospinning: processing-morphology-property relationships
No full textElectrospinning permits to prepare ultrafine fibers with micro to nano-meter range diameters. Multi-jet approaches can be used to fabricate blend nanofibrous mats composed by two or more polymers presenting different properties such as degradation rate, mechanical properties and so on. In this study, a series of PLA/PCL blend nanofiber mats were prepared by dual-jet electrospinning. The relative weight ratio of PLA and PCL in blend was controlled by changing the flow ratio of the two syringe pumps containing the polymer solutions
Essex-Lopresti injuries: An update
No full textReconstruction of the central band of the interosseous membrane is an emerging procedure implemented in the treatment of longitudinal radioulnar dissociation (LRUD), usually in its chronic setting, after Essex-Lopresti injuries of the forearm. There are no sufficient clinical data to support reconstruction of the central band of the interosseous membrane in acute LRUD injuries. Clinical and cadaveric studies comparing autografts (palmaris longus, flexor carpi radialis and bone-patellar-bone), allografts (Achilles tendon) and synthetic ligaments have not shown superiority of one technique versus another; however, they have shown special concerns with respect to the use of synthetic grafts. Latrogenic fracture, decrease of rotational range of movement, iatrogenic nerve injury (superficial radial and median nerve), donor site morbidity with autografts and recurrent instability are the complications reported in literature after interosseous membrane reconstruction. © 2019 The author(s)
- …
