Characterization of Counter-Surface Substrates for a Laboratory Abrasion Tester (LAT100) Compared with Asphalt and Concrete to Predict Car Tire Performance

Tire performance is determined based on the interaction between the tire and the road as a counter-surface, and is of the utmost importance for driving safety. When studying tire friction and abrasion, the characteristics of the roads/counter-surfaces are crucial. The excitations on the tire come from the road asperities. A proper characterization of the counter-surface texture is, therefore, an absolute necessity in order to optimize tire performance. The present study provides the required knowledge over the counter-surfaces employed as common substrates in a Laboratory Abrasion Tester (LAT100), which are typically based on embedded corundum particles for dry/wet friction and abrasion experiments. All surfaces are scanned and characterized by laser microscopy. The surface micro and macro roughness/textures are evaluated and compared with asphalt and concrete as the real roads by power spectral densities (PSD). The reliability of the high-frequency data based on the device type should be considered carefully. The reliable cut-off wavenumber of the PSDs is investigated based on image analyses on the range of tested frequency for micro and macro textures obtained by optical scanning devices. The influence of the texture wavelength range on the rubber−surface interaction is studied on a laboratory scale.

A qualitative study on pharmacy policies toward over-the-counter syringe sales in a rural epicenter of US drug-related epidemics

Background Expanding access to sterile syringes in rural areas is vital, as injection-related epidemics expand beyond metropolitan areas globally. While pharmacies have potential to be an easily accessible source of sterile syringes, research in cities has identified moral, legal and ethical barriers that preclude over-the-counter (OTC) sales to people who inject drugs (PWID). The current study builds on prior urban-based research by elucidating (1) pharmacy OTC policies and (2) pharmacists’ rationale for, and barriers and facilitators to, OTC syringe sales in a US rural area hard hit by drug-related epidemics. Methods We conducted 14 semi-structured interviews with pharmacists recruited from two Eastern Kentucky health districts. Interview domains included experiences with, and attitudes toward, selling OTC syringes to PWID. Constructivist grounded theory methods were used to analyze verbatim transcripts. Results Most pharmacists operated “restrictive OTC” pharmacies (n = 8), where patients were required to have a prescription or proof of medical need to purchase a syringe. The remainder (n = 6) operated “open OTC” pharmacies, which allowed OTC syringe sales to most patients. Both groups believed their pharmacy policies protected their community and pharmacy from further drug-related harm, but diverging policies emerged because of stigma toward PWID, perceptions of Kentucky law, and belief OTC syringe sales were harmful rather than protective to the community. Conclusion Our results suggest that restrictive OTC pharmacy policies are rooted in stigmatizing views of PWID. Anti-stigma education about substance use disorder (SUD), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Hepatitis C (HCV) is likely needed to truly shift restrictive pharmacy policy.

Ubiquitous Usage of Over the Counter Medications in Pregnancy: Perspectives of Maternal Apprehensiveness

The World Health Organization delineates self-medication as the utilization of medications by individuals in search of treating symptoms or self-diagnosed health state. During pregnancy, drug utilization is complicated because of incomplete data as clinical trials frequently don't enclose pregnant women, with reference to benefits and implicit undesirable outcomes on both the mother and the foetus. Bestowed limited data on the variety of over the counter medications applicable, physi­cians seek to counsel pregnant women about implicit pitfalls, and it is beneficial to give information on entire over the counter medications the patient is receiving at the preconception visit and entire distinctive ordinary visits. Antacid that containing sodium bicarbonate can cause fluid buildup in the tissues if used during pregnancy redundantly. Hypericum perforatum is ordinarily not recommended in preg­nancy because of a dearth of human data and it perhaps antecedent miscarriage and it also escalates the birth deformities of fetus. Early aspirinusage at the time of conception or in the 1st several weeks of pregnancy does not escalate the pitfall of spontaneous abortion.

Effects of a Single Dose of BURN-XT™ on Resting Metabolic Rate, Substrate Oxidation, and Various Indices of Affect

Introduction: Many consumers use dietary supplements in the hopes of increasing energy and burning more calories, which if sustained over time may help accelerate weight loss. The purpose of this clinical trial was to investigate the effects of an over-the-counter thermogenic supplement called Burn-XT™ (BXT) on metabolic rate, substrate oxidation, and various psychometric indices of affect that impact weight management. Methods: Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design, 16 women and 10 men (29.3 ± 7.3 yr, 169.4 ± 8.6 cm, 75.5 ± 14.3 kg) underwent two testing sessions: placebo (PL) and BXT. Seated metabolic rate and substrate oxidation, vital signs, and anchored visual analogue scale (VAS) assessments of energy, mood, motivation, focus, fatigue, concentration, and appetite were made before supplementation and hourly for three hours post-ingestion. Two-factor (2x4) factorial ANOVAs and paired sample t-tests (corrected for multiple comparisons) were used for analyses. Results: Significant increases in metabolic rate (oxygen consumption) were noted at 60 minutes in BXT (+11.9 mL O2/min) vs. PL (-2.5 mL O2/min), p = 0.004, d = -0.74. Only BXT increased metabolic rate compared to baseline at 60 minutes (+11.9 mL O2/min, p = 0.021, d = -0.53) and 120 minutes (+12.1 mL O2/min, p = 0.019, d = -0.54). The AUC for resting energy expenditure increased more in BXT vs. PL (p = 0.007, d = -0.57). VAS detected significant improvements in energy, mood, focus, and concentration for BXT vs. PL at 120 and 180 minutes (all p < 0.05, d = -0.58 to -0.68). In all cases, within-group changes from baseline for these VAS parameters were significant (all p < 0.05, d = -0.76 to -1.38) in BXT but not in PL. No within or between group differences in appetite, substrate oxidation, or heart rate were noted. Small (~3-4 mm Hg), but statistically significant (p < 0.05, d = -0.51 to -0.69) increases in diastolic blood pressure were noted in BXT at 60, 120, and 180 min vs. PL; and in systolic blood pressure at 60 min vs. PL. In all cases, values remained within normal clinical hemodynamic ranges. Conclusions: A single dose of BXT safely increased metabolic rate, energy, mood, focus, and concentration. Given that these factors are known to favorably impact weight management, future studies should determine whether daily supplementation with BXT reduces body weight and improves body composition.