Carpet Grass Polyphenol Reductive Degradation of Aqueous Nitrate-A Conceptual Field Application Study.

Rainwater flowing along the ground, and from hard surface such as pavement and roofs, becomes surface water runoff, which flows to surface waters, and infiltrates into the ground to become groundwater. Surface water runoff can contain elevated levels of nitrates (NO ) from various sources including animal wastes and fertilizers. Reducing elevated levels of NO in surface water runoff can minimize and/or prevent groundwater and surface water contamination.

Anion Effect on the Cu-Neocuproine Mediator and Its Electrocatalysts for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Polymeric Chalcogenides of PEDOT-PEDTT and [Ag(SePh)].

The synthetical methodology for the [Cu(dmp)] (dmp = 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline; neocuproine) complexes has been systematically investigated by using various copper precursors, including CuCl, Cu(NO), and Cu(ClO). After an anion exchange to trifluoromethanesulfonimide (TFSI), the tetra-coordinated Cu(dmp)(TFSI)-Cu(ClO) (7.43%) outperformed the penta-coordinated Cu(dmp)(TFSI)(NO)-Cu(NO) (4.

Increased serum asprosin is correlated with diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction.

Objective: Asprosin, a newly identified adipokine, is pathologically increased in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study is to see whether serum asprosin concentrations are linked to diabetes mellitus-induced erectile dysfunction (DMED).

Methods: 90 male patients with type 2 diabetes were included.

Surfactant effects on electrochemically durable lead halide perovskite electro-catalysts.

Electrochemically durable perovskite electrodes of nickel foam/TiO/FA(PbGe)I, passivated using various surfactants of tetra--alkyl ammonium halides (alkyl = ethyl, butyl, hexyl, or octyl; halide = I, IBr, Br, BrCl, or Cl), were successfully applied as good electro-catalysts on the counter electrodes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The longer alkyl chain of a surfactant resulted in a higher water contact angle, but poorer film conductivity. Based on the optimal tetra--hexyl ammonium (THA) cation, shrinking the halide radius of THA from I to IBr formed an appropriate amount of FAPbBr nano-crystals covering on the FA(PbGe)I grain surface.

Biomechanical comparison of different screw-included angles in crossing screw fixation for transverse patellar fracture in level walking: a quasi-dynamic finite element study.

Background: A minimally invasive technique with various screw configurations without open surgery is currently used for the fixation of transverse patellar fractures. Percutaneous crossing screw configuration has been reported to have a good bone union rate in patellar fractures. However, the difference in mechanical stability of the fractured patella between different screw-included angles has not been fully investigated.

Numerical Comparison of Restored Vertebral Body Height after Incomplete Burst Fracture of the Lumbar Spine.

Background And Objectives: Vertebral compression fracture is a major health care problem worldwide due to its direct and indirect negative influence on health-related quality of life and increased health care costs. Although a percutaneous surgical intervention with balloon kyphoplasty or metal expansion, the SpineJack, along with bone cement augmentation has been shown to efficiently restore and fix the lost vertebral height, 21-30% vertebral body height loss has been reported in the literature. Furthermore, the effect of the augmentation approaches and the loss of body height on the biomechanical responses in physiological activities remains unclear.

Quantitative assessment and influence factors of facial wrinkle situation in male construction workers in Beijing.

Objective: To investigate current situation of facial wrinkles of male construction workers in Beijing area and to discuss the correlative factors.

Materials And Methods: A total of 149 male construction works and 63 male non-construction workers in Beijing were required to complete a questionnaire on their exposure to sunlight, dust, noise, and heat in their workplace environment. Their facial wrinkle scores were measured by VISIA Complexion Analysis System.

Orientation-Adjustable Metal-Organic Framework Nanorods for Efficient Oxygen Evolution Reaction.

A series of orientation-adjustable metal-organic framework (MOF) nanorods, CoFe(dobpdc)-I to CoFe(dobpdc)-III (dobpdc = 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl-3,3'-dicarboxylate), is developed on a 3D nickel foam (NF) template. By modulating the solvent composition for synthesis, the feature of MOF nanorods on the template can be varied from disorganized to a unidirectional orientation perpendicular to the NF. Well-aligned, vertically oriented CoFe(dobpdc)-III nanorods are hydrophilic and have more exposed active sites and interfacial charge transfer ability.

Electroactive and Sustainable Cu-MOF/PEDOT Composite Electrocatalysts for Multiple Redox Mediators and for High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

An electrically conductive Cu-MOF, {[Cu(6-mercaptonicotinic acid)(6-mercaptonicotinate)]·NH}, was successfully electrodeposited on the conductive substrates via using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) as the binder. Multiple functionalities of the Cu-MOF microparticle within the Cu-MOF/PEDOT composite electrode were systematically vindicated as (1) releasing the cohesive strength among the PEDOT matrix, thus enhancing the film adhesion to substrate, (2) providing excellent intrinsic heterogeneous rate constant via lowering the reaction active energy, (3) supplying numerous active sites at the center or edges on its (-Cu-S-) honeycomb-like planes, (4) facilitating the electron transfer through its two-dimensional (-Cu-S-) plains, and (5) benefiting the penetration of the redox mediators through its porous frameworks. In multiple redox mediators (i.

Computational comparison of bone cement and poly aryl-ether-ether-ketone spacer in single-segment posterior lumbar interbody fusion: a pilot study.

Posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) with a spacer and posterior instrument (PI) via minimally invasive surgery (MIS) restores intervertebral height in degenerated disks. To align with MIS, the spacer has to be shaped with a slim geometry. However, the thin spacer increases the subsidence and migration after PLIF.

Finite element study of the effects of fragment shape and screw configuration on the mechanical behavior of tibial tubercle osteotomy.

Purpose: Tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) is a surgical technique used in the management of severe fractures of the knee joint and revision total knee arthroplasty. Limited research discusses the performance of the osteotomy and fixation of the TTO with screws. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of fragment shape and screw configuration on the mechanical behavior in the fixation of the TTO using the finite element (FE) method.

Gap between the fragment and the tibia affects the stability of tibial tubercle osteotomy: A finite element study.

Tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) is commonly performed in cases of complicated juxta-articular trauma or revision total knee arthroplasty. However, strategies for firmly fixing the resulting osteotomy bone fragment are not sufficiently understood. This study aims to investigate the effect of the location of the gap between the fragment and the tibia and with various fixed screw configurations on TTO stability, contact force on the fragment, and bone stress by using the finite element method.

Roles of the screw types, proximity and anterior band wiring in the surgical fixation of transverse patellar fractures: a finite element investigation.

Background: Cannulated screws with an anterior wire are currently used for managing transverse patellar fracture. However, the addition of anterior wiring with various types of screws via open surgery to increase the mechanical stability is yet to be determined. Hence, this study aimed to compare the mechanical behaviors of a fractured patella fixed with various screws types and at various screw locations with and without the anterior wire.

Biomechanical investigation of the type and configuration of screws used in high tibial osteotomy with titanium locking plate and screw fixation.

Background: To maintain the corrected alignment after high tibial osteotomy (HTO), fixation with titanium locking plate and screws is widely used in current practice; however, screw breakage is a common complication. Thus, this study was to investigate the mechanical stability of HTO with locking plate and various screw fixations, including the length as well as the type.

Methods: A finite element (FE) model involving a distal femur, meniscus, and a proximal tibia with HTO fixed with a titanium locking plate and screws was created.

Biomechanical analysis of different dynamic sitting techniques: an exploratory study.

Prolonged static sitting in wheelchairs increases the risk of pressure ulcers. This exploratory study proposed three dynamic sitting techniques in order to reduce the risk of developing pressure ulcer during wheelchair sitting, namely lumbar prominent dynamic sitting, femur upward dynamic sitting, and lumbar prominent with femur upward dynamic sitting. The purpose of this study was to analyze the biomechanical effects of these three techniques on interface pressure.

Biomechanical investigation of tibial tubercle osteotomy fixed with various screw configurations.

Introduction: To date, the effects of various screw configurations on the stability of tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) are not completely understood. Hence, the first aim of this study is to evaluate the stability of TTO under various screw configurations. The second aim is to evaluate the internal stresses in the bone and the contact forces on the bone fragment that are developed by the tibia and screws in response to the applied load after the equilibrant is revealed.

Role of screw proximity in the fixation of transverse patellar fractures with screws and a wire.

Purpose: Clinical and biomechanical studies have reported that using supportive screws and a wire instead of the common Kirschner wires for modified tension band wiring improves the stability of fractured patellae. However, the effect of screw proximity on the fixation of a fractured patella remains unclear. Therefore a numerical study was conducted to examine the effects of screw proximity on biomechanical responses in a simulated patellar fracture fixed using two parallel cannulated screws and anterior tension band wiring.

Organic Photosensitizers Incorporating Rigid Benzo[1,2-b:6,5-b']dithiophene Segment for High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Benzo[1,2-b:6,5-b']dithiophene (BDT) entity with rigid skeleton is introduced into the conjugated spacer of organic dyes, with triphenylamine as the electron donor and 2-cyanoacrylic acid as the acceptor, have been prepared for dye-sensitized solar cells. Inserting an aromatic entity between BDT and the anchor extends the absorption wavelength of the dyes and improves the dark current suppression efficiency, and consequently leads to better cell performance. Addition of chenodeoxycholic acid coadsorbent alleviates dye aggregation and results in better cell efficiency.

Evaluation of the effect of different sitting assistive devices in reclining wheelchair on interface pressure.

Background: Reclining wheelchair users often add one or more sitting assistive devices to their wheelchairs, but the effect of these additional sitting assistive devices on the risk of pressure ulcers has rarely been investigated. This study examined the four modes of reclining wheelchair without and with different sitting assistive devices, namely the back reclined mode, the lumbar support with back reclined mode, the femur upward with back reclined mode, and the lumbar support with femur upward with back reclined mode, in terms of their effects on human-wheelchair interface pressure.

Methods: This study recruited 16 healthy participants to undergo the aforementioned four modes in random order and have their human-wheelchair interface pressure measured.

Benzimidazole/Pyridoimidazole-Based Organic Sensitizers for High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

A new series of benzimidazole (BIm)-based dyes (SC32 and SC33) and pyridoimidazole-(PIm) based dyes (SC35, SC36N and SC36) were synthesized as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The N-substituent and C-substituent at the BIm and PIm cores were found to be the dominating factor in determining the electronic properties of the dyes and their DSSCs performance. The efficiency of BIm-based dyes (SC35 and SC36) was found to be higher than that of the PIm-based dyes (SC32 and SC33) due to better light harvesting.

Numerical investigation of fracture impaction in proximal humeral fracture fixation with locking plate and intramedullary nail.

Introduction: Fracture impaction is a surgical technique used to support the fractured humerus with locking plate or intramedullary nail when treating proximal humeral fractures. However, few studies have investigated the mechanical difference between fracture impaction with locking plate and with intramedullary nail. The mechanism of fracture impaction to increase stability is still unclear.