Advanced flame-retardant biocomposites: Polylactic acid reinforced with green gallic acid‑iron‑phosphorus coated flax fibers.

This study introduces a sustainable approach for enhancing the fire retardancy and smoke suppression of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites, contributing to addressing one of the major challenges in biocomposites that limits their application in various engineering fields, as automotive and construction sectors. Flax fibers (FF) were surface functionalized with a novel organic-inorganic hybrid flame retardant (FR), offering a sustainable bioinspired approach that mitigates potential mechanical properties impairment and FR leaching, which can cause environmental concerns and reduced composite durability. The process involves a three-step coating procedure.

Ionic Liquids as Working Fluids for Heat Storage Applications: Decomposition Behavior of N-Butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate.

Ionic liquids (ILs) represent promising working fluids to be used in thermal energy storage (TES) technologies thanks to their peculiar properties, such as low volatility, high chemical stability, and high heat capacity. Here, we studied the thermal stability of the IL N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium tris(pentafluoroethyl)trifluorophosphate ([BmPyrr]FAP), a potential working fluid for TES applications. The IL was heated at 200 °C for up to 168 h either in the absence or in contact with steel, copper, and brass plates to simulate the conditions used in TES plants.

Five Degree Internal Conical Connection and Marginal Bone Stability around Subcrestal Implants: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background: There is limited information on the effect of the connection between subcrestally placed implants and abutments on marginal bone levels. The aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate marginal bone levels after definitive prosthesis delivery around implants with an internal 5° conical connection placed in a subcrestal position.

Materials And Methods: Patients treated with fixed prostheses supported by implants placed at a subcrestal level between 2012 and 2018 were recalled for a follow-up examination.

A close view of the organic linker in a MOF: structural insights from a combined H NMR relaxometry and computational investigation.

The organic linker in a metal organic framework (MOF) affects its adsorption behavior and performance, and its structure and dynamics play a role in the modulation of the adsorption properties. In this work, the combination of H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) longitudinal relaxometry and theoretical calculations allowed details of the structure and dynamics of the organic linker in the NH-MIL-125 MOF to be obtained. In particular, fast field cycling (FFC) NMR, applied here for the first time on MOFs, was used to disclose the dynamics of the amino group and its electronic environment through the analysis of the N quadrupole relaxation peaks, observed in the frequency interval 0.

Silica-Supported Ionic Liquids for Heat-Powered Sorption Desalination.

This work investigates the application of novel sorption materials to heat-powered desalination systems. Two ionic liquids 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (Emim-Ac) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (Emim-Oms) were impregnated in two silica supports, namely, Syloid AL-1FP and Syloid 72FP. Emim-Ac and Emim-Oms composite sorbents have been compared on morphology, water vapor sorption equilibrium, and heat of sorption.

Enhanced RF Behavior Multi-Layer Thermal Insulation.

This paper shows that it is possible to exploit the modulated metasurface concept to control the unwanted coupling between antennas that are installed on the same satellite. The metasurface is combined with a Multi-Layer thermal Insulation blanket to reduce its specular reflection by spreading the energy incoherently in the surrounding space. In the design, sub-wavelength radiating elements printed on thin substrate have been used to make the metasurface response azimuthally independent, and to keep the weight of blanket down.

Comparison between broadband Bessel beam launchers based on either Bessel or Hankel aperture distribution for millimeter wave short pulse generation.

In this paper, a comparison is presented between Bessel beam launchers at millimeter waves based on either a cylindrical standing wave (CSW) or a cylindrical inward traveling wave (CITW) aperture distribution. It is theoretically shown that CITW launchers are better suited for the generation of electromagnetic short pulses because they maintain their performances over a larger bandwidth than those realizing a CSW aperture distribution. Moreover, the wavenumber dispersion of both the launchers is evaluated both theoretically and numerically.

Heart rate variability and functional severity of congestive heart failure secondary to coronary artery disease.

To investigate the behaviour of heart rate variability (HRV) with the advancing severity of heart failure (CHF) we studied 20 normal subjects and 80 coronary artery disease (CAD) patients in sinus rhythm. CAD patients were selected consecutively in order to form four equal groups of 20 subjects with different degrees of CHF according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification. In each subject a 24 h ECG Holter tape was recorded and subsequently analysed to obtain measures of heart rate and HRV.

Prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in patients with chronic liver disease and its relationship to HBV and HDV infections.

The prevalence of anti-HCV, anti-HDV and of HBV markers has been investigated in a series of 209 consecutive patients (age 18-74 years) with chronic liver disease. Among 155 HBsAg negative patients (53 chronic hepatitis cases and 102 cirrhosis cases), anti-HCV were found in 69% of the cases. 67% of the 155 patients also carried anti-HBc, with no difference between patients positive or negative for anti-HCV.

[Multiple coronary spasms in asymptomatic patient (author's transl)].

A 46 year old asymptomatic male showed ST elevations in the inferior leads during an occasional basal electrocardiogram. During an ECG monitoring at rest a high number of transient episodes of ischemic type was noted: all were unrelated to symptoms. During the same session the ST segment changes appeared either in inferior leads or antero-lateral leads in different episodes.