Weighing the benefits: Exploring the differential effects of light-weight and heavy-weight polypropylene meshes in inguinal hernia repair in a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Inguinal hernia repair is a common surgical procedure, with more than 20 million cases yearly. Choice between mesh types varies in clinical practice. To compare light-weight polypropylene (LW-PP, 34-36 g/m2) and heavy-weight polypropylene (HW-PP, 95 ​g/m2) meshes.

Low-Platinum-Content Exchange-Coupled CoPt Nanoalloys with Enhanced Magnetic Properties.

Bimetallic colloidal CoPt nanoalloys with low platinum content were successfully synthesized following a modified polyol approach. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies were performed to estimate the crystal structure, morphology, and surface functionalization of the colloids, respectively, while the room-temperature magnetic properties were measured using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The particles exhibit excellent uniformity, with a narrow size distribution, and display strong room-temperature hysteretic ferromagnetic behavior even in the as-made form.

A Mixed-Methods Approach to Develop a Combined Model of U.S. College Student Alcohol-Associated Condomless Sex.

Unhealthy alcohol use and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are significant public health concerns for US college students. Because alcohol use and condomless sex often co-occur in this population, alcohol-associated condomless sex has been identified as a behavioral intervention target. Existing theoretical frameworks have not garnered sufficient empirical support to serve as the foundation for interventions.

Towards Production of Cost-Effective Modification of SmCo-Type Alloys Suitable for Permanent Magnets.

SmCo constitutes one of the strongest classes of permanent magnets, which exhibit magnetocrystalline anisotropy with uniaxial character and enormous energy and possess high Curie temperature. However, the performance of SmCo permanent magnets is hindered by a limited energy product and relatively high supply risk. Sm is a moderately expensive element within the lanthanide group, while Co is a more expensive material than Fe, making SmCo-based permanent magnets among the most expensive materials in the group.

On Structural and Magnetic Properties of Substituted SmCo Materials.

SmCo is a well-established material in the permanent magnet industry, a sector which constantly gains market share due to increasing demand but also suffers from criticality of some raw materials. In this work we study the possibility of replacement of Sm with other, more abundant rare earth atoms like Ce-La. These raw materials are usually called "free" rare-earth minerals, appearing as a by-product during mining and processing of other raw materials.