Effect of Surface Roughness on the Electrochemical Behavior and Corrosion Resistance of TiTaNbZrAg Alloy with Different Amounts of Tantalum in Bulk Composition.

The corrosion behavior of the TiTaNbZrAg alloys with different amounts of tantalum (0%, 10% and 20%) and with distinct surface topography (smooth and rough) was investigated in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) for long-time immersion (1000 h). By this approach, we expect to bring about new insights into the influence of both the amount of Ta in the alloy composition and the surface topography on the corrosion behavior of the Ti-based alloys. The corrosion resistance was studied by Open Circuit Potential (OCP), Potentiodynamic Polarization (PP), and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS).

A Developer-Oriented Framework for Assessing Power Consumption in Mobile Applications: Android Energy Smells Case Study.

Currently, people spend a lot of time using their mobile devices. With such ubiquity of mobile devices in our daily life, battery capacity and quality are of utmost importance. Running software applications (called apps) are one of the major factors influencing the power consumption in mobile devices.

A Digital Tool Supporting Pathology Practice and Identifying Leucocytes.

The aim of this work is to deliver an all-in-one package that contains both the part where the pathologist can manipulate the data as well as predefined models, altogether with the digital pathology interface with a comprehensive component that provides traceability between the identified leucocytes and the underlying possible outcomes of the potential disease. The aim is to directly provide the number of leucocytes and the mass of the cell, only from the image, with minimal intervention from the pathologist, necessary to have a PoC (Proof of Concept) or a prototype. The model was trained on a dataset of around 20,000 models, and the achieved accuracy was approximately 85%.

Climate change projection using statistical downscaling model over southern coastal Iran.

Iran is highly vulnerable to climate change, particularly evident in shifting precipitation and temperature patterns, especially in its southern coastal region. With these changing climate conditions, there is an urgent need for practical and adaptive management of water resources and energy supply to address the challenges posed by future climate change. Over the next two to three decades, the effects of climate change, such as precipitation and temperature, are expected to worsen, posing greater risks to water resources, agriculture, and infrastructure stability.

Exploring the Role of Biomarkers Associated with Alveolar Damage and Dysfunction in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis-A Systematic Review.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most aggressive forms of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), marked by an ongoing, chronic fibrotic process within the lung tissue. IPF leads to an irreversible deterioration of lung function, ultimately resulting in an increased mortality rate. Therefore, the focus has shifted towards the biomarkers that might contribute to the early diagnosis, risk assessment, prognosis, and tracking of the treatment progress, including those associated with epithelial injury.

Fetal sacrococcygeal immature teratoma - report of two cases and review of the literature.

Sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCTs) are rare congenital tumors. With the improvement of diagnostic imaging methods and follow-up protocols in pregnancies, in utero detection of these tumors has increased. Despite these progresses, SCTs may present difficulties in establishing in utero diagnosis and subsequent management.

In-depth bibliometric analysis and current scientific mapping research in the context of rheumatoid arthritis pharmacotherapy.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic multifactorial disorder of autoimmune etiology with a complex pathophysiological mechanism that is not yet fully elucidated. RA pharmacotherapy includes active molecules of chemical or biological nature that offer symptomatic relief and a slowing of progression, but still in a context of incurability. Therefore, the development of continuous research and multidisciplinary collaboration is essential.

Highlighting the Benefits of Rehabilitation Treatments in Hip Osteoarthritis.

Background and objectives: Due to its frequency and possible complications, hip arthrosis or hip osteoarthritis (hip OA) has a high social impact, its advanced stages eventually leading to irreversible lesions involving major complications or surgery. In the early stages, conservative treatment plays a key role in the prophylaxis of complications and in slowing down the degenerative process. The association between an appropriate drug therapy (DT) and a rehabilitation treatment (RT)—including individualized physical therapy (PT) and adapted occupational therapy (OT)—provides good results.

Estimation of Ecotourism Carrying Capacity for Sustainable Development of Protected Areas in Iran.

Estimating the ecotourism carrying capacity (ETCC) in protected areas (PAs) is essential for minimizing the negative impacts of ecotourism and sustainable environmental management. PAs are one of the prominent ecotourism locations and many of these areas have been created to protect biodiversity and improve human wellbeing. This study has identified and prioritized negative impacts of ecotourism in Lar national park, the Jajrud protected area with the sustainable use of natural resources, and Tangeh Vashi national natural monument.

Calibration of CO, NO, and O Using Airify: A Low-Cost Sensor Cluster for Air Quality Monitoring.

During the last decade, extensive research has been carried out on the subject of low-cost sensor platforms for air quality monitoring. A key aspect when deploying such systems is the quality of the measured data. Calibration is especially important to improve the data quality of low-cost air monitoring devices.

Optimization of AUTOSAR Communication Stack in the Context of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.

New trends in the automotive industry such as autonomous driving and Car2X require a large amount of data to be exchanged between different devices. Radar sensors are key components in developing vehicles of the future, therefore these devices are used in a large spectrum of applications, where data traffic is of paramount importance. As a result, communication traffic volumes have become more complex, leading to the research of optimization approaches to be applied at the AUTOSAR level.

Financial efficiency estimation for a dental radiology laboratory.

Background And Aims: Considering nowadays trend among dentists to install a radiology laboratory beside their current practice, we proposed to investigate the aspect of financial efficiency related to such investment.

Methods: We evaluate two existing options: simple investment, consisting of intra-oral equipment and accessories, or investment in a radiology center that includes panoramic and CBCT equipment. The initial investment includes equipment acquisition, fitting out of the location, radiology accreditation and other miscellaneous expenses.

Manual Cultivation Operations in Poplar Stands: A Characterization of Job Difficulty and Risks of Health Impairment.

Short rotation poplar forests are a viable alternative in producing high quality wood for industrial applications. Their success depends on timely and high-quality implementation of a series of operations. Weed control operations are implemented to favor the trees in their competition for soil resources, and cultivation is an option typically used in many European countries.

Benefit of continuous positive airway pressure on work quality in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: The objective of this prospective study was to assess the effect of CPAP therapy on job productivity and work quality for patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: A convenience sample of patients diagnosed with severe OSA using polysomnography or polygraphy and with a therapeutic indication for CPAP was enrolled in our study. Patients completed two self-administered questionnaires: the first before CPAP therapy and the second during the first 6 months after CPAP treatment.

Clinical and morphological correlations in early diagnosis of endometrial cancer.

The prevalence of endometrial cancer among asymptomatic women is rather reduced also due to the absence of a cost-efficient test, as there are no ideal screening examinations for endometrial cancer. Several methods were proposed in medical practice to discover endometrial neoplasia at an early stage, among which: endometrial biopsy, endovaginal ultrasound, targeted biopsy hysteroscopy. This study was made on a group of 38 patients monitored for metrorrhagia in the interval between July 1, 2014-July 1, 2016.

Irradiation provided by dental radiological procedures in a pediatric population.

Background: Children are more sensitive to ionizing radiation effects due to their high radiosensitivity.

Purpose: To estimate doses and risks for dental radiological examinations in children.

Material And Methods: A pediatric population consisting of 7150 children and young adults which underwent 12252 dental radiological examinations (4220 intraoral, 1324 cephalometric, 5284 panoramic radiographs and 1424 CBCTs) within two years were included.

Fat-forming Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Kidney - A Case Report and Literature Review.

Fat-forming solitary fibrous tumors arising from the kidney are extremely rare, with only few cases reported so far. We report the case of a 49-year-old patient investigated for lumbar pain and diagnosed preoperatively with a large retroperitoneal tumor destroying the right kidney. The patient was submitted to surgery, the tumor being resected en bloc with right nephrectomy.

Estimation of the radiation dose for pediatric CBCT indications: a prospective study on ProMax3D.

Background: An increasing number of CBCT units and a wide variability of radiation doses have been reported in dentistry lately.

Aim: To estimate the effective, cumulative, and organ absorbed doses in children exposed to CBCT over 2 years.

Design: A prospective study was conducted in children who underwent CBCT diagnostic imaging with the ProMax3D machine.

Difficulties of clinical and histopathological diagnosis in advanced vulvar clear cell carcinoma.

Clear cell carcinoma (CCC) of the female genital tract usually arises in the ovary, endometrium, cervix and vagina. A rare site for CCC is the vulva, and moreover even rarer are the cases involving the Bartholin gland. A 54-year-old female was admitted for a 1.

Solitary Splenic Metastasis After Surgically-treated Cervical Cancer - A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background/aim: Solitary metastases after surgically-treated cervical cancer are a rare entity, with only few cases described so far.

Patient And Methods: We present the case of a 31-year-old patient diagnosed with a tumoral splenic lesion at 18 months after surgically-treated cervical cancer.

Results: The patient was submitted to surgery, with a splenectomy being performed.

Borrow or Serve? An Economic Analysis of Options for Financing a Medical School Education.

Purpose: To understand the long-term economic implications of key pathways for financing a medical school education.

Method: The authors calculated the net present value (NPV) of cash flow over a 30-year career for a 2013 matriculant associated with (1) self-financing, (2) federally guaranteed loans, (3) the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, (4) the National Health Service Corps, (5) the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program, and (6) matriculation at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. They calculated the NPV for students pursuing one of four specialties in two cities with divergent tax policies.

Clinical and pathological features of splenic metastasis from cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Isolated splenic metastases from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix are rare, with few cases reported in the literature. We review here the main clinical and pathological findings in these patients, with emphasis on histopathological features. Because they are so rare, complex follow-up protocols for patients diagnosed with cervical SCC should exist because, if detected and treated, solitary splenic metastases seem to have a better prognosis than splenic metastases as part of a disseminated disease.