The Influence of Fused Deposition Modeling Parameters on the Properties of PA6/PA66 Composite Specimens by the Taguchi Method and Analysis of Variance.

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is widely used in the rapid prototyping of polymers. Polyamide (PA) has excellent mechanical properties, but its application in FDM is limited due to its high water absorption, warpage, and forming shrinkage. The material of the filament and the printing parameters of the printer are two critical aspects that affect the performance of a component.

Enhanced arsenite removal in aqueous with Fe-Ce-Cu ternary oxide nanoparticle.

Arsenite is both more harmful and challenging to get out of water than arsenate. For enhanced As (III) removal, a ternary oxide nanoparticle (FCCTO) mainly composed of iron(Fe), with a small proportion of cerium(Ce) and copper(Cu) was created using a coprecipitation-calcination process. FCCTO was found to be effective in removing As (III) from water, with factors such as adsorbent dose, pH, temperature, and coexisting anions influencing its efficiency.

Activated mineral adsorbent for the efficient removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solution: adsorption performance and mechanism studies.

Activated mineral adsorbent (AMA) was prepared via double salts (NaSO and CaCO) heat treatment activation of solid-state potassium feldspar. Adsorption performance of AMA for Cd(II) and Pb(II) was investigated by batch mode and factors affecting adsorption including pH value, initial concentration of adsorbate, contact time, adsorbent dosage and temperature on adsorption performance for Cd(II) and Pb(II) were studied. The results indicated that the adsorption process was pH dependent, endothermic and spontaneous.

Synthesis, Cr(VI) removal performance and mechanism of nanoscale zero-valent iron modified potassium-doped graphitic carbon nitride.

A novel composite (nZVI@K-GCN) was firstly synthesized by liquid phase reducing nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) on potassium-doped graphitic carbon nitride (K-GCN). The results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) suggested that nZVI@K-GCN possessed abundant active functional groups such as terminal amino-groups (-NH or -NH groups) and -OH, and the specific surface area and pore volume from BET of nZVI@K-GCN were 4.7 times and 3.

Effect of a novel Ca-Si composite mineral on Cd bioavailability, transport and accumulation in paddy soil-rice system.

Ubiquitous cadmium (Cd) contamination in mine impacted paddy soil has been jeopardizing regional rice quality, which represents a dominant pathway of Cd exposure in populations depending on a rice diet. Two major aspects of mitigation, soil liming and Si fertilization, were integrated and investigated with a Ca-Si-rich composite mineral (CS) derived from feldspar and carbonate. With the CS amendment, bioavailable Cd in rice rhizosphere was reduced by 92-100% from tillering to maturation stage, paralleled by a marked increase in Cd bound to Fe/Mn oxides and carbonate.

Preparation of bio-based magnetic adsorbent and application for efficient removal of Cd(II) from water.

A novel magnetic bio-adsorbent (MCIA) was developed, characterized and tested for its Cd(II) removal from aqueous solution. MCIA could be easily separated from the solution after equilibrium adsorption due to its super-paramagnetic property. The functional and magnetic bio-material was an attractive adsorbent for the removal of Cd(II) from aqueous solution owing to the abundant adsorption sites, amino-group and oxygen-containing groups on the surface of Cyclosorus interruptus.

Removal of mercury ions from aqueous solution by thiourea-functionalized magnetic biosorbent: Preparation and mechanism study.

A novel magnetic bio-material (MCIT) was synthesized via coupling reaction and functional modification after load of FeO nano-particle on the puckered surface of cyclosorus interruptus (CI). The synthesized material was characterized by fourier transform infrared (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD). The influence factors like pH, temperatures, contact time, initial concentration and cycle times on the adsorption of Hg (II) in aqueous solution were studied.

Biosorption of U(VI) by modified Hottentot Fern: Kinetics and equilibrium studies.

Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the biosorption of U(VI) onto Hottentot Fern (Cyclosorus interruptus). The selective adsorption, the adsorption of different sections of Cyclosorus interruptus (CI), and the adsorption of polluted CI compared with that of unpolluted one were studied in detail. The raw CI and the CI modified by CaCl, MgCl, MgCl/HO were investigated for adsorption of U(VI) from aqueous solution.

Gene expression profiling of colorectal tumors and normal mucosa by microarrays meta-analysis using prediction analysis of microarray, artificial neural network, classification, and regression trees.

Background: Microarray technology shows great potential but previous studies were limited by small number of samples in the colorectal cancer (CRC) research. The aims of this study are to investigate gene expression profile of CRCs by pooling cDNA microarrays using PAM, ANN, and decision trees (CART and C5.0).

CDH1 polymorphisms and haplotypes in sporadic diffuse and intestinal gastric cancer: a case-control study based on direct sequencing analysis.

Background: Findings related to the influence of the -160C → A promoter polymorphism and haplotypes of the E-cadherin (CDH1) gene have not been consistent in previous studies regarding the risk for sporadic gastric cancer. Investigators in most previous studies detected those genotypes using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Therefore, we conducted a case-control study to investigate the association of the CDH1 - 160C → A promoter polymorphism and haplotypes for cancer risk related to sporadic diffuse and intestinal gastric cancer by direct sequencing analysis.

Phosphorus-modified poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene)-PAMAM chelating resin for the adsorption of uranium(VI) in aqueous.

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) modified poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) absorbents carrying phosphorus functional groups (PS-PAMAM-PPA) were prepared and used as adsorbents for the adsorption of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution. Different generations of PAMAM were used for obtaining different chelating resins, PS-PPA, PS-1.0G PAMAM-PPA, PS-2.

The effect of Ce doped in Ti/SnO(2)-Sb(2)O(3)/SnO(2)-Sb(2)O(3)-CeO(2) electrode and its electro-catalytic performance in caprolactam wastewater.

Ti/SnO(2)-Sb(2)O(3)/SnO(2)-Sb(2)O(3)-CeO(2) anodes were prepared by brush coating with high temperature oxidation. The anodes were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope and cyclic voltammetry. The surface of the electrode shows more compact and exist shallower mud cracks than the others by coating with 1% Ce to the surface of Ti/SnO(2)-Sb(2)O(3) electrode.

Bilateral superficial cervical plexus block combined with general anesthesia administered in thyroid operations.

Background: We investigated the analgesic efficacy of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block in patients undergoing thyroidectomy and to determine whether it reduces the adverse effects of general anesthesia.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 162 patients who underwent elective thyroid operations from March 2006 to October 2007. They were randomly assigned to receive a bilateral superficial cervical block (12 ml per side) with isotonic saline (group A; n = 56), bupivacaine 0.

Compositions and in vitro anticancer activities of the leaf and fruit oils of Litsea cubeba from Taiwan.

The leaf and fruit essential oils of Litsea cubeba, extracted by hydrodistillation, were assessed for anticancer activities. A total of 53 and 50 compounds were identified, respectively from the leaf and fruit oils, and their yields were 13.9 +/- 0.

Experience with reversed L-shaped incision for right hemicolectomy combined with liver resection.

Background: Various types of incisions have been applied in simultaneous resections of colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases. We describe our experience with the reversed L-shaped incision for simultaneous right hemicolectomy and liver resection.

Methods: We applied the reversed L-shaped incision in nine patients who underwent simultaneous right hemicolectomy and right liver resection or left hepatectomy.

Transection of the esophagus is optional in the Modified Sugiura procedure.

Background/aims: Esophageal transection in the Modified Sugiura procedure is advocated by some authors, but considered unnecessary by others. We compared the effectiveness of the Modified Sugiura procedure to our simplified Sugiura procedure that omits esophageal transection for the emergency treatment of bleeding esophagogastric varices.

Methodology: From January 1999 to September 2004 we treated 51 patients with cirrhosis of the liver and bleeding esophagogastric varices.

Therapeutic strategies for pancreatic pseudocysts: experience in Taiwan.

Background/aims: A retrospective study of Chinese patients with pancreatic pseudocysts to compare the results between non-conservative and conservative treatments, and the use of serial serum amylase and imaging in monitoring treatment success.

Methodology: One hundred and sixty-two pseudocyst patients, treated between 1974 and 2003, were divided into two groups, conservative treatment and interventions (percutaneous needle drainage, internal drainage, or resection), and treatment results for these groups compared.

Results: Ninety-one cases (56%) showed spontaneous pseudocyst resolution (mean duration to resolution, 33.