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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/480321a | DOI Listing |
Polymers (Basel)
December 2024
College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
Natural plant fibers (NPFs) have emerged as a sustainable alternative in the manufacture of composites due to their renewability and low environmental impact. This has led to a significant increase in the use of natural plant fiber-reinforced polymers (NPFRPs) in a variety of industries. The diversity of NPF types brings a wide range of properties and functionalities to NPFRPs, which in turn highlights the urgent need to improve the properties of fiber materials in order to enhance their performance and suitability.
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December 2024
Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems, National Research Council, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere, 100, 00133 Rome, Italy.
Clear aligners have transformed orthodontic care by providing an aesthetic, removable alternative to traditional braces. However, their significant environmental footprint, contributing to approximately 15,000 tons of plastic waste annually, poses a critical challenge. To address this issue, advancements in 4D printing have introduced "smart" aligners with shape memory properties, enabling reshaping and reducing the number of aligners required per treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaterials (Basel)
December 2024
Department of Building Materials Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Armii Ludowej 16, 00-637 Warsaw, Poland.
The aim of the presented research was to evaluate the impacts of modifications to the technical properties of fly ash-based geopolymer composites, particularly focusing on enhancing the thermal insulation. Through the utilization of a generalized utility function, optimal dosages of additives such as perlite sand, waste perlite powder, and cenospheres were determined. The study aimed to increase the thermal insulation of the composites while maintaining satisfactory compressive and flexural strength.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSurg Endosc
January 2025
Department of Medicine, Surgery and Healthcare Sciences, University of Trieste, Strada Di Fiume 447, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
Background: Climate change poses significant challenges to global health, exacerbated by healthcare systems' carbon footprint and waste generation. Surgical activities contribute to these impacts, necessitating sustainable practices to mitigate environmental harm. This study aims to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a recycling program in reducing waste, carbon emissions, and disposal costs in the operating rooms (ORs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlast Surg (Oakv)
January 2025
Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Introduction: Every industry has greenhouse gas emissions, with healthcare a significant contributor. In Canada, the healthcare sector is directly and indirectly responsible for 4.6% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
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