Surface Quality Evaluation of 3D-Printed Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced PETG Polymer During Turning: Experimental Analysis, ANN Modeling and Optimization.

This work presents an experimental analysis related to 3D-printed carbon-fiber-reinforced-polymer (CFRP) machining. A polyethylene-terephthalate-glycol (PETG)-based composite, reinforced with 20% carbon fibers, was selected as the test material. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of cutting conditions used in light operations on the generated surface quality of the 3D-printed specimens.

Vascular Perspectives of the Midfacial Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System.

: Presently, data on the vascularization of the superficial musculoaponeurotic system of the face (SMAS) are lacking. Thus, the present study aimed to provide new conclusive data about the topography, density, and relationship of the SMAS blood vessels with other components, namely, the fibrous connective tissue and muscles. : The study included a control lot of 42 cases from the archive of the radiology department.

Circular causality analysis of corporate performance and accounting quality in M&As.

The past performance and the capital structure of the companies that are involved in mergers and acquisition (M&As) are considered into the analysis of the circular causality relationship between financial performance and market value. Considering two models, one for value relevance and one for accounting conservatism, this paper aims to analyze if the capital market influences the accounting practices of a target company or that the accounting figures influence the capital market. The analyzed sample used in the study is represented by the target companies involved in M&As which took place in the European Union Enlarged in 2017-2018.

Stabilization of Spruce Bark Extracts within Ice-Templated Porous Dextran Hydrogels.

Porous hydrogels have brought more advantages than conventional hydrogels when used as chromatographic materials, controlled release vehicles for drugs and proteins, matrices for immobilization or separation of molecules and cells, or as scaffolds in tissue engineering. Polysaccharide-based porous hydrogels, in particular, can address challenges related to bioavailability, solubility, stability, and targeted delivery of natural antioxidant compounds. Their porous structure enables the facile encapsulation and controlled release of these compounds, enhancing their therapeutic effectiveness.

Colloidal Characteristics of Poly(L-Lactic Acid)-b-Poly (ε-Caprolactone) Block Copolymer-Based Nanoparticles Obtained by an Emulsification/Evaporation Method.

Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), two biodegradable and biocompatible polymers that are commonly used for biomedical applications, are, respectively, the result of the ring-opening polymerization of LA and ε-CL, cyclic esters, which can be produced according to several mechanisms (cationic, monomer-activated cationic, anionic, and coordination-insertion), except for L-lactide, which is polymerized only by anionic, cationic, or coordination-insertion polymerization. A series of well-defined PLLA-b-PCL block copolymers have been obtained starting from the same PLLA homopolymer, having a molar mass of 2500 g·mol, and being synthesized by coordination-insertion in the presence of tin octoate. PCL blocks were obtained via a cationic-activated monomer mechanism to limit transesterification reactions, and their molar masses varied from 1800 to 18,500 g·mol.

Local adaptation to climate facilitates a global invasion.

Local adaptation may facilitate range expansion during invasions, but the mechanisms promoting destructive invasions remain unclear. Cheatgrass (), native to Eurasia and Africa, has invaded globally, with particularly severe impacts in western North America. We sequenced 307 genotypes and conducted controlled experiments.

Comparative Performance of Autoencoders and Traditional Machine Learning Algorithms in Clinical Data Analysis for Predicting Post-Staged GKRS Tumor Dynamics.

Accurate prediction of tumor dynamics following Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is critical for optimizing treatment strategies for patients with brain metastases (BMs). Traditional machine learning (ML) algorithms have been widely used for this purpose; however, recent advancements in deep learning, such as autoencoders, offer the potential to enhance predictive accuracy. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of autoencoders compared to traditional ML models in predicting tumor progression or regression after GKRS.

Techniques and Instruments for Assessing and Reducing Risk of Exposure to Nanomaterials in Construction, Focusing on Fire-Resistant Insulation Panels Containing Nanoclay.

The paper explains how nano exposure is assessed in the construction field and focuses on the production of fire-resistant insulation panels with nanoclay. Utilizing the commercial ANSYS CFX software, a preliminary theoretical simulation was conducted on nano exposure in the workplace, which revealed that particle dispersion is primarily driven by diffusion. Panel post-processing through drilling results in the highest inhalation exposure, followed by mixing and grinding activities.

Deep Cleaning of Crystal Violet and Methylene Blue Dyes from Aqueous Solution by Dextran-Based Cryogel Adsorbents.

Polysaccharides have recently attracted growing attention as adsorbents for various pollutants, since they can be extracted from a variety of renewable sources at low cost. An interesting hydrophilic and biodegradable polysaccharide is dextran (Dx), which is well-known for its applications in the food industry and in medicine. To extend the application range of this biopolymer, in this study, we investigated the removal of crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB) dyes from an aqueous solution by Dx-based cryogels using the batch technique.

Computational Modeling Approach to Profile Hemodynamical Behavior in a Healthy Aorta.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of mortality among older adults. Early detection is critical as the prognosis for advanced-stage CVD is often poor. Consequently, non-invasive diagnostic tools that can assess hemodynamic function, particularly of the aorta, are essential.

Agricultural waste-based biochars for sustainable removal of heavy metals from stabilized landfill leachate.

In this work, biochars were used as adsorbents to remove Cu, Cd, and Zn ions in a real stabilized leachate from a controlled landfill. Oak fruit shells biochar (OFSBC) and date palm fibers biochar (DPFBC) were obtained by pyrolysis of oak fruit shells and date palm fibers at 700 °C and 400 °C, respectively. OFSBC and DPFBC showed well-developed structures and high specific surface areas (520.

A Comparative Performance Evaluation of YOLO-Type Detectors on a New Open Fire and Smoke Dataset.

The paper introduces a new FireAndSmoke open dataset comprising over 22,000 images and 93,000 distinct instances compiled from 1200 YouTube videos and public Internet resources. The scenes include separate and combined fire and smoke scenarios and a curated set of difficult cases representing real-life circumstances when specific image patches may be erroneously detected as fire/smoke presence. The dataset has been constructed using both static pictures and video sequences, covering day/night, indoor/outdoor, urban/industrial/forest, low/high resolution, and single/multiple instance cases.

New insights on the link between Epstein‑Barr virus infection and cognitive decline in neurodegenerative diseases (Review).

Cognitive decline is a frequent complaint in healthy controls and neurological patients, regardless of the underlying pathology. Whilst cognitive impairment can be easily diagnosed in the more advanced stages of neurodegenerative diseases, early detection can be challenging. This is mainly the consequence of the incomplete understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Reactive extraction of muconic acid by hydrophobic phosphonium ionic liquids - Experimental, modelling and optimisation with Artificial Neural Networks.

Muconic acid is a six-carbon dicarboxylic acid with conjugated double bonds that finds extensive use in the food (additive), chemical (production of adipic acid, monomer for functional resins and bio-plastics), and pharmaceutical sectors. The biosynthesis of muconic acid has been the subject of recent industrial and scientific attention. However, because of its low concentration in aqueous solutions and high purity requirement, downstream separation presents a significant problem.

Vehicular Sensing for Improved Urban Mobility.

In recent years, advancements in the automotive industry have accelerated the development of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) [...

Biocompatibility and Antibacterial Activity of Eugenol and Copaiba Essential Oil-Based Emulsions Loaded on Cotton Textile Materials.

The present study was focused on the preparation, characterization and application onto cotton fabrics of different topical oil-in-water emulsions based on chitosan, eugenol and copaiba essential oil for potential topical applications. Different amounts of copaiba essential oil (oil phases) and eugenol were used, while the water phase consisted of hamamelis water. The designed formulations were evaluated via optical microscopy and rheological parameters assessment.

The Impact of Biomass Composition Variability on the Char Features and Yields Resulted through Thermochemical Processes.

This paper explores the intricate relations between biomass polymeric composition, thermochemical conversion routes, char yields and features in order to advance the knowledge on biomass conversion processes and customize them to meet specific requirements. An exhaustive characterization has been performed for three types of biomasses: (i) spruce bark, a woody primary and secondary residue from forestry and wood processing; (ii) wheat straws-agricultural waste harvest from arable and permanent cropland; and (iii) vine shoots, a woody biomass resulting from vineyard waste. Chemical (proximate and ultimate analysis), biochemical, trace elements, and thermal analyses were performed.

Copper Ion Removal by Adsorption Using Fly Ash-Based Geopolymers: Process Optimization Insights from Taguchi and ANOVA Statistical Methods.

The present study aimed to use geopolymer materials synthesized from different fly ashes, which are promising for the adsorption of copper ions from aqueous solutions. The characterization of fly ashes and prepared adsorbents was performed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Taguchi and ANOVA methods were used to predict the effect of different working parameters on copper ion removal by prepared geopolymers.

The Influence of Circulating Immune Cell and CA125 Dynamics on Neoadjuvant Therapy Selection for Advanced Ovarian Cancer.

Ovarian cancer, including tubal and peritoneal cancer, is the third most common gynecological cancer and the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancies in developed countries. This study explores the prognostic value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in determining the optimal duration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for advanced ovarian cancer. It also investigates the correlation between NLR dynamics and the KELIM score, a chemosensitivity marker, to enhance individualized therapeutic strategies.

Preliminary Studies about Valorization of Bioactive Content in Modern Dermato-Cosmetic Applications to Combat Skin Oxidative Stress.

The development of products with skin-protective effects has been driven by the increasing incidence of skin diseases that are exacerbated by increasing pollution, urbanization, poor living, working, fatigue, dietary habits, and general treatment. The ability of antioxidants to protect the skin from oxidative stress and its effects makes them one of the most important ingredients in today's cosmetics. This article aims first to characterize the plant extracts obtained from () and then to evaluate the preliminary criteria for a new marketed product: the stability, antioxidant activity, and in vitro behavior of certain serums based on plant extract and hyaluronic acid.

Tailoring the Structure and Physico-Chemical Features of Cellulose-Based Hydrogels Using Multi-Epoxy Crosslinking Agents.

Hydrogel features can be designed and optimized using different crosslinking agents to meet specific requirements. In this regard, the present work investigates the physico-chemical features of cellulose-based hydrogels, designed by using different epoxy crosslinkers from the same glycidyl family, namely epichlorohydrin (ECH), 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE), and trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether (TMPTGE). The effect of the crosslinker's structure (from simple to branched) and functionality (mono-, bi- and tri-epoxy groups) on the hydrogels' features was studied.

The use of artificial neural networks in studying the progression of glaucoma.

In ophthalmology, artificial intelligence methods show great promise due to their potential to enhance clinical observations with predictive capabilities and support physicians in diagnosing and treating patients. This paper focuses on modelling glaucoma evolution because it requires early diagnosis, individualized treatment, and lifelong monitoring. Glaucoma is a chronic, progressive, irreversible, multifactorial optic neuropathy that primarily affects elderly individuals.

Multi-shell gold nanoparticles functionalized with methotrexate: a novel nanotherapeutic approach for improved antitumoral and antioxidant activity and enhanced biocompatibility.

Methotrexate (MTX) is a folic acid antagonist routinely used in cancer treatment, characterized by poor water solubility and low skin permeability. These issues could be mitigated by using drug delivery systems, such as functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), known for their versatility and unique properties. This study aimed to develop multi-shell AuNPs functionalized with MTX for the improvement of MTX antitumoral, antioxidant, and biocompatibility features.