Microstructural and Surface Texture Evaluation of Orthodontic Microimplants Covered with Bioactive Layers Enriched with Silver Nanoparticles.

Bacterial infections are a common cause of clinical complications associated with the use of orthodontic microimplants. Biofilm formation on their surfaces and subsequent infection of peri-implant tissues can result in either exfoliation or surgical removal of these medical devices. In order to improve the properties of microimplants, hybrid coatings enriched with silver nanoparticles, calcium, and phosphorus were investigated.

Improving Stability and Mechanical Strength of Electrospun Chitosan-Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Using Genipin Cross-linking for Biomedical Applications.

Electrospun nanofiber scaffolds have become vital in biomedical applications due to their high surface area and tunable properties. Chitosan (CS) is widely used, but its rapid degradation limits its effectiveness. This study addresses this limitation by blending CS with polycaprolactone (PCL) and applying genipin cross-linking to enhance its stability and mechanical properties.

Unique effect of aspirin on local 15-oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid synthesis in asthma patients with aspirin hypersensitivity.

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-exacerbated respiratory disease (NSAIDs-ERD) is characterized by altered arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. Aspirin hypersensitivity is diagnosed using aspirin challenge, while induced sputum is collected to perform cell counts and to identify local biomarkers in induced sputum supernatant (ISS). This study aimed to assess the levels of a newly identified eicosanoid, 15-oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid (15-oxo-ETE), in ISS at baseline and during aspirin-induced bronchospasm in patients with NSAIDs-ERD.

Sensitivity analysis of closed-loop one-chamber and four-chamber models with baroreflex.

The baroreflex is one of the most important control mechanisms in the human cardiovascular system. This work utilises a closed-loop in silico model of baroreflex regulation, coupled to pulsatile mechanical models with (i) one heart chamber and 36-parameters and (ii) four chambers and 51 parameters. We perform the first global sensitivity analysis of these closed-loop systems which considers both cardiovascular and baroreflex parameters, and compare the models with their respective unregulated equivalents.

Going from Pt to PGM-free Catalysts: Effects of Ink Compositions on PEM Water Electrolysis.

The commercialisation of PEM water electrolysis is still hindered by the necessity of using noble metals that are rare, expensive and therefore unsustainable. To replace the benchmark HER catalyst Pt with more abundant materials, promising non-noble catalysts need to be identified and optimal electrode preparation and electrolysis conditions need to be transferred between catalyst materials to reveal their full potential under industrially relevant conditions. This study investigates the optimal ink composition for spray-coating the cathode regarding the effects on electrode structure, performance and catalyst layer composition.

Perioperative lifestyle and nutritional interventions' details reporting in bariatric surgery trials according to the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is considered the most effective treatment for people with severe obesity, and certain interventions could enhance its long-term results. The complete reporting of interventions' details is necessary for their replication in clinical settings.

Objectives: To investigate the completeness of reporting of lifestyle and nutritional interventions applied in immediate perioperative period (30-days preoperatively and postoperatively) in patients undergoing MBS using the 12-item Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist, and to explore factors associated with compliant reporting.

Surface wettability governs brine evaporation and salt precipitation during carbon sequestration in saline aquifers: Microfluidic insights.

Carbon sequestration in deep saline aquifers is a promising strategy for reducing atmospheric CO emissions. However, salt precipitation triggered by the evaporation of formation brine into injected supercritical CO can cause injectivity and containment issues in near-wellbore regions. Predicting the distribution of precipitated salts and their impact on near-wellbore properties remains challenging.

Understanding responses to multi-electrode epiretinal stimulation using a biophysical model.

Objective: Neural interfaces are designed to evoke specific patterns of electrical activity in populations of neurons by stimulating with many electrodes. However, currents passed simultaneously through multiple electrodes often combine nonlinearly to drive neural responses, making evoked responses difficult to predict and control. This response nonlinearity could arise from the interaction of many excitable sites in each cell, any of which can produce a spike.

Strategies in Electrospun Polymer and Hybrid Scaffolds for Enhanced Cell Integration and Vascularization for Bone Tissue Engineering and Organoids.

Addressing the demand for bone substitutes, tissue engineering responds to the high prevalence of orthopedic surgeries worldwide and the limitations of conventional tissue reconstruction techniques. Materials, cells, and growth factors constitute the core elements in bone tissue engineering, influencing cellular behavior crucial for regenerative treatments. Scaffold design, including architectural features and porosity, significantly impacts cellular penetration, proliferation, differentiation, and vascularization.

Candle soot-smoked electrodes as a natural superhydrophobic material for potentiometric sensors.

The application of carbon soot as a solid-contact layer in potentiometric sensor is presented. The preparation method of carbon layer from the candle is inexpensive and as short as 10 s and was optimized and described in the scope of this paper. With the use of the proposed procedure, it is possible to cover not only the glassy carbon disc electrodes, but all surfaces of various shapes and types, like foil or paper.

Valvular and perivalvular thrombosis following self-expandable aortic valve replacement: analysis of 100 multi-detector computed tomography scans.

Aims: Subclinical thrombosis may represent an early stage of prosthesis structural disease. Most of the available evidence on the incidence, location, predictors, and consequences of thrombosis comes from studies that have employed balloon-expandable valves. We aimed to describe the different localisations of valvular and perivalvular thrombosis and analyse prosthesis-host multi-detector computed tomography predictors in the context of self-expandable prosthesis.

Umbilical and Placental Derivatives in Temporomandibular Joint Treatment: A Systematic Review.

: This review aimed to gather and summarize the existing information on the clinical application of allogeneic umbilical and placental derivatives in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. : Research on the impact of the use of umbilical and placental derivatives on reducing pain and improving mobility in the temporomandibular joint was included in the article. Medical databases, including ACM, BASE, Cochrane, Scopus, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.

Investigation of Spent Moulding Sand Using Thermal Treatment with Regard to the Possibility of Recovering Quartz Matrix.

The ongoing sustainable reduction in natural resources is prompting companies to look for materials to reuse that were previously classified as waste. Uses are sought for them either in their existing area of use or in other areas of the economy. In many cases, this is difficult.

Application of a 3D-Printed Part with Conformal Cooling in High-Pressure Die Casting Mould and Evaluation of Stress State During Exploitation.

The article addresses stress formation in the structural 3D-printed elements of a high-pressure die casting die mould used for production of aluminum castings. The 3D-printed elements with conformal cooling are manufactured of 18Ni300 powder. Initial numerical calculations were performed on a test die mould made of standard steel X40CrMoV5 to determine temperature distribution and stress state, providing a baseline for comparing 3D-printed 18Ni300 parts.

Prediction of the Stability of the Casting Process by the HPDC Method on the Basis of Knowledge Obtained by Data Mining Techniques.

High-pressure die casting (HPDC) of aluminum alloys is one of the most efficient manufacturing methods, offering high repeatability and the ability to produce highly complex castings. The cast parts are characterized by good surface quality, high dimensional accuracy, and high tensile strength. Continuous technological advancements are driving the increase in part complexity and quality requirements.

Numerical, Physical, and Industrial Investigations on Hot Metal Desulphurization-From Macromixing Conditions to Reaction Rate Phenomena.

The efficiency of the hot metal pretreatment process plays a very important role in achieving high-quality and low-cost advanced steel. From macromixing phenomena obtained by numerical modeling and physical experiments to compound interaction databases from industry trials, the Authors compared fundamental relationships from the literature with their own laboratory results and plant data. A simple numerical model based on the LES turbulence approach was well-validated by water modeling.

Thermal Properties of Polysiloxane/Ag Nanocomposites with Different Network Structures and Distributions of Si-H Groups.

Polysiloxanes with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have garnered attention for their distinctive physicochemical properties, which make them promising candidates for advanced material applications. This study presents a systematic investigation into the thermal properties and degradation mechanisms of polysiloxane/Ag nanocomposites, emphasising the innovative incorporation of Ag NPs directly into polysiloxane networks via in situ reduction of Ag⁺ ions by Si-H groups. Six polysiloxane matrices were synthesised by hydrosilylation of poly(methylhydrosiloxane) (PMHS) or poly(vinylsiloxane) (polymer V) with three cross-linking agents of varying molecular structures and functionality.

Analysis of the Influence of Different Diameters of De Laval Supersonic Nozzles on the Key Splashing Parameters of Remaining Slag.

The paper is devoted to the analysis of a supersonic nozzle system effect in gas-cooled lances on the technological parameters of slag splashing in an oxygen converter. Simulation calculations were carried out, taking into account the parameters of nozzles used in the technological lines of converter steel plants in Ukraine and Brazil. The problems were solved in several stages.

Efficient Management of Asbestos Waste Through Utilization as Mineral Additives in Portland Cement Production.

This article presents research on the effectiveness of utilizing asbestos waste, particularly chrysotile asbestos, in the production of Portland cement. The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of transforming asbestos cement (Eternit) through thermal treatment and its enrichment with mineral additives, enabling its integration into the clinker synthesis process. Differences in the physicochemical properties of types of cement produced from conventional raw materials and those manufactured using asbestos waste were analyzed.

Crop-Derived Biochar for Removal of Alachlor from Water.

The presence of various pesticides in natural streams and wastewater is a significant environmental issue due to their high toxicity, which causes harmful consequences even at low quantities. One cost-effective method to remove these pollutants from water could be through adsorption using an inexpensive, easily obtained adsorbent-biochar. The presented research demonstrates the efficacy of applying biochar obtained from wheat grains to eliminate alachlor from water.

Thermal and Structural Analysis of a High-Entropy CrMnFeCoNiP Alloy-Influence of Cooling Rates on Phase Transformations.

This study investigates the influence of cooling rates on the microstructure and phase transformations of the high-entropy alloy CrMnFeCoNiP. The alloy was synthesized via arc melting and subjected to three cooling conditions: slow cooling (52 K/s), accelerated cooling after a short electric arc pulse (3018 K/s), and rapid quenching (10⁵-10⁶ K/s) using the melt-spinning method. The microstructures were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Mössbauer spectroscopy.

Influence of the Applied Protective Coating on the Technological Parameters of the Moulding or Core Sand Surface.

An important issue in obtaining a good casting surface without defects in contact with the liquid metal is the use of protective coatings on the surface of the moulding sand forming the mould cavity. Protective coatings are based on highly refractory materials that are finely ground and protect the moulding sand from thermal stresses from the molten metal. An important aspect of obtaining the appropriate properties of the protective coatings used is the method of application.

Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Thermal Fatigue of Grey Cast Iron Ingot Mould.

This article presents the results of experimental studies and numerical calculations that were conducted to analyse the phenomena that occur during the operation of an ingot mould that is designed for casting steel ingots. The studies were conducted on an experimental stand in a foundry on an ingot mould that was designed to make ingots that weigh up to six tons; they consisted of determining the temperature of the ingot mould and measuring the displacements of its walls during filling with steel and cooling. These studies were used to create and verify a numerical model that was used to determine the temperatures, displacements, deformations, and stresses in ingot mould walls during the operating cycle using the FEM method.

Modification of Ti-Al-V Alloys with Layers Containing TiN Particles Obtained via the Electrophoretic Deposition Process: Surface and Structural Properties.

The aim of this work was to obtain homogenous coatings containing chitosan with different concentrations of titanium nitride particles (TiN). The coatings were deposited via an electrophoretic process on an etched medically pure Ti-6Al-4V alloy. As part of the study, the zeta potential of the suspensions used for EPD coating deposition was measured, allowing for the optimization of process parameters and the assessment of suspension stability.