Friction of Laser-Textured Zirconia Coated with a Platelet-Rich Fibrin.

In the present in vitro study, we evaluated the adhesion of an injectable platelet-rich fibrin (i-PRF) to laser-textured zirconia surfaces and their resultant friction behavior against bone tissue. Three types of zirconia surfaces were compared regarding the i-PRF coating effects: 1) grit blasted with 250-μm spherical alumina particles and acid etched with 20% hydrofluoric acid (ZLA), 2) laser textured with a random (RD) surface pattern, or 3) laser textured with a designed pattern based on 16 lines and 8 passages (L16N8). The coefficient of friction (COF) of the specimens was assessed on a reciprocating sliding pin-on-plate tribometer at 1-N normal load, 1 Hz, and a 2-mm stroke length.

A Comprehensive Dataset of Surface Electromyography and Self-Perceived Fatigue Levels for Muscle Fatigue Analysis.

Muscle fatigue is a risk factor for injuries in athletes and workers. This brings relevance to the study of this biochemical process to allow for its identification and prevention. This paper presents a novel dataset for muscle fatigue analysis comprising surface electromyography data from upper-limbs and the subject's self-perceived fatigue level.

Development of a photoacoustic acquisition system and their proof-of-concept for hemoglobin detection.

Recently, Organ-on-a-Chip (OoC) platforms have arisen as an increasingly relevant experimental tool for successfully replicating human physiology and disease. However, there is a lack of a standard technology to monitor the OoC parameters, especially in a non-invasive and label-free way. Photoacoustic (PA) systems can be considered an alternative and accurate assessment method for OoC platforms.

Recent Advances of PDMS In Vitro Biomodels for Flow Visualizations and Measurements: From Macro to Nanoscale Applications.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) has become a popular material in microfluidic and macroscale in vitro models due to its elastomeric properties and versatility. PDMS-based biomodels are widely used in blood flow studies, offering a platform for improving flow models and validating numerical simulations. This review highlights recent advances in bioflow studies conducted using both PDMS microfluidic devices and macroscale biomodels, particularly in replicating physiological environments.

Beta-carotene-loaded Oleogels: Morphological analysis, cytotoxicity assessment, in vitro digestion and intestinal permeability.

Composition and structure of oleogels significantly influence their digestive behaviour, impacting triacylglycerol breakdown and the bioavailability of incorporated compounds. Texture profile analysis showed that sterol-based oleogels (STOs) exhibited 20 times higher hardness than beeswax-based oleogels (BWOs), which showed stronger cohesion due to elasticity sustained by adhesive forces. Tribological assessments revealed similar initial coefficients of friction (COF) for both oleogels.

Realistic 3D Simulators for Automotive: A Review of Main Applications and Features.

Recent advancements in vehicle technology have stimulated innovation across the automotive sector, from Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to autonomous driving and motorsport applications. Modern vehicles, equipped with sensors for perception, localization, navigation, and actuators for autonomous driving, generate vast amounts of data used for training and evaluating autonomous systems. Real-world testing is essential for validation but is complex, expensive, and time-intensive, requiring multiple vehicles and reference systems.

Unveiling human biomechanics: insights into lower limb responses to disturbances that can trigger a fall.

Introduction: Slip-related falls are a significant concern, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and individuals with gait disorders, necessitating effective preventive measures. This manuscript presents a biomechanical study of how the lower limbs react to perturbations that can trigger a slip-like fall, with the ultimate goal of identifying target specifications for developing a wearable robotic system for slip-like fall prevention.

Methods: Our analysis provides a comprehensive understanding of the natural human biomechanical response to slip perturbations in both slipping and trailing legs, by innovatively collecting parameters from both the sagittal and frontal plane since both play pivotal roles in maintaining stability and preventing falls and thus provide new insights to fall prevention.

Biomodulation effects induced by ultrasound stimulation in periodontal cells implicated in orthodontic tooth movement: A systematic review.

Accelerating orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is increasingly important for shorter treatment times, which reduces periodontal risks, root resorption and dental caries. Techniques to accelerate OTM focus on stimulating bone remodelling by enhancing osteoclast and osteoblast activity and include both surgical and non-surgical methods. The therapeutic potential of ultrasounds is highly recognized among many medical areas and has shown promising results in modulating bone remodelling and inflammation phenomena.

Clinical and preclinical evidence on the bioeffects and movement-related implications of photobiomodulation in the orthodontic tooth movement: A systematic review.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been demonstrated as a non-invasive and painless technique with great potential to accelerate orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). However, there is a great inconsistency among PBM protocols and reported outcomes, probably due to the poor translatability of preclinical knowledge into early clinical practice. Hence, this review aims to fill this gap by establishing the state-of-the-art on both preclinical and clinical applications of PBM, and by comprehensively discussing the most suitable stimulation protocols described in the literature.

The impact of inorganic fillers, organic content, and polymerization mode on the degree of conversion of monomers in resin-matrix cements for restorative dentistry: a scoping review.

Purpose: The main aim of the present study was to carry out a scoping review on the differences in degree of conversion of monomers regarding several types resin cements, indirect restorative materials, and light-curing procedures used in dentistry.

Method: A bibliographic review was performed on PubMed using the following search items: "degree of conversion" OR "filler" AND "resin cement" OR "inorganic cement" AND "organic" OR "radiopacity" OR "refractive" OR "transmittance" OR "type" AND "resin composite." The search involved articles published in English language within the last thirteen years.

Integrating sEMG and IMU Sensors in an e-Textile Smart Vest for Forward Posture Monitoring: First Steps.

Currently, the market for wearable devices is expanding, with a growing trend towards the use of these devices for continuous-monitoring applications. Among these, real-time posture monitoring and assessment stands out as a crucial application given the rising prevalence of conditions like forward head posture (FHP). This paper proposes a wearable device that combines the acquisition of electromyographic signals from the cervical region with inertial data from inertial measurement units (IMUs) to assess the occurrence of FHP.

Assessing Carbohydrate Counting Accuracy: Current Limitations and Future Directions.

Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent chronic autoimmune disease with a high impact on global health, affecting millions of adults and resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Achieving optimal blood glucose levels is crucial for diabetes management to prevent acute and long-term complications. Carbohydrate counting (CC) is widely used by patients with type 1 diabetes to adjust prandial insulin bolus doses based on estimated carbohydrate content, contributing to better glycemic control and improved quality of life.

Advances in Microfluidic Systems and Numerical Modeling in Biomedical Applications: A Review.

The evolution in the biomedical engineering field boosts innovative technologies, with microfluidic systems standing out as transformative tools in disease diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. Numerical simulation has emerged as a tool of increasing importance for better understanding and predicting fluid-flow behavior in microscale devices. This review explores fabrication techniques and common materials of microfluidic devices, focusing on soft lithography and additive manufacturing.

Biological alterations associated with the orthodontic treatment with conventional appliances and aligners: A systematic review of clinical and preclinical evidence.

Background&objectives: Mechanical forces applied during an orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) propel several biochemical and molecular responses in the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Here, we compile the existing clinical and preclinical evidence on these biological changes, aiming to provide a comprehensive discussion on the influence of the mechanical parameters of the OTM in the biological profile of the periodontium.

Material And Methods: This systematic integrative review was conducted according to PICOS strategy and PRISMA guidelines.

Human-in-the-Loop Optimization of Knee Exoskeleton Assistance for Minimizing User's Metabolic and Muscular Effort.

Lower limb exoskeletons have the potential to mitigate work-related musculoskeletal disorders; however, they often lack user-oriented control strategies. Human-in-the-loop (HITL) controls adapt an exoskeleton's assistance in real time, to optimize the user-exoskeleton interaction. This study presents a HITL control for a knee exoskeleton using a CMA-ES algorithm to minimize the users' physical effort, a parameter innovatively evaluated using the interaction torque with the exoskeleton (a muscular effort indicator) and metabolic cost.

Fitting of Different Intraradicular Composite Posts to Oval Tooth Root Canals: A Preliminary Assessment.

The purpose of the present study was to perform a preliminary analysis of the fitting of different fiber-reinforced composite (GFRC) posts to tooth root canals and determine the resin cement layer thickness. The following GFRC posts were assessed: bundle posts (Rebilda GT, VOCO, Germany), sleeve system (SAP, Angelus Ind, Brazil), and accessory posts (Reforpin, Angelus, Brazil). Twenty-four freshly extracted mandibular single-rooted pre-molars were endodontically treated and divided into six groups, according to the type of GFRC post and resin cement (self-adhesive or conventional dual-cured).

Zirconia Dental Implants Surface Electric Stimulation Impact on .

Tooth loss during the lifetime of an individual is common. A strategy to treat partial or complete edentulous patients is the placement of dental implants. However, dental implants are subject to bacterial colonization and biofilm formation, which cause an infection named peri-implantitis.

Upcycling of industrial footwear waste into nonwoven fibrous structures with thermal and acoustic insulation properties.

The footwear industry significantly impacts the environment, from raw material extraction to waste disposal. Transforming waste into new products is a viable option to mitigate the environmental consequences, reducing the reliance on virgin raw materials. This work aims to develop thermal and acoustic insulation materials using polyester waste from footwear industry.

An Experimental Parametric Optimisation for Laser Engraving and Texturing to Integrate Zirconia Ceramic Blocks into Stainless Steel Cutlery: A State-of-the-Art Aesthetically Improved Perspective.

Cutlery and flatware designs are an everchanging phenomenon of the manufacturing industry. Worldwide hospitality businesses demand perpetual evolution in terms of aesthetics, designs, patterns, colours, and materials due to customers' demands, modernisation, and fierce competition. To thrive in this competitive market, modern fabrication techniques must be flexible, adoptive, fast, and cost effective.

Critical Issues on the Surface Functionalization of Plasmonic Au-Ag/TiO Thin Films with Thiolated Oligonucleotide-Based Biorecognition Elements.

This work reports on the surface functionalization of a nanomaterial supporting localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) with (synthetic) thiolated oligonucleotide-based biorecognition elements, envisaging the development of selective LSPR-based DNA biosensors. The LSPR thin-film transducers are composed of noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in a TiO dielectric matrix, produced cost-effectively and sustainably by magnetron sputtering. The study focused on the immobilization kinetics of thiolated oligonucleotide probes as biorecognition elements, followed by the evaluation of hybridization events with the target probe.

A Multifunctional Cementitious Composite for Pavement Subgrade.

Premature failure and degradation of layers are the main problems for transportation infrastructure. Addressing these issues necessitates implementing structural health monitoring (SHM) for pavement construction layers. To this end, this research investigated the stress/strain and damage detection capabilities of a self-sensing cementitious composite developed for potential utilization in the construction of an intelligent subgrade layer.

A 3D-Printed Portable UV and Visible Photoreactor for Water Purification and Disinfection Experiments.

Water scarcity and contamination are urgent issues to be addressed. In this context, different materials, techniques, and devices are being developed to mitigate contemporary and forthcoming water constraints. Photocatalysis-based approaches are suitable strategies to address water contamination by degrading contaminants and eliminating microbes.

Cell Biological and Antibacterial Evaluation of a New Approach to Zirconia Implant Surfaces Modified with MTA.

Peri-implantitis continues to be one of the major reasons for implant failure. We propose a new approach to the incorporation of MTA into zirconia implant surfaces with Nd:YAG laser and investigate the biological and the microbiological responses of peri-implant cells. Discs of zirconia stabilized with yttria and titanium were produced according to the following four study groups: Nd:YAG laser-textured zirconia coated with MTA (Zr MTA), Nd:YAG laser-textured zirconia (Zr textured), polished zirconia discs, and polished titanium discs (Zr and Ti).