Specific energy requirements and soil pulverization of a combined tillage implement.

Reducing energy use in soil preparation has become increasingly important since it is a major cost in planting. Experiments were conducted with a combined tillage implement consisting of a subsoiler and a rotary harrow to reduce the cost due to step reduction in soil preparation. Three tillage operations, two forward speeds, and two rotational rotor speeds were determined as input factors in this study.

Integrated approach in designing biphasic nanocomposite collagen/nBCP scaffolds with controlled porosity and permeability for bone tissue engineering.

The bone scaffold for tissue engineering should be biomimetic, particularly in simulating the porosity features of natural bony tissue including pore size, pore shape, pore distribution pattern, and porosity percentage. Control of these can impact the scaffold hydrophilicity and permeability, which in turn influence the protein adsorption, cellular functions, and vascularization process. Various methods have been investigated for control of porosity parameters; however, the field still suffers from major challenges, that is, inadequate control of porosity and hydrophilicity at different levels.

Synthesis and quantitative analyses of acrylamide-grafted poly(lactide-co-glycidyl methacrylate) amphiphilic copolymers for environmental and biomedical applications.

Bio-degradable/bio-compatible poly(lactide-co-glycidyl methacrylate), P(LA-co-GMA), a copolymer has been synthesized. The material contains curable CC groups, which enable its self-curing and grafting reactions with other vinyl monomers. The copolymer was grafted with a pH-responsive polyacrylamide (PAAm), by UV-assisted reactions using acrylamide (AAm) and N,N'-methylene bisacrylamide monomers, and various photoinitiator systems.

Biofilm Reactor for Ethanol Production Using Rice Straw Hydrolysate Under Continuous and Repeated Batch Processes.

Plastic composited corn silk was developed as a biotic/abiotic carrier for biofilm formation for the purpose of ethanol production. Furthermore, we explored the use of rice straw hydrolysate as substrate in both multistage continuous culture and repeated batch processes and compared the ethanol production efficiency by two strains of . Biofilm formed by bacterial strains ZM4 and TISTR551 were detected, and its proficiencies were compared under various conditions by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and crystal violet assays.

Green and sustainable zero-waste conversion of water hyacinth () into superior magnetic carbon composite adsorbents and supercapacitor electrodes.

Troublesome aquatic weed, water hyacinth () was converted into solid and liquid fractions green and energy-saving hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). The solid product, hydrochar, was employed as a precursor to prepare magnetic carbon materials by simple activation and magnetization using KOH and Fe ions, respectively. The obtained magnetic adsorbent possessed good magnetic properties and presented outstanding capacities to adsorb methylene blue (524.

Effects of dietary supplementation with different levels and molecular weights of fungal β-glucan on performances, health and meat quality in broilers.

Objective: To investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with different levels and molecular weights of fungal β-glucan on productive performances, health, carcass traits and meat quality in broilers.

Methods: Two hundred and ten of one-day-old chicks with equal sex were assigned to seven experimental groups in 2×4 factorial arrangement. These groups were supplemented with (0, 10, 30 and 60 ppm) of molecular weight 1-3, 1-6 β-glucan (low or high).

Modifying morphology and defects of low-dimensional, semi-transparent perovskite thin films solvent type.

(PEA)(MA) Pb I Br perovskites are semi-transparent, color-tunable thin films with broader band gaps. They have the potential for semi-transparent solar cell and smart window applications. Solvent engineering significantly alters the morphology, absorbance, crystallinity, charge separation, and defects, thereby influencing the optoelectronic properties.

Synthesis and characterization of biomimetic bioceramic nanoparticles with optimized physicochemical properties for bone tissue engineering.

Calcium phosphate bioceramics nanoparticles such as nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) and nano-tricalcium phosphate (nTCP) are the main focus of basic and applied research for bone tissue regeneration. In particular, a combination of these two phases (nHA + nTCP) which refers to as "nano-biphasic calcium phosphates (nBCP)" is of interest due to the preferred biodegradation nature compared to single-phase bioceramics. However, the available synthesis processes are challenging and the biomaterials properties are yet to be optimized to mimic the physiochemical properties of the natural nanoscale bone apatite.

Dual-Analyte Fluorescent Sensor Based on [5]Helicene Derivative with Super Large Stokes Shift for the Selective Determinations of Cu or Zn in Buffer Solutions and Its Application in a Living Cell.

A new fluorescent sensor, M201-DPA, based on [5]helicene derivative was utilized as dual-analyte sensor for determination of Cu or Zn in different media and different emission wavelengths. The sensor could provide selective and bifunctional determination of Cu in HEPES buffer containing Triton-X100 and Zn in Tris buffer/methanol without interference from each other and other ions. In HEPES buffer, M201-DPA demonstrated the selective ON-OFF fluorescence quenching at 524 nm toward Cu.

Fretting Fatigue with Cylindrical-On-Flat Contact: Crack Nucleation, Crack Path and Fatigue Life.

Fretting fatigue experiments and finite element analysis were carried out to investigate the influence of cylindrical-on-flat contact on crack nucleation, crack path and fatigue life of medium-carbon steel. The location of crack nucleation was predicted using the maximum shear stress range criterion and the maximum relative slip amplitude criterion. The prediction using the maximum relative slip amplitude criterion gave the better agreement with the experimental result, and should be used for the prediction of the location of crack nucleation.

Influence of the cross-linking agent on mechanical properties of PMMA powder with compromised particle morphology.

Objective: To investigate the effect of a cross-linking agent on the mechanical properties of self-cured orthodontic acrylic resin using PMMA powder (CPM-PMMA) with a compromised microstructure.

Materials And Methods: The mechanical properties of three sample groups were investigated in this study: CPM-PMMA, orthocryl and orthoplast. CPM-PMMA powder was prepared by suspension polymerization.

Differences in textural properties of cooked caponized and broiler chicken breast meat.

This study was aimed at evaluating textural properties of cooked chicken breast meats obtained from 3 production systems (conventional raising, feed modification, and caponization) and determining the relationship between instrumental parameters and sensory attributes associated with the texture of capon meat. Texture of cooked breast meats was determined using 3 instrumental methods: Warner-Bratzler Shear (WBS), texture profile analysis (TPA), and uniaxial compression (UC), and sensory analysis by trained panelists. The results indicated that cooked caponized meat showed the lowest values of WBS force, shear energy, hardness, Young's modulus of UC, and the 2 sensory attributes (firmness and number of chews) (P < 0.

Enhancement of mechanical properties of 3D printed hydroxyapatite by combined low and high molecular weight polycaprolactone sequential infiltration.

A new infiltration technique using a combination of low and high molecular weight polycaprolactone (PCL) in sequence was developed as a mean to improve the mechanical properties of three dimensional printed hydroxyapatite (HA). It was observed that using either high (M ~80,000) or low (M ~10,000) molecular weight infiltration could only increase the flexural modulus compared to non-infiltrated HA, but did not affect strength, strain at break and energy at break. In contrast, a combination of low and high molecular infiltration in sequence increased the flexural modulus, strength and energy at break compared to those of non-infiltrated HA or infiltrated by high or low molecular weight PCL alone.

Mini-interfacial fracture toughness as a new validated enamel-bonding effectiveness test.

Unlabelled: Today׳s most commonly applied bonding effectiveness tests are criticized for their high variability and low reliability, the latter in particular with regard to measuring the actual strength of the adhesive interface.

Objectives: in continuation of previous research conducted at dentin, we hereby aimed to validate the novel mini-interfacial fracture toughness (mini-iFT) test on its applicability to assess bonding effectiveness of contemporary adhesives when bonded to enamel.

Methods: The 3-step etch&rinse (E&R) adhesive OptiBond FL (Kerr), the 2-step self-etch (SE) adhesive Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray Noritake) and the two multi-mode adhesives Clearfil S(3) Bond Plus (Kuraray Noritake) and Scotchbond Universal (3M ESPE), both used following a 2-step E&R and 1-step SE mode, were applied to clinically relevant, flattened enamel surfaces.

Bilayer oxidized regenerated cellulose/poly ε-caprolactone knitted fabric-reinforced composite for use as an artificial dural substitute.

A novel bilayer knitted fabric-reinforced composite for potentially being used as a dural substitute was developed by solution infiltration of oxidized regenerated cellulose knitted fabric (ORC) with poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) solution at various concentrations ranging 10-40 g/100 mL. It was found that the density of all formulations did not differ significantly and was lower than that of the human dura. Microstructure of the samples typically comprised a bilayer structure having a nonporous PCL layer on one side and the ORC/PCL composite layer on another side.

Biomechanical performance of retrograde nail for supracondylar fractures stabilization.

The study compared the biomechanical performance of retrograde nail used to stabilize supracondylar fracture (three different levels) by means of finite element analysis. Three different nail lengths (200, 260, and 300 mm) of stainless steel and titanium nails were under consideration. Intact femur model was reconstructed from Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine images of Thai cadaveric femur scanned by computed tomography spiral scanner, whereas geometry of retrograde nail was reconstructed with the data obtained from three-dimensional laser scanner.

Economical and green biodiesel production process using river snail shells-derived heterogeneous catalyst and co-solvent method.

River snail shells-derived CaO was used as a heterogeneous catalyst to synthesize biodiesel via transesterification of palm oil with methanol. The shell materials were calcined in air at 600-1000°C for 3h. Physicochemical properties of the resulting catalysts were characterized by TGA-DTG, XRD, SEM, BET, XRF, FT-IR and TPD.

Crystal structure of 3,13-dimethoxy-5,6,10,11-tetrahydrofuro[3,4-i][5]helicene-7,9-dione.

The title compound, C26H20O5, crystallizes with two independent molecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit, which differ primarily in the location of the -OCH3 groups. In the crystal, the mol-ecules form a layered structure parallel to (10-1) by C-H⋯O hydrogen-bonded networks. Adjacent layers are also linked by further C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional structure.

3,12-Dimeth-oxy-5,6,9,10-tetra-hydro-[5]helicene-7,8-dicarbo-nitrile.

The complete molecule of the title compound, C26H20N2O2, is generated by a crystallographic twofold axis. The torsion angle between the terminal and central benzene rings is -32.5 (2)°.

Properties of experimental copper-aluminium-nickel alloys for dental post-and-core applications.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a copper-aluminium-nickel alloy which has properties comparable to that of dental alloys used for dental post and core applications with the reasonable cost.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen groups of experimental copper alloys with variants of 3, 6, 9, 12 wt% Al and 0, 2, 4, 6 wt% Ni were prepared and casted. Their properties were tested and evaluated.

In vivo assessment of new resorbable PEG-PPG-PEG copolymer/starch bone wax in bone healing and tissue reaction of bone defect in rabbit model.

In this study, in vivo performance of novel resorbable bone wax based on a miscible blend between PEG-PPG-PEG copolymer mixtures and pregelatinized starch at 0 and 25 percent by weight including hemostasis, tissue reaction and bone healing in a non-critical size tibia defect model were assessed and compared with commercial non-resorbable bone wax. Systemic reaction was evaluated by blood chemistry while local reaction, bone quantity and quality were evaluated by microcomputed tomography (microCT) and histology analyses. It was observed that the resorbable bone waxes did not show any adverse systemic reaction and resorbed from the defects within approximately 2 days after application.

Modification of tapioca starch by non-chemical route using jet atmospheric argon plasma.

Non-chemical modification of tapioca starch was investigated using jet atmospheric argon plasma treatment. Two forms of starch slurry, i.e.

Starch grafted poly(butylene succinate) via conjugating reaction and its role on enhancing the compatibility.

A single step process of grafting poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) on starch to obtain starch-g-PBS in a heterogeneous system is proposed. Starch-g-PBS is accomplished by a conjugating reaction in chloroform at room temperature between hydroxyl groups of starch and carboxylic acid terminal groups of PBS by using N-N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) conjugating agent. The grafting of PBS at both primary alcohol and secondary alcohol of starch is as high as 20-30% as confirmed by (1)H NMR and HMBC 2D NMR.

Bone tissue engineering scaffolding: computer-aided scaffolding techniques.

Tissue engineering is essentially a technique for imitating nature. Natural tissues consist of three components: cells, signalling systems (e.g.