A novel five-surface phosphor-in-ceramic (FS-PiC) for high illumination and excellent color uniformity in larger-scale LEDs for sensor light source application is demonstrated. YAG phosphor (Y3Al5O12:Ce3+) was uniformly mixed with ceramic and sintered at 680°C to form a phosphor wafer. A sophisticated laser engraving was employed on the phosphor wafer to form a saddle-shaped large-scale FS-PiC LEDs. The performance of the FS-PiC LEDs exhibited the illumination of 401lm, average color temperature (CCT) of 5488K±110K, and color coordinates (CIE) of (0.3179±0.003, 0.3352±0.003). In contrast to convention single-surface phosphor-in-ceramic (SS-PiC) LEDs, the performance exhibited the illumination of 380lm, average CCT of 5830K±758K, and CIE of (0.3083±0.07, 0.3172±0.07). These indicated that the performance of the FS-PiC LEDs was higher than the SS-PiC LEDs for illumination, CCT, and CIE of 1.1, 7, and 23 times, respectively. Furthermore, the FS-PiC LEDs demonstrate lower lumen loss of 2% and less chromaticity shift of 5.4x10-3 under accelerated aging at 350°C for 1008 hours, owing to the high ceramic melting temperature of up to 510°C. In this study, the proposed FS-PiC larger-scale LEDs having excellent optical performance and high reliability may be the promising candidates to replace the convention phosphor-in-organic silicone material used in high-power LEDs for the next generation of sensor light sources, display, and headlight applications.

This study aims to demonstrate the possibility of incorporating a natural antioxidant biomolecule, into polymeric porous scaffolds. To this end, Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) scaffolds were produced using the Thermally Induced Phase Separation (TIPS) technique and additivated with different amounts of Rosmarinic Acid (RA). The scaffolds, with a diameter of 4 mm and a thickness of 2 mm, were characterized with a multi-analytical approach. Specifically, Scanning Electron Mi-croscopy analyses demonstrated the presence of an interconnected porous network, character-ized by a layer of RA at the level of the pore’s surfaces. Moreover, the presence of RA biomole-cules increased the hydrophilic nature of the sample, as evidenced by the decrease in contact angle with water from 128° to 76°. This approach is cost-effective, and it could be customized with different biomolecules, offering the possibility of producing porous polymeric structures con-taining antioxidant molecules. These scaffolds meet the requirements of tissue engineering and could be offered a potential solution to reduce inflammation associated with scaffold implantation thus improving tissue regeneration.

Heart failure (HF) is a life-threatening disorder and is treated by drug therapies and surgical interventions such as heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device (LVAD). However, these treatments can lack effectiveness in the long term and are associated with issues such as donor shortage in heart transplantation, and infection, stroke, or gastrointestinal bleeding in LVADs. Therefore, alternative therapeutic strategies are still needed. In this respect, stem cell therapy has been introduced for the treatment of HF and numerous preclinical and clinical studies using various types of stem cells, such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been shown to improve cardiac function and attenuate left ventricular remodeling. IPSCs, which have a capacity of unlimited proliferation and differentiation to cardiomyocytes, are a promising cell source for myocardial regeneration therapy. This review discusses the current status of cardiac regenerative therapy using iPSCs.

This study aimed to evaluate a cantilever beam-type piezoelectric energy harvester operating on train-induced vibrations for powering Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) used in railway track monitoring systems. The harvester's behaviors under different conditions are simulated in MATLAB using the analytical model. Natural frequency, maximum deflection, and stress were calculated with greater precision using eigenfrequency and stationary analysis using COMSOL Multiphysics. At a base excitation of 2 g and a resonant frequency of 4.38 Hz, the simulated results showed that the developed energy harvester prototype could generate up to 14 V of AC output voltage and 550 mW of output power. These findings highlight the promising potential of the proposed energy harvester for transforming train mechanical energy into electrical power. This energy harvester's viability and dependability for real-world applications in monitoring railway tracks are supported by developed analytical and simulation models.

In this study, the NiCrAlY coating was prepared using the atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). The sample was then exposed to a continuous fiber laser beam. Laser surface melting (LSM) can effectively homogenize the composition of the coating. It also reduced the defects and roughness. The coating was examined using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The process parameters of the LSM consist of laser power and scan rate. The high-temperature oxidation test was conducted for 200 hours at a temperature of 1100 °C. After a period of 200 hours, the primary coating demonstrated the emergence of an aluminum oxide layer, along with the presence of harmful spinel oxides. The laser remelting technique was used to modify the surface, which led to the uniform growth and development of an aluminum oxide layer (α-Al₂O₃) during the oxidation examination. Therefore, it appears that the reduction in grain size caused by laser remelting prevents the wrinkling of Al2O3 oxide. This process represents a novel and alternative approach to modifying MCrAlY coatings.

Keywords: Vascular Malformation, Diode Laser, Angioma, Blue light, Conservative

Several Lung diseases can result in lung damage structural changes, with lung transplantation as a only therapeutic option when the disease reaches an advanced progression, unfortunately, the success of lung transplantation is limited. In this context, lung bioengineering is considered a potential therapeutic alternative and the current approach is based on the use of the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) of the decellularized lung. The use of undifferentiated cells to seed an ECM can be a more practical strategy for lung bioengineering but the sterilization of the organ for this recellularization process is still a challenge. In this sense, Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) can emerge as a potential treatment alternative. Therefore, the objective of this study was to verify if LLLT, can optimize lung recelularization with mesenchymal stem cells by cytokine modulation. For this, we decellularized lungs from C57BL/6 mice perfusing SDS 1% via pulmonary artery, sterilized with LLL (660nm, 100mW, 30s). Whole lung scaffolds were recellularized: (1) Recellularized Lung (2) Recellularized Lung + LLLT. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from human tooth pulp (DPSc) were seeded into lungs and incubated for 24 hours at 37ºC, 5% CO₂, in a bioreactor-like conditions, maintaining CPAP at 20cmH2O, 90% O2, and LLL at wavelength of 808nm, 100mW, 30s. Culture medium were analyzed at 24 hours. H&E, immunostaining, SEM and ELISA assay were performed. We produced viable biological scaffolds absent of DNA content, preserving glycosaminoglycans and collagen I, III and IV, fibronectin, laminin and elastin and lung structure (SEM). The levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were stable during the 24 hours of culture. IFN-γ levels showed significant difference in the DPSc and DPSc+LLLT group in the 24-hour evaluation. The levels of IL-10 decreased after LLLT. These findings highlight LLLT's role in cytokine regulation and contamination prevention during lung recellularization with mesenchymal stem cells. Overall, these results demonstrated that LLLT's modulated cytokine levels and could prevent contamination during the lung recellularization process with mesenchymal stem cells, offering promise for enhanced therapeutic strategies in lung bioengineering

Globally, habitat fragmentation has increased the proximity between wildlife, humans, and emerging predators such as free-ranging dogs. In these fragmented landscapes, encounters between primates and dogs are escalating, with primates often falling victim to dog attacks while navigating patchy landscapes and fragmented forests. We aim to investigate how these primates deal with the simultaneous threats posed by humans and predators, specifically focusing on the adaptive strategies of Central Himalayan Langur (CHL) in the landscape of fear. To address this, we conducted a behavioral study on the CHL in an agro-forest landscape, studying them for a total of 3912 hours over two consecutive years. Our results indicate that, compared to their most common resting behavior, CHL allocate more time to feeding and locomotion, and less time to socializing in the presence of humans and predatory dogs. Additionally, they exhibit increased feeding and locomotion and reduced social behavior in agro-forest or open habitats. These behavioral patterns reflect adaptive responses to the landscape of fear, where the presence of predators significantly influences their behavior and resource utilization. This study suggests measures to promote coexistence between humans and wildlife through the integration of effective management strategies that incorporate both ecological and social dimensions of human-wildlife interactions.

This paper investigates the effects of various process parameters, specifically the substrate temperature, on weld track geometry in Directed Energy Deposition (DED) processes. A specialized experimental setup integrated within a DED machine facilitates controlled thermal conditioning of sample sheets. Through Design of Experiments (DoE) methods, individual weld marks are generated and analysed to assess geometric characteristics. Regression models are constructed to predict machine parameters for desired weld geometry at different substrate temperatures. Validation experiments confirm the accuracy and reliability of the regression models. Results show a consistent trend towards target geometric features across a broad range of substrate temperatures. Despite deviations in measured values, successful fabrication is achieved, demonstrating robust bonding between weld and substrate. Contact angle predictions exhibit precision within a partial temperature range for proper deposition. The developed model offers insights for optimizing DED process parameters to achieve desired weld characteristics, advancing the capabilities and reliability of additive manufacturing technology. Future work aims to refine the regression model and explore additional mathematical relationships for enhanced accuracy. An implication of this work is the potential to vary the local mechanical properties of parts by controlling the temperature profile while maintaining consistent geometric characteristics. By manipulating the substrate temperature, it may be possible to tailor the microstructure and mechanical properties of fabricated components in the future to meet specific requirements in different regions of the part.

In this paper, the mechanism of combined process of ion beam sputtering (IBS) and HF acid etching on the chemical structure defects of fused silica and its laser damage resistance perfor-mance were investigated. During the removal process of surface material, the sputtering effect causes lattice atoms to detach from their original positions, forming a large number of unsaturated structures on silica surface, which improves the chemical activity of Si and O atoms, accelerates the chemical reaction process between surface atoms and water molecules, increases the content of hydroxyl (OH-) groups in the shallow layer, and enhances the photothermal weak absorption intensity. However, the presence of OH- groups reduces the bonding strength of Si-O, destroys the spatial network structure of silica bulk, and reduces the mechanical strength of silica surface, resulting in a decrease in its laser damage resistance performance. The paper reveals for the first time the mechanism of IBS to change the structure characteristics of silica material, accelerate the surface hydroxylation process, and thereby reduces the laser damage resistance performance. This work provides technical guidance for effectively suppressing chemical structure defects on silica surface and improving laser damage resistance performance of optical components under high-flux laser irradiation.

Crystallization of glass through conventional thermal annealing in a furnace is a well-understood process. However, crystallization by femtosecond (fs) laser brings another dimension to this process. The pulsed nature of the irradiation necessitates a reevaluation of parameters for optimal crystallization and to understand the particularities in the case of using fs laser. This includes adjusting the laser pulse energy, the repetition rate, and the writing speed to either initiate nucleation or achieve substantial crystal growth. Therefore, a key challenge to this work is to establish reliable calculations for understanding the relation of the size of the crystallized region with respect to an ongoing transition (e.g., solid-to-solid, liquid-to-solid), and accounting for the aforementioned laser parameters. In this context and based on previous work, we simulate a temperature distribution (in space and time) to model the thermal treatment at any point in the glass. By setting the condition that the temperatures are between the glass transition and melting temperature, we can deduce the crystallized region size to be compared with experimental observations. For that purpose, the knowledge of the beam width at the focal point and of the absorbed beam energy fraction are critical inputs that were extracted from experiments found in the literature. After that, management of the crystallization process and the width of the crystallization line can be achieved according to pulse energy e.g. crystallite size, and also the effect of the scanning speed can be understood. Among the main conclusions to highlight, we disclose the laser conditions that determine the extent of the crystallized area and deduce that it is never interesting to increase the pulse energy too much but rather the repetition rate for uniform crystallized line.

Earthquake-triggered landslides are one of the most significant hazards worldwide. These landslides, involving small or large volumes, can develop in debris flow or avalanche with high mobility and long-runout distance. The motion processes of this kind of landslide also quite complicated. This study reproduced the motion processes of two landslides using the LS-RAPID program. The Aso Bridge landslide occurred on April 16, 2016, with rapid and long-runout distance characteristics. The Kataragai landslide occurred on April 9, 2018, travelling with flow-like behavior. Through field investigations and laboratory experiments, features and mechanical parameters of these two landslides were obtained. In the LS-RAPID program, the pre-failure models and motion processes of these two landslides were established and reproduced. Results indicated that sliding speed and travelling morphology at different intervals were considered as two indicators to describe their motion process. However, while sliding speed of these two landslides have significant differences with sliding speeds of actual landslides, the final morphologies after failure were consistent with those observed in the field investigation.

Thrombosis is the pathological clot formation under abnormal hemodynamic conditions, which can result in vascular obstruction, causing ischemic strokes and myocardial infarction. Thrombus growth under moderate to low shear (<1000 s^-1) relies on platelet activation and coagulation. Thrombosis at elevated high shear rates (>10,000 s-1) is predominantly driven by unactivated platelet binding and aggregating mediated by von Willebrand factor (VWF), while platelet activation and coagulation are secondary in supporting and reinforcing the thrombus. Given the molecular and cellular level information it can access, multiscale computational modelling informed by biology can provide new pathphysiological mechanisms that are otherwise not accessible experimentally, holding promise for novel first-principle-based therapeutics. In this review, we summarize the key aspects of platelet biorheology and mechanobiology, focusing on the molecular and cellular scale events and how they build up to thrombosis through platelet adhesion and aggregation in the presence or absence of platelet activation. In particular, we highlight recent advancements in multiscale modeling of platelet biorheology and mechanobiology and how they can lead to better prediction and quantification of thrombus formation, exemplifying the exciting paradigm of digital medicine.

Lattice structures have emerged as promising materials for aerospace structures applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratios, customizable properties, and efficient use of materials. These properties make them at-tractive for use in anti-ice systems, where lightweight and heat exchanging are essential. This paper presents an extensive experimental investigation into mechanical compression properties of lattice trusses fabricated from AlSi10Mg powder alloy, a material commonly used in casted aerospace parts. The truss structures were manufactured using additive manufacturing Selective Laser Melting technique and subjected to uniaxial compressive loading to assess their performance. The results demonstrate that AlSi10Mg lattice trusses exhibit remarkable compressive strength with strong correlations depending upon both topology and cells’ parameters setup. The finding described highlights the potential of AlSi10Mg alloy as a promising material for custom truss fabrication, offering customizable cost-effective and lightweight solutions for aerospace market. The paper also emphasizes the role of additive manufacturing in producing complex structures with pointwise tailored mechanical properties.

This study presents an effective control algorithm to improve the robustness of fast steering mirror (FSM)-based laser beam steering systems against dynamic disturbances such as repetitive disturbances resulting from operating conditions. A stable control system must be able to maintain the required high-precision control even when dynamic disturbances affect the FSM system. In this study, an improved control method is proposed using an internal model principle (IMP)-based nonlinear controller with a disturbance observer (DOB) for the FSM system. This IMP-based controller with DOB can attenuate the residual control error signal under dynamic disturbance conditions.

The refractive index of a liquid serves as a fundamental parameter reflecting its composition, thereby enabling the determination of component concentrations in various fields such as chemical research, food industry, and environmental monitoring. Traditional methods for refractive index (RI) measurement rely on light deflection angles at interfaces between the liquid and a material of known refractive index. In this paper, the authors present a new differential refractometer for highly sensitive measurement of RI differences between two liquid samples. Using a configuration with two cells equipped with flat parallel plates as measuring elements, the instrument facilitates accurate analysis. Namely, the sensor signals from both the solution and the solvent cuvette are generated simultaneously with one laser pulse, reducing the possible fluctuations of the laser radiation intensity. Our evaluation shows the high sensitivity of RI measurements (< 7 · 106), so this differential refractometer can be proposed not only as a high-sensitivity sensing tool that can be used for mobile detection of nanoparticles in solution samples, but also to determine the level of environmental nano-pollution using water (including rain, snow) samples from various natural as well as industrial sources, thus helping to solve some important environmental problems.

In the history of high-performance polymer composite parts with continuous in-plane fibre reinforcement, the comparatively moderate structural-mechanical properties in their out-of- plane-z-direction and the limited load carrying capability between individual reinforcement layers within the laminated structures have always been one of the greatest challenges. Plenty of research work has been carried out to improve load transfer capability as well as fracture toughness for crack opening events between the reinforcement layers by means of out-of-plane fibre reinforcement implementation, for example by sewing or z-pinning technologies. However, the results have not become established across a wide range of applications so far, because the technologies used have led to considerable losses of in-plane strength properties. In this paper first results are presented for a new method of a low fraction z-fibre reinforcement by means of very thin diameter laser drilled holes filled with short carbon fibres, demonstrating potential to improve Mode II fracture toughness.

The triplet excited state reactivity towards phenolic hydrogen of the -diketones benzil and 2,2´-furil in the ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium hexafluorophosphate [bmim.PF6] was investigated employing the nanosecond laser flash photolysis technique. Irradiation (lmax=355 nm) of benzil yields its triplet excited state with lmax at 480 nm and tT=9.6 μs. Under the same conditions, 2,2’-furil shows a triplet-triplet absorption spectrum with bands at 380, 410, 450, and 650 nm and tT=1.4 μs. Quenching rate constants (kq) of the reaction between benzil triplet and substituted phenols ranged from 1.4x107 L mol-1 s-1 (para-chlorophenol) to 1.8x108 L mol-1 s-1 (para-methoxyphenol). A new transient was formed in all cases, assigned to the benzil ketyl. Similar results were obtained for the quenching of 2,2’-furil triplet by phenols, for which kq ranged from 1.9x108 L mol-1 s-1 (para-chlorophenol) to 2.2x108 L mol-1 s-1 (para-methoxyphenol). The 2,2’-furil ketyl radical was also observed in all cases (lmax=380 nm). The quenching rate constants are almost independent of the substituent and diffusion-controlled (kq ~ 108 L mol-1 s-1). The proposed mechanism for the phenolic hydrogen abstraction by benzil and 2,2´-furil triplet may involve a proton-coupled electron transfer reaction, ultimately leading to the radical pair ketyl/aryloxyl.

Drug-induced liver disease represents one of the main problems in the therapeutic field. As with most pathologies, also in this case various risk factors can be recognised, such as age, sex, but also the gut microbiota. Therefore all drugs on the market can, in fact, cause hepatotoxicity of varying degrees. Drugs used in the treatment of IBD can also cause these adverse effects and even lead to DILI. In this review, the various classes of drugs used in the treatment of IBD were taken into consideration and the various adverse effects on the liver were illustrated. In particular, a major role has emerged regarding hepatotoxicity of immunosuppressants. Biological drugs, however, seem to be responsible for these complications to a much lesser extent.

This study explores the use of remote ultrasound vibration to enhance welding strength. It examines the effects of 20 kHz, and 40 kHz High Power Ultrasound Transducers (HPUT) in contact and contactless modes during ultrasonic assistance laser welding. Employing shear tests and microscopy for assessment, the research evaluates ultrasound's impact on welding strength and identifies the optimal transducer. Theoretical and numerical analyses investigate vibration transmission into the welding area, particularly examining the vibration distribution and cavitation initiation within the molten pool area. Results indicate that ultrasound-assisted welding increases pull test performance, including the resistance force and strain, and improves microscopic structural integrity. Numerical simulations suggest that narrow-band vibration intensifies pressure in specific welding zones. Contactless ultrasound application also shows enhanced welding quality, offering a promising alternative to current methods. This work contributes to electric car technology by suggesting improvements in welding techniques for power battery systems.

In the present work, a predictive modelling and optimization with the adaptive network based fuzzy inference system(ANFIS) modelling of mechanical properties of laser-coated NB/SiC/Ni welds was studied based on Taguchi design by laser cladding. An ANFIS model based on a Sugeno type fuzzy inference system was developed for predicting the hardness properties of SiC/BN/Ni welds by laser cladding with experimental data required for network training and prediction. Based on analysis of variance, three important factors were taken as inputs for the fuzzy logic inferences, while the hardness properties was taken as the output of the ANFIS. The microstructure of welds were analysed using scanning electron microscopy with an energy dispersive X-Ray spectrometer. Highly developed leaf-like dendrites and eutectic crystals were found in some areas of the melting zone for the BN/SiC/Ni weld, which was significantly hardened. The ANFIS model based on Taguchi's design provides a better pattern of response because the predicted and experimental values were highly similar. As a result, a satisfactory result was achieved between the predicted and experimental values of hardness in laser-coated NB/SiC/Ni welds, whereby the success and validity of the method was verified.

Mechanical ventilation (MV), used in patients with acute lung injury (ALI), induces diaphragmatic myofiber atrophy and contractile inactivity, termed ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase- (PI3K-) is crucial in modulating fibrogenesis during the reparative phase of ALI; however, the mechanisms regulating the interactions among MV, myofiber fibrosis, and PI3K- remain unclear. We hypothesized MV with or without bleomycin treatment would increase diaphragm muscle fibrosis through the PI3K- pathway. Five days after receiving a single bolus of 0.075 units bleomycin intratracheally, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 6 or 10 mL/kg MV for 8 h after receiving 5 mg/kg of AS605240 intraperitoneally. In wild-type mice, bleomycin exposure followed by MV 10 mL/kg prompted significant increases in disruptions of diaphragmatic myofibrillar organization, transforming growth factor-1, oxidative loads, Masson’s trichrome staining, extracellular collagen levels, positive staining of -smooth muscle actin, PI3K- expression, and myonuclear apoptosis (P &lt; 0.05). Decreased diaphragm contractility and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor- coactivator-1 levels were also observed (P &lt; 0.05). MV-augmented bleomycin-induced diaphragm fibrosis and myonuclear apoptosis were attenuated in PI3K-γ-deficient mice and through AS605240-induced inhibition of PI3K- activity (P &lt; 0.05). MV-augmented diaphragm fibrosis after bleomycin-induced ALI is partially mediated through PI3K-γ. Therapy targeting PI3K-γ may ameliorate MV-associated diaphragm fibrosis.

Scattering of a probe laser pulse by an intense light spring in QED vacuum is considered. This new scattering configuration can be seen as the vacuum equivalent to the process originally associated with scattering of light by a rotating black hole, usually called Penrose superradiance. Here the rotating object is an intense laser beam containing two different components of orbital angular momentum. Due to these two components with slightly different frequencies, the energy profile of the intense laser beam rotates with a frequency that depends on the frequency difference. The nonlinear properties of quantum vacuum are described by first order Euler-Heisenberg Lagrangian. It is shown that, in such a configuration, nonlinear photon-photon coupling leads to scattered radiation, with frequency shift and angular dispersion. These two distinct properties, of frequency and propagation direction, could eventually be favourable for possible experimental observations. In principle, this new scattering configuration can also be reproduced in a nonlinear optical medium.

Machine Learning deals with creating algorithms capable of learning from the provided data. These systems have a wide range of applications and can also be a valuable tool for scientific research which in recent years has been focused on finding new diagnostic techniques for particle accelerator beams. In this context SPARC_LAB is positioned, a facility located at the Frascati National Laboratories of INFN, where the progress of beam diagnostics is one of the main developments of the entire project. With this in mind, you aim to present the design of two neural networks aimed at predicting the spot size of the electron beam of the plasma-based accelerator at SPARC_LAB, which powers an undulator for the generation of x-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL). Data-driven algorithms use two different data preprocessing techniques, namely autoencoder neural network and PCA. With both approaches, the predicted measurements can be obtained with an acceptable margin of error and most importantly without activating the accelerator, thus saving time, even compared to a simulator that can produce the same result but much more slowly. The goal is to lay the groundwork for creating a digital twin of linac and conducting virtualized diagnostics using an innovative approach.

High-precision dynamic positioning of highway vehicles is the foundation and prerequisite for achieving intelligent connected transportation. For the shortcomings of GNSS/INS combination and GNSS/INS/OD combination in tunnel vehicle positioning, this paper proposes a tunnel vehi-cle positioning method of GNSS/INS/OD combination based on lateral distance measurement and lane constraint. Firstly, lateral distance measurement of vehicles inside the tunnel is conducted based on laser radar point cloud data. Secondly, map matching positioning is performed based on lateral distance measurement, odometer, and lane markings. Experimental results demonstrate that for a 4.6 km tunnel, the average absolute error of lateral positioning is 0.294 meters, and the longitudinal positioning error is no more than 0.6 meters, which can effectively meet practical operational requirements.

The number of diabetic patients worldwide is increasing rapidly. Prevention of diabetic reti-nopathy (DR), a leading cause of blindness, is a serious issue. We examined the effects of prophy-lactic pattern scanning laser retinal photocoagulation on DR development in 16 Spontaneously Diabetic Torii (SDT) fatty rats. Photocoagulation was applied to the right eyes of 8-week SDT fatty rats, and the left eyes served as the untreated controls. Electroretinography at 9 and 39 weeks of age and pathological examination of the retinal thickness and number of retinal folds, and immunohistochemistry of vascular endothelial growth factor and glial fibrillary acidic pro-tein at 24 and 40 weeks of age were performed bilaterally. No significant differences were seen between the left and right eyes in the apex latency and the amplitude of the oscillatory potential wave in the SDT fatty rats at 9 and 39 weeks of age and in the pathology and immunohistochem-istry in the SDT fatty rats at 24 and 40 weeks of age. Prophylactic pattern scanning retinal laser photocoagulation did not affect the development of DR in SDT fatty rats.

The amorphous Fe77Cu1Si13B9 ribbons were treated with pulsed laser interference heating (PLIH). It was confirmed here that the use of the laser heating process allowed for obtaining two-dimensional crystallised micro-areas, periodically distributed (at a distance of 17µm) on the surface of the amorphous ribbons. The correlation between structural changes (SEM, TEM, HRTEM) and the distribution of magnetic field lines of heated amorphous Fe77Cu1Si13B9 (FeCuSiB) ribbons is presented. Particular attention is paid to structure changes in micro-areas where, by controlling the laser interference heating process, partial crystallisation of amorphous alloys and the formation of clusters or single nanocrystallites (α-Fe(Si)) embedded in an amorphous matrix are given. The addition of copper to the FeSiB alloy promoted inhibition of grain growth. Electron holography of micro-areas confirmed shifts of the magnetic field lines in the areas of nanocrystallites, the presence of which in the structure caused magnetisation of the surrounding amorphous matrix.

The last 50 years witnessed the emergence of various so called “hyperpolarization technologies” that allow generating large magnetizations of spin ensembles. This Editorial Essay provides a brief overview of the use of these technologies in various fields, including medicine, chemistry, and quantum sensing. It is concluded that critical questions still need to be addressed to harness benefits of nuclear hyperpolarization in clinical medical imaging while interdisciplinary innovation can unlock potential of novel (yet unexplored) methods. My hope is that this Editorial Essay provides valuable insights into the current state and future directions of spin technologies.

Drugs are known to cause substantial liver injury, with hepatotoxicity ranging from asymptomatic increase of liver enzymes to hepatic failure. HIV/AIDS patients, with compromised immune systems, are especially vulnerable to opportunistic infections such as tuberculosis (TB). Patients with co-infection frequently get combined antiretroviral (ART) and antitubercular (ATD) regimens, which can cause hepatotoxicity. Hepatotoxicity has been linked to commonly administered antiretroviral drug regimens as well as first-line antitubercular agents such isoniazid, rifampin, and pyrazinamide, which are required for the treatment of both drug-sensitive and drug-resistant tuberculosis. As a result, there is an urgent need to investigate treatments based from traditional herbs known for their hepatoprotective abilities against ART and ATD-induced liver injury. Many researchers have investigated the effectiveness of medicinal plants in treating chemically caused hepatotoxicity. Medicinal plants are high in phytochemicals and secondary metabolites, both of which have a variety of medicinal benefits. Currently, there is a lack of specific therapeutic regimens to address this adverse effect, and management often relies on symptomatic treatment or therapy withdrawal. Traditional medicinal plants may have the potential to restore normal liver function, enzyme activity, and cellular structure in response to ART and ATD-induced hepatotoxicity. This review aims to examine the scientific evidence supporting the use of medicinal plants as hepatoprotective agents against liver damage induced by ART and ATDs.

Chromium (Cr) metal has garnered significant attention in alloy systems owing to its exceptional properties, such as high melting point, low density, and superior oxidation and corrosion resistance. However, its processing capabilities are hindered by the high Ductile-Brittle Transition Temperature (DBTT). Recently, powder bed fusion-laser beam for metals (PBF-LB/M) has emerged as a promising technique, offering the fabrication of net shapes and precise control over crystallographic texture. Nevertheless, research investigating the mechanism underlying crystallographic texture development in pure Cr via PBF-LB/M still needs to be conducted. This study explores the impact of scan speed on relative density and crystallographic texture. At the optimal scan speed, an increase in grain size attributed to epitaxial growth was observed, resulting in the formation of cubic texture. Consequently, a reduction in High Angle Grain Boundaries (HAGB) was achieved, suppressing defects such as cracks and enhancing relative density up to 98.1%. Furthermore, with increasing densification, Vickers hardness also exhibited a corresponding increase. These findings underscore the efficacy of PBF-LB/M for processing metals with high DBTT properties.

The theory of heavy ion double charge exchange (DCE) reactions proceeding by effective rank–2 isotensor interactions is presented. Virtual pion–nucleon charge exchange interactions are investigated as the source for induced isotensor interactions, giving rise to the Majorana DCE (MDCE) reaction mechanism. MDCE is of a generic character, proceeding through pairs of complementary (π±,π∓) reactions in the projectile and target nucleus. The dynamics of the elementary processes is discussed where the excitation of pion–nucleon resonances are of central importance. Investigations of initial and final state ion–ion interactions show that these effects are acting as vertex renormalizations. In closure approximation, well justified by the finite pion mass, the second order transition matrix elements reduce to pion potentials and effective two–body isotensor DCE interactions, giving rise also to two–body correlations in either of the participating nuclei. Connections to neutrinoless Majorana double beta decay (MDBD) are elucidated at various levels of dynamics, from the underlying fundamental electro–weak and QCD scales to the physical scales of nuclear MDBD and MDCE physics. It is pointed out that heavy ion MDCE reactions may also proceed by competing electro–weak charge exchange processes, leading to lepton MDCE by electrons, positrons, and neutrinos.

Introduction the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza conflict, initiated by a major attack on the civilian population in Israel provided a tragic opportunity to study the community wide association between severe emotional stressors related to acts of war and the incidence and clinical characteristics of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) in this scenario. Methods Eight consecutive cases of TCM diagnosed during the first 50 days of the Israel-Gaza conflict were retrospectively collected from two southern medical centers who provided care to most of the war victims throughout the period of monitoring. The medical records were thoroughly reviewed and analyzed. Results During the monitoring period, the incidence of TCM increased substantially compared to the control period. Eight patients were included in the analysis. All patients were female and 100% of patients presented within the first 3 weeks of conflict whereas after this initial phase, despite the continuing war, the incidence of TCM reverted to pre-conflict levels. Two patients (25%) were under 50 years of age. All patients had hazardous clinical characteristics including severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (≤35%) and prolonged QTc interval (>500 ms). Five patients (62.5%) experienced complications. Nevertheless, no in-hospital mortality was reported. Conclusions Repeated exposure to severe emotional stress, on both personal and national level, due to mass crisis such as war is associated with an increased incidence of TCM potentially with high-risk phenotype in comparison to TCM following other, less potent, psychological insults.

The chemotactic cytokine fractalkine (FKN, chemokine CX3CL1) has unique properties resulting from the combination of chemoattractants and adhesion molecules. The soluble form (sFKN) has chemotactic properties and potently attracts T cells and monocytes. The membrane-bound form (mFKN) facilitates diapedesis and is responsible for cell-to-cell adhesion, especially by promoting the strong adhesion of leukocytes (monocytes) to activated endothelial cells with the subsequent formation of an extracellular matrix and angiogenesis. FKN signaling occurs via CX3CR1, which is the only known member of the CX3C chemokine receptor subfamily. Signaling within the FKN-CX3CR1 axis plays an important role in many processes related to inflammation and the immune response, which often occur simultaneously and overlap. FKN is strongly upregulated by hypoxia and/or inflammation-induced inflammatory cytokine secretion, and it may act locally as a key angiogenic factor in the highly hypoxic tumor microenvironment. The importance of the FKN/CX3CR1 signaling pathway in tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis results from its influence on cell adhesion, apoptosis and cell migration. This review presents the role of the FKN signaling pathway in the context of angiogenesis in inflammation and cancer. The mechanisms determining the pro- or anti-tumor effects are presented, which are the cause of the seemingly contradictory results that create confusion regarding the therapeutic goals.

Laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is the gold standard in the surgical correction of refractive errors on the cornea. It entails the creation of a superficial hinged corneal flap by a femtosecond laser, ablation of the underlying stromal bed by an excimer laser, and reposition of the flap. The corneal flap can be build in a 2-dimension (2D) fashion with tapered edges, or in a 3-dimension (3D) fashion, with angled sidecut. The latter reduces the risk of flap dislocation and infiltration of epithelial cells. This retrospective study compares with optical coherence tomography 3D and 2D flaps, and respective intra- and early post-operative complications. Four hundred consecutive eyes were included, 200 for each group. In the 3D group, the mean edge angle was 92°. The procedure was in average 5.2 seconds slower in the 3D group (p=0). Non visually significant flap folds were found in 13 eyes of the 2D group and in 7 eyes of the 3D group (p= 0.17). An intracorneal opaque bubble layer induced by laser photodisruption was more commonly observed in the 3D group (9 eyes vs. 2; p=0.03). In conclusion, the creation of a LASIK flap by a 3D-femtosecond laser cut was safe and effective.

Aim: To evaluate the panmacular subthreshold micropulse laser treatment results among patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) and their correlation with functional and morphological parameters. Material and methods: The examined group included 10 non-treated and 41 treated patients with acute, recurrent, and chronic CSC (13 F, 38 M, mean age 44.11±6.5) and 14 healthy controls (6 F, 8 M, mean age 45±9.3). The BCVA examination, ophthalmoscopy, microp-erimetry, angio-OCT and OCT were performed. The medical history regarding chronic general disorders and known risk factors were recorded. Results: Complete resorption of SRF was obtained in 100% aCSC, 86.66% cCSC, and 63.63% r CSC. BCVA and RetSens significantly improved most of the patients treated in aCSC. The lowest BCVA and RetSens, but the largest pachyvessel and disease duration, were found in rCSC. A strong negative correlation between final BCVA and disease duration was found. No patient demonstrated laser lesions following treatment. Conclusions: The panmacular MPLT therapy leads to long-term enhancement of functional and morphological parameters in all CSC patients. The acute CSC patients showed the most significant improvement. The procedure is safe and could be considered a preferred treatment option for all active CSC cases. Timely treatment is crucial for beneficial outcomes.

We demonstrate a proof-of-principle of simple all-solid-state post-compression setup for low energy, high repetition rate laser pulses, where spectral broadening was performed using a combination of highly nonlinear bulk materials in a simple single pass geometry. 75 fs, 210 nJ pulses from an amplified 76 MHz, 15.7 W Yb:KGW oscillator after sequential spectral broadening in ZnS and YAG samples of 2 mm and 15 mm thickness, respectively, were compressed to 37 fs by means of Gires–Tournois interferometric mirrors. The post-compressed pulses with an average power of 11.47 W demonstrated reasonable spatial-spectral homogeneity of the beam with the spectral overlap parameter V>83% and good beam quality with Mx2=1.28 and My2=1.14.

A large core size and bending resistance are very important properties of mid-infrared energy transfer fibers, but large core sizes usually lead to a deterioration of bending properties. A negative-curvature nested node-free anti-resonant hollow-core fiber (AR-HCF) based on quartz is proposed. It was made by adding a nested layer to a previous AR-HCF design to provide an additional anti-resonance region while keeping the gap between adjacent tubes strictly correlated to the core diameter to produce a node-free structure. These features improve the fiber’s bending resistance while achieving a larger core diameter. The simulation results show that the radial air-glass anti-resonant layer is increased by the introduction of the nested anti-resonant tube, and the weak interference overlap between the fiber core and the cladding mode is reduced, so the fiber core’s limiting loss and the sensitivity to bending are effectively reduced. When the capillary wall thickness t of the fiber is 0.71 μm, the core diameter D is 70 μm, the ratio of the inner diameter of the cladding capillary to the core diameter d/D is 0.62, and the diameter of the nested tube is d0=29 μm, the fiber has a lower limiting loss at the wavelength of 2.79 μm, and the limiting loss is 3.28×10-4 dB/m. At the same time, the optimized structure also has good bending resistance. When the bending radius is 30 mm, the bending loss is only 4.72×10-2 dB/m. To our knowledge, this is the first research to achieve an anti-bending low-loss micro-structure hollow fiber with a bending radius of less than 30 mm in the 2.79 μm band. An anti-bending low-loss anti-resonant hollow-core fiber with this structure constitutes a reliable choice for the light guiding system of a 2.79 μm band erbium laser therapy instrument.

The paper presents the results of high precision control survey carried out in the underground mining of Oyu Tolgoi project using terrestrial laser scanning technology. The purpose of the measurements is to ensure the heading, total length and volume of the penetration and excavation works are being implementing in accordance with the planned and designed dimensions. We established a network of 18 reference points in the tunnel of the selected underground level which were repeatedly measured 4 times by two round readings of the Trimble S7 tacheometry and processed by using the Trimble Business Center software. All points except the one was within the permissible error. Based on these points the excavation length and volumes were determined using the Trimble SX12 laser scanner. The difference between the planned work quantity provided by the Oyu Tolgoi project and the actual values measured by the laser scanning was calculated using the comparative method. The TLS partial control measurements in the excavations made through the ore bodies revealed the length of 20285.72 m and volume of 441128.80 m3 for underground 7 mine levels while their project values were 16158.26 m length and 422837.50 m3 volume, respectively.

To maintain an optimal body content of phosphorus throughout postnatal life, variable phosphate absorption from food must be finely matched with urinary excretion. This amazing feat is accomplished through synchronised phosphate transport by myriads of ciliated cells lining the renal proximal tubules. These respond in real time to changes in the phosphate and composition of the renal filtrate, and to hormonal instructions. How they do this has stimulated decades of research. New analytical techniques, coupled with incredible advances in computer technology, have opened new avenues for investigation at a sub-cellular level. There has been a surge of research into different aspects of the process. These have verified long held beliefs and are also dramatically extending our vision of the intense, integrated, intracellular activity which mediates phosphate absorption. Already, some have indicated new approaches for pharmacological intervention to regulate phosphate in common conditions, including chronic renal failure and osteoporosis, as well as rare inherited biochemical disorders. It is a rapidly evolving field. The aim here is to provide an overview of our current knowledge, to show where it is leading, and where there are uncertainties. Hopefully this will raise questions and stimulate new ideas for further research.

The objective of the this study was to reduce the benzo[a]pyrene-induced hepatotoxicity method in herbal medicine products and to give proof that neferine, daidzein, genistein possess antihepa-totoxic effects. B[a]P which classified as a group 1 carcinogen and metabolized to B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE) causes mutagenic DNA addition products. The reduc-tion of BPDE-DNA adduct formation by B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE) was derived by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). In HepG2 cells, B[a]P exhibited toxicity and substance treatment of the cells with B[a]P with neferine in lotus and daidzein, genistein in soybean reduced the BPDE-DNA ad-ducts level. The level of B[a]P-metabolites in the substance treatment of the cells was presented that BPDE levels were reduced by neferine in lotus and daidzein, genisten in soybean. These results suggest that neferine in lotus and daidzein, genistein in soybean prevent B[a]P-induced hepato-toxicity for BPDE-DNA adduct formation.

Existing implants used with Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA), Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA), and other joint reconstruction treatments, have displayed premature failures and frequent needs for revision surgery in recent years, particularly with young active patients who represent more than 55% of all joint reconstruction patients. Bone cement and stress shielding have been identified as the major reasons for premature joint failures. A breakdown of the cement may happen, and revision surgery may be needed because of the aseptic loosening. The significant mismatch of stiffness properties of patient trabecular bones and metallic implant materials in joint reconstruction surgery results in the stress shielding phenomenon. This could lead to significant bone resorption and increased risk of bone fracture and the aseptic loosening of implants. The present project introduces an approach for development of customized cellular structures to match the mechanical properties and architecture of human trabecular bone. It consists of four modules:1- characterization of geometry, microarchitecture, and stiffness properties of patient’s bones; 2- developing customized lattice structures tailored to mimic properties established in module 1; 3 - integration of developed lattice structure into full scale implant design and manufacturing; 4- implementation of the developed technology for use in implants that would overcome most of the issues related to aseptic loosening phenomenon. The present work aims at fulfilling the objectives of module 2 by exploring new designs of customized lattice structures and texture tailored to mimic closely patients’ bone anisotropic properties and that can incorporate an engineered biological press-fit fixation technique. The effects of various lattice design variables on mechanical performance of the structure are examined through systematic experimental plan using statistical design of experiments technique and analysis of variance method. All tested lattice designs were explored under realistic geometrical, biological, and manufacturing constraints. Of the four design factors examined in this study, strut thickness was found to have the highest percent contribution (41%) regarding the structure stiffness, followed by unit cell type, and cell size. Srut shape was found to have the lowest effect with only 11% contribution. The introduced solution offers lattice structure designs that can be adjusted to match bone stiffness distribution and promote bone ingrowth and hence eliminating the phenomenon of stress shielding while incorporating biological press-fit fixation technique.

Luminescent carbon dots (CDs) were locally synthesized in the core of CYTOP fibers using IR femtosecond laser direct writing (FLDW), a one-step simple method serving as a post-treatment of the genuine fiber. This approach enables the creation of several types of modifications such as ellipsoid voids. The CDs and photoluminescence (PL) distribute at the periphery of the voids. The PL spectral properties were studied through Excitation Emission Matrix in the visible range and excitation/emission spectrum in UV/visible range. Our finding reveals the presence of at least 3 distinct luminescent species, facilitating a broad excitation range extending from UV to green, and light emission spanning from blue to red. The average laser power and dose influence the quantity and ratio of these luminescent CD species. Additionally, we measured the spatially resolved lifetime of the luminescence during and after the irradiation. We found longer lifetimes at the periphery of the laser-induced modified regions and shorter ones closer to the center, with a dominant lifetime ~ 2ns. Notably, unlike many other luminophores, these laser-induced CDs are insensitive to oxygen, enhancing their potential for display or data storage applications.

Soil-borne Trichoderma spp. have been extensively studied for their biocontrol activities against pathogens and growth promotion ability with plants. However, the beneficial effect of Trichoderma on inducing resistance against insect herbivores has been considered only recently. Among diverse Trichoderma species, consistent with previous reports, we showed that root colonization by T. virens triggered induced systemic resistance (ISR) to leaf-infecting fungal pathogens. Whether T. virens induces ISR to insect pests has not been tested before. In this study, we investigated whether T. virens affects jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis and defense against fall armyworm (FAW) and western corn rootworm (WCR). Unexpectedly, the results showed that T. virens colonization of maize seedlings grown in autoclaved soil suppressed wound-induced production of JA, resulting in reduced resistance to FAW. Similarly, the bacterial endophyte Pseudomonas chlororaphis 30-84 suppressed systemic resistance to FAW due to reduced JA. Further comparative analyses of the systemic effects of these endophytes when applied into sterile or non-sterile field soil showed that both T. virens and P. chlororaphis 30-84 triggered ISR against hemibiotrophic fungal pathogen Colletotrichum graminicola in both soil conditions, but only suppressed resistance to FAW in sterile soil. In contrast to the effect on FAW defense, T. virens colonization of maize roots suppressed WCR larvae survival and weight gain. This is the first report suggesting the potential role of T. virens as a biocontrol agent against WCR.

Electromobility promises to efficiently mitigate consequences of increasing traffic volume and its accompanied greenhouse gas emissions. On an individual level, electrified bikes allow emission free electrified mobility at moderate costs and consequently their stock has increased significantly in recent years. This simultaneously increases the demand for spare parts, which are often manufacturer or application-specific, and due to many variants, challenging to provide for the market. This article evaluates powder-based and extrusion-based metal additive manufacturing of a typical electrified bike component to demonstrate an alternative spare parts supply. The investigation demonstrates how these parts can be additively manufactured function equivalent and with sufficient mechanical properties, also taking economical aspects into account. Furthermore, the needed resources and related environmental consequences for metal-based additive manufacturing spare-part production are compared for both process routes. The results show that both routes are capable of producing spare-parts at comparatively same mechanical performance and resource costs, while needed resources such as energy, gases and manufacturing time are significantly lower for powder-based, respectively machine costs for extrusion-based additive manufacturing. Therefore, additive manufacturing offers a promising opportunity to produce parts in small quantities resource efficient and rapidly.

Dissimilar welds between ferritic and austenitic steels represent a good solution for exploiting the best performance of stainless steels at high and low temperatures and in aggressive environments, while minimizing costs. Therefore, they are widely used in nuclear and petrochemical plants, however, due to the different properties of the steels involved, the welding process can be challenging. Fusion welding can be specifically addressed to connect low-carbon, or low-alloy steels, with high-alloy steels, which have similar melting point. Welding of thick plates can be performed with electric arc in multiple passes or in a single pass by means of a laser beam equipment. Since microstructure and consequently mechanical properties of the weld are closely related to composition, the choice of the filler metal and processing parameters, which in turn affects the dilution rate, plays a fundamental role. Numerous technical solutions were proposed for welding dissimilar steels and much research was developed on the weldment metallurgy; therefore, this article is aimed at a review of the most recent scientific literature on the issues relating to the fusion welding of ferritic / austenitic steels. Two specific sections are dedicated respectively to electric arc and laser beam welding; finally, metallurgical issues, related to dilution and thermal field are debated in the discussion section.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a systemic autoinflammatory disorder caused by inherited mutations in the MEFV (Mediterranean FeVer) gene located on chromosome 16 (16p13.3) and coding pyrin protein. Despite the existing data on MEFV mutations, the exact mechanism of their effect on the development of pathological processes leading to autoinflammation observed in FMF, remains unclear. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are considered an important tool for studying the molecular genetic mechanisms of various diseases due to their ability to differentiate into any cell type, including macrophages, which contribute to the development of FMF. In this study, we developed iPSCs of an Armenian patient with FMF having M694V, p.(Met694Val) (c.2080A&gt;G, rs61752717) pathogenic mutation in exon 10 of the MEFV gene. As a result of direct differentiation, macrophages expressing CD14 and CD45 surface markers were obtained. In addition, we found that the morphology of patient macrophages derived from iPSCs with MEFV mutation was significantly different from that of differentiated from iPSCs of a healthy donor carrying wild-type MEFV gene.

Excess consumption of a high-fat diet has been identified as one of the contributing factors for obesity. Women are at higher risk for adult obesity than men, predisposing them to a different set of detrimental disease conditions. Furthermore, aging studies show that physiological decline also has a serious impact on changes in the endocrine properties of white adipose tissue. Howev-er, there is still relatively little known about the factors associated with obesity and aging and their compounding impact on women’s health. To investigate adipocytokine secretion profile changes, female C3H/HeJ mice were induced to obesity through long-term consumption of a high-fat diet. Weight gain measurements and Echo MRI analysis of fat composition showed in-creases were a due solely to the high fat content in the diet. Adipocytokine secretions were ana-lyzed in media conditioned from harvested visceral fat tissue that was organ cultured ex-vivo. Adipocytokine analysis across diets and age showed significant increases in Adiponectin and Leptin secretion in high-fat diets, accelerated increases in Resistin secretion with high-fat diets. Aging induced increased secretion of Lipcalin-2, Pentraxin-3 and Serpin E1, MCP-1 and ICAM-1, regardless of diet. Furthermore, comparisons of organoid cultured protein secretions and flash-frozen tissue samples differed greatly, suggesting the WAT organoid cultures may yield information more reflective of in situ conditions. Taken together, our results show that diet and aging significantly impact secretions from adipose tissue, that may contribute to women’s health issues.

Light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors using a polarization-diverse receiver are able to capture polarimetric information about the target under measurement. This information can be used in a classifier to make an instantaneous assessment of the type of material present, enabling a shot-by-shot prediction of the material type and distance to the target.

A new Mg-Zn-Zr-Ca alloy in powder state was obtained via mechanical alloying method, from pure elemental powder. Further, the obtained powder-alloy was processed by selective laser melting (SLM) procedure to obtain 3D printed samples for small biodegradable implants. A series of microstructural, mechanical and corrosion analysis were performed. The SEM analysis of powder-alloy reveal a good dimensional homogeneity, with uniform colored, no agglutinated and almost rounded particles, suitable for selective laser melting procedure. Further, the SLM samples reveal a robust and unbreakable morphology, with a suitable porosity and without undesirable balling effect. The tested Young’s modulus of the SLM samples, of 42 GPa, is close to cortical bone one, of 30 GPa. The corrosion tests performed in PBS (Phosphate-buffered saline) solution show that the corrosion parameters have a satisfactory evolution.

Supramolecular solvent (SUPRAS) has received increasing interest as an innovative, efficient, and green solvent for the effective extraction and separation of bioactive compounds from natural resources. However, studies on the use of SUPRAS for the extraction of phenolic components from plants, which are highly valued in food products due to their excellent antioxidant capacity, are still lacking. The present study developed a green ultrasound-assisted and efficient SU-PRAS method to simultaneously determine three phenolic acids in Prunella vulgaris by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the experimental parameters were optimized in detail. The efficiency and antioxidant properties of the phenolic compounds obtained by different extraction methods were also compared. Under the optimal conditions, the extraction efficiency of SUPRAS, prepared with octanoic acid reverse micelles dispersed in ethanol-water, was substantially higher than conventional organic reagents. Moreover, this SUPRAS method also showed more significant antioxidant capacities. The confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images presented the spherical droplet structure of SUPRAS (A well-defined circle), which coincided with the position of the fluorescence position of phenolic acids. The phenolic acids were encapsulated in the vesicles by the SUPRAS droplets, which indicated the efficient extraction capacities of SUPRAS for the target compounds. Finally, combined with the CLSM method, the mechanism of the proposed method was further clarified, and the superior extraction performance of SUPRAS was theoretically demonstrated through molecular dynamics simulations. In comparison with conventional methods, the higher extraction efficiency of SUPRAS can be illustrated by the larger solvent contact surface area, more types of hydrogen bonds between extractants and supramolecular solvents, and stronger and more stable interaction forces. The results of the theoretical studies are in rational agreement with the experimental outcome.

Inflammation is a cause of number of disorders. Many anti-inflammatory drugs are available to cure and prevent inflammation and its related disorders. Some of the drugs are from plant and animal origin. Among animals snake venom is also utilized as treatment option of certain disorders. In the current study the venom of N. oxiana from Northern areas of Pakistan is assayed to determine its anti-inflammatory activity. The Naja oxiana is also called central Asian cobra is endemic to Central Asia. Naja oxiana belong to family Elapidae and it is highly venomous snake. The venom has many enzymatic proteins as well as nonenzymatic proteins that is neurotoxins. The venom is lethal having very high mortality rate and the death may occur due to respiratory failure in 45 minutes to 24 hrs depending upon the nature and amount of venom. As the venom is highly toxic so initially after venom milking its protein estimation was done and toxicity profile and LD50 was determined to find out its therapeutic dose at which anti-inflammatory activity was observed. The toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity was determined on mice model. Inflammation was induced by carrageenan induced peritonitis method. The inflammatory markers ROS, TNF-α and IL-β were determined by ELIZA in peritoneal fluid. The LD50 of crude venom, fraction 1 and fraction 2 was found as 34 µg/kg, 7.4 µg/kg and 416 µg/kg respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity crude venom, fraction 1 and fraction 2 was found at dose 19 µg/kg, 1.8 µg/kg and 267 µg/kg respectively. The levels of inflammatory markers reduced after therapeutic dose administration of venom and its fractions that indicates that it can be utilized as anti-inflammatory agent and so can be effective in various disorders.

In this study, we define screening maps for Italy that classify sites based on their potential for triggering landslides. To this end, we analyze seismic hazard maps and hazard disaggregation results on a national scale considering four spectral periods (0.01s, 0.2s, 0.5s, and 1.0s) and three return periods (475, 975, and 2475 years). First, joint distributions of magnitude (M) and distance (R) from hazard disaggregation are analyzed by means of an innovative approach based on image processing techniques to find all modal scenarios contributing to the hazard. In order to obtain the M-R scenarios controlling the triggering of earthquake-induced landslides at any computation node, mean and modal M-R pairs are compared to empirical curves defining the M-R bounds associated with landslide triggering. Three types of landslides are considered (i.e., disrupted slides and falls, coherent slides, and lateral spreads and flows). As a result, screening maps for all of Italy showing the potential for triggering landslides based on the level of seismic hazard are obtained. The maps and the related data are freely accessible at the following web address: https://distav.unige.it/rsni/slideq.php.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a procedure that uses light to modulate cellular functions and bio-logical processes. Over the past decades, PBM has gained considerable attention for its potential in various medical applications due to its non-invasive nature and minimal side effects. This narrative review article examines the existing literature on PBM, encompassing research studies, clinical trials, and technological developments. This review highlights the mechanisms of action underlying PBM, including the interaction with cellular chromophores and the activation of in-tracellular signaling pathways. The evidence from clinical trials and experimental studies to evaluate the efficacy of PBM in clinical practice is summarized with a special emphasis on der-matology. Furthermore, advancements in PBM technology, such as novel light sources and treat-ment protocols, are discussed in the context of optimizing therapeutic outcomes and improving patient care. This narrative review underscores the promising role of PBM as a non-invasive therapeutic approach with broad clinical applicability. Despite the need for further research to develop standard protocols, PBM holds great potential for addressing a wide range of medical conditions and enhancing patient outcomes in modern healthcare practice.

This paper investigates the effect of Fe contamination on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-7Si-0.7Mg-Fe2.5 alloy processed by Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and heat treated in two different conditions: (1) Solution Heat Treatment (SHT) at 520 °C, followed by artificial ageing at 160 °C (T6), and (2) Direct Artificial Ageing of the as-printed material at 160 °C (DAA). Microstructural characterization was carried out by Optical Microscopy (OM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). Mechanical characterization was carried out by tensile tests at room temperature. The formation of fine AlSiFe phases such as α-AlFeSi, β-AlFeSi, and π-Al8Si6Mg3Fe had no deleterious effect on the mechanical properties compared to previous studies for AlSIMg alloys without Fe. However, compared to the as-printed condition, the T6 heat treatment decreased the ultimate tensile strain significantly, while the elongation to the fracture presented a slight improvement.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the SEIRS COVID-19 pandemic model with saturated incidence rate. By modifying the existing model and proposing a new simplified version, we investigate the dynamics of disease transmission, including the impact of saturation terms on disease spread. Through stability analysis at disease-free and endemic equilibria, we aim to enhance understanding of the spread of COVID-19 and inform effective control strategies. Drawing on mathematical models and epidemiological insights, this study contributes to the ongoing efforts to combat the global pandemic.

The aim of the present work is to explore a different non-traditional approach to higher dimensional spacetime which differs from the usual approaches such as large extra space dimensions, warped extra space dimensions and multiple extra time dimensions. This approach will be referred to as "Dynamic" higher dimensional spacetime. By this term will be introduced a new kind of higher dimensional spacetime (more than the usual 3+1 dimensions), which behaves dynamically in the sense that time is not a fixed dimension but is the extra plus one dimension to the spatial dimensions of the phenomenon we are studying. For a higher dimensional phenomenon, the lower dimensional time will behave as space and the new time will be a plus one dimension, meaning if we study a 3-dimensional phenomenon then time is the usual 4th dimension but if we are studying a 4-dimensional phenomenon then its time will be an extra 5th dimension and for this phenomenon the 4th dimension will behave as space. All spatial dimensions are indistinguishable from each other and behave in the exact same way, which means that the important parameter is not the dimension we are studying (for example the 4th or the 5th) but the number of dimensions in which a phenomenon can interact and how higher dimensional phenomena interact with lower ones. This non-traditional approach to higher dimensional spacetime may appear confusing at first but will become clearer in the rest of the paper. For this reason, we will first associate the time dimension with propagation relative to space dimensions and change orthogonal to them in order to give the reader a better intuition. Following that, we will describe how higher - dimensional phenomena would appear to us, the 3 - dimensional observer and try to set some guidelines on how we should mathematically model higher - dimensional phenomena in order for us to make accurate predictions of their behaviour. Then we will express the general framework of a "Dynamic" higher - dimensional spacetime and turn our gaze to 4+1 – dimensional phenomena. We will explore how a mass term arises for 4 – dimensional waves by generalizing the frequency – speed – wavelength relation of 3D waves and give a basic description on a possible way to describe a 4+1 – dimensional disturbance in a scalar Energy Field in order to make accurate predictions on our 3+1 dimensional plane. In this framework we will derive the Klein – Gordon equation by generalizing the wave equation and ignoring all lower than 4+1 - dimensional disturbances and compere our mass term findings with the Klein – Gordon equation mass term and with results from gravity – induced quantum interference experiments. Lastly, we will describe how a "Dynamic" 5 - dimensional spacetime would appear in a 3D observer and examine whether our findings are compatible with quantum mechanics and the special theory of relativity.

An optical frequency comb (OFC) generator based on an electro-optic Talbot laser and cross-phase modulation (XPM) in a high nonlinear fiber (HNLF) is designed and demonstrated. The Talbot laser is an electro-optic frequency shifting loop to produce repetition rate multiplied pulses, and these pulses working as a pump signal induce XPM process in the HNLF to modulate the phase of a probe signal. At the output of the HNLF, OFCs with a multiplied line-spacing can be generated. The effects of the pump power and the HNLF length on the performance of the generated OFCs are theoretically analyzed. In the experiments, the line-spacing of the generated OFCs is respectively multiplied to be 10 GHz, 15 GHz and 20 GHz with a factor of 2, 3 and 4. The center of the OFCs is tuned in a 4-nm range by adjusting the wavelength of the probe signal.

Among the many Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) that would benefit from the establish-ment of novel cell models, either patient-derived or genetically engineered, is Mucopolysaccha-ridosis type II (MPS II). In fact, even though a specific therapeutic approach does exist for this disorder (Enzyme Replacement Therapy, ERT, with recombinant human IDS) and haematopoiet-ic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) may also hold promise whenever the disorder is diagnosed soon enough, both approaches have their own drawbacks. Here we present our results on the establishment and characterization of two MPS II pa-tient-derived stem cell line(s) from deciduous baby teeth. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a stem cell population is isolated from LSD patient samples obtained from the oral cavity. Taking into account our results on the molecular and biochemical characterization of those cells and our first insights on their subcellular MPS phenotype, we consider these cells will be a valuable tool for both pathophysiological assessments and drugs screenings. Ultimately, we believe patient-derived dental pulp stem cells (DPSC) may represent a feasible alternative to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) in many labs with standard cell culture con-ditions and limited (human and economic) resources.

Familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) can be caused by mutations in PSEN1 that encodes presenilin-1, a component of the gamma-secretase complex that cleaves amyloid precursor protein. Alterations in calcium (Ca2+) homeostasis and glutamate signaling are implicated in the pathogenesis of FAD, however it has been difficult to assess in humans whether or not these phenotypes are the result of amyloid or tau pathology. This study aimed to assess early calcium and glutamate phenotypes of FAD by measuring the Ca2+ response of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons bearing PSEN1 mutations to glutamate and the ionotropic glutamate receptor agonists NMDA, AMPA and kainate compared to isogenic control and healthy lines. The data shows that in early neurons, even in the absence of amyloid and tau phenotypes, FAD neurons exhibit increased Ca2+ responses to glutamate and AMPA, but not NMDA or kainate. Together this suggests that PSEN1 mutations alter Ca2+ and glutamate signaling as an early phenotype of FAD.

Background: The validation of laser usage during laparoscopic procedures, notably by Camran Nezhat in the late 1980s, has been significant. Lasers offer precision and depth control in tissue vaporization without bleeding. Surgical intervention remains central in managing endometrio-sis-associated pain and infertility, especially for patients unresponsive to hormonal therapy. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 200 patients with SPE who underwent laparo-scopic laser vaporization. Surgery was performed using a CO2 laser, and histological confirma-tion of endometriosis was obtained for all cases. Pain scores and SF-36 questionnaire domains were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively. Fertility outcomes were evaluated among pa-tients desiring pregnancy. Results: Significant improvements in pain score and SF-36 questionnaire domains were ob-served postoperatively (p-value

Background: Peripheral Ossifying Fibroma (POF) is a benign gingival tumor generally presenting as a slow-growing mass, usually not ulcerated, and without bleeding. Histopathological exam shows fibrous connective tissue with spots or extensive areas of intralesional calcifications, which can also be detectable on radiograms. Methods and case presentation: We present the case of a 4-year-old male with a retro-incisive swelling of the hard palate, associated with speaking and feeding difficulties. On CT scans, a small intralesional calcification was detected. After conscious sedation, the patient was subjected to diode laser excision (910 nm, 2W, CW, 300 m fiber) with-out post-operative complications. A review was conducted by searching the words “peripheral ossifying fibroma” AND “children” OR “infant” and including manuscripts of the last 15 years. Results: POF is an uncommon lesion of the oral mucosa and may sporadically affect the palatal mucosa in children. Considering its epidemiology and conventional clinical presentation as epu-lis, the pre-operative diagnosis may be relatively difficult. Risk factors could be represented by plaque, calculus, or trauma, all supporting a possible reactive pathogenesis, but a certain etiology is still missing. The main problem of POF is the recurrence rate, which is particularly high (8-20%), thus suggesting that a deep excision is recommended with full extension to the hard tis-sue of bone and to the adjacent periodontal ligament. Diode laser surgery may be recommended for such treatments, especially in pediatric patients, associated with intraoperative conscious se-dation. Data emerging from the relevant literature on POF management in children have been collected and discussed. Conclusions: The authors suggest the use of diode laser for the complete excision of POF, especially in less-compliant patients as children, with a low grade of comorbidi-ties and good outcomes, giving the surgeon a viable alternative to conventional surgery.

Space exploration is an arduous journey, with future explorations extending in duration, increasing the risk for common space-related health issues such as bone density loss due to microgravity, impaired gut microbiota, cardiovascular ailments, and exposure to cosmic radiation. These ailments can be addressed using medicinal plants. Enhancing their efficacy entails employing gene editing to target specific secondary metabolite pathways associated with therapeutic properties. Moreover, gene editing can combine multiple medicinal properties from various plants, culminating in a singular 'superplant' with enhanced therapeutic benefits. This review discusses the current usage of medicinal plants in promoting human health during space travel, the application of gene editing technology in modifying medicinal plants and presents a vision for the utilization of gene-edited medicinal plants in space to mitigate the risk of various space-related health issues.

The statistical analysis of impact of the top 50 solar flares of X-class (1997-2023) on the global seismic activity, as well as on the earthquake preparation zones located in illuminated part of the globe and in the area of 5000 km radius around the subsolar point was carried out. It is shown by a method of epoch superposition that for all cases the increase of seismicity is observed, especially in the region around the subsolar point (up to 38%) during 10 days after the solar flare in comparison with preceding 10 days. The case study of aftershock sequence of strong M=9.1 earthquake (Su-matra-Andaman Islands, 26.12.2004) after the solar flare of X7.2 class (20.01.2005) demonstrated that the number of aftershocks with magnitude M≥2.5 increases more than 20 times after the solar flare with a delay of 7 days. For the case of the Darfield earthquake (M=7.1, 04.09.2010, New Zealand) it was shown that strong solar flares of class X and M probably triggered two strong aftershocks (M>6) with the same delay of 6 days on the Port Hills fault, which is the most sensitive to external electromagnetic impact from point of view of the fault electrical conductivity and orientation. Based on the obtained results the possible application of natural electromagnetic triggering of earthquakes is discussed for a short-term earthquake prediction using confidently recorded strong external electromagnetic triggering impacts on the specific earthquake preparation zones, as well as ionospheric perturbations due to aerosol emission from the earthquake sources recorded by satellites.

Background: this interventional pilot study aimed to evaluate the short-term (3 years) efficacy of focal laser ablation (FLA) in treating the index lesion of low-intermediate risk prostate cancer, along with assessing the safety of the procedure (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04045756). Methods: forty patients aged between 46 and 86 with histologically proven organ-confined prostate cancer and low to intermediate progression risk were included. FLA was performed under percutaneous fusion magnetic resonance/ultrasound guidance in a Day Hospital setting under local anesthesia. Patients underwent regular clinical assessments, PSA measurements, post-procedure MRI scans, and biopsies at 36 months or if positive findings were detected earlier. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess trends in PSA levels and cavity dimensions over time. Results: forty patients were initially included, with 15 lost to follow-up. At 36 months, a mean PSA reduction of 60% was observed, and 80% of MRI scans showed no signs of in-field clinically significant residual/recurrent cancer. Biopsies at 36 months revealed no malignant findings in 20 patients. No deterioration in sexual function or urinary symptoms was recorded. Conclusions: FLA appears to be safe, feasible and effective in the index lesion treatment of low-intermediate risk prostate cancer, with a high rate of tumor eradication and preservation of quality of life.

Secondary movement disorders (SMDs) represent a heterogeneous group of neurological conditions characterized by abnormal, involuntary movements resulting from various underlying causes. This comprehensive review aims to thoroughly understand SMDs, including their epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approach, and management strategies. SMDs encompass a spectrum of movement abnormalities, including dystonia, chorea, athetosis, myoclonus, tics, and tremors. They can arise from a multitude of etiologies, such as drug-induced effects, post-infectious processes, metabolic disturbances, and structural brain lesions. The epidemiology of SMDs varies depending on the underlying cause, with some conditions being more prevalent in specific populations or age groups. Understanding the pathophysiology of SMDs is crucial for accurate diagnosis and targeted management. Diagnosing SMDs requires a comprehensive approach, including a detailed history, physical examination, laboratory investigations, neuroimaging studies, and sometimes electrophysiological studies. Management of SMDs is multifaceted and may involve pharmacological, non-pharmacological, and surgical interventions. Individualized treatment plans are essential, considering the underlying cause, severity of symptoms, and patient preferences. Emerging concepts in the field of SMDs include advancements in genetic research, identification of biomarkers, and development of novel therapeutic approaches. There is a growing focus on patient-centered care and improving the quality of life for individuals with SMDs. In conclusion, SMDs pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, requiring a multidisciplinary approach for optimal management. Continued research and collaboration are essential for advancing our understanding and treatment of these complex disorders.

In contemporary construction, the prevalence of vibration serviceability issues in lightweight and slender structures has become increasingly common, owing to advancements in building materials and construction methods. While these structures often meet the criteria for ultimate limit states, they can still elicit complaints due to excessive vibrations induced by human activity. To address this challenge, the Integral Resonant Control (IRC) technique has emerged as a favored approach for actively damping vibrations in various systems. This study introduces a fresh perspective on implementing a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) IRC scheme for active vibration control (AVC) specifically tailored for pedestrian structures utilizing inertial mass actuators. Building upon a common framework and design methodology outlined in previous research, this work presents a novel application of MIMO IRC for AVC. The designed controller is rigorously tested and implemented on a laboratory floor structure to validate its efficacy.

The group delay response of chirped fiber Bragg gratings (CFBG) written in polarization-maintaining fiber can be measured using the beat spectrum of the reflections from the two polarization axis, with a resolution and reproducibility better than 50 fs. The method is theoretically described, and we analyze the effect of group delay ripples (GDR) on the performance of a stretcher-compressor pair used in chirped pulse amplification systems. Ripples with a spectral period of the order of the pulse bandwidth are the most deleterious. Those are readily captured with our method, despite the limit on resolution due to the fiber polarization beat length. As a rule of thumb, the GDR should not exceed half the pulse duration. The reconstructed phase of the CFBG is also used to predict the pulse compression performance for a given device. Measurement of GDR as low as 161 fs is experimentally demonstrated.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Candida albicans on subgingival biofilm formation on dental implant surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to compare biofilm structure and microbial biomass in the presence and absence of the fungus after periods of 24, 48, and 72 h. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to quantify the number of viable and total micro-organisms for each of the biofilm-forming strains. A general linear model was applied to compare CLSM and qPCR results between control and test conditions. The biofilm developed with C. albicans at 72 h had a higher bacterial biomass, with a significantly higher cell viability (p &lt; 0.05). After both 48 and 72 h of incubation, in the presence of C. albicans, there was a significant increase in counts of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis and in the cell viability of Streptococcus oralis, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, F. nucleatum, and P. gingivalis. Using a dynamic in vitro multispecies biofilm model, C. albicans exacerbated the development of the biofilm grown on dental implant surfaces, significantly increasing the number and cell viability of periodontal bacteria.

Precise individual tree or sample-based inventories derived from 3D point cloud data of mobile laser scanning can improve our comprehensive understanding of the structure, function, resilience, biodiversity, and ecosystem services of urban forests. This study assessed the performance of a hand-held laser scanning system for the extraction of tree position, diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height (H) in an urban area. A total of 2083 trees of 13 species from 34 plots were analyzed. The results showed that the registration of tree positions using ground control points (GCPs) demonstrated high accuracy, with errors consistently below 0.4 m, except for a few instances. The extraction accuracy of DBH for all trees and individual species remained consistently high, with a total root mean square error (RMSE) of 2.06 cm (6.89%) and a bias of 0.62 cm (2.07%). Notably, broad-leaved trees outperformed coniferous trees, with RMSE and bias values of 1.86 cm (6%) and 0.76 cm (2.46%) compared to 2.54 cm (9.46%) and 0.23 cm (0.84%). Tree height extraction accuracy varied significantly among different species, with R2 values ranging from 0.65 to 0.92. Generally, both DBH and height were underestimated. Linear mixed effects models (LME) were applied to evaluate factors affecting the performance of HLS with the plot as a random factor. LME analysis revealed that plant type and terrain significantly influenced the accuracy of DBH and H derived from HLS data. Other fixed factors of plot area, tree density and trajectory length didn’t have significance. With a large sample size, we concluded that the HLS demonstrated sufficient accuracy in extracting individual tree parameters in urban forests.

Agriculture is an important sector of European Union in societal , economic and environmental dimensions. Sustainability of the sector require improvements in its key operations. Weeding is one of the crucial operation having impact on farms’ productivity, safety for farmers, food security and environmental state. To achieve EU policy goals of sustainable agriculture there are needed new technical and organizational solutions. One of the advanced techniques are laser based weeding technique. It is important to understand well the impacts of introduction of these tech-niques to the markets and agricultural practice in sustainability context. For that reason Social Life Cycle Assessment was performed. The method was based on participatory approach. The as-sessment was carried in three perspectives: general society, farmers, and business perspective re-lated to agriculture. Expert interviews based on questionnaires and workshops were realized to get the opinions on the impacts of a new laser technique on particular aspects of its implementation. The results show generally positive impact in all perspectives, especially in the perspective of farmers.

Introduction: Substance-induced psychotic disorder (SIPD) is a mental health condition linked to the use of a psychotropic substance whose pathogenesis has not been totally clarified. The present retrospective observational study has the objective to identify differences in clinical features and peripheral biomarkers in SIPD patients according to the main substance of abuse.Methods: A total sample of 218 patients was divided in 3 groups according to the type of consumed substance: alcohol, cannabis and psychostimulants. The 3 groups were compared for continuous variables by one-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and for qualitative variables by χ² tests. After removing alcohol-induced psychotic disorder group, the same analyses were repeated. Statistically significant variables from these latter analyses were included in a binary logistic regression model to confirm their reliability as predictors for cannabis- or psychostimulants-induced psychotic disorders. Results: Psychotic cannabis abusers were younger (p<0.01) and had an earlier age at onset (p<0.01). On the contrary, alcohol consumers resulted to have a longer duration of illness (p<0.01), more previous hospitalizations (p=0.04), more frequent medical comorbidity (p<0.01), higher mean Modified Sad Person Scale scores (p<0.01). Finally, psychostimulant abusers had more frequently a lifetime history of poly-substance use disorders (p<0.01). Binary logistic regression revealed that higher mean Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale scores (p<0.01) higher sodium (p=0.012) and haemoglobin(p=0.040) plasma levels were predictors of cannabis misuse in SIPD patients.Conclusions: Different clinical factors and biochemical parameters con be associated to SIPD according to the main substance of abuse, thus requiring a specific management by clinicians.

Within the spectra of lanthanide atoms quite often overlapping spectral lines (blends) are observed. On the example of complicated blend situations within Pr I and La I it is shown that in such cases a combination of optogalvanic and laser-induced fluorescence detection is necessary to find all transitions contributing to the observed spectral signature.

The wealth of data obtained during the past 20 years using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) indicates that the technique is very promising to detect small chemical contents of alloying elements. The potential of LIBS was looked more seriously during the past two decades or so as more data were obtained on Aluminum and steel to study the phenomena in the condition of local thermodynamic equilibrium and time-delay between a Q-switch laser and an intensified CCD camera. Since the past decade, some data on compounds were also shown to be useful in determining small concentrations of harmful elements. This manuscript is intended to show that the technique of LIBS performance is very promising in fields such as micro-machining, in alloying element analysis, surface cleaning and environmental applications even with lightweight spectrometers having a relatively low resolution, which can potentially be air-borne.

Hiccups can significantly reduce the quality of life of patients and can occur as a drug side effect. Previous report using the Drug Adverse Event Database revealed sex-specific differences in the incidence of drug-induced hiccups. However, the pathogenesis of drug-induced hiccups remains unknown, and there is limited evidence on its treatment or prevention. This study examined molecular initiating events (MIEs), which are the starting point of adverse events, to investigate the drug-induced pathways of hiccups. We extracted drugs suspected to cause hiccups using FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, a large database on adverse drug reactions. Information on drugs suspected to be associated with hiccups were extracted from the overall population and sex-specific subgroups divided. In each data table, the predicted activity values of nuclear receptors (NRs) and stress response pathways (SPs) for each drug were calculated using the toxicity predictor, a machine-learning model. Univariate analysis extracted NRs and SPs associated with hiccups, and a multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate independent factors. Transforming growth factor-beta and antioxidant response element were considered an independent factor for hiccups in the male and female subgroups, respectively. This report first examined one of the mechanisms of drug-induced hiccups and identified MIEs associated with drug-induced hiccups.

The utilization of selective laser melting (SLM) for high entropy alloys (HEAs) holds significant promise in commercial applications, and substantial experimental research efforts have been directed toward this domain. To take advantage of the reported experimental data of SLM manufactured (SLM-ed) HEAs and reduce unnecessary experimentation, this study incorporates machine learning (ML) techniques for the phase and tensile properties prediction of SLM-ed HEAs, thus presenting a novel avenue for accelerating the discovery of new SLM-ed HEAs. Through the adjustment of material descriptors and machine learning models, a model has been developed with an impressive accuracy of 93.8% in distinguishing between face-centered cubic (FCC), body-centered cubic (BCC), and dual-phase (FCC+BCC). Additionally, optimized models have been devised for the prediction of tensile properties, namely ultimate tensile strength (UTS), yield strength (YS), and elongation (δ), achieving noteworthy MAPEs (mean absolute percentage errors) of 10.33%, 8.55%, and 28.48%, respectively. Furthermore, several HEAs were fabricated using SLM, and the experimental outcomes exhibited a favorable alignment with the predicted results. These efforts carry significant implications in advancing the utilization of SLM for HEAs.

Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury (CI-AKI) remains a frequent iatrogenic condition since radiological procedures using intra-vascular iodinated contrast media (CM) are being widely administered for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Despite the improvement of the medical healthcare system worldwide, CI-AKI is still associated with direct short-term and indirect long-term outcomes including increased morbidity and mortality, specially, in patients under-lying pre-existing renal function impairment, cardiovascular disease or diabetes that could rap-idly progress into Chronic Kidney Disease. Although the RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-Stage Kidney Disease), AKIN (Acute Kidney Injury Network) and KDIGO (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes) clinical criteria and recommendation guidelines are based on tra-ditional “gold standard” biomarkers known as serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate and urinary output, new reliable serum and urinary biomarkers are still needed for an effective uni-fied diagnostic strategy for AKI. Starting from previous and recent publications on the benefits and limitations of validated biomarkers responding to kidney injury, glomerular filtration and inflammation among others, this review unravels the role of new emerging biomarkers used alone or in combination, as reliable tools for early diagnosis and prognosis of CI-AKI, taking into account patients and procedures-risk factors towards a new clinical perspective.

Heel pain in the “funnel-shaped” space between the calcaneus, talus, and talocalcaneonavicular and subtalar joints may be representative of Sinus Tarsi syndrome. The pain is often characterized by a burning, numbness, or tingling sensation that can stem from strains and tears on the ligaments in that area. Injury treatment typically includes balance training, muscle exercises, bracing, foot orthosis, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). This study presents Wharton Jelly (WJ) tissue allografts as an alternative intervention for patients who fail standard-care treatments. WJ targets tissue defects, unlike other therapies, which aim to reduce swelling and symptomatic pain. This study includes five female patients who have previously failed standard-of-care treatment. Each received extracorporeal pulse-activated therapy (EPAT), WJ, laser therapy, and an orthotic. After an average of 80 days, the cohort had an overall 85.29% improvement in pain. The study's limitations include a small cohort size and a non-blinded design. Given the significant improvement in pain, WJ tissue allograft, combined with other techniques, presents an optimal patient care plan for tissue defects associated with Sinus Tarsi syndrome when standard-of-care treatments fail. These results provide evidence for a more extensive, randomized study to define dosage protocols further and confirm safety and efficacy.

Agriculture and rural regions in Europe face a number of economic, social and environmental challenges. Rural areas are active players in the EU’s green transitions. Weeding is one of the most important factors of agricultural production. New weeding techniques are being developed to enhance sustainability. Among them laser based weeding seems a promising alternative for use of chemicals. WeLASER technique is a novel technique of weed control. Its successful implementation depends on many factors related to the innovation itself, policy context, farming conditions and users’ attitudes. Survey was carried out to provide the insight on the attitudes toward the innova-tive (laser) weed control tool (device - autonomous robot). The CATI method was selected for the survey of farmers opinion and carried out in three countries: Denmark, Spain and Poland. Statistical methods were applied to analyze the results. The study provided knowledge on how farmers see the barriers and opportunities of implementing the device in practice. Positive attitudes of farmers were observed but with high expectations related to quality of the technique and systemic conditions of its implementation.

This article utilizes the Canny edge extraction algorithm based on contour curvature and the cross-correlation template matching algorithm to extensively study the impact of high-repetition-rate CO2 pulsed Laser on the target extraction and tracking performance of the infrared imaging detector. It establishes a quantified dazzling pattern for lasers on infrared imaging systems. By conducting laser dazzling and damage experiments, a detailed analysis of the normalized correlation between target and dazzling images is performed to quantitatively describe laser dazzling effects. Simultaneously, an evaluation system, including target distance and laser power evaluation factors, is established to determine the dazzling level and whether the target is recognizable. The research results reveal that laser power and target position are crucial factors affecting the detection performance of infrared imaging-guided weapon systems under laser dazzling. Different laser powers are required to successfully interfere with the recognition algorithm of infrared imaging-guided weapons at different distances. And laser dazzling will produce a lot of false edge information, which seriously affects the performance of pattern recognition algorithm. In laser damage experiments, the detector experienced functional damage, with a quarter of the image displaying as completely black. The energy density threshold required for functional damage to the detector is approximately 3 J/cm2. The dazzling assessment conclusions also apply to evaluating damage results. Finally, the proposed evaluation formula aligns with experimental results, objectively reflecting the actual impact of laser dazzling on the target extraction and tracking performance of infrared imaging systems. This study provides an in-depth and accurate analysis for understanding the influence of lasers on the performance of infrared imaging-guided weapons.

This study concerns calculation and comparison of Fe, Co, Ni and Cu deposition rates in tungsten codeposition process based on electrodeposition of numerous tungsten alloys. 8 different tungsten alloys containing from 2 to 5 metals were electrodeposited in constant conditions in order to compare exact reduction rates. Calculated rates enabled control of the alloy composition precise enough to obtain a high-entropy WFeCoNiCu alloy with well-balanced composition. Introduction of copper to form the quinternary alloy was found to catalyze the whole process, increasing deposition rates of all components of the high-entropy alloy.

This paper proposes a solution for the problem of mobile robot navigation and trajectory interpolation in dynamic environments with large scenes. The solution combines a semantic laser SLAM system that utilizes deep learning and a trajectory interpolation algorithm. The paper first introduces some open-source laser SLAM algorithms and then elaborates in detail on the general framework of the SLAM system used in this paper. Secondly, the concept of voxel is introduced into the occupation probability map to enhance the ability of local voxel maps to represent dynamic objects. Then, in this paper, we propose a PointNet++ point cloud semantic segmentation network combined with deep learning algorithms to extract deep features of dynamic point clouds in large scenes and output semantic information of points on static objects. A descriptor of the global environment is generated based on its semantic information. Closed-loop completion of global map optimization is performed to reduce cumulative error. Finally, T-trajectory interpolation is utilized to ensure the motion performance of the robot and improve the smooth stability of the robot trajectory. The experimental results indicate that the combination of the semantic laser SLAM system with deep learning and the trajectory interpolation algorithm proposed in this paper yields better graph building and loop closure effects in large scenes at SIASUN large scene campus. The use of T-trajectory interpolation ensures vibration-free and stable transitions between target points.

To enhance the applicability of dual-phase high-entropy alloys (HEAs) like Fe32Cr33Ni29Al3Ti3, fabricated via selective laser melting (SLM), a focus on improving their mechanical properties is essential. As part of this effort, heat treatment was explored. This study compares the microstructure and mechanical properties of the as-printed sample with those cooled in water after undergoing heat treatment at temperatures ranging from 1000 to 1200 ℃ for 1 hour. Both pre- and post-treatment samples reveal a dual-phase microstructure comprising FCC and BCC phases. Although heat treatment led to a reduction in tensile and yield strength, it significantly increased ductility compared to the as-printed sample. This strength-ductility trade-off is related to changes in grain sizes with ultrafine grains enhancing strength and micron grains optimizing ductility, also the influence of the content of FCC/BCC phases and dislocation density. In particular, the sample heat-treated at 1000 °C for 1 hour and then water-cooled exhibited a better combination of strength and ductility, a yield strength of 790 MPa, and an elongation of 13%. This research offers innovative perspectives on crafting dual-phase HEA of Fe32Cr33Ni29Al3Ti3, allowing for tailorable microstructure and mechanical properties through a synergistic approach involving SLM and heat treatment.

Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) have an important role in the pathogenesis of generating citrullinated proteins which is one type of protein posttranslation modifications (PTMs). Additionally, peptidylarginine deiminases 4 (PAD4) is a component of neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) that leads to autoimmune disease during NETosis. Our aim was to check the PAD4 enzyme expression at level of gene and protein expression in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rat pancreas and checking the link between PAD4 and inflammatory cytokines. Wistar rats were divided into two groups: control group and diabetic STZ group. STZ was administered by intraperitoneally (60 mg/kg/ body weight). Rats were caged for six weeks and then terminated. Pancreatic tissue was harvested for measurement of PAD4 protein expression, PAD4 mRNA, citrulli-nated histone-3 protein (CITH3), cytokines and Ca2+ content. All measurements in diabetic rats were significantly in-creased compared to non-diabetic rats (p

Laser powder bed fusion can fabricate porous structure through lattices, but it remains a challenge to prepare micropores (

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are used primarily in the treatment of hypertension, heart failure, and in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. Lisinopril [N2-[(1S)-1-car-boxy-3-phenylpropyl]-L-lysyl-L-proline], enalapril [(S)-1-[N-[1-(ethoxycarbonyl)-3-phenylpropyl]-L-alanyl]-L-proline] and ramipril [2-aza-bicyclo-[3.3.0]-octane-3-carboxylic acid] are all five-membered heterocycles and three of the most prevalent ACE inhibitors in clinical use worldwide. ACEi-induced angioedema (ACEi-AE) is clinically characterized by self-limited edema of the dermis and subcutaneous lipid tissue, localized on face skin, oral mucosa and tongue in most cases. However, severe episodes of intestinal AE misdiagnosed as acute appendicitis and laryngeal AE requiring incubation have been reported. The pathophysiology of ACEi induced-AE is attributed to the accumulation of bradykinin, which is a potent vasodilator with proinflammatory activity that is normally degraded by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and aminopeptidase P; however, a small proportion of treated patients is affected. Given that patients do not respond to anti-H1 antihistamines and steroids, the early clinical recognition and the ACEi discontinuation are the treatment of choice for the long term management of ACEi-AE.

Coastal dunes worldwide are increasingly under pressure from the adverse effects of human activities. Therefore, more and more restoration measures are being taken to create conditions that help disturbed coastal dune ecosystems regenerate or recover naturally. However, many projects lack (open-access) monitoring observations needed to signal whether further actions are needed, and hence to learn by doing. This submission presents an open access data set of 37 high-resolution digital elevation models and 24 orthomosaics collected before and after the excavation of five artificial foredune trough blowouts ("notches") in winter 2012/2013 in the Dutch Zuid-Kennemerland National Park, one of the largest coastal dune restoration projects in northwest Europe. These high-resolution data provide a valuable resource for improving understanding of the biogeomorphic processes that determine the evolution of restored dune systems, as well as developing guidelines to better design future restoration efforts with foredune notching.

Movement disorders can be associated with various drugs and systemic diseases, posing diagnostic challenges for clinicians. This review explores the spectrum of movement disorders associated with pharmacological agents and medical conditions. Drug-induced movement disorders encompass a broad range of conditions resulting from exposure to medications that affect several neurotransmitters. Neuroleptic medications can lead to tardive dyskinesia, characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements. Antipsychotics and antiemetics, including metoclopramide, may induce acute dystonic reactions. Other drugs, such as dopamine receptor-blocking agents, can contribute to drug-induced parkinsonism. Beyond medications, movement disorders can also arise secondary to systemic diseases. Metabolic disorders like Wilson's disease, characterized by copper accumulation, may manifest as chorea or dystonia. Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus can result in secondary movement disorders due to autoimmune-mediated processes affecting the central nervous system. Movement disorders linked to drugs or systemic diseases often necessitate a thorough clinical evaluation, including detailed medication histories and comprehensive systemic assessments. Neuroimaging, laboratory investigations, and, in some cases, cerebrospinal fluid analyses and electrodiagnostic studies help in establishing accurate diagnoses. Management involves addressing the underlying cause, modifying medications, and employing symptomatic treatments.

In this study, different configurations based on linear fiber lasers were proposed and experimentally demonstrated to measure the concentration of paracetamol liquid solutions in a range of 52.61 to 201.33 g/kg. The optical gain was provided by a commercial bidirectional Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifier (EDFA) and the linear cavity was obtained using two commercial Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs). The main difference of each configuration was the coupling ratio of the optical coupler used to extract the system signal. The sensing head corresponded to a Single-Mode Fiber (SMF) tip that worked as an intensity sensor. The results reveal that, despite the optical coupler used (50:50, 60:40, 70:30 or 80:20), all the configurations reached the laser condition, however, the concentration sensing was only possible using a laser drive current near to the threshold value. The configurations using a 70:30 and an 80:20 optical coupler allowed to perform paracetamol concentration measurements with a higher sensitivity of (-3.00±0.24) pW/(g/kg). In terms of resolution, the highest value obtained was 1.75 g/kg, when it was extracted 20% of the output power to the linear cavity fiber laser configuration.

To investigate the associated mechanisms concerning collagen and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in porcine skin injuries induced by laser exposure, pig skin was treated with a 1064 nm laser. The healing process of the laser-treated areas, alterations in collagen structure, and changes in apoptosis were continuously observed and analyzed from 6 hours to 28 days post-irradiation. On the 28th day following exposure, wound contraction and recovery were notably sluggish in the medium-high dose groups, displaying more premature and delicate type III collagen within the newly regenerated tissues. The collagen density in these groups was roughly 37-58% of that in the normal group. Between days 14 and 28 after irradiation, there was a substantial rise in apoptotic cell count in the forming epidermis and granulation tissue of the medium-high dose group, in contrast to the normal group. Notably, the expression of proapoptotic proteins bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 surged significantly 14 days after irradiation in the medium-high dose groups and persisted at elevated levels on the 28th day. During the later stage of wound healing, the augmented apoptotic cell population and insufficient collagen generation in the newborn skin tissue of the medium-high dose groups were closely associated with delayed wound recovery.

The exceptional performance of graphene has driven the advancement of its preparation technique and application. Laser-induced graphene (LIG), as a novel graphene preparation technique, has been applied in various fields. Graphene periodic structures created by LIG technique exhibit superhydrophobic characteristics and can be used for deicing and anti-icing applications, which are significantly influenced by the laser parameters. The laser surface treatment process was simulated by a finite element software analysis (COMSOL Multiphysics) to optimize the scanning parameter range, and the linear array surface structure were subsequently fabricated by the LIG technique. The generation of graphene was confirmed by Raman spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The periodic linear array structure were observed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser imaging (CLSM). In addition, CLSM testings, contact angle measurements, and delayed icing experiments were systematically performed to investigate the effect of scanning speed on surface hydrophobicity. The results show that the high quality and uniform graphene can be achieved using the laser scanning speed of 125 mm/s. The periodic linear array structures can obviously increase the contact angle and suppress delayed icing. Furthermore, these structures have the enhanced ability of the electric heating deicing, which can reach 100°C and 240°C within 15 s and within 60 s under the DC voltage power supply ranging from 3 to 7 V, respectively. These results indicate that the LIG technique can be developed to provide an efficient, economical, and convenient approach for preparing graphene and the hydrophobic surface array structure based on LIG has considerable potential for deicing and anti-icing applications.

Foot pain related to the plantar fascia is common in adults regardless of athletic background. Many pathologies can lead to the diagnosis of plantar enthesopathy, but the most relevant to this case study is related to structural defects within the plantar fascia. Due to the variety and sometimes unclear etiology of plantar fasciosis, no single standard of care treatment protocol is recognized. Often, patients receive NSAIDs, night splints, taping, physical therapy, foot orthosis, and extracorporeal shock wave therapies. This study presents Wharton Jelly (WJ) tissue allografts as an additional intervention for patients who fail standard-care treatments. WJ allografts are applied to supplement connective tissue defects directly, unlike other therapies, which aim to reduce swelling and symptomatic pain. This retrospective study includes seven patients who have previously failed standard-of-care treatment. Each received extracorporeal pulse-activated therapy (EPAT), WJ, laser therapy, and an orthotic. Patient progress was tracked using a visual analog scale, 0-10 scoring, reported by the patient at the initial visit and approximately thirteen weeks following, reporting an average improvement of 50%. The study's limitations include a small cohort size and a non-blinded retrospective design. These promising results provide evidence for a more extensive, randomized study to define dosage protocols further and confirm safety and efficacy.

For esophageal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT), restaging using F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography computed tomography (PET-CT) following nCRT can detect interval metastases, including liver metastases, in almost 10% of patients. However, in clinical practice, focal FDG liver uptake, unrelated to liver metastases, is observed after chemoradiotherapy. This radiation-induced liver injury (RILI) can potentially lead to overstaging. Liver radiation damage is also a concern during distal esophageal cancer radiotherapy due to proximity to the left liver lobe, typically included in the radiation field. Post-CRT, if FDG activity appears in the left or caudate liver lobes, thorough investigation is needed to confirm or rule out distant metastases. The increased FDG uptake in liver lobes post-CRT often presents a diagnostic dilemma. Distinguishing between radiation-induced liver disease and metastasis is vital for appropriate patient management, necessitating a combination of imaging techniques and an understanding of the factors influencing radiation response. Diagnosis involves identifying new foci of hepatic FDG avidity on PET/CT scans. Geographic regions of hypoattenuation on CT and well-demarcated regions with specific enhancement patterns on contrast-enhanced CT scan and MRI are characteristic of radiation-induced liver disease (RILD). Lack of mass effect on all three modalities (CT, MRI, PET) indicates RILD. Resolution of abnormalities on subsequent examinations also helps in diagnosing RILD. Moreover, it can also help to rule out occult metastases, thereby excluding those patients from further surgery who will not benefit from esophagectomy with curative intent.

This paper describes design of experimental methodology developed to measure the working properties of accuracy of the path traversed by a collaborative robot. The methodology proposed here uses a collaborative robot and a laser measuring system Gepard from Raytec. The main parts of the measuring chain and the ISO 9283 standard are described. The proposed experimental methodology should examine working properties of industrial robots, such as the properties of position and path. The focus of this paper lies on the path accuracy of robots. Currently, the interest in this topic is on the rise and the measuring systems capable of recording this parameter are too costly. This paper focuses on experimental measuring of the path properties, describing them in more detail. The measuring and results were processed in the software tool developed for Gepard.

SARS-CoV-2 virulence is known to increase with lowering of environmental temperature and solar ultraviolet radiation; therefore, we have focused our real-world nationwide study concerning with COVID-19 trends and dynamics on the coldest seasons of the year in Italy, the Western country hardest hit at the onset of the pandemic, comparing the autumn-winter of 2020 (before mass vaccination but when the emergency machinery was fully operative in terms of tracing and swabs) with the autumn-winter of 2021 (after mass vaccination), and analyzing the mortality burden by age groups and life stages in the years 2019 (pre-COVID-19), 2020 (before mass vaccination) and 2021 (after mass vaccination). Methods: During the state of national health emergency, the Civil Defense Department released the aggregate data coming from the Higher Institute of Health, the Ministry of Health, the Italian Regions, and the Independent Provinces, to inform the population (58.85 million people) about the pandemic situation, daily. Among these data there were the number of contagions, performed swabs, hospitalizations in Intensive Care Units (ICU), non-ICU patients, and deaths. By means of a team effort, we have collected and elaborated all these data, comparing the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy during the autumn-winter of 2020 with the autumn-winter of 2021. Moreover, we have extracted from the database of the National Institute of Statistics the total number of annual deaths in Italy during the years 2019, 2020 and 2021, comparing them to each other in order to evaluate the mortality burden attributable to COVID-19. Results: From the autumn-winter of 2020 to the autumn-winter of 2021, the contagions increased by ≈285%, however against a ≈290% increase in the performed swabs; therefore, the mean positivity rate passed from 8.74% before mass vaccination to 8.59% after mass vaccination. The unprecedent vaccination campaign allowed a ≈251% abatement in COVID-19 deaths, and a reduction of ≈224% and ≈228% in daily ICU and non-ICU hospitalizations due to COVID-19, respectively. Regarding COVID-19 deaths, in 2020 there was a mortality excess of ≈14.3% quantifiable in 105,900 more deaths compared to 2019, the pre-COVID-19 year; 103,183 out of 105,900 deaths occurred in older adults (≥60 years), which is equivalent to ≈97.4%, while in adults over 50, the segment of population just below older adults, in 2020 there were 2807 more deaths than in 2019. Surprisingly, from the analysis of our data, it is emerged that under the age of 40 in the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 there were 7103, 6808 and 7165 deaths, respectively. This means that in subjects under 40 during 2020 there were 295 fewer deaths than in 2019, while during 2021 there were 357 more deaths than in 2020, equivalent to ≈5.2% more. Conclusions: COVID-19 is a potential life-threatening disease mainly in older adults, as they are the most vulnerable due to inherent immunosenescence and inflammaging. Extensive vaccination in this segment of population with up-to-date vaccines is the means to reduce deaths, hospitalizations, and ICU pressure in the public interest. In the event of future threats, a new mass vaccination campaign must not be implemented without taking into account the individual age; it should primarily be aimed at people over 60 and at patients of any age with immune deficits, and secondly at people over 50. COVID-19 vaccination shows a favorable benefit-risk balance in older adults, while this balance falls under the age of 40; this younger segment of population should be therefore exempt from any mandatory vaccination.

With the megatrend of digitalization, the demand for sensors in previously difficult to access scenarios is increasing. Filament-shaped sensors (FSS) are ideal for this demand especially in applications in which the monitoring of textile structures is the focus. Electrically conductive bicomponent filaments based on thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and doped with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) offer great potential due to the flexible mechanical properties. Through the core-conducting, bicomponent structure the sensing material is protected from environmental factors such as surrounding conductive materials and external moisture. The insulating material, however, simultaneously complicates the contacting method in order to measure sensing changes in the conductive core. In this work laser cutting is employed as a technology in order to expose the conductive core of the filaments. The filament is then coated with silver and mechanically crimped, providing both a conductive interface for the data acquisition device as well as a protective layer. Laser parameters (power and speed) are investigated in order to identify the parameters with the best cutting properties which is analyzed visually as well as electrically. The work conducted here can then be used in order to provide a robust and reproducible contacting method for core-conducting TPU filaments for strain sensing applications.

In mobile robotics, laser scanners have a wide spectrum of indoor and outdoor applications, both in structured and unstructured environments, due its accuracy and precision. Most works that use this sensor have their own data representation and their own case-specific modeling strategies, and no common formalism is adopted. To address this issue, this manuscript presents an analytical approach for identification and localization of objects using a 2D LiDARs Our main contribution lies in formally defining laser sensor measurements and their representation, the identification of objects, their main properties and their location in a scene. We validate our proposal with experiments in generic semi-structured environments common in autonomous navigation, and we demonstrate its feasibility on multiple object detection and identification, following strictly its analytical representation. Finally, our proposal further encourages and facilitates the design, modeling and implementation of other applications that use laser scanners as a distance sensor.

Modern engineering faces challenges in ensuring technical standards for service, durability, and sustainability. Political, administrative, and budgetary factors, coupled with climate change, pose tasks to structural integrity, affecting industries and economies. Marine infrastructures represent a strategic asset of the country as it handles a large part of the economic exchanges. This article analyzes five essential factors that play a fundamental role in the performance analysis of coastal structures: Chloride-induced corrosion, degradation models, maintenance strategies, monitoring, and climate change. Starting with reinforcement corrosion, considered as the main cause of distress, particularly in coastal zones for the long-term behavior of structures. Additional pressure from the influences of climate change is becoming evident and extreme, leading to reduction in capacity. To guarantee the lifespan, degradation models contribute by estimating the long-term performance of the asset as a strategic piece to the development of effective maintenance solutions. Additionally, quantifying the condition of the structure from monitoring data, plays a crucial part that provides information on the current situation of the structure. Finally, this review summarizes the challenges associated with the maintenance of aging marine structures considering aspects such as corrosion, monitoring, and the future challenges this area will face due to climate change.

Technical components should be produced sustainably and are subject to growing demands in terms of durability and reliability. To meet these expectations, the development of thermochemical processes is auspicious. Titanium alloys, which have a comparatively high gas solubility, allow temporary hydrogen (H) loading, often called thermo hydrogen treatment (THT). THT causes lattice deformation and reduces the β transformation temperature. These effects enable an adjustment of the microstructure, which improves the mechanical properties as compared to those produced conventionally. Furthermore, the process is applicable to complex geometries that cannot be surface hardened by mechanical surface treatment techniques. The investigation presented intends to realize a local microstructure gradient in additively via laser-powder bed fusion (L-PBF) manufactured cylindrical Ti–6Al–4V specimens by changing the distribution and morphology of strengthening precipitates as well as the β grain size depending on the distance to the surface, which should improve the material fatigue properties. To evaluate the mechanical properties of such THT-induced microstructure gradients, the resulting change in fatigue life in the LCF and HCF range was determined by stress-controlled cyclic deformation tests. Besides, the resulting microstructure was characterized by means of XRD and TEM. In addition to the additively manufactured and thermo hydrogen treated cylindrical specimens, conventionally produced tube-like specimens were thermo hydrogen treated and examined. For the THT-induced microstructure gradients, numerically simulated H concentration profiles as well as experimentally determined hardness profiles were used for the evaluation of the THT process. The study shows that H-loading at 500°C and H-degassing at 750°C, followed by aging at 550°C, allows the establishment of a microstructure gradient that shows an 8% improvement in fatigue properties compared to a reference condition without THT. The reason for this improvement is an increased volume fraction secondary alpha phase in the near-surface area of the specimens. Moreover, the results show that the process is applicable a tube-like specimen with varying wall thicknesses.

In this study, the effect of laser processing (LP) on the thermoelectric (TE) properties of bismuth antimony telluride (BST) alloy pellets is investigated. The stoichiometric alloy used is Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3.0, which was prepared by mechanical alloying techniques (MA) and hot pressed (HP) into pellets under optimal pressing and temperature conditions. An innovative approach to HP was also developed to enhance the yield of BST samples per HP process while maintaining the TE profiles of the samples within a variance of less than 1%. The LP process was executed by employing a metal 3D printer, with a thorough analysis of beam parameters. Notably, the laser power (P) was held constant at 25 W, along with a fixed hatching distance (HD) of 50 μm, while the parameter adjusted was the laser's scanning speed (SS), which spanned from [600 - 1800] mm/s in increments of 200 mm/s. Examination via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed two material states: melted and sintered. The melted state formed the surface crust of "canyon" patterns that were held on the surface of the samples, and which both size and quantity were altered with changes in SS. For thermoelectric characterization, two distinct shapes of LP samples were produced: rectangular (for electrical properties) and disk (for thermal properties). The results demonstrated that the electrical properties are profoundly influenced by SS, with the electrical conductivity peak at SS value of 1600 mm/s, while the Seebeck coefficient reaches a minimum at the same value. Consequently, within the temperature range of interest, a notable 12% increase in electrical conductivity and a 9% decrease in the Seebeck coefficient were observed compared to the non-LP material state. Overall, the ZT value experience an 6.9% decline within the same temperature interval.

The ability to control the temperature distribution T(t,r) and the rate of temperature change Rt,r inside glasses is important for their microstructuring. The lattice temperature is considered at time t, exceeding the electron-phonon thermalization time, and at a distance r from the center of the model spherical heating zone. In order to describe thermal excitations, the heat capacity of glasses must be considered as a function of time due to its long-term relaxation. A method for analytical calculation of T(t,r) and R(t,r) for glasses with dynamic heat capacity cdyn(t) is proposed. It is shown that during laser microstructuring the local cooling rate -R(t,r) significantly depends on the time dispersion of cdyn(t). It has been established that at the periphery of the model heating zone of the laser beam focus, the local cooling rate can reach more than 1011 K/s. Strong cooling rate gradients were found at the periphery of the heating zone, affecting the microstructure of the material. This effect is significantly enhanced by the time dispersion of cdyn(t). The effect associated with this time dispersion is significant even well above the glass transition temperature Tg, since even short relaxation times of the dynamic heat capacity cdyn(t) are significant.