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Scientific Reports Jul 2024Herein, additive manufacturing, which is extremely promising in different sectors, has been adopted in the electrical energy storage field to fabricate efficient...
Herein, additive manufacturing, which is extremely promising in different sectors, has been adopted in the electrical energy storage field to fabricate efficient materials for supercapacitor applications. In particular, AlO-, steel-, and Cu-based microparticles have been used for the realization of 3D self-assembling materials covered with reduced graphene oxide to be processed through additive manufacturing. Functionalization of the particles with amino groups and a subsequent "self-assembly" step with graphene oxide, which was contextually partially reduced to rGO, was carried out. To further improve the electrical conductivity and AM processability, the composites were coated with a polyaniline-dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid complex and further blended with PLA. Afterward, they were extruded in the form of filaments, printed through the fused deposition modeling technique, and assembled into symmetrical solid-state devices. Electrochemical tests showed a maximum mass capacitance of 163 F/g, a maximum energy density of 15 Wh/Kg at 10 A/g, as well as good durability (85% capacitance retention within 5000 cycles) proving the effectiveness of the preparation and the efficiency of the as-manufactured composites.
PubMed: 38951136
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65635-8 -
Cureus May 2024Both public and academic scrutiny of the financial relationships between the medical device industry and the healthcare society occur less frequently than those...
Both public and academic scrutiny of the financial relationships between the medical device industry and the healthcare society occur less frequently than those involving the pharmaceutical industry, and Japan is no exception to these shortcomings. This paper examines the ethical and legal challenges inherent in Japan's medical device industry through the lens of bribery scandals, placing these issues within the broader context of global healthcare corruption. It aims to derive lessons and suggest universal strategies for ethical and legal enhancements. The discussion includes two notable cases: one involving inappropriate transactions between a cancer center and a biliary stent manufacturer, and another concerning a corrupt donation scheme between a medical device company and a university's anesthesiology department, which was found guilty. In our analysis, we also acknowledge the industry's efforts toward compliance and reform to maintain a balanced perspective. The analysis not only highlights the unique culture and structure of the Japanese medical device industry, such as the exploitation of flexible pricing and opaque financial practices but also contrasts these issues with the tightly regulated pharmaceutical industry. This approach reveals both sector-specific challenges and common corruption drivers, enhancing our understanding of why such scandals occur and persist. We propose ethical and compliance-focused business measures such as centralizing donation decisions, limiting the financial independence of marketing divisions, and increasing transparency, alongside adopting mandatory disclosure practices based on successful models from the United States and Europe. By emphasizing integrity and presenting diverse perspectives, this study aims to elevate ethical and legal standards in the medical device industry and improve patient health outcomes worldwide.
PubMed: 38947609
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61285 -
Heliyon Jun 2024In this work, three different twist angles of a micro helical insert in a T-shaped are studied numerically in order to evaluate the laminar steady flow behavior of...
In this work, three different twist angles of a micro helical insert in a T-shaped are studied numerically in order to evaluate the laminar steady flow behavior of Newtonian fluid in chaotic geometry. In the geometries under consideration, thermal mixing behavior is carried out using fluids having two distinct input temperatures. Under the influence of chaotic advection and low rates of Reynolds number, the second law of thermodynamics is controlled in terms of the entropy generation caused by hydrodynamic and thermal processes. The governing equations are numerically solved using the CFD Fluent code. Thus, the micromixer's configuration demonstrated a very significant improvement in mixing degree while minimizing friction and thermal irreversibilities. The synergy coefficient, which depicts the link between velocity and heat transfer in angle form, is analyzed and the results are provided.
PubMed: 38947451
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e32233 -
Food Research International (Ottawa,... Aug 2024The effect of 90, 180 and 270 mEq/kg of the calcium sequestering salts (CSS) disodium phosphate (DSP), trisodium citrate (TSC) and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) on the...
The effect of 90, 180 and 270 mEq/kg of the calcium sequestering salts (CSS) disodium phosphate (DSP), trisodium citrate (TSC) and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) on the solubilisation of proteins and minerals and the rheological and textural properties of processed cheese (PC) prepared from Gouda cheese ripened for 30-150 d at 8°C was studied. The solubilisation of individual caseins and Ca and the maximum loss tangent during temperature sweeps of PC made from Gouda cheese increased, while hardness of PC decreased with ripening duration of the Gouda cheese. Levels of soluble Ca in PC increased with increasing concentration of TSC and SHMP, but decreased with increasing concentration of DSP. The solubilisation of casein and Ca due to ripening of Gouda cheese used for manufacturing PC could explain the changes in texture and loss tangent of PC. The results suggest that DSP, TSC or SHMP in PC formulation can form insoluble Ca-phosphate, soluble Ca-citrate or insoluble casein-Ca-HMP complexes, respectively, that influence casein solubilisation differently and together with levels of residual intact casein determine the functional attributes of PC.
Topics: Cheese; Food Handling; Caseins; Solubility; Rheology; Citrates; Calcium; Phosphates; Hardness; Time Factors; Calcium Phosphates
PubMed: 38945567
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114587 -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Compounding functional nanoparticles with highly conductive and porous carbon scaffolds is a basic pathway for engineering many important functional devices. However,...
Compounding functional nanoparticles with highly conductive and porous carbon scaffolds is a basic pathway for engineering many important functional devices. However, enabling uniform spatial distribution of functional particles within a massively conjugated, monolithic and mesoporous structure remains challenging, as the high processing temperature for graphitization can arouse nanoparticle ripening, agglomerations and compositional changes. Herein, we report a unique "popcorn-making-mimic" strategy for preparing a highly conjugated and uniformly compounded graphene@NiFeO composite film through a laser-assisted instantaneous compounding method in ambient condition. It can successfully inhibit the unwanted structural disintegration and mass loss during the laser treatment by avoiding oxidation, bursting, and inhomogeneous heat accumulations, thus achieving a highly integrated composite structure with superior electrical conductivity and high saturated magnetization. Such a single-sided film exhibits an absolute shielding effectiveness of up to 20906 dB cm g with 75% absorption rate, superior mechanical flexibility and excellent temperature/humidity aging reliability. These performance indexes signify a substantial advance in EMI absorption capability, fabrication universality, small form-factor and device reliability toward commercial applications. Our method provides a paradigm for fabricating sophisticated composite materials for versatile applications.
PubMed: 38942779
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49498-1 -
Cureus May 2024Background and objective Exposure to sunlight's ultraviolet (UV) radiation poses various health risks, including sunburn, skin damage, and heightened skin cancer risk....
Background and objective Exposure to sunlight's ultraviolet (UV) radiation poses various health risks, including sunburn, skin damage, and heightened skin cancer risk. Sunblock usage has surged due to widespread advertising campaigns. Individuals spending time outdoors should employ protective measures like wearing hats, applying sunblock with a high sun protection factor (SPF), covering exposed skin, and seeking shade to mitigate UV exposure's harmful effects. This study's objective is to assess participants' experiences and satisfaction with SPF 100 sunscreen in actual use conditions. Methodology This study employed a prospective, single-center design involving 100 participants aged 18 to 70 years. Eligible individuals had Fitzpatrick skin types I-III and were engaged in outdoor activities, excluding those with certain medical conditions or medication use. Each participant received sunscreen tubes (Solero SPF 100, Helix Pharma Pvt. Ltd., Karachi, Pakistan), and clinical evaluations were conducted on the day before and after and day 22 visits, with sunblock application and UV-induced erythema assessments performed. Results Our study enrolled participants with a mean age of 25.6 ± 7.1 years, ranging from 15 to 55 years, with females comprising 84% (84) of the sample. Results revealed widespread satisfaction and acceptance of SPF 100 sunscreen, without any reported adverse reactions. A significant majority expressed their willingness to purchase and recommend the sunscreen to others. Furthermore, the majority of healthcare providers expressed satisfaction with prescribing this sunscreen. Conclusions In conclusion, SPF 100 sunscreen demonstrated excellent tolerability and acceptability among participants, suggesting its potential utility in both personal sun protection routines and clinical settings.
PubMed: 38939303
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61212 -
Cureus May 2024Heated tobacco products represent a novel category of tobacco products in which a tobacco consumable is heated to a temperature that releases nicotine from the tobacco... (Review)
Review
Heated tobacco products represent a novel category of tobacco products in which a tobacco consumable is heated to a temperature that releases nicotine from the tobacco leaf but not to a temperature sufficient to cause combustion. Heated tobacco products may therefore have the potential to be a less harmful alternative for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke cigarettes, as their use should result in exposure to substantially fewer and lower levels of toxicants. This update represents a two-year extension to our previous narrative review, which covered peer-reviewed journal articles published up to August 31, 2021. The scientific evidence published between 2021 and 2023 continues to indicate that aerosols produced from heated tobacco products contain fewer and substantially lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents and that these observed reductions consistently translate to reduced biological effects in both and toxicological studies. Biomarker and clinical data from studies in which product use is controlled within a clinical setting continue to suggest changes in levels of biomarkers of exposure, biomarkers of potential harm, and clinical endpoints indicating the potential for reduced harm with switching to exclusive use of heated tobacco products in adult smokers. Overall, the available peer-reviewed scientific evidence continues to indicate that heated tobacco products offer promise as a potentially less harmful alternative to cigarettes, and as such, the conclusions of our original narrative review remain valid.
PubMed: 38939262
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61223 -
Polymers Jun 2024Head impacts are a major concern in contact sports and sports with high-speed mobility due to the prevalence of head trauma events and their dire consequences....
Head impacts are a major concern in contact sports and sports with high-speed mobility due to the prevalence of head trauma events and their dire consequences. Surrogates of human heads are required in laboratory testing to safely explore the efficacy of impact-mitigating mechanisms. This work proposes using polymer additive manufacturing technologies to obtain a substitute for the human skull to be filled with a silicone-based brain surrogate. This assembly was instrumentalized with an Inertial Measurement Unit. Its performance was compared to a standard Hybrid III head form in validation tests using commercial headgear. The tests involved impact velocities in a range centered around 5 m/s. The results show a reasonable homology between the head substitutes, with a disparity in the impact response within 20% between the proposed surrogate and the standard head form. The head surrogate herein developed can be easily adapted to other morphologies and will significantly decrease the cost of the laboratory testing of head protection equipment, all while ensuring the safety of the testing process.
PubMed: 38932102
DOI: 10.3390/polym16121753 -
Polymers Jun 2024Traditional metal-plastic dissimilar welding methods directly heat the metal workpiece, which may cause potential thermal damage to the metal workpiece. Ultrasonic...
Traditional metal-plastic dissimilar welding methods directly heat the metal workpiece, which may cause potential thermal damage to the metal workpiece. Ultrasonic extruded weld-riveting (UEWR) is a relatively new method for dissimilar joining of carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) and metal. In this method, the CFRTP workpiece is melted using the ultrasonic effect and is squeezed into prefabricated holes in the metal workpiece to form a rivet structure. In this method, the metal workpiece is not directly heated, and potential high-temperature losses can be avoided. This paper investigates the process characterizations of UERW of AZ31B magnesium alloy to carbon fiber-reinforced PA66. The process parameters are optimized by the Taguchi method. The joint formation process is analyzed based on the fiber distribution in the cross-sections of joints. The effects of welding parameters on the joint microstructure and fracture surface morphology are discussed. The results show that a stepped amplitude strategy (40 μm amplitude in the first stage and 56 μm amplitude in the second stage) could balance the joint strength and joint appearance. Insufficient (welding energy < 2600 J or amplitude-A < 50%) or excessive (welding energy > 2800 J or amplitude-A > 50%) welding parameters lead to the formation of porous defects. Three fracture modes are identified according to the fracture surface analysis. The maximum tensile shear strength of joints at the optimal parameters is about 56.5 ± 6.2 MPa.
PubMed: 38932099
DOI: 10.3390/polym16121749 -
Pharmaceutics May 2024Archaeosomes were manufactured from natural archaeal lipids by a microfluidics-assisted single-step production method utilizing a mixture of di- and tetraether lipids...
Archaeosomes were manufactured from natural archaeal lipids by a microfluidics-assisted single-step production method utilizing a mixture of di- and tetraether lipids extracted from The primary aim of this study was to investigate the exceptional stability of archaeosomes as potential carriers for oral drug delivery, with a focus on powdered formulations. The archaeosomes were negatively charged with a size of approximately 100 nm and a low polydispersity index. To assess their suitability for oral delivery, the archaeosomes were loaded with two model drugs: calcein, a fluorescent compound, and insulin, a peptide hormone. The archaeosomes demonstrated high stability in simulated intestinal fluids, with only 5% of the encapsulated compounds being released after 24 h, regardless of the presence of degrading enzymes or extremely acidic pH values such as those found in the stomach. In a co-culture cell model system mimicking the intestinal barrier, the archaeosomes showed strong adhesion to the cell membranes, facilitating a slow release of contents. The archaeosomes were loaded with insulin in a single-step procedure achieving an encapsulation efficiency of approximately 35%. These particles have been exposed to extreme manufacturing temperatures during freeze-drying and spray-drying processes, demonstrating remarkable resilience under these harsh conditions. The fabrication of stable dry powder formulations of archaeosomes represents a promising advancement toward the development of solid dosage forms for oral delivery of biological drugs.
PubMed: 38931818
DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060694