The Meso-Structural Characteristics of Crack Generation and Propagation during Rock Fracturing

Meso-structure is an important factor affecting the characteristics of rock fracture. To determine the factors influencing the internal meso-structural characteristics upon the crack generation and extension, rock samples were tested under uniaxial cyclic loading and unloading and examined using computed tomography (CT) scanning. CT scanning was used to visualize and investigate the entire process of fracture source generation and its development in three dimensions, and finally the location information of the fracture source was determined. The mineral composition and structure along the fracture path inside the specimen were studied by using a polarizing microscope, and the evolution of fracture propagation around mineral particles was revealed based on its mineralogical characteristics. Results indicate that based on the fracture source around different rock meso-structure types, the initial fracture source can also be divided into different types, namely, the primary porosity type, the micro-crack type, and the mineral grain type. The strength characteristics of mineral grains can determine whether the crack extends around the gravel or through it. The hard grains at the crack-tip promote the transformation of tensile stress to shear stress, which lead to the change in the direction of crack extension and bifurcation. The spatial shape of the cracks after rock fracture is related to the initial distribution of minerals and is more complicated in areas where minerals are concentrated. The crack extension around gravel particles also generates a mode of failure, affecting large grains with gravel spalling from the matrix. The findings provide a study basis for identifying the potentially dangerous areas and provide early warning for the safety of underground engineering construction operations.

Three-dimensional Quantification of Enamel Preservation in Tooth Preparation for Porcelain Laminate Veneers: A Fully Digital Workflow In Vitro Study

SUMMARY Objective: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate the preservation of enamel after tooth preparation for porcelain laminate veneers (PLVs) at different preparation depths based on a fully digital workflow. Methods and Materials: Sixty extracted human maxillary anterior teeth, including 20 maxillary central incisors (MCIs), 20 maxillary lateral incisors (MLIs), and 20 maxillary canines (MCs) underwent microcomputed tomography (CT) scanning, and were reconstructed as three-dimensional (3D) enamel and dentin models. Subsequently, the three-dimensional (3D) enamel models were imported into Materialise, where each enamel model underwent seven types of virtual preparation for PLVs at preparation depths at 0.1-mm increments from 0.1-0.3-0.5 mm (D1) to 0.7-0.9-1.1 mm (D7). The enamel surface was depicted by merging the virtual preparation and, respective, dentin models. The enamel area and prepared surface were measured to calculate the percentage of enamel (R%). The data were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (α=0.05). Results: The group-wise mean (standard deviation) R values for the MCIs were as follows: D1-D3: 100.00 (0) each, and D4-D7: 74.70 (2.45), 51.40 (5.12), 24.40 (3.06), and 0.00 (0), respectively. The group-wise mean R values for the MLIs were 100.00 (0), 73.70 (3.40), 53.50 (3.44), 25.20 (3.79), and 0.90 (0.99) for the D1-D5 groups, respectively; and 0.00 (0) each for the D6-D7 groups. The group-wise mean (standard deviations) R values for the MCs were as follows: D1-D3: 100.00 (0) each, and D4-D7: 99.00 (1.34), 77.10 (3.28), 74.20 (3.61), and 52.20 (4.09), respectively. The one-way ANOVA revealed significant differences between the seven groups in the MCIs, MLIs, and MCs (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results recommended preparation depths of up to 0.3-0.5-0.7 mm (MCIs), 0.1-0.3-0.5 mm (MLIs), and 0.4-0.6-0.8 mm (MCs) to facilitate complete intraenamel preparation. Moreover, 50% enamel was preserved at preparation depths of 0.5-0.7-0.9 mm (MCIs), 0.3-0.5-0.7 mm (MLIs), and 0.7-0.9-1.1 mm (MCs).

The Application of Nano Silver Argitos as a Final Root Canal Irrigation for the Treatment of Pulpitis and Apical Periodontitis. In Vitro Study

Background: Endodontic treatment of various forms of pulpitis with variations of root canal system anatomy should be performed with high quality. The use of various antibacterial agents is aimed at maintaining the success of endodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the penetration and fixation of the nano-silver solution on the dentinal surface during endodontic treatment. Materials and methods: the study was carried out on 70 extracted single-rooted teeth, randomly divided into two groups. In the teeth of the first group, the smear layer was removed after canal preparation with 17% EDTA solution; in the second group, the smear layer was not removed. In both groups, for the final treatment of the canal, a colloidal 1% solution of нанo серебра nanosilver was used. Samples were cut and prepared for analysis using micro-CT, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray microanalysis and energy dispersive spectrometry (elemental mapping). Results: in 100% of cases in groups of teeth with a preserved smear layer, the ability of a 1% colloidal solution of nanosilver with particles of 1–2 nm to be fixed on dentin with a removed and preserved smear layer and to leave a film on the dentinal surface was established. In the samples with removed smear layer, silver was found in 73.5% of cases. Conclusion: The nano-silver solution with a particle size of 1–2 nm proved its ability to penetrate the dentinal surfaces and create a final film covering the dentinal surface of the root canal before applying the sealer.

Using Micro-CT Scanning to Quantitative Characterize Porosity in High Pressure Die Castings and Semi-Solid Castings

Porosity is one of the main defects that limits the performance of castings. Porosity in aluminum castings can originate from several sources, including the volumetric shrinkage occurring during solidification, the precipitation of dissolved hydrogen, and entrapment of gasses such as air, boiling water, vaporized lubricants, etc. Traditional methods of identifying and measuring porosity in castings include 2D x-rays, sectioning and polishing, and Archimedes density measurements, but none of these provide a satisfactory quantitative estimate of the size, total volume and distribution of the pores. X-ray CT scanning is a relatively new method that generates not only a 3-dimensional view of the size and distribution of the pores, but can also provide quantitative information of the volume, surface area, size, shape and position of each pore within a casting. Micro-CT scanning is a specialized sub-category of CT scanning, which provides excellent resolution of fine porosity (a resolution limit of 4 microns in one of the case-stores presented in this paper), but it should be noted that the resolution limit in CT scanning techniques is related to sample size. This paper describes results from micro-CT scanning studies of two high pressure die castings and a semi-solid casting, and provides quantitative data on the total porosity content, and the porosity distribution. The paper will also demonstrate the capabilities of the micro-CT scanning process to provide a quantitative comparison of the porosity content in these different types of aluminum castings.

How Bark Beetle Attack Changes the Tensile and Compressive Strength of Spruce Wood (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.)

Since 2014, forestry in the Czech Republic has been significantly affected by a bark beetle outbreak. The volume of infested trees has exceeded processing capacity and dead standing spruce (Picea abies) remain in the forest stands, even for several years. What should be done with this bark beetle wood? Is it necessary to harvest it in order to preserve the basic mechanical and physical properties? Is it possible to store it under standard conditions, or what happens to it when it is “stored” upright in the forest? These are issues that interested forest owners when wood prices were falling to a minimum (i.e., in 2018–2019) but also today, when the prices of quality wood in Central European conditions are rising sharply. To answer these questions, we found out how some of the mechanical properties of wood change in dead, bark beetle-infested trees. Five groups of spruce wood were harvested. Each of these groups was left upright in the forest for a specified period of time after bark beetle infestation, and one group was classified as a reference group (uninfested trees). Subsequently, we discovered what changes occurred in tensile and compressive strength depending on the time left in the stand and the distance from the center of the trunk. When selecting samples, we eliminated differences between individual trees using a CT scanning technique, which allowed us to separate samples, especially with different widths of annual rings and other variations that were not caused by bark beetle. The results showed the effect of log age and radial position in the trunk on tensile and compressive strength. The values for tensile strength in 3-year infested trees decreased compared to uninfested trees by 14% (from 93.815 MPa to 80.709 MPa); the values for compressive strength then decreased between the same samples by up to 25.6% (from 46.144 MPa to 34.318 MPa). A significant decrease in values for compressive strength was observed in the edges of the trunks, with 44.332 MPa measured in uninfested trees and only 29.750 MPa in 3-year infested trees (a decrease of 32.9%). The results suggest that the use of central timber from bark beetle-infested trees without the presence of moulds and fungi should not be problematic for construction purposes.

Vascular 3D Printing with a Novel Biological Tissue Mimicking Resin for Patient-Specific Procedure Simulations in Interventional Radiology: a Feasibility Study

Three-dimensional (3D) printing of vascular structures is of special interest for procedure simulations in Interventional Radiology, but remains due to the complexity of the vascular system and the lack of biological tissue mimicking 3D printing materials a technical challenge. In this study, the technical feasibility, accuracy, and usability of a recently introduced silicone-like resin were evaluated for endovascular procedure simulations and technically compared to a commonly used standard clear resin. Fifty-four vascular models based on twenty-seven consecutive embolization cases were fabricated from preinterventional CT scans and each model was checked for printing success and accuracy by CT-scanning and digital comparison to its original CT data. Median deltas (Δ) of luminal diameters were 0.35 mm for clear and 0.32 mm for flexible resin (216 measurements in total) with no significant differences (p > 0.05). Printing success was 85.2% for standard clear and 81.5% for the novel flexible resin. In conclusion, vascular 3D printing with silicone-like flexible resin was technically feasible and highly accurate. This is the first and largest consecutive case series of 3D-printed embolizations with a novel biological tissue mimicking material and is a promising next step in patient-specific procedure simulations in Interventional Radiology.

Dual-energy CT: minimal essentials for radiologists

Dual-energy CT, the object is scanned at two different energies, makes it possible to identify the characteristics of materials that cannot be evaluated on conventional single-energy CT images. This imaging method can be used to perform material decomposition based on differences in the material-attenuation coefficients at different energies. Dual-energy analyses can be classified as image data-based- and raw data-based analysis. The beam-hardening effect is lower with raw data-based analysis, resulting in more accurate dual-energy analysis. On virtual monochromatic images, the iodine contrast increases as the energy level decreases; this improves visualization of contrast-enhanced lesions. Also, the application of material decomposition, such as iodine- and edema images, increases the detectability of lesions due to diseases encountered in daily clinical practice. In this review, the minimal essentials of dual-energy CT scanning are presented and its usefulness in daily clinical practice is discussed.