Photopolymerized superhydrophobic hybrid coating enabled by dual-purpose tetrapodal ZnO for liquid/liquid separation

The development of low-cost and scalable superhydrophobic coating methods demands viable approaches for energy-efficient separation of immiscible liquid/liquid mixtures. A scalable photoinitiated method is developed to functionalize stainless-steel mesh with...

A Comparison of Different Strategies for The Modification of Quartz Tuning Forks Based Mass Sensitive Sensors Using Natural Melanin Nanoparticles

Quartz tuning fork (QTF) is a measurement tool that is gaining attraction nowadays due to remarkable features like their low cost, stable resonance frequency, and considerably low working frequency. However how to functionalize a QTF as a chemical or a physical sensor is still an important problem that needs to be solved for a widespread usage. This paper describes approaches to functionalize QTFs by utilizing melanin nanoparticles (MNP) in order to create a recognition layer for the creation of a target specific mass sensitive biosensor. In order to achieve this aim, electroplating and dip coating methods are chosen for their relative ease of use and cheap operating costs for the purpose of being industry-friendly and reproducible as a product for field applications. Moreover a comparative study on chemical etching of QTFs was conducted with the goal of improving MNP attachment during dip coating process.

The Effect of Mechanical Tongue Cleaning on Oral Malodor and Tongue Coating

Background: Mechanical tongue cleaning is an important oral hygiene procedure; it is known that a significant cause of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs), a major component of bad breath, is due to the bacteria coating the tongue. This study was conducted to identify the effect of mechanical tongue cleaning on reducing bad breath and tongue coating. Methods: Various mechanical tongue-cleaning methods were studied, including removing tongue coating using a toothbrush, removing tongue coating using a tongue scraper, and removing tongue coating using a toothbrush and a tongue scraper together. The results were as follows. Results: First, the organic bad breath measurement value after cleaning the tongue significantly decreased in the group using only the toothbrush, the group using only the tongue scraper, and the group using both the toothbrush and the tongue scraper. However, there was no difference between the groups. Second, after cleaning the tongue, the measured values of the tongue coating in the values of WTCI (Winkel’s tongue coating index) and Qray view were significantly reduced in all three groups, and there was no difference between the groups. Third, the gas measurement value in the oral cavity using a machine significantly decreased only the H2S value of the group using the tongue scraper immediately after the mechanical tongue cleaning. Conclusions: From these results, it can be confirmed that mechanical tongue cleaning is effective at reducing bad breath and tongue coating. However, in this study, there was no difference in the reduction effect according to the tools (groups) used for mechanical tongue cleaning. It can therefore be seen that wiping accurately from the rear of the tongue to the front is more effective at reducing bad breath and tongue coating.

Scintillation Response Enhancement in Nanocrystalline Lead Halide Perovskite Thin Films on Scintillating Wafers

Lead halide perovskite nanocrystals of the formula CsPbBr3 have recently been identified as potential time taggers in scintillating heterostructures for time-of-flight positron emission tomography (TOF-PET) imaging thanks to their ultrafast decay kinetics. This study investigates the potential of this material experimentally. We fabricated CsPbBr3 thin films on scintillating GGAG:Ce (Gd2.985Ce0.015Ga2.7Al2.3O12) wafer as a model structure for the future sampling detector geometry. We focused this study on the radioluminescence (RL) response of this composite material. We compare the results of two spin-coating methods, namely the static and the dynamic process, for the thin film preparation. We demonstrated enhanced RL intensity of both CsPbBr3 and GGAG:Ce scintillating constituents of a composite material. This synergic effect arises in both the RL spectra and decays, including decays in the short time window (50 ns). Consequently, this study confirms the applicability of CsPbBr3 nanocrystals as efficient time taggers for ultrafast timing applications, such as TOF-PET.

ENSURING THE SAFETY OF METAL STRUCTURES IN CONSTRUCTION

The author considers the main methods of fire protection for residential and public buildings and structures. The efficiency of metal structures is analyzed, the latest methods of corrosion and fire protection of metal structures are selected. For the plastering, cladding and coating methods, a table of the required thickness in relation to the fire resistance limits was compiled. Based on this table, graphical and empirical dependences for the 30k1 I-beam column are constructed, showing the dependence of temperature on time and the limits of fire resistance on the reduced coating thickness. According to the graphic data, the most economical method of fire protection was chosen, but the resulting deflections exceed the limit according to current standards.

Final Report for Blood Brain Barrier Opening of Rat by Laser-generated Focused Ultrasound Transducer

A laser-generated carbon nanotube (CNT) transducer has been known to generate a shock wave with large amplitude for lasting sub-microseconds without producing heat. This laser-generated CNT transducer has never been applied to transcranial focused ultrasound (tcFUS) applications. Based on preliminary observation of the Evans blue leaked in the brain tissue of a rat after sonication of the shock wave by a CNT transducer, BBB opening of the rat by the shock wave from the CNT transducer was tried to confirm without damage of vessels. However, peak negative pressure was saturated to -9 MPa which is not enough for cavitation even with all trials of different fabrication processes such as coating methods of the PDMS layer, CNT-PDMS composite layers, backing materials, and CNT solutions. These results and discussion and suggestions were reported. As another application of the CNT transducer for lower peak negative pressure, EEG signals before and after sonication of shock waves for 10 minutes were observed in 3 rats. Shock wave by CNT transducer would be a potential for tcFUS neurostimulation and neuromodulation.

Research and development of processes of vacuum ion-plasma parts surface treatment

The application of electron-ion-plasma technologies for increasing the service life of machine parts, tools and technological equipment has been investigated. The technology of vacuum ion-plasma surface treatment is proposed for the deposition of coatings, which makes it possible to create internal, external and combined coatings. The manufacturability of coating methods is largely determined by the level of the developed equipment. The entire technological process of deposition of wear-resistant coatings on parts of friction units is carried out in one cycle on a BRV600F vacuum unit, which is equipped with all the necessary technical means. A method has been developed for the technology of obtaining a superhard carbon-metal coating with desired properties, namely, improving the quality of diamond-like films by changing their structure and composition, while the lower layer should have high adhesion to the substrate material, the middle layer should have high hardness and increased wear resistance, and the upper layer should have good thermal conductivity and heat resistance with low coefficient of friction.

Biocompatibility Analyses of HF-Passivated Magnesium Screws for Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR)

Background: Magnesium (Mg) is one of the most promising materials for human use in surgery due to material characteristics such as its elastic modulus as well as its resorbable and regenerative properties. In this study, HF-coated and uncoated novel bioresorbable magnesium fixation screws for maxillofacial and dental surgical applications were investigated in vitro and in vivo to evaluate the biocompatibility of the HF coating. Methods: Mg alloy screws that had either undergone a surface treatment with hydrofluoric-acid (HF) or left untreated were investigated. In vitro investigation included XTT, BrdU and LDH in accordance with the DIN ISO 10993-5/-12. In vivo, the screws were implanted into the tibia of rabbits. After 3 and 6 weeks, degradation, local tissue reactions and bony integration were analyzed histopathologically and histomorphometrically. Additionally, SEM/EDX analysis and synchrotron phase-contrast microtomography (µCT) measurements were conducted. The in vitro analyses revealed that the Mg screws are cytocompatible, with improved results when the surface had been passivated with HF. In vivo, the HF-treated Mg screws implanted showed a reduction in gas formation, slower biodegradation and a better bony integration in comparison to the untreated Mg screws. Histopathologically, the HF-passivated screws induced a layer of macrophages as part of its biodegradation process, whereas the untreated screws caused a slight fibrous tissue reaction. SEM/EDX analysis showed that both screws formed a similar layer of calcium phosphates on their surfaces and were surrounded by bone. Furthermore, the µCT revealed the presence of a metallic core of the screws, a faster absorbing corrosion front and a slow absorbing region of corroded magnesium. Conclusions: Overall, the HF-passivated Mg fixation screws showed significantly better biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo compared to the untreated screws.

The Development of Fine Surface Roughness of FeCrAl Substrate by Gamma Alumina Coating Material Through Nickel Oxide Catalyst

The most commonly used method for protecting atmospherically exposed steel against corrosion, is the application of protective organic coating systems. It is widely recognized that the stability of the coating-substrate interface is related to the interfacial adhesion forces and electrochemical properties of this region. This study aim to develop fine surface roughness by ultrasonic and electroplating coating methods that applied for FeCrAl catalytic converter. This method consists of thwo methods which are ultrasonic bath that carried out by frequency of 35 kHz and various ultrasonic times of 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 hours is imposed and the electroplating was conducted for several variation times of 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 minutes, current density of 8 A/dm2. The result shows that the surface roughness of UB samples in between 0.11 to 0.21 µm, UBdEL samples of 0.81 to 2.17 µm, UB+EL samples of 0.64 to 1.63 µm and EL samples of 0.69 to 1.11 µm. The finest surface of each techniques are located at UB 1.5 h, UBdEL 45 minutes, UB 1.5 h+EL 30 minutes and UB 30 minutes. That data is supported by coating thickness of coated FeCrAl substrate where UB samples in between 2 -2.8 µm, UBdEL samples of 4.1 to 5 µm, UB+EL samples of 9.1 to 12 µm and EL samples of 6.2 to 11.3 µm.