Bridge Formation Research Articles

Highly Tough Yet Stiff, Transparent, and Recyclable PMMA Nanocomposites Incorporating TPU Nanofibril Networks with High Thermal Stability and Strong Interfacial Adhesion.

In this paper, we develop high aspect ratio nanofibrils from a polycaprolactone-based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and evaluate their performance as a toughening agent. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was chosen as the matrix material because of its inherent brittleness and low resistance to sudden shocks and impact. We show that the addition of as little as 3 wt % of TPU nanofibrils with an average diameter of ∼98 nm and very high aspect ratio can significantly improve both the tensile toughness (∼212%) and impact strength (∼40%) of the chosen matrix (i.e., PMMA) without compromising its original strength, stiffness, and transparency. We compare the performance of TPU nanofibrils with TPU spherical particles─the form TPU typically manifests into when melt-mixed with an immiscible polymer. Our findings highlight that the structure of TPU plays a crucial role in determining the critical concentration of TPU needed for the brittle-ductile transition of the matrix. We also provide new and valuable insights into the unique interfacial interaction (i.e., formation of fibrillar bridges) observed between the PMMA matrix and TPU. We also show that the inclusion of 3 wt % of TPU nanofibrils can notably enhance resistance to creep deformation, even at temperatures close to the glass transition temperature of the matrix. Finally, we evaluate recyclability and demonstrate that the composite containing 3 wt % of TPU nanofibrils can be mechanically recycled without losing any properties. The proposed TPU nanofibrils can withstand repeated reprocessing at temperatures up to 190 °C due to their very high melting point and thermal stability. This presents the opportunity for them to be utilized not just with amorphous PMMA, but also with a range of other materials that can be processed at or below this temperature to remarkably improve their toughness without sacrificing strength and stiffness.

Effect of four direct pulp capping agents on human dental pulp tissue.

Direct pulp capping (DPC) is a vital pulp therapy, wherein accidental or carious pulp exposures can be capped with various materials to induce reparative dentine formation. One of the major factors that determine the success of direct pulp capping procedures is the material used. Therefore, it is of interest to evaluate and compare the efficacy of a new material, Tristrontium aluminate in comparison with the widely used materials such as ProRoot MTA, Biodentine & TheraCal LC. Hence, 40 premolars scheduled for extraction for orthodontic treatment, were equally divided into 4 groups and iatrogenic DPC was done using one of the study materials. The premolars were then extracted after 90 days & assessed for the formation of Dentine Bridge and pulpal response elicited by the materials using CBCT and histopathological analysis. All the materials tested in the study were successful in inducing dentine bridge formation & maintaining pulp vitality. Thus, the novelty of Tristrontium aluminate for potential applications in future is eminent.

Exploring Ti active sites in Ziegler-Natta catalysts through realistic-scale computer simulations with universal neural network potential

We investigate the interaction dynamics between TiCl4 molecules and a MgCl2 (110) cluster to understand the complexities of Ziegler-Natta catalysts through molecular dynamics simulations. Our study reveals significant distortion of Mg atoms at the edge of cluster, influencing TiCl4 adsorption behavior, cluster stability, and reactivity. Various TiCl4 configurations on the MgCl2 surface, such as octahedral and bridging forms, illustrate the versatility of surface in accommodating different molecular arrangements, affecting catalytic performance. We explore diverse adsorption sites influenced by surface topology and electronic properties, revealing a range of adsorption energies from 15.7 to 29.2 kcal/mol. This indicates a complex interplay of molecular forces, significantly impacting catalytic efficiency at distorted sites. Nudged Elastic Band calculations reveal varied activation energies for ethylene insertion, suggesting faster reaction rates at certain sites and highlighting highly favorable dynamics at Corradini type Ti active sites. All these findings offer new directions for enhancing catalyst performances.

Optimization of cable-stayed force for asymmetric single tower cable-stayed bridge formation based on improved particle swarm algorithm

PurposeThis paper aims to optimize cable-stayed force in asymmetric one-tower cable-stayed bridge formation using an improved particle swarm algorithm. It compares results with the traditional unconstrained minimum bending energy method.Design/methodology/approachThis paper proposes an improved particle swarm algorithm to optimize cable-stayed force in bridge formation. It formulates a quadratic programming mathematical model considering the sum of bending energies of the main girder and bridge tower as the objective function. Constraints include displacements, stresses, cable-stayed force, and uniformity. The algorithm is applied to optimize the formation of an asymmetrical single-tower cable-stayed bridge, combining it with the finite element method.FindingsThe study’s findings reveal significant improvements over the minimum bending energy method. Results show that the structural displacement and internal force are within constraints, the maximum bending moment of the main girder decreases, resulting in smoother linear shape and more even internal force distribution. Additionally, the tower top offset decreases, and the bending moment change at the tower-beam junction is reduced. Moreover, diagonal cable force and cable force increase uniformly with cable length growth.Originality/valueThe improved particle swarm algorithm offers simplicity, effectiveness, and practicality in optimizing bridge-forming cable-staying force. It eliminates the need for arbitrary manual cable adjustments seen in traditional methods and effectively addresses the optimization challenge in asymmetric cable-stayed bridges.

Boosting the Formation of Brønsted Acids on Flame-made WOx/ZrO2 for Glucose Conversion.

WOx/ZrO2with ahigher concentrationof Brønsted acid sites (BAS) and a bigger ratio of Brønsted to Lewis acid sites (B/L) than achievable by conventional impregnation (IM)were synthesized usingflame spray pyrolysis (FSP). The rapid quenching and short residence time inherent to FSP prevent the accumulation of W atoms on the ZrO2 support and thus provide an excellent surface dispersion of WOx species. As a result, FSP-made WOx/ZrO2 (FSP-WOx/ZrO2) has a much higher surface concentration of three-dimensional Zr-WOx clusters than corresponding materials prepared by conventional impregnation (IM-WOx/ZrO2). The coordination of W-OH to the unsaturated Zr4+ sites in these clusters results in a remarkable decrease of the concentration of Lewis acid sites (LAS) on the surface of ZrO2 and promotes the formation of bridging W-O(H)-Zr hydroxyl groups acting as BAS. FSP-WOx/ZrO2 possesses ~80% of BAS and a B/L ratio of around 4, while IM-WOx/ZrO2 exhibits ~50% BAS and a B/L ratio of around 1. These catalysts were evaluated in the dehydration of glucose to HMF. The catalytic study demonstrated that B/L ratio plays a crucial role in glucose conversion. The best catalyst, FSP-WOx/ZrO2 with a W/Zr ratio of 1/10 affords nearly 100% glucose conversion and an HMF selectivity of 56-69%.

Evaluating the Performance of Two Automated Anti-drug Antibodies Assays for Infliximab and Adalimumab Without Acid Dissociation

Monitoring anti-drug antibodies (ADAs) to infliximab and adalimumab is critical to treatment management in various autoimmune disorders. The growing need for proactive therapeutic monitoring further requires the detection of ADAs in the presence of measurable concentrations of infliximab or adalimumab. To provide robust analytical assays for clinical application, we evaluated two automated immunoassays developed using ImmunoCAP™ technology and based on the bridging format to measure serum ADAs to infliximab and adalimumab respectively. Without an acid-dissociation step, these research prototype assays can detect a positive control monoclonal ADA towards infliximab and adalimumab, ranging from < 25 ng/ml to 10,000 ng/mL. Both assays exhibit imprecision less than 20% at different ADA titer levels and can distinguish ADAs towards different drug targets. In method comparison using authentic patient samples, the quantitative results of the ADA assays are not directly comparable to two existing clinical immunoassays for ADAs (correlation coefficient rs = 0.673 for infliximab ADAs; rs = 0.510 for adalimumab ADAs), presumably due to the lack of commutable ADA standards and the polyclonal nature of ADAs. Nevertheless, there is qualitative agreement between the methods when evaluating putative positive and negative patient samples (overall agreement 0.83 for infliximab ADAs; 0.76 for adalimumab ADAs). Biotin and high levels of rheumatoid factors may interfere with the performance of the automated assays due to competitive binding with the biotinylated drug and non-specific formation of bridging complexes. The two ImmunoCAP assays can provide new analytical methods for proactive therapeutic monitoring of adalimumab and infliximab.Graphical

Neohesperidin exerts subtle yet comprehensive regulation of mouse dental papilla cell-23 in vitro

ObjectiveThe molecular regulation of odontoblasts in dentin formation remains largely uncharacterized. Using neohesperidin (NEO), a well-documented osteoblast regulator, we investigated whether and how NEO participates in odontoblast regulation through longitudinal treatments using various doses of NEO. DesignMouse dental papilla cell-23 (MDPC-23) served as a model for odontoblasts. MDPC-23 were treated with various doses of NEO (0, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 μmol/L). Proliferation was assessed using the Cell counting kit-8 assay. Survival/apoptosis was assayed by live/dead ratio. Migration capability was assessed using scratch healing and Transwell migration assays. Mineralization was assessed using alkaline phosphatase staining and alizarin red staining. The expression levels of four key genes (Runx2, osteocalcin [OCN], β-catenin, and bone morphogenetic protein [BMP]−2) representing NEO-induced differentiation of MDPC-23 were measured by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. ResultsThe proliferation trajectories of MDPC-23 treated with the five doses of NEO demonstrated similar curves, with a rapid increase in the 10 μmol/L NEO condition after 48 h of treatment. Similar dose-dependent trajectories were observed for survival/apoptosis. All four key genes representing odontogenic differentiation were upregulated in MDPC-23 induced by NEO treatments at two optimal doses (5 μmol/L and 10 μmol/L). Optimal migration and mobility trajectories were observed in MDPC-23 treated with 10 μmol/L NEO. Optimal mineralization was observed in MDPC-23 treated with 5 μmol/L NEO. ConclusionNEO can subtly regulate odontoblast proliferation, differentiation, migration, and mineralization in vitro. NEO at 5–10 μmol/L offers a safe and effective perspective for clinical promotion of dentin bridge formation in teenagers.

Depletion of b-series ganglioside prevents limb length discrepancy after growth plate injury

IntroductionGrowth plate damage in long bones often results in progressive skeletal growth imbalance and deformity, leading to significant physical problems. Gangliosides, key glycosphingolipids in cartilage, are notably abundant in articular cartilage and regulate chondrocyte homeostasis. This suggests their significant roles in regulating growth plate cartilage repair.MethodsChondrocytes from 3 to 5 day-old C57BL/6 mice underwent glycoblotting and mass spectrometry. Based on the results of the glycoblotting analysis, we employed GD3 synthase knockout mice (GD3-/-), which lack b-series gangliosides. In 3-week-old mice, physeal injuries were induced in the left tibiae, with right tibiae sham operated. Tibiae were analyzed at 5 weeks postoperatively for length and micro-CT for growth plate height and bone volume at injury sites. Tibial shortening ratio and bone mineral density were measured by micro-CT.ResultsGlycoblotting analysis indicated that b-series gangliosides were the most prevalent in physeal chondrocytes among ganglioside series. At 3 weeks, GD3-/- exhibited reduced tibial shortening (14.7 ± 0.2 mm) compared to WT (15.0 ± 0.1 mm, P = 0.03). By 5 weeks, the tibial lengths in GD3-/- (16.0 ± 0.4 mm) closely aligned with sham-operated lengths (P = 0.70). Micro-CT showed delayed physeal bridge formation in GD3-/-, with bone volume measuring 168.9 ± 5.8 HU at 3 weeks (WT: 180.2 ± 3.2 HU, P = 0.09), but normalizing by 5 weeks.ConclusionThis study highlights that GD3 synthase knockout mice inhibit physeal bridge formation after growth plate injury, proposing a new non-invasive approach for treating skeletal growth disorders.

Chemical changes in thermally modified, acetylated and melamine formaldehyde resin impregnated beech wood

Abstract Wood modification (by thermal or chemical treatment) helps to improve the dimensional stability of wood and enhance its resistance to biological agents. Beech wood is non-durable and exposure in exterior settings dramatically shortens its service life. To determine the full potential of beech wood for advanced applications, a better understanding of the chemical changes induced by modification is needed. Two chemical treatments (acetylation and melamine formaldehyde resin impregnation) and three thermal treatments (heating to 180, 200 and 220 °C) were performed on beech wood. The modification effect was examined based on (i) molecular changes in functional groups by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR); (ii) extractive content; and (iii) pH changes. Moreover, the explanation of these changes was supported by the FTIR-analysis of isolated main wood components (cellulose, holocellulose and lignin) from the modified wood. The high temperatures applied to samples during thermal modification promoted the deacetylation and degradation of hemicelluloses. Hemicelluloses were targeted also by acetic anhydride and melamine resin, the bonding of which was confirmed by FTIR analysis. The formation of fewer methylene bridges affected the properties of the melamine network. This observation suggests the need to determine optimal curing conditions in future research, to reduce melamine-wood hydrophilicity.

Structural basis of homodimerization of the JNK scaffold protein JIP2 and its heterodimerization with JIP1

The scaffold proteins JIP1 and JIP2 intervene in the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway to mediate signaling specificity by coordinating the simultaneous assembly of multiple kinases. Using NMR, we demonstrate that JIP1 and JIP2 heterodimerize via their SH3 domains with the affinity of heterodimerization being comparable to homodimerization. We present the high-resolution crystal structure of the JIP2-SH3 homodimer and the JIP1-JIP2-SH3 heterodimeric complex. The JIP2-SH3 structure reveals how charge differences in residues at its dimer interface lead to formation of compensatory hydrogen bonds and salt bridges, distinguishing it from JIP1-SH3. In the JIP1-JIP2-SH3 complex, structural features of each homodimer are employed to stabilize the heterodimer. Building on these insights, we identify key residues crucial for stabilizing the dimer of both JIP1 and JIP2. Through targeted mutations in cellulo, we demonstrate a functional role for the dimerization of the JIP1 and JIP2 scaffold proteins in activation of the JNK signaling pathway.

Cell-intrinsic mechanical regulation of plasma membrane accumulation at the cytokinetic furrow

Cytokinesis is the process where the mother cell's cytoplasm separates into daughter cells. This is driven by an actomyosin contractile ring that produces cortical contractility and drives cleavage furrow ingression, resulting in the formation of a thin intercellular bridge. While cytoskeletal reorganization during cytokinesis has been extensively studied, less is known about the spatiotemporal dynamics of the plasma membrane. Here, we image and model plasma membrane lipid and protein dynamics on the cell surface during leukemia cell cytokinesis. We reveal an extensive accumulation and folding of the plasma membrane at the cleavage furrow and the intercellular bridge, accompanied by a depletion and unfolding of the plasma membrane at the cell poles. These membrane dynamics are caused by two actomyosin-driven biophysical mechanisms: the radial constriction of the cleavage furrow causes local compression of the apparent cell surface area and accumulation of the plasma membrane at the furrow, while actomyosin cortical flows drag the plasma membrane toward the cell division plane as the furrow ingresses. The magnitude of these effects depends on the plasma membrane fluidity, cortex adhesion, and cortical contractility. Overall, our work reveals cell-intrinsic mechanical regulation of plasma membrane accumulation at the cleavage furrow that is likely to generate localized differences in membrane tension across the cytokinetic cell. This may locally alter endocytosis, exocytosis, and mechanotransduction, while also serving as a self-protecting mechanism against cytokinesis failures that arise from high membrane tension at the intercellular bridge.

The stromal side of the cytochrome b6f complex regulates state transitions.

In oxygenic photosynthesis, state transitions distribute light energy between PSI and PSII. This regulation involves reduction of the plastoquinone pool, activation of the state transitions 7 (STT7) protein kinase by the cytochrome (cyt) b6f complex, and phosphorylation and migration of light harvesting complexes II (LHCII). In this study, we show that in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the C-terminus of the cyt b6 subunit PetB acts on phosphorylation of STT7 and state transitions. We used site-directed mutagenesis of the chloroplast petB gene to truncate (remove L215b6) or elongate (add G216b6) the cyt b6 subunit. Modified complexes are devoid of heme ci and degraded by FTSH protease, revealing that salt bridge formation between cyt b6 (PetB) and Subunit IV (PetD) is essential to the assembly of the complex. In double mutants where FTSH is inactivated, modified cyt b6f accumulated but the phosphorylation cascade was blocked. We also replaced the arginine interacting with heme ci propionate (R207Kb6). In this modified complex, heme ci is present but the kinetics of phosphorylation are slower. We show that highly phosphorylated forms of STT7 accumulated transiently after reduction of the PQ pool and represent the active forms of the protein kinase. The phosphorylation of the LHCII targets is favored at the expense of the protein kinase, and the migration of LHCII toward PSI is the limiting step for state transitions.

Identification of the cytochrome P450s responsible for the biosynthesis of two types of aporphine alkaloids and their de novo biosynthesis in yeast.

Aporphine alkaloids have diverse pharmacological activities; however, our understanding of their biosynthesis is relatively limited. Previous studies have classified aporphine alkaloids into two categories based on the configuration and number of substituents of the D-ring and have proposed preliminary biosynthetic pathways for each category. In this study, we identified two specific cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP80G6 and CYP80Q5) with distinct activities toward (S)-configured and (R)-configured substrates from the herbaceous perennial vine Stephania tetrandra, shedding light on the biosynthetic mechanisms and stereochemical features of these two aporphine alkaloid categories. Additionally, we characterized two CYP719C enzymes (CYP719C3 and CYP719C4) that catalyzed the formation of the methylenedioxy bridge, an essential pharmacophoric group, on the A- and D-rings, respectively, of aporphine alkaloids. Leveraging the functional characterization of these crucial cytochrome P450 enzymes, we reconstructed the biosynthetic pathways for the two types of aporphine alkaloids in budding yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) for the de novo production of compounds such as (R)-glaziovine, (S)-glaziovine, and magnoflorine. This study provides key insight into the biosynthesis of aporphine alkaloids and lays a foundation for producing these valuable compounds through synthetic biology.

Point Estimation-Based Dynamic Reliability Analysis of Beam Bridges under Seismic Excitation Considering Uncertain Parameters

Beam bridges, as the primary structural form of medium and small-sized bridges, are extensively utilized for road and railway crossings over rivers and valleys. Ensuring their reliability during earthquakes is crucial not only for maintaining traffic flow but also for mitigating the seismic impact on the economy and society. Considering earthquake intensity and uncertain parameters, this paper proposes an innovative method for assessing the seismic reliability of simply-supported beam bridges under three different levels of seismic design: minor, moderate, and major earthquakes. The proposed method first estimates the probability of encountering three typical earthquake intensities during the design life of simply-supported beam bridges based on crowd intensity, benchmark intensity, and major earthquake intensity. It then introduces uncertain parameters and employs the point estimation method to calculate the probability of bridge passage under specific earthquake intensities. Finally, it combines these earthquake intensities to calculate the overall seismic reliability of simply-supported beam bridges. The effectiveness and efficiency of this method are demonstrated through calculations for a three-span, double-degree-of-freedom simply-supported beam bridge, and validated using Monte Carlo simulations. This research provides solid theoretical support for seismic assessment, design, and intensity-based reliability analysis of simply-supported beam bridges.

Research on Long-span Bridge Point Cloud Morphology Identification

With the rapid development of 3D laser scanning technology and the trend of accurate and convenient acquisition of 3D point cloud data, the 3D point cloud data that was challenging to acquire in the past has also become one of the main ways to represent the 3D form of bridges. Among several bridge types, suspension bridges have high research value due to their widespread use in long-span bridges. The main cable, as the main load-bearing member of the suspension bridge, exhibits characteristics such as a large span, heavy components, and numerous influencing factors in long-span bridges. Thus, controlling the formation of the main cables is a problem frequently encountered in bridge engineering. Using 3D point cloud scanning data, this paper constructs an overall 3D point cloud model of the bridge and proposes an automatic extraction algorithm for bridge components based on this model. Subsequently, the paper illustrates the integration of the algorithm analysis and control of user interaction platform building, aiming to build up long span bridge digital base, therefore realizing variation recognition and digital tracking of long bridge space form.

In Ukrainian

The contact wetting is one of the effective methods of studying the adsorption capacity of sorbents. The purpose of the work was to compare the experimentally obtained data on the adsorption capacity of shungite, obtained by the sessile drop method, and the results of modeling the behavior of liquid droplets on heterogeneous surfaces using the Boltzmann lattice method, and to show the suitability of the simplified version of the LBM method that we applied within the framework of a two-dimensional model for modeling complex cases of contact interaction between liquids and sorbent, when it cannot be carried out by the method of contact wetting. The adsorption properties of shungite with regard to the extraction of various impurities from water-alcohol solutions and the capability of the sorbent to recover were investigated by the method of contact wetting and analyzed by involving the data obtained by the methods of nitrogen adsorption, thermogravimetry and IR spectroscopy. It is shown that the adsorption properties of shungite are due to the presence on its surface of hydroxyl functional groups attached to carbon atoms in phenol or enol form, which give the surface hydrophilic characteristics. These groups play a key role in the adsorption of components from the liquid (aqueous) phase due to the formation of a hydrogen bond during the sorption of components from the liquid phase, and are restored after heating in the temperature range of 80–180 °C with the formation of carbon-containing gases and water. It has been found that silanol groups present in shungite do not participate in sorption. Compared to the original shungite sample, the sample after five cycles of adsorption is characterized by a noticeable effect of mass loss (1.8 %) in the temperature range of 80–180 °С. At the same time, the loss of mass is not significant at temperatures below 100 °С. This suggests that the sorbed substances are in the pores and not on the surface of shungite, and they begin to be removed only after heating above 100 °C. The LBM method was used to study fast-moving processes at the meso-level. A comparative analysis of the experimental data obtained by the method of contact wetting with the results of simulation by the Boltzmann lattice method within the framework of the two-dimensional model was carried out. 2D modeling by the LBM method turned out to be an effective means of studying capillary condensation in mesopores, anticipatory wetting of the solid phase, liquid penetration into a porous medium with different topologies, and the formation of anisotropic droplets and anisotropic bridges. The role of mesopores in the sorption process was analyzed by modeling the behavior of liquid droplets on heterogeneous surfaces and using data on the course of adsorption and capillary processes on the surface of a solid phase with different levels of porosity, roughness, and functional composition.

Co-removal of mercury and organic dye via the rectangle-shaped nanosheets loaded hydrochar: Surface interactions and DFT calculations

Inorganic and organic pollutants usually co-exist in practical wastewater, leading to difficult co-removal processes due to their different physiochemical properties. In this study, the palygorskite nanosheets loaded hydrochar (PNLH) was synthesized for the mercury (Hg) and methylene blue (MB) co-contaminated wastewater. The physicochemical characteristics of PNLH were investigated comprehensively, and the maximum capacity of Hg(II) and MB reached 149 and 153 mg/g, respectively. Based on analysis, the surface interactions between PNLH with Hg(II) and MB included complexation, hydrogen bonding, pore filling, etc. More importantly, the performance of PNLH was improved in the Hg(II)-MB binary system, while the synergistic effects were attributed to the bridging interactions and formation of complexations between Hg(II) and MB. The density functional theory (DFT) method was applied to demonstrate that the oxygen-containing functional groups such as O–Mg, O–Al, and –OH introduced by the clay greatly enhanced the interactions, and the synergistic adsorption mechanism was also elucidated. The regeneration experiments, column studies, and economic feasibility analysis further demonstrated the practicality of PNLH for effluent purification. This study provides a solution for environmental remediation materials dealing with inorganic–organic co-polluted wastewater.

Durability and thermal insulation properties of glazed hollow bead concrete with nanoparticles in marine atmospheric environment

Industrial and civil buildings in coastal areas have been in the marine atmosphere for a long time and are especially susceptible to the combined effects of carbonation and salt spray, which accelerate the deterioration of concrete durability and the reduction of thermal insulation performance. This paper focused on the effect of nano-SiO2 and nano-Al2O3 on the durability and thermal insulation of glazed hollow bead concrete (GC) under a salt spray carbonation environment, and analyzed the mechanism of nanoparticles on the improvement of durability and thermal insulation of GC by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) microscopic tests. The results showed that both nano-SiO2 and nano-Al2O3 incorporation could improve the durability and thermal insulation of GC to a certain extent. The optimal amount of both nanoparticles was 2 %, and nano-SiO2 had a stronger beneficial effect than nano-Al2O3. In comparison to GC, the free Cl− content in the surface layer of GCNS20 and GCNA20 after 56 cycles was decreased by 33.33 % and 27.22 %, respectively. Furthermore, the carbonation depths of GCNS20 and GCNA20 were decreased by 42.83 % and 36.38 %, respectively. The thermal conductivity of GCNS20 and GCNA20 decreased by 24.86 % and 17.34 %, respectively, while the thermal diffusion coefficients were reduced by 33.22 % and 23.73 %, respectively. The incorporation of nanoparticles effectively reduced the microcracks and pores in GC, improved its internal structure, and reduced the possibility of thermal bridge formation. In addition, the incorporation of nanoparticles significantly reduced the production of erosion products such as CaCO3 and Friedel's salt in GC.

Marsupialization of a maxillary cyst – case report.

Cysts of the upper and lower jaw are a usual radiographic finding, sometimes detected by chance, that affect the dentition and the adjacent anatomical structures. There have been described various approaches for their management, but two of them are nowadays applied, namely marsupialization and enucleation. The aim of this study is to assess marsupialization as a usual treatment for cystic lesions and highlight the usefulness of oral radiology in their diagnosis and treatment. A clinical case of maxillary cyst is presented. The patient visited the School of Dentistry and, after the clinical examination and radiographic images (OPG and CBCT), a wide cyst was diagnosed in the anterior left region of the upper jaw. The cyst had penetrated the buccal and palatal alveolar bone, as well as the osseous floor of the left nasal cavity. The surgeons suggested marsupialization as the best surgical choice. So, after patient's consent, teeth #23 and #24 were extracted and the cyst's epithelium was excised through their post-extraction alveoli. The formation of osseous bridge was monitored with regular CBCT imaging. This clinical case is being presented to highlight the value of marsupialization in managing large cysts.

Fast Cable-Force Measurement for Large-Span Cable-Stayed Bridges Based on the Alignment Recognition Method and Smartphone-Captured Video

The accurate measurement of cable force plays an important role in the structural form, structural behavior, and safety evaluation of large-span cable-stayed bridges. A fast cable-force estimation method is proposed based on the alignment recognition method and smartphone-captured video. This method can realize real-time, non-contact, and non-destructive force measurements. Videos of bridge cables were collected using a portable smartphone, and an alignment recognition method was employed to obtain the lateral displacement along the cable, followed by numerical differentiation of the lateral displacement of the cable to acquire the acceleration time history. Based on the fundamental dynamic equation of beam elements, a unified explicit formula for cable-force calculation considering service characteristics was established in the frequency method. Finally, the method was applied to the cable-force measurement during the operation and maintenance stage of the Gengcun Dou Bridge. The measured cable forces were compared with the values obtained from the on-site monitoring system. The results show that the proposed method can accurately identify the acceleration time history at different positions of the cable, and the corresponding frequency components are essentially consistent. The average relative deviation of the measured cable forces from the reference method is within 3%. The proposed cable-force measurement method is simple as regards equipment, convenient for operation, and high in efficiency, providing a new method for the measurement of cable forces in large-span cable-stayed bridges, which can offer reliable measured cable-force data for structural analysis during bridge operation and the maintenance stage.