Conventional Plate Research Articles

Application of culturomics in fungal isolation from mangrove sediments

BackgroundFungi play a crucial role in ecosystems, and they have been widely considered a promising source for natural compounds that are crucial for drug discovery. Fungi have a high diversity, but about 95% of them remain unknown to science. The description rate of fungi is very low, mainly due to the inability of most fungi to grow in artificial media, which could not provide a sufficiently similar environment to their natural habitats. Moreover, many species in nature are in a state of low metabolic activity which cannot readily proliferate without proper resuscitation. Previously developed culturomics techniques are mostly designed and applicable for bacteria, with few attempts for fungal isolation because of their significantly larger cell size and hyphal growth properties.ResultsThis study attempted to isolate previously uncultured and rare fungi from mangrove sediments using newly developed fungal enrichment culture method (FECM) and fungal isolation chips (FiChips). Comparison of fungal community composition at different enrichment stages showed that FECM had great influence on fungal community composition, with rare taxa increased significantly, thus improving the isolation efficiency of previously uncultured fungi. Similarly, in situ cultivation using FiChips has a significant advantage in detecting and culturing rare fungi, as compared to the conventional dilution plate method (DPM). In addition, based on morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses, we described and proposed 38 new ascomycetous taxa, including three new families, eight new genera, 25 new species, and two new combinations (presented in additional file 1).ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that mangrove sediments harbor a high diversity of fungi, and our new isolation approaches (FECM and FiChips) presented a high efficiency in isolating hitherto uncultured fungi, which is potentially usable for fungal isolation in other similar environments.Dds2rK-5aaMj4bHfhLGEseVideo

Designing a Novel Porous Fixation Plate with a Gyroid Lattice Structure for Humerus Fractures Using a Probabilistic Approach

Conventional fixation plates permanently attached to the body can lead to complications, such as stress shielding and aseptic loosening, due to their contact with the bone, resulting in bone loss. The contact between these solid fixation plates and the bone surface inhibits blood flow, potentially leading to necrosis at the interface. To overcome this challenge, a porous implant featuring a gyroid lattice structure for humerus bone fixation is proposed. However, designing such an implant typically involves deterministic approaches, which do not account for uncertainties in design parameters, loadings on the plate, and additive manufacturing process parameters. Consequently, the actual conditions experienced by the plate may not be accurately modeled. Herein, both deterministic and probabilistic analyses of a porous implant with a gyroid lattice structure positioned on the humeral bone is conducted. The findings are compared to the failure probabilities of both the conventional fixation plate and the optimal plate derived from a previous study. The study reveals that uncertainties in design parameters significantly influence the plate's failure probability compared to deterministic analysis, emphasizing the importance of probability‐based analyses for a reliable plate design.

A Comparative Analysis of Intensity and Energy Flux in the Focus of the High-Numeric-Aperture Conventional and Spiral Zone Plates

A Comparative Analysis of Intensity and Energy Flux in the Focus of the High-Numeric-Aperture Conventional and Spiral Zone Plates

Performance evaluation of a single microchannel plate with large length-to-diameter ratio

The conventional microchannel plate (MCP) detector has found widespread application in various fields. This article focuses on investigating the performance of a single MCP with a large length-to-diameter ratio (L/D) of 80:1, particularly for single electron counting. To enhance MCP performance, alumina with a high secondary electron yield (SEY) is coated onto the MCP using atomic layer deposition (ALD). The SEYs of alumina thin films with different thicknesses are measured using a pulsing electron beam method. The 80:1 L/D MCPs operate in electron counting mode, and the optimal alumina thickness is determined through a comparative study of MCP performance before and after coating. The relationships between maximum SEY, primary electron energy, gain, peak-to-valley ratio (P/V), and pulse height resolution (PHR) are analyzed. After alumina coating, the single 80:1 MCP exhibits improved gain, P/V and PHR. The optimal P/V and PHR of a single MCP as functions of the primary electron energy align with the relationship between the SEY of the alumina coating and the primary electron energy. Additionally, the variation of DC gain with extracted charge is investigated. This article provides valuable insights for parameter selection in achieving the optimal working state of MCP and explores the potential application of single electron counting using a single MCP.

Biomechanical behavior of the three-dimensionally printed surgical plates for mandibular defect reconstruction: a finite element analysis

The aim of the study was to investigate the biomechanical behavior of three-dimensionally (3D)-printed surgical plates used for mandibular defect reconstruction, compare them with conventional surgical plates, and provide experimental evidence for their clinical application. Three-dimensional models were created for the normal mandible and for mandibular body defects reconstructed using free fibula and deep circumflex iliac artery flaps. Three-dimensional finite element models of reconstructed mandibles fixed using 3D-printed and conventional surgical plates were established. Vertical occlusal forces were applied to the remaining teeth and the displacement and Von Mises stress distributions were studied using finite element analysis. The normal and reconstructed mandibles had similar biomechanical behaviors. The displacement distributions for the surgical plates were similar, and the maximum total deformation occurred at the screw hole of the anterior segment of the surgical plates. However, there were differences in the Von Mises stress distributions for the surgical plates. In reconstructed mandibles fixed using 3D-printed surgical plates, the maximum equivalent Von Mises stress occurred at the screw hole of the posterior segment, while in those fixed using conventional surgical plates, the maximum equivalent Von Mises stress was at the screw hole of the anterior segment. In the mandible models reconstructed with the same free flap but fixed with different surgical plates, the plates had similar biomechanical behaviors. The biomechanical behavior of 3D-printed surgical plates was similar to conventional surgical plates, suggesting that 3D-printed surgical plates used to reconstruct mandibular body defects with vascularized autogenous bone grafts could lead to secure and stable fixation.

A new sampling device for metabarcoding surveillance of port communities and detection of non-indigenous species

Metabarcoding techniques are revolutionizing studies of marine biodiversity. They can be used for monitoring non-indigenous species (NIS) in ports and harbors. However, they are often biased by inconsistent sampling methods and incomplete reference databases. Logistic constraints in ports prompt the development of simple, easy-to-deploy samplers. We tested a new device called polyamide mesh for ports organismal monitoring (POMPOM) with a high surface-to-volume ratio. POMPOMS were deployed inside a fishing and recreational port in the Mediterranean alongside conventional settlement plates. We also compiled a curated database with cytochrome oxidase (COI) sequences of Mediterranean NIS. COI metabarcoding of the communities settled in the POMPOMs captured a similar biodiversity than settlement plates, with shared molecular operational units (MOTUs) representing ca. 99% of reads. 38 NIS were detected in the port accounting for ca. 26% of reads. POMPOMs were easy to deploy and handle and provide an efficient method for NIS surveillance.

First Report of Bacterial Leaf Blight caused by Enterobacter asburiae on Sorghum in Jiangsu Province, China.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) is a major cereal crop in China, with a planting area of more than 674666 ha in 2021. In August 2022, bacterial leaf blight symptoms were observed on sorghum plants grown in a field in Huai'an (119.30437 ºE, 33.999644 ºN), in Jiangsu Province (Fig. 1). To determine the causal agent, four symptomatic leaves from different plants were surface sterilized with 75% (v/v) ethanol for 1 min and washed three times with ddH2O. The surface-sterilized plant tissues were cut into small pieces (4 × 4 mm in size) and cultured on Nutrient Agar (NA) plates at 28ºC for 24 h. To obtain pure cultures, these colonies were transferred to fresh NA plates by using the conventional streak plate method. The purified bacterial cells were rod-shaped, from 1.14 to 1.66 μm long, and from 0.61 to 0.86 μm wide (number of observations = 31) (Fig. 2). Three isolates were used for further characterization. The Gram stain test indicated that the three isolates were Gram negative. 16S rRNA (27F/1492R primers) and gyrB (UP1/Up2r) genes were amplified and sequenced (Marchesi et al. 1998; Yamamoto and Harayama 1995). The obtained 16S rRNA (0R143361-0R143363) and gyrB sequences (0R146993-0R146995) were submitted to GenBank. The 16S rRNA sequences of the three isolated strains showed over 98% identity (1447/1462, 1438/1462 and 1443/1460 bp) to the E. asburiae reference strains ENIPBJ CG1, CAV1043 and 1808 013 (CP014993.1, CP011591.1 and AP019632.1, respectively). Similarly, the gyrB sequences of the three strains showed 98% identity (1103/1129, 1105/1129 and 1108/1129 bp) to the same E. asburiae reference strains. Four-week-old sorghum plants were used in the pathogenicity tests. A phylogenetic tree was constructed with reference strains (Hoffmann et al., 2005). The healthy leaves were inoculated with bacterial suspensions of the three bacterial isolates (OD600 = 0.6~1.0) using the leaf cutting method (Kauffman et al. 1973). For the control group, sterilized ddH2O was used. Each isolate was inoculated in three healthy plants. Inoculated plants were incubated at 28ºC and 75% humidity with alternating 12-h light and 12-h dark cycles with a photon flux density of 200 mmol/m2/s. After 10 days, bacterial leaf blight symptoms were observed in all the inoculated leaves. The inoculated leaves showed severe browning near the inoculation site (1-2 cm), and advanced yellowing from 2 to 7 cm from the inoculation site, while no symptoms were found in control group. The pathogen was recovered from the infected leaves, and its identity was confirmed by 16S rRNA/gyrB sequencing and morphological analysis, fulfilling Koch's postulates (Fig 2). To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. asburiae causing bacterial leaf blight on sorghum worldwide. This species is a well-known pathogen of humans that can cause nosocomial infections (Markovska et al. 2019; Zhu et al. 2017). Recently, E. asburiae was identified as the causal agent of bacterial blight on rice and tuber rot on radish (Wang et al. 2023; Yu et al. 2021). The emergence E. asburiae as a plant pathogen may be produced by the numerous resistant strains reported during recent years. Pantoea ananatis has been reported as a common companion pathogen of E. asburiae (Xue et al. 2021). This report will help to better understand the host promiscuity of E. asburiae and reveals a new pathogen that affects sorghum production in China. This study also serves as a basis for future studies to develop management strategies and cultivation for the disease to prevent sorghum yield loss. As far as we know, no control method for the management of this new plant pathogen was reported to date, which highlights the potential hazard of this discovery. Reference Hoffmann, H., et al. 2005. Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 28:196. Kauffman, H. E., et al. 1973. Plant Dis. Rep. 57:537. Marchesi, J. R., et al. 1998. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64:795. Markovska, R., et al. 2019. Infect. Dis. 51:627. Wang, R., et al. 2023. Plant Dis. in press. https://doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-11-22-2650-PDN Xue, Y., et al. 2021. Plant Dis. 105:2078. Yamamoto, S., et al. 1995. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61:1104. Yu, L., et al. 2021. Plant Dis. 106:310. Zhu, B., et al. 2017. J. Glob. Antimicrob. Resist. 8:104.

Investigation of the heat generation characteristics of lithium-ion battery and orthogonal analysis of its constructal cold plate structure parameters

In this paper, we combine NTGK with flow and heat transfer model to perform numerical calculations on battery and cold plate to investigate thermal characteristics of li-ion batteries cooled by liquid and performance of cold plate during entire discharge process. A battery heat generation model is created using Kriging method after impacts of ambient temperature, SOC, and discharge rate are examined. Additionally, a new sort of cold plate is suggested based on constructal-theory, which performs better than conventional cold plate. Constructal cold plate reduces time needed for battery average temperature and maximum temperature differential to 25 °C and 5 °C by 15.25 % and 10.58 % for TimeT and TimeΔT, respectively, and pressure drop Δp by 22.89 % when compared to straight channel cold plate. Cooling effect of constructal cold plate is marginally inferior to that of serpentine cold plate, but flow resistance is greatly decreased, and pressure drop is only about one-tenth that of serpentine cold plate. Performance of constructal cold plate was examined using orthogonal optimization to determine effects of width of inlet and outlet and length of major channels. TimeT, TimeΔT, and Δp are decreased by 11 %, 14.69 %, and 15.22 % after optimization, and comprehensive performance is nearly doubled with improved performance.

Numerical analysis of topology-optimized cold plates for thermal management of battery packs

Thermal management is important for battery packs and liquid cooling is one method which gains more attentions. However, for the battery cold plate, ensuring the uniformity of the battery temperature and reducing the pressure drop is the issue that needs to be addressed. In order to solve this problem, this paper uses the method of topology optimization to design two novel cold plates (TOPA and TOPB)with different functional focuses. An experimentally derived dynamic simulated heat source is used to model the performance of a cold plate in combination with a high-capacity battery. Then their performance are compared with that of conventional cold plates(RP and SP) by numerical simulation. The results indicate that these new cold plates are able to guarantee the dual requirements of temperature uniformity and low flow resistance. Under the condition of 0.1 m/s inlet velocity, TOPA and TOPB have 1.6 % and 1.7 % lower maximum battery temperatures compared to RP, TOPA and TOPB have 46.7 % and 42.3 % better battery temperature uniformity compared to SP cold plate, and both have about 70 % lower pressure drop than SP. Appropriately increasing the inlet velocity of the cold plate also reduces the maximum battery temperature and temperature difference. Moreover, the values of pressure drops for TOPA and TOPB are very close to RP under all inlet velocity conditions. At the same input power, the heat transfer coefficient of the TOPA cold plate is 69 % and 33 % higher than that of RP and SP cold plates, respectively. As a result, this new cold plate is more suitable for use in BTMS than conventional cold plates.

Performance enhancement of indirect solar dryer with offset strip fins: Experimental investigation and comparative analysis

In the present study, two indirect type solar dryers were designed, fabricated and experimentally investigated, one is equipped with a conventional flat plate collector, and the other is integrated with offset strip fins (OSF). The objective is to study the effect of OSF on the performance of the dryer. A series of experimental tests were conducted at the applied research unit in the semi-arid region of Ghardaia using locally available materials. The first test was starting the solar dryers with an empty chamber and the second with filled product. The peak and average temperature difference at the outlet of the collector were 11.3 and 8 °C respectively, in favor of OSF absorber. The courgette was dried to 0.69 (kg water/kg dry basis) from an initial moisture content of 26.24 (kg water/kg dry basis) in 20 h 18 min and 35 h 45 min in the solar dryer with OSF and without, respectively. The results show a high drying rate using the dryer with OSF compared the dryer with conventional collector. Also, Midilli-Kucuk model provided the best agreements between experimental and predicted moisture ratios. Average effective moisture diffusivity of 1.798x10−09 and 1.179x10−09 m2/s for the dryer with OSF and without, respectively. A 33 % increase in economic efficiency in favor the OSF dryer with 0.95 years payback period. Also, a reduced amount of GHGs makes the dryers environmental friendly.

SunSync Innovation: Empowering Traditional Solar Flat Plate Collectors with Autonomous Sun-Tracking for Tea Leaf Drying

Aim: This research focused on post-harvest technology for preserving tea leaves. The research introduces an innovative approach by incorporating an autonomous solar tracker into a flat plate solar collector, strategically optimizing its orientation towards the sun. The solar tracker, a low-cost and fully automatic prototype, plays a pivotal role in maximizing incident solar rays, thereby enhancing the overall energy absorption efficiency of the system at the same time increasing the quality of dried tea leaves.
 Methodology: The investigation delves into the realm of indirect solar drying methodologies, with a specific focus on the Sun-Tracking Solar Dryer (STSD). This sophisticated apparatus, engineered through the integration of light-dependent resistors, a wiper DC motor with gearbox, and a microcontroller, was developed within the confines of the Agricultural and Food Engineering department at IIT Kharagpur. Subsequent to its development, the study entails a comparative analysis wherein the position of the absorber in the dryer, as ascertained by the developed prototype, is juxtaposed with the ideal position requisite for optimal solar light incidence. Moreover, an examination of the dried tea leaves produced by the prototype is conducted, involving a comprehensive comparison with those dried using the conventional open sun drying method.
 Results: The instantiated prototype demonstrated commendable efficacy in aligning with the ideal position, exhibiting an average deviation of 3.25 degrees. Facilitated by this prototype, the attainment of the targeted moisture content in tea leaves was expedited, culminating 2 hours earlier than the conventional open sun drying method. The resultant dried product manifested a water activity of 0.531 and a DPPH radical scavenging activity of 73.53%, both registering a reduction in comparison to the open sun drying counterpart. Concurrently, the total phenolic content exhibited an increment of 11.48% when contrasted with the open sun drying process.
 Conclusion: The affordably developed prototype demonstrated exceptional capabilities in sun tracking, showcasing the promising potential for augmenting the efficiency of conventional flat plate solar collectors. Additionally, its performance in preserving the quality attributes of dried tea leaves was commendable.

Design and numerical assessment of an additively manufactured Schwarz diamond triply periodic minimal surface fluid-fluid heat exchanger

In aerospace, thermal applications demand compact, lightweight, and efficient heat exchangers. Additive manufacturing processes offer the potential to create highly complex structures that are not achievable through traditional manufacturing methods. This work presents the development of an additively manufactured fluid-fluid heat exchanger that shows the potential to enhance the performance, reduce weight, and increase compactness compared to a conventional plate heat exchanger. A numerical model of the conventional plate heat exchanger was created, and fluid dynamics simulations with heat transfer were performed. Validation of the simulations was done by experiments. Then, a novel heat exchanger was designed using a bottom-up approach and investigated at different levels of complexity using computational fluid dynamics. The internal structure of the final heat exchanger consists of a repeating triply periodic Schwarz diamond minimum surface elongated in the direction of flow. The heat exchanger was manufactured with laser powder bed fusion process using AlSi10Mg. It had a 108% higher compactness and 54% lower weight compared to the plate heat exchanger. Numerical analysis yielded the pressure loss in pascal was reduced by 50%–59% while heat transfer in watts was improved by 3%–5%. Future researches should experimentally investigate the thermal and fluid mechanical characteristics of the novel additively manufactured heat exchanger and increase compactness and heat transfer further by analyzing the minimum partition wall thickness and the impact of wall roughness and deposit formation.

Anatomical pre-contoured plates in management of distal tibia fracture: a prospective study

Background: Distal tibial fractures are complex injuries with high complication rate. Management of such fractures are often complicated by soft tissue injuries. Precarious vascularity around distal tibia also results in high non-union rates. This study aims to study and analyse the outcome of distal tibia fracture managed by anatomical contoured plate. Methods: In this prospective observational study, we attempted to assess the functional and radiological outcome of distal tibia fracture managed by with distal tibia fracture with average follow up of 24 weeks. ORIF/MIPO with plating was done for fracture distal tibia with anatomical precontoured plates. Results: Patients were evaluated using AOFAS and measure of ankle range of motion. Average functional score was 88 with complications in 3 patients. Conclusions: We believe precontoured plates provide for better biological fixation than conventional plates.

Comparison between Novel Anatomical Locking Guide Plate and Conventional Locking Plate for Acetabular Fractures: A Finite Element Analysis.

The treatment of complex acetabular fractures remains a complicated clinical challenge. Our self-designed novel anatomical locking guide plate (NALGP) has previously shown promising potential in T-shaped acetabular fractures (TAF), but a direct comparison with conventional fixations is yet to be made. The TAF model was established based on a volunteer's computer tomography data and then fixed with double column locking plates (DLP), a posterior column locking plate with anterior column screws (LPACS), and our NALGP. Forces of 200 N, 400 N, and 600 N were then loaded on the model vertically downward, respectively. The stress distribution and peaks and maximum displacements at three sites were assessed. We found that the stress area of all three plates was mainly concentrated around the fracture line, while only the matching screws of the NALGP showed no obvious stress concentration points. In addition, the NALGP and DLP showed significantly less fracture fragment displacement than the LPACS at the three main fracture sites. The NALGP was found to have less displacement than DLP at the posterior column and ischiopubic branch sites, especially under the higher loading forces of 400 N and 600 N. The fixation stability of the NALGP for TAF was similar to that of DLP but better than that of LPACS. Moreover, the NALGP and its matching screws have a more reasonable stress distribution under different loads of force and the same strength as the LPACS.

Biomechanical comparison of titanium alloy additively manufactured and conventionally manufactured plate-screw constructs

ABSTRACTAimTo biomechanically compare the bending stiffness, strength, and cyclic fatigue of titanium additively manufactured (AM) and conventionally manufactured (CM) limited contact plates (LCP) of equivalent dimensions using plate-screw constructs.MethodsTwenty-four 1.5/2.0-mm plate constructs (CM: n = 12; AM: n = 12) were placed under 4-point bending conditions. Data were collected during quasi-static single cycle to failure and cyclic fatigue testing until implants plastically deformed or failed. Bending stiffness, bending structural stiffness, and bending strength were determined from load–displacement curves. Fatigue life was determined as number of cycles to failure. Median test variables for each method were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test within each group. Fatigue data was also analysed by the Kaplan–Meier estimator of survival function.ResultsThere was no evidence for a difference in bending stiffness and bending structural stiffness between AM and CM constructs. However, AM constructs exhibited greater bending strength (median 3.07 (min 3.0, max 3.4) Nm) under quasi-static 4-point bending than the CM constructs (median 2.57 (min 2.5, max 2.6) Nm, p = 0.006). Number of cycles to failure under dynamic 4-point bending was higher for the CM constructs (median 164,272 (min 73,557, max 250,000) cycles) than the AM constructs (median 18,704 (min 14,427, max 33,228) cycles; p = 0.02). Survival analysis showed that 50% of AM plates failed by 18,842 cycles, while 50% CM plates failed by 78,543 cycles.Conclusion and clinical relevanceAdditively manufactured titanium implants, printed to replicate a conventional titanium orthopaedic plate, were more prone to failure in a shorter fatigue period despite being stronger in single cycle to failure. Patient-specific implants made using this process may be brittle and therefore not comparable to CM orthopaedic implants. Careful selection of their use on a case/patient-specific basis is recommended.

Doped nanomaterial facilitates 3D printing target plate for rapid detection of alkaloids in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

This work aims to rapidly detect toxic alkaloids in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) using laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry (LDI-MS). We systematically investigated twelve nanomaterials (NMs) as matrices and found that MoS2 and defect-rich-WO3 (D-WO3) were the best NMs for alkaloid detection. MoS2 and D-WO3 can be used directly as matrices dipped onto conventional ground steel target plates. Additionally, they can be conveniently fabricated as three-dimensional (3D) NM plates, where the MoS2 or D-WO3 NM is doped into resin and formed using a 3D printing process. We obtained good quantification of alkaloids using a chemothermal compound as an internal standard and detected related alkaloids in TCM extracts, Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata), Caowu (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix), Chuanwu (Aconiti Radix), and Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex). The work enabled the advantageous "dip and measure" method, demonstrating a simple and fast LDI-MS approach that achieves clean backgrounds for alkaloid detection. The 3D NM plates also facilitated mass spectrometry imaging of alkaloids in TCMs. This method has potential practical applications in medicine and food safety. Doped nanomaterial facilitates 3D printing target plate for rapid detection of alkaloids in laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry.

Liver Extracellular Matrix-Based Nanofiber Scaffolds for the Culture of Primary Hepatocytes and Drug Screening.

Immortalized liver cell lines and primary hepatocytes are currently used as in vitro models for hepatotoxic drug screening. However, a decline in the viability and functionality of hepatocytes with time is an important limitation of these culture models. Advancements in tissue engineering techniques have allowed us to overcome this challenge by designing suitable scaffolds for maintaining viable and functional primary hepatocytes for a longer period of time in culture. In the current study, we fabricated liver-specific nanofiber scaffolds with polylactic acid (PLA) along with a decellularized liver extracellular matrix (LEM) by the electrospinning technique. The fabricated hybrid PLA-LEM scaffolds were more hydrophilic and had better swelling properties than the PLA scaffolds. The hybrid scaffolds had a pore size of 38 ± 8 μm and supported primary rat hepatocyte cultures for 10 days. Increased viability (2-fold increase in the number of live cells) and functionality (5-fold increase in albumin secretion) were observed in primary hepatocytes cultured on the PLA-LEM scaffolds as compared to those on conventional collagen-coated plates on day 10 of culture. A significant increase in CYP1A2 enzyme activity was observed in hepatocytes cultured on PLA-LEM hybrid scaffolds in comparison to those on collagen upon induction with phenobarbital. Drugs like acetaminophen and rifampicin showed the highest toxicity in hepatocytes cultured on hybrid scaffolds. Also, the lethal dose of these drugs in rodents was accurately predicted as 1.6 g/kg and 594 mg/kg, respectively, from the corresponding IC50 values obtained from drug-treated hepatocytes on hybrid scaffolds. Thus, the fabricated liver-specific electrospun scaffolds maintained primary hepatocyte viability and functionality for an extended period in culture and served as an effective ex vivo drug screening platform to predict an accurate in vivo drug-induced hepatotoxicity.

Changing the dynamics of alveolar molding using a modified single cantilever spring

Deviated premaxillary segment commonly seen in bilateral cleft lip and palate causes difficulty during surgical procedures. Modifications in the conventional feeding plate appliance design by incorporation of a single cantilever spring can enable shifting of the deviated premaxillary segment and facilitate alveolar molding. Thus reducing the tissue tension and in turn preventing the prospect of further scarring which can have severe detrimental effects on maxillary growth and as a result aid in achieving better surgical outcome on lip closure.This article presents a case of a 27 day old infant with a deviated premaxilla which was repositioned for better retraction using a modified cantilever spring design in the molding plate. Reduction in cleft gap while shifting of the premaxillary segment on the right side was seen after full time wear of only 5-6 weeks.

Evaluation of a novel pyramidal design of rock bolt bearing plate using analytical, experimental, and numerical methods

Ground failures in underground mines are continuing to occur despite using rock bolt support with higher anchorage. The reason may be attributed to the mismatch between bolt anchorage and bearing plate capacity. Currently, the dome-bearing plates are widely used in the reinforcement of ground which often fails at loads below the bolt anchorage capacity. To address this problem, a novel pyramidal design of a bearing plate is proposed keeping the same size and material properties as the conventional dome plate. To evaluate the performance of pyramidal design, analytical formulations of load resistance, load efficiency, and energy absorption are formulated. In the experimental study, the prototypes of pyramidal design are developed and subjected to compression tests along with the conventional dome plate. The calibrated model of tested bearing plates is simulated using 3-dimensional finite element analysis. The pyramidal plate outperforms the dome plate in performance evaluation in terms of load resistance, load efficiency, and energy absorption. The experimental and numerical results also indicated that the capacity of the pyramidal plate is superior to that of a conventional dome plate. Thus, the proposed pyramidal plate can be used with rock bolt support in underground openings for improved ground control and stability.

New Seismic Imaging of the Crustal Structure beneath the Eastern Sichuan and Wuling Mountains, South China: Insights into the Formation of Fold-and-Thrust Belts

Abstract Intracontinental deformation is out of the theory of conventional plate tectonics. It is widely recognized with deformation within the continental interior instead of the plate margin, yet its formation mechanism has long been controversial. The eastern Sichuan–Wuling mountains (ESWM) area is located ∼1300 km away from the subduction plate boundary and had developed intracontinental deformations, including crustal shortening and fold-and-thrust (FAT) tectonics, making it an ideal place to understand the mechanism of intracontinental deformation. In this study, we obtain a new seismic image of the 3D crustal structure of the ESWM area using the continuous ambient noise data of 67 broadband seismic stations. We invert the Rayleigh-wave dispersions of 5–30 s derived from cross-correlating the Z-component of all station pairs and obtain the fine crustal VS model. Our new seismic image reveals distinct velocity characteristics between the thin-skinned chevron anticline FAT tectonics in the eastern Sichuan basin and the thick-skinned chevron syncline FAT tectonics in the Wuling mountains area. Specifically, a low-VS layer observed beneath the Wuling mountains area, together with the crystalline basement beneath the eastern Sichuan basin, marks the ductile décollements confining the folding and thrusting deformation. Based on our new VS model and some previous studies, we propose a geodynamic model, which is associated with the far-field effect of the westward paleo-Pacific subduction during the late Mesozoic. Our model meets all the structural investigations at surface and geophysical observations at depth, and is reliable and valuable for further studies on similar intracontinental deformation in other regions.