Effect Of Additional Treatment Research Articles

Influence of Aluminum on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Air‐Hardened Medium Manganese Steel

The influence of different aluminum concentrations (0 and 0.25 wt%) on the mechanical properties and the microstructure of recently developed air‐hardening ductile forging steels with 4 wt% manganese is presented together with the effects of additional heat treatments after air cooling. Based on the achieved mechanical properties, the necessity of aluminum alloying is evaluated due to the processing challenges associated with the Fe–Mn–Al–Si system. For this matter, tensile properties, hardness, and Charpy impact toughness areevaluated with respect to microstructural features characterized by light optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy equipped with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). It is demonstrated that the intermediate addition is not sufficient to reach the target values for the impact toughness, which demonstrates the importance of the addition to this steel grade. Additionally, insights on the tempering embrittlement are gained, as it can be shown that 0.25 wt% Al is sufficient to shift the tempering embrittlement from 300 to 350 °C. Finally, potential intercritical annealing temperatures can be specified: while high balances of strength and ductility can be reported at 650 and 675 °C, an exceeding of this temperature leads to insufficient austenite stabilization and consecutively martensite formation during cooling , as demonstrated by EBSD and X‐ray diffraction.

Gradual Optimization of Molecular Aggregation and Stacking Enables Over 19% Efficiency in Binary Organic Solar Cells.

Volatile solid additive is an effective and simple strategy for morphology control in organic solar cells (OSCs). The development of environmentally friendly new additives which can also be easily removed without high-temperature thermal annealing treatment is currently a trend, and the working mechanism needs to be further studied. Herein, a highly volatile and non-halogenated solid additive 1-benzothiophene (BBT) is reported to regulate molecular aggregation and stacking of active layer components. According to the film-forming kinetics process, a momentary intermediate phase is formed during spin-coating, which slows down the film-forming process and leads to more ordered molecular stacking in the solid film after introducing solid additive BBT. Subsequently, after solvent vapor annealing (SVA) further treatment, the resultant blend films exhibit a tighter and more ordered molecular stacking. Consequently, the synergistic effect of solid additive BBT and SVA treatment can effectively control morphology of active layer and improve carrier transport characteristics, thereby enhancing the performance of OSCs. Finally, in D18-Cl:N3 system, an impressive power conversion efficiency of 19.53% is achieved. The work demonstrates that the combination of highly volatile solid additives and SVA treatment is an effective morphology control strategy, guiding the development of efficient OSCs.

Distance-dependent neuromodulation effect during thermal ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Thermal atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation exerts an additive treatment effect on the cardiac autonomic nervous system (CANS). This effect is mainly reported during ablation of the right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV), modulating the right anterior ganglionated plexus (RAGP), which contains parasympathetic innervation to the sinoatrial node in the epicardial fat pad between RSPV and superior vena cava (SVC). However, a variable response to neuromodulation after ablation is observed, with little to no effect in some patients. Our objective was to assess clinical and anatomic predictors of thermal ablation-induced CANS changes, as assessed via variations in heart rate (HR) postablation. Consecutive paroxysmal AF patients undergoing first-time PV isolation by the cryoballoon (CB) or radiofrequency balloon (RFB) within a 12-month time frame and with preprocedural cardiac computed tomography (CT), were evaluated. Preablation and 24-h postablation electrocardiograms in sinus rhythm were collected and analyzed to assess HR. Anatomic evaluation by CT included the measurement of the shortest distance between the SVC and RSPV ostium (RSPV-SVC distance). A total of 97 patients (CB, n = 50 vs. RFB, n = 47) were included, with similar baseline characteristics between both groups. A significant HR increase postablation (ΔHR ≥ 15 bpm) occurred in a total of 37 patients (38.1%), without difference in number of patients between both thermal ablation technologies (CB, 19 [51%]), RFB, 18 [49%]). Independent predictors for increased HR were RSPV-SVC distance (odds ratio [OR]: 0.49, CI: 0.34-0.71, p value < .001), and age (OR: 0.94, CI: 0.89-0.98, p value = .003). Thermal balloon-based PV isolation influences the CANS through its effect on the RAGP, especially in younger patients and patients with shorter RSPV-SVC distance.

Enterococcus Phage vB_EfaS_HEf13 as an Anti-Biofilm Agent Against Enterococcus faecalis.

Enterococcus faecalis is a Gram-positive bacterium that is frequently found in the periapical lesion of patients with apical periodontitis. Its biofilm formation in root canal is closely related to the development of refractory apical periodontitis by providing increased resistance to endodontic treatments. Phage therapy has recently been considered as an efficient therapeutic strategy in controlling various periodontal pathogens. We previously demonstrated the bactericidal capacities of Enterococcus phage vB_EfaS_HEf13 (phage HEf13) against clinically-isolated E. faecalis strains. Here, we investigated whether phage HEf13 affects biofilm formation and pre-formed biofilm of clinically-isolated E. faecalis, and its combinatory effect with endodontic treatments, including chlorhexidine (CHX) and penicillin. The phage HEf13 inhibited biofilm formation and disrupted pre-formed biofilms of E. faecalis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Interestingly, phage HEf13 destroyed E. faecalis biofilm exopolysaccharide (EPS), which is known to be a major component of bacterial biofilm. Furthermore, combined treatment of phage HEf13 with CHX or penicillin more potently inhibited biofilm formation and disrupted pre-formed biofilm than either treatment alone. Confocal laser scanning microscopic examination demonstrated that these additive effects of the combination treatments on disruption of pre-formed biofilm are mediated by relatively enhanced reduction in thickness distribution and biomass of biofilm. Collectively, our results suggest that the effect of phage HEf13 on E. faecalis biofilm is mediated by its EPS-degrading property, and its combination with endodontic treatments more potently suppresses E. faecalis biofilm, implying that phage HEf13 has potential to be used as a combination therapy against E. faecalis infections.

The Effect of Additional Silane Pre-Treatment on the Microtensile Bond Strength of Resin-Based Composite Post-and-Core Build-Up Material

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of additional silane treatment on the immediate and aged microtensile bond strength (µTBS) between resin-based composite (RBC) post-and-core build-up material and an RBC CAD/CAM block. Twelve sample blocks (12 mm × 14 mm × 9 mm) were prepared using RBC post-and-core build-up material and were divided into six groups: Kerr Silane Primer (Sil) + OptiBond eXTRa Universal adhesive (EXA); OptiBond eXTRa Universal Primer (EXP) + EXA; Sil + OptiBond Universal (OBU); OBU; Sil + OptiBond Solo Plus (OSP); and OSP. Each treated sample was luted to a CAD/CAM block using an NX3 Nexus Third-Generation instrument. After storage in 37 °C water for 1 week, microspecimens were fabricated, and μTBS was tested immediately or after further immersion in water at 37 °C for 6 months. The failure mode of each specimen was determined using stereomicroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. For the immediate groups, no significant difference in µTBS was found between specimens with or without silane treatment for each adhesive (p &gt; 0.05). For the aged groups, silane treatment significantly decreased µTBS for OptiBond eXTRa Universal (p &lt; 0.05). Our findings indicate that additional silane treatment prior to the application of adhesive did not enhance µTBS.

Mechanical performance of epoxy matrix composites reinforced by physically and chemically treated hemp fiber

AbstractHemp fiber is one of the most common reinforcements for polymer matrix composites and it is widely used in various applications due to its environmentally friendliness, favorable physical and mechanical properties. In spite of the numerous merits of the hemp fiber reinforced polymer composites, improvement of poor interfacial properties between the hemp fiber and polymer matrix is limited. The main objective of this work is to investigate the effect of increased fiber surface area and alkaline surface treatment on the mechanical performance of hemp fiber reinforced epoxy composites. An elevated temperature aqueous debundling treatment was employed to generate a large number of individual fibers from fiber bundles and was associated with a threefold increase in specific fiber surface area. The fiber dimension and surface properties were investigated through optical microscopy, confocal microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The effects of different debundling treatment times and additional alkaline treatment on the mechanical properties were studied. It was found that composites reinforced by the debundled hemp fiber with further alkaline treatment exhibited the best tensile and flexural properties in comparison to other composites reinforced with debundled hemp fiber without further alkaline treatment or with untreated hemp fiber.Highlights Provided a new physical method for separating hemp fiber bundle into individual hemp fibers using boiling water and blending. Debundled fibers resulted in a 3.5 times increase in fiber surface area for better bonding with epoxy matrix. Debundling process combined with chemical (alkaline) treatment to further improve the compatibility between individual fiber and epoxy. The effects of the debundling only, alkaline treatment only, and combined debundling + alkaline treatment on composite properties were studied.

Impacts of water treatments on bacterial communities of biofilm and loose deposits in drinking water distribution systems

Treated drinking water is delivered to customers through drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs). Although studies have focused on exploring the microbial ecology of DWDSs, knowledge about the effects of different water treatments on the bacterial community of biofilm and loose deposits in DWDS is limited. This study assessed the effects of additional treatments on the bacterial communities developed in 10 months’ old pilot DWDSs. The results showed a similar bacterial community in the pipe-wall biofilm, which was dominated by Novosphingobium spp. (20–82 %) and Sphingomonas spp. (11–53 %), regardless of the treatment applied. The bacterial communities that were retained in the distribution systems (including pipe-wall biofilm and loose deposits) were similar to the particle-associated bacteria (PAB) in the corresponding supply water. The additional treatments showed clear effects of the removal and/or introduction of particles. The genera Aeromonas spp., Clostridium spp., Legionella spp., and Pseudomonas spp., which contain opportunistic pathogenic species, were only detected among the PAB in ion exchange system. Our study demonstrated that the biofilm community is consistent across treatments, and the contribution from bacteria in loose deposits is important but can be controlled by removing particles. These findings offer more insight into the origin and development of microbial ecology in DWDSs and suggest paths for further research on the possibility of managing the microbial ecology in distribution systems.

Tailorable copper-bearing titanium alloys with remarkable strength and ductility fabricated by spark plasma sintering for biomedical applications

Titanium and Ti-based alloys are widely used metallic biomaterials, however, the surgical infections related to bacteria always occur on the implants. Developing the antibacterial titanium alloys has been studied as one of the most effective methods to lower the inflammatory response. The addition of Cu element to Ti matrix can produce strong antibacterial properties. Here, the antibacterial Ti-xCu alloys (x = 3, 5, and 7 wt%) were fabricated by powder metallurgy (PM) technique using spark plasma sintering (SPS) route. The effects of Cu addition, SPS temperature, and post-heat treatment on microstructure and tensile properties of Ti–Cu alloys were investigated. The strengthening and deformation mechanisms were also discussed. The microstructures of PM Ti–Cu alloy consisting of α-Ti and Ti2Cu phases are fine and homogenous as well as free of porosity. With the increasing Cu addition, the yield and tensile strengths of Ti–Cu alloys increase, but the elongation decreases. The precipitation of Ti2Cu phases contributes the most increments of yield strength, and can also act as the barriers to pile up the dislocations during the plastic deformation, improving the work hardening rate and tensile strength. PM Ti–Cu alloys possess a good tensile strength of 575–810 MPa, and an excellent elongation of 11%–29%. The optimized tensile properties of PM Ti–5Cu alloys are comparable and even superior to those of Ti and other Ti-based alloys produced by traditional methods. Further, insights for the design and processing of PM Ti–Cu alloys with ample shaping freedom fabricated by SPS method are generalized and discussed.

Construction of three-dimensional network morphology titanium matrix composites via adding nano B4C: As-built and heat-treated scenarios

This study examines the role of nano B4C addition in improving the mechanical properties of Ti–6Al–4V (Ti64) alloys fabricated by laser melting deposition under as-built and heat-treated conditions. However, the enrichment of reinforcing phases generated by in situ production at grain boundaries causes a serious reduction in ductility, limiting the development of high-performance titanium matrix composites. To avoid this deficiency, the fabricated titanium matrix composites (TMCs) were subjected to three different heat treatment programmers, namely, subtransus heat treatment, supertransus heat treatment and triple heat treatment. The effects of B4C addition and heat treatment on microstructure, texture and mechanical properties were systematically investigated. The results show that TiB and TiC, synthesized in situ, promote the precipitation of α-Ti with a non-Burgess orientation relationship, and weakening the texture intensity of α-Ti. The ultimate tensile strength of the in situ synthesized (TiB + TiC) reinforced Ti64 composites is 1168 MPa, which is 35.5 % higher than the ultimate tensile strength of the Ti64 alloys. However, this effect resulted in a decrease in elongation at break to 2.5 %. An excellent combination of strength and fracture strain of 1060 MPa and 9.3 %, respectively, was simultaneously achieved for the heat-treated TMCs. The excellent ductility is mainly attributed to the microstructure consisting of primary equiaxed-α, ultrafine αs lamellar and retained β phase has been obtained after triple heat treatment. This finding offers significant guidance for the additive manufacturing of TMCs microstructures in order to attain the desired mechanical properties.

Structural characteristics and properties of heat-resistant nickel β-alloys produced via the centrifugal SHS-casting method

Employing centrifugal self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) metallurgy, complemented by advanced metallurgical processes such as vacuum induction melting (VIM) and vacuum arc remelting (VAR), yielded the alloy formulation denoted as base–2.5Mo–1.5Re–1.5Ta–0.2Ti. This study investigates the effects of various technological modes and additional metallurgical treatments on the alloy's impurity and non-metallic inclusion content, structural characteristics, mechanical behavior under compression, and its oxidation mechanisms and kinetics when exposed to temperatures of 1150 °C for 30 h. With increasing centrifugal acceleration, the proportion of non-metallic inclusions (number of points) drops from 5 to 1–2 points. The best combination mechanical properties, including σucs = 1640 ± 20 MPa, σys = 1518 ± 10 MPa, and residual deformation were observed in alloys processed under conditions of increased gravitational force (g = 50). Within a centrifugal force range of g = 20÷300, the composition of the synthesis products aligned with the theoretical expectations. The total content of impurities is 0.15 ± 0.02 %, with a decrease in gas impurities–oxygen and nitrogen levels reduced to 0.018 % and 0.0011 %, respectively. The structural analysis of the alloys revealed the presence of globular and streaked inclusions of a chromium-based solid solution embedded within the matrix. Inclusions with thickness of 2–8 μm are present in the intergranular space: (Cr)Ni,Mo,Co, (Cr)Mo,Re and (Cr)Re,Mo. The formation of the Ni(Al,Ti) phase at grain boundaries was identified, contributing to an enhancement in plastic resistance and overall strength of the alloy. Oxidation mechanisms varied across different processing modes, with the size of structural components significantly influencing oxidation kinetics. The weight gain observed in SHS samples was 70 ± 10 g/m2 with oxidation predominantly occurring along the NiAl interphase boundaries and penetrating into the depth of the sample. TEM facilitated the identification of phases enriched with Ti microadditions, reducing the levels of dissolved nitrogen and oxygen within the intermetallic phase to a combined weight percentage (ΣO,N) of 0.0223 wt.%.

Breastfeeding Initiation in People With Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the United States.

To evaluate breastfeeding initiation rates among people living with and without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during pregnancy and to identify characteristics associated with breastfeeding initiation. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of individuals who had a live birth in the United States from 2016 to 2021 using the National Center for Health Statistics birth certificate data. We grouped participants by whether they had HCV infection during pregnancy. Using propensity-score matching, we assessed the association between breastfeeding initiation before hospital discharge , defined as neonates receiving any parental breast milk or colostrum, and HCV infection during pregnancy in a logistic regression model. We also assessed factors associated with breastfeeding initiation among those with HCV infection. There were 96,896 reported cases (0.5%) of HCV infection among 19.0 million births that met inclusion criteria during the study period. Using propensity-score matching, we matched 87,761 individuals with HCV infection during pregnancy with 87,761 individuals without HCV infection. People with HCV infection during pregnancy were less likely to initiate breastfeeding compared with those without HCV infection (51.5% vs 64.2%, respectively; odds ratio 0.59, 95% CI, 0.58-0.60, P <.001). Characteristics associated with higher rates of breastfeeding initiation among individuals with HCV infection included a college degree (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.22, 95% CI, 1.21-1.24); self-identified race or ethnicity as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (aOR 1.22, 95% CI, 1.06-1.40), Asian (aOR 1.09, 95% CI, 1.06-1.13), or Hispanic (aOR 1.09, 95% CI, 1.08-1.11); private insurance (aOR 1.07, 95% CI, 1.06-1.08); nulliparity (aOR 1.09, 95% CI, 1.08-1.10), and being married (aOR 1.08, 95% CI, 1.07-1.09). Characteristics associated with not breastfeeding before hospital discharge included receiving no prenatal care (aOR 0.81, 95% CI, 0.79-0.82), smoking during pregnancy (aOR 0.88, 95% CI, 0.88-0.89), and neonatal intensive care unit admission (aOR 0.92, 95% CI, 0.91-0.93). Despite leading health organizations' support for people living with HCV infection to breastfeed, our study demonstrates low breastfeeding initiation rates in this population. Our findings highlight the need for tailored breastfeeding support for people with HCV infection and for understanding the additional effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection, HCV treatment, and concurrent substance use disorders on breastfeeding initiation.

Effects of additional oral fosravuconazole l-lysine ethanolate therapy following inadequate response to initial treatment for onychomycosis: A multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Onychomycosis, a superficial fungal infection, develops when dermatophytes infect nail plate and beds. Fosravuconazole l-lysine ethanolate (F-RVCZ), a fourth-generation azole antifungal agent with potent antifungal activity and few drug interactions, was highly effective in a clinical trial, with a complete cure rate of 59.4% at 48 weeks after treatment initiation. However, some patients were not completely cured. To achieve a higher complete cure rate, additional therapy needs to be examined. We aimed to examine (i) the criteria for additional F-RVCZ therapy in patients with an inadequate response to initial F-RVCZ treatment for onychomycosis; (ii) the timing of additional therapy; and (iii) the effects of additional treatment. This was a multicenter, open-label, three-arm randomized clinical trial. Patients with onychomycosis were orally administered an approved dose of F-RVCZ for 12 weeks, and its efficacy was assessed at week 24. Patients who demonstrated ≥55% reduction in nail involvement ratio at week 24 were included in Group X and followed up. Patients with <55% reduction were randomly assigned to follow-up (Group A) or additional treatment (Group B) groups. The complete cure rate at week 72 in Group X was 73.3%. In Groups A and B, the complete cure rates were 29.6% and 46.7%, respectively, and were significantly different (P = 0.0414, odds ratio 2.08). During the study, 63 adverse drug reactions were recorded in 59 of the 318 patients (18.6%), for which a causal relationship with F-RVCZ could not be ruled out. In Group B, three of 75 patients (4.0%) experienced three adverse drug reactions, all observed during additional treatment; none were serious. A high complete cure rate is possible without additional F-RVCZ treatment when nail involvement decreases by ≥55% at week 24; however, when the reduction is <55% at week 24, additional F-RVCZ treatment should be considered to improve the cure rate.

Additive and Specific Effects of Elicitor Treatments on the Metabolic Profile of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Several elicitors of plant defense have been identified and numerous efforts to use them in the field have been made. Exogenous elicitor treatments mimic the in planta activation of pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), which relies on the perception of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as bacterial flg22 or fungal chitins. Early transcriptional responses to distinct PAMPs are mostly overlapping, regardless of the elicitor being used. However, it remains poorly known if the same patterns are observed for metabolites and proteins produced later during PTI. In addition, little is known about the impact of a combination of elicitors on PTI and the level of induced resistance to pathogens. Here, we monitored Arabidopsis thaliana resistance to the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pto DC3000) following application of flg22 and chitosan elicitors, used individually or in combination. A slight, but not statistically significant increase in induced resistance was observed when the elicitors were applied together when compared with individual treatments. We investigated the effect of these treatments on the metabolome by using an untargeted analysis. We found that the combination of flg22 and chitosan impacted a higher number of metabolites and deregulated specific metabolic pathways compared with the elicitors individually. These results contribute to a better understanding of plant responses to elicitors, which might help better rationalize their use in the field. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Ecological Restoration in Eastern Canada Using Four Early-Successional Species on Severely Degraded Sites Using a Factorial of Site-Preparation Treatments: Growth and Biomass over Two Years

Barren sites that lack soil are exposed to some of the harshest elements, which include high temperatures, solar radiation, wind, extreme temperature changes, and low soil moisture and nutrient conditions. An ecological restoration experiment was conducted using three site-preparation treatments, straw (S), Meri-Crusher (MC), and coarse woody debris (CWD), in a site-/no site-preparation 2 × 2 × 2 factorial on sites that had been barren for 25 years. In addition, four early successional deciduous species, white birch (WB, Betula papyrifera Marshall), gray birch (GB, Betula populifolia Marshall), green alder (GA, Alnus viridis Vill. subsp. crispa Ait), and speckled alder (SA, Alnus incana L. subsp. rugosa Du Roi), were examined. The two- and three-way interactions were almost all magnitude effects and not rank changes. Gray birch had the greatest overall first-year height growth, followed by GA, SA, and WB, with 12.1, 9.7, 9.6, and 5.6 cm, respectively. Straw doubled first-year growth, while CWD and MC increased first-year height growth by 43 and 31%, respectively. Straw’s ability to retain moisture in the dry summer provided the greatest benefit. In the second year, GA had the greatest height growth, followed by SA, GB, and WB, with 42.5, 30.5, 13.4, and 13.0 cm, respectively. Alders form symbiotic relationships with N-fixing bacteria and, although this was observed in some first-year roots, they did not fully express this advantage at these severely degraded sites until the second year, which allowed them to surpass birches in growth. Site-preparation treatments furthered their height growth affect, with S, and CWD doubling second-year height growth and MC, with an increase of 25%. Alders and birches had, on average, three and one stems, respectively, and the mean stem number of alders increased under S and CWD. After two years, overall stem dry mass had very large genus and species differences with GA, SA, GB, and WB, with 58.4, 30.3, 5.4, and 4.0 g, respectively. The N-fixing ability of alders under these conditions resulted in a 13-fold stem dry mass production increase compared with birches. Straw tripled, CWD doubled, and MC increased stem dry mass by 40%. For WB, site-preparation combinations had an additive effect, whereas GB, GA, and SA had several combined site-preparation treatments showing synergistic results, which were greater than the additive effects of single treatments. Under the control (no site prep.), second-year stem dry masses for WB, GB, GA, and SA were 0.7, 1.4, 17.8, and 0.5 g, respectively. Under the three combined treatments, MC × S × CWD, WB, GB, GA, and SA had 6.6, 12.3, 115.7, and 70.6 g stem dry masses, respectively. SA is ecologically a lowland species, hence the low 0.5 g under the control; however, the result under the three combined treatments demonstrates their combined effectiveness on these barren sites. Green alder seems to be the best adapted to the sites, having the greatest stem dry mass under control, although that was considerably magnified under the site-preparation treatments. This study using combinations of treatments with these early successional species introduces a novel research concept, and similar studies in the literature are currently lacking, creating an opportunity for future exploration.

Rifampicin does not reduce moxifloxacin concentrations at the site of infection and may not improve treatment outcome of a one-stage exchange surgery protocol of implant-associated osteomyelitis lesions in a porcine model.

We aimed to evaluate moxifloxacin steady-state concentrations in infected bone and soft tissue and to explore the additive microbiological and pathological treatment effect of rifampicin to standard moxifloxacin treatment of implant-associated osteomyelitis (IAO). 16 pigs were included. On Day 0, IAO was induced in the proximal tibia using a susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strain. On Day 7, the pigs underwent one-stage exchange surgery of the IAO lesions and were randomized to receive seven days of intravenous antibiotic treatment of either rifampicin combined with moxifloxacin or moxifloxacin monotherapy. On Day 14, microdialysis was applied for continuous sampling (8 h) of moxifloxacin concentrations. Microbiological, macroscopical pathology, and histopathological analyses were performed postmortem. Steady-state moxifloxacin area under the concentration-time curve was lower in the combination therapy group in plasma (total) and subcutaneous tissue compartments (infected and noninfected) (p < 0.04), while no differences were found in bone compartments. No additional treatment effect of rifampicin to moxifloxacin treatment was found (p = 0.57). Conclusive, additive rifampicin treatment does not reduce moxifloxacin concentrations at the infection site. Rifampicin treatment may not be necessary in a one-stage exchange treatment of IAO. However, our sample size and treatment period may have been too small and short to reveal true clinical differences.

Long‐term changes in the daytime growing season carbon dioxide exchange following increased temperature and snow cover in arctic tundra

AbstractIncreasing temperatures and winter precipitation can influence the carbon (C) exchange rates in arctic ecosystems. Feedbacks can be both positive and negative, but the net effects are unclear and expected to vary strongly across the Arctic. There is a lack of understanding of the combined effects of increased summer warming and winter precipitation on the C balance in these ecosystems. Here we assess the short‐term (1–3 years) and long‐term (5–8 years) effects of increased snow depth (snow fences) (on average + 70 cm) and warming (open top chambers; 1–3°C increase) and the combination in a factorial design on all key components of the daytime carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes in a wide‐spread heath tundra ecosystem in West Greenland. The warming treatment increased ecosystem respiration (ER) on a short‐ and long‐term basis, while gross ecosystem photosynthesis (GEP) was only increased in the long term. Despite the difference in the timing of responses of ER and GEP to the warming treatment, the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2 was unaffected in the short term and in the long term. Although the structural equation model (SEM) indicates a direct relationship between seasonal accumulated snow depth and ER and GEP, there were no significant effects of the snow addition treatment on ER or GEP measured over the summer period. The combination of warming and snow addition turned the plots into net daytime CO2 sources during the growing season. Interestingly, despite no significant changes in air temperature during the snow‐free time during the experiment, control plots as well as warming plots revealed significantly higher ER and GEP in the long term compared to the short term. This was in line with the satellite‐derived time‐integrated normalized difference vegetation index of the study area, suggesting that more factors than air temperature are drivers for changes in arctic tundra ecosystems.

The Influence of Previous Treatment of Wheat Straw from Bales on the Intensity of Biogas Outlet

The purpose of the research is the experimental determination of the effect of preliminary mechanical and additional magnetic treatment of wheat straw from bales on the intensity of biogas output. This goal is achieved by solving the following problems: determining the physical-chemical properties and component composition of winter wheat straw from packs; obtaining chopped straw by grinding on a laboratory grinder to a fraction of 5–25 mm in length; processing soaked straw in water in an extruder to form 15 pre-treatment samples; calculation the carbon-nitrogen ratio for mixture of straw of certain pretreatment option and inoculum; determination the specific energy intensity of the extrusion process; conducting fermentation experiments and studies of the biogas output process for 42 days for various options for pre-treatment of winter wheat straw from packs, in particular the option with the simultaneous action of constant magnetic field. The most important results of the research are: experimental proof of the effectiveness of the method of preliminary mechanical-magnetic treatment of winter wheat straw from bales in the production of biogas, which forms a synergetic effect; with a one-time extrusion of straw and treatment with constant magnetic field of 1.8 mT, the biogas output increases, which makes it possible to obtain the same amount of biogas as with 5-fold extrusion, but with energy costs for extrusion reduced by 4.28 times. At the same time, sufficient productivity of the biogas production process is maintained, the lag phase is reduced, and the biomethane output increases by approximately 5.5%. The significance of the obtained results is that the proposed approach to the formation of biogas technology with using mechanical-magnetic processing of wheat straw ensures the intensification of biogas output and an increase in the level of production.

Effects of additional heat treatment on struc-ture and microhardness of high-strength steel shipbuilding

The paper studies kinetics of austenitic grain growth (when heating) and the peculiarities of phase transformations (when cooling) that depend on the manufacturing technology of high-strength steel. The method of vacuum etching has been applied to reveal former austenitic grain boundaries in steel. It is shown that the necessary homogeneous structure in morphology and dimensions of structural elements in martensitic steels is formed under the influence of additional quenching from furnace heating with tempering after quenching from rolling heating.

N-acetyl cysteine mitigates lung damage and inflammation after chlorine exposure in vivo and ex vivo

The objective of this study was to explore the effects of antioxidant treatments, specifically N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and N-acetylcysteine amide (NACA), in a mouse model of chlorine (Cl2)-induced lung injury. Additionally, the study aimed to investigate the utility of pig precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) as an ex vivo alternative for studying the short-term effects of Cl2 exposure and evaluating antioxidant treatments.The toxicological responses were analyzed in Cl2-exposed mice (inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR)) and PCLS (viability, cytotoxicity, inflammatory mediators). Airways contractions were assessed using a small ventilator for mice and electric-field stimulation (EFS) for PCLS. Antioxidant treatments were administered to evaluate their effects.In Cl2-exposed mice, NAC treatment did not alleviate AHR, but it did reduce the number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and inflammatory mediators in lung tissue. In PCLS, exposure to Cl2 resulted in concentration-dependent toxicity, impairing the lung tissue's ability to respond to EFS-stimulation. NAC treatment increased viability, mitigated the toxic responses caused by Cl2 exposure, and maintained contractility comparable to unexposed controls. Interestingly, NACA did not provide any additional treatment effect beyond NAC in both models.In conclusion, the establishment of a pig model for Cl2-induced lung damage supports further investigation of NAC as a potential treatment. However, the lack of protective effects on AHR after NAC treatment in mice suggests that NAC alone may not be sufficient as a complete treatment for Cl2 injuries. Optimization of existing medications with a polypharmacy approach may be more successful in addressing the complex sequelae of Cl2-induced lung injury.

Multiple effects of oil addition and freezing-reheating treatment on the in vitro starch digestibility of rice grains

The objective of this study was to investigate the multiple effects of the addition of oils and freezing-reheating treatment, which are characteristics of frozen rice, on the starch digestibility of rice grains. Either rapeseed oil or its emulsifier was added to the polished grains at a weight ratio of 1.2%, stirred, and cooked. Cooked grains were frozen, stored in a freezer at -20 °C, and reheated in a microwave oven to prepare frozen-reheated grains. While the equilibrium concentration of starch hydrolysis (C∞) was significantly higher for frozen-reheated grains (98.30%–110.92%) than for cooked grains (95.35%–97.91%), the kinetic constant (k) was significantly lower for frozen-reheated grains (7.39 × 10−3–8.98 × 10−3 min−1) than for cooked grains (9.16 × 10−3–9.45 × 10−3 min−1). The eGI ranged from 86.42 to 89.98 and was not significantly affected by the addition of oils, freezing-reheating, or the interaction. The results suggested that C∞ and k of rice grains was not affected by the addition of 1.2% of oils and interaction but was affected by freezing-reheating.