Lump Formation Research Articles

PHYSICAL DEGRADATION OF CHERNOZEMS OF THE SOKAL RIDGE

Purpose. Podzolized Chernozems (Greyzemic Phaeozems) and typical low-humus Chernozems (Haplic Chernozems) form the basis of agricultural land in the Sokal ridge. They belong to the category of especially valuable soils, have long been used intensively mainly under arable land, and experience increased anthropogenic pres­sure, which leads to physical degradation. At the same time, there is little information on the agrophysical state of Chernozems in the scientific literature. Therefore, the study of Chernozems of the Sokal ridge is relevat in the context of the development of degradation processes and ways of optimizing the physical properties of soils.The purpose of the research is to characterize the current state of Chernozems of the Sokal ridge in the context of the development of degradation processes. In order to achieve this goal, the following tasks were carried out: field and laboratory studies of soils were conducted, their degradation rates were assessed. The object of the study is podzolized and typical Chernozems. The subject of research comprises structural and aggregate composition, general physical properties, water permeability of the soil.Data & Methods. When writing the article, we used our own materials from field and laboratory studies. The generally accepted methods of soil research were used (com­parative-geographical, comparative profile, field and analytical methods). Physical degradation of soils was evaluated according to the methods adopted in Ukraine.Results. The following types of physical degradation of soils were investigated: struc­tural destruction, lump formation, overconsolidation, crust formation, and water per­meability deterioration. According to the research results, the content of air-dry agro­nomically valuable aggregates of 0.25–10.0 mm in the arable horizon of podzolized Chernozems is 17.37–30.48%, typical low-humus Chernozems – 27.83–41.00%. Ac­cording to accepted estimates, the structurally-aggregate state of soils is characterized as unsatisfactory. The degree of degradation of the structurally aggregate composition of arable Chernozems is characterized as high and very high (crisis). Among the struc­tural aggregates, the lump fraction prevails, the content of which is 55.42–82.17%.In terms of the density of the structure of the arable layer from 1.22 to 1.56 g/cm3 and the total porosity – 53.3–42.3%, the soils underwent physical degradation of mainly medium and high levels. Soil compaction leads to a decrease in their water permeabil­ity and increased erosion on the slopes.The physical degradation of Chernozems of the Sokal ridge has a purely anthropo­genic origin. Optimization of the agrophysical conditions of the studied soils consists in reducing the specific pressure on the soil, minimizing the use of heavy machinery, applying organic fertilizers, sowing green manure crops, preserving eroded soils.

A study of rock ladder structure used in buffer storage of iron ore pellets: DEM simulation and analytical model

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the abrasive damage of iron ore pellets (IOP) during charge inside day-bins in iron making plants. The rock-ladder structure of day-bin is the spotlight of this study. A numerical-analytical method is used to investigate the main geometrical features of the mentioned structure. Practical results of this study are expected to result in optimization of rock-ladder structure to reduce fine generation and lump formation during pellets downfall on the floors of rock-ladder. Design/methodology/approach One effective stage of pellets downfall on the floor of rock-ladder was simulated using discrete element method. A special post-process code is used to calculate parameters of pellets collisions for an analytical model which estimates fine generation during collisions. The main damaging mechanism during pellets storage inside day-bin is determined based on the comparison of the numerical-analytical results and industrial reports. Different rock-ladder designs are simulated to find optimal geometry of the rock-ladder structure. Findings According to the results, 85.4% of fines generation takes place during downfall of IOPs on the floors of rock ladder, and the rest of the fine debris is expected to be generated due to flow down under compressive load and vibratory discharge. The present study suggests an increase in the rock ladder floors distance from 1.63 to 2 m, but this suggestion should be confirmed by another study focusing on the breakage damage of IOPs. The idea of chamfering the floors corners not only removes lump-formation zones but also results in an approximately 5.7% reduction in the fines generation rate. Originality/value According to the results, introduced modification ideas for rock-ladder structure can result in lower fine generation, lower lump removal cost and lower manufacturing cost of rock-ladder structure.

Topographic computer analysis for acne scar treatment on face accompanying biopsy study after dermal injection of hydrotoxin mixture.

BackgroundAcne during youth can leave permanent facial scarring. The depressed acne scars can be treated by injection of stabilized hyaluronic acid (S‐HA) into the dermis. Due to the large number of acne scars, manual injection methods are technically difficult and bear high risk of lump formation in the dermis. Therefore, the author designed a specific injection method to solve the two abovementioned problems.AimsThis research aims to assess the effect of the intradermal injection of S‐HA and aboborulinumtoxinA mixture in the treatment of all types of acne scars.Materials/MethodsA total of 102 patients who suffered from acne scars were treated with a mixture of S‐HA (Restylane Vital®) and abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport®). Using an automatic injector, micro‐droplets of the mixture (0.001 cc of S‐HA and 0.125 U abobotulinumtoxinA) were delivered into 1000 intradermal sites on whole face except eyelids. This instrument radically reduced injection amounts per site (0.001 cc), lessened manual operator efforts, and ensured consistent injection depth (from 0.8 to 1.2 mm depending on individual dermal thickness) into the facial dermis. The changes in each depression site of acne scars were evaluated by topographic computer analysis (point roughness), based on the 40 magnification microscopic photographs generated. Depth measurements of each small acne scar point were taken one by one at the exact same point before and after the treatments. Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) was measured for improvement of acne scars at 1‐ and 6‐month posttreatment. Additionally, serial histologic examinations of the biopsy specimens evaluated neocollagenesis, neoelastinogenesis, and longevity state of the S‐HA.ResultsA total of 78 patients showed improvements of depressed acne scars in physical examinations, medical photographs, and dermascopic photographs.Using topographic computer analysis, the average point roughness decreased 27.48% (at 1 month) from 29.042 ± 6.85 (baseline) to 21.05 ± 6.30 µm (P < .0001), corresponding with scar improvements observed in physical examinations, and 3.02 ± 0.66 of GAIS at 1‐month posttreatment. Using an injector allowed the hydrotoxin mixture into the deep dermal layer. Biopsy study proved that the injection depth was exactly in the dermis, and showed evidence of neocollagenesis and neoelastinogenesis. Also, the S‐HA particles remained after 1 year, which proved its longevity of at least 1 year.ConclusionThe topographic computer analysis using point roughness showed improvement of all subtype acne scars at 1‐month posttreatment. The improvement may have resulted from dermal expansion due to the neocollagenesis and neoelastinogenesis. S‐HA lasted more than 1 year in human dermis.

Rehydration of food powders: Interplay between physical properties and process conditions

Dehydrated food powders with poor dissolution or dispersion can dramatically compromise food processing, with consequences for the final product quality and consumer experience. In this study, the reconstitution performance of maltodextrin powders with different moisture content and molecular weight, has been determined by varying the processing conditions, including agitation speed, liquid temperature, powder addition rate and mode of addition to the liquid surface.In particular, the inter-relationship between the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the powder, its moisture content and the liquid temperature (TL) is highlighted. When TL ≥ Tg, the individual maltodextrin granules tend to swell, restricting further dispersion and rehydration. It has been shown that higher liquid temperatures reduce the dispersion of food powders containing high molecular weight carbohydrates. Increasing the rate of powder addition to the liquid surface under low agitation conditions has been shown to result in faster reconstitution of low-molecular weight maltodextrins, whilst, on the other hand, the corresponding reconstitution rates of high-molecular weight maltodextrins are reduced.On the basis of this work and a previous study [X.Y. Ong, S.E. Taylor and M. Ramaioli, Pouring of Grains onto Liquid Surfaces: Dispersion or Lump Formation? Langmuir (2019) 1115011156] an improved, yet simple, approach to improve powder dispersion in a liquid is also demonstrated, by optimizing the distribution of the powder on the liquid surface. This approach avoids powder grains accumulating as heterogeneous lumps on the liquid surface and has been applied herein to a wide range of food powders.

Particle engineering for improved stability and handling properties of carrot concentrate powders using fluidized bed granulation and agglomeration

Carotenoid rich carrot concentrate powders were produced using spray drying, fluidized bed agglomeration and spout fluidized bed spray granulation. The powders were analyzed and compared for their microstructure, encapsulation efficiency, dissolution kinetics, flowability and oxidation stability during storage. Agglomeration and spray granulation resulted in powders with a high encapsulation efficiency (96–99%), oxidation stability and improved flowability compared to spray dried powders. Dissolution in water was fastest for agglomerated powders and significantly slowed down by lump formation in spray dried and spray granulated powders. After 168 days of storage at 35 °C, 92–93% and 86–90% of the initial carotenoids were retained in spray granulated and agglomerated powders respectively, whereas only 68–75% were retained in spray dried particles. The obtained results highlight the potential of targeted particle engineering to achieve food powders with superior functional properties and stability.

Reconstitution of Food Powders Granulated with Oil‐in‐Water Emulsions

AbstractVegetable soups are complex mixtures containing vegetables in different percentages, thickeners, salt, fat, and emulsifying/wetting agents. When prepared as dehydrated powders in convenience foods, they need to be rehydrated before consumption and this can lead to formation of undesired lumps when carried out in hot water. Elimination of lumps and simplification of the preparation procedure were reached by granulating three different vegetable mixtures, each with a predominant vegetable (spinach, beetroot, and carrot), using an alternative liquid binder besides water. The use of an oil‐in‐water emulsion affected positively some technological properties of the dry products like granule strength and flowability, and the rehydrated soups in terms of complete dispersion in hot water. Also, the interplay between starches and soluble sugars, naturally present in vegetables, was found to impact the complete rehydration of the soups.

Tracking of powder lump formation and dispersion with the use of FBRM technology and video recordings

Poor powder reconstitution remains a challenge for the food and beverage industry – thus in the past decades there has been a considerable increase in the number of studies aiming to understand the mechanisms driving powder reconstitution. However many techniques used are inadequate to fully describe the entire reconstitution process. In the present publication, we introduce a novel approach to study wetting/sinking and dispersing of food powders, by using a standardized agitated vessel equipped with a video camera to record the powder sinking time and an in situ particle size distribution measurements to characterize lump formation and dispersion, directly in the agitated vessel. Whole and skim milk powders are reconstituted under various combinations of temperature and agitation rate in order to construct “limiting regimes maps”, in order to elucidate the mechanisms of reconstitution at various combinations of these parameters.

Contextualisation of the Early Iron Age hoard of bronze objects discovered in Gdynia-Karwiny, site 1

After the amateur discovery of a hoard of bronze ornaments (a kidney bracelet and two hollow ankle rings) in 2014 in a forest near Gdynia (Pomerania, northern Poland), the place was subjected to excavation. It turned out that in the nearest context of the bronzes (which had been found arranged one on top of the other in a narrow pit reaching 60 cm in depth) there was a cluster of stones, some of which could have been arranged intentionally in order to mark the place of the deposit. Next to this alleged stone circle there was a deep hearth used to heat stones, and for burning amber as incense. Remains of amber were preserved in the form of lumps and probably also as a deposit on the walls of some vessels. Some of the features of the examined complex may indicate a non-profane nature of the deposit: the presence of the stone structure, traces of burning amber, the location of the deposition spot in a not very habitable flattening of a narrow valley, as well as the chemical composition of the alloy of metals themselves. The ornaments were made of a porous copper alloy with a high addition of lead, antimony and arsenic, which could promote their fragility and poor use value. However, the ceramics found near the place where the bronzes are deposited do not differ from the settlement pottery of the time. The hoard and its context should be dated to the transition phase between the periods HaC1 and HaC2 (the turn of the 8th and 7th cent. BC). The Gdynia-Karwiny deposit adds to the list of finds from a period marked by the most frequent occurrence of hoards in Pomerania (turn of the Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age). Its research seems to contribute to the interpretation of the deposition of metal objects as a phenomenon primarily of a ritual nature, and at the same time a social behaviour: a manifestation of competition for prestige.

A Compact Device for the Integrated Filtration, Drying, and Mechanical Processing of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients

Recent changes in the pharmaceutical sector call for the development of novel manufacturing approaches to reduce costs and improve control over product quality. In this area, the development of compact, plug-and-play devices that fit in a continuous manufacturing system has gained interest in recent years. Most Nutsche filters offer a versatile solution as compact filtration and drying devices. However, conventional drying processes tend to generate a large amount of lumps, usually requiring further mechanical processing of the isolated drug substance before it can be formulated. In this work, we present a compact, automatable filtration device that takes advantage of a unique impeller design and in situ measurements of the drying heat duty to integrate mechanical processing into the drying step. By preventing the formation of dry lumps during drug substance drying, and breaking needle-like crystals through the developed agitation program, the resulting powder can be directly used for tablet formulation. This device, designed to fit in a compact continuous manufacturing module, has the potential to reduce manufacturing costs and footprint, while allowing for the low-shear mechanical processing of heat-sensitive compounds.

Automatic Detection Brain Segmentation to Detect Brain Tumor Using MRI

Brain tumors are a type of disease in the form of lumps of meat that grow in the brain. In differentiating brain tumor tissue from normal tissue become a difficulty caused by the same colors are an obstacle in seeing brain tumors using MRI images. Accuracy is needed in analyzing brain tumors. However, currently, radiographers (radiologists) still analyze the results of manual MRI images of brain tumors. Therefore we need a method that is able to segment MRI images precisely and automatically, with the aim of obtaining faster and more accurate image segmentation of brain tumors so that we can know the percentage of brain tumors found in the brain. To overcome difficulties when segmenting brain tumors in separating brain tumor tissue from other tissues such as normal brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, fat, and edema, a learning-based system method that will carry out the training process uses Haar training to narrow the MRI image so that it is more focused on the part of the head object. Then median filtering is performed to maintain the edge of the image on the MRI image. Then the segmentation process using the thresholding method is run, then repeated to take the largest area. Segmentation of brain is carried out by marking the brain area and the area outside the brain using the DAS method and then cleaning the skull using the cropping method. In this research, 12 images of MRI brain tumors were used. The results of segmentation compared to area of the brain tumor and area of the brain tissue. The system obtains a calculation of the tumor area having an average error of 10,5%.

Nutritional Composition and Sensory Evaluation of Tapioca Fortified with Soy-Coconut Flour

Tapioca is a cassava-based food product made in the form of irregular lumps of partly gelatinized starch grits. Tapioca was enriched with varying proportions of soy-coconut flour (100, 80:10:10, 70:15:15, 60:20:20, 50:25:25) to produce tapioca soy-coconut. Proximate, mineral composition and sensory evaluation were determined by standard methods. The proximate composition of tapioca meals ranged in values of 7.67 to 10.67%; 1.03 to 30.09%, 0.24 to 9.80%, 1.26 to 4.71%, 1.08 to 9.14 % and 35.59 to 88.72% for moisture, crude protein, fat ,ash, crude fiber and carbohydrate respectively. There were increase in the values of tapioca as the level of soy-coconut flour substitution increased and significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) in values obtained for moisture, protein, fat, ash and crude fibre contents. The mineral content of all the samples shows an increase in the value. Fortification of tapioca with soybean and coconut flour significantly increased the nutritional and sensory quality. The sensory evaluation result in terms of overall acceptability shows that 80:10:10 was most preferred than the other fortified samples. Hence fortified tapioca is recommended as safe, nutritious and acceptable food product that can enhance food and nutrition, security among cassava consuming population. Keywords: soybean, cassava, tapioca, fortification, coconut DOI : 10.7176/FSQM/92-05 Publication date: December 31 st 2019

Assessment of impact breakage of carbamazepine dihydrate due to aerodynamic dispersion.

Acicular crystals are very common in pharmaceutical manufacturing. They are very prone to breakage, causing unwanted particle size degradation and problems such as segregation and lump formation. We investigate the breakage pattern of carbamazepine dihydrate, an acicular and platy crystal with cleavage planes. It readily undergoes attrition during isolation and drying stage, causing processing difficulties. We use the aerodynamic dispersion of a very small quantity of powder sample to induce breakage by applying a pulse of pressurised air. The dispersion unit of Morphologi G3 is used for this purpose. The broken particles settle in a chamber and are subsequently analysed using the built-in image analysis software. The shift in the particle size and shape distributions is quantified through which the extent of breakage is determined as a function of the dispersion pressure. The analysis reveals a change of breakage mechanism as the dispersion pressure is increased from primarily snapping along the crystal length to one in which chipping has also a notable contribution. The breakage data are analysed using a modified impact-based breakage model and the breakability index of the carbamazepine dihydrate is determined for the two breakage regimes. The method provides a quick and easy testing of particle breakability, a useful tool for assessing attrition in process plant and grindability in milling operations.

Pouring of Grains onto Liquid Surfaces: Dispersion or Lump Formation?

This study considers the consequences of adding grains to an air-liquid interface from a funnel. Depending on the grain contact angle and liquid surface tension, the interface is found to support a single or multiple layers of grains, forming a granular stack. By continuing to add grains, the stacks grow until either the lower grains disperse in the liquid, or the complete stack breaks free from the surface and sinks as a dry powder lump. Herein, the effects of grain contact angle, density, and size on these processes are studied experimentally, and a theoretical analysis is given. The maximum number of grains contained in a floating stack and its critical depth are observed to increase as the grain size decreases. The maximum number of grains scales with the bond number (Bo) as Bo-1.82 when stack detachment is observed and with an exponent -2.0 when grains disperse into the liquid. As a result of these different scaling exponents, a critical bond number above which grains wet and disperse can be identified. Favorable conditions for dispersion are achieved with larger grains and, to a lesser extent, by lower surface tension and contact angle. The critical bond number separating grain dispersion from lump formation increases with an increasing grain contact angle, thus providing a physical justification for increasing grain size with common processes such as granulation or agglomeration. Conversely, a quantitative framework to interpret the limitations in dispersing small grains is proposed, justifying the need for low contact angle or liquids with low surface tensions, both favored by the use of surfactants. The present findings have identified conditions under which lump formation occurs, and hence how these undesired phenomena can be avoided in applications requiring the efficient dispersion of grains across a liquid interface.

Evaluation of Anti-Cancer Oncology Medicines Pharmaceutical Companies Under Chain of Sustainable Procurement

Cancer is awful disease, which makes panicle network in the body system of patients. Cancer is characterized by abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth, which results in the formation of lumps or masses in body known as tumor. There are more than 100 types of cancers and each is classified according to the cell capacity and size. Globally, cancer is accepted as the second leading cause of death. As per a WHO report, cancer is responsible for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. Anti-cancer drugs or oncology medicines are employed in taking the care of different patients. At the present time, many pharmaceutical companies are active in producing oncology medicines. It is probed that by pharmaceutical scientists how cancer treatments under the scheduled time can save life of patients and a delay in treating cancer patients may have unseemly effects on the life of patients. The presented research focuses on two cases. The first was conducted at Jabalpur Hospital &amp; Research Centre (JHRC), where a structure/model related to A-CMsP company is built for assessing the performance under chain of sustainable procurement criteria. The second research focuses on the benchmarking of two A-CMsP companies. A multi objective optimization approach is implemented, accompanied with vague modeling for computing the overall performance index of oncology medicines.

Determination of potassium ferrocyanide in table salt and salted food using a water-soluble fluorescent silicon quantum dots

The addition of potassium ferrocyanide (K4[Fe(CN)6]) in table salt as anti-caking agent has a crucial role in preventing the formation of lumps. However, the excess of K4[Fe(CN)6] and its decomposers are harmful to both human health and environment. To date, there are still lack of suitable methods for simple and rapid analysis of K4[Fe(CN)6] in table salt and salted food. Herein, a novel fluorescent Si QDs probe for sensitive, selective and rapid detection of K4[Fe(CN)6] was synthesized by facile one-step strategy. Notably, the fluorescence of Si QDs could be remarkably quenched by K4[Fe(CN)6] via electrostatic interaction. Based on this phenomenon, a new method of determination of K4[Fe(CN)6] was established. A wide linear range was obtained from 0.05 to 8.0 µg/mL with a detection limit of 30 ng/mL. The established fluorescent new method was suitable for detecting K4[Fe(CN)6] in table salt and salted food samples with satisfactory results.

Dense brine refluxing: A new genetic interpretation of widespread anhydrite lumps in the Oligocene–Lower Miocene Asmari Formation of the Zagros foreland basin, NE Iraq

Abstract The Asmari Formation in the Zagros Basin of NE Iraq contains a thick sequence of Oligocene–Lower Miocene carbonates, and it forms one of the best-known carbonate reservoirs in the world. The formation mainly consists of dolostones, limestones, sandstones, and mudstones, and there is a general upward increase in the abundance of evaporites (generally in the form of anhydrite lumps) in the dolostones of the upper part. The anhydrite types and textures provide evidence on the salinity, depth, temperature, environment, and sea-level fluctuations which can be used for paleoenvironmental and climatic interpretations. And they also exert a significant control on reservoir quality, which has attracted the attention of many petroleum industries. Previous studies suggested that the anhydrite lumps in the Upper Asmari Formation (Aquitanian–Burdigalian) were synsedimentary deposits in a hypersaline setting of a sabkha (salt flat). However, this paper shows that 1) the Upper Asmari Formation was deposited in an inner-to mid-ramp setting, based on the sedimentological, petrographical, and paleontological characteristics; 2) the anhydrite lumps are irregular and variable in size, and are generally found within or associated with karst systems; and 3) fossil assemblages indicate that the synsedimentary salinity was normal or only slightly hypersaline, which means that the anhydrite was not directly deposited from the synsedimentary marine water. After comprehensive analysis of the anhydrite lumps, it is proposed in this paper that the anhydrite lumps were formed within the Upper Asmari Formation (Aquitanian–Burdigalian) due to downwards seepage of the overlying hypersaline water, which is termed as “dense brine refluxing”, a new genetic model. It is suggested 1) that the Upper Asmari Formation (Aquitanian–Burdigalian) was deposited in an inner-to mid-ramp setting and subjected to eogenetic karstification generating karst systems in local area with relative high landscape due to sea level change; 2) that during the middle Miocene tectonic compression resulted in the Zagros Basin isolated and the seawater becoming hypersaline with higher salt concentrations and a high density; and 3) the hypersaline water seeped downwards through the underlying porous sediments, forming anhydrite lumps and resulting in a decrease in the porosity of the Upper Asmari Formation (Aquitanian–Burdigalian). This paper provides new perspectives on the origin of anhydrite lumps and the resulting effects on reservoir quality in the Zagros foreland basin.

Induction of Apoptosis in Pterygium Cells by Antagonists of Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Receptors.

The aim of the study was to investigate the signaling of growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRH-R) in the pathogenesis of pterygium and determine the apoptotic effect of GHRH-R antagonist on pterygium epithelial cells (PECs). Fourteen samples of primary pterygium of grade T3 with size of corneal invasion ≥ 4 mm were obtained for investigation by histology, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, explant culture, and flow cytometry. We found that PECs were localized in the basal layer of the epithelium in advancing regions of the head of pterygium. These cells harbored clusters of rough endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, and mitochondria, which were consistent with their aggressive proliferation. Immunofluorescence studies and Western blots showed that GHRH-R and the downstream growth hormone receptor (GH-R) were intensively expressed in PECs. Their respective ligands, GHRH and GH, were also elevated in the pterygium tissues as compared to conjunctival cells. Explanted PECs were strongly immunoreactive to GHRH-R and exhibited differentiation and proliferation that led to lump formation. Treatment with GHRH-R antagonist MIA-602 induced apoptosis of PECs in a dose-dependent manner, which was accompanied by a downregulation of ERK1 and upregulation of Caspase 3 expression. Our results revealed that GHRH-R signaling is involved in survival and proliferation of PECs and suggest a potential therapeutic approach for GHRH-R antagonist in the treatment of pterygium.

Application of IPL technology in acne vulgaris treatment: a case report

Background: Intense pulsed light (IPL) technology has been used by cosmetic and medical practitioner since 1990. Initially it was only used to remove unnecessary hair, but over time, it began to be used for anti-aging treatments, removing erythema, acne lesions, and acne scars. Aim of the study: The aim of this study is to investigate how the use of IPL technology has affected acne lesions and to determine whether the condition of the patient’s skin has improved. Material and methods: A young woman who was struggling with ordinary acne underwent a series of treatments using IPL technology to reduce skin eruptions. Results: The study subject was a 22-year-old patient who had been suffering from acne vulgaris for several years. The skin on her face exhibited changes in the form of pustules, blackheads, and lumps. The entire treatment series was 10 weeks. Prior to the procedure, a very thorough interview was conducted, during which all contraindications were excluded. The Hellgren-Vincent scale, which is used to determine the severity of acne lesions, accurately determines the amount of skin lesions in the form of lumps, pustules, and blackheads. Conclusions: As demonstrated by this study, IPL technology has been beneficial for the condition of the patient’s skin. Pictures from before and after unambiguously indicate the positive effect of intense pulsed light. There has been great improvement in the skin’s overall condition, with reduced acne lesions (lumps, pustules, blackheads).

A manifestation of sarcoidosis in the neck region

Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by a formation of lumps known as noncaseating granulomas, which are not affected by necrosis. Typical collections of inflammatory cells may be found in any organ tissues but mainly in the lungs, skin or lymph nodes. Head and neck organs involvement is rare, although sarcoidosis can be found in lymph nodes, salivary glands, larynx, and sinuses. A search was performed based on medical records of patients admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology within four previous years. We analyzed two cases of sarcoidosis of salivary glands (parotid and submandibular), two cases of larynx involvement and one case of lymphadenopathy due to sarcoidosis. Patients (4 women and 1 man), age range 26-76 years old, were directed to the Otolaryngology Department with neck lymphadenopathy or a suspicion of a neoplastic tumor of salivary gland or larynx. Only one patient had the previous diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis. Preoperative diagnostic procedures such as ultrasonography, biopsy, chest radiography did not suggest sarcoidosis on the initial assessment of other patients. Surgical removal of the pathological findings and histopathological examination confirmed extrapulmonary sarcoidosis. The computed tomography of lungs confirmed coexisting pulmonary sarcoidosis in only one patient.

Influence of substrate bias on structural and tribo-mechanical properties of pulsed magnetron sputtered TiN-WSx hard-lubricious coating

Abstract Lubricious WS x was codeposited with hard TiN to improve tribological property of the latter. Effects of substrate bias on structural and tribo-mechanical properties of composite coatings were investigated. Tribologically favourable (002) orientation of WS 2 diminished with increase in bias. Surface morphology became increasingly compact up to −70 V. Adhesion, hardness and tribological characteristics were strongly influenced by applied bias. At 0 V, low hardness and adhesion led to localized detachment and consequent lump formation of coating in pin-on-disc test. At −90 V, pulverisation of hard, brittle coating material was observed. Superior tribological performance at intermediate bias of −40 V has been discussed in light of balanced combination of WS x content, adhesion and hardness of the composite coating.