Higher Release Research Articles

Enhanced tribological performance of TiO2-hBN/CNT double-layer coating by CNT-assisted plasma electrolytic oxidation with nanoparticles addition

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is considered a very promising anti-friction material, however, how to assemble them densely and uniformly on metal surfaces remains a challenge. In this study, CNT-assisted plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) with the addition of h-BN nanoparticles was employed to create a double-layer coating on titanium alloy, demonstrating exceptional tribological characteristics. The CNTs not only acted as lubricating phases to improve the anti-friction performance but also as additives to facilitate the transition from the nanocomposite coating to the double-layer coating. The later stage of the PEO process with CNT doped in the electrolyte produces an interesting sudden rise in current density, which generates strong and dense discharge that facilitates the deposition and sintering of h-BN. As a result, the double-layer coating has a higher adhesion and hardness as well as more h-BN nanoparticles incorporated into the coating compared to coatings without CNTs-assisted deposition. Further, the double-layer coating exhibits a lower friction coefficient (∼ 0.11), attributed to the high release rate of h-BN under shear to form a lubrication film in conjunction with CNTs on the contact surface. The simple technique offers a novel approach to fabricating self-lubricating ceramic coatings on light alloys, which has huge potential for application in the anti-friction materials field.

Impact of antigen loading in tolerogenic nanoparticles to mitigate Th2-mediated allergic lung inflammation.

Allergic disease is a major global health concern that imposes significant life-altering and economic burdens on affected individuals. However, there is still no cure. Polymer-based nanoparticles (NP) have shown the potential to induce antigen (Ag)-specific immune tolerance in various Th1/17 and Th2-mediated immune disorders including autoimmunity and allergy. Common methods by which Ags are associated with NPs are through surface conjugation or encapsulation. However, these Ag delivery strategies can be associated with several caveats that dampen their effectiveness such as uncontrolled Ag loading, a high Ag burst release, and an increased immune recognition profile. We previously developed Ag-polymer conjugate NPs (acNPs) to overcome those noted limitations, while allowing for controlled delivery of precise quantities of Ag to innate immune cells for Ag-specific CD4 T cell modulation. Here, we utilized ovalbumin (OVA) protein-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) conjugate NPs (acNP-OVA) to elucidate the impact of Ag loading on the induction of Th2 tolerance using a prophylactic and therapeutic OVA/ALUM-induced mouse model of allergic lung inflammation (ALI) in comparison to Ag-encapsulated PLGA NPs (NP(Ag)). We demonstrate that acNP-OVA formulations reduced OVA-specific IgE and inhibited Th2 cytokine secretions in an Ag loading-dependent manner when administered prophylactically. Administration of acNP-OVA to pre-sensitized mice did not affect OVA-specific IgE and Th2 cytokines tended to be reduced, however, there was no clear Ag loading dependency. acNP-OVA with medium-to-low Ag loadings were well tolerated, while formulations with high Ag loadings, including NP(Ag) resulted in anaphylaxis. Overall, our results clarify the relationship between Ag loading and Ag-specific IgE and Th2 cytokine responses in a murine model of ALI, which provides insight useful for future design of tolerogenic NP-based immunotherapies.

Effects of ibuprofen in the ZDF rat model of type 2 diabetes.

We aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of ibuprofen against type 2 diabetes (T2D) using obese Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats as type 2 diabetes model. ZDF rats were hyperglycemic, dyslipidemic and expressed proinflammatory markers in contrast to lean controls, thus reflecting the relationship between obesity and chronic inflammation promoting T2D. Chronic treatment with ibuprofen (2-(4-Isobutylphenyl)propanoic acid) was used to study the impact on pathological T2D conditions as compared to metformin (1,1-dimethylbiguanide) treated ZDF as well as lean controls. Ibuprofen decreased A1c but induced a high insulin release with improved glucose tolerance only after early time points (i.g., 15 and 30 min) resulting in a non-significant decline of AUC values and translating into a high HOMA-IR. In addition, ibuprofen significantly lowered cholesterol, free fatty acids and HDL-C. Some of these effects by ibuprofen might be based on its anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of cytokine/chemokine signaling (i.g., COX-2, ICAM-1 and TNF-α) as measured in whole blood and epididymal adipose tissue by TaqMan and/or upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines (i.g., IL-4 and IL-13) by ELISA analysis in blood. In conclusion, our ZDF animal study showed positive effects of ibuprofen against diabetic complications such as inflammation and dyslipidemia but also demonstrated the risk of causing insulin resistance.

Designing of fucosylated dendrimers as a biocompatible carrier for the targeted delivery of chrysin to human lung cancer cells

Dendrimers, a polymeric macromolecule, have been explored for improving the solubility of water-insoluble drugs, and PAMAM is the most explored dendrimer in nanomedicine. But amine-terminated PAMAM dendrimers confer toxicity to healthy cells. Chrysin (CRY) is a plant-derived phenolic component with anticancer properties and has emerged as a safer drug for the treatment of various cancers, including lung cancer. However, its limited aqueous solubility and poor in vivo stability are the major hurdles to its development as a potential anticancer molecule. In the present work, generation 4 PAMAM dendrimers were functionalized with fucose to overcome the toxicity of dendrimers, enhance the aqueous solubility of CRY, and improve drug targeting to cancer cells. The prepared CRY-loaded fucosylated PAMAM dendrimers (CRY-FUC-PAMAM) were found to have high aqueous solubility and sustained drug release. In the in-vitro studies, CRY-FUC-PAMAM showed improved cytotoxicity with a lower IC50 value at both 24 h and 48 h (1.8 μg/mL and 0.7 μg/mL, respectively), resulting from increased apoptosis and cellular uptake of FUC-PAMAM in A549 human lung cancer cells in comparison to free CRY, whereas FUC-PAMAM was found to be non-toxic. Overall, this biocompatible fucosylated dendrimer could be used as a nanocarrier for the delivery of CRY as a targeted nanomedicine for lung cancer.

Construction and evaluation of biomass-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles as enzyme-responsive and pH-Responsive drug carriers for the controlled release of quercetin

This study constructed a biomass-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticle with enzyme-responsive and pH-responsive properties. The nanoparticles were used to evaluate the loading and release capacities of quercetin (QU). The multifunctional nanoparticles (MSN@CMCS-HA) were constructed by using hyaluronic acid (HA) and carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) as shells and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) as cores. The carrier's structure and properties were evaluated utilizing zeta, FTIR, TGA, XPS, XRD, BET, SEM, and TEM. The drug adsorption test revealed that the maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity of MSN@CMCS-HA for QU was 314.4 mg/g. In vitro drug release demonstrated that, under the influence of hyaluronidase (100 μg/mL) and pH of 5, the high drug release rate (63.73 %) was achieved. In addition, hemolysis and CCK8 tests confirmed the high biocompatibility of MSN@CMCS-HA. Consequently, MSN@CMCS-HA exhibited promising potential as an enzyme-responsive and pH-responsive drug carrier.

Enhancing Oral Bioavailability of Simvastatin Using Uncoated and Polymer-Coated Solid Lipid Nanoparticles.

Simvastatin (SVA) is a well-prescribed drug for treating cardiovascular and hypercholesterolemia. Due to the extensive hepatic first-pass metabolism and poor solubility, its oral bioavailability is 5%. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and hydrogel-coated SLNs were investigated to overcome the limited bioavailability of SVA. Four different lipids used alone or in combination with two stabilizers were employed to generate 13 SLNs. Two concentrations of chitosan (CS) and alginate (AL) were coating materials. SLNs were studied for particle size, zeta potential, in vitro release, rheology, and bioavailability. The viscosities of both the bare and coated SLNs exhibited shear-thinning behavior. The viscosity of F11 (Chitosan 1%) at 20 and 40 rpm were 424 and 168 cp, respectively. F11 had a particle size of 260.1 ± 3.72 nm with a higher release; the particle size of F11-CS at 1% was 524.3 ± 80.31 nm. In vivo studies illustrated that F11 had the highest plasma concentration when compared with the SVA suspension and coated chitosan (F11 (Chitosan 1%)). Greater bioavailability is measured as (AUC0→24), as compared to uncoated ones. The AUC for F11, F11-CS 1%, and the SVA suspension were 1880.4, 3562.18, and 272 ng·h/mL, respectively. Both bare and coated SLNs exhibited a significantly higher relative bioavailability when compared to that from the control SVA.

Physical properties and diesel engine combustion of blends of alcohols with military jet fuel JP-5

Military operations may involve the use of jet fuel in a diesel engine, and the blending of alcohols with jet fuel is a way to introduce decarbonization into military operations. This study explored the effect of blending n-alcohols with navy jet fuel JP-5 on physical properties and combustion in a diesel engine. Blends containing 10 %, 20 %, and 30 % of ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, octanol, and one mixture of 10 % methanol/80 % octanol had densities (0.80 to 0.81 g/mL) that fell within military specifications for diesel. Most mixtures' flash points (16.5 to 65.0 °C) were below the military spec of 60 °C, which is higher than that of commercial aviation fuel. Most mixture viscosities (4.74 to 9.99 mm2/s) were within the jet fuel specifications at −20 °C but below the diesel fuel specification at 40 °C. Combustion of the alcohol/JP-5 mixtures in a diesel engine showed that increasing alcohol content lengthened the ignition delay (IGD). For some of the alcohols, shortening the carbon chain length on the alcohol led to longer IGDs with later combustion phasing that was most noticeable at lighter engine loads. The longer IGDs associated with the shorter alcohol fuels (and increased alcohol percentage) rapidly led to very high rates of energy release. The relative IGDs (IGD mixture/IGD JP-5) were less than 1.2 for the 10 % alcohol mixtures, between 1.0 and 1.4 for the 20 % alcohol mixtures, and between 1.0 and 1.9 for the 30 % alcohol mixtures excluding the 30 % ethanol mixture that did not combust. From the combustion metrics perspective, the longer carbon chain alcohols were most similar to the base jet fuel. Overall, the larger alcohols had physical properties and combustion metrics that were closer to those of the JP-5 jet fuel.

Fabrication of zein-coated brush-like silica nanocarriers for high foliage deposition and responsive release of pesticide

Responsive release systems have received extensive attention to enhance pesticide utilization efficiency and reduce environmental pollution. In this study, pH/GSH dual responsive release system based on brush-like silica (bSiO2) carriers was constructed to enhance the utilization of pesticides. The bSiO2 carriers present core-shell structure, length of 550 nm, diameter of 350 nm and shell thickness of 100 nm. The carrier had a high pesticide loading (20.0 %, w/w) for dinotefuran (Din). After loading Din, zein was covalently linked with cysteine-bridge to seal the loaded pesticides (namely Din@bSiO2@Zein). The Din@bSiO2@Zein exhibited superior foliar affinity, retention and photostability, and retention rate still remain above 95 % with 220 min UV irradiation. Din@bSiO2@Zein displayed pH/GSH responsive release and the cumulative release within 92 h was up to 81 % under pH=9/CGSH=6 mM, mimicking the microenvironment of lepidopteran. The Din@bSiO2@Zein possessed good control efficacy against Plutella xylostella. Appreciably, Din@bSiO2@Zein could be transported bi-directionally to various regions of tobacco plants within 24 h, which had potential to promote pesticide efficacy. This work offers a strategy to minimize the pesticide dosage and encourage sustainable agricultural development.

Micro-encapsulation of garlic oil using esterified-wheat porous starch and whey protein isolate: Physicochemical properties, release behavior during in vitro digestion

The study aimed to inhibit the stimulating impact of garlic oil (GO) on the stomach and attain high release in the intestine during digestion. So, wheat porous starch (WPS) was modified with octenyl succinic acid (OSA) and malic acid (MA) to obtain esterified WPS, OWPS and MWPS, respectively. The differences in physicochemical, encapsulation, and digestive properties of two GO microcapsules, WPI/OWPS/GO and WPI/MWPS/GO microcapsules produced by using OWPS and MWPS as variant carrier materials and whey protein isolate (WPI) as the same coating agent, were compared. The results found that OWPS had greater amphiphilicity, while MWPS had better hydrophobicity and anti-digestive ability than WPS. Encapsulation efficiency of WPI/OWPS/GO (94.67 %) was significantly greater than WPI/MWPS/GO (91.44 %). The digestion inhibition and low GO release (approximately 23 %) of WPI/OWPS/GO and WPI/MWPS/GO microcapsules in the gastric phase resulted from the protective effect of WPI combined with the good adsorption and lipophilicity of OWPS and MWPS. Especially, WPI/OWPS/GO microcapsule was relatively stable in the gastric phase and had sufficient GO release (67.24 %) in the intestinal phase, which was significantly higher than WPI/MWPS/GO microcapsule (56.03 %), benefiting from the adsorption and digestive properties of OWPS, and resulting in a total cumulative GO release rate of 90.86 %.

Comparative Evaluation of the Fluoride Releasing Ability and Microbial Attachment of Glass-Hybrid Restorative Material

This study aimed to compare the fluoride-releasing ability and degree of microbial attachment of a newly developed glass-hybrid restorative material (GH) with those of a high-viscosity glass ionomer (HvGIC), resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI), and composite resin (CR). In addition, the correlation between fluoride-releasing ability and microbial attachment between materials was evaluated. Specimens were prepared in a disc shape and divided into 4 groups according to the materials (GH, HvGIC, RMGI, and CR). The fluoride release experiments were performed in each group (n = 15). The amount of fluoride released was measured on days 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42 after storage. For the microbial attachment experiment, 12 specimens were produced per group using <i>Mutans Streptococci</i> (<i>S.mutans</i> ), a cariogenic microorganism. <i>S. mutans</i> was cultured on the specimens for 24 hours, and the number of bacteria was measured. GH had the highest cumulative fluoride release and showed a significant difference when compared with RMGI (<i>p</i> = 0.001) and CR (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Microbial attachment was the lowest in GH; however, no significant difference was observed between the materials (<i>p</i> = 0.169). There was no significant correlation between fluoride release from materials and microbial attachment (<i>p</i> > 0.05). From this perspective, remineralization of low-mineralized areas could be expected due to the high fluoride release of GH, and the effect of delaying the progression of dental caries could be predicted from the low cariogenic microbial attachment. Therefore, GH might be a useful restorative material for treating immature permanent teeth with hypomineralized enamel. However, further studies are needed about the degree of remineralization of hypomineralized areas after restoration and the capacity to recharge fluoride.

Development of Macro-Encapsulated Phase-Change Material Using Composite of NaCl-Al2O3 with Characteristics of Self-Standing

Developing thermal storage materials is crucial for the efficient recovery of thermal energy. Salt-based phase-change materials have been widely studied. Despite their high thermal storage density and low cost, they still face issues such as low thermal conductivity and easy leaks. Therefore, a new type of NaCl-Al2O3@SiC@Al2O3 macrocapsule was developed to address these drawbacks, and it exhibited excellent rapid heat storage and release capabilities and was extremely stable, significantly reducing the risk of leakage at high temperatures for industrial waste heat recovery and in concentrated solar power systems above 800 °C. Thermal storage macrocapsules consisted of a double-layer encapsulation of silicon carbide and alumina and a self-standing core of NaCl-Al2O3. After enduring over 1000 h at a high temperature of 850 °C, the encapsulated phase-change material exhibited an extremely low weight loss rate of less than 5% compared with NaCl@Al2O3 and NaCl-Al2O3@Al2O3 macrocapsules, for which the weight loss rate was reduced by 25% and 10%, respectively, proving their excellent leakage prevention. The SiC powder layer, serving as an intermediate coating, further prevented leakage, while the use of Al2O3 ceramics for encapsulation enhanced the overall mechanical strength. It was innovatively discovered that the Al2O3 particles formed a network structure around the molten NaCl, playing an important role in maintaining the shape and preventing leakage of the composite thermal storage phase-change material. Furthermore, the addition of Al2O3 significantly enhanced the rapid heat storage and release rate of NaCl-Al2O3 compared to pure NaCl. This encapsulated phase-change material demonstrated outstanding durability and rapid heat storage and release performance, offering an innovative approach to the application of salt phase-change materials in the field of high temperature rapid heat storage and release and encapsulating NaCl as a high-temperature thermal storage material in a packed bed system. Compared with conventional salt-based phase-change materials, the developed product is expected to significantly improve the reliability and thermal efficiency of thermal storage systems.

An Initiative Towards Efficient and Sustainable V2G Technology Fed STATCOM for Grid connected Wind Energy System

The proliferation of renewable energy sources, particularly wind energy, has significantly contributed to the diversification of the global energy mix and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. However, the intermittent nature of wind power generation poses challenges to the stability and reliability of the power grid. This paper explores the integration of Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology with Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) for grid-connected wind energy systems. Novelty. Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology enables bidirectional energy flow between electric vehicles (EVs) and the power grid, allowing EV batteries to serve as energy storage devices. This capability can be leveraged to support grid stability and reliability by utilizing EV batteries to store surplus wind energy during periods of high generation and release it back to the grid during periods of low generation or high demand. Purpose. This effectively mitigates the intermittency and variability of wind power, smoothing out fluctuations and improving grid stability. Methods. By employing V2G technology and leveraging the dual-purpose battery solution can compensate the grid voltage fluctuations and improve power factors in grid-connected wind energy systems, enhancing overall system stability and reliability. Results. The Hystersis current controller (HCC) scheme is used for controlling STATCOM to enhance the dynamic performance. Practical value. The system is simulated in its entirety using the matrix laboratory (MATLAB) . The proposed sustainable model will pave the way for maintaining the true power supply under varying wind conditions.

Outcomes of open radical retropubic prostatectomy surgery using the levator fascia anterior-superior release method

Background. One of the common treatments for prostate cancer is radical prostatectomy, which is performed in different ways. One of the advantages of the nerve bundle preservation method is better exposure, decrease in rectal damage the lower rectum. In addition, the possibility of a positive margin is less. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the results of using the high anterior release (HAR) technique in radical open prostatectomy surgery. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, after examining patients and their entry into the study and obtaining their medical records, questions were asked to assess erectile function and urinary incontinence. The prostate-specific antigen level was checked before and after the operation. In addition, the average surgical time, blood loss, and hospitalization time were evaluated. Finally, the data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical analysis program, version 19. Results. In this study, 102 patients underwent radical prostatectomy, with an average age of 62.33 years. About 56.9% of patients had stage t2b. During the 6-month follow-up after surgery, 70.5% of patients had complete urinary continence. Data analysis demonstrated that there is a direct relationship between urinary incontinence, with a history of radiotherapy (P<0.001), and the stage of the disease (P=0.019). After surgery, 61.8% of patients were satisfied with the erection function. Conclusion. The results of this study revealed that urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction are relatively common complications of this surgery. However, compared to other similar studies, the incidence of these two complications is lower. Practical Implications. Urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction are relatively prevalent complications of radical prostatectomy surgery using the HAR technique. Nonetheless, the incidence of these two complications is lower compared to other similar studies.

PH-responsive Aminated mesoporous silica microspheres modified with soybean hull polysaccharides for curcumin encapsulation and controlled release

Mesoporous silica microspheres (MSMs) possess poor biocompatibility. This study focuses on integrating MSMs with polymers to obtain hybrid materials with superior performance compared to the individual components and responsive release in specific environments. The synthesized MSMs were aminated, and subsequently, soybean hull polysaccharide (SHPs) was modified onto MSMs-NH2 to produce MSMs-NH2@SHPs nanoparticles. The encapsulation rate, loading rate of curcumin (Cur), and in vitro release behavior were investigated. Results indicated that the encapsulation efficiency of Cur by MSMs-NH2@SHPs nanoparticles reached 75.58%, 6.95 times that of MSMs-NH2 with a load capacity of 35.12%. It is noteworthy that these nanoparticles exhibit pH-responsive release capacity in vitro. The cumulative release rate of the three nanoparticles at pH 5.0 was higher than that at pH 7.4. MSMs-NH2@SHPs had a cumulative release rate of 56.55% at pH 7.4, increasing to 76.21% at pH 5.0. In vitro experiments have shown that MSMs-based nanoparticles have high delivery efficiency and can achieve pH-sensitive drug release, with a high release rate in a slightly acidic acid, highlighting the potential for controlled release of Cur.

Correlation between Ca Release and Osteoconduction by 3D-Printed Hydroxyapatite-Based Templates.

The application of hydroxyapatite (HA)-based templates is quite often seen in bone tissue engineering since that HA is an osteoconductive bioceramic material, which mimics the inorganic component of mineralized tissues. However, the reported osteoconductivity varies in vitro and in vivo, and the levels of calcium (Ca) release most favorable to osteoconduction have yet to be determined. In this study, HA-based templates were fabricated by melt-extrusion 3D-printing and characterized in order to determine a possible correlation between Ca release and osteoconduction. The HA-based templates were blended with poly(lactide-co-trimethylene carbonate) (PLATMC) at three different HA ratios: 10, 30, and 50%. The printability and physical properties of the HA templates were compared with those of pristine PLATMC. In vitro, osteoconductivity was assessed using seeded human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. A mild rate of Ca release was observed for HA10 templates, which exhibited higher mineralized extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion than PLATMC at 14 and 21 days. In contrast, the high rate of Ca release exhibited by HA30 and HA50 templates was associated with reduced osteoconduction and impeded mineralized ECM secretion in vitro. Similar results were observed in vivo. In the calvarial defect model in rabbit, PLATMC and HA10 templates exhibited the highest amount of new bone formation, with obvious contact osteogenesis on their surfaces. In contrast, HA30 and HA50 exhibited distant osteogenesis and reduced amounts of new bone ingrowth. It is concluded that HA-based templates are osteoconductive only at low rates of Ca release.

Desorption of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from Microplastics in Human Gastrointestinal Fluid Simulants-Implications for Exposure Assessment.

Microplastics have been detected in various food types, suggesting inevitable human exposure. A major fraction may originate from aerial deposition and could be contaminated by ubiquitous pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). While data on the sorption of pollutants to microplastics are abundant, the subsequent desorption in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is less understood. This prompted us to systematically investigate the release of microplastics-sorbed PAHs at realistic loadings (44-95 ng/mg) utilizing a physiology-based in vitro model comprising digestion in simulated saliva, gastric, and small and large intestinal fluids. Using benzo[a]pyrene as a representative PAH, desorption from different microplastics based on low density polyethylene (LDPE), thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs), and polyamides (PAs) was investigated consecutively in all four GIT fluid simulants. The cumulative relative desorption (CRD) of benzo[a]pyrene was negligible in saliva simulant but increased from gastric (4 ± 1% - 15 ± 4%) to large intestinal fluid simulant (21 ± 1% - 29 ± 6%), depending on the polymer type. CRDs were comparable for ten different microplastics in the small intestinal fluid simulant, except for a polydisperse PA-6 variant (1-10 μm), which showed an exceptionally high release (51 ± 8%). Nevertheless, the estimated contribution of microplastics-sorbed PAHs to total human PAH dietary intake was very low (≤0.1%). Our study provides a systematic data set on the desorption of PAHs from microplastics in GIT fluid simulants.

Crack propagation determined by energy release rate in cortical bone ultrasonic vibration assisted cutting

In orthopaedic surgery, bone cutting may occur serious mechanical damage due to large crack propagation, which impedes patient postoperative recovery. Ultrasonic vibration assisted cutting (UVAC) has emerged as a leading technique in bone cutting owing to its remarkable advantages, including minimal damage and cutting force. However, how to diminish its damage during bone UVAC remains challenging. Hence, this study established a sophisticated model to calculate the energy release rate for cortical bone UVAC and predicted the critical cutting depths of shear and fracture crack propagation. This superiority stems from the synergistic effects of periodic tool separation and the acoustic softening effect inherent in UVAC, which contribute to a lower average energy release rate and a subsequently reduced cutting force. Nevertheless, the high instantaneous energy release rate during UVAC can exceed the material's critical threshold for crack propagation, leading to the initiation of microcracks and thereby inducing material embrittlement behaviour. These insights shed light on the material removal mechanism of bone UVAC in medical orthopaedic surgery, thus enriching our understanding and potentially guiding further advancements in this field.

Neoseiulus mites as biological control agents against Megalurothrips usitatus (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Frankliniella intonsa (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on cowpea crop: laboratory to field.

Megalurothrips usitatus (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and Frankliniella intonsa (Trybom) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) have been detrimental to cowpea production in many countries. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the prey stage preference and functional response of 2 predatory mites species, Neoseiulus barkeri (Hughes) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), towards 2 thrips species (TS), M. usitatus, and F. intonsa, at varying densities and life stages on cowpea. Results shown that Neoseiulus species had a preference for different life stages of prey. Neoseiulus barkeri consumed more M. usitatus nymphs, while N. californicus consumed more F. intonsa (second-instar nymphs). The functional response of the 2 Neoseiulus spp. to nymphs of 2 TS was Type II on cowpea. The higher attack rate coefficient (a') and shorter handling time (Th) values were found on N. barkeri against M. usitatus, and a similar trend was found for those in N. californicus against F. intonsa. Field-caged trials were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Neoseiulus spp. in controlling 2 TS. The results have shown that Neoseiulus spp. was effective in controlling the 2 TS, with varying control efficacies at high or low release rates. The study provided valuable information on using Neoseiulus spp. as biological control agents against M. usitatus and F. intonsa in cowpea crops.

Turbulent vortex pair at equilibrium and its interaction with the ground at

A turbulent two-vortex system (T-2VS) is obtained by inserting analytical model wake vortices into very weak homogeneous isotropic turbulence (HIT) and by evolving them in time using large-eddy simulation until a turbulent state at statistical equilibrium is reached. The T-2VS is characterised as follows: circulation distribution of the vortices; energy of the mean and fluctuating fields; energy dissipation rate. It is also verified that essentially the same T-2VS is obtained when varying the initial model or initial HIT perturbation. A wall-resolved simulation of the T-2VS further interacting with a smooth ground is then performed at $Re_\varGamma = 2 \times 10^5$ ; this is $10 \times$ higher than in previous works, which allows us to better capture the high Reynolds number behaviour. The high release height of the T-2VS also ensures a physically correct approach to the ground. The results are compared with the literature and also to what is obtained for the case of non-turbulent vortices interacting with the same ground at the same Reynolds number. The flow topologies are discussed, and significant differences are highlighted regarding the separation of the boundary layer generated at the ground, and the way this secondary vorticity interacts with the primary vortices and makes them decay. The vortex trajectories are also measured, together with their circulation distribution and global circulation evolution, and the differences are discussed.

Constructing thermo-responsive polysiloxane shields via lithium initiation to inhibit thermal runaway of lithium metal batteries

Lithium metal batteries (LMBs) have unparalleled high-energy-density, yet the threat of safety issues is significantly severe due to the potential high energy release of violent reactions between lithium metal and electrolyte under abusing conditions. Effective methods to mitigate the parasitic reactions are lacking. Here, we propose a synergistically driven construction of a stable passivation layer by lithium and thermal to inhibit the reactions to ensure the safe of LMBs. It is shown that at elevated temperature, lithium induces tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to undergo polycondensation and form thermally stable polymer networks, resulting in passivation of lithium metal anode. At the same time, (1,3,5,2,4,6-triazatriphosphorine) PFPN functions as nonflammable component to empower the electrolyte with flame retardancy and cycling stability. The designed electrolyte is referred to as TEOS/PFPN. As a result, the formulated electrolyte enhances the safety of Li/NCM pouch cells against fire and explosion during nail penetration. Meanwhile, the TEOS/PFPN raises the thermal runaway (TR) trigger temperature from 160.4 to 252.7 °C. Furthermore, the maximum temperatures during TR are reduced from 1188.7 to 723.0 °C. Finally, the TEOS/PFPN demonstrates excellent compatibility with lithium metal anodes and Ni-rich layered cathode. This study presents a promising way to develop high-safety electrolytes for LMBs and offers valuable insights into strategies for mitigating TR.