High Tension Research Articles

Circumferential Labral Reconstruction With Knotless All-Suture Anchors Restores Hip Distractive Stability: A Cadaveric Biomechanical Analysis.

The essential component of managing femoroacetabular impingement involves restoration of the original labral function. Circumferential labral reconstruction (CLR) has shown positive results. However, biomechanical studies of CLR are limited and have not established the efficacy of the modern knotless all-suture anchor (ASA) pull-through technique. (1) CLR with knotless ASA fixation will restore native labral suction seal biomechanics; (2) tensioning the ASA to a high-tension state will increase the peak distractive force. Controlled laboratory study. Eight fresh-frozen human cadaveric hips were dissected free of all soft tissue except the native labrum and transverse acetabular ligament. On an electromechanical testing system, the hips were compressively loaded to 250 N to initiate a suction seal and distracted at a rate of 10 mm/s until rupture of the suction seal. Hips were tested in 4 states: intact labrum, full labral removal, knotless CLR with moderate anchor tension, and CLR with high anchor tension. Peak distractive force (in newtons) was compared using repeated measures analysis of variance (P < .05). Acetabular bevel angles (θ) were measured at labral clockface positions outside the transverse acetabular ligament using a 3-dimensional digitizer stylus after rim preparation. Linear regression plots compared θ and peak distractive force in the CLR state. Peak force values were 138.5 ± 13.6 N (mean ± SE) for the intact labrum, 18.4 ± 2.79 N for labral excision, 95.4 ± 23.3 N for moderate-tension CLR, and 126.2 ± 27.3 N for high-tension CLR. Significant differences were observed only when full labral removal was compared with the other conditions: intact (P < .001), moderate-tension CLR (P = .016), and high-tension CLR (P = .002). Steeper acetabular bevel angles (smaller θ) were correlated with greater suction seal restoration (P < .05). CLR restored distractive stability on average to 82.0% of the intact value after labral deficiency. Retensioning did not significantly increase peak distractive forces. These findings provide biomechanical validation supporting CLR using knotless ASAs in an effort to minimize volumetric bone loss and provide other surgical advantages. The prepared rim's bevel angle may be an important variable to optimize for improved suction seal restoration.

Discrepancy in oil displacement mechanisms at equivalent interfacial tensions: Differentiating contributions from surfactant and nanoparticles on interfacial activities

Discrepancies in oil displacement mechanisms at equivalent interfacial tensions were principally explored in the current study, with a novel emphasis on distinguishing the contributions of surfactants and nanoparticles in interfacial activities. The hypothesis was that if both chemicals exhibit similar interfacial activities, the oil displacement outcomes at the capillary scale should be consistent. Otherwise, differences would indicate distinct interfacial behaviors. Fluid displacement experiments were conducted using a two-dimensional micromodel, where nanofluids and surfactant solutions were tested at equivalent interfacial tensions. In the high interfacial tension pair (20 mN/m), the surfactant solution displaced oil more efficiently and rapidly than nanofluids, achieving greater ultimate oil recovery. This difference was attributed to the effective reinforcement of capillary forces in the surfactant system, which drove the displacement process. In contrast, the nanofluids did not achieve the same level of performance due to their limited ability to modify interfacial forces. This finding highlighted the two chemicals’ fundamentally different interfacial activities and oil displacement mechanisms. Furthermore, in the lowest interfacial tensions pair, where the surfactant achieved 6.5 mN/m and the nanofluids 15.6 mN/m, both systems unexpectedly displayed similar oil displacement efficiencies and fingering-like behaviors. This similarity, however, arose from distinct underlying mechanisms: capillary instability drove fingering in the surfactant system, while expansive layer flow induced fingering-like in the nanofluids. These findings challenge the assumption that reducing interfacial tension with nanoparticles is the primary mechanism in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The study highlighted the need for a more refined understanding of the action of nanoparticle interfacial activities within EOR processes. To further validate these insights, future research should scale up fluid displacement studies to Darcy’s scale using core-flooding tests, enabling a more comprehensive examination of complex two-phase flow dynamics.

Influence of Gamma irradiation on shape memory polymer nano-composite for satellite deployment mechanism

This research investigates the impact of gamma irradiation on epoxy-MWCNT nanocomposites for satellite deployment mechanisms. Nanocomposites, enhanced with surfactants, were meticulously prepared and subjected to controlled gamma irradiation (250–1000 kGy) utilizing the Cobalt-60 facility Industrial Mega Gamma-1 at NCRRT in Egypt. Surface tension measurements explored surfactant effects on epoxy-MWCNT composites in acetone. Acetone reduced tension from 26.7 to be 24.2 (mN/m). Surfactants (Tween 80, SDS) effectively lowered tension (24.4 mN/m), while surfactant-free systems had higher tension (25.1 mN/m). Cationic surfactant (CTAB) slightly increased tension (25.4 mN/m) but aided MWCNT dispersion. Nonionic and anionic surfactants showed superior dispersing power, aligning with MWCNTs and enhancing dispersion. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) unveiled alterations in the thermal stability of epoxy-MWCNT nanocomposites induced by radiation, particularly evident at elevated doses (500 and 1000 kGy). Notably, surfactant-modified specimens exhibited discernible effects on various thermal stability parameters. DMA analysis revealed radiation-induced changes in viscoelastic properties. Unirradiated epoxy exhibited a Tg of 58 °C, while 250 kGy irradiation enhanced crosslinking (Tg: 64 °C). Higher doses (500 kGy, 1000 kGy) caused marginal Tg changes. Surfactant-modified samples showed varied effects, with Tween 80 emphasizing its role in phase separation. Results highlighted radiation’s influence on stiffness and energy dissipation. Shape memory behavior indicated increased recovery time with higher doses, except at 250 kGy. Epoxy-MWCNT exhibited a stable recovery time, suggesting a MWCNT stabilizing effect. Fixation rates consistently reached 100%, indicating improved shape recovery influenced by MWCNTs and surfactants. This study provides insights into optimizing nanocomposites for satellite deployment applications.

Enhanced surface acoustic wave microfluidic performance through FDTS self-assembled monolayers on [formula omitted]

Microfluidics technology has been extensively applied in biochemical analysis and medical diagnostics, where precise and efficient control of microfluids is crucial. However, existing passive microfluidic control methods (e.g., microchannels) and active strategies (e.g., optical, thermal, magnetic field, and electrokinetic manipulation) are often hindered by complex device structures and operational uncertainties. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) microfluidic manipulation offers a promising alternative, providing flexible and efficient digital microfluidic control through the modulation of input signals. Nevertheless, the intrinsic hydrophilicity of substrates such as LiNbO3 results in inefficient microfluidic driving and jetting, primarily due to high surface tension. In this study, we employed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) to coat LiNbO3 substrates with 1H,1H,2H,2H-Perfluorododecyltrichlorosilane (FDTS) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), creating hydrophobic surfaces with a contact angle of approximately 120°. In comparison to commercially available Glaco hydrophobic coatings, which reduce SAW amplitude by approximately threefold and increase substrate temperature by up to 1.5 times, FDTS SAMs exhibit negligible impact on SAW properties. Furthermore, when compared to untreated SAW devices, FDTS SAMs-coated devices demonstrated a sixfold increase in droplet driving speed under low power input (e.g., 0.5 W), enabling faster and more precise liquid jetting at velocities reaching 5 m/s. This work highlights the potential of FDTS SAMs in enhancing the performance of SAW-driven microfluidic devices, particularly in applications requiring high-efficiency droplet manipulation.

MCM proteins are up-regulated in placentas of women with reduced insulin sensitivity.

In the first trimester of pregnancy the human placenta grows rapidly, making it sensitive to changes in the intrauterine environment. To test whether exposure to an environment in utero often associated with obesity modifies placental proteome and function, we performed untargeted proteomics (LC-MS/MS) in placentas from 19 women (gestational age 35-48 days, i.e. 5+0-6+6 weeks). Maternal clinical traits (body mass index, leptin, glucose, C-peptide and insulin sensitivity) and gestational age were recorded. DNA replication and cell cycle pathways were enriched in the proteome of placentas of women with low maternal insulin sensitivity. Driving these pathways were the minichromosome maintenance (MCM) proteins MCM2, MCM3, MCM4, MCM5, MCM6 and MCM7 (MCM-complex). These proteins are part of the pre-replicative complex and participate in DNA damage repair. Indeed, MCM6 and γH2AX (DNA-damage marker) protein levels correlated in first trimester placental tissue (r = 0.514, P<0.01). MCM6 and γH2AX co-localized to nuclei of villous cytotrophoblast cells, the proliferative cell type of the placenta, suggesting increased DNA damage in this cell type. To mimic key features of the intrauterine obesogenic environment, a first trimester trophoblast cell line, i.e., ACH-3P, was exposed to high insulin (10 nM) or low oxygen tension (2.5% O2). There was a significant correlation between MCM6 and γH2AX protein levels, but these were independent of insulin or oxygen exposure. These findings show that chronic exposure in utero to reduced maternal insulin sensitivity during early pregnancy induces changes in the early first trimester placental proteome. Pathways related to DNA replication, cell cycle and DNA damage repair appear especially sensitive to such an in utero environment.

Exploring interfacial tension role in the laminar morphology development in reactive compatibilized PP/EVOH

AbstractLaminar-like structures in PP/EVOH (80/20 wt%) blends were developed by in situ reactive compatibilization using a co-rotating intermeshing twin-screw extrusion without the imposition of post-die-forming elongation flows, i.e., draw ratio (DR) = 0. For that, a maleic anhydride-grafted homopolymer polypropylene (PP-g-MA) was added at 1, 1.5, and 3 wt% using a simple mixing protocol. The correlation between the laminar morphology observed via SEM with interfacial parameters was conducted by nonlinear regression of PP/EVOH viscoelastic response (Gʹ and Gʹʹ) applying the Monomodal Palierne Model to estimate interfacial tension. Uncompatibilized PP/EVOH formed a droplet-matrix morphology with high interfacial tension, indicating incompatibility. As PP-g-MA is added, a laminar-like structure is developed. The remaining droplets become smaller at higher content, with lower interfacial tension between the phases. This scenario hampers the stratification of the dispersed phase. At 3 wt% of PP-g-MA, the morphology returns to being a droplet-matrix, although with high adhesion between the phases. Graphical abstract

Fission of double-membrane tubes under tension

The division of a cellular compartment culminates with the scission of a highly constricted membrane neck. Scission requires lipid rearrangements, topology changes, and transient formation of nonbilayer intermediate structures driven by curvature stress. Often, a side effect of this stress is pore formation, which may lead to content leakage and thus breaching of the membrane barrier function. In single-membrane systems, leakage is avoided through the formation of a hemifusion (HF) intermediate, whose structure is still a subject of debate. The consequences of curvature stress have not been explored in double-membrane systems, such as the mitochondrion. Here, we combine experimental and theoretical approaches to study neck constriction and scission driven by tension in biomimetic lipid systems, namely single- and double-membrane nanotubes (sNTs and dNTs), respectively. In sNTs, constriction by high tension gives rise to a metastable HF intermediate (seen as stalk or worm-like micelle), whereas poration is universally slower in a simple neck. In dNTs, high membrane tension causes sequential rupture of each membrane. In contrast, low tension leads to the HF of both membranes, which may lead to a leaky fusion pathway, or may progress to further fusion of the two membranes along a number of transformation pathways. These findings provide a new mechanistic basis for fundamental cellular processes.

Risk Factors for High Repair Tension During Rotator Cuff Repair

Background: Excessively high repair tension, especially tension ≥10 N, can lead to unsuccessful rotator cuff repair. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to identify the preoperative risk factors for high repair tension in rotator cuff repair. It was hypothesized was that older age, longer symptom duration, nontraumatic (ie, degenerative) tear onset, progressive fatty degeneration, and larger tear size would be among the risk factors. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This retrospective study involved 80 patients (80 shoulders) diagnosed with rotator cuff tears by magnetic resonance imaging between July 2018 and August 2020. Repair tension was measured intraoperatively using a digital tension meter. Risk factors for high repair tension (≥10 N) were evaluated. The t test was used to assess the relationship of repair tension with patient characteristics and surgical parameters. Parameters with a P value of &lt;.05 in the univariate analysis were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model to determine their relationship with repair tension ≥10 N. Results: Symptom duration of ≥4 months, nontraumatic tear onset, large/massive tears, mediolateral (ML) tear length of ≥20 mm, and anteroposterior (AP) tear length of ≥18 mm were associated with high odds of repair tension ≥10 N ( P≤ .013 for all). Multivariate analysis showed that nontraumatic onset, ML tear length of ≥20 mm, and AP tear length of ≥18 mm were independent risk factors for repair tension ≥10 N ( P≤ .035 for all). Conclusion: The independent risk factors for high repair tension (≥10 N) during rotator cuff repair were nontraumatic tear onset, ML tear length of ≥20 mm, and AP tear length of ≥18 mm. Symptom duration of ≥4 months and large/massive tears were associated with high odds of repair tension ≥10 N, although they were not considered independent risk factors. Prospective cohort studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the clinical value of the risk factors identified in this study.

The impact of 45S5 bioglass vs. β-TCP nanoparticles ratio on rheological behavior of formulated printing inks and 3D printed polycaprolactone-based scaffolds final properties

Extrusion based 3-D printing has been extensively applied to create geometrically complex composite polymer-ceramic structures as bone tissue substitute. The rheological features of the formulated bioink that regulate the printability and resolution of the printed scaffolds, rely on physicochemical properties of ink components, mainly their composition and chemical structure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different content of 45S5 bioglass (BG) and β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) nanoparticles on the rheological behavior of printing inks and final composite scaffolds based on polycaprolactone (PCL)/BG/β-TCP. Ceramic nano-powders were first characterized and the composite bioinks were prepared by mixing various ratios of BG and β-TCP powders into the 50% w/v of PCL solution (β-TCP/BG: 70/30, 50/50, 30/70, and 10/90 w/w %). All formulated inks showed a thixotropic behavior and viscosity significantly increased by applying higher fraction of BG. Interestingly highly loaded β-TCP ink (β-TCP/BG: 70/30) revealed a rubbery nature with high surface tension which reduced final scaffolds resolution. All printed scaffolds possessed highly porous structure with interconnected pores. However, porosity percentage and shape stability improved by increasing BG content which was accompanied with lower mechanical strength and superior biodegradation and bioactivity of scaffolds. The biological performance of the printed scaffolds was evaluated using osteoblast cell line MG-63. MTT assay and cell attachment observation by SEM confirmed that printed scaffolds are well biocompatible and properly support cell colonization and proliferation. In overall, besides more appropriate materialistic properties, scaffolds with β-TCP/BG: 30/70 composition provided the most favorable microenvironment for cell colonization and growth.

Enhance the viscosity of polydimethylsiloxane by controlling the volume ratio of monomer and chain terminator

The production of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a vitreous substitute in Indonesia has been carried out. In our previous study, a good quality of low viscosity PDMS was well provided using a low-grade octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) monomer. We also reported that a new type of PDMS with medium viscosity had been produced. In vitreoretinal surgery, medium-viscosity PDMS has advantages over the other types of PDMS due to its injectability and lower propensity to emulsify. However, to produce a high-quality medium viscosity PDMS and fulfill stringent requirements, the conditions affecting the synthesis results need to be explored. Here, we reported the effect of changing one of the PDMS synthesis parameters, namely, the volume ratio composition of low-grade D4 monomer and chain terminator of hexamethyldisiloxane (MM) in producing medium viscosity PDMS. PDMS with low viscosity was successfully synthesized with a ratio of D4:MM = 26:10. However, only by changing the ratio of D4:MM from 26:10 to 46:10, the resulting PDMS increased in viscosity from low- to medium-viscosity PDMS of 1.81 Pa s. Quality improvement was also indicated by high surface tension and higher yield values. The medium viscosity PDMS had a refractive index and functional group values similar to the PDMS produced in previous studies.

Numerical evaluation of the performance of UHPC beams under bending and shear loads using different material models

The Microplane and Menetrey-Willam concrete models are formulated on the research work of Bazant and Gambarova and Menetrey-Willam in the nineties respectively. They are used in this thesis to predict how reinforced Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) beams will behave when subjected to flexural and shear dominant loadings. The numerical models are available in ANSYS, and they can simulate UHPC's extraordinary mechanical properties, such as high compression and tension strength, strain hardening, and softening behavior in compression and tension. In this research, four UHPC beams with dimensions of 180 wide by 270 deep by 4000 mm long with tensile reinforcements were studied using the two cementitious composite models mentioned above with the ANSYS software. The beams were investigated under flexural four-point loading and shear three-point loading with the ANSYS program. A quarter-geometric section model of the full beam was considered for the four-point loading to take advantage of symmetry in the longitudinal and transverse directions of the beam. For the three-point loading, the full geometry model of the beam was considered only because of the lack of symmetry. The results from the ANSYS finite element software were validated with an experimental study conducted by different researchers to show its capacity to predict the bending and shear behavior of reinforced UHPC beams. The comparisons of the results of both material models show that they can simulate the behavior of UHPC beams by using experimental load-deflection plots of the beam specimens and force strain plots of the longitudinal tensile reinforcements in the sample beams.

The possibility of the computer simulation-assisted IDDSI framework for the development of thickened brown rice paste

Increasing requests for thickened fluid food are demanded with population aging, while the limited information provided by the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) is insufficient for food development. Recently, the introduction of computer simulation seems to be able to overcome this dilemma. Here, a thickened fluid system (xanthan gum and konjac glucomannan, XG and KGM) at different ratios was kept at the same IDDSI level 3. An obvious synergy was observed in the ratio of 1:9 (XG: KGM) with high surface tension, zero-shear viscosity, firmness and cohesion, and thus was used to prepare the brown rice paste. From computer simulation, the brown rice pastes (0.3 % and 0.5 % thickener) splashed and that with higher thickener content resulted in more residue. The thickener content of 0.7 % provided enough viscosity and cohesion to avoid splash, and most of the bolus flowed consistently, showing the best sensory quality and swallowing properties.

The ALMA Legacy Survey of Class 0/I Disks in Corona australis, Aquila, chaMaeleon, oPhiuchus north, Ophiuchus, Serpens (CAMPOS). I. Evolution of Protostellar Disk Radii

We surveyed nearly all the embedded protostars in seven nearby clouds (Corona Australis, Aquila, Chamaeleon I and II, Ophiuchus North, Ophiuchus, Serpens) with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array at 1.3 mm observations with a resolution of 0.″1. This survey detected 184 protostellar disks, 90 of which were observed at a resolution of 14–18 au, making it one of the most comprehensive high-resolution disk samples across various protostellar evolutionary stages to date. Our key findings include the detection of new annular substructures in two Class I and two flat-spectrum sources, while 21 embedded protostars exhibit distinct asymmetries or substructures in their disks. We find that protostellar disks have a substantially large variability in their radii across all evolutionary classes. In particular, the fraction of large disks with sizes above 60 au decreases as the protostar evolves from Class 0 to Class I. Compiling the literature data, we discovered an increasing trend of the gas disk radii to dust disk radii ratio (R gas,Kep/R mm) with increasing bolometric temperature (T bol). Our results indicate that the dust and gas disk radii decouple during the early Class I stage. However, in the Class 0 stage, the dust and gas disk sizes are similar, which allows for a direct comparison between models and observational data at the earliest stages of protostellar evolution. We show that the distribution of radii in the 52 Class 0 disks in our sample is in high tension with various disk formation models, indicating that protostellar disk formation remains an unsolved question.

Liquid state properties and amorphous solidification kinetics of multicomponent Fe_{50-x}Co_{x}Cr_{14}Mo_{14}C_{9}B_{8}Tm_{5} alloys investigated under containerless processing conditions.

The liquid state thermophysical properties and amorphous solidification kinetics of Fe_{50-x}Co_{x}Cr_{14}Mo_{14}C_{9}B_{8}Tm_{5} (x=10, 15, 20, and 25) alloys were explored by electromagnetic and electrostatic levitation techniques. It was found that the surface tension of liquid alloys with Fe contents below 30 at.% had a strong temperature dependence. The high surface tension led to a sharp increase in the interfacial free-energy penalty. A high nucleation barrier was formed inside the melt, which greatly inhibited the nucleation rate. The liquid viscosity revealed the strong liquid feature of this alloy series, which became the dominant kinetic factor determining their solidification mechanisms. The high viscosity hindered atomic diffusion and delayed nucleation. The long crystallizing incubation time of Fe_{30}Co_{20}Cr_{14}Mo_{14}C_{9}B_{8}Tm_{5} ensured a strong glass-forming ability and a low critical cooling rate of 2.11×10^{3}Ks^{-1}. As a result, a bulk metallic glass rod with an 8-mm diameter was successfully prepared by a convenient casting procedure. This rod could remain in a glassy state at a higher temperature and over a wider temperature range due to its high glass-transition temperature and large undercooled liquid region. The apparent activation energy for nucleation was derived as 463.8 kJmol^{-1} according to the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics, indicating that the bulk metallic glass had to absorb a large amount of energy to overcome the potential barriers before nucleation and thus exhibited excellent thermal stability.

Increased Susceptibility to Mechanical Stretch Drives the Persistence of Keloid Fibroblasts: An Investigation Using a Stretchable PDMS Platform.

Keloids are a common fibrotic disease of the skin, with the pathological hallmark of excessive extracellular matrix synthesis due to abnormal fibroblast activity. Since keloids clinically arise in areas of high mechanical tension, the mechanotransductory pathway may be attributed to its pathogenesis. We aimed to establish a preclinical platform to elucidate the underlying mechanism of keloid development and its clinical persistence. We fabricated a mechanically stretchable polydimethylsiloxane cell culture platform; with its mimicry of the in vivo cyclic stretch of skeletal muscles, cells showed higher proliferation compared with conventional modalities. In response to mechanical strain, TGF-β and type 1 collagen showed significant increases, suggesting possible TGF-β/Smad pathway activation via mechanical stimulation. Protein candidates selected by proteomic analysis were evaluated, indicating that key molecules involved in cell signaling and oxidative stress were significantly altered. Additionally, the cytoskeletal network of keloid fibroblasts showed increased expression of its components after periodic mechanical stimulation. Herein, we demonstrated and validated the existing body of knowledge regarding profibrotic mechanotransduction signaling pathways in keloid fibroblasts. Cyclic stretch, as a driving force, could help to decipher the tension-mediated biomechanical processes, leading to the development of optimized therapeutic targets.

Robustness of a Steel Truss Bridge Subjected to Sudden Member Breakage during the Continuous-to-Simply-Supported Transition

Steel truss bridges are especially vulnerable in the event of a sudden loss of a load-carrying element, which can trigger a chain of failures. This paper describes a unique case study of a steel truss bridge under construction subjected to sudden member breakages with an extensive monitoring system. The failures occurred during the dismantlement of temporary members that had been used to transform a three-span simply supported steel truss bridge into a three-span continuous structure during incremental launching. These temporary members needed to be removed once the bridge reached its final position. The robustness of the bridge was assessed using computer simulations of various failure scenarios to evaluate its capacity to effectively activate alternative load paths (ALPs). The results demonstrated the structural redundancy of the steel truss bridge. However, the dynamic response resulting from the failure of the temporary upper chord, due to the initially high tension in the rods, should not be overlooked. To mitigate this issue, a structural retrofitting method was proposed, involving jacking the truss girder above the side pier to reduce the tension in the temporary upper chord above the middle pier. The effectiveness of this method was demonstrated through both simulated and formal experimental tests.

Deterministic Fabrication of Liquid Metal Nanopatterns for Nanophotonics Applications

AbstractGallium‐based liquid metals (LMs) are widely used for stretchable and reconfigurable electronics thanks to their fluidic nature and excellent conductivity. These LMs possess attractive optical properties for photonics applications as well. However, due to the high surface tension of the LMs, it is challenging to form LM nanostructures with arbitrary shapes using conventional nanofabrication techniques. As a result, LM‐based nanophotonics has not been extensively explored. Here, a simple yet effective technique is demonstrated to deterministically fabricate LM nanopatterns with high yield over a large area. This technique demonstrates for the first time the capability to fabricate LM nanophotonic structures of various precisely defined shapes and sizes using two different LMs, that is, liquid gallium and liquid eutectic gallium–indium alloy. High‐density arrays of LM nanopatterns with critical feature sizes down to ≈100 nm and inter‐pattern spacings down to ≈100 nm are achieved, corresponding to the highest resolution of any LM fabrication technique developed to date. Additionally, the LM nanopatterns demonstrate excellent long‐term stability under ambient conditions. This work paves the way toward further development of a wide range of LM nanophotonics technologies and applications.

Exploring the User Acceptability and Feasibility of a Clinical Decision Support Tool Designed to Facilitate Timely Diagnosis of New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Qualitative Interview Study Among General Practitioners.

Up to half of the children with new-onset type 1 diabetes present to the hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition that can develop because of diagnostic delay. Three-quarters of Australian children visit their general practitioner (GP) the week before presenting to the hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis. Our prototype, DIRECT-T1DM (Decision-Support for Integrated, Real-Time Evaluation and Clinical Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus), is an electronic clinical decision support tool that promotes immediate point-of-care testing in general practice to confirm the suspicion of diabetes. This avoids laboratory testing, which has been documented internationally as a cause of diagnostic delay. In this investigation, we aimed to pilot and assess the feasibility and acceptability of our prototype to GP end users. We also explored the challenges of diagnosing type 1 diabetes in the Australian general practice context. In total, 4 GPs, a pediatric endocrinologist, and a PhD candidate were involved in conceptualizing the DIRECT-T1DM prototype, which was developed at the Department of General Practice and Primary Care at the University of Melbourne. Furthermore, 6 GPs were recruited via convenience sampling to evaluate the tool. The study involved 3 phases: a presimulation interview, simulated clinical scenarios, and a postsimulation interview. The interview guide was developed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) as a guide. All phases of the study were video, audio, and screen recorded. Audio recordings were transcribed by the investigating team. Analysis was carried out using CFIR as the underlying framework. Major themes were identified among three domains and 7 constructs of the CFIR: (1) outer setting-time pressure, difficulty in diagnosing pediatric type 1 diabetes, and secondary care considerations influenced GPs' needs regarding DIRECT-T1DM; (2) inner setting-DIRECT-T1DM fits within existing workflows, it has a high relative priority due to its importance in patient safety, and GPs exhibited high tension for change; and (3) innovation-design recommendations included altering coloring to reflect urgency, font style and bolding, specific language, information and guidelines, and inclusion of patient information sheets. End-user acceptability of DIRECT-T1DM was high. This was largely due to its implications for patient safety and its "real-time" nature. DIRECT-T1DM may assist in appropriate management of children with new-onset diabetes, which is an uncommon event in general practice, through safety netting.

Measurement of the Tension Loss in a Cable Traveling Over a Pulley, for Low-Speed Applications

BackgroundWire ropes or cables are widely used solutions for force transmission in several industrial applications. Their hysteretic behavior may significantly influence control accuracy or the force transmission’s efficiency. Cables traveling through sheaves can suffer a relatively high tension loss, which this article addresses.ObjectiveThis paper aims to present a simple measurement method for the tension loss in cables traveling over sheaves on bearings.MethodsThe presented measurement method uses a cable-pulley system with a spring installed at one cable end. The pulley is moved in a zig-zag pattern. The force is measured on both cable ends; this way, the tension loss can be determined as a function of the cable tension. The force was measured with S-type load cells, which are highly sensitive to off-axis loads; this problem can be overcome by proving that the force measurement has a proportional error, which can be eliminated from the frictional coefficient. The measurements are compared to two models from the literature; one approximates the power loss of a cable drive by calculating the work of the cable’s inner friction, and the other is a cable bending model, which is used to determine the hysteretic energy of the cyclic bending.ResultsThe result of the measurement evaluation is a coefficient of tension loss that contains the loss coming from the cable bending and the bearing friction. Four cable types and a steel strip with negligible bending hysteresis were measured, the latter for control measurement. It is demonstrated that a significant part of the tension loss originates from the inner friction of the cable and that it is equal to the hysteretic energy of the cyclic bending.ConclusionThe presented method provides a robust measurement for the tension loss factor in cables traveling over pulleys. It is proven that the off-axis loads cause a proportional error in the force measured by S-type load cells, and this measurement error can be eliminated from the tension loss factor. The results demonstrated that the presented models can be used to predict the tension loss in cables traveling over sheaves.

A Skin Stress Shielding Platform Based on Body Temperature-Induced Shrinking of Hydrogel for Promoting Scar-Less Wound Healing.

Stress concentration surrounding wounds drives fibroblasts into a state of high mechanical tension, leading to the delay of wound healing, exacerbating pathological fibrosis, and even causing tissue dysfunction. Here, an innovative skin stress-shielding hydrogel wound dressing is reported that makes the wound sites shrink as a response to body temperature and then remolds the stress micro-environment of wound sites to reduce the formation of skin scars. Composed of a modified natural temperature-sensitive polymer cross-linked with polyacrylic acid networks, this hydrogel wound dressing has demonstrated a substantial decrease in scar area for full-thickness wounds in rat models. The physical forces exerted by the wound dressing are instrumental in attenuating the activation and transduction of fibroblasts within the wound sites, thereby mitigating the excessive deposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Notably, the wound dressing significantly down-regulates the expression of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) and collagen I, while concurrently exerting a dramatic inhibitory effect on the integrin-focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/phosphorylated-FAK (p-FAK) signaling pathway. Collectively, the fabrication of functional hydrogels with a stress-shielding profile is a new route for achieving scar-less wound healing, thus offering immense potential for improving clinical outcomes and restoring tissue integrity.