Instrumental Techniques Research Articles

Extraction of E171 or E172 food additives from sugar-based or lipid-based complex matrices for primary particles identification by electron microscopy

Measurement of primary particle size distributions is fundamental to determining if a material should be classified as a nanomaterial according to the European Commission recommended definition. This is of particular relevance to alimentary products, where current regulation requires that any additives containing nanoforms be explicitly declared as such in the ingredients’ list. Currently, Electron Microscopy is the only instrumental technique able to reliably classify materials as nanomaterials. To verify the nanostatus of a material using this technique, it is essential to firstly extract the additives from the matrix in which they are dispersed, and then measure a wide size distribution while avoiding artefacts from the food matrix. In this operating procedure, extraction protocols, developed and applied for sugar-based or lipid-based food, are described. In particular, case studies for titanium dioxide E171 and iron oxide/iron hydroxide based materials such as E172 are considered. The protocols are based on gentle extraction of the additive materials and could, in principle, be used for other nanomaterials provided they are not soluble in water or ethanol and are resistant to enzymatic reactions. The size distribution of the extracted material can then be determined from images acquired using scanning and/or transmission electron microscopy.

Thiol-Functionalized Cobalt Ferrite (CoFe2O4@MPTS) Nanoparticles as Cutting-Edge Adsorbents for Bovine Serum Albumin.

This paper describes the synthesis of CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles via a simple ultrasonic-assisted co-precipitation method and their functionalization with thiol groups using (3-Mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane (MPTS) as the functionalizing agent. The use of ultrasonic energy not only serves as a green energy source but also reduces the reaction time fivefold compared to conventional methods. The synthesized CoFe₂O₄ nanoparticles were characterized for their surface and internal properties using instrumental techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). The functionalized nanoparticles were applied for the effective adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) from a buffered aqueous medium. To enhance the adsorption performance, the influence of pH, amount of solid adsorbent, initial BSA concentration, shaking time, and temperature on protein adsorption was investigated. Lagergren pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics fitted the BSA adsorption data well, with an acceptable R² value of 0.976. Additionally, the BSA adsorption data were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, and it was concluded that the experimental data followed the Langmuir equation more closely than the Freundlich equation. At an initial pH of 5.57 (acetate buffer), the adsorption capacity (Q₀) for BSA protein was found to be 200mg/g. The thermodynamic study revealed ΔS° and ΔH° values of 17.40J/mol·K and - 45.37kJ/mol, respectively.

A Newly Developed Compressed Air Cannon Test Bench Designed for Multi-Impact Analysis of Composite Structures

Understanding the response and damage evolution of structures subjected to multiple impact events is essential for designing resilient structures capable of withstanding complex loading scenarios, such as impacts from hail, gravel or foreign object debris. This article presents the development and characterization of a novel test bench, the “Compressed air multi-cannon”, designed specifically for studying the multi-impact behavior of composite materials. This test bench offers advantages over traditional impact testing methods by enabling controlled and adjustable impact parameters, including number of impacts, spatial and temporal lag, energy, angle and impactor dimensions. The primary objective of this work is to provide a detailed description of the test bench design, construction, and validation procedures. Key components such as the pressurized air system, projectile launch mechanism, target mounting arrangement, and data acquisition system are discussed. Experimental methodologies for assessing multi-impact response, specimen preparation, instrumentation, and data analysis techniques are outlined. Through a series of single-impact and multi-impact tests, distinctive damage mechanisms and energy absorption characteristics were observed in composite structures, revealing significant differences in how composites respond under single- and multi-impact conditions. It was found that the single-impact configuration remains particularly critical compared to multi-impact configurations with a high number of impacts. However, further testing is required to determine whether this result holds true under varying impact parameters, highlighting the unique value of this machine for exploring new, realistic questions in the literature.

Can Informal Care Be a Substitute for Formal Care? Evidence from Older People with Disabilities in Beijing, China

Background: The demand for long-term care is increasing as the elderly population continues to grow, prompting a critical examination of care modalities. Methods: This study employs data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) to assess the relationship between informal and formal care for older people with disabilities in Beijing. The analysis employs the Probit model and incorporates the application of instrumental variable techniques and propensity score matching to ensure robustness in the results. Results: The findings highlight the important role of informal care. Conclusions: Policymakers should incorporate support policies for informal care into the overall design of the system, provide support to informal caregivers, and reduce their burden. Our research conclusions provide empirical reference for cities with similar characteristics to Beijing.

Navigated versus conventionally instrumented total knee arthroplasty techniques: No difference in functional alignment or balance.

Much debate exists about the superiority of navigated versus conventional instrumentation for achieving optimal balance and alignment during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Recent registry data indicate no long-term survivorship benefit for TKAs performed using technology assistance, despite the added resource and financial costs. However, outcome comparisons are confounded by varying surgeon techniques and targets for ideal balance and alignment. This study aimed to investigate alignment or balance outcome differences between navigated and conventionally instrumented TKAs performed using an identical operative sequence and alignment strategy. Fifty navigated and 50 conventionally instrumented primary TKAs, using an identical inverse kinematic alignment strategy, were included. Navigation equipment was used intraoperatively to 'post-cut' record the conventionally instrumented TKAs. Intraoperative balance, range, and alignment; and post-operative radiographic accuracy for restoration of constitutional alignment were compared. Forty-nine navigated and 49 conventionally instrumented TKAs were compared (n = 2 excluded due to inadequate radiographs). No preoperative demographic or deformity severity differences existed. No intraoperative balance, range or alignment difference existed. Neither technique was more accurate for restoration of constitutional alignment. Whilst large registry data may be confounded by uncaptured variables such as surgeon balancing techniques or surgeon alignment strategy preferences, this study found no alignment or balance differences between navigated versus conventionally instrumented TKA techniques for a surgeon and technique-controlled study. Although the increased resources necessary for technology assistance are not justified by this study, further studies may identify significance using larger samples or comparison of alternative outcomes. Level II.

Effect of nutritional supplements on the physico-structural and sensory characteristics of low-fat camel milk yogurt.

This study aimed to elucidate the effects of various nutritional supplements on the physical, structural and sensory attributes of low-fat yogurt derived from camel milk, with the longer-term objective of enhancing its appeal and suitability for elderly consumers. Fresh camel milk was obtained from an Australian farm. Two yogurt variants were created: plain yogurt (CMY) and yogurt with added fructooligosaccharides, microbial transglutaminase (a ubiquitous food additive with potential health risks), apple pectin and linseed oil (CMYWA). The syneresis index of these yogurts was quantified through centrifugation, colour changes due to additives were assessed via colorimetric methods and both viscosity and granulometry were determined using precise instrumental techniques. After 7 d refrigerated storage, syneresis was 50% in CMY vs. 30% in CMYWA. Viscosity on day 7 was 205 mPa.s for CMYWA vs. 110 mPa.s for CMY. The CMYWA granule size increased from 2.1 μm on day 0 to 2.8 μm on day 14, while CMY granule size remained stable around 1.9 μm. Lactobacilli counts were higher in CMYWA at 2.8 × 107 CFU/g vs. 2.3 × 106 CFU/g in CMY. In a paired preference test with 37 consumers aged 18-65, CMYWA was significantly preferred over CMY. Sensory evaluations further substantiated that the yogurts with added supplements were more appealing to the palate. The results demonstrate the supplements improved camel milk yogurt properties.

Concept and Design of Cutting Tools for Osseodensification in Implant Dentistry

Osseodensification is an innovative surgical instrumentation technique based on additive (non-cutting) drilling using special burs. It is known from the literature, that the osseodensification burs should operate in a clockwise direction to drill holes and in a counterclockwise direction to compact the osteotomy walls. For these purposes, the burs have special design features, like conical contour shape, increased number of helical flutes, and negative rake angle on the peripheral part. However, although other parameters and features of the burs define their overall performance, they are not described sufficiently, and their influence on surgical quality is almost unknown both for clinicians and tool manufacturers. The purpose of the present research is to identify the key design features of burs for osseodensification and their functional relationship with the qualitative indices of the procedure based on an analytical review of research papers and patent documents. It will help to further improve the design of osseodensification burs and thereby enhance the surgical quality and, ultimately, patient satisfaction. Results: The most important design features and parameters of osseodensification burs are identified. Thereon, the structural model of osseodensification bur is first represented as a hypergraph. Based on the analysis of previous research, functional relationships between design parameters of osseodensification burs, osseodensification procedure conditions, and procedure performance data were established and, for the first time, described in the comprehensive form of a hypergraph. Conclusions: This study provides formal models that form the basis of database structure and its control interface, which will be used in the later developed computer-aided design module to create advanced types of burs under consideration. These models will also help to make good experimental designs used in studies aimed at improving the efficiency of the osseodensification procedure.

A response surface function method to characterize residual stress and cumulative plastic strain through indentation

Shot peening is a mechanical surface treatment used to improve the material fatigue performance by introducing compressive residual stress and work hardening. In order to characterize the residual stress (RS) and cumulative plastic strain (PS) of the treated surface simultaneously using the instrumented indentation technique, a Response Surface Function method is proposed in this work using a calibration by finite element simulations. The method is first verified numerically, and the results indicate that the determined values can accurately represent the input values, which shows the possibility of experimental application. The proposed method is then applied experimentally on a nickel-based alloy, Inconel 625. For validation, the solved profiles are compared with the profiles measured by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Although there is a difference between the profiles obtained by these two measurement techniques, the proposed method makes an advance on the characterization of residual stress and cumulative plastic strain simultaneously. It has demonstrated its feasibility, indicating its potential for practical application.

Sustainable biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using highly effective CaO/hectorite catalyst: Process optimization, kinetic and thermodynamic studies.

Biodiesel production through trans-esterification reaction requires design of efficient solid catalyst for sustainable use. This study reports a newly prepared CaO/hectorite catalyst for trans-esterification reaction of waste cooking oil (WCO). The catalyst material was prepared by wet impregnation method. Material characterization was done using various advanced instrumentation techniques such as FTIR, 1H/13C NMR, XRD NMR, BET, TGA and FE-SEM. The result of FE-SEM characterization shows the surface heterogeneity in catalytic material. Further, an enhanced BET surface area (142.3 m2 g−1) of CaO/hectorite indicated suitability of material for catalytic applications. Kissinger-Akahira-Sonuse (KAS) computational model was used to evaluate thermodynamic parameters. Response surface methodology (RSM) – Box Behnken model/ANOVA was used to draw the 3D-surface plots and 2D-contour plots for estimation of maximum biodiesel yield. The catalytic trans-esterification shows high biodiesel production (95 %) in an optimized reaction condition (10.5:1 methanol:oil molar ratio, 3.5 % catalyst loading, 57.5 °C reaction temperature and 105 min). It was found that the biodiesel produced from WCO has fuel characteristics complied with that of B100. The catalyst could be reused up to seven consecutive cycles operation resulting biodiesel production (>80 % yield) thus indicating future commercial applications in a sustainable manner.

The Role of Occlusal Appliances in Reducing Masseter Electromyographic Activity in Bruxism.

Background/Objectives: Bruxism is a masticatory muscle activity, phasic or tonic, with/without teeth contact, that appears in sleep or an awake state. An instrumental technique used to measure the surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity of the masseter muscle is used to diagnose bruxism activity during sleep and while awake. The objective of this study was to compare the variation in bruxism (sleep and awake) indices and masseter activity indices in low sleep bruxism and moderate sleep bruxism before and after wearing an occlusal appliance (OA) for 3 months each night. Methods: A clinical interventional study was designed in which subjects diagnosed with sleep bruxism were randomly selected to be included in the study. After the first sEMG recording, two groups were formed: a low sleep-bruxism group (number of sleep-bruxism events/h between 2 and 4) and a moderate sleep-bruxism group (number of sleep-bruxism events/h equal or higher than 4). All subjects received treatment with a 3D-printed occlusal appliance and wore it each night for 3 months, at which point the second sEMG recording was performed. For each participant of this study, a chart was created that included anamnestic data, clinical data, and sEMG data. The data were statistically analyzed with SPSS, using the Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Results: A total of 21 participants were included in the final analysis, 18 women and 3 men, with a mean age of 24.5 ± 2.7 years. The OA lowered all bruxism indices in the whole group, but clusters analysis showed a significant reduction in sleep-bruxism indices in the moderate sleep-bruxism group, while in the low-bruxism group, the sleep and awake indices varied insignificantly, and the number of sleep-bruxism events/h remained constant. Conclusions: The 3D-printed occlusal appliances significantly lowered the sleep-bruxism indices and sleep masseter activity indices recorded with a portable sEMG device in the moderate sleep-bruxism group. The OA lowered the awake-bruxism indices and awake masseter activity indices in the moderate sleep-bruxism group.

Assessment of measurement uncertainty associated with fracture toughness calculation based on energy release rate in spherical indentation tests

This work aims to evaluate the uncertainty associated with the fracture toughness of 4130 M steel obtained via instrumented indentation tests and the methodology proposed by Zhang, Wang and Wang (2019). These authors take the energy release rate as a basis to determine fracture toughness. In this study, the uncertainty was assessed using the Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty of Measurement (GUM) and Monte Carlo methods. For uncertainty assessment, all measurands and input variables were identified based on the equations proposed by these authors. Then, the standard uncertainty associated with each input variable was calculated by applying the GUM method. To determine the uncertainty associated with the energy release rate JSIT the Monte Carlo method was applied. The results obtained showed that the expanded uncertainty associated with JSIT considering three tests was 1.486 N.mm−1. This uncertainty represents 7.25 % of the average JSIT value (20.490 N.mm−1). The expanded uncertainty associated with KIC was 7.520 MPa.m0.5. These represent 3.82 % of the average KIC (196.562 MPa.m0.5) value obtained. This paper demonstrates that despite the complexity of the mathematical equation proposed by Zhang, Wang and Wang (2019), to obtain fracture toughness via instrumented indentation tests, the uncertainty associated can be successfully accessed by combining the GUM and Monte Carlo methods. This work showed that the application of the instrumented indentation technique with the methodology proposed by Zhang, Wang and Wang (2019) provided fracture toughness values with excellent quality under the experimental conditions used in this study.

How Technical Advances Changed the Concept of Antibodies.

Shaped by advances in scientific instrumentation and experimental techniques, the concept of antibody has undergone profound transformations throughout the history of immunology. Serological assays, separation techniques, protein fragmentation techniques, molecular biology techniques, and other methodological innovations did not only serve to produce data on the structure and function of these molecules but, by framing antibodies into a unique facet of experimental investigation, were effectively redefining and reconceptualizing these molecules for the scientific community. The characteristics and properties of antibodies observed in experimental settings were often directly extrapolated to their presumed nature in living organisms, as exemplified by the literal identification of antibodies with a gamma electrophoretic fraction in the 1930s. Stemming from parallel advances in related fields such as molecular biology and biochemistry, the introduction of novel techniques was driving shifts in the field of immunology, establishing novel frameworks of theoretical conceptualization and understanding. Technological innovation in experimental techniques continues to shape our view of these molecules, driving progress in both basic immunology and therapeutic applications.

Long-term outcomes of complex medical rehabilitation of patients with rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis and comorbidities

BACKGROUND: Comparative evaluation of courses of alternating magnetic therapy, low-intensity laser therapy, low-intensity laser radiation and hypoxic training in complex medical rehabilitation of atopic dermatitis and asthma patients with rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis showed high efficacy of the additional use of physical factors in enhancing the regression of major clinical manifestations of the disease and improving the quality of life. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term (6, 12, and 18 months) outcomes of complex medical rehabilitation of patients with rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, including those with atopic dermatitis and asthma, to assess the preventive potential of instrumental physiotherapy, and to determine the optimal time parameters for retreatment with these therapeutic options. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were divided into groups with isolated rhinosinusitis (n=90), atopic rhinosinusitis (n=93) or asthma (n=105) according to the severity of rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. Each group was in turn randomized into 3 subgroups: the control one, the comparator one, and the experimental one. All subjects received a standard treatment program (endonasal Nasonex, 2 doses twice a day; daily nasal rinsing twice a day). Patients in the comparator subgroups also received dupilumab (300 µg once every 2 weeks); the experimental subgroups received alternating magnetic therapy and low-intensity red laser radiation (633 nm). For atopic dermatitis, narrowband medium wave (311 nm) and broadband long wave (320–400 nm) radiation was added to this treatment program. For asthma, alternating magnetic therapy and low-intensity laser radiation were supplemented with hypoxic interval training. RESULTS: Positive changes in evaluated clinical parameters were reported in all groups during the entire follow-up period. However, the presence of comorbidities reduced the therapeutic potential of the standard treatment program, according to the results of the long-term observation. The addition of dupilumab significantly improved the condition of patients with isolated rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. However, a history of atopic dermatitis and especially asthma reduced the duration of disease remission. The addition of physical factors to the treatment program, pathogenetically justified in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (phototherapy) and asthma (hypoxic training), reliably prolonged the remission period. Complex physiotherapy leads to long-term reduction of pathological correlations, which is manifested by decrease in weight of correlation graphs. CONCLUSION: The main aim of the follow-up phase of the study was to evaluate the duration of the clinical result achieved, which determines the preventive potential of instrumental physiotherapy techniques, frequency and regularity of physiotherapeutic interventions. Retreatment is recommended after an average of 9–12 months for isolated rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis and 15–18 months for atopic dermatitis and asthma.

Orthodontic debonding and enamel surface integrity. A systematic review of the literature

The aim of a debonding protocol is to ensure the complete removal of composite resin without altering the enamel surface. A systematic review was conducted to analyze the effects of resin removal after the debonding of orthodontic brackets using different mechanical instruments, from both a qualitative and quantitative perspectives. An electronic search, following PRISMA guidelines, was conducted across three databases until March 2023, supplemented by a manual search. All controlled randomized studies or in vitro studies, comparing the removal of adhesive with tungsten carbide burs to other mechanical instrumentation techniques and assessing enamel surface, were included. Twenty-seven eligible articles were included, comprising two randomized studies and 25 in vitro studies, with varying bias levels. Compared to tungsten carbide burs, ultrasonic instruments and sandblasting showed similar or better results in terms of enamel loss and surface roughness. The enamel surface was equally less rough when using discs (Sof-Lex) or a fiberglass bur, or a fiberglass bur, although these techniques were time-consuming. The exclusive use of a diamond bur, stainless steel bur, or manual scaler for complete resin removal resulted in much rougher surfaces, clinically unacceptable. Preserving the enamel surface seems optimal with a two-phase protocol, involving the use of tungsten carbide burs for initial removal of most of the resin, followed by a less invasive technique for finishing resin removal. Beyond the findings of this review, a final polishing step also appears to be relevant.

Validation of a sensor system for the measurement of breath ammonia using selected-ion flow-tube mass spectrometry

The measurement of trace breath gases is of growing interest for its potential to provide non-invasive physiological information in health and disease. While instrumental techniques such as selected-ion flow-tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) can achieve this, these are less suitable for clinical application. Sensitive sensor-based systems for breath ammonia could be more widely deployed, but have proven challenging to develop. This work demonstrates the sequential analytical validation of an electrochemical impedance-based sensor system for the measurement of ammonia in breath using SIFT-MS. Qualitative and relative responses between the two methods were comparable, although there were consistent differences in absolute concentration. When tested in artificial breath ammonia, sensors had a relative impedance sensitivity of 3.43 × 10-5ppbv-1for each breath in the range of 249-1653 ppbv (r2= 0.87,p< 0.05). When correlated with SIFT-MS using human breath (n= 14), ammonia was detected in the range of 100-700 ppbv (r= 0.78,p< 0.001), demonstrating acceptable sensitivity, reproducibility and dynamic range for clinical application.

Effect of meat type and fat level on burger meat characteristics: A combined approach using imaging and sensory techniques.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fat level and meat cut type on burger meat through color, texture, image, and sensory analyses, and to explore the ability of the imaging technique as a complementary tool for consumer quality perception. For this purpose, burger meat samples were prepared by combining pork and beef meat (50/50%) with other nonmeat ingredients. The differences between samples were fat level: around 15 g fat/100 g (code HF) or 10.5 g fat/100 g (code LF); cut types: from cow carcasses (code C) or yearling (code Y). Instrumental color and texture measures analysis, an image analysis, and a sensory evaluation were carried out on samples (raw and cooked) at two times: day 0 and day 1 before expiry dates. The results showed that the samples made with meat from cows presented lower L* and higher a* and b* values than the samples made from yearling. However, the fat level did not affect this parameter. This same pattern was observed for the image measurements. Regarding texture, the samples with higher fat content (and lower moisture content) had higher hardness values. Generally, meat type had no effect on textural parameters. The samples that consumers gave the highest overall acceptance scores were those made of cow meat at both fat content levels. These samples also had the highest raw and cooked color scores. The fat level slightly affected hardness, with the same pattern observed for the instrumental measures of texture. The analyses showed a good correlation between instrumental techniques and sensory evaluation.

Evaluation and Comparison of Manual and Mechanical Endodontic Instrumentation Completed by Undergraduate Dental Students on Endodontic Blocks.

Background: The shaping of root canal space was completed using manual stainless steel files in earlier decades and with the advent of mechanical nickel-titanium (NiTi) instruments, there is potential for more efficient root canal preparation. Despite the advantages of NiTi instruments, their adoption in undergraduate dental education remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate three root canal instrumentation techniques, manual instrumentation using stainless steel hand files, continuous rotation employing ProTaper Gold (PTG) files, and reciprocation with WaveOne Gold (WOG) files, on endodontic resin blocks to assess the quality of preparation and the time required for instrumentation. Methods: A total of 36 third-year dental students, all lacking prior experience in root canal procedures, were divided into six groups to prepare 108 resin endodontic blocks with each student preparing 3 blocks. Images were captured at the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative stages to facilitate comparisons and measurements of the prepared blocks to assess the degree of resin removal, apical deviation, and mid-cervical wear. Furthermore, questionnaires were distributed to assess the students' experiences and satisfaction with the techniques. The Friedman test, Wilcoxon test with Bonferroni correction, and Kruskal-Wallis test with Mann-Whitney U test were used to analyse and compare techniques, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Instrumentation with PTG exhibited significantly reduced apical deviation (0.073 ± 0.003) compared to both the WOG and manual instrumentations (p < 0.001). Significant differences in mid-cervical wear were observed only between PTG and the manual instrumentation. In terms of resin removal, the manual instrumentation displayed greater variability and was five times slower to complete the instrumentation. In total, 90% of students favoured mechanical instrumentation, with substantial preferences for them over manual techniques. Conclusions: Mechanical instrumentation techniques, notably with the PTG system, were significantly faster and more effective in preparation quality. This highlights the potential for the inclusion of mechanical instrumentation in undergraduate dental curricula.

Eco and user–friendly curcumin based nanocomposite forensic powder from coal fly ash for latent fingerprint detection in crime scenes

In this study, the production of an eco-friendly curcumin based nanocomposite fingerprint labeling powder is reported for the first time. This powder was prepared from thermal power plant waste known as coal fly ash. 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) was covalently interacted with coal fly ash (CFA/APTMS) and curcumin (CUR) was encapsulated onto CFA/APTMS to give a novel and eco-friendly CFA/APTMS/CUR nanocomposite for LFPs detection with the powder dusting method. Several instrumental techniques including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy (FL), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize this nanocomposite. The CFA/APTMS/CUR nanocomposite was applied as a forensic powder for the development of latent fingerprint (LFPs) images on various porous and non-porous substrates. Level 2 (island, origination, bifurcation, termination, fork, dot, and bridge) and Level 3 (sweat pores and shape of triangles, round, and irregular) were the features of the LFP images. Under visible light conditions, the aging LFPs images were clearly detected on an aluminum foil surface using the nanocomposite powder, which had good sensitivity and minimal background interference. Additionally, LFPs images were developed using CFA/APTMS/CUR nanocomposite on leather substrates for belts and shoes in order to confirm the benefits of the nanocomposite's high sensitivity. This nanocomposite improved LFPs images with unique patterns and showed excellent performance on a variety of surfaces for the development of LFPs. These findings therefore proved that the powdered CFA/APTMS/CUR nanocomposite can be effectively utilized for the development of LFPs images at important crime scenes and for the biometric identification of criminal suspects through fingerprint comparison.

Effective adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution by Mg-Fe LDH supported on orange peel activated carbon: isotherm, kinetic, thermodynamics and mechanism studies

The toxic Cr(VI) contaminating water released from the metallurgical, dyeing, and electroplating industries is getting worse day by day and is extremely hazardous to human health. Thus, the development of a cost-effective, quick, and efficient adsorbent is highly essential for the Cr(VI) decontamination from wastewater. Herein, a microwave-assisted carbon-based composite called Mg-Fe LDH@OPAC was prepared by assembling Mg-Fe LDH onto orange peel-activated carbon (OAPC). Prior to investigating deeply into the adsorption behavior of the composite, the Mg-Fe LDH@OPAC formation was confirmed by using instrumental techniques like FESEM, EDS, Zeta potential, XRD, FTIR, Raman, XPS, and BET analyzer. The material had a high surface area of 143.9 m2/g and showed a good monolayer Langmuir uptake capacity of 118.36 mg/g. Under ideal circumstances, the maximum amount of Cr(VI) was removed within just 120 min and showed high efficiency in the presence of other coexisting anions respectively. The adsorption was accounted by pseudo-second-order kinetics and spontaneous in nature. Ultimately, a possible adsorption mechanism was suggested, confirmed by XPS studies; which showed that oxidation-reduction, electrostatic interaction, and surface complexation reaction were responsible for Cr(VI) adsorption on Mg-Fe LDH@OPAC surface.

One-Side Weight Sports and the Impact of Their Load on the Feet and the Occurrence of Posture Disorders in Professional Football and Handball Players

The aim of this study was to evaluate center of pressure (CoP) changes in unilateral sports and examine how these changes affect the athlete’s feet, ankles, knees or posture. The study sample consisted of 40 professional male players (age: 19.4 ± 2.08 years; height: 165.78 ± 4.92 cm; weight: 59.04 ± 4.02 kg; BMI: 21.57 ± 2.22; foot size: 40.9 ± 1.6), divided by type of sport into group H—handball (n: 20) and group F—football (n: 20). To evaluate the monitored parameters, we used the instrumental diagnostic techniques: 3D laser footscan, baropodometric platform FreeStep and 2D Videography. We found no significant differences between the groups in the loading of the right and left foot (F: 8.3 ± 4.22; H: 7.7 ± 6.1) (p = 0.410). We found a significant difference in the load on the front and back of the left (p = 0.0079) and right foot (p = 0.0210) depending on the type of sport performed. Maximum and mean values of CoP (g/cm2) showed statistically significant differences depending on the sport performed (p &lt; 0.0001). The shift in CoP (mm) from the norm depending on the sport performed was confirmed in the latero-lateral direction (p = 0.003), but not in the antero-posterior direction (p = 0.320). We found a difference in the angulation of the knees and heels depending on the sport played. Handball players showed higher knee varosity/valgosity (p = 0.015) and heel values than football players (p = 0.002). The handball players also confirmed a worse postural load and initial forward posture. The one-sided sports, handball and football, showed negative effects on the athlete’s movement system. These changes were more pronounced in handball players. Proper training programs should be applied in athletes’ daily routine to improve the negative effects of unilateral sports.