Longer Exposure Times Research Articles

Growth kinetics and microstructure characteristics of the Zr-Cr interlayer in a Cr-coated Zry-4 alloy exposed to high-temperature steam

The growth kinetics and microstructural characteristics of the interlayer in a Cr-coated Zry-4 alloy exposed to steam at 1200 °C for up to 10000 s were systematically studied through advanced characterization. A continuous ZrCr2 Laves phase interlayer develops at the coating-substrate interface following a parabolic law. It transforms into a duplex structure composed of a ZrCr2 layer and a thin Zr-Cr-O layer after a longer time of exposure. The growth of the interlayer is nearly terminated, and its thickness remains constant after oxidation for 3000 s. The prior interlayer transforms into the intertwined ZrO2 and metallic Cr stringers after exposure to 10000 s due to the increased oxygen partial pressure inside the interlayer. The mechanisms controlling the formation and evolution of the interlayer are discussed.

Colletotrichum truncatum transmission via lima bean seeds

Anthracnose is the primary disease in Phaseolus lunatus cultures, causing severe losses. Inoculation techniques are vital for assessing genotype resistance and control methods at the early stages of seedling development. This study aimed to compare inoculation methods and exposure times of a lima bean seed variety to Colletotrichum truncatum using a completely randomized 4x5 factorial design with five replications. Seed inoculation methods by direct contact with mycelium, mannitol water restrictor, and sucrose water restrictor and immersion in conidia suspension were compared and submitted to substrates containing the developed pathogen or not at exposure times of 0, 36, 60, 84, and 108 hours. Evaluations were made by analyzing the severity, incidence, and disease index for anthracnose and seedling physiological quality under greenhouse conditions. The inoculation method by direct contact with sucrose solute for 36 hours was the most suitable for C. truncatum inoculation in lima bean seeds, providing a higher transmission rate but slightly affecting their physiological parameters. C. truncatum damage to lima bean seed performance increased with longer exposure times, regardless of the inoculation method.

Toxicity of bitumen on Tilapia guineensis from Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Buguma, Rivers State

This study evaluated the toxicity of bitumen on apparently health T. guineensis (condition factor of 1.976) over a period (24 hrs, 48 hrs. 72 hrs and 96 hrs) using standard analytical procedures. The density, API and flash point of the bitumen used in this study at 15oC was 0.9898 g/cm3, API at 60oF value of 11.46 and >200oC respectively. The total TPH and PAH constituent of the bitumen was 20,549.77 mg/l and 924.09 mg/l respectively. Analysis of the effect of different concentrations (10mg/L, 20 mg/L, 30 mg/L, 40 mg/L and 50 mg/L) of bitumen on T. guineensis revealed that the mortality of the organism increased as the concentration of the toxicant and time of exposure increased. The concentration with the longest exposure time where lowest mortality was observed was 40mg/l for 24 hours. The probit analysis on the lethal concentration (LC10, LC20 and LC50) of the toxicant on T. guineensis when exposed for 96 hours revealed a varying mortality status. The LC10, LC20 and LC50 of the bitumen on the T. guineensis was 6.746 mg/L, 10.773 mg/L and 26.38 mg/L respectively. Continuous discharge of untreated wastes especially petroleum-based products should be discouraged as it poses serious threat to aquatic habitat and produces.

Evaluation of Preclinical in vitro Cytotoxicity, Genotoxicity, and Cardiac-Toxicity Screenings of Hydrogenated Cannabidiol

Introduction Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of many naturally biosynthesized compounds produced by Cannabis sativa. There is limited information available in the literature on hydrogenated CBD (tetrahydro cannabidiol or H4CBD) ( Adams et al., 1940b ). As hydrogenated derivatives of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBD become increasingly popular in consumer markets, toxicological assessments are vital in identifying toxic characteristics, if any, caused by hydrogenated cannabinoids. Objectives Assessment of the preclinical toxicology of hydrogenated CBD is provided through the in vitro safety study of racemic H4CBD in hepatocytes, normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF), and primary human neural progenitor (NPC) cell lines. The importance of these cell lines is related to major organs and is the primary focus in determining any major toxic characteristics when consuming products. The inclusion of the human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) patch clamp test, observes any inhibition of sodium and potassium ion channels related to the arrhythmia of the heart. Also, the AMES test was conducted to determine any carcinogenic characteristics that H4CBD might impose. Materials and Methods Plated NHLF, hepatocytes, and NPC were used in a preclinical 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay for cytotoxicity observations with the visible color change of cellular use of formazan, while a plated AMES test was conducted to monitor any visible mutations within Escherichia coli for carcinogenic activity. Plated cloned HEK293 cells were given set voltages to determine ion channel activity to determine if H4CBD causes inhibition within these pathways, which would mimic any arrhythmia potential in cardiomyocytes. Results Screening of the MTT assay had a median calculated 3.25 micromolar concentration where cell viability remained high in NHLF and NPC, with higher concentrations leading to decreased cell viability. A 3.25 micromolar concentration is also the median for hepatocytes, with a discrepancy in some of the data that could be accounted for by miscounting colonies. The hERG patch clamp test provided a zero net inhibition with values adding up to zero, determining that the compound did not inhibit normal processes within the ion channels of the plated HEK293 cells. The analysis of the different cell types revealed varying responses to H4CBD. NHLF exhibited a concentration-dependent reduction in cell viability, with sustained concentrations over 24 h at 6.25 µM resulting in a significant loss of viability. Conversely, hepatocytes showed a trend of decreased viability at longer exposure times and higher concentrations, but severe cytotoxicity was not observed. This suggests that hepatocytes are less susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of H4CBD compared to NHLF. In the hERG assay, H4CBD did not inhibit the action potentials within cardiomyocytes, indicating no inhibition of ion channels involved in cardiac function. This finding is important for assessing the potential cardiovascular effects of H4CBD. The AMES test results were negative, indicating that H4CBD did not demonstrate mutagenic activity in the tested strains. Conclusion This supports the conclusion that H4CBD does not possess carcinogenic potential based on this assay. Both human NPC and NHLF showed a median concentration of 3.25 µM before exhibiting a significant reduction in cell viability. This information is valuable for determining research or consumer usage limits for H4CBD. It is important to note that this study represents a preclinical assessment, and further studies are required. The experimental design followed protocols typically used for preclinical assessments of novel pharmaceuticals. These findings provide insight into the cytotoxic effects of H4CBD and contribute to establishing research and safety parameters as these compounds continue to gain attention.

Self-Construction of Efficient Interfaces Ensures High-Performance Direct Ammonia Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cells.

Direct ammonia protonic ceramic fuel cells (PCFCs) are highly efficient energy conversion devices since ammonia as a carbon-neutral hydrogen-rich carrier shows great potential for storage and long-distance transportation when compared with hydrogen fuel. However, traditional Ni-based anodes readily suffer from severe structural destruction and dramatic deactivation after long-time exposure to ammonia. Here a Sr2 Fe1.35 Mo0.45 Cu0.2 O6-δ (SFMC) anode catalytic layer (ACL) painted onto a Ni-BaZr0.1 Ce0.7 Y0.1 Yb0.1 O3- δ (BZCYYb) anode with enhanced catalytic activity and durability toward the direct utilization of ammonia is reported. A tubular Ni-BZCYYb anode-supported cells with the SFMC ACL show excellent peak power densities of 1.77 W cm-2 in wet H2 (3% H2 O) and 1.02 W cm-2 in NH3 at 650 °C. A relatively stable operation of the cells is obtained at 650 °C for 200 h in ammonia fuel. Such achieved improvements in the activity and durability are attributed to the self-constructed interfaces with the phases of NiCu or/and NiFe for efficient NH3 decomposition, resulting in a strong NH3 adsorption strength of the SFMC, as confirmed by NH3 thermal conversion and NH3 -temperature programmed desorption. This research offers a valuable strategy of applying an internal catalytic layer for highly active and durable ammonia PCFCs.

Antifungal Activity of Chitosan/Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Blend Electrospun Polymeric Fiber Mat Doped with Metallic Silver Nanoparticles.

In this work, the implementation of advanced functional coatings based on the combination of two compatible nanofabrication techniques such as electrospinning and dip-coating technology have been successfully obtained for the design of antifungal surfaces. In a first step, uniform and beadless electrospun nanofibers of both polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polyethylene (PEO)/chitosan (CS) blend samples have been obtained. In a second step, the dip-coating process has been gradually performed in order to ensure an adequate distribution of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) within the electrospun polymeric matrix (PEO/CS/AgNPs) by using a chemical reduction synthetic process, denoted as in situ synthesis (ISS). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used to evaluate the surface morphology of the samples, showing an evolution in average fiber diameter from 157 ± 43 nm (PEO), 124 ± 36 nm (PEO/CS) and 330 ± 106 nm (PEO/CS/AgNPs). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been used to evaluate the roughness profile of the samples, indicating that the ISS process induced a smooth roughness surface because a change in the average roughness Ra from 84.5 nm (PEO/CS) up to 38.9 nm (PEO/CS/AgNPs) was observed. The presence of AgNPs within the electrospun fiber mat has been corroborated by UV-Vis spectroscopy thanks to their characteristic optical properties (orange film coloration) associated to the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) phenomenon by showing an intense absorption band in the visible region at 436 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) profile also indicates the existence of a peak located at 3 keV associated to silver. In addition, after doping the electrospun nanofibers with AgNPs, an important change in the wettability with an intrinsic hydrophobic behavior was observed by showing an evolution in the water contact angle value from 23.4° ± 1.3 (PEO/CS) up to 97.7° ± 5.3 (PEO/CS/AgNPs). The evaluation of the antifungal activity of the nanofibrous mats against Pleurotus ostreatus clearly indicates that the presence of AgNPs in the outer surface of the nanofibers produced an important enhancement in the inhibition zone during mycelium growth as well as a better antifungal efficacy after a longer exposure time. Finally, these fabricated electrospun nanofibrous membranes can offer a wide range of potential uses in fields as diverse as biomedicine (antimicrobial against human or plant pathogen fungi) or even in the design of innovative packaging materials for food preservation.

Facile preparation of fullerenol-based humidity sensor with highly fast response

As a typical representative of water-soluble fullerene derivatives, fullerenols have been widely used in biomedicine, adsorption, and sensor detection. This paper has studied the structure and composition of commercial fullerenols, which indicate abundant hydrophilic groups exist on the surface of carbon cages to promote the adsorption of water molecules. It is found that the humidity sensor coated with fullerenols has a fast response (19s)/recovery time (12s) and low hysteresis (ΔH ≈ 2.68%RH) at the relative humidity level of 11–97%. The change mechanism of the impedance signal is due to the ions’ formation caused by the adsorption of water molecules. Excellent repeatability and stability are still maintained after a long time of exposure in the air, which displays great application potential.

Sn-induced phase transformation mechanism from θ’ to θ in Al-4Cu alloy and its influence on high temperature strength

The effects of 0.02 wt.% Sn addition to Al-4Cu alloy on the phase transformation mechanism from θ’ to θ phase during a long-time heat exposure at 573 K for 100 h and on high temperature strength were studied through microstructure observation and tensile test. It is found that Sn micro-alloying in Al-4Cu alloy completely changes the mechanism of θ’ → θ phase transformation during the long-time heat exposure. In the alloy without Sn addition, rod-like θ phase nucleates and grows on the surface of coarsened disc-like θ' phase. However, with Sn-micro-alloying, θ phase firstly heterogeneously nucleates on β-Sn particles, and then grows into much coarser needle-like phase. Trace addition of Sn significantly increases the yield strength of T5-samples at both room temperature and 573 K, because addition of Sn increases the number density of θ’ particles and reduces its size. But, after the long-time heat exposure, the high temperature (573 K) strength of Al-4Cu alloy is severely degraded because Sn accelerates the phase transformation from θ’ to θ phase.

Predictors of screen exposure among infants under 2 years of age during the COVID-19 pandemic

Contradicting pediatric societies’ recommendations, studies show that screen exposure begins at the first year of life for many children worldwide, with parental needs, educational purposes, and parental stress emerging as associated factors. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has likely worsened this scenario. This study aims to: 1) estimate the average daily screen exposure time for Brazilian infants aged 0–23 months during the COVID-19 pandemic based on caregiver report; 2) analyze the correlation between average exposure time, parental motivations for exposure, parental burnout levels and infant age; and 3) test the predictive role of parental motivations, burnout, and infant age on infant screen exposure. For this purpose, 139 parents (living in Brazil) answered online to questionnaires on infant screen exposure, parental motivations for exposure (four subscales: Parental Needs; Educational; Child’s Desires/Family Routine; Behavioral Control), and parental burnout (Total score; four subscales: Emotional Exhaustion; Contrast; Feelings of Being Fed Up; Emotional Distancing). On average, infants were exposed to screens for 131 min/day. Higher scores on the four parental motivation subscales and higher parental burnout (specifically the Contrast subscale) correlated with longer exposure times. Furthermore, the motivation subscales Parental Needs and Child's Desires/family routine, the burnout subscale Contrast and infant age predicted greater screen exposure, while the burnout scale Feelings of Being Fed Up predicted less exposure. Our results suggest that infants in Brazil were exposed to substantial amounts of screen time during the pandemic. Interventions aiming to reduce screen time must consider parental motivations and parental burnout/mental health along with infant age.

Elucidating the Effect of Dry-Room Atmospheres on the Performance of Sulfidic Sheet-Type Separators for All-Solid-State Batteries

Electrifying the automotive sector requires energy storage systems with high energy and power density, intrinsic safety, and long durability.[1] Lithium-based all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are considered promising next-generation energy storage devices, as they possibly meet these requirements by replacing organic liquid electrolytes with non-flammable solid electrolytes (SEs) and by enabling the application of novel high energy density anode concepts.[2, 3] Among the SE material classes being pursued for use in ASSBs, sulfidic systems are considered particularly advantageous, as they possess high ionic conductivities and low Young’s moduli, enabling easier processing and densification compared to oxidic systems.[4] However, a rarely addressed key bottleneck to commercializing ASSBs with sulfidic SEs is the requirement on the environmental conditions during handling, processing, and assembly of the battery components, which will be dictated by the instability of sulfidic SEs towards humidity.[5] On the laboratory scale, this issue has been avoided by handling the sulfidic ASSB materials, components, and cells in argon-filled gloveboxes, but for the commercial production of ASSBs their manufacturing would preferably be done in a dry-room atmosphere.[6] However, very few studies exist that examine whether the dew points of typical dry-rooms are sufficient to handle and/or store ASSB components based on sulfidic SEs.[7,8] In this contribution, we will examine the dry-room compatibility of scalable sulfidic composite (Li6PS5Cl/HNBR) sheet-type separators,[9] investigating the influence of the exposure time to a dry-room atmosphere with a dew point of -48°C on the stability of the SE and on its electrochemical properties. Using X-ray diffraction (XRD) combined with Rietveld refinement and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the influence on the morphology and the formation of degradation products upon reaction with the small concentration of water in a dry-room will be investigated. The results show that only long exposure times (> 96 h) lead to a significant hydrolysis-induced change in the XRD diffractograms, which indicates the formation of degradation products such as Li2S, LiCl, and Li3PO4.By means of potential electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (PEIS), the impact of different exposure times on the Li+-ion conductivity of the sheet-type Li6PS5Cl/HNBR separators and the activation energy for the Li+-ion transport are investigated (cf. figure 1). While short exposure times (< 12 h) have a minor influence on the Li+-ion conductivity (lowering it from 0.3 mS/cm to 0.25 mS/cm) and a negligible effect on the activation energy, longer exposure times (> 48 h) lead to a ≈ 10-fold loss of ionic conductivity (to ≈ 0.03 mS/cm) and a drastic increase in activation energy.Besides measuring the loss of ionic conductivity, the separator sheets are also used for assembling LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2|LiIn half-cells, which are investigated using galvanostatic cycling. An analysis of the capacity profiles shows that an increased exposure of the separators to the dry-room atmosphere leads to a significant IR-drop, to lower initial discharge capacity, and enhanced capacity fading over several charge/discharge cycles. Further insights into these degradation phenomena will be gained by analyzing the dQ/dV plots, the mean (dis)charge voltage, and the full-cell impedance of the half-cells.Based on our findings, it can be concluded that moderate exposure times in a dry-room of up to 12 h have only a negligible effect on the chemical integrity and performance of sulfidic Li6PS5Cl/HNBR separators sheets. This opens the route of defining viable storage and processing times of sulfidic ASSBs cell components in industrial dry-room environments.[1] Y. Ding, Z. P. Cano, A. Yu, J. Lu, Z. Chen, Electrochemical Energy Reviews, 2, 1 – 28, (2019).[2] J. Janek and W. G. Zeier, Nature Energy, 1, 16141, (2016).[3] P. Oh, J. Yun, J. H. Choi, K. S. Saqib, T. J. Embleton, S. Park, C. Lee, J. Ali, K. Ko, J. Cho, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., 61, e202201249, (2022).[4] A. Sakuda, A. Hayashi, M. Tatsumisago, Scientific Reports, 3, 2261, (2013).[5] H. Muramatsu, A. Hayashi, T. Ohtomo, S. Hama, M. Tatsumisago, Solid State Ionics, 182, 116 – 119, (2011).[6] D. H. S. Tan, Y. S. Meng, J. Jang, Joule, 6, 1755-1769, (2022).[7] Y.-T. Chen, M. A. T. Marple, D. H. S. Tan, S.-Y. Ham, B. Sayahpour, W.-K. Li, H. Yang, J. B. Lee, H. J. Hah, E. A. Wu, J.M. Doux, J. Jang, P. Ridley, A. Cronk, G. Deysher, Z. Chen, Y. S. Meng, J. Mater. Chem. A , 10, 7155-7164, (2022).[8] C. Singer, H.-C. Töpper, T. Kutsch, R. Schuster, R. Koerver, R. Daub, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, 14, 24245–24254, (2022).[9] C. Sedlmeier, T. Kutsch, R. Schuster, L. Hartmann, R. Bublitz, M. Tominac, M. Bohn, H. A. Gasteiger, J. Electrochem. Soc., 169, 070508, (2022). Figure 1

Fluoride Binding Potential of Selected Phytochemicals: A Pilot Study.

Fluoride (F-) contamination in drinking water is a major global concern. According to several studies, India and China are the most affected by the presence of excess F-. Long-time exposure to F- concentrations above 1.5ppm can lead to hard and soft tissue fluorosis(F- toxicity). There are no effective cure or treatment for fluorosis and the condition is almost irreversible. Considering water to be the prime media through which F- reaches humans, maintaining optimal F- levels in water remains the only possible remedy. F- endemic areas have adapted several conventional defluoridation techniques to resolve the issue. Among these, adsorption with plant compounds is widely used for F- removal. Studies have shown that plant metabolites can ameliorate the toxic effects of F-. Based on this, we attempt to elucidate the potential binding and electrochemical bio-sensing properties of selected phytochemicals towards F-. The focus of the present work is to evaluate the interactions of phytochemicals with F-; for which, the binding studies of phytochemicals with F- have been elaborated by UV-visible spectroscopy and emission techniques. Benesi-Hildebrand's (BH) plot was used to calculate the binding constant (CUR-34.9 × 103 (M-1), QUER - 13 ×103 (M-1),ESC-6.3 × 103 (M-1), FIS - 5.36 ×103 (M-1) and PCA-1.5 × 103 (M-1), and detection limit (CUR - 1.54× 10-7M, QUER - 0.156 × 10-6 M,ESC-0.221 × 10-6 M, FIS - 0.175× 10-6 M,and PCA-5.8 × 10-6M) for the F-:phytochemical mixtures. Further, the binding characteristicswere confirmed using 1H-NMRtitration experiments. Our findings highlight the potential of phytochemicals as effective binding agents for F-, thereby reducing its bioavailability.

Influence of Atmospheric Contaminants on the Work Function of Graphite.

Airborne hydrocarbon contamination occurs rapidly on graphitic surfaces and negatively impact many of their material properties, yet much of the molecular details of the contamination remains unknown. We use Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) to study the time evolution of the surface potential of graphite exposed to ambient. After exfoliation in air, the surface potential of graphite is not homogeneous and contains features that are absent in the topography image. In addition, the heterogeneity of the surface potential images increased in the first few days followed by a decrease at longer exposure times. These observations are strong support of slow conformation change, phase separation, and/or dynamic displacement of the adsorbed airborne contaminants.

Conducting Polymer Films on Zn Deposited Carbon Electrode

Zn plating on carbon steel (CS) was achieved applying current of 4 mA with galvanostatic technique in acidic medium. Zn particles had homogenous, smooth with spherical structure. It was shown that the Zn particles exhibited active behavior on CS substrate. Poly(aniline), poly(pyrrole), poly(N-methylpyrrole) and poly(o-anisidine) homopolymer films were obtained on CS/Zn electrode. Evaluation of anticorrosion performance of these homopolymer coatings in 3.5 % NaCl solution was investigated by using AC impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique, anodic polarization and the Eocp-time curves. Homopolymer films exhibited significant physical barrier behavior on Zn plated carbon steel, in longer exposure time.

3D Printing Technology with Reverse Guide Design in Autogenous Tooth Transplantation: An in vitro Pictorial Report.

The success of autologous tooth transplantation depends on the activity of the periodontal ligament of the donor tooth. Its activity decreases with a longer exposure time. In order to reduce the exposure time of the donor tooth and quickly prepare the alveolar fossa highly matching with the donor tooth root, the clinical data of cone-beam CT (CBCT) was imported into Mimics 21.0 software in this study to obtain three-dimensional (3D) images of the jaw tissue structure. The images were used to extract the target area and select the target tooth. By analysing the information of the recipient region and the donor region, 3-Matic 13.0 software was used to implant the donor virtual into the target region, and restrictive personalised guidance was designed. Subsequently, the surgical guide template was printed by 3D printing technology, and the alveolar fossa was rapidly prepared in vitro. After the operation, the donor tooth was matched with the complete alveolar cavity using 3-Matic13.0 software. The depth deviation of the prepared alveolar cavity was measured within 2.0 mm, and the width deviation was about 1.0 mm. The maximum width deviation is 2.88 mm due to the tilt of the roots. With a high matching degree to the donor tooth root, it needs further and larger clinical studies. Key Words: CBCT,Tooth autotransplantation, 3D printing technology, Computer-aided imaging, Periodontal ligament.

In situ generation of cold atmospheric plasma-activated mist and its biocidal activity against surrogate viruses for COVID-19.

To provide an alternative to ultra violet light and vapourized hydrogen peroxide to enhance decontamination of surfaces as part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We developed an indirect method for in situ delivery of cold plasma and evaluated the anti-viral activity of plasma-activated mist (PAM) using bacteriophages phi6, MS2, and phiX174, surrogates for SARS-CoV-2. Exposure to ambient air atmospheric pressure derived PAM caused a 1.71 log10 PFU ml-1 reduction in phi6 titer within 5min and a 7.4 log10 PFU ml-1 reduction after 10min when the the PAM source was at 5 and 10cm. With MS2 and phiX174, a 3.1 and 1.26 log10 PFU ml-1 reduction was achieved, respectively, after 30min. The rate of killing was increased with longer exposure times but decreased when the PAM source was further away. Trace amounts of reactive species, hydrogen peroxide and nitrite were produced in the PAM, and the anti-viral activity was probably attributable to these and their secondary reactive species. PAM exhibits virucidal activity against surrogate viruses for COVID-19, which is time and distance from the plasma source dependent.

Machine learning for predicting diabetes risk in western China adults

ObjectiveDiabetes mellitus is a global epidemic disease. Long-time exposure of patients to hyperglycemia can lead to various type of chronic tissue damage. Early diagnosis of and screening for diabetes are crucial to population health.MethodsWe collected the national physical examination data in Xinjiang, China, in 2020 (a total of more than 4 million people). Three types of physical examination indices were analyzed: questionnaire, routine physical examination and laboratory values. Integrated learning, deep learning and logistic regression methods were used to establish a risk model for type-2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, to improve the convenience and flexibility of the model, a diabetes risk score card was established based on logistic regression to assess the risk of the population.ResultsAn XGBoost-based risk prediction model outperformed the other five risk assessment algorithms. The AUC of the model was 0.9122. Based on the feature importance ranking map, we found that hypertension, fasting blood glucose, age, coronary heart disease, ethnicity, parental diabetes mellitus, triglycerides, waist circumference, total cholesterol, and body mass index were the most important features of the risk prediction model for type-2 diabetes.ConclusionsThis study established a diabetes risk assessment model based on multiple ethnicities, a large sample and many indices, and classified the diabetes risk of the population, thus providing a new forecast tool for the screening of patients and providing information on diabetes prevention for healthy populations.

Fracture toughness investigations of AA6061-SiC composites: Effect of corrosion parameters

The research gap in this problem lies in the limited understanding of how corrosion parameters, such as reinforcement composition, exposure time, and concentration of the corrosive agent, affect the fracture toughness of AA6061-SiC composites. Investigating these factors can provide valuable insights into the corrosion behaviour of AA6061-SiC composites and help optimise their mechanical properties for specific applications in harsh environments. The study aimed to optimise the parameters and find the best combination of composition, normality, and exposure time that improves fracture toughness. The study's results showed that normality (37%), and exposure time (47%) significantly affected the material's fracture toughness. Fracture toughness tests showed Case 1 had higher fracture toughness (18.35 MPa√m) due to lower normality and shorter exposure time, indicating a less aggressive corrosive environment.In contrast, Case 3 had lower fracture toughness (14.86 MPa√m) due to higher normality and longer exposure time, suggesting increased corrosion severity. In particular, increasing the exposure time and concentration of the corrosive agent decreased the fracture toughness. The composite was exposed to a 3.5% NaCl solution, which caused severe damage and formed a protective oxide layer. However, pitting corrosion occurs and causes decreasing in fracture toughness.

Effect of irradiance and exposure time on the adhesive properties of universal adhesives after 2years of storage.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of exposure time and irradiance on the dentin bonding properties (microtensile bond strength (μTBS) and nanoleakage (NL)) of the Clearfil Universal Bond Quick (CUQ) adhesive and Scotchbond Universal Adhesive (SBU) immediately and after 2years of water storage. Hence, 128 human molars were randomly assigned to 16 groups based on adhesive strategy, irradiance/exposure times, and storage time for each universal adhesive tested. The adhesives were applied using the etch-and-rinse and self-etch strategies and were light-cured using four different irradiance/exposure times: 1400 mW/cm2 for 5s (1400 × 5), 1400 mW/cm2 for 10s (1400 × 10), 3200 mW/cm2 for 5s (3200 × 5), and 3200 mW/cm2 for 10s (3200 × 10). Then, each sample was restored and sectioned into a resin-dentin bonded stick to be tested for μTBS and NL (immediately and after 2years of water storage). The mean μTBS and NL of all resin-dentin bonded sticks from the same hemi-tooth (factor time) were statistically analyzed using a three-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (a = 0.05). Despite a significant decrease in the μTBS values for all groups after 2years of water storage, the 3200 × 5 group showed higher μTBS values, whereas the 3200 × 10 group showed lower μTBS values for both universal adhesives tested. Although a significant increase in the NL values was observed for all groups after 2years of water storage, the 3200 × 10 group showed higher NL values than the other groups (p < 0.001). Results indicate that light-curing the adhesive layer with 14-16J/cm2 led to an improvement in the stability of the resin-dentin adhesive interface. A longer exposure time (10s) coupled with a higher irradiance (3200 mW/cm2) resulted in a greater degree of degradation of the adhesive interface. To guarantee better stability of the adhesive interface, clinicians could be preferred a light-cured universal adhesive layer with 14-16J/cm2. Higher irradiances should be avoided.

Effects of ozone exposure on lipid metabolism in Huh-7 human hepatoma cells.

Ozone pollution is a major environmental concern. According to recent epidemiological studies, ozone exposure increases the risk of metabolic liver disease. However, studies on the mechanisms underlying the effects of ozone exposure on hepatic oxidative damage, lipid synthesis, and catabolism are limited. In this study, Huh-7 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells were randomly divided into five groups and exposed to 200 ppb O3 for 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 h. We measured the levels of oxidative stress and analyzed the changes in molecules related to lipid metabolism. The levels of oxidative stress were found to be significantly elevated in Huh-7 hepatocellular carcinoma cells after O3 exposure. Moreover, the expression levels of intracellular lipid synthases, including SREBP1, FASN, SCD1, and ACC1, were enhanced. Lipolytic enzymes, including ATGL and HSL, and the mitochondrial fatty acid oxidase, CPT1α, were inhibited after O3 exposure. In addition, short O3 exposure enhanced the expression of the intracellular peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidase, ACOX1; however, its expression decreased adaptively with longer exposure times. Overall, O3 exposure induces an increase in intracellular oxidative stress and disrupts the normal metabolism of lipids in hepatocytes, leading to intracellular lipid accumulation.

RECORDING CONDITIONS AND PROCESSING OPTIMIZATION FOR HOLOGRAMS USING BAYFOL HX200 PHOTOPOLYMER FILM

This work aims to analyze the process of recording and reconstructing holograms based on Denisyuk’s method, as well as calculating the power of the reference ZZZyclops camera laser beam required to record a hologram on the photopolymer film Bayfol HX200. We have studied how ultraviolet light and intense light affect the quality of holograms immediately after recording. Our experimental findings demonstrate that curing a hologram with ultraviolet light improves brightness and enhances color transfer, with better results achieved through longer exposure times. Additionally, our experiment reveals that strong illumination of a newly recorded hologram can severely damage the image and distort the object’s information. We have estimated the dosage of emission absorbed by the film and compared our results with the dosages recommended by the manufacturer.