Loss Measurements Research Articles

Zein-Bioactive Glass nanocomposite Coating on Magnesium Alloy Substrate for Orthopedic Applications

Excellent mechanical strength and biodegradable characteristics of magnesium alloys have sparked considerable interest in orthopedic applications. The utilization of magnesium alloys in orthopedic applications has been restricted due to their brittleness caused by high corrosion rate in biological environments. One of the best techniques for increasing corrosion resistance of these alloys is surface coating. For the first time, the present work aims to dip-coat zein-bioactive glass (BG) nanocomposite on AZ31B magnesium alloy. The alloy surface was also coated by native zein as a control coating. BG nanoparticles required for zein and BG (zein_BG) composite were synthesized by a bio-inspired method using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as a template. The formation of BG particles was affirmed by FTIR showing characteristic Si-O-Si and Si-O– peaks. Nano-size of BG particles with an average diameter of 6.67 ± 0.06 nm was reported by TEM. SEM micrographs revealed successful deposition of zein and zein_BG coatings on the magnesium alloy surfaces. High-resolution XPS analysis on zein_BG-coated Mg alloy immersed in HBSS revealed the corrosion deposition of Mg(OH)2, MgHPO4.H2O, CaHPO4.H2O, SiO2, MgCO3, and CaCO3 on the substrate surface. More than twofold wettability, 95% adhesion strength and 14-fold increase in surface roughness were reported for zein_BG-coated magnesium alloy compared to the bare surface. Measurements of weight loss in zein and zein_BG-coated alloy substrates in Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) for 10 d at 37°C showed a drastic decrease in weight loss of substrates after coating. As a result, zein_BG-coated substrate was observed to possess the maximum protective efficacy (95.99%) against corrosion. Interestingly, electrochemical measurements revealed a vast decrease in corrosion current density (2.41 E−6 A.cm−2) of zein_BG-coated substrate compared to the uncoated substrate (3.04 E−4 A.cm−2). Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) confirmed capacitive behavior of zein_BG-coated alloy substrate. These findings demonstrated that simple zein_BG composite dip coating was a successful corrosion-resistant implant coating on magnesium alloy surface for orthopedic applications.

Comparative Assessment of Reliability and Accuracy of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Over Direct Surgical Measurement for Periodontal Bone Loss: A Prospective, Cross-Sectional Study.

Assessing bone condition holds significant value in the diagnosis, treatment planning, and prognosing the periodontal disease; its importance is undeniable. The main aimof the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of alveolar bone measurements due to periodontal disease using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), by comparingwith surgical measurements, considered as the gold standard. A prospective cross-sectional study included a sample of 40 individuals diagnosed with chronic periodontitis who required periodontal surgery. A total of 202 sites were assessed for vertical and horizontal bone loss in the anterior (76 sites) and posterior (126 sites) teeth. Bone loss was measured using CBCT and a UNC 15 periodontal probe during the surgical intervention, and then compared. The statistical analysis involved employing a Student's t-test to compare measurements. Unpaired t-tests and correlation analyses were conducted using Pearson's correlation coefficient test. To establish statistical significance, a threshold of p<0.05 was considered appropriate. The statistical analysis carried out on the mean values of CBCTand direct surgical measurements for vertical bone loss demonstrated a significant difference (p<0.01). However, the values obtained for horizontal bone loss did not display statistical significance. A strong correlation of 0.94-0.99 existed between surgical and CBCT measurements. A statistically significant distinction was observed between the two methods in measuringbone loss at the distal and palatal sites of the anterior teeth. Both CBCTand direct surgical measurement exhibit comparableaccuracy potentialin assessing alveolar bone loss. CBCT provides an accessibility advantage by enhancing visual accessto challenging sites during surgical interventions, including palatal and distal areas of the teeth.

Measurement of Information Loss and Transfer Impacts of Technology Systems in Offsite Construction Processes

Measurement of Information Loss and Transfer Impacts of Technology Systems in Offsite Construction Processes

Results on light (anti)hypernuclei production with ALICE at the LHC

The high collision energies reached at the LHC lead to significant production yields of light (anti)hypernuclei in proton–proton (pp), proton–lead (p–Pb) and, in particular, Pb–Pb collisions. The lightest known hypernucleus is the hypertriton, which is a bound state of a proton, a neutron, and a Λ hyperon. It decays weakly with a decay length of a few centimeters. The excellent tracking and particle identification capabilities of the ALICE detector, exploiting the energy loss measurement of the Time Projection Chamber (TPC) and using the Inner Tracking System (ITS) to distinguish between primary and secondary (decay) vertices, allow for the determination of the hypertriton yield across different collision systems, its lifetime, and its binding energy. The latest hypertriton lifetime measurement in Pb–Pb collisions performed in the 2-body decay channel will be presented. This measurement contributes to the solution of the hypertriton lifetime puzzle. In addition, the hypertriton production in different collision systems and at different energies will be compared to model predictions. Due to its low binding energy, and hence to its large size, the hypertriton is the ideal candidate to distinguish between statistical hadronization and coalescence models. With the precision of the presented yield measurements some variants of the aforementioned models can be excluded.

Improved LPTN-Based Online Temperature Prediction of Permanent Magnet Machines by Global Parameter Identification

This paper presents an improved lumped parameter thermal network (LPTN) based online temperature prediction method of permanent magnet (PM) machines by global parameter identification. The proposed global parameter identification incorporates not only the loss but also the magnetic information into a fifth-order LPTN and identifies the multi-physical magneto-thermal parameters as a whole. In the identification process, the nonlinear characteristics, including the magnetic saturation, the cross-saturation, the strand skin effect, and the speed-dependent convective heat transfer, are all considered. It can eliminate the cumbersome magnetic and loss measurement efforts and improve the overall identification accuracy compared to the traditional step by step identification method. Based on the identified multi-physical magneto-thermal model, the critical temperatures of the PM machines, together with the online losses and torque, can then be predicted in real time. The experimental results show that the proposed online temperature prediction method can track the real temperature variation with errors within 5°C.

Erosivity Factor of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) - A Systematized Review

The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is a globally accepted erosion model which has gained good acceptability. Among the five influences of the RUSLE method of soil erosion estimation, the erosivity factor (R) represents rainfall event’s ability to produce erosion. It is mainly affected by rainfall intensity and kinetic energy of the rain. The erosion index represented by EI30 is the most common R-factor estimation method. Due to the non-availability of rainfall intensity data in many watersheds, researchers have developed methods for erosivity estimation using rainfall depth. The Modified Fournier Index method has gained popularity. Recently, different models using machine learning techniques and ANN are also being set up to establish the R-factor for soil loss estimation. These models can estimate the R-factor quickly and more accurately. They can even predict the R-factor for the future to predict soil loss and plan conservation measures accordingly. An attempt has been made here to review different methodologies proposed by scientists across the globe for arriving at the R-factor for soil loss estimation using RUSLE model.

Compact Coplanar Waveguide Antenna Using Arm Patch for Software Defined Radio

This article proposes a compact coplanar waveguide (CPW) antenna with a semicircular patch and patch arm above the feed line. The method used in this antenna research is experimental, with antenna parameter optimization, fabrication, and measurement steps. The antenna was 40 mm × 46 mm × 0.8 mm and was printed on an FR4 substrate. Antenna optimization was carried out with CST Studio Suite to obtain optimal results. Based on return loss measurement results, the proposed antenna has an operational frequency of 2 GHz–7 GHz. The antenna arm has a significant effect on the operational frequency of the antenna, as proven by a parameter study of the antenna arm. Parametric studies were carried out on the antenna by investigating the influence of geometric parameters on the frequency characteristics. Optimization results were printed then measured by a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) and a spectrum analyzer. The fabricated CPW antenna has a wider operating frequency than the simulation. An omnidirectional radiation pattern was observed at 2 GHz–4 GHz. The antenna has been used as a transmitter and receiver at 2.4 GHz, 3 GHz, and 4 GHz. The antenna is able to receive the signal emitted from the signal generator.

Effect of three different remineralising agents on prevention against acidic erosion of primary teeth: an in vitro study.

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the protective effect of fluoride varnish (Enamelast™, Ultradent Inc., Cologne, Germany), casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride/CPP-ACPF (MI Paste Plus, GC Corp., Tokyo, Japan) and self-assembling P11-4 peptide (Curodont™ Protect, Credentis AG, Windisch, Switzerland), against acidic erosion of primary teeth. Forty primary anterior teeth were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 10): group 1: control, group 2: fluoride varnish, group 3: CPP-ACPF and group 4: self-assembling P11-4 peptide. After applying remineralising agents, except for the control group, all specimens underwent an erosive challenge of carbonated soft drink and artificial saliva for 15 cycles of 6s each at 6-h intervals for a day. Groups were compared in terms of surface microhardness, roughness readings, and surface scanning with an extra-oral scanner (D800; 3Shape A/S) before and after the erosive process. All experimental groups showed superior results than the control group regarding microhardness, surface roughness, and substance loss. The fluoride varnish group showed significantly favourable results in microhardness change. There was no significant difference between the experimental groups regarding surface roughness and enamel loss measurements. 5% NaF fluoride varnish, CPP-ACPF and self-assembling P11-4 peptide protect the enamel of primary teeth against erosion compared to artificial saliva alone.

From Ideal to Stack-like Contacting of an SOC

The cell performance of a solid oxide cell strongly depends on the testing environment and conditions. In case of an inert testing set-up with ceramic (Al2O3) flow fields and gold (cathode) and nickel (anode) contact grids the losses inside the cell determine the performance [1]. For an electrolyte-supported cell with a nickel / gadolinium-doped ceria (Ni/CGO) fuel electrode and LSCF air electrode, the ideal cell behavior has been characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the subsequent analysis of the distribution of relaxation times (DRT) considering technically meaningful operating conditions. Furthermore, the deconvolution and quantification of the gas diffusion polarization has been shown with the help of ternary fuel gas mixtures with different gas diffusion coefficients. [2-4]In this contribution, the electrochemical characterization is now extended to a stack-like contacting of the solid oxide cell with different metallic interconnectors, protective coatings and contact layers. The resulting contact loss is quantified with a method by Kornely et al. [5] using potential probes at the interconnector and the air electrode in order to enable voltage loss measurements. The stack-like contacting leads to gas transport conditions different from the ideal case which is investigated at the fuel and air side with modified gas diffusion coefficients by using gas mixtures containing nitrogen and helium as well [2].The positive effect of the protective coating towards the cell performance is evaluated by current-voltage characteristics and EIS measurements. Further, the electrode electrochemistry influenced by effects like chromium-poisoning will be shown and compared to the ideal contact set-up [2].

Energy Loss Measurements on the Limiter of the Gas Dynamic Trap

A discrepancy between the energy input into the plasma and the energy lost through the measured loss channels is observed in the Gas Dynamic Trap (GDT): while 2-3 megawatts of power are captured by the plasma from the neutral beams, the observed energy losses do not exceed hundreds of kilowatts. In this study, a proposal was investigated that a part of the input energy is lost on the limiters of the GDT. The proposal was based on numerical modelling results that predict an existence near the limiter of a peak of power transferred to the plasma via fast ion drag. The experimental results showed that the energy losses on the limiter are too small to explain the energy balance discrepancy and further investigations of large loss channels are required.

Study on the corrosion inhibition performance of composite inhibitor on carbon steel in stone processing wastewater

AbstractThe circular saw blade, which is mainly composed of carbon steel, is used to cut the stone. However, the carbon steel is easily corroded in stone processing wastewater, shortening its lifespan. In this study, a new composite inhibitor of sodium nitrite, sodium molybdate, sodium silicate, sodium tungstate, and sodium citrate was investigated firstly, and then, its inhibition efficiency for carbon steel in stone processing wastewater was explored using electrochemical measurements and weight loss measurements. The results showed that the composite inhibitor as a mixed‐type inhibitor displayed good inhibitory performance. Surface analysis including scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, and contact angle test further revealed the form of protection of the steel surface by composite corrosion inhibitors. The prepared composite inhibitor exhibited excellent corrosion resistance for carbon steel in stone processing wastewater, and it is believed that the composite inhibitor has certain application potential in industries.

Rain erosion mechanism on a leading-edge half cylinder

In this short communication, the rain erosion mechanism on a leading-edge half cylinder was investigated both experimentally and numerically focusing on the influence of leading-edge curvature. A scale-model experiment was carried out in a spray-jet erosion test facility for aluminum specimens of half cylinders with various leading-edge curvatures d/R, defined by the droplet diameter d to the radius of curvature R, ranging from d/R = 0.02 to 0.13. The measurements of erosion volume loss of the half cylinder and the surface observation by scanning electron microscope were performed to understand the influence of leading-edge curvature on the erosion characteristics. It was found that the erosion rate of the specimen highly increases with an increased leading-edge curvature, which is associated with the earlier erosion initiation of pit formation on the surface. To understand the curvature effect on the leading-edge erosion of the half cylinder, the numerical simulation of the liquid sheet impacting on the leading edge was carried out and the liquid-film behavior was studied. It was found that the film thickness on the leading-edge half cylinder decreases faster on larger curvature than that on smaller curvature, which agrees with an increased erosion rate at larger curvature in the present experiment.

Natural chitosan-based carbon dots as an eco-friendly and effective corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in HCl solution

Polysaccharide chitosan and L-histidine were applied to synthesize chitosan-based carbon dots (CA-CDs) by a simple laser ablation method. After characterization of the CA-CDs by FT-IR, UV–vis, Raman, XRD, TEM, and XPS, the CA-CDs were introduced as an eco-friendly and high-performance corrosion inhibitor for mild steel (MS) in 1.0 M HCl solution. The inhibition action and mechanism of CA-CDs were determined by weight loss and electrochemical measurements, in combination with SEM, AFM, and XPS. The results show that CA-CDs as mixed-type inhibitors could effectively weaken the corrosion of MS in 1.0 M HCl solution, and their maximum inhibition efficiency reaches 97.4 % at 40 mg L−1. The adsorption behavior of CA-CDs well obeys the Langmuir adsorption isotherm containing both chemisorption and physisorption. The chemisorption mainly results from the multiple adsorption sites in the CA-CDs, and the physical adsorption is due to the blocking and barrier effect of CA-CD nanoparticles. Both adsorption behaviors were proposed to elucidate the corrosion inhibition mechanism of CA-CDs.

Tranexamic Acid for the Prevention of Blood Loss After Cesarean Among Women With Twins: A Secondary Analysis of the TRAnexamic Acid for Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage Following a Cesarean Delivery Randomized Clinical Trial

(Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022;227:889e1–17) Tranexamic acid (TXA) has been proposed as a preventive medication in obstetrics to reduce the risk of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). However, previous research has not shown TXA to be clinically beneficial for vaginal or cesarean delivery among a general obstetric population. Information is lacking on whether TXA might be more effective for women who are at increased risk of PPH. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic TXA in one group of women at high risk for PPH—those with multiple gestation. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of TXA and a uterotonic agent compared with the uterotonic agent alone on the risk of PPH. The primary outcome was the incidence of calculated estimated blood loss of more than 1000 mL or a red blood cell transfusion by day 2 after delivery. Secondary outcomes included clinical and laboratory measurements of postpartum blood loss, adverse effects related to TXA, and maternal satisfaction.

Wear of hydraulic pump with real particles and medium test dust

In this study, long-term tests were conducted to evaluate the effects of wear particles and test dust on the degradation of external gear pump performance. The results of the hydraulic measurement showed that the hydraulic pump tested with wear particles can operate for 624 h with a cleanliness level of 22/21/19 according to the standard ISO 4406. The pump tested with test dust failed after 5.3 min of operation at a cleanliness level of 21/21/21. Thus, accelerated testing of gear pumps can be performed with a reasonable amount of added test dust, which can significantly reduce the time and cost of long-term testing of hydraulic pumps. Wear measurements of volume loss and estimated wear coefficient confirmed the influence of the worn surfaces of the tested pumps on the measured leakage flow. It has been shown that medium test dust effectively accelerate long-term tests of hydraulic gear pumps.

Efficacy of a Cosmetic Treatment in Decreasing the Mild-to-Moderate Atopic Dermatitis in Babies, Children, and Adults: A Pilot Study

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory and pruritic skin disease with a worldwide progressive increase in its incidence. In this clinical study, we studied the effect of a cosmetic treatment composed of a cleanser, and a body and face cream, on subjects (babies, children, and adults) suffering from mild-to-moderate AD. The product effect on AD clinical signs was investigated by SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index, subjective evaluation, skin erythema index, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) measurements. The products were shown to be effective in improving the AD scoring by SCORAD in all the groups, and a trend towards the decrease of the erythema index and the TEWL in the adult population. An improvement in itching sensation, skin redness, and skin dryness scoring was also reported by the subjects. Results from this study demonstrate the efficacy of the tested products in decreasing the overall AD severity through 28 days of treatment. Overall, the first results occurred within 14 days of treatment.

Influence of tool plunging rate on mechanical properties and microstructure of friction stir welded DMR249A high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel butt joints

Abstract The main aim of this study is to analyse the influence of tool plunging rate on tool wear and stir zone characteristics of DMR249A high strength low alloy (HSLA) steel joints developed using friction stir welding (FSW). The HSLA steel plates were welded at five levels of tool plunging rates varying from 2.0 mm min−1 to 3.0 mm min−1. The tool rotational speed of 600 rpm and welding speed of 30 mm min−1 were kept constant during welding. The wear of FSW tool was analysed by microscopic observations of tool condition after welding, stir zone characteristics, weight loss measurement and pin profile analysis. The characterization techniques of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to analyse the microstructural characteristics of stir zone of welded joints. Results disclosed that the severe degradation of FSW tool occurred due to the sudden dynamic impact load on tool pin while plunging and more diffusion of work piece material into the tool pin which leads to insufficient plasticized material flow. The tool plunging rate of 2.5 mm min−1 showed minimum tool wear and produced defect free sound joint.

Fundamental evaluation of direct‐cooling technology for in‐wheel drive system

AbstractWe are developing a small and lightweight direct‐drive system toward the realization of in‐wheel electric vehicles (EVs). To increase the power density of the motor, we developed a direct‐cooling motor that immersed the core, coils, and magnets in cooling oil and improved cooling efficiency. Moreover, we performed measurements of frictional loss, measurement of pressure drop, and a continuous heat‐run test on the test bench. The results demonstrated that direct cooling is effective and continuous operation can be achieved. Additionally, it was found that the coil temperature can be controlled by the flow rate of the cooling oil. In this paper, we report on the concept of direct cooling and the measurement results.

Monitoring Adverse Effects of Radiation Therapy in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) experience a range of debilitating adverse effects (AEs). Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures to quantify these AEs are a necessary and important component of health care; however, currently available PRO options often measure only disease-related symptoms or AEs of non-RT treatments. To develop a brief PRO measure of the most common AEs associated with RT for HNSCC. This was a qualitative study that followed the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines to develop a brief measure of patient-reported RT-related AEs (the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck Radiotherapy [FACT-HN-RAD] measure). The study included (1) a literature review of clinical trials; (2) secondary analysis of retrospective concept elicitation interviews (CEIs); (3) electronic surveys of practicing radiation oncologists; (4) mapping of existing items to inform the development of the draft version of the measure; and (5) validation of content and face validity via patient cognitive interviews. Analysis was performed of CEI data and interviews with practicing radiation oncologists. Data analysis was conducted from July 1, 2022, to April 21, 2023. Surveys and qualitative interviews. The most common patient-reported RT-related AEs among patients with HNSCC. Of 19 CEI participants, 14 (mean [range] age, 67 [49-86] years; 12 [86%] men and 2 [14%] women) described RT-related AEs and were included in the secondary analysis. Eleven (79%) patients reported difficulty swallowing; 8 (57%), oral pain; 7 (50%), dry mouth; 7 (50%), weight loss; 6 (43%), skin burning; 5 (36%), loss of taste; 5 (36%), voice changes (36%); and 5 (36%), fatigue. Nine radiation oncologists (mean [range] time in practice, 8 [1-42] years; 5 [56%] men and 4 [44%] women) reported the most common AEs: 9 (100%) reported dysgeusia; 7 (78%), xerostomia; 7 (78%), mucositis or oral pain; 8 (89%), dysphagia or odynophagia; 6 (67%), dermatitis; and 3 (33%), fatigue. Together these data informed the development of an 8-item AE-focused measure of pain, dysphagia, xerostomia, dysgeusia, voice changes, dermatitis, fatigue, and weight loss. Cognitive interviews with 10 patients (mean [range] age, 61 [29-84] years; 8 [80%] men and 2 [20%] women) demonstrated strong face validity; all (100%) reported that the measure reflected their experience with RT and stated that the length of the questionnaire was "just right." The 8-item FACT-HN-RAD measure captures the most common patient- and physician-reported AEs related to RT for HNSCC. This measure offers a means to serially monitor patient-reported treatment-related AEs and recovery over time in both clinical and research settings. Future work will evaluate the psychometric validity of the measure.

Artefacts in Field Trial Research—Lateral Ammonia Fluxes Confound Fertiliser Plot Experiments

Agricultural ammonia (NH3) emissions can have serious environmental impacts, lower fertiliser nitrogen-use efficiencies, and cause economic losses. NH3 losses may not only occur directly from organic fertilisers such as biogas digestates when applied to crops, the crops themselves may also be a source of ammonia emissions. Wheat yields from 14 years of an organic small plot fertiliser trial fertilised with biogas digestate were analysed to determine if there was significant lateral N transfer between plots. A simple NH3 loss/gain model was developed to calculate possible N gains and losses via NH3 volatilisation from the applied digestate. This model was tested using NH3 volatilisation measurements. In addition, 15N isotope measurements of crop biomass were used to analyse plant N uptake. While digestate fertilisation increased wheat yields, yield patterns indicated that NH3 emissions from plots fertilised with biogas digestate affected yields in neighbouring unfertilised plots. Measurements of ammonia losses and gains in the field validated our modelling results, showing that 55% of digestate NH4+-N was volatilised. 15N isotope analysis indicated that crops took up as much as 30 kg ha−1 NH3-N volatilised from digestate, and that plots closer to fertilised plots took up more of this NH3-N than crops further away from fertilised plots. Our results imply that neither the results from the fertilised plots nor from the unfertilised plots are without bias. To avoid inadvertently introducing artefacts into fertiliser field trials, plot sizes need to be increased and treatments situated further apart.