Loss Of Surface Research Articles

Guided Endodontics in Calcified Canals: Literature Review

Endodontic treatment controls the root canal microbiota by shaping, disinfecting and filling the canals to promote periapical healing. The calcification process is linked to pulp alterations, usually caused by an inflammatory process due to caries, loss of tooth surface, trauma or pulp exposure. This study aimed to emphasize the influence of computed tomography-guided endodontics on the accuracy and efficacy of endodontic treatments compared to conventional techniques. Articles were selected from PubMed, SCIELO and BVS databases using the descriptors "endodontics OR root canal treatment AND dental calcification AND pulp cavity AND cone beam computed tomography". The study included articles published from 2013 to 2023. After analyzing the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 20 articles were selected. Endodontic treatment of calcified teeth is challenging and can result in failures in root canal instrumentation and disinfection. Also, it leads to complications such as perforation and weakening of the tooth structure due to excessive wear. Thus, minimally invasive endodontics is gaining prominence in contemporary endodontics. New techniques, such as guided endodontics, are emerging and have helped to reduce the risk of root perforation.

Machine learning-based hyperspectral wavelength selection and classification of spider mite-infested cucumber leaves

Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) is an important greenhouse pest. In cucumbers, heavy infestations lead to the complete loss of leaf assimilation surface, resulting in plant death. Symptoms caused by spider mite feeding alter the light reflection of leaves and could therefore be optically detected. Machine learning methods have already been employed to analyze spectral information in order to differentiate between healthy and spider mite-infested leaves of crops such as tomatoes or cotton. In this study, machine learning methods were applied to cucumbers. Hyperspectral data of leaves were recorded under controlled conditions. Effective wavelengths were identified using three feature selection methods. Subsequently, three supervised machine learning algorithms were used to classify healthy and spider mite-infested leaves. All combinations of feature selection and classification methods yielded accuracy of over 80%, even when using ten or five wavelengths. These results suggest that machine learning methods are a powerful tool for image-based detection of spider mites in cucumbers. In addition, due to the limited number of wavelengths, there is also substantial potential for practical application.

Total Knee Replacement as Primary Management in Comminuted Tibial Plateau Fracture in Elderly Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract Background Fracture of the tibial plateau represents approximately 8% of fractures in elderly patients. These injuries occur with an estimated incidence of 13.3 per 100,000 adults annually, with nearly a quarter of these occurring in elderly patients with concomitant osteoporosis. In young patients, the mainstay treatment for displaced tibial plateau fracture is open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). However, in elderly patients with periarticular fracture, the combination of poor bone quality, metaphyseal bone comminution, and friable soft tissue envelope creates unique challenges to traditional ORIF. Aim of the Work To evaluate the perioperative complication rates and clinical outcomes in patients following TKA for primary treatment of tibial plateau fracture and to establish whether TKA can be considered a reliable primary treatment option in selected individuals. Patients and Methods The present systematic review will be performed in accordance with the preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search for all level I–IV evidence published articles using the online databases MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed will be performed. The purpose of this search is to identify all eligible studies featuring perioperative complications or clinical outcomes in patients following TKA for primary treatment of tibial plateau fracture. Results The immediate management of acute tibial plateau fracture in elderly patients continues to be controversial. Although there is emerging evidence showing positive results for primary TKA for tibial plateau fracture, it is paramount to appreciate that performing TKA in the context of acute tibial plateau fracture is not a straightforward attempt. Many of these patients have notable loss of the articular surface, which disrupts normal anatomic references, and compromised soft tissue due to possible coexisting ligamentous injury. Conclusion Total knee arthroplasty for treatment of acute tibial plateau fracture is an enticing alternative to ORIF to allow early weight bearing, especially in elderly patients with poor bone quality and a friable soft tissue envelope. Our systematic review shows that functional scores are only average.

Poster 150: Subscapularis CT Evaluation in Patients following Treatment for Proximal Humerus Fractures: Reverse versus Anatomical Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

Objectives: Hemiarthroplasty (HA) and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) are both reliable treatment options for complex proximal humerus fractures. While the role of the subscapularis tendon is well defined in HA, its role in RTSA has not been clearly demonstrated. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the role of the subscapularis tendon in patients treated with HA and RTSA and investigate its association with clinical outcomes. Methods: Sixty-eight consecutive patients with proximal humeral fractures were prospectively enrolled in the study between June 2015 and May 2020 (RTSA = 36; HA = 32). Shoulder CT scans were performed pre- and postoperatively, and subscapularis muscle cross-sectional area (SMCSA) and supraspinatus fossa cross-sectional area (SFCSA) were measured. SMCSA/SFCSA ratio was employed to standardize values. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and range of motion (ROM) were evaluated at the final follow-up. Results: RTSA group demonstrated higher PROs compared to HA patients: Constant Score (p = .0001), Quick Dash (p = .0006), Simple Shoulder Test (p = .01). ROM was better in RTSA than HA: internal rotation (p = .0047 adduction and p = .026 abduction), external rotation (p = .001 adduction and p = .026 abduction) and forward flexion (p < .0001). Reduction of subscapularis size of >35% occurred in 20 RTSA and 8 HA (p = 0.01). The loss of subscapularis surface was greater in the RTSA patients (p = 0.018). Conclusions: RTSA demonstrated better results compared to HA, providing better PROs and ROM. Postoperative reduction in subscapularis size was significantly higher in RTSA compared to HA. Subscapularis condition demonstrated no correlation with functional outcomes in RTSA.

New insights into the effects of Nd on low-temperature hydrothermal stability of deNOx Cu/SAPO-34 catalysts: A comparative evaluation of the mechanism

Designing a highly efficient and cost-effective deNOx catalyst for curbing NOx emission in diesel vehicle exhaust is highly desired but challenging. Herin, a Nd-promoted Cu/SAPO-34 (Cu/Nd-S) catalyst with superior NOx reduction efficiency and low-temperature hydrothermal stability was proposed. The NOx conversion of fresh Cu/Nd-S-F at 200 °C was improved to 86.1 % compared to fresh Cu/S-F (78.1 %). XRD and H2-TPR results revealed that Nd3+ ions filled the defect sites of zeolites and combined with P species to form NdPO4, thus stabilizing the zeolite framework and maintaining the stability of active copper species. The interaction between Nd3+ ions and Cu2+ ions protected the active copper species (Cu2+-2Z and [Cu(OH)]+-Z) from the attack of low-temperature (70 °C) moisture. However, Cu/SAPO-34 suffered from the rapid and irreversible deterioration under 70 °C of water bath, leading to the loss of surface Brønsted acid sites (Al-(OH)-Si) and isolated Cu2+ ions, so aged Cu/S-70 exhibited inferior NOx conversion. Meanwhile, in situ DRIFTS transient experiments elaborated that the NH3-SCR reaction over Cu/SAPO-34 and Cu/Nd-SAPO-34 catalysts obeyed the E-R and L-H routes simultaneously. To be noted, the Nd-doping engineering afforded a promising strategy for boosting the low-temperature hydrothermal stability of Cu/SAPO-34 catalysts for the practical application of NOx removal.

The 3D-Printed Custom Elbow Prosthesis for Salvage Treatment of Complex Intra-Articular Distal Humerus Fracture Malunion

Intra-articular fractures of the distal humerus are complex injuries that often require surgery with the goal of restoring elbow range-of-motion and function. Open reduction and internal fixation has been the preferred surgical modality; however, restoration of the medial and/or lateral columns can be complicated in fractures involving a major loss of the articular surface and bony structure. Over the past decade, 3-dimensional (3D) printing has made significant advances in the field of orthopedic surgery, specifically in guiding surgeon preoperative planning. Recently, the incorporation of 3D-printing has proven to provide a safe and reliable construct for the restoration of anatomy in complex trauma cases. We present a 47-year-old woman who sustained a complex, intra-articular distal humerus fracture with associated shearing of the capitellum that went onto malunion. Patient was treated with a patient-specific 3D-printed custom elbow prosthesis with excellent outcomes. Our goal was to shed light on the use of 3D-printing technology as a viable salvage option in treating complex, intra-articular distal humeral fractures associated with lateral condylar damage that subsequently went onto malunion.

Surface Chemistry Modulation of BaGd0.8La0.2Co2O6-δ As Active Air Electrode for Solid Oxide Cells.

Modulation of the surface chemistry of air electrodes makes it possible to significantly improve the electrocatalytic performance of solid oxide cells (SOCs). Here, the surface chemistry of BaGd0.8La0.2Co2O6-δ (BGLC) double perovskite is modulated by treatment in an acidic citric acid solution. The treatment leads to corrosion on the surface of BGLC particles, and the effect is dependent on the acidity of the solution. As the acidity of solution is low, Ba cations are selectively dissolved out of the BGLC surface, while as the acidity increases, the corrosion becomes more homogeneous. The Ba surface deficiency remarkably increases the concentration of surface oxygen vacancies and electrocatalytic activity of BGLC. To avoid the loss of Ba-deficient surface during the conventional high temperature sintering process, a sintering-free fabrication route is utilized to directly assemble the Ba-deficient BGLC powder into an air electrode. A single cell with the surface Ba-deficient BGLC electrode shows a peak power density of 1.04 W cm-2 at 750 °C and an electrolysis current density of 1.48 A cm-2 at 1.3 V, much greater than 0.64 W cm-2 and 1.02 A cm-2 of the cell with the pristine BGLC, respectively. This work provides a simple and effective surface chemistry modulation strategy for the development of an efficient air electrode for SOCs.

Fluorescence lifetime imaging of AMPA receptor endocytosis in living neurons: effects of Aβ and PP1.

The relative amount of AMPA receptors expressed at the surface of neurons can be measured using superecliptic pHluorin (SEP) labeling at their N-terminus. However, the high signal variability resulting from protein overexpression in neurons and the low signal observed in intracellular vesicles make quantitative characterization of receptor trafficking difficult. Here, we establish a real-time live-cell assay of AMPAR trafficking based on fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), which allows for simultaneous visualization of both surface and intracellular receptors. Using this assay, we found that elevating amyloid-beta (Aβ) levels leads to a strong increase in intracellular GluA1 and GluA2-containing receptors, indicating that Aβ triggers the endocytosis of these AMPARs. In APP/PS1 Alzheimer's disease model mouse neurons, FLIM revealed strikingly different AMPAR trafficking properties for GluA1- and GluA3-containing receptors, suggesting that chronic Aβ exposure triggered the loss of both surface and intracellular GluA3-containing receptors. Interestingly, overexpression of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) also resulted in GluA1 endocytosis as well as depressed synaptic transmission, confirming the important role of phosphorylation in regulating AMPAR trafficking. This new approach allows for the quantitative measurement of extracellular pH, small changes in receptor trafficking, as well as simultaneous measurement of surface and internalized AMPARs in living neurons, and could therefore be applied to several different studies in the future.

Interfacial alloying between expanded austenite and Ti(AlCu)N coating for enhanced cavitation erosion resistance

Duplex surface treatments, combining nitriding and PVD coatings, have been considered as potential solutions to enhance material cavitation erosion resistance. This study investigates 316 L stainless steels after active screen plasma nitriding (ASPN), Ti(AlCu)N coating and duplex-treatment (Duplex) for enhanced cavitation erosion resistance. We elucidate a ‘denitriding - nitriding’ alloying behavior in association with high-energy ion sputtering for the interface between the nitrided case and the Ti(AlCu)N coating in the duplex-treated 316 L surface. Comparing the cavitation erosion performance among ASPN, Ti(AlCu)N and Duplex, the lowest weight loss of the duplex-treated surface is attributable to the enhanced load-bearing capacity from the multilayer system and the strong coating adhesion (HF1) after metallurgical evolution at the interfacial zone.

A newly designed anatomical plate for the therapy of posterolateral tibial plateau fracture via a supra-fibular-head approach: a retrospective study.

The posterolateral tibial plateau fracture is a special type of intra-articular fracture, for which there is no simple, safe, and effective standardized procedure. In this paper, we evaluate the clinical efficacy and the advantages of the treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fracture by using our designed proximal lateral tibial rim plate for the posterolateral condyle of the tibial plateau via the space above the fibula head. Thirty-eight patients with posterolateral tibial plateau fractures from June 2018 to June 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. CT scans were used to classify the degree of injury in the included patients. All of them were fixed with reduction using an approach above the fibula head combined with a homemade anatomical plate. The regular postoperative review was performed to instruct functional knee exercises. Postoperative complications were observed and follow-up visits were performed to assess the functional outcome. A total of 38 patients with posterolateral tibial plateau fractures, 13 males and 25 females were included in the study. All patients were followed up for 13-26months, with a mean of 15.3months. There were no postoperative complications such as numbness of the limb, knee joint instability, etc. X-ray review showed that the fractures were all healed, and the healing time was 10-16weeks, with an average of 12.1weeks; none of the internal fixation loosening and loss of articular surface occurred during the follow-up period. At the last follow-up, according to the HSS knee function score criteria, the scores were 79-98, with an average of 91.3. The HSS score presented excellent in 34 cases (89%) and good in 4 cases (11%). The Rasmussen score was graded as excellent in 29 cases (76%) and good in 9 cases (24%). In conclusion, The treatment of posterolateral tibial plateau fractures by an approach above the fibula head has the advantages of simplicity and safety, small trauma, and no risk of vascular and nerve injuries, and the anatomical proximal lateral tibial rim plate can play a direct and effective supporting role for the bone fragments of the posterolateral condyle, and the combination of both of them has obvious advantages in the treatment of posterolateral condylar fracture of the tibial plateau, and it is a method worth borrowing and popularizing.

Radio-Frequency Conductivity Evaluation Method Based on Surface/Interface Scattering of Metallic Coatings

Developing non-destructive evaluation methods for the radio frequency (RF) conductivity of conductive coatings can accelerate the performance evaluation and development of wireless communication devices. By using a split-resonator cavity to compare 800 nm copper/graphite and 1000 nm copper/graphite, we found that the RF conductivity increased by 45.5% and 82.7%, respectively, from 15 GHz to 40 GHz (pure copper was −7.2%), indicating that the bulk materials analysis method is not suitable for coating materials. Combined with electromagnetic wave theory, we believe that the critical factor lies in the additional losses of the electromagnetic waves at the copper/graphite interface and substrate. Based on the skin depth theory, the concept of triple skin depth is proposed to calculate the power loss of copper/graphite at different frequencies, considering rough Peff (including the power loss of the rough surface, copper coatings, copper/graphite interface, and graphite) compared with smooth pure copper Pc. Combined with the relationship between RF conductivity and electromagnetic wave power loss, the conductivity of copper coatings σCu at different frequencies is obtained by analyzing the measured σeff. Compared with the roughness model, the calculation error decreased from 30% to below 7%. Our study provides a theoretical basis for the regulation of the RF conductivity of metal coatings at different frequencies.

Effect of radiotherapy on microhardness and surface morphology of pretreated primary teeth with silver diamine fluoride: an in vitro study

Abstract Background: Children with head and neck cancer undergo radiation therapy, which has proved to be a successful treatment option. One of the common side effect of radiation therapy has been radiation induced caries. This is not as a result of the decreased salivary flow, but rather as a result of the direct impacts of these harmful rays on the enamel of the teeth. Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is an effective remineralising agent for initial carious lesions and prevents demineralisation of the already deep carious agent. Various studies have also proved its effectiveness in improving the microhardness of the teeth. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether radiotherapy causes changes in the microhardness and surface morphology of enamel in primary teeth pretreated with SDF. Method: 22 primary teeth samples were divided into two groups with 11 samples in each group. The study group samples were pretreated with SDF and in the control group no pretreatment was done. Both groups were subjected to radiotherapy of 60 Gy radiation for a duration of 30 days. The samples were tested using the Vickers microhardness test and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis for surface morphological changes post radiotherapy. Results: It was found that there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) in mean microhardness values between the two groups. The mean microhardness of the SDF group (254.07 ± 35.84) was significantly higher that the control group (88.18 ± 6.79). SEM image of enamel of control teeth displayed loss of smooth homogeneous surface and more amorphous structures were seen which was very evident in comparison to the SDF group. Conclusion: Following radiation therapy, SDF application led to greater microhardness of the enamel surface and less morphological alteration in the surface enamel of primary teeth.

Effect of Geometry and Size of Fiber Reinforced Plastic Deck Profile on Behavior of Bridges

Due to the important role that bridges play in rescue operations after an earthquake, it is necessary that these structures have a higher level of protection against seismic attacks. Earthquake identifies the weak points of the structure and causes the most damage there. Bridges are very vulnerable to these attacks due to their low degree of uncertainty. All bridges built before 1971 were designed with the elastic design method (permissible stress). In this method, the effects of plasticity, section cracking, and plastic deformation are not taken into account. The change of seismic locations based on the principles of elastic design is much less. It is because the structure experiences in a real earthquake, one of the consequences of which is the falling of the decks due to the loss of the support surface. The decision to strengthen the bridge was made when there were many bending and shear cracks on the king beams. The bridge was created. The use of FRP profiles can significantly prevent the damage caused by corrosion and is a good alternative to the traditional methods of strengthening the structure. In this study, a design for the deck of a steel bridge with I beams is presented. The shape of reinforcement using FRP fibers with vinyl ester resins has also been investigated, the effect of the geometry of FRP profiles has been investigated. The presented specifications are optimized to obtain a lasting shape and section, especially for the pultrusion process. FRP materials are light, resistant to corrosion and have high tensile strength. These materials come in different forms and range from multi-layer factory sheets to dry sheets that can be twisted on various structural forms before adding resin, is available. The durability and high tensile strength of FRP materials are among the advantages of these materials. The durability and long-term performance of FRP requires more research, which is ongoing and continues.

Experimental Investigation on the Influence of Strength Grade on the Surface Fractal Dimension of Concrete under Sulfuric Acid Attack

The corrosion of alkaline concrete materials exposed to a sulfuric acid environment is becoming more and more prevalent, and its damage assessment is becoming more and more imperative. This study aims to describe the corroded surfaces of concrete with different strength grades (C30, C50, C80) in sulfuric acid environments in terms of their three-dimensional fractal dimension. Three kinds of concrete with varying strength grades, namely C30, C50, and C80, were immersed in a sulfuric acid solution with pH ≈ 0.85 for four distinct corrosion durations, specifically 0, 28, 56, and 165 days, in accelerated corrosion tests. The 3D laser scanning technique was utilized to capture the 3D coordinates of the surface points of the concrete cylinder before and after corrosion. The fractal dimension of concrete’s uneven surface before and after corrosion was computed via the cube covering method, and the mass loss of the concrete specimen was also obtained. The outcomes demonstrate that the three-dimensional fractal dimension provides a new method for characterizing the degree of corrosion deterioration of concrete samples affected by sulfuric acid via laser scanning technology. From the perspective of the appearance, mass loss, and fractal dimension of a rough surface in the sulfuric acid environment at a pH level of approximately 0.85, the degree of the corrosion deterioration of concrete is ranked from high to low as C80 > C50 > C30. These fractal dimensions of the concrete’s corroded surfaces with various strength grades increase rapidly in the initial period. However, as the corrosion time progresses, the growth rate of the corroded surface fractal dimension gradually decelerates and tends towards stability, which accords with the law of exponential function. The widespread belief is that the higher the strength grade of concrete, the better its durability; however, this pattern varies in sulfuric acid corrosive environments. Therefore, based on this research, it is recommended that in extremely acidic environments (i.e., very low pH), more attention should be paid to high-strength grades of concrete.

Influence of Active Flow Control of Synthetic Jet at Suction Surface on the Performance of a Subsonic Axial Compressor Rotor

In order to investigate the effect of a synthetic jet arranged at the suction surface on the aerodynamic performance of an axial flow compressor, a high-speed subsonic axial flow compressor rotor was numerically simulated in this paper. The results showed that after being excited by the synthetic jet, the flow margin of the compressor decreased by 1.3%, but the peak efficiency increased by 0.47%. After analyzing the internal flow field, it was found that although the alternating blowing and suction effect of the synthetic jet can reduce the separation loss of the suction surface, the radial velocity of the flow is higher when stimulated and converges towards the blade tip, resulting in more severe blockage at the blade tip than in the prototype compressor, leading to a slight decrease in stability margin. To balance the stability margin of the compressor, a coupled flow control numerical simulation combining passive control of the casing treatment and active control of the suction surface synthetic jet was subsequently carried out. The results showed that the coupled flow control could exert their respective advantages, resulting in an increase of 17.84% in the compressor flow margin and a decrease of only 0.2% in peak efficiency.

Main Nuclear Responses of the DEMO Tokamak with Different In-Vessel Component Configurations

Research and development of the DEMOnstration power plant (DEMO) breeder blanket (BB) has been performed in recent years based on a predefined DEMO tritium breeding ratio (TBR) requirement, which determines a loss of wall surface due to non-breeding in-vessel components (IVCs) which consume plasma-facing wall surface and do not contribute to the breeding of tritium. The integration of different IVCs, such as plasma limiters, neutral beam injectors, electron cyclotron launchers and diagnostic systems, requires cut-outs in the BB, resulting in a loss of the breeder blanket volume, TBR and power generation, respectively. The neutronic analyses presented here have the goal of providing an assessment of the TBR losses associated with each IVC. Previously performed studies on this topic were carried out with simplified, homogenized BB geometry models. To address the effect of the detailed heterogeneous structure of the BBs on the TBR losses due to the inclusion of the IVCs in the tokamak, a series of blanket geometry models were developed for integration in the latest DEMO base model. The assessment was performed for both types of BBs currently developed within the EUROfusion project, the helium-cooled pebble bed (HCPB) and water-cooled lead–lithium (WCLL) concepts, and for the water-cooled lead and ceramic breeder (WLCB) hybrid BB concept. The neutronic simulations were performed using the MCNP6.2 Monte Carlo code with the Joint Evaluated Fission and Fusion File (JEFF) 3.3 data library. For each BB concept, a 22.5° toroidal sector of the DEMO tokamak was developed to assess the TBR and nuclear power generation in the breeder blankets. For the geometry models with the breeder blanket space filled only with blankets without considering IVCs, the results of the TBR calculations were 1.173, 1.150 and 1.140 for the HCPB, WCLL and WLCB BB concepts, respectively. The TBR impact of all IVCs and the losses of the power generation were estimated as a superposition of the individual effects.

Numerical study on the churning power loss of spiral bevel gears at splash lubrication system

AbstractIn order to predict the spiral bevel gear churning power loss, based on the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method, the computational model for the splash lubrication of the spiral bevel gear pair is established and validated by experiments. The churning power loss of spiral bevel gears is obtained and the corresponding flow field distribution in the gearbox with a pair of spiral bevel gears is analysed under a standard operating condition. For the churning power loss of spiral bevel gears, the loss of teeth surface is mainly caused by pressure while the loss of gear side is mainly generated by the viscous force. The effects of the gear rotational speed, oil level, oil temperature and oil shroud on the churning loss are also investigated and analysed. Ultimately, an optimisation method is proposed for the original spiral bevel geared transmission.

DETECTION OF STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS AND DAMAGES BY OBSERVATIONAL INSPECTIONS IN "CUMBA" AND "KABALTI" IN DIYARBAKIR

Suriçi Region in Diyarbakır is the part of the city surrounded by historical walls and home to many historical and traditional buildings. Keeping the architectural elements that make up the traditional texture of the region alive is important in terms of preserving the historical texture. Aim: This study was conducted to identify and evaluate the structural problems and damages in the current state of the ‘‘cumba’’ and ‘‘kabaltı’’, which are traditional architectural elements that have survived to the present day in the Suriçi Region. Method: In the study, some extant ‘‘cumba’’ and "kabaltı" were examined on site and field work was carried out. Structural problems and damages in the buildings were detected observationally. Detected damages are grouped under the following headings: damages caused by natural conditions such as temperature change or humidity, damages caused by material losses, and damages caused by user error. Problems and damages in the buildings examined during the field study were documented with photographs. Results: It was observed that the existing damages were concentrated in the stone and wooden materials used. Color change, surface distortion and deflection damage caused by climatic effects were detected. Loss of surface and binding mortar in stone material; in the wooden material, crusting, rotting and superficial crack damage occurred. Non-specific interventions in carrier systems have caused user-related damage. Conclusion: The ‘‘cumba’’ and ‘‘kabaltı’’, which are aesthetic parts of traditional city architecture, are architectural elements that should be protected. In this study, the structural problems and damages detected are included in the table created to contribute to the precautions to be taken, restoration applications or zoning regulations in the context of urban texture of these buildings, whose current condition and damages were determined by observational detection method.

Thermoplastic road markings – Description and microplastic pollution estimate in Sweden

Road markings were sometimes reported as meaningful contributors to microplastic pollution. To estimate their wear, 126 pedestrian crossings, which constitute the worst-case scenario because all passing vehicles encroach on them, were analysed for luminance loss as an indicator of complete abrasion. The assessment was done in Sweden, where thermoplastic road marking materials prevail – unique because they can be made with polymeric or non-polymeric binders. Average loss of marked surface was 19.1%; hence, after adjusting for lower abrasion at longitudinal lines, the annual contribution of road markings to microplastic pollution in Sweden should not exceed 60 t (assuming the exclusive use of non-polymeric binders) or up to 231 t (assuming all non-volatile organics being potential microplastics), corresponding to 5.7−‍22.0 g/person/year. The outcome of this study should be utilised by environmental scientists assigning sources of pollution and should be useful for regulators and road administrators to promote the most environmentally friendly road markings.

Factors Limiting Shelf Life of a Tomato-Oil Homogenate (Salmorejo) Pasteurised via Conventional and Radiofrequency Continuous Heating and Packed in Polyethylene Bottles.

Salmorejo is a tomato-oil cold puree commercialized as a "fresh-like" product requiring mild pasteurisation and chill storage to reach a suitable shelf lifetime. The objective of this study was to study the factors which limit the shelf life of salmorejo pasteurised via conventional or radiofrequency continuous heating, packed in high-density polyethylene bottles, and kept at refrigeration. The pasteurised-chilled salmorejo reached a long shelf life (4 months) compared to that of pasteurised tomato juices or purees. Mesophilic and pathogenic bacteria were easily inhibited in this acidic product. Salmorejo mainly showed oxidative and subsequent sensory changes. Initial enzyme oxidation was associated with some adverse effects (loss of vitamin C and lipid oxidation) at the first month, although there were no sensory implications. Salmorejo remained stable at the physicochemical and sensory levels for the following 3 months, though colour and viscosity changes could be measured with instruments. Between the fourth and fifth month, salmorejo showed clear signs of deterioration, including changes in appearance (slight browning and loss of smooth surface), odour/flavour (loss of freshness and homogenisation), and consistency (thinning trend). The shelf life of salmorejo is limited by long-term oxidative deterioration and their sensory implications.