Lower Thickness Research Articles

Development of porous ceramic moulds for hot slumping of astronomical glass mirror substrates

The key goal of this project was to develop a porous ceramic that could be used as a mould material for the heat bending of glass. Heat–bent —- slumped —- glass has a wide range of uses, from miniature lenses for smartphone cameras or elegantly shaped touch displays to precisely shaped mirrors. The project PräBieD (Präzisionsbiegen von Dünnglas, “precise bending of thin glass”) brought together different stakeholders from the fields of science and industry. The outcome of their cooperation was an exemplary mould for shaping glass segments for the experimental Wolter I X-ray telescope. Compared, for example, to nickel (XMM) or Zerodur (Chandra), telescope segments of this kind could have a much lower weight and thickness, and therefore also a higher collecting area. The most important requirements in terms of the material are a coefficient of thermal expansion close to that of the glass so as not to disturb the required shape during the hot slumping process, chemical and heat stability to prevent mirror contamination by outgassing during slumping, no adhesivity between the glass and the mould, porosity so that glass bending can be supported by pumping through the mould’s surface, and the possibility to machine the surface with sufficient accuracy. This paper briefly describes the process of manufacturing ceramics and the features of the material developed as they are revealed during its evolution.

Full-scale experimental study on the smoke descent and stratification in a two-storey building with varying ventilation conditions

This paper presents a full-scale experimental research on the smoke descent and stratification in a two-storey residential building under the coupling influences of vertical connection channels and ventilation conditions. The two floors were connected by one atrium and one stair, and the fire source was located on the second floor. Wood crib and gasoline were selected as representative fuels to reflect typical residential fire scenarios, with heat release rates of 82kW and 140kW, respectively. The states of the building openings were varied to simulate different ventilation conditions. Results showed that the smoke tended to spread in the ridge direction due to the structural limitations of slope roofs. The temperature distribution in both the ridge and slope directions was obtained. A special “three-zone” smoke stratification structure including upper smoke layer, intermediate air layer and lower smoke layer is observed, which is significantly different from the well-known “two-zone” model. The “three-zone” stratification resulted in a nonmonotonic vertical temperature distribution in the atrium. The lower smoke layer thickness Zl,g was found to be greatly affected by ventilation conditions. Based on the boundary layer theories and the law of energy conservation, a series of expressions were established to calculate Zl,g and intermediate air layer thickness δw, which are the key parameters of the “three-zone” stratification. The theoretical calculations matched the experimental data well and explained the sharp trends of δw and Zl,g under different ventilation conditions. This study can provide theoretical guidance about fire detection, smoke exhaust and people evacuation in residential buildings.

Highly sensitivity and wide-range flexible humidity sensor based on LiCl/cellulose nanofiber membrane by one-step electrospinning

Cellulose is considered an ideal material for flexible electronic humidity sensors due to its green renewable nature, rich surface groups and strong hydrophilicity. However, the traditional cellulose-based humidity sensor cannot simultaneously have wide detection range, high sensitivity and fast response time, which seriously hinder their development and application. Here, an ultrathin Lithium chloride (LiCl)/cellulose nanofiber membrane as moisture sensitive materials was prepared by one-step electrospinning and used to assemble a high-performance humidity sensor. N, N-Dimethylacetamide/Lithium chloride (DMAc/LiCl) solvent system was used to dissolve the cellulose, and DMAc volatilized into the air while LiCl remained in the cellulose nanofibers during the electrospinning process. LiCl as a highly moisture-sensitive inorganic salt has strong hydrophilicity and enhances the moisture sensing detection limit of cellulose fiber (especially under low humidity conditions), thus giving the cellulose moisture sensor excellent sensitivity (up to 4191 %) and a wide detection range (5–98 % RH). The nanometer size of cellulose fibers, the extremely low thickness and large pores of cellulose membranes accelerate the mass exchange of moisture between the air and the membrane, thus giving cellulose humidity sensor a fast response/recovery time (99/110 s) and low hysteresis (2.9 %). Moreover, the performances of humidity sensors didn’t degrade even after being subjected to long-term application (>30 days), high/low temperatures (73.6/0.1 ℃) and thousands of bending cycles. The proposed LiCl/cellulose nanofiber humidity sensor brings innovative solutions for the design of cellulose based sensor with great potential for use in non-contact humidity detection, respiratory monitoring and sleep apnea detection applications.

Plantar acral melanoma: epidemiological, clinical, dermoscopic and histopathological features. A Brazilian cohort

BackgroundAcral melanomas (AM) are rare and approximately two-thirds of them occur on the soles of the feet beeing more prevalent in black and Asian individuals. Data on this subtype of melanoma are scarce in the Brazilian population. ObjectivesTo describe and correlate the epidemiological, clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathological features of AM a. MethodsSingle-center, retrospective and cross-sectional study, evaluating data from a 15-year period. ResultsA total of 48 cases were included. Mean age was 62.54 years, with a predominance of women (62.5%). The percentage of amelanotic melanomas was higher among lighter skin patients (20% × 7.7%). Polychromia was the most prevalent finding (94.4%). The parallel ridge pattern (PRP) had a prevalence of 78% and a serrated pattern was associated with lower Breslow thickness (p = 0.041). Ulceration present on histopathological (p = 0.013) or dermoscopic (p = 0.047) evaluation was associated with greater Breslow thickness. Study limitationsRetrospective study with loss of data. ConclusionAmelanotic tumors were more prevalent in ligther phototypes (20% × 7.7%). Polychromia was the most prevalent finding (94.4%) and ulceration observed on clinical or histopathological evaluation was associated with higher Breslow thickness (p = 0.013 and 0.047).

The Impact of Active Ascertainment on Sex-Specific Differences in the Prevalence and Phenotype of Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis: The SCAN-MP Study

Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) is disproportionately diagnosed in older adult men. However, studies suggest that the true prevalence of ATTR-CA in women may be higher than previously reported. The Screening for Cardiac Amyloidosis with Nuclear Imaging in Minority Populations (SCAN-MP) study utilizes nuclear scintigraphy to identify ATTR-CA in self-identified Black and Caribbean Hispanic participants ≥60 years old with heart failure and left-ventricular hypertrophy. We characterized the sex distribution and phenotypic characteristics of ATTR-CA in this active ascertainment cohort in comparison to a population of ATTR-CA patients who were referred to a tertiary care academic center outpatient clinic. Compared to the referral clinic cohort, the active ascertainment SCAN-MP cohort had a greater proportion of women (31.3% vs 13.3%, p=0.016). This was mainly attributed to the higher proportion of women with wild-type disease [ATTRwt-CA] (27.8% vs 7.1%, p=0.012). Women with ATTR-CA in the active ascertainment cohort exhibited higher left ventricular ejection fraction than those in the referral cohort (61% vs 50%, p = 0.011); lower left ventricular mass index (110 g/m2 vs 148 g/m2, p = 0.014); and lower posterior wall thickness (1.4 cm vs 1.6 cm, p = 0.01). An active ascertainment strategy for ATTR-CA identification demonstrated a greater proportion of women than did a referral cohort, driven predominantly by the greater proportion of women with ATTRwt-CA, and echocardiographic evidence of a less severe phenotype. In conclusion, efforts for early identification of ATTR-CA in women are critical for reducing sex disparities in this clinically treatable disease.

Complement component 3 promotes regeneration of olfactory receptor neurons

Olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) in the olfactory epithelium are characterized by high regenerative capacity even after birth, but the molecular mechanisms involved in ORN regeneration remain unclear. Complement component 3 (C3) has been shown to promote tissue regeneration, so we hypothesized that C3 activates innate immunity and also promotes regeneration of ORNs. Here, we investigate the role of C3 in ORN regeneration. We used C3 knockout (KO) and wild-type C57BL/6J mice in this study to examine the olfactory regeneration process for 42 days after methimazole-induced olfactory disorder. To compare the regenerative process after ORN damage between C3 KO and wild-type mice, we conducted olfactory behavioral tests and immunohistological analysis and examined growth factors and inflammatory cell induction. C3 KO mice showed delayed olfactory recovery with lower olfactory epithelial thickness. In C3 KO mice, ORN maturation was delayed in association with increased accumulation of immature ORNs. In the normal ORN regeneration process, undesirable immature ORNs are produced and eliminated by apoptosis. C3 deficiency reduced neutrophils induced during ORN regeneration, suggesting the involvement of C3 in ORN regeneration through neutrophil-dependent elimination of undesired ORNs. C3 is therefore suggested to have promoted ORN regeneration by preventing the accumulation of immature ORNs. In addition, C3 may assist ORN maturation by participating in ORN axon selection like synaptic pruning. Our results indicate that C3, which is activated during pathogen infection, also promotes recovery from ORN damage. These findings may lead to new therapeutic strategies for olfactory disorder.

The impact of skinfold thickness and exercise intensity on the reliability of NIRS in the vastus lateralis.

The aims of this study were (1) to assess the test-retest reliability of the primary near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) variables (i.e., StO2, T[Hb], [HbO2] and [HHb]) during cycling and (2) to investigate potential influences of exercise intensity and adipose tissue thickness (ATT) on this reliability. 21 men and 20 women completed twelve constant work rate tests (6min) at six different exercise intensities with each intensity performed twice. NIRS variables were measured at the vastus lateralis. The coefficient of variance (CV%), the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), mean bias and limits of agreement (LoA) were determined for reliability purposes. The reliability of baseline values were acceptable to very good (CV% range: 5.83 - 21.96%). The reliability of end-values (CV% range: 0.02 - 25.02%, ICC range: 0.0 - 0.935) and amplitudes (CV% range: 0.46 - 5099%, ICC range: 0.0 - 0.887) were more variable. In general, the mean biases of end-values and amplitudes showed wide limits of agreement. A homogeneous influence of exercise intensity on reliability could not be established but reliability measures appeared to be lower in people with a lower skinfold thickness. Moreover, the NIRS signals decreased with increasing ATT but stabilized upon reaching a cut-off of 8mm ATT. In addition, ATT did have a significant influence on [HHb] amplitude. In participants with ATT < 8mm, higher amplitudes were observed with increasing intensity whereas in participants with ATT > 8mm, there were no differences between the intensities. The study reveals variable results with regards to reliability and there was no consistent influence of exercise intensity on reliability. Participants with a lower skinfold thickness showed stronger reliability. Moreover, NIRS signals decrease when ATT exceeds 8mm. Careful consideration is necessary when interpreting NIRS signals in such cases.

Novel approach to bone comorbidity in resistant acromegaly.

Active acromegaly may lead to irreversible complications. Among them, acromegaly osteopathy and fragility (vertebral and hip) fractures have emerged as frequent and precocious events in the natural history of the disease, being correlated with longer disease duration and higher growth hormone (GH) levels, accounting for patients' reported poor quality of life, physical performance and other life-impacting complications. Differently from primary osteoporosis, bone mineral density is not a reliable tool to predict fracture risk in this clinical setting, as patients with active disease frequently have normal or slightly reduced bone mass; whereas bone quality is particularly compromised, as determined by low trabecular bone score (TBS) in patients with active disease as compared to healthy controls or patients with cured/controlled disease. The evidence of impaired bone microstructure has been profoundly investigated with different computed tomography (CT) techniques, reporting low trabecular number and thickness as well as wide but more porous cortical bone, providing an explanation for such a high prevalence of vertebral fractures (up to 40-50% in selected cohorts). Since data on bone-active drugs are scanty, disease control remains a cornerstone to prevent fractures. Nonetheless, some potential protective effects may derive from vitamin D supplementation and pasireotide therapies, independently from disease status. Aim of this manuscript is to review the current and emerging evidence on skeletal fragility in patients with active and resistant acromegaly.

Tunable magnetic properties and microwave absorbing properties of (Nd1-xYx)2Fe17N3-δ

Magnetic microwave absorbing materials of rare earth-transition metal (R-T) intermetallic compounds have the advantage of high absorbing performance, low matching thickness, and rich tunability. In this work, we report the magnetic and microwave absorbing properties of R-T intermetallic compounds (Nd1-xYx)2Fe17N3-δ (x = 0 ∼ 1). The crystalline structure of these compounds transitions from Th2Zn17-type rhombohedral (for x < 0.6) to Th2Ni17-type hexagonal (for x > 0.8) as the composition varies, attributed to the reduction in lattice volume. The saturation magnetization (Ms) of the (Nd1-xYx)2Fe17N3-δ remains almost unchanged as x changes. However, the out-of-plane anisotropy field decreases significantly from 111kOe to 25kOe while x increases. The high-frequency magnetic permeability of the material is also significantly elevated and thus leads to a significant enhancement in microwave absorbing performance. A 5.8 GHz maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EAB, RL < -10 dB) could be achieved within a thickness of only 1.1 mm for Y2Fe17N3-δ(x = 1)/paraffin composite primarily due to its heavy magnetic loss. Furthermore, the minimum reflection loss (RL) reaches −49 dB at 6.6 GHz with a thickness of 2.2 mm. The tunable magnetic properties and excellent microwave absorbing performances of (Nd1-xYx)2Fe17N3-δ make it a strong contender for applications in high-performance microwave absorbing materials.

Influence of graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide on TiO2-reinforced flexible poly(vinyl alcohol) films for electromagnetic interference shielding

This study evaluates the impact of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) on the structural characteristics and electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films containing titanium dioxide (TiO₂). The composite films were prepared by solution casting, and their structural properties were analyzed through FTIR, electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. EMI SE was evaluated as a function of GO and rGO concentrations. Spectroscopic data indicated that TiO₂ and GO interact with PVA primarily through hydrogen bonding. The inclusion of TiO₂ increased the crystallinity of the films, although its interaction with PVA was not uniform. In composites containing GO, TiO₂ exhibited enhanced affinity for the polymer matrix due to the hydrophilic nature of both components. As a result, GO influenced the action of TiO₂ in the composite, leading to EMI SE values of 3.27 dB/mm in the X-band and 7.28 dB/mm at 9.3 GHz. The addition of rGO led to reduced interaction with TiO₂ due to a lower content of oxygen-containing groups, with the higher electrical conductivity of rGO being the most prominent effect observed. rGO demonstrated a competitive effect at 1 % filler and a synergistic effect at 4 % filler, with EMI SE values at 9.9 GHz increasing to 31.34 dB/mm and 55.80 dB/mm, respectively. This study shows that GO/TiO₂/PVA and rGO/TiO₂/PVA composite films exhibit promising EMI shielding properties. The different interactions between GO and rGO with TiO₂ and PVA result in distinct EMI SE mechanisms, with rGO showing superior performance. Combined with excellent mechanical flexibility and relatively low thickness, these data highlight the potential of these composite films for EMI shielding applications.

ALPK3 heterozygous truncating variants cause late-onset hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with frequent apical involvement and apical aneurysm.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder with several established genotype-phenotype relationships. While biallelic truncating variants in the ALPK3 gene cause severe congenital HCM, recent studies have associated heterozygous truncating variants (ALPK3tv) with milder adult-onset HCM. Here we describe a multicenter cohort of 21 individuals with heterozygous ALPK3tv from 10 institutions in the United States, highlighting distinctive clinical characteristics compared to a control group of 132 patients with HCM caused by deleterious variants in sarcomeric genes. As compared to other HCM genotypes, ALPK3tv patients present at an older age (mean 57.25 years) with significantly lower left ventricular wall thickness (14.09 vs 19.78 mm with echocardiogram and 16.13 vs 21.13 mm with cardiac MRI), a lower prevalence of obstructive HCM (15% of ALPK3tv vs 45% of controls), and a strikingly higher incidence of apical aneurysm (22.22% vs. 2.40% in the control group). These results suggest a milder degree of hypertrophy in heterozygous ALPK3-related HCM as compared to other Mendelian causes of HCM, although the increased occurrence of apical aneurysms could have implications for ventricular arrhythmia risk. Our study underscores the importance of recognizing heterozygous ALPK3tv as a cause of adult-onset HCM and provides a comprehensive characterization of its clinical phenotype.

Visual acuity in the context of retinal neuroaxonal loss in people with epilepsy

Recent studies reported a significant retinal neuroaxonal loss in people with epilepsy (PWE). However, the impact of these structural alterations on visual function, i.e., visual acuity is yet unknown. In this prospective cohort study, 70 PWE and 76 healthy controls (HC), all aged 18-55 years, underwent an assessment of visual acuity with 100 % high contrast (HCVA) and 2.5 % low contrast (LCVA) Sloan letter charts. Thickness of the global peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (G-pRNFL) and volume of the ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GCIP) were assessed with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). For the statistical analyses, the epilepsy group was subdivided into PWE with sodium channel blocking (SCB)-drug intake (n = 52) and PWE without SCB-drug intake (n = 18), since an effect of SCB-drugs on visual perception has been reported previously. The overall PWE cohort presented significantly lower structural retinal measures, i.e., G-pRNFL thickness (97.57 ± 9.06 µm) and GCIP volume (1.99 ± 0.13 mm3) than HC (101.31 ± 8.28 µm, p = .01; 2.10 ± 0.15 mm3, p < .001). Subgroup analyses revealed that PWE who were treated with SCB-drugs had a significantly reduced G-pRNFL thickness (96.61 ± 9.70 µm, p = .01) and GCIP volume (1.98 ± 0.14mm3, p < .001) compared to HC, while PWE without SCB-drugs (100.36 ± 6.32 µm, 2.01 ± 0.13 mm3) did not differ from HC or PWE with SCB-drugs. In visual acuity tests (HCVA and LCVA), the overall PWE cohort (52.28 ± 8.56; 31.71 ± 8.49) scored significantly lower than HC (56.57 ± 4.74, p = .001; 35.13 ± 5.50, p = .04). In subgroup analyses only PWE with SCB-drugs presented significantly lower HCVA (51.25 ± 9.35, p = .003) and LCVA (30.04 ± 8.93, p = .03) scores compared to HC, while visual acuity scores did not differ between PWE without SCB-drugs (55.25 ± 4.75, 36.53 ± 4.50) and HC. PWE with SCB-drugs had significantly lower LCVA scores than PWE without SCB-drugs (p = .03). Importantly, no association was found between visual acuity scores and structural parameters, neither in the overall sample, nor in any of the subgroups. Retinal neuroaxonal loss in PWE was not associated with reduced visual acuity under high and low contrast. Instead, our findings reinforce SCB-drug intake as an important factor for reduced visual acuity under high and low contrast.

Production of Ultrathin and High-Quality Nanosheet Networks via Layer-by-Layer Assembly at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces.

Solution-processable 2D materials are promising candidates for a range of printed electronics applications. Yet maximizing their potential requires solution-phase processing of nanosheets into high-quality networks with carrier mobility (μNet) as close as possible to that of individual nanosheets (μNS). In practice, the presence of internanosheet junctions generally limits electronic conduction, such that the ratio of junction resistance (RJ) to nanosheet resistance (RNS), determines the network mobility via μNS/μNet ≈ RJ/RNS + 1. Hence, achieving RJ/RNS < 1 is a crucial step for implementation of 2D materials in printed electronics applications. In this work, we utilize an advanced liquid-interface deposition process to maximize nanosheet alignment and network uniformity, thus reducing RJ. We demonstrate the approach using graphene and MoS2 as model materials, achieving low RJ/RNS values of 0.5 and 0.2, respectively. The resultant graphene networks show a high conductivity of σNet = 5 × 104 S/m while our semiconducting MoS2 networks demonstrate record mobility of μNet = 30 cm2/(V s), both at extremely low network thickness (tNet < 10 nm). Finally, we show that the deposition process is compatible with nonlayered quasi-2D materials such as silver nanosheets (AgNS), achieving network conductivity close to bulk silver for networks <100 nm-thick.

Abstract 4120583: Long term Safety and Efficacy of Ultrathin Bioabsorbable polymer sirolimus eluting Stents Versus Thin Durable polymer everolimus eluting Stents in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A systematic review and meta analysis

Background: First generation drug eluting stents (DES) with thick polymers may contribute to local vascular inflammation and late stent thrombosis. Thinner-strut DES (ultrathin), particularly those with biodegradable polymers, aim to reduce this risk by minimizing flow disturbance and vascular injury. However, the long-term safety and efficacy of ultrathin biodegradable polymer sirolimus eluting stents (BP-SES) compared to durable polymer everolimus eluting stents (DP-EES) are still uncertain. Thus, we performed a meta analysis to compare outcomes of these two stents. Methods: Inclusion criteria comprised randomized controlled trials comparing ultrathin BP SES and thin DP EES in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions with long term follow-up of at least 3 years. We excluded cohort studies, case reports, editorials, conference abstracts, and animal studies. Primary outcomes were target lesion failure (TLF), cardiac death (CD), target-vessel myocardial infarction (TV-MI), and clinically indicated target lesion revascularization (CI-TLR). We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Scopus. Cochrane’s ROB 2.0 tool assessed trial quality, and RevMan software (5.4) performed the meta-analysis. Results: Our analysis included ten RCTs, totaling 16,216 patients, with 9,108 in the BP SES group and 7,108 in the DP EES group. TLF occurred in 905 patients (9.94%) in the BP-SES group and 821 patients (11.55%) in the DP-EES group, with no statistically significant differences between the groups (RR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.85 to 1.01, p = 0.08). Additionally, there were no significant differences in cardiac death (RR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.84 to 1.19, p = 1.00), TV-MI (RR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.78 to 1.05, p = 0.19), and CI-TLR (RR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.78 to 1.01, p = 0.06) between the two groups. Conclusion: The use of BP-SES did not result in higher rates of TLF, CD, TV-MI, or CI-TLR compared to DP-DES. These findings suggest that both BP-SES and DP-DES are viable options for PCI procedures, with comparable long-term safety profiles. However, some trials used strut thicknesses exceeding 70µm in cases requiring wider diameters, similar to the strut thickness in the DP-EES group. This makes it challenging to assess whether, in addition to biodegradable polymers, lower strut thickness contributes to reducing target lesion-related events. Further research may be needed to explore other relevant outcomes and to confirm these findings in diverse patient populations.

Nickel-based alloy efficient milling with ceramic tool and experimental verification in closed impeller

Nickel-based alloys are a class of materials that possess exceptional properties, including superior corrosion, oxidation, and fatigue resistance. They are increasingly utilized in high-performance critical components, particularly in the fields of aerospace engines and gas turbines. Nickel-based alloys pose significant challenges during machining due to their high cutting forces and work hardening, leading to low machining efficiency, severe tool wear, and subpar surface quality of the machined parts. To address these challenges, an orthogonal cutting experiment was conducted on GH4061 alloy to evaluate the machining performance by using monolithic ceramic milling tools. The optimal cutting parameters combination for dry cutting of nickel-based alloys was determined. The surface quality was tested and analyzed, including surface micro structure, residual stress, and surface roughness. The machining experiment was conducted on GH4061 closed impeller. The results demonstrated that high-speed cutting was more effective than low-speed cutting in improving the surface quality of the machined part. In the rough processing, monolithic ceramic milling tools was used to quickly remove the excess material. The adhesive and diffusion effects mainly contributing to the wear of the monolithic ceramic tool in GH4061 milling. Average surface roughness 1.41 μm can be obtained through dry milling using a monolithic ceramic tool with cutting speed 602.88 m/min, cutting depth 0.3 mm, cutting width 6 mm and feed per tooth 0.03 mm/z, along with metal removal rate 5184 mm3/min. High cutting speed will resulting in relatively low residual stress in the surface layer as well as a lower thickness of the surface alternation layer. Finally, a physical GH4061 closed impeller was machined to verify the proposed milling method.

A comparison of isolated limb infusion/perfusion, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and intralesional therapy as first-line treatment for patients with melanoma in-transit metastases.

Isolated limb infusion and perfusion (ILI/ILP) has been a mainstay treatment for unresectable melanoma in-transit metastases (ITM), but increased use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and intralesional therapy (talimogene laherparepvec [TVEC]) introduced several different management options. This study compares first-line ILI/ILP, ICI, and TVEC. Retrospective review from 12 international institutions included patients treated from 1990 to 2022 with first-line ILI/ILP, ICI, or TVEC for unresectable melanoma ITM. A total of 551 patients were treated, with ILI/ILP (n=356), ICI (n=125), and TVEC (n=70) with median follow-up of 5.5 years. Tumor burden was highest with ILI/ILP and lowest with TVEC (p =.002). Breslow thickness was lowest with TVEC (p =.007). TVEC was mostly used in stage IIIB disease versus IIIC for ILI/ILP and ICI (p =.01). Using ICI as the reference category, TVEC had the highest odds of a complete response (CR) (odds ratio, 1.96; p =.029) and a longer local progression-free survival (PFS) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.40; p =.003). ILI/ILP had shorter local PFS (HR, 1.72; p =.012), PFS (HR, 1.79; p <.001), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) (HR, 1.75; p =.014), overall survival (HR, 1.82; p =.009), and melanoma-specific survival (HR, 2.29; p =.004). Stage IIIB disease had longer DMFS (HR, 0.24; p <.001) compared to IIIC/D. TVEC as first-line therapy for unresectable melanoma ITM was associated with superior CR rates and local PFS. Notably, TVEC was used in patients with a lower Breslow thickness, disease stage, and tumor burden. Therefore, when compared to ILI/ILP and ICI, TVEC should be considered as first-line therapy for unresectable stage IIIB melanoma ITM with minimal tumor burden and lower Breslow thickness.

Low thickness effect on the properties of Mn-doped ZnO thin films synthesized by sol-gel spin coating technique

In this study, 7% manganese-doped zinc oxide (MZO) thin films with varying low thicknesses were synthesized using the spin coating method. The structural, optical, and morphological properties of MZO films with different film thickness, were systematically investigated. The crystallite structure, superficial morphology, and optical characteristics were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis). Structural analysis confirmed that all films exhibit a hexagonal wurtzite phase with a pronounced peak along the c-axis, and slight variation in low thickness significantly affected the structural parameters. The surface morphology demonstrated good uniformity, characterized by rounded grain shapes in the plane, while surface roughness was found to be increased with increasing film thickness. Optical analysis revealed that as the number of coatings increased, both transmittance and band gap energy decreased, accompanied by a redshift in the absorption edge across all samples. This behavior is attributed to light scattering, as well as an increase in the refractive index and dielectric function with visible light energy, influenced by the number of layers and corresponding crystallite size.

Evaluation and Prediction of Mechanical Properties According to Welding Methods of Ni 825/A516-70N Clad Plates

In this study, the microstructures and mechanical properties of different methods of FCAW (Flux-cored arc welding) + FCAW or FCAW + GTAW (Gas tungsten arc welding) welding on Ni825/A516-70N clad plate were investigated, using a double U groove angle on a laboratory scale. The amount of specimen deformation with FCAW + FCAW welding was ~1.5 mm, and that with FCAW + GTAW welding was ~3.6 mm. In the Vickers hardness tests, the average hardness value of the FCAW + GTAW welding specimens tended to be higher, and the hardness of the steel showed the same value. Also, in the tensile tests, the maximum strength and elongation of the FCAW + GTAW specimens were found to be higher. The SEM analysis of the welding boundaries of each specimen revealed the phenomenon of grain refinement in the specimens with FCAW + GTAW welding. This was due to the slow welding speed of this welding process and the rapid cooling rate caused by the relatively low layer thickness despite the relatively high number of weld passes. The computer simulation of the amounts of deformation were similar, with a value of 1.5 mm for FCAW + FCAW and 3.6 mm for the computer simulation, indicating the credibility of the simulation. In the computational simulation of butt welding, FCAW + GTAW showed high values for both residual stress and angular strain. The L-seam and C-seam of the demo vessel size were welded under the same conditions as the actual welding. The residual stress and angular deformation in the L-seam were 849 MPa and 2.3 mm for the FCAW + FCAW and 852 MPa and 2.9 mm for FCAW + GTAW. The residual stress and angular deformation in the C-seam were 920 MPa and 0.7 mm for FCAW + FCAW and 930 MPa and 0.9 mm for FCAW + GTAW, respectively.

Experimental and numerical studies on corrosion-resistant aluminium foam sandwich panel subject to low-velocity impact

Aluminium foam sandwich panels (AFSPs) have a high impact resistance and are suitable for a wide range of engineering applications. To improve corrosion resistance, this paper proposes an anti-corrosion sandwich panel with stainless steel as the upper sheet. Drop hammer impact tests were performed on a total of ten AFSPs to investigate their dynamic response and failure patterns. To assess the deformation performance of AFSPs, a laser displacement meter was used to obtain the bottom centre displacement. The effects of the impact energy and the thickness of each component of AFSPs on the peak impact force and deformation performance were studied. Test results showed that the thickness of each component had notable effects on the impactor and bottom displacements. In addition, the effect of the unit mass of the components in AFSPs on decreasing the bottom displacement was discussed. Compared to increasing the aluminium foam and lower sheet thicknesses, increasing the upper sheet thickness was more effective in decreasing the bottom displacement. A finite element model of AFSPs was developed to conduct parameter analysis, indicating that impactors with larger diameters resulted in higher peak forces and reduced deformation of AFSPs.

Genetic risk factors underlying white matter hyperintensities and cortical atrophy

White matter hyperintensities index structural abnormalities in the cerebral white matter, including axonal damage. The latter may promote atrophy of the cerebral cortex, a key feature of dementia. Here, we report a study of 51,065 individuals from 10 cohorts demonstrating that higher white matter hyperintensity volume associates with lower cortical thickness. The meta-GWAS of white matter hyperintensities-associated cortical ‘atrophy’ identifies 20 genome-wide significant loci, and enrichment in genes specific to vascular cell types, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. White matter hyperintensities-associated cortical ‘atrophy’ showed positive genetic correlations with vascular-risk traits and plasma biomarkers of neurodegeneration, and negative genetic correlations with cognitive functioning. 15 of the 20 loci regulated the expression of 54 genes in the cerebral cortex that, together with their co-expressed genes, were enriched in biological processes of axonal cytoskeleton and intracellular transport. The white matter hyperintensities-cortical thickness associations were most pronounced in cortical regions with higher expression of genes specific to excitatory neurons with long-range axons traversing through the white matter. The meta-GWAS-based polygenic risk score predicts vascular and all-cause dementia in an independent sample of 500,348 individuals. Thus, the genetics of white matter hyperintensities-related cortical atrophy involves vascular and neuronal processes and increases dementia risk.