Severe Deformation Research Articles

Antimicrobial activity and nanoremediation of heavy metals using biosynthesized CS/GO/ZnO nanocomposite by Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 alone or immobilized in a macroporous cryogel

BackgroundThe world society is still suffering greatly from waterborne infections, with developing countries bearing most of the morbidity and death burden, especially concerning young children. Moreover, microbial resistance is one of the most prevalent global problems that extends the need for self-medication and the healing period, or it may be linked to treatment failure that results in further hospitalization, higher healthcare expenses, and higher mortality rates. Thus, innovative synthesis of new antimicrobial materials is required to preserve the environment and enhance human health.ResultsThe present study highlighted a simple and cost-effective approach to biosynthesize a chitosan/graphene oxide/zinc oxide nanocomposite (CS/GO/ZnO) alone and immobilized in a macroporous cryogel as a new antimicrobial agent. Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 was used as a safe and efficient bio-nano-factory during biosynthesis. The formation of CS/GO/ZnO was confirmed and characterized using different analyses including ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), selective area diffraction pattern (SADP), Zeta analyses, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). GO combined with ZnO NPs successfully and displayed an adsorption peak at 358 nm. The XRD results showed the crystalline composition of the loaded ZnO NPs on GO sheets. FTIR spectrum confirmed the presence of proteins during the synthesis which act as stabilizing and capping agents. The nanocomposite has a high negative surface charge (-32.8 ± 5.7 mV) which increases its stability. SEM and TEM showing the size of biosynthesized ZnO-NPs was in the range of 40–50 nm. The CS/GO/ZnO alone or immobilized in cryogel revealed good antimicrobial activities against B. cereus ATCC 14,579, Escherichia coli ATCC 25,922, and Candida albicans ATCC 10,231 in a dose-dependent manner. The CS/GO/ZnO cryogel revealed higher antimicrobial activity than GO/ZnO nanocomposite and standard antibiotics (amoxicillin and miconazole) with inhibition zones averages of 24.33 ± 0.12, 15.67 ± 0.03, and 17.5 ± 0.49 mm, respectively. The MIC values of the prepared nanocomposite against B. cereus, E. coli, and C. albicans were 80, 80, and 90 µg/ml compared to standard drugs (90, 120 and 150 µg/ml, respectively). According to the TEM ultrastructure studies of nanocomposite-treated microbes, treated cells had severe deformities and morphological alterations compared to the untreated cells including cell wall distortion, the separation between the cell wall and plasma membrane, vacuoles formation moreover complete cell lyses were also noted. In the cytotoxicity test of CS/GO/ZnO alone and its cryogel, there was a significant reduction (p˂0.05) in cell viability of WI-38 normal lung cell line after the concentration of 209 and 164 µg/ml, respectively. It showed the low toxic effect of the nanocomposite and its cryogel on the WI-38 line which implies its safety. In addition, water treatment with the CS/GO/ZnO cryogel decreased turbidity (0.58 NTU), total coliform (2 CFU/100 ml), fecal coliform (1 CFU/100 ml), fecal Streptococcus (2 CFU/100 ml), and heterotrophic plate counts (53 CFU/1 ml) not only in comparison with the chlorine-treated samples (1.69 NTU, 4 CFU/100 ml, 6 CFU/100 ml, 57 CFU/100 ml, and 140 CFU/1 ml, respectively) but also with the raw water samples (6.9 NTU, 10800 CFU/100 ml, 660 CFU/100 ml, 800 CFU/100 ml, and 4400 CFU/1 ml, respectively). Moreover, cryogel significantly decreased the concentration of different heavy metals, especially cobalt compared to chlorine (0.004 ppm, 0.002 ppm, and 0.001 ppm for raw water, chlorine-treated, and cryogel-treated groups, respectively) which helped in the reduction of their toxic effects.ConclusionThis study provides an effective, promising, safe, and alternative nanocomposite to treat different human and animal pathogenic microbes that might be used in different environmental, industrial, and medical applications.

Identification of LRP1+CD13+ human periosteal stem cells that require LRP1 for bone repair.

Human periosteal skeletal stem cells (P-SSCs) are critical for cortical bone maintenance and repair. However, their in vivo identity, molecular characteristics, and specific markers remain unknown. Here, single-cell sequencing revealed human periosteum contains SSC clusters expressing known SSC markers, PDPN and PDGFRA. Notably, human P-SSCs, but not bone marrow SSCs (BM-SSCs), selectively expressed newly identified markers, LRP1 and CD13. These LRP1+CD13+ human P-SSCs were perivascular cells with high osteochondrogenic but minimal adipogenic potential. Upon transplantation into bone injuries in mice, they preserved self-renewal capability in vivo. Single-cell analysis of mouse periosteum further supported the preferential expression of LRP1 and CD13 in Prx1+ P-SSCs. When Lrp1 was conditionally deleted in Prx1-lineage cells, it led to severe bone deformity, short statue, and periosteal defects. By contrast, local treatment with a LRP1 agonist at the injury sites induced early P-SSC proliferation and bone healing. Thus, human and mouse periosteum contains unique osteochondrogenic stem cell subsets, and these P-SSCs express specific markers, LRP1 and CD13, with regulatory mechanism through LRP1 that enhances P-SSC function and bone repair.

Innovative techniques using a novel thin scope for stent placement in malignant colonic obstruction with severe angulation deformity.

Innovative techniques using a novel thin scope for stent placement in malignant colonic obstruction with severe angulation deformity.

Collagen fleece grafting for surgical treatment of patients with mild to severe peyronie's curvatures.

Collagen fleece grafting (CFG) is the recommended treatment for severe Peyronie's disease (PD) curvature (> 60°), but its efficacy in mild/moderate curvatures remains uncertain. This study evaluated CFG in patients with mild/moderate curvatures (< 60°) at risk of penile shortening or symptomatic plaque. A retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent surgical treatment for PD using plaque incision or partial plaque excision and CFG. Clinical parameters and complications were reviewed. Subgroup analysis was performed on patients with curvatures of > 60° and curvatures ≤ 60°. 89 patients with a median age of 59years and a median curvature of 70 (20-90)° were identified. Dorsal curvature was predominant in 66% of cases, followed by lateral (16%), ventral (8%), and complex curvatures (10%). Partial plaque excision was performed in 98% of patients, with an average grafting area of 2.1cm2; 71% had a singular penile plaque, while 29% presented two or more plaques. The comparison between patients with curvatures ≤ 60° and > 60° revealed no significant differences in mean operation time (86.3 vs. 94.4min, p = 0.13) or in the incidence of postoperative complications, including glans necrosis, hypoesthesia, ecchymosis, bleeding, hematoma, infection, residual curvature, revision surgery, or pain. Early postoperative outcomes and complication rates following plaque incision or partial plaque excision and grafting with CFG were comparable in patients with mild/moderate and severe PD deformities. The technique may be a viable option with a similar risk profile for achieving penile straightening in selected PD cases, particularly when plication is not feasible.

Therapeutic efficacy of praziquantel loaded-chitosan nanoparticles on juvenile Schistosoma mansoni worms in murine model

Praziquantel (PZQ) is the standard treatment for schistosomiasis; however, it is poorly effective on immature and juvenile worms. The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of praziquantel loaded-chitosan nanoparticles (PZQ-CSNPs) on the 25 days old juvenile Schistosoma mansoni worms compared to PZQ and chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs). It was conducted on 60 Swiss albino mice, including 20 control and 40 experimental mice. The control groups included healthy uninfected and infected non-treated mice. The experimental groups included mice infected treated on the 25th day with 400 mg/kg PZQ, 30 mg/kg CSNPs, 100 mg/kg, and 400 mg/kg PZQ-CSNPs. The results revealed that PZQ-CSNPs (100, 400 mg/kg) gave the best results substantiated by a remarkable decrease in worm burden, egg count, granuloma count and size compared to the other treatments. Moreover, it induced severe deformations of worm morphology regarding oral and ventral suckers, tegument, spines distribution, and male gynaecophoric canal. Liver enzymes and oxidative stress markers were significantly decreased while antioxidant activities were increased compared to control and other treated groups. In conclusion, a single dose of PZQ-CSNPs had significant antischistosomal therapeutic effects during the early maturation phase.

Preoperative halo-gravity traction combined with one-stage posterior spinal fusion surgery following for severe rigid scoliosis with pulmonary dysfunction: a cohort study

BackgroundTo assess the efficacy of preoperative halo-gravity traction (HGT) in treating severe spinal deformities, evaluating radiological outcomes, pulmonary function, and nutritional status.MethodsThis study retrospectively included 33 patients with severe spinal deformity who were admitted to our department from April 2018 to January 2022. All the patients underwent HGT prior to the posterior spinal fusion corrective surgery, with no patients having undergone anterior or posterior release procedures. The correction of deformity, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and nutritional status data were collected and analyzed before and after HGT.ResultsA total of 33 patients (9 males, 24 females) were finally included in this study with an average age of 17.79 ± 7.96 (range 12–29) years. Among them, 20 patients were aged ≤ 16 years. The traction weight started from 1.5 kg and raised to 45.2 ± 13.2% of body weight on average progressively, with the average traction duration of 129 ± 63 days. After traction, the main curve was corrected from an average of 120.66 ± 3.89° to 94.88 ± 3.35°, and to 52.33 ± 22.36° (53%) after surgery(P < 0.05). PFTs also showed a significant increase in FVC%, FEV1%, and MEF% after traction [43.46 ± 14.76% vs. 47.33 ± 16.04%, 41.87 ± 13.68% vs. 45.19 ± 15.57%, and 40.44 ± 15.87% vs. 45.24 ± 17.91%, p < 0.05]. Total protein, albumin, and BMI were used as indicators of nutritional status. TP and albumin were significantly improved after traction, from 67.24 ± 5.43 g/L to 70.68 ± 6.98 g/L and 42.40 ± 3.44 g/L 45.72 ± 5.23 g/L, respectively(P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in deformity correction and lung function improvement between patients with traction for more or less than three months (p > 0.05). Two patients developed transient brachial plexus palsy during traction.ConclusionsHalo-gravity traction can partially correct spinal deformity, enhance pulmonary function. And HGT has been shown to facilitate an improved nutritional status in these patients. It could be used as a preoperative adjuvant treatment for severe spinal deformity. However, according to the study, a traction period longer than three months may not be necessary.

Talocalcaneonavicular Realignment: The Foundation for Comprehensive Reconstruction of Severe, Resistant Neurologic Cavovarus, and Equinocavovarus Foot Deformities in Children and Adolescents.

The progression of neurologic cavovarus (NCV) and equinocavovarus (NECV) foot deformities during growth can eventually lead to non-reducible severe talonavicular (TN) and subtalar (ST) joint rotational malalignments. This study aimed to describe a technique to correct severe, resistant inversion deformity of the ST joint complex as the foundational procedure in comprehensive reconstruction of multi-segmental NCV and NECV deformities in pediatric patients and to analyze mid-term radiologic, functional, and satisfaction outcomes. This prospective study included children with severe NCV and NECV foot deformities who underwent TCNR between 2019 and 2022, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Talocalcaneal angle, talus-1 metatarsal angles, and TN coverage angle were measured in preoperative and postoperative weight-bearing foot radiographs. The foot and ankle disability index, foot function index, and Maryland foot score evaluated functionality. Qualitative questions assessed perceived improvement, satisfaction, and expectations of patients/caregivers. Descriptive, comparative pre-post, subgroup, correlation, and satisfaction analysis were performed. Twenty-six patients (36 feet: 16 unilateral and 10 bilateral) were included; 50% were female, median age was 12.1 years (IQR, 3.21) and median follow-up was 32.9 months (IQR, 18.7). Fifty-four percent had cerebral palsy, and 23% had charcot-marie-tooth disease; 84.6% were ambulatory. Significant improvements were found in radiologic parameters and functional outcomes (P<0.01), with no relevant differences between unilateral or bilateral procedures, pathology, functional level, or ambulatory capacity (P>0.05). Correlations between radiologic parameters or functional scales with age were generally low. Most reported significant functional improvements, outcomes exceeding expectations, and high satisfaction; they would recommend the surgery and undergo the procedure again. There were 3 minor complications: hypersensitivity, partial recurrence, and undercorrection. The TCNR technique enables realignment of severe, resistant inversion deformity of the ST joint complex in NCV and NECV foot deformities. When combined with procedures to correct the other foot deformities and muscle imbalances, functional outcomes are enhanced, high patient/caregiver satisfaction is achieved, and low complication rates are possible. This approach represents an important modification and extension of an already described technique, the deep plantar-medial release. Level III, therapeutic prospective cohort study.

Effect of recrystallization annealing, solid solution and pre-aging intermediate treatment on microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si rolled sheet

The intermediate heat treatment plays an important role in the severe deformation processing of aluminum alloys. In this study, the effects of recrystallization annealing, solid solution and pre-aging intermediate treatments on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Al-Mg-Si sheet were analyzed, and the strengthening ability of grain boundary, residual dislocation and precipitation was explored. The tensile results show that the pre-aging treatment can significantly improve the mechanical properties, increasing the yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation by 22.9 %, 19.9 % and 10.9 %, respectively, compared with the alloy without intermediate treatment. Further studies present that the recrystallization annealed alloys are mainly composed of elongated recrystallized tissue and isometric crystals, and the strength enhancement is mainly attributed to precipitation strengthening. Solid solution treated alloys are composed entirely of fine equiaxed crystals with a higher density of residual dislocations, showing significant grain boundary strengthening and improving the plasticity. Pre-aging treatment obtains the benefits of solid solution treatment, while also forming a large number of GP zones and quasi-β'' phases, which impede the dislocation movement during cold rolling and then increase the effective nucleation sites of precipitation during T6 treatment. This promotes the generation of the strengthening β'' phase, and enhances the precipitation strengthening effect of the alloy from 165.7 MPa in solid solution treatment to 195.6 MPa in pre-aging treatment.

Synergistic modulation of SrTiO3-TiO2 colossal permittivity system by internal lattice defects and phase composition: Experimental and theoretical investigations

The SrTiO3–TiO2 composite ceramics with different contents of La doping were fabricated by traditional solid-state sintering methods. The performance of the colossal permittivity ceramics was enhanced by the synergistic design of the internal defect structure and phase composition. When the doping content is 2%, SrTiO3–TiO2 composite ceramics possessed a colossal permittivity (ԑr ∼ 1.1 × 105), low dielectric loss (tanδ ∼ 0.050) and favorable thermal stability (−70 °C-150 °C, ΔC/C25°C ≤ ±15%). Phase structure analysis suggested that a TiO2 secondary phase was induced at the grain boundaries of SrTiO3 phase with the addition of La3+ ions. XPS and dielectric behavior analyses revealed that oxygen vacancies and lattice defects formed by inhomogeneous ion-doping act to modulate the dielectric behavior in ceramics. The IBLC interfacial effects in relation to semiconductor grains and insulation grain boundaries are the main contributors to the colossal permittivity (CP) properties of ceramics, and the contribution of the IBLC effects becomes more prominent with increasing doping content. On the basis of first-principles analysis, the ceramic lattice undergoes severe deformation when the La content is increased, and the gathering of electrons at oxygen vacancies and defects is evident. As a result, it leads to enhanced grain semiconducting properties and interfacial effects, which facilitate colossal permittivity and low dielectric loss for ceramics. The results are prospective in the application of CP ceramics.

Mechanical properties, nano-tribological behavior and deformation mechanism of FeCrNi MEA with the addition of Co/Cu: Molecular dynamics simulation

During manufacturing processes, alloys face increasingly demanding requirements for their mechanical and tribological properties, underscoring the importance of revealing their deformation mechanisms. This study employed molecular dynamics simulation to construct models of FeCrNi (C1), FeCoCrNi (C2), FeCrNiCu (C3), and FeCoCrNiCu (C4), investigating the tribological properties of C1 alloy under various conditions and the mechanical properties across a wide temperature range (223–1073 K). The results indicate that the elastic modulus of the alloys follows the order C2 > C4 > C3 > C1 across the temperature range of 223 K to 1073 K. The elastic modulus increases with rising temperatures and decreases before rising once again as temperatures decrease. The phase transitions become more pronounced below 300 K. The addition of Co elements to the FeCrNi alloy contributes to fine-grain strengthening, uniform distribution of internal stress and strain, reduction in local stress concentration, and improvement of the alloy ductility and tensile strength. Compared to sliding friction, rolling friction reduces the number of worn atoms; however, the tensile and shear effects cause an increase in the stress gradient, leading to more severe subsurface damage and shear deformation. Temperature significantly affects the tribological properties of the alloys: phase transitions at high temperatures promote dislocation slip and plastic deformation, while at low temperatures, higher hardness and strength are observed. The roughness of stacking faults is greatly influenced by temperature, with an increase at the low-temperature range (223–273 K), a decrease in the mid-temperature range (273–673 K), and a smoother surface at the high-temperature range (673–1073 K). The research aims to provide a deeper understanding of the excellent mechanical and tribological properties of FeCrNi alloy at the micro/nano scales, thereby advancing their application and development in manufacturing processes.

Mechanical Force on Hydrogel Implication on Enhanced Drug Release, Antibacterial, and M2 Macrophage Polarization: New Insights Alleviate Diabetic Wound Healing.

Diabetic foot ulcers/chronic wounds are difficult to treat because of dysfunctional macrophage response and decreased phenotype transition from the M1 to M2 status. This causes severe inflammation, less angiogenesis, microbial infections, and small deformation in wound beds, affecting the healing process. The commercial wound dressing material has limited efficacy, poor mechanical strength, extra pain, and new granulated tissue formed in a mesh of gauze. It is desired to create tough, skin-adhesive, antifouling, sustainable M2 phenotype-enabling, and mechanoresponsive drug-releasing hydrogel. To resolve this, zwitterionic poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) (SB) incorporated with keratin-exfoliated MoS2 and bee-wax nanoparticles were developed to deliver phenytoin upon application of mechanical forces. Human hair keratin was used for exfoliation of MoS2, and bee-wax nanoparticles loaded with phenytoin were used as cross-linkers of SB hydrogel. The cross-linked SB-MO15-B hydrogel has high mechanical properties, with more tensile strength and strain of 118 kPa and 1485%. Under external mechanical force, hydrogel deformed to release phenytoin of 38% (tensile) and 24% (compressive), which was higher compared to static condition (12%). The penetration of phenytoin into skin tissue was also improved by the mechanical force applied to the hydrogel. SB-MO15-B hydrogel effectively activates the polarization of macrophages toward the M2 phenotype, promotes cell proliferation, and also shows superior antibacterial properties. In vivo results demonstrate that hydrogel rapidly promotes diabetic wound repair through fast antiinflammation and M2 macrophage polarization. Therefore, a robust mechanoresponsive hydrogel would provide a new strategy to deliver the drug and also tune the M2 macrophage polarization for chronic wound healing.

A Comparative Study of Microwave Welding Using Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Silicon Carbide Nanowhiskers as Microwave Susceptors

Recently, microwave welding has arisen as an advanced joining method due to its versatility and rapid heating capabilities. Among others, microwave susceptors play a crucial role in microwave welding, as different classes of microwave susceptors have distinct microwave heating mechanisms. In this work, polypropylene (PP) was utilized as a thermoplastic substrate and two types of microwaves susceptors, namely multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and silicon carbide nanowhiskers (SiC NWs), were studied for microwave welding. The susceptor was first dispersed in acetone to form susceptor suspension. Next, the susceptor suspension was deposited onto the targeted area on substrate and paired with another bare PP substrate. The paired sample was then exposed to 800 W microwave radiation in a microwave oven. Afterward, the welded joint was evaluated using a tensile test and scanning electron microscopy to determine its joint strength and cross-section microstructure. The results showed that the joint strength increased as the heating duration increased. The welded joint formed using MWCNTs achieved a maximum strength of 2.26 MPa when 10 s was used, while the SiC NWs-formed welded joint achieved a maximum strength of 2.25 MPa at 15 s. This difference in duration in forming a complete welded joint can be attributed to the higher microwave heating rates and thermal conductivity of MWCNTs. However, increasing the heating duration to 20 s caused severe deformation at the welded joint and resulted in low joint strength. Overall, this study highlights the significance of understanding the microwave heating mechanism of different susceptors and provides essential insight into the selection of a microwave susceptor for microwave welding.

Study on increasing load capacity of wooden arch bridge by CFRP strengthening: experimental and numerical Verification

The wooden arch corridor bridge is a typical representative of Chinese wooden bridges, holding significant historical research value. Currently, these bridges face issues of severe component deformation and insufficient load-bearing capacity. To address these problems, this study employs CFRP reinforcement on the components of wooden arch corridor bridges to reduce deformation and enhance load-bearing capacity. Experimental research on CFRP reinforcement has yielded the elastic modulus of the bonding interface. Given the lack of an accurate numerical model for wooden arch corridor bridges, this study establishes a precise numerical model by setting parameters based on load test data from wooden arch corridor bridges. The elastic modulus obtained from the experiments is input into the numerical model for analysis. The results indicate that CFRP exhibits excellent reinforcement performance, with the load-bearing capacity of the reinforced damaged components still reaching 75%–85% of their original capacity, while the load-bearing capacity of the reinforced undamaged components increases to 130%–140% of their original capacity. The failure modes of the CFRP-reinforced wooden components suggest that allowing for some gaps in the bonding of CFRP can enhance overall ductility. The application of CFRP to wooden arch corridor bridges also demonstrates favorable reinforcement effects, increasing the load-bearing capacity of the arch surface by approximately 20%, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the reinforcement of wooden arch bridge frameworks.

Dynamic responses of thin-walled FRP-concrete-steel tubular wind turbine tower under horizontal impact loading: Experimental study and FE modelling

Thin-walled FRP-concrete-steel tubular towers (TW-FCSTs), composed of an outer FRP tube, an inner hollow steel tube, and an interlayer of concrete, represent a novel type of wind turbine tower with promising application prospects. Given their potential risks to potential vehicle or vessel collisions, this study investigates the dynamic responses of five cantilevered TW-FCSTs using a horizontal impact device. These TW-FCSTs possess significantly large void ratios (i.e., φ=0.73or0.82) and practical large column sizes (i.e., Dc = 300 mm, Hc = 1500 mm). The experimental programme of this paper investigates several key parameters, including FRP thickness, steel thickness, and void ratio of TW-FCSTs, as well as the velocity and numbers of impact loading. Experimental findings demonstrate the following insights: (1) cantilevered TW-FCSTs exhibit an overall flexural failure mode after the horizontal impact loading; (2) the increase in steel thickness or FRP thickness contributes to greater energy dissipation and reduced localized dent deformation; (3) the higher void ratio results in more pronounced localized dent deformation and less overall deformation in specimens; (4) the proportion of energy dissipation caused by localized dent deformation increased with impact velocity, signifying more severe localized dent deformation at higher impact velocities. The utilization of FE models in LS-DYNA effectively simulates the dynamic performance of cantilevered TW-FCSTs, offering reliable predictions. Parametric studies were conducted to analyze influences of impact mass, impact height, concrete strength, and steel yield strength.

Highly Conductive Supramolecular Salt Gel Electrolyte for Flexible Supercapacitors.

Conductive gels have greatly facilitated the development of flexible energy storage devices, including supercapacitors, batteries, and triboelectric nanogenerators. However, it is challenging for gel electrolytes to tackle the trade-off issues between mechanical properties and conductivity. Herein, a strategy of all inorganic salt-driven supramolecular networks is presented to construct gel electrolytes with high conductivity and reliable mechanical performance for flexible supercapacitors. The salt gel is successfully fabricated by combining a salt supramolecular network constructed by NH4Mo7O24·4H2O and FeCl3·6H2O and a polymer network of poly(vinyl alcohol). The inorganic salt supramolecular network serves as a rigid self-supporting framework in the hydrogel system for improving the mechanical properties and providing abundant active sites for accelerating ion transport. Furthermore, the salt gel-enabled supercapacitors are equipped and exhibit a high specific capacitance (199.4 mF cm-2) and excellent energy density (27.69 μWh cm-2). Moreover, the flexible supercapacitors not only present remarkable cyclic stability after 3000 charging/discharging cycles but also exhibit good electrochemical stability even under severe deformation conditions. The strategy of salt-gel-driven flexible supercapacitors would provide fresh thinking for the development of advanced flexible energy storage fields.

Three-dimensional Analysis of Skeletal Stability in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients Undergoing Bimaxillary Surgery With Le Fort I Osteotomy and Intraoral Vertical Ramus Osteotomy.

Orthognathic surgery in patients with lip and palate clefts is challenging owing to scar tissue from primary repairs and severe deformities. In this study, we evaluated the stability of Le Fort I osteotomy with intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO) in patients with cleft lip and palate using 3-dimensional (3D) analysis. This retrospective study comprised 14 cleft lip and palate patients (3 females, 11 males; the average age at surgery: 23.8y) who underwent bimaxillary orthognathic surgery involving Lefort I osteotomy and IVRO. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were obtained at preoperative (T0), 1-month postoperative (T1), and 1-year follow-up (T2) periods. The 3D analysis assessed the transitions and rotations of the maxilla and mandible using a virtual triangle. The maxilla showed stability in all directions at the 1-year follow-up with minimal relapse. The distal segment of the mandible exhibited clinically acceptable anterior (1.15mm relapse) movements and pitch rotation (2.88° counterclockwise relapse) during the first year postoperatively. The proximal mandibular segment underwent anterior-inferior transition (1.21 and 2.01mm, respectively) and lateral-outward rotation (4.90° and 7.51°, respectively) postsurgery, remaining unchanged 1 year postoperation. Le Fort I osteotomy with IVRO provides skeletal stability in patients with cleft lips and palates. This study demonstrated a minimal maxillary relapse and clinically acceptable movements in the distal mandibular segment during the first postoperative year. The proximal mandibular segment moved anteriorly and inferiorly, rotated laterally and outward after surgery, and remained unchanged at the 1-year follow-up.

Research on the Variation Law of C-ring Sealing Performance of the Steam Injection and Soak Period in Heavy Oil Recovery

Abstract The heavy oil resources in the Bohai Lvda (LD) Oilfield have the characteristics of high viscosity and poor fluidity, therefore, it is necessary to inject steam for efficient development. According to specific regulations, heavy oil thermal recovery wells must be equipped with a high-temperature resistant Surface Controlled Sub-Surface Safety Valve (SCSSV). However, observations in 2022 revealed several instances of hydraulic leakage in these valves, primarily due to severe deformation of the internal C-rings. To investigate this issue, this study employed the Abaqus software to simulate the stress state of C-rings within SCSSV throughout the entire steam injection and soak period, with a special focus on the sealing performance variation of metal C-rings at various contact interfaces. The findings highlight that the primary causes of diminished sealing performance are localized plastic deformation of the metal C-rings induced by heating and subsequent shrinkage upon cooling. Furthermore, the movement of the piston within the safety valve significantly impacts the stress magnitude at some C-ring part sealing performance. Additional investigations reveal that different installation methods of C-rings lead to varying patterns in sealing performance. Notably, excessive interference between the C-ring and piston should be avoided, as it results in more severe plastic deformation upon cooling, further diminishing the sealing performance of the C-rings post-cooling. The insights gained from this study are of paramount importance for the improvement and design optimization of C-rings in SCSSV used in thermal recovery wells of heavy oil. Offering significant value in enhancing the safety and efficiency of offshore heavy oil Recovery. Moreover, this research provides new theoretical support and practical guidance for related engineering practices and academic inquiries.

Excellent combinations of strength-ductility and corrosion resistance in SAF 2205 duplex stainless steel with multi-scale grain distribution

In this work, a multi-scale grain structure was obtained in SAF 2205 duplex stainless steel (DSS) by severe deformation and short-term annealing process. The influence of th is structure on the mechanical properties and electrochemical behavior is systematically investigated. Experimental results indicate that the sample subjected to short-term annealing at 1000 °C (SA-1000 °C) exhibits the best comprehensive properties, with a yield strength (YS) of 652.6 MPa and an elongation (EL) of 39.9 %. Both strength and ductility surpass those of the original sample and long-term annealed (LA-1000 °C) samples. The strength-ductility product is increased by 32 % compared to the original sample and by 18 % compared to the LA-1000 °C sample. The increase in YS is predominantly attributed to dislocation strengthening and grain refinement strengthening, and the heterogeneous microstructure leads to good ductility. Moreover, the multi-scale distribution of the grain structure exhibits enhanced corrosion resistance due to the increased low-Σ grain boundaries and the promotion of stable passivation film formation by a limited number of defects, thereby mitigating the corrosion rate.

Medial Tibial Condylar Valgus Osteotomy improve clinical outcomes and effectively corrects significant Tibial varus deformities without compromising joint line obliquity or patellar heigh

BackgroundTibial condylar valgus osteotomy (TCVO), or Chiba osteotomy, is a recognized procedure for treating advanced knee osteoarthritis in middle-aged individuals. Although its effectiveness is established, limited literature exists on its outcomes for specific conditions such as post-traumatic deformities, Blount disease (BD), and Pagoda-like proximal tibia varus deformities. HypothesisWe hypothesized that TCVO could improve both clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients with severe varus deformities, correcting lower-limb variances while preserving joint line obliquity (JLO) and patellar height in substantial varus deformities. Patients and methodsThis study included 33 patients who underwent TCVO, with etiologies including post-traumatic (26 patients, 78.8%), Blount disease (4 patients, 12.1%), and Pagoda deformities (3 patients, 9.1%). The average age was 32.5 years (standard deviation = 12.8 years). Techniques for deformity correction varied, including Patient Specific Instrumentation (PSI) for 10 patients (30.3%) and locking plate fixation for 13 patients (39.4%). We assessed several radiological parameters such as hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), joint line convergence angle (JLCA), Caton-Deschamps index (CDI), and proximal posterior tibial angle (PPTA). Patient-reported outcomes, including the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and simple knee value (SKV), were recorded both pre-operatively and two years post-operatively. ResultsStatistically significant improvements were observed in clinical scores and alignment changes two years post-operatively, including increases in HKA (from 166.1 to 178.4, p < .0001) and MPTA (from 72.4 to 85.1, p < .0001), and a decrease in JLO (from 9.8 to 3.2, p < .0001). No significant changes were noted in JLCA, PPTA, and CDI, with the patellar height remaining stable post-operatively. The achieved corrections closely matched the pre-operative plans. ConclusionTCVO offers significant improvements in radiological and clinical parameters for patients with substantial tibial varus deformities, effectively maintaining JLO and patellar height. Optimal outcomes from TCVO are dependent on careful patient selection and precise execution of surgical techniques. Level of evidenceIII.

Radiographic Diagnosis of Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture in Older Women and Men Based on Statistical Probability.

A radiographic gold standard to distinguish osteoporotic vertebral fractures (VFs) from nonosteoporotic VFs does not exist. Radiographic fracture-shaped vertebral deformity (FSVD) is common among young populations with normal bone strength. FSVD in an older population is called osteoporotic-like vertebral fracture (OLVF) when the FSVD is likely associated with compromised bone strength. For more severe grade deformities or when a vertebra is collapsed, experienced readers can make an osteoporotic VF diagnosis with a high degree of certainty. In milder cases, radiographic osteoporotic VF is often diagnosed based on a high probability rather than an absolute diagnosis. For older women, three nonadjacent minimal grade OLVFs (< 20% height loss), one minimal grade OLVF and one mild OLVF (≥ 20∼25% height loss), or one OLVF with ≥ 25% height loss meets the diagnosis of osteoporosis. For older men, a single OLVF with ≥ 33 to 40% height loss is insufficient to suggest the patient has osteoporosis.