Single Constituent Research Articles

Combination of Topical Heparin and Levomenol in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis: A SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) Analysis

Background/Objectives: A prior placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study demonstrated the superiority of a topical combination of heparin and levomenol over the control and single active constituents. The effect on pruritus and the total SCORAD index were used to evaluate efficacy, but not the effect on the individual SCORAD items. This analysis investigates the overall efficacy of the treatment and the relative contributions of heparin and levomenol to symptom relief in atopic dermatitis, including the effects on the affected body area and its implications for sleeplessness. Methods: The ITT group (combination group A: n = 79; levomenol group B: n = 80; heparin group C: n = 78; placebo group D: n = 41) of the previously published study was re-analysed. Results: The combination significantly improved symptoms such as erythema, edema/papulation, excoriations, and skin dryness compared to the control after eight weeks of treatment. No significant differences were observed for oozing/crust and lichenification among the active groups. Levomenol and heparin exhibited significant advantages over the control for erythema and excoriations, while heparin improved edema/papulation significantly. The inflamed body area significantly decreased using the combination or single active constituents, and sleeplessness significantly improved with the combination or with heparin alone compared to the control. Conclusions: These findings highlight the efficacy of the combination and individual active constituents in addressing specific symptoms of atopic dermatitis, providing insights into their therapeutic effects. The combination’s advantage over the control is most evident in improving excoriations, skin dryness, inflamed skin area, and sleeplessness, justifying its documented use as an intervention in the early stages of atopic dermatitis episodes.

Flexural behaviours and heterogeneous interface fracture in overmoulded multi-material thermoplastic composites

The development of lightweight multi-material composites is imperative to meet the demands of the aerospace and automotive industries. Thermoplastic-based multi-material composites represent a novel approach, wherein two or more distinct composite materials are combined to create a hybrid material with enhanced performance characteristics. However, varying failure modes across multi-scale interfaces in the composites affect their mechanical performance in a complex manner. In this study, multi-material composites were manufactured through overmoulding of virgin polycarbonate (VP) and short-fibre reinforced polycarbonate (SFP) on continuous fibre-reinforced thermoplastic polycarbonate (CFRTP) laminate to assess behaviours of heterogeneous interfaces and structural performance under flexural loading. In the compression overmoulding process, the consolidation of thermoplastics creates interdiffusion of polymer chains across the multi-material interfaces. The multi-material composites successfully demonstrated enhanced flexural properties compared to single material constituent such as VP, SFP, and CFRTP. Benchmarking with CFRTP composite laminates, results revealed that overmoulding SFP on CFRTP results in 319 % higher flexural strength and 36 % higher of flexural modulus. VP/CFRTP composite offered 103 % more flexural strain and 175 % more specific energy absorption during fracture. Strategic optimization of the neutral axis (NA) and integration of high modulus materials in multi-material systems contributed to such performance enhancements. Failure analysis conducted using optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed progressive heterogeneous interface fracture and crack propagation in the CFRTP laminate layer. Results indicated that control of interface failure modes need to be considered in multi-material structure design to achieve desired flexural strength.

Surface Tension of Two Near-Ideal Binary Liquid Mixtures and the Influence of Adjacent Vapors.

The measured surface tension of a binary liquid is found to depend strongly on the constituents of the adjacent vapor and on whether equilibrium has been achieved, giving insight into the complex interfacial configuration. This dependence is quantified by three techniques that offer complementary insights: surface tension measurements with a constrained sessile drop surrounded by different vapors, surface tension measurements by surface light scattering spectroscopy in a sealed cell at equilibrium, and molecular dynamics simulations of the equilibrium surface tension and excess surface concentration. Ensuring homogeneity of the binary liquid, which is essential for surface light scattering, was found to be nontrivial and was assured by high-sensitivity Schlieren imaging. Two pairs of liquids, n-pentane with 2-methylpentane and n-pentane with n-hexane, were investigated. The first pair was motivated by the observed improvement in the effectiveness of binary fluids versus a single constituent in wickless heat pipes studied in microgravity. The second pair was used for comparison. Experimental evaluation of different volume fractions of the two liquids showed strong dependence of surface tension on the relative concentration of different molecules near the interfacial region. For the above pairs of liquids, which appear to form ideal mixtures in bulk, we present sufficiently precise surface tension measurements to indicate unexpectedly complex behaviors at interfaces.

Alterable Robotic Skin Using Material Gene Expression Modulation

AbstractRobotic skins that integrate artificial tactile sensing elements can substantially complement the perception dimension of social robots, presenting an indispensable part in human‐robot interaction (HRI). However, existing design frameworks compromise between versatility and sustainability due to the restricted range of characteristics available for a single constituent. Here an alterable robotic skin constructed from homogeneous sensing units are proposed, capable of cyclically realtering their inherent characteristics across a wide spectrum. Necessary characteristics to achieve positioning and pressure sensing subunits can be encoded in the feature motifs and extracted through condition‐induced differentiation, showcasing a remarkable resemblance to the gene expression in the living system. By virtue of this, up to 100‐fold differences in feature parameters are achieved, including modulus, surface state, and conductivity, to drive the target attribute coupling. The trans‐temporal reconstruction of materials enables the superb customization of functional building blocks, advancing the flexible separation and combination of different touch modes, including location, pressure, duration, and motion pattern. As a proof of concept, the alterable robotic skin is demonstrated that integrates a position‐sensing layer and a pressure‐sensing layer. It can accurately distinguish and recognize multi‐dimensional touch motions based on less‐channel data, which showcases an efficient haptic interaction application.

TiB1.8 single layers and epitaxial TiB2-based superlattices by magnetron sputtering using a TiB (Ti:B = 1:1) target

Sputter-deposited titanium diborides are promising candidates for protective coatings in harsh and extreme conditions. However, growing these layers from TiB2 diboride targets by DC magnetron sputtering usually leads to over-stoichiometric layers with low crystal qualities. Moreover, superlattices with TiB2 as one of the constituents have been becoming popular, owing to their superior mechanical properties compared to single layer constituents in addition to their use in other applications such as neutron optics. Here, we propose the use of a TiB (Ti:B = 1:1) sputtering target in an on-axis deposition geometry and demonstrate the growth of epitaxial sub-stoichiometric TiB1.8 thin films. Furthermore, we present the growth of CrB1.7/TiB1.8 superlattices, from TiB (Ti:B = 1:1) and stoichiometric CrB2 targets, with abrupt interfaces as promising materials system for neutron interference mirrors. The high crystal quality structure with well-defined interfaces is the common feature of superlattices which, regardless of application, should be addressed during the growth process.Utilizing TiB target, all films crystallize in the hexagonal AlB2 structure. The sub-stoichiometry of the TiB1.8 films was accompanied by the presence of planar defects embedded in the films. CrB1.7/TiB1.8 superlattices exhibited a homogeneous boron distribution within the layers with no sign of B-rich tissue phases through the layers. This study demonstrates the feasibility for TiB as sputter target material, that offers a solution for deposition of TiB2-based superlattices without the need to adjust the deposition parameters. Such adjustments would otherwise be unavoidable for tuning the TiB2 composition and could affect the growth of the other constituent materials.

Composition of New York State (United States) Disposed Waste and Recyclables in 2021: An Advanced Analysis of Waste Sort Data

Understanding the composition of disposed municipal solid waste (MSW) and recyclables can lead to better waste management. New York State (United States) has never had a state-wide waste characterization sorting program. In 2021, sampling was conducted at 11 locations, representing 25% of the state population outside of New York City. Twenty-three tonnes from 173 discrete samples were sorted into 41 categories. The resulting data were analyzed by single constituent approaches and more novel multivariate distance techniques. The analyses found that disposed MSW was 22.8% paper, 20.5% food, and 16.8% plastics. Recyclable paper and glass–metal–plastic containers were 18.2% (11.7% paper, 6.5% containers) and yard waste was 6.5%, meaning about 25% of the disposed MSW could have been recovered. Multivariate analysis determined that the disposed MSW was similar to that from other United States jurisdictions such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York City, and Syracuse (NY), and different from California and United States Environmental Protection Agency model data. Recyclables composition was different from disposed MSW composition. Dual-stream recyclables were sorted better than single-stream recyclables. Corrugated cardboard was the most common paper recyclable and plastics were the most common container recyclable. The data are being used to help guide planning for an expected packaging extended producer responsibility law for the State.

Unveiling the Neuroprotective Potential of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera): A Systematic Review.

Background: Neurodegenerative diseases primarily afflict the elderly and are characterized by a progressive loss of neurons. Oxidative stress is intricately linked to the advancement of these conditions. This study focuses on Phoenix dactylifera (P. dactylifera; Family: Arecaceae), commonly known as "Ajwa," a globally cultivated herbal plant renowned for its potent antioxidant properties and reported neuroprotective effects in pharmacological studies. Method: This comprehensive systematic review delves into the antioxidant properties of plant extracts and their phytochemical components, with a particular emphasis on P. dactylifera and its potential neuroprotective benefits. Preferred reporting items for systemic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) were employed to review the articles. Results: The study includes 269 articles published in the literature and 17 were selected after qualitative analysis. The growing body of research underscores the critical role of polyphenolic compounds found in P. dactylifera, which significantly contribute to its neuroprotective effects through antioxidant mechanisms. Despite emerging insights into the antioxidant actions of P. dactylifera, further investigation is essential to fully elucidate the specific pathways through which it confers neuroprotection. Conclusions: Like many other plant-based supplements, P. dactylifera's antioxidant effects are likely mediated by synergistic interactions among its diverse bioactive compounds, rather than by any single constituent alone. Therefore, additional preclinical and clinical studies are necessary to explore P. dactylifera's therapeutic potential comprehensively, especially in terms of its targeted antioxidant activities aimed at mitigating neurodegenerative processes. Such research holds promise for advancing our understanding and potentially harnessing the therapeutic benefits of P. dactylifera in neuroprotection.

Wine, Polyphenols, and the Matrix Effect: Is Alcohol Always the Same?

While the number of publications on wine and health is steadily increasing, ranging from a molecular level to epidemiological studies, often with contradictory results, little attention has been given to a holistic approach to research, starting from the molecular level to arrive at pharmacological and medical conclusions. In this review, some unusual concepts are considered, such as the phytocomplex, the vehicle, and the Matrix effect. The concept of the phytocomplex is discussed, specifically the biological activities of Tyrosol, Hydroxytyrosol, and Resveratrol; indeed, the interactions among different molecules in herbal matrices provide a specific response. This is often markedly different from the response evoked by single constituents in the modulation of microbial populations in the gut, in intestinal stability and bioaccessibility, and, obviously, in inducing biological responses. Among the many alcoholic beverages which contain these molecules, wine has the most peculiar Matrix effect, which can heavily influence the bioavailability of the phytocomplex obtained by the fermentation processes that produce this beverage. Wine's Matrix effect plays an instrumental role in improving the beneficial compounds' bioavailability and/or in inhibiting alcohol metabolites' carcinogenicity. Underestimation of the wine Matrix effect could lead to deceiving results, as in the case of dealcoholized wine or wine-compound-based nutritional supplements; alternatively, this can occur in the emphasis of a single component's toxic activity, in this case, alcohol, ignoring the specific molecular-level protective action of other compounds (polyphenols) that are present in the same matrix. The dark side of the Matrix effect is also discussed. This review confirms the research recommendations made by the WHO Scientific Group, which suggests it is important "to investigate the possible protective effects of ingredients other than alcohol in alcoholic beverages", considering that most recent studies seem not only relevant but also capable of directing future research towards innovative points of view that have so far been too neglected.

Associations of personal PM2.5-bound heavy metals and heavy metal mixture with lung function: Results from a panel study in Chinese urban residents

BackgroundThere are a few reports on the associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-bound heavy metals and lung function. ObjectivesTo evaluate the associations of single and mixed PM2.5-bound heavy metals with lung function. MethodsThis study included 316 observations of 224 Chinese adults from the Wuhan-Zhuhai cohort over two study periods, and measured participants' personal PM2.5-bound heavy metals and lung function. Three linear mixed models, including the single constituent model, the PM2.5-adjusted constituent model, and the constituent residual model were used to evaluate the association between single metal and lung function. Mixed exposure models including Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) model, weighted quantile sum (WQS) model, and Explainable Machine Learning model were used to assess the relationship between PM2.5-bound heavy metal mixtures and lung function. ResultsIn the single exposure analyses, significant negative associations of PM2.5-bound lead, antimony, and cadmium with peak expiratory flow (PEF) were observed. In the mixed exposure analyses, significant decreases in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC), maximal mid-expiratory flow (MMF), and forced expiratory flow at 75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF75) were associated with the increased PM2.5-bound heavy metal mixture. The BKMR models suggested negative associations of PM2.5-bound lead and antimony with lung function. In addition, PM2.5-bound copper was positively associated with FEV1/FVC, MMF, and FEF75. The Explainable Machine Learning models suggested that FEV1/FVC, MMF, and FEF75 decreased with the elevated PM2.5-bound lead, manganese, and vanadium, and increased with the elevated PM2.5-bound copper. ConclusionsThe negative relationships were detected between PM2.5-bound heavy metal mixture and FEV1/FVC, MMF, as well as FEF75. Among the PM2.5-bound heavy metal mixture, PM2.5-bound lead, antimony, manganese, and vanadium were negatively associated with FEV1/FVC, MMF, and FEF75, while PM2.5-bound copper was positively associated with FEV1/FVC, MMF, and FEF75.

Crashworthiness analysis and optimization design of special-shaped thin-walled tubes by experiments and numerical simulation

Thin-walled structures are widely used as typical high-efficiency energy-absorbing structures in crash safety protection. This paper aims to combine the characteristic of the square tube which concentrates energy dissipation through angle elements with the stable fold deformation of the circular tube, and innovatively propose a special-shaped thin-walled tube that contains both angle elements and arc elements. The failure behavior and energy absorption characteristics of the special-shaped tube were investigated by compression test and numerical simulation. The simulation results showed that the special-shaped thin-walled tubes have a significant advantage in energy absorption, and the specific energy absorption of the special-shaped tubes is 31.57% and 75.2% higher than that of the equal-mass circular and square tubes, respectively. Next, through finite element analysis, the effects of various parameters and initial imperfections on the crashworthiness of the special-shaped tubes were compared. The results indicated that adjustments to geometrical parameters significantly impact the energy absorption properties and crushing behavior of thin-walled tubes. Moreover, the tube with induced circular holes exhibited an optimal deformation mode. Further, a multi-objective optimal design of the metal special-shaped tube was carried out to obtain the best parameter configuration of the metal special-shaped tube. Finally, the special-shaped structure was extended to CFRP/AL hybrid thin-walled tubes. The failure behavior and energy absorption enhancement mechanism of the hybrid special-shaped tubes were investigated with experiments, and the absorbed energy of the hybrid tube was about 20% higher than the sum of the absorbed energy of the single constituent tubes. The effect of the CFRP lay-up pattern on the crashworthiness of the hybrid tube was investigated by numerical simulation, and it was found that the energy absorption capacity of the hybrid tube could be improved by appropriately increasing the number of layers and the proportion of axial fibers.

Electromigration in Nano-Interconnects: Determining Reliability Margins in Redundant Mesh Networks Using a Scalable Physical-Statistical Hybrid Paradigm.

This paper presents a hybrid modelling approach that combines physics-based electromigration modelling (PEM) and statistical methods to evaluate the electromigration (EM) limits of nano-interconnects in mesh networks. The approach, which is also compatible with standard Place and Route (P&R) tools and practises, takes into account the positive impact of network redundancy on EM current limits. The numerical simulations conducted in this study show that conventional methods underestimate the EM current limits of a power delivery network (PDN) unit-cell by 80% due to their lack of consideration for redundancy. Additionally, the time-to-failure (TTF) distributions of a PDN unit-cell obtained by the developed modelling framework adhered to a lognormal distribution, where the lognormal sigma, σlogn, exhibits a 55% reduction compared to that of the single constituent interconnects. The study also found the negative voltage (i.e., ground or Vss) grid to be more susceptible to EM than the positive voltage, i.e., Vdd grid. In the examined grid unit-cell design, both the number of interconnect sites prone to voiding and also the magnitude of the peak tensile stress within the nano-interconnects were found to be two times as high in the Vss case compared to Vdd. The lognormal sigma of TFF for the grid unit-cells, σlogn-tile, show a marked reduction compared to the lognormal sigma of the constituent single interconnects, σlogn, with a 50% and 66% decrease compared to single interconnects, for downstream (Vss) and upstream (Vdd), respectively. In addition, σlogn-tile was three times higher for downstream (Vss) compared to upstream (Vdd), whilst, in contrast, this difference was only 2-fold at the single interconnect level. TTF50% was predicted to be 4.13-fold higher at the grid unit-cell level for the upstream compared to downstream operation, which was also more pronounced than in the single interconnect level where the difference was only 2-fold. This research provides valuable insights into the EM ageing of nano-interconnects in mesh networks and could pragmatically enhance the accuracy of EM compliance evaluation methods.

Air-liquid interface exposure of A549 human lung cells to characterize the hazard potential of a gaseous bio-hybrid fuel blend.

Gaseous and semi-volatile organic compounds emitted by the transport sector contribute to air pollution and have adverse effects on human health. To reduce harmful effects to the environment as well as to humans, renewable and sustainable bio-hybrid fuels are explored and investigated in the cluster of excellence "The Fuel Science Center" at RWTH Aachen University. However, data on the effects of bio-hybrid fuels on human health is scarce, leaving a data gap regarding their hazard potential. To help close this data gap, this study investigates potential toxic effects of a Ketone-Ester-Alcohol-Alkane (KEAA) fuel blend on A549 human lung cells. Experiments were performed using a commercially available air-liquid interface exposure system which was optimized beforehand. Then, cells were exposed at the air-liquid interface to 50-2000 ppm C3.7 of gaseous KEAA for 1 h. After a 24 h recovery period in the incubator, cells treated with 500 ppm C3.7 KEAA showed significant lower metabolic activity and cells treated with 50, 250, 500 and 1000 ppm C3.7 KEAA showed significant higher cytotoxicity compared to controls. Our data support the international occupational exposure limits of the single KEAA constituents. This finding applies only to the exposure scenario tested in this study and is difficult to extrapolate to the complex in vivo situation.

Aloe-inspired eco-friendly synthesis of Ag/ZnO heterostructures: boosting photocatalytic potential

The current research focuses on the development of Ag–ZnO heterostructures through a “bottom-up” approach involving the assembly and extraction of Aloe barbadensis Miller gel. These heterostructures composed of metals/semiconductor oxide display distinct and notable optical, electrical, magnetic, and chemical properties that are not found in single constituents and also exhibit photocatalytic applications. These synthesized heterostructures were characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and UV–visible spectroscopy. The high peak intensity of the Ag/ZnO composite shows the high crystallinity. The presence of Ag–O, Zn–O, and O–H bonding is verified using FTIR analysis. SEM analysis indicated the formation of spherical shapes of Ag/ZnO heterostructures. The Zn, O, and Ag elements are further confirmed by EDX analysis. Ag–ZnO heterostructures exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity and stability against the degradation of tubantin red 8BL dye under visible light irradiation.

An automated design framework for composite mechanical metamaterials and its application to 2D pentamode materials

Until relatively recently most mechanical metamaterial classes being studied have been composed of a single solid constituent phase and design has focused almost exclusively on structural geometry. Additional design dimensions can be introduced by accepting heterogeneity and varying materiality, i.e., allowing mechanical properties to vary across the metamaterial's unit cells or even from cell to cell in the metamaterial domain, creating composite metamaterials. This higher dimensionality significantly expands the effective property envelope, but the additional complexity also presents a significant hurdle. To overcome the design challenge, an automated design framework is proposed that leverages modern evolutionary computation techniques, combined with finite element analysis for fitness evaluation, to a discretized or voxelated design domain. However, this approach introduces stochastic and statistical aspects to the design process, which requires additional processing to successfully extract useful solutions. A case study is presented in which the proposed automated design framework is used to generate 2D structures that exhibit pentamode-like behavior. Pentamode metamaterials, which are best known for extreme bulk-to-shear modulus ratios (B/G), offer unique control over effective elastic properties and make for a particularly interesting test case. The evolutionary objective was defined as maximizing B/G over a voxelated square 2D domain. It was found that the evolutionary process converges to a solution relatively rapidly, generally in less that a hundred generations. B/G ratio values of 10,000 and more were obtained, largely exceeding those commonly found in the literature for experimental pentamode metamaterials. These generated designs feature reduced stress concentrations due to the elimination of point-like connections between lattice struts, which addresses a key practical limitation of diamond lattice pentamodes. It was observed that whatever the initial variety of elastic moduli values across the voxels of the design domain, as evolution progressed this variety collapsed to a much smaller number, most often a binary composite of very stiff voxels with a limited number of much softer voxels at key locations that acted as hinges.

Mental-somatic multimorbidity in trajectories of cognitive function for middle-aged and older adults.

Multimorbidity may confer higher risk for cognitive decline than any single constituent disease. This study aims to identify distinct trajectories of cognitive impairment probability among middle-aged and older adults, and to assess the effect of changes in mental-somatic multimorbidity on these distinct trajectories. Data from the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2016) were employed to estimate group-based trajectory models identifying distinct trajectories of cognitive impairment probability. Four time-varying mental-somatic multimorbidity combinations (somatic, stroke, depressive, stroke and depressive) were examined for their association with observed trajectories of cognitive impairment probability with age. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to quantify the association of sociodemographic and health-related factors with trajectory group membership. Respondents (N = 20,070) had a mean age of 61.0 years (SD = 8.7) at baseline. Three distinct cognitive trajectories were identified using group-based trajectory modelling: (1) Low risk with late-life increase (62.6%), (2) Low initial risk with rapid increase (25.7%), and (3) High risk (11.7%). For adults following along Low risk with late-life increase, the odds of cognitive impairment for stroke and depressive multimorbidity (OR:3.92, 95%CI:2.91,5.28) were nearly two times higher than either stroke multimorbidity (OR:2.06, 95%CI:1.75,2.43) or depressive multimorbidity (OR:2.03, 95%CI:1.71,2.41). The odds of cognitive impairment for stroke and depressive multimorbidity in Low initial risk with rapid increase or High risk (OR:4.31, 95%CI:3.50,5.31; OR:3.43, 95%CI:2.07,5.66, respectively) were moderately higher than stroke multimorbidity (OR:2.71, 95%CI:2.35, 3.13; OR: 3.23, 95%CI:2.16, 4.81, respectively). In the multinomial logistic regression model, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic respondents had higher odds of being in Low initial risk with rapid increase and High risk relative to non-Hispanic White adults. These findings show that depressive and stroke multimorbidity combinations have the greatest association with rapid cognitive declines and their prevention may postpone these declines, especially in socially disadvantaged and minoritized groups.

Review on "Herbal Preparations from Ayurveda used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis"

Ayurveda is a natural medicine system that originated in India over 3,000 years ago. The name "Ayurveda" (science or knowledge) is derived from the Sanskrit words Ayur (life) and Veda. Thus, the name Ayurveda, which means "knowledge of life." The popularity of Ayurveda, or traditional. Since most patients begin taking conventional medications as soon as they are diagnosed, ayurvedic therapies are usually administered in combination with or after orthodox medical techniques. To properly grasp the potential effect of food, spices, and medicinal plants, one must have a thorough understanding of their actions. Realizing the potential of Ayurvedic medicine and philosophy and incorporating it into contemporary medical practice is crucial. There are some significant differences between the mechanisms of action of synthetic pharmaceuticals and single constituents and those of polyherbal treatments and their extracts. Despite being based on natural herbal elements, the safety of ayurvedic treatments depends on how they are delivered, taking into account the needs of the individual and their specific sickness circumstances. Many contemporary drugs are derived from the botanicals used in Ayurveda and other traditional medicinal systems. It is expected that a significant step toward resolving some of the current challenges in treating complex disorders like arthritis with only modern pharmaceuticals would be the confirmation of a combined therapy strategy (Ayurveda and contemporary medicine) with improved efficacy and safety.

Mixed stones: urinary stone composition, frequency and distribution by gender and age

Proper analysis of urinary stone composition is a cornerstone for diagnosis, targeted treatment and recurrence prevention of urolithiasis. The aim of this study was to determine the composition, frequency and distribution of mixed stones according to gender and age of patients. A total of 42,519 urinary stones from 30,311 men and 12,208 women submitted between January 2007 and December 2020 were studied. Most urinary calculi consisted of two components (50.9%), followed by stones of a single constituent (27.1%) and three-component stones (21.9%), while four-component stones were only rarely identified (0.1%). Among all stones, 49.8% consisted of whewellite (COM), weddellite (COD), and mixtures of COM and COD, 33.8% were pure carbonate apatite (CA) and mixtures of CA with COM and/or COD, while 7.6% were composed of uric acid anhydrous (UAA), uric acid dihydrate (UAD), and mixed UAA and UAD. The remaining 8.8% of calculi were rare single-component stones and rare mixtures of various constituents. The number of stone components was inversely associated with age (p < 0.001). The proportion of men decreased significantly with the number of stone constituents, from 3.01:1 for single-component stones to 1.0:1 for four-component urinary calculi (p < 0.001). The vast majority of urinary calculi consisted of two or more components in varying proportions. While age was inversely associated with the number of stone constituents, the proportion of women increased significantly from single-component to four-component urinary calculi. A significant proportion of mixed stones could present a challenge for diagnosis and targeted recurrence prevention.

Analysis on bimodal complex permeability spectrum of a noise suppression sheet and single constituent flakes

In recent years, highly integrated active components inside small mobile communication devices have led to serious electromagnetic interference problems. The countermeasure to this problem is covering a noise source with a noise suppression sheet (NSS) which is composed of ferromagnetic flakes and polymers. The NSS absorbs effectively electromagnetic waves due to a large imaginary part of relative permeability μr″ at the specific frequency region. This function is attributed to the bimodal μr″ spectrum of NSS, but its physical origin has not been revealed so far. In this study, the bimodal μr″ spectrum of NSS has been analyzed and its physical mechanism has been discussed. The μr″ spectrum of a constituent single magnetic flake was measured by using a newly developed high-sensitivity permeability measurement system, which showed a bimodal spectrum quite similar to that of NSS. This fact indicates that the physical origin of the bimodal μr″ spectrum is attributed to the magnetization dynamics of each single constituent flake. After measuring the μr″ spectra of single flakes with various materials, such as Fe, Fe-Al, Fe-Co-V, and Fe-Si-Al alloys, these bimodal μr″ spectra were quantitatively explained by the magnetization dynamics of the flux closure states inside the flake. The magnetic domain structure of a single flake was observed by a micro-beam X-ray magnetic circular dichroism microscopy. The result confirmed that the segmented magnetic domains form the local flux closure states inside the flake.

Tunable and recoverable energy absorption of foam-embedded architected cellular composite material at multiple strain rates

Cellular multistable architected material has been widely studied for its promising energy absorption applications for personnel protection, protective packaging, and crash mitigation. Despite the tailorable properties enabled by their geometric features, a major issue in the actual application is their lower strengths in the elastic behavior of the multistable architected material. Herein, a novel design strategy of strain rate-dependent architected cellular composite material (FACCM) is proposed, aiming to achieve enhanced energy-absorbing properties with the proposed composite system than the single material constituent. Guided by numerical simulations and experimental tests, the compressive behaviour of FACCM at multiple strain rates and the effect of filled foam on it with specific geometric parameters are characterized. The quasi-static performances of the FACCM specimens were evaluated both at the cell level and planar array level. Our results indicate that the strength, stiffness, and snap-through behaviour of multistable architected material can be significantly improved by the filled foam at elevated loading rates regardless of quasi-static loading or impact tests. The current study offers a new strategy for developing novel packing, shock absorption, and impact protection systems.

Modelling of surface reactions and diffusion mediated by bulk diffusion.

We develop a continuum framework applicable to solid-state hydrogen storage, cell biology and other scenarios where the diffusion of a single constituent within a bulk region is coupled via adsorption/desorption to reactions and diffusion on the boundary of the region. We formulate content balances for all relevant constituents and develop thermodynamically consistent constitutive equations. The latter encompass two classes of kinetics for adsorption/desorption and chemical reactions-fast and Marcelin-De Donder, and the second class includes mass action kinetics as a special case. We apply the framework to derive a system consisting of the standard diffusion equation in bulk and FitzHugh-Nagumo type surface reaction-diffusion system of equations on the boundary. We also study the linear stability of a homogeneous steady state in a spherical region and establish sufficient conditions for the occurrence of instabilities driven by surface diffusion. These findings are verified through numerical simulations which reveal that instabilities driven by diffusion lead to the emergence of steady-state spatial patterns from random initial conditions and that bulk diffusion can suppress spatial patterns, in which case temporal oscillations can ensue. We include an extension of our framework that accounts for mechanochemical coupling when the bulk region is occupied by a deformable solid. This article is part of the theme issue 'Foundational issues, analysis and geometry in continuum mechanics'.