Young's Modulus Values Research Articles

Deformation behavior of a regional shale formation from integrated laboratory and well data analysis: insights for underground fluid storage in northern Italy

The Po Plain in northern Italy is one of the most populated and industrialized European regions and hosts numerous gas fields, which have been in production for decades. Several reservoirs were subsequently converted into underground storage sites for natural gas (UGS) while others are currently candidates for future storage of CO2 or H2. In all cases, the reservoir caprock confining the fluids underground is the Argille del Santerno formation. The Argille del Santerno is a good-quality shale; it has a thickness ranging from several tens to hundreds of meters and it extends across a large part of the subsurface of the Po Plain. The part of the formation that acts as a caprock for the main reservoirs lies at an average depth of 1200–1500 m.The scope of the present work was to obtain a sound evaluation of Young's modulus of the Argille del Santerno based on experimental data so as to describe the deformation behavior of the formation at current or prospective storage sites. To this end, we collected and analyzed a wide range of data from triaxial tests, ultrasonic laboratory analysis, and well logs from 6 different locations (corresponding to 6 reservoirs) in the Po Plain. Our dataset was enriched by publicly available log data, which we used for stratigraphic correlation purposes and identification of the Argille del Santerno throughout the Po Plain. An empirical relation between Young's modulus from log data and depth was inferred. Discrepancies among the results of the analyses are presented and discussed. We investigated the effects of alteration of cementation, diagenetic and aging behavior due to sampling operations, and the impact of the investigation techniques at the specimen scale (triaxial test and sonic wave propagation data) on Young's modulus values. This was done to explain the differences between lab and well values.This paper provides a unique characterization of the Young's modulus of the Argille del Santerno at a regional scale, to serve as a reference for reliably predicting ground-level movements induced by underground storage activities.

Edible Origami Actuators Using Gelatin-Based Bioplastics.

The potential of ingestible medical devices can be greatly enhanced through the use of smart structures made from stimuli-responsive materials. While hydration is a convenient stimulus for inducing shape changes in biomaterials, finding robust materials that can achieve rapid actuation, facile manufacturability, and biocompatibility suitable for ingestible medical devices poses practical challenges. Hydration is a convenient stimulus to induce shape changes in smart biomaterials; however, there are many practical challenges to identifying materials that can achieve rapid actuation and facile manufacturability while satisfying constraints associated with biocompatibility requirements and mechanical properties that are suitable for ingestible medical devices. Herein, we illustrate the formulation and processability of a moisture-responsive genipin-crosslinked gelatin bioplastic system, which can be processed into complex three-dimensional shapes. Mechanical characterization of bioplastic samples showed Young's Modulus values as high as 1845 MPa and toughness values up to 52 MJ/m3, using only food-safe ingredients. Custom molds and UV-laser processing enabled the fabrication of centimeter-scale structures with over 150 independent actuating joints. These self-actuating structures soften and unfold in response to surrounding moisture, eliminating the need for additional stimuli or actuating elements.

Co, In, and Co–In alloyed Cu6Sn5 interconnects: Microstructural and mechanical characteristics

The mechanical reliability of the future miniaturized interconnects is mainly governed by the intermetallic compounds such as Cu6Sn5. Alloyed Cu6Sn5 with various elements, including Co and In, have been introduced and attracted attention for different reasons, such as the enhancing mechanical reliability and lowering the bonding temperature. Hence, this work aimed to evaluate the microstructural and mechanical properties of Cu6Sn5-, Cu6(Sn,In)5-, (Cu,Co)6Sn5-, and (Cu,Co)6(Sn,In)5-interconnects. The grain size, grain orientation, and crystal structure of the pure and alloyed Cu6Sn5 phases were analyzed using electron backscatter diffraction. The results revealed that all the joints contained monoclinic and hexagonal crystal structures arbitrarily formed across the bond-line. Furthermore, the Cu6Sn5 grains exhibited random grain orientation and there was no discernible difference between the pure and alloyed Cu6Sn5 interconnects other than Cu6(Sn,In)5 grains elongated along the perpendicular direction to the bonding interface. However, it was found that alloying elements altered the grain sizes. In alloying refined and elongated the Cu6Sn5 grains while the Co alloying enlarged the Cu6Sn5 grains. The mechanical properties of the interconnects were examined using nanoindentation test. The results indicated that the hardness (H) and Young's modulus (Ei) values of Cu6Sn5 is increased with the alloying elements. (Cu,Co)6(Sn,In)5 showed the highest Ei/H value which indicates its highest plasticity.

Post-fatigue fracture load, stress concentration and mechanical properties of feldspathic, leucite- and lithium disilicate-reinforced glass ceramics

ObjectiveTo evaluate the mechanical properties of different CAD/CAM ceramic systems and the post-fatigue fracture and stress distribution when used as cemented crowns. Materials and methodsSixty (60) CAD/CAM monolithic crowns were milled using three different ceramic materials (FD – Feldspathic [Vita Mark II]), LE - Leucite-based ceramic [IPS Empress CAD] and LD - Lithium Disilicate [IPS e.max CAD]) and adhesively cemented on resin composite dyes. Specimens were stored in distillated water (37 °C) for 7 days. After, half of the crowns were submitted to immediate fracture load test while the other half was submitted to fatigue cycling. The average cement layer of approximately 80 μm was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The average thickness was used in the three-dimensional (3D) Finite Element Analysis (FEA). For each ceramic material, the density, Poisson ratio, shear modulus, Young modulus, fracture toughness, and true hardness were assessed (n = 3). The data was used to assess the Maximum Principal Stress throughout 3D-FEA according to each material during load to fail and post-fatigue. Data were submitted to two-way ANOVA and Tukey test (α = 0.05). ResultsLD showed the highest compression load, density, shear modulus, Young modulus, fracture toughness and true hardness values. While LE presented the lowest mechanical properties values. There is no difference in the Poisson ratio between the evaluated ceramics. ConclusionLD was susceptible to aging process but presented stronger physicomechanical properties, showing the highest post-fatigue fracture load and highest stress magnitude.

Synthesis and characterization of graphene nanoplatelets-containing fibers by electrospinning

In the present work, graphene nanoplatelets were successfully embedded into polymer fibers produced by electrospinning. A simple water-ethanol-based system was developed, without any dispersing additives. Microscopy investigations on the fibers revealed that, after reaching a certain graphene load, this aligned itself along the fiber length, forming a continuous path. Preliminary mechanical tests showed low values of tensile strength and Young's modulus, which is common in the case of polymer fiber mats. Antibacterial tests revealed that both pure graphene as well as graphene-containing fibers inhibited bacterial growth in a similar way. These fibers will be tested as additives for carbon-bonded refractories containing recycled material, in order to improve their thermomechanical properties and prevent the bacterial degradation of environmentally friendly binders.

Cation field‐strength effects on ion irradiation‐induced mechanical property changes of borosilicate glass structures

AbstractWe examine the impact of the glass network‐modifier cation field strength (CFS) on ion irradiation‐induced mechanical property changes in borosilicate (BS) glasses for the ternary M2O–B2O3–SiO2 systems with M = {Na, K, Rb} and the quaternary [0.5M(2)O–0.5Na2O]–B2O3–SiO2 systems with M = {Li, Na, K, Rb Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba}. 11B nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments on the as‐prepared BS glasses yielded the fractional population of four‐coordinated B species (B[4]) out of all {B[3], B[4]} groups in the glass network, along with the fraction of B[4]–O–Si linkages out of all B[4]–O–Si/B bonds. Both parameters correlated linearly with the (average) CFS of the M+ and/or {M(2)+, Na+} cations. Both the nanoindentation‐derived hardness and Young's modulus values of the glasses reduced upon their irradiation by Si2+ ions, with the property deterioration decreasing linearly with increasing Mz+ CFS, that is, for higher Mz+⋅⋅⋅O interaction strength. The irradiation damage of the glass network also increased linearly with the fraction of B[4]–O–Si linkages, which are the second weakest in the structure after the Mz+⋅⋅⋅O bonds. Our results underscore the advantages of employing BS glasses with high‐CFS cations for enhancing the radiation resistance for nuclear waste storage.

The effect of aging on the mechanical properties of 3-dimensional printed biocompatible resin materials used in dental applications: An in vitro study

The mechanical properties of biocompatible printable resin materials in an intraoral environment is still being investigated. This study aimed to assess the effect of the aging process on the mechanical properties of resin samples produced by stereolithography appearance (SLA) and digital light processing (DLP) 3-dimensional printer systems. The cylindrical sample (4.00 × 20.00 mm) was designed by software, and the data were transformed into digital format. A DLP printer (n= 40) and an SLA printer (n= 40) carried out the printing process. The aging procedure was applied to 20 samples from each group using a thermocycling device. After the aging procedure, the samples were placed in the universal testing device for the 3-point bending test. This study showed that the aging procedure decreased maximum load, bending stress, and Young's modulus values and increased maximum deflection values of the DLP group (P<0.01). However, no statistical difference was detected in the parameters compared with the SLA group except for the maximum deflection values. Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found between maximum deflection and Young's module values of SLA and DLP control and study groups (P<0.05). This invitro study revealed that the biocompatible printable resin materials produced by DLP and SLA printers had the mechanical strength to resist the values resembling the physiological occlusal forces even after the aging procedure and could produce intraoral appliances.

Estimation of Static Young Modulus for the Third section in Zubair Oil Field :A Comparison Study

A detailed analysis for the mechanical properties of the rock is necessary to maintain a well bore and avoid problems with well bore instability. Static young's modulus is one of the most crucial rock mechanical properties utilized in the drilling process to assess wellbore integrity and setting-up geomechanical earth model. Static young’s modulus change with varies of formation lithology’s which arise the critical need for estimation. The current study, a static young modulus values of different formations in section 12.25“in Zubair oil field are determined by depending on correlation to indicate variations in units and layers. Data of Gamma ray (GR), density log, sonic compression log (DTCO), and sonic shear log (DTSM) logs of well ZA-2 are utilized to estimate this attribute. Four different correlations that are set-up in Techlog 2015 software are used to achieve the aim of this study. These outcomes are calibrated using the fundamental laboratory tests (Brazilin and Triaxle test). The results showed that the modified Morales correlation provides a good matching with Calibration data, while four key data points are poorly correlated with the results of John Fuller's analysis.Also, Morales correlation shows unconformity when porosity reduced by less than 10% at different intervals, and Plumb Bradford correlation produces incorrect findings of static young’s higher than the dynamic. The results declare inversely relationship between porosity and young’s modulus.

Diagnostic efficacy of a combination of the Chinese thyroid imaging reporting and data system and shear wave elastography in detecting category 4a and 4b thyroid nodules.

Differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TIRADS) category 4a and 4b nodules can be difficult using conventional ultrasonography (US). The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of a combination of the Chinese-TIRADS (C-TIRADS) and shear wave elastography (SWE) in detecting malignant nodules among category 4a and 4b thyroid nodules. Among 409 thyroid nodules in 332 patients that we included in this study, 106 thyroid nodules were diagnosed as category 4a and 4b using C-TIRADS. We used SWE to measure the maximum Young's modulus (Emax) values of category 4a and 4b thyroid nodules. We calculated the diagnostic efficacy of only the C-TIRADS, only SWE, and a combination of C-TIRADS with SWE, and compared these, while taking the pathology results as the gold standard. The area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, and accuracy values of the combination of C-TIRADS and SWE (0.870, 83.3%, and 84.0%, respectively) were all higher when compared with the values of only the C-TIRADS (0.785, 68.5%, and 78.3%, respectively) or only SWE (0.775, 68.5%, and 77.4%, respectively) in the diagnosis of category 4a and 4b thyroid nodules. In this study, we found that the combination of C-TIRADS and SWE significantly improved the diagnostic efficacy in detecting malignant nodules among category 4a and 4b thyroid nodules, and this could provide a reference for further use of this combination by clinicians for diagnosis and treatment.

Allantoin‑zinc layered simple hydroxide biohybrid as antimicrobial active phase in cellulosic bionanocomposites as potential wound dressings

Cellulosic materials loaded with a novel zinc layered simple hydroxide (LSH) with allantoin in its structure (allant-ZnLSH) have been developed for potential application as wound dressings. The allant-ZnLSH biohybrid was synthesized by slow addition of a zinc chloride solution to an aqueous solution of allantoin, while adding a NaOH solution dropwise to maintain a controlled pH. The recovered precipitate was characterized by XRD, FTIR, chemical analysis, and FE-SEM. The allant-ZnLSH material was further incorporated into biopolymeric matrices such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF), because of their biocompatibility and biodegradability. The resulting films presented suitable mechanical properties, with Young's modulus values ranging between 1.3 and 3.9 GPa, as well as appropriate water vapor transmission rates (WVTR) for application in would healing, around 250–630 g/m2 per day. The bionanocomposite films also showed interesting barrier properties against the passage of UV light, while keeping a certain transparency in the visible range that would allow the healing process to be monitored without removing the dressing. Their antibacterial action was evaluated against E. coli and S. aureus in agar plates, showing only antimicrobial activity against the latter. The goal is to develop materials that can exhibit antimicrobial, and skin regenerative properties provided by the presence of zinc ions and allantoin, respectively.

Effect of Cu and Cr addition on the structure, anticorrosion and nanomechanical properties of new Al-Ni-Fe-(Cr,Cu) alloys

This work used a thermodynamic approach to design and investigate new complex compositional Al-Ni-Fe-(Cr,Cu) alloys based on aluminum. This work tends to understand the change in microstructure during the rapid solidification process and to evaluate the anticorrosion and nanomechanical properties of the developed alloys. Optimizing thermodynamic parameters such as configurational entropy and Gibbs free energy was used to predict the chemical composition of the studied alloys. The samples were cooled in two ways. The ingots were slowly cooled, while the plates were cast using fast cooling by the high-pressure die-casting method. The presence of a quasicrystalline decagonal phase D-Al71Ni24Fe5 was identified together with crystalline Al3Ni, Al3Ni2, and Al9Ni1.3Fe0.7 phases for the rapidly solidified Al72Ni24Fe4 alloy. The best electrochemical parameters were observed for the Al72Ni24Fe2.5Cr1.5 alloy. The local galvanic microcells were formed in the studied alloys due to large potential differences (>50 mV) between the Al-Ni and Al-Ni-Fe phases. The highest average indentation hardness values were observed for Al72Ni24Fe4 (9.98 ± 1.75 GPa) after normal and rapid solidification. The higher ductility of the Al72Ni24Cr1.5Fe2.5 alloy compared to Al72Ni24Fe4 and Al72Ni24Cu1.5Fe2.5 could be confirmed by the lowest average hardness and Young's modulus values.

Characterization and qualitative evaluation of cassava starch-chitosan edible food wrap enriched with culinary leaf powders for eco-friendly food packaging applications.

Cassava starch-based edible food wraps were prepared by incorporating leaf powder from Indian curry leaf and Malabar bay leaf, reinforced with different (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) wt.% of chitosan. Eleven combinations of films were prepared and their sensory acceptability, physical properties, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) spectrum, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image, were evaluated. The thickness of the films ranged from 0.198 ± 0.12 to 0.372 ± 0.27 mm. Tensile strength was reported to be the highest (40.71 ± 1.21 MPa) in the curry leaf powder incorporated sample. Maximum elongation at break was reported by bay leaf powder incorporated (5.8 ± 1.59%) sample. The Young's modulus values were observed to be increasing along with the concentration of chitosan. Maximum seal strength values were reported by curry leaf powder incorporated film with 0.8% chitosan (2.93 ± 0.22 N/mm). The leaf powder incorporated samples reported a higher flavonoid content compared to the control. The color analysis (L*, a*, b*) of the films was identical to the natural leaf color. The SEM images indicated a rough texture for the leaf powder incorporated films. The FTIR evaluation confirmed the presence of the respective functional groups. The statistical evaluation done by statistical package for social sciences software showed that all the data were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05.). The study demonstrated the potential of incorporation of leaf powder and chitosan to enhance the properties of starch-based edible packaging.

Development of Al-Mg2Si Alloy Hybrid Surface Composites by Friction Stir Processing: Mechanical, Wear, and Microstructure Evaluation.

Surface composites are viable choices for various applications in the aerospace and automotive industries. Friction Stir Processing (FSP) is a promising method for fabricating surface composites. Aluminum Hybrid Surface Composites (AHSC) are fabricated using the FSP to strengthen a hybrid mixture prepared with equal parts of Boron carbide (B4C), Silicon Carbide (SiC), and Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) particles. Different hybrid reinforcement weight percentages (reinforcement content of 5% (T1), 10% (T2), and 15% (T3)) were used in fabricating AHSC samples. Furthermore, different mechanical tests were performed on hybrid surface composite samples with different weight percentages of the reinforcements. Dry sliding wear assessments were performed in standard pin-on-disc apparatus as per ASTM G99 guidelines to estimate wear rates. The presence of reinforcement contents and dislocation behavior was investigated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) studies. The results indicated that the Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) of sample T3 exhibited 62.63% and 15.17% higher than that of samples T1 and T2, respectively, while the Elongation (%) of T3 exhibited 38.46% and 15.38% lower than that of samples T1 and T2, respectively. Moreover, it was found that the hardness of sample T3 increased in the stir zone compared to samples T1 and T2, owing to its higher brittle response. The higher brittle response of sample T3 compared to samples T1 and T2 was confirmed by the higher value of Young's modulus and the lower value of Elongation (%).

An exploration on the numerical investigation of 3D laminated composites with carbon fibre tow modelling using SwiftComp module in ABAQUS

The modelling and analysis of composites, at the microscale and macroscale levels, saw a tremendous shift due to the growth of the computational power and mathematical representation of the reinforcement. This study was conducted to assess the importance of modelling fibre tow in the composite at the macroscale level compared to the homogenisation of a microscale unit cell model using SwiftComp GUI in ABAQUS. One microscale unit cell model and three macroscale laminates (CLCCA, CLSwC, and UT) models were created. The microscale model was subjected to homogenisation. The models were then subjected to tensile and shear loading in ABAQUS. The value of young's modulus in the longitudinal and transverse direction by SwiftComp was 12.91% and 5.41%, respectively higher than that by the CCA method. In contrast, Poisson's ratio was underpredicted by 2.35%. Due to the over-prediction of elastic moduli by SwiftComp GUI module, it is not recommended to homogenize the unit cell. The difference in the young's modulus and shear modulus is less than 7% for the UT model compared with the CLCCA model. In conclusion, the CL modelling approach with numerical methods such as CCA is favourable as it provides acceptable results with relative ease of meshing, application of periodic boundary conditions, and lower computational time. On the other hand, the UT model can study the fibre–matrix behaviour by specifying the contact property between the fibre and matrix instead of assuming the bond to be perfect. Hence, it is favourable to model tow and matrix separately when reviewing the failure mechanism on any unbalanced or unsymmetrical laminated composite.

Fabrication of electrospun nanofibrous clinoptilolite doped thermoplastic polyurethane scaffolds for skeletal muscle tissue engineering

AbstractThe treatment of skeletal muscle, which lost its function with damage or trauma with autologous muscle tissue transfer, is a very problematic approach. Hence, it is critical to develop materials that are mimicking muscle tissue mechanical behaviors and allowing cell adhesion. Polyurethanes (PUs) are one of the most common polymers in tissue engineering applications and skeletal muscle regeneration due to their elasticity and mechanical flexibility. Clinoptilolite (CLN) is a hydrated alumina silica crystal based biocompatible material that numerous positive effects on animal and human health. Here, we report the synthesize of flexible membranes based on clinoptilolite (CLN) doped thermoplastıc polyurethane (TPU) nanofiber network to be used in the field of skeletal muscle regeneration. We primarily evaluated their ability to mimic skeletal muscle by determining their mechanical properties and cell adhesion rates. We observe that cell adhesion and proliferation increased with the increase of CLN contribution. Young modulus (EY) values of pure TPU, 5 and 10 wt.% CLN‐doped TPU fibers are 3.66, 2.37, and 1.85 MPa, respectively. Mechanical elongations at break of pure TPU, 5 and 10 wt.% CLN‐doped TPU fibers after 37°C treatment (7th day) are 193.41%, 113.30%, and 197.15%, respectively. With the addition of 5 wt.% CLN, the thermal stability slightly increased compared to the pure TPU and 10 wt.% CLN/TPU. In addition, cytotoxicity studies reveal that CLN/PU membranes are biocompatible, and finally cell adhesion increases proportionally to the increased CLN contribution. The obtained results indicate that the CLN/PU membranes can be used as a skeletal muscle scaffold.

Laser-Formed Sensors with Electrically Conductive MWCNT Networks for Gesture Recognition Applications.

Currently, an urgent need in the field of wearable electronics is the development of flexible sensors that can be attached to the human body to monitor various physiological indicators and movements. In this work, we propose a method for forming an electrically conductive network of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) in a matrix of silicone elastomer to make stretchable sensors sensitive to mechanical strain. The electrical conductivity and sensitivity characteristics of the sensor were improved by using laser exposure, through the effect of forming strong carbon nanotube (CNT) networks. The initial electrical resistance of the sensors obtained using laser technology was ~3 kOhm (in the absence of deformation) at a low concentration of nanotubes of 3 wt% in composition. For comparison, in a similar manufacturing process, but without laser exposure, the active material had significantly higher values of electrical resistance, which was ~19 kOhm in this case. The laser-fabricated sensors have a high tensile sensitivity (gauge factor ~10), linearity of >0.97, a low hysteresis of 2.4%, tensile strength of 963 kPa, and a fast strain response of 1 ms. The low Young's modulus values of ~47 kPa and the high electrical and sensitivity characteristics of the sensors made it possible to fabricate a smart gesture recognition sensor system based on them, with a recognition accuracy of ~94%. Data reading and visualization were performed using the developed electronic unit based on the ATXMEGA8E5-AU microcontroller and software. The obtained results open great prospects for the application of flexible CNT sensors in intelligent wearable devices (IWDs) for medical and industrial applications.

22 nm Resolution Achieved by Femtosecond Laser Two-Photon Polymerization of a Hyaluronic Acid Vinyl Ester Hydrogel.

Three-dimensional (3D) bioinspired hydrogels have played an important role in tissue engineering, owing to their advantage of excellent biocompatibility. Here, the two-photon polymerization (TPP) of a 3D hydrogel with high precision has been investigated, using the precursor with hyaluronic acid vinyl ester (HAVE) as the biocompatibility hydrogel monomer, 3,3'-((((1E,1'E)-(2-oxocyclopentane-1,3-diylidene) bis(methanylylidene)) bis(4,1-phenylene)) bis(methylazanediyl))dipropanoate as the water-soluble initiator, and dl-dithiothreitol (DTT) as the click-chemistry cross-linker. The TPP properties of the HAVE precursors have been comprehensively investigated by adjusting the solubility and the formulation of the photoresist. The feature line width of 22 nm has been obtained at a processing laser threshold of 3.67 mW, and the 3D hydrogel scaffold structures have been fabricated. Furthermore, the average value of Young's modulus is 94 kPa for the 3D hydrogel, and cell biocompatibility has been demonstrated. This study would provide high potential for achieving a 3D hydrogel scaffold with highly precise configuration in tissue engineering and biomedicine.

The diagnostic value of shear-wave elastography in the salivary glands of patients with primary Sjögren syndrome.

We aimed to quantify the extent of salivary gland fibrosis using shear-wave elastography (SWE) to assess its diagnostic value for primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS). A total of 58 pSS patients and 44 controls underwent SWE ultrasound evaluation of the parotid and submandibular glands. We measured the degree of salivary gland fibrosis in all participants and investigated the diagnostic accuracy of SWE for pSS and its relationship to disease progression. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of pSS were highest when the critical Young's modulus values of the parotid and submandibular glands were 18.4 and 15.9 kPa, respectively, effectively improving the diagnostic value of pSS. The area under the SWE curve of the submandibular gland was higher than that of the parotid gland (z = 2.292, P = 0.02), suggesting that the submandibular gland was damaged earlier. The mean parotid gland thickness of pSS patients was thicker than in healthy controls (mean ± standard deviation 2.5 ± 0.3 vs 2.4 ± 0.2, P = 0.013]. SWE had a 70.3% sensitivity for diagnosing pSS patients with a disease duration of 5 years, but this did not differ significantly from pSS patients with a longer disease duration. SWE is a valid diagnostic method for pSS. The degree of salivary gland fibrosis related to secretory function and pathological progression, and quantitative measurements of tissue elasticity provide objective criteria for predicting damage in pSS.

Shear Wave Elastography for the Assessment of Carotid Plaque Vulnerability: A Systematic Review

Evidence for the management of asymptomatic carotid stenosis and possibly symptomatic nonstenosing carotid artery disease is limited. In contrary to calcified plaques, soft plaques are considered vulnerable and prone to rupture. Shear wave elastography (SWE), a novel ultrasound technique which uses acoustic wave force to propagate shear wave in tissues, can quantify tissue stiffness through the estimation of Young’s modulus (YM) in kPa or shear wave velocity in meter/second. This systematic review is aimed at evaluating the feasibility of SWE in carotid plaque risk stratification in relation to ischemic stroke (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022309709). 18 studies, obtained via search on PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase from inception until November 1, 2022, assessed SWE’s feasibility in carotid plaque risk stratification in humans (13 studies) and phantom models (5 studies). Human studies showed heterogeneity with respect to SWE devices, acquisition settings, and methodology, which consequently reflected in the between-study variability of YM values used for distinguishing vulnerable/symptomatic (27–52 kPa) and stable/asymptomatic (28–115 kPa) carotid plaques. However, within-study assessment of all human studies indicated SWE’s feasibility in carotid plaque risk stratification. Furthermore, four out of five carotid plaque phantom studies showed the potential of SWE to discriminate tissues of different stiffness comparable to the carotid vessel wall, soft and hard plaques, and with good reproducibility. SWE may potentially offer a bedside risk stratification tool for identifying patients with vulnerable carotid plaques, who may benefit from carotid surgery, stenting, or prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy. Patients with stable carotid plaques could be spared the risks of potentially harmful treatments and complications. However, available data are not enough to facilitate the immediate clinical application of SWE, and therefore, larger prospective clinical are warranted.

Use of compression test to determine the Young's modulus of the titanium alloy Ti6Al4V manufactured via direct metal laser sintering

AbstractThe research is dedicated to determine one of the most important mechanical properties which is the Young's modulus. Its value is crucial for clearly explaining and understanding the results of any mechanical loading experiment. Three cylindrical samples of 15 mm height and 7.5 mm diameter were designed using SpaceClaim application in the ANSYS Software and then 3D printed using Direct Metal Laser Sintering via EOS M 290 3D printer. The specimens were then tested under compression in order to determine the value of the Young's modulus for titanium alloy of grade 23 (Ti, Al, V, O, N, C, H, Fe, Y). The finite element method was executed using ANSYS mechanical to run a comparison between laboratory results with nominal results of the Young's modulus. Young's modulus value is affected by the 3D printing accuracy and quality, the material's quality as well; however, the deviation is within 10%.