Search Results (1,338)

Objectives: Recent studies have shown that highly aspheric lenslets (HAL) are effective in slowing myopia progression. Moreover, research indicates that an enhancement in choroidal thickness might serve as a biomarker for evaluating the efficacy of myopia control treatments. Therefore, this study examined the short-term effects of HAL and full-field +3.00 diopters (D) myopic defocus on sub-foveal choroidal thickness (SFCHR). Design: Prospective experimental study. Participants: Twenty-five participants aged 20–30 (mean 24.56 ± 2.467) years with a refraction error of emmetropia to −5.0 D (mean −2.255 ± 1.514 D). The contralateral non-dominant eye was used as control for each participant. Methods: The participants watched a movie projected at 6 m for 90 min on two separate occasions while wearing HAL or +3 D full-field myopic defocus lenses on their dominant eye. The control eye wore only a single-vision contact lens with the best-corrected distance vision. Three measurements of AL and SFCHR were captured before defocus, and after 60 and 90 min of defocus for both eyes. The main outcome measures were changes in SFCHR and AL over time. Results: Exposure to HAL and +3 D myopic defocus significantly increased SFCHR in the defocused eyes compared to the baseline (p < 0.001). The increase in SFCHR was 6.62 ± 6.32 µm with the HAL intervention and 7.36 ± 8.83 µm with the +3 D intervention. The difference between the two interventions was not statistically significant (p = 0.595). A significant mean difference of 3.176 ± 1.318 µm in SFCHR increase was observed with +3.00 D full-field defocus in the defocused eyes compared to the control eyes over the measurement period (p = 0.020). Conclusions: Short-term exposure to full-field myopic defocus increased choroidal thickness, which was comparable with that observed in peripheral myopic defocus with HAL, although the effect appears less pronounced. Full article

This study valorizes onion peel, an agro-industrial by-product rich in phenolic compounds and structural carbohydrates, for the development of cassava starch-based biodegradable films. The films were prepared using the solution casting method; a cassava starch matrix was mixed with a 2.5% glycerol solution and heated to 85 °C for 30 min. A separate solution of onion peel powder (OPP) in distilled water was prepared at 25 °C. The two solutions were then combined and stirred for an additional 2 min before 25 mL of the final mixture was cast to form the films. Onion peel powder (OPP) incorporation produced darker and more opaque films, suitable for packaging light-sensitive foods. Film thickness increased with OPP content (0.138–0.218 mm), while moisture content (19.2–32.6%) and solubility (24.0–25.2%) decreased. Conversely, water vapor permeability (WVP) significantly increased (1.69 × 10⁻⁹–2.77 × 10⁻⁹ g·m⁻¹·s⁻¹·Pa⁻¹; p < 0.0001), reflecting the hydrophilic nature of OPP. Thermal analysis (TGA/DSC) indicated stability up to 245 °C, supporting applications as food coatings. Morphological analysis (SEM) revealed OPP microparticles embedded in the starch matrix, with FTIR and XRD suggesting electrostatic and hydrogen–bond interactions. Mechanically, tensile strength improved (up to 2.71 MPa) while elongation decreased (14.1%), indicating stronger but less flexible films. Biodegradability assays showed slightly reduced degradation (29.0–31.8%) compared with the control (38.4%), likely due to antimicrobial phenolics inhibiting soil microbiota. Overall, OPP and cassava starch represent low-cost, abundant raw materials for the formulation of functional biopolymer films with potential in sustainable food packaging. Full article

In recent years, controlling the integrity of shallow-buried natural gas pipelines within surface subsidence zones caused by high-intensity underground longwall mining in the Daniudi Gas Field of China’s Ordos Basin has emerged as a critical challenge impacting both mine planning and the safe, efficient co-exploitation of coal and deep natural gas resources. This study included field measurements and an analysis of surface subsidence data from high-intensity longwall mining operations at the Xiaobaodang No. 2 Coal Mine, revealing characteristic ground movement patterns under intensive extraction conditions. The subsidence basin was systematically divided into pipeline hazard zones using three key deformation indicators: horizontal strain, tilt, and curvature. Through ABAQUS-based 3D numerical modeling of coupled pipeline–coal seam mining systems, this research elucidated the spatiotemporal evolution of pipeline Von Mises stress under varying mining parameters, including working face advance rates, mining thicknesses, and pipeline orientation angles relative to the advance direction. The simulations further uncovered non-synchronous deformation behavior between the pipeline and its surrounding sand and soil, identifying two distinct evolutionary phases and three characteristic response patterns. Based on these findings, targeted pipeline integrity preservation measures were developed, with numerical validation demonstrating that maintaining advance rates below 10 m/d, restricting mining heights to under 2.5 m within the 260 m pre-mining influence zone, and where geotechnically feasible, the maximum stress of the pipeline laid perpendicular to the propulsion direction (90°) can be controlled below 480 MPa, and the separation amount between the pipe and the sand and soil can be controlled below 8.69 mm, which can effectively reduce the interference caused by mining. These results provide significant engineering guidance for optimizing longwall mining parameters while ensuring the structural integrity of shallow-buried pipelines in high-intensity extraction environments. Full article

Magnetic surgical instruments are primarily driven by magnetic force and/or micro-motors. When micro-motors are used to drive motion, they are typically installed near the manipulator joints, resulting in a larger manipulator size due to the presence of micro-motors. We designed a magnetic anchored and cable-driven surgical forceps, which separates micro-motors from the manipulator through cables. The cables are responsible for transmitting motion and force from micro-motors to the manipulator. This design enables the integration of relatively large motors (diameter: 8 mm) while maintaining a compact overall diameter of the manipulator (diameter: 10 mm). This is beneficial for improving the flexibility of the manipulator and facilitating the coordination between surgical instruments. The manipulator of the magnetic anchored and cable-driven surgical forceps has three degrees of freedom (DoFs): pitch, yaw and clamping. A magnetic attraction experiment was conducted to measure the magnetic force on the magnetic surgical forceps with the variation of abdominal skin thickness. The results indicate that at a distance of 20 mm, the magnetic force exerted on the magnetic surgical forceps is 5.86 N, with a maximum vertical load capacity of 5.13 N. Additionally, an ex vivo experiment was conducted to validate the practicality of the magnetic anchored and cable-driven surgical forceps prototype. Full article

With the goal of increasing energy density in lithium–ion cells, new active materials continue to be developed and evaluated. Similarly, in commercial lithium–ion cells, inert materials present in manufactured cells should also be evaluated. The impact of the thickness of inert materials on EV-sized lithium–ion cells was evaluated. The impact of the thicknesses of the positive current collector, negative current collector, separator, and aluminum laminate package on cell properties is presented. The impact of these materials varies greatly over different cell designs, with one of the largest impacts being from a decrease in separator material thickness, especially in cells with a high number of electrode pairs, specifically, cells with a larger thickness or cells with low-capacity loadings. For high-capacity positive electrode loading, a decrease in separator thickness from 16 to 8 microns results in an increase in stack volumetric energy density from 502 to 531 Wh/L or an increase of 5.7%. Full article

Background/Objectives: The bifid mandibular condyle (BMC) is a rare anatomical variation characterized by a division of the mandibular condyle into two distinct heads. Although frequently identified through radiographic studies or in dry skulls, its etiology remains unclear, and few studies have examined its internal bone structure. This study aimed to perform a detailed morphologic and microarchitectural analysis of a right unilateral bifid mandibular condyle using micro-CT and to contrast the findings with the relevant morphological and clinical literature. Case Presentation: A human mandible from an anatomical collection was analyzed. The mandible was scanned using a Bruker 1273 micro-CT system, and a 3D reconstruction was performed. Morphometric analysis was carried out on both the bifid right and normal left condyles, evaluating cortical and trabecular components separately. Parameters included bone volume, absolute bone volume, bone surface, trabecular thickness, separation, and number. The right condyle was divided into medial and lateral heads with independent necks, displaying asymmetry in size and shape. Micro-CT revealed reduced cortical volume and greater trabecular separation in the BMC, suggesting lower bone density compared to the left condyle. Conclusions: This case reveals significant differences in bone architecture between the BMC and the contralateral condyle, indicating a potentially reduced biomechanical capacity on the affected side. These findings emphasize the importance of incorporating microstructural evaluation in anatomical and clinical assessments of BMCs and provide novel insights that may inform diagnosis, treatment planning, and understanding of temporomandibular joint disorders. Full article

Membrane technology plays a vital role in environmental protection, chemical industry, and pharmaceuticals, where understanding the “structure-property” relationship of composite membranes through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is crucial. Conventional ultramicrotomy methods for preparing ultra-thin sections of polymer composite membranes often result in significant damage and non-uniform thickness due to interference from non-woven substrates. In this study, we developed an innovative substrate stripping and double-orientation embedding technique that overcomes these limitations. A special embedding device was designed to facilitate the preparation of polymeric membrane cross-sections for TEM analysis. The device incorporates dual functionality, enabling both non-woven substrate detachment and bidirectional alignment of functional membrane layers. TEM characterization showed that the ultra-thin sections of membrane cross-sections prepared using the improved method were damage-free (0% damage rate), had uniform thickness, and showed distinct structural clarity. This method addressed three major challenges: (i) substrate-induced section damage, (ii) orientation deviation, and (iii) interlayer separation. This advancement provides researchers with a reliable tool for accurate cross-sectional analysis of composite membranes, facilitating deeper insights into membrane microstructure-performance relationships. Full article

Metastatic spread remains the primary cause of mortality in melanoma. Our aim was to investigate the role of dermal endothelial cells in modulating melanoma cell invasiveness and cytokine/chemokine pattern. Primary melanoma cell lines were co-cultured with human dermal endothelial cells and assessed using Matrigel invasion assays. Invasive and non-invasive subpopulations were separated for gene expression analyses, and candidate molecules were further evaluated in patient tissue and plasma samples. Co-culture of melanoma and dermal endothelial cells revealed altered expression of several cytokine receptor genes (CCR5, CXCR7, IL1RAPL2, IL4R, IL6ST, IL18R1, IL22RA2, TNFRSF10A, TNFRSF11B, and TNFRSF21). Analysis of clinical melanoma samples showed significant downregulation of IL1RAPL2 and TNFRSF10A in cutaneous metastases, whereas IL6ST expression correlated with Breslow thickness of the primary tumor rather than metastatic site. Proteome profiling of dermal endothelial cells revealed alterations in Midkine, GROα, MIP-3α, IL-8, and SDF-1 following co-culture with melanoma cells. Plasma measurements in melanoma patients confirmed elevated Midkine levels in skin metastases and decreased MIP-3α in metastatic disease. These results highlight potential cytokine and chemokine-mediated pathways involved in melanoma dermal invasion and cutaneous metastasis. While some findings did not reach statistical significance, concordant trends between in vitro and patient-derived data suggest their relevance and warrant further investigation in larger cohorts. Full article

Aim: A precise understanding of the morphometric characteristics of the infraorbital foramen (IOF) is essential for ensuring safe and effective surgical interventions and regional anesthesia in children and adolescents with cleft lip and palate (CLP). This study aimed to investigate the morphometric characteristics of the IOF using CBCT in children and adolescents with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and to compare the cleft side (CS) with the non-cleft side (NCS). Materials and Method: CBCT scans of 48 individuals with UCLP were analyzed, evaluating a total of 96 IOFs. Reference anatomical landmarks included the supraorbital margin (SOM), infraorbital margin (IOM), nasion (N), anterior nasal spine (ANS), tuber maxilla (TM), sella (S), lateral margin of the apertura piriform (LAP), jugale (J), and midline (M). Distances from the IOF to these landmarks were measured and compared between the CS and NCS. Soft tissue thickness over the IOF was also assessed, and the IOF shape was evaluated separately for each side. Results: The V-oval form was the most common IOF shape on both sides. No significant differences were found in vertical or horizontal diameters between the CS and NCS (p > 0.05). Distances from the IOF to IOM, SOM, S, N, LAP, and midline were significantly shorter on the CS (p < 0.05), whereas distances to ANS and J were significantly longer on the CS (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in IOF-TM distances or soft tissue thickness (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In individuals with UCLP, the IOF exhibits significant side-specific variations relative to key anatomical landmarks. These differences should be considered in infraorbital nerve block administration and surgical planning to improve accuracy and safety. Full article

Organic solvent nanofiltration (OSN) is a promising technology for solute removal from organic media, yet developing membranes with stable separation performance remains challenging. This study presents a solvent-resistant double-crosslinked nanofiltration membrane fabricated via a two-step strategy: preparation of the membrane by the polyion complexion reaction-assisted non-solvent-induced phase inversion (PIC-assisted NIPS) method and then post-crosslinking with hydrothermal treatment followed by quaternization with 1,3,5-tris(bromomethyl)benzene (TBB). To enhance solvent stability, molybdenum sulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets were incorporated into a hydrolyzed polyacrylonitrile (H-PAN) substrate. The H-PAN/MoS₂/PEI base membrane was fabricated by PIC-assisted NIPS with a polyethylenimine (PEI) aqueous solution as the coagulation bath. The membrane subsequently underwent dual crosslinking comprising hydrothermal treatment and 1,3,5-tris(bromomethyl)benzene (TBB)-mediated quaternization crosslinking, ultimately yielding the H-PAN/MoS₂/PEI (Ther.+TBB QCL) composite membrane. These crosslinking procedures reduced the membrane’s separation skin layer thickness from 64 nm (uncrosslinked) to 41 nm. The resultant membrane effectively separated dyes from ethanol, achieving a rejection rate of 97.0 ± 0.9% for anionic dyes (e.g., Congo Red) and a permeance flux of 23.6 ± 0.2 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹·bar⁻¹ at 0.4 MPa. Furthermore, after 30 days of immersion in ethanol at 25 °C, its flux decay rate was markedly lower than that of a non-crosslinked control membrane. The enhanced separation performance and stability are attributed to the thermal crosslinking promoting amide bond formation and the TBB crosslinking introducing quaternary ammonium groups. This double-crosslinking strategy offers a promising approach for preparing high-performance OSN membranes. Full article

Postmenopausal osteoporosis is characterized by progressive bone loss and deterioration of trabecular microarchitecture, yet safe and effective nutritional interventions remain limited. This study investigated the skeletal effects of whole sericin compared to isolated L-serine and calcium-only formulations in an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. Forty female Sprague–Dawley rats underwent either sham surgery or OVX, followed by 8 weeks of daily oral administration with vehicle (calcium + vitamin D, NS), sericin formulation (S55), or L-serine. Sham and untreated OVX groups served as controls. Serum D-serine concentrations and femoral trabecular microarchitecture were assessed using fluorometric assays and micro-computed tomography (μCT), respectively. OVX significantly decreased bone volume fraction (BV/TV), bone mineral density (BMD), and trabecular number, while increasing trabecular separation. Sericin supplementation markedly improved BV/TV, BMD, trabecular thickness, and trabecular number, and reduced trabecular separation compared to both vehicle and untreated OVX controls. Sericin improved multiple trabecular parameters compared with L-serine. Serum D-serine levels were significantly elevated in the sericin group relative to calcium-only controls, though comparable to sham. These findings suggest that whole sericin exerts skeletal benefits beyond those attributable to its primary amino acid component, supporting its potential as a functional food ingredient for enhancing postmenopausal bone health. Full article

Background/Objectives: To compare the treatment outcomes of intravitreal faricimab (IVF) and intravitreal aflibercept (IVA) in treatment-naïve patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), stratified by the presence or absence of punctate hyperfluorescence (PH). Methods: This retrospective study included 301 treatment-naïve patients with nAMD who underwent either IVF or IVA. After 1:1 propensity score matching based on baseline best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), age, and PH status, 56 eyes (28 per group) were analyzed within each PH subgroup. Outcome measures included BCVA, central retinal thickness (CRT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and no retinal fluid rate during the loading dose regimen, and the retreatment rate after the loading dose regimen. The prespecified primary endpoint was the 1-year retreatment rate after completion of the loading dose regimen, analyzed by Kaplan–Meier curves with log-rank tests. Comparisons were performed separately between the PH and non-PH groups. Results: In the PH group, no significant differences were observed between IVF and IVA groups in terms of BCVA, CRT, SFCT, no retinal fluid rate, or retreatment rate at any time point. In the non-PH group, IVF and IVA groups showed no significant differences in BCVA, CRT, or SFCT at any time point; however, the IVF group achieved a significantly higher no retinal fluid rate (100.0% vs. 64.3%, p < 0.001) and a lower retreatment rate at 1 year (71.4% vs. 92.9%, p = 0.004) than the IVA group. Conclusions: IVF and IVA showed comparable efficacy in nAMD with PH. In contrast, IVF demonstrated superior anatomical outcomes in nAMD without PH. These retrospective findings suggest distinct pathophysiological mechanisms between PH and non-PH subtypes. Full article

To address the limitations of existing models that typically treat crater formation and shear plugging as independent processes and only consider angle of attack effects during the initial crater phase, this study proposes a dynamic shear _plugging model for projectile penetration into thin concrete targets. The model is built upon the improved three-stage penetration theory and cavity expansion principles, and introduces a coupled cratering, plugging mechanism that captures the simultaneous interaction between these stages. A differential surface force approach is employed to describe the asymmetric stress distribution on the projectile nose under non-zero angle of attack conditions, while free surface effects are incorporated to refine local stress predictions. A series of validation experiments was performed with 30 mm rigid projectiles penetrating 27 MPa concrete slabs under different impact velocities and initial angles of attack. The results show that the proposed model achieves prediction errors of less than 20% for both residual velocity and exit attitude angle, significantly outperforming classical models such as those of Duan and Liu, which tend to underestimate post-impact deflection by treating cratering and plugging separately. Based on this validated framework, parametric studies were conducted to examine the effects of the initial inclination, impact velocity, and target thickness on the evolution of projectile attitude and angle of attack. The findings demonstrate that the dynamic shear plugging mechanism exerts a critical regulatory influence on projectile deflection during thin target penetration. This work, therefore, not only resolves the directional reversal issue inherent in earlier theories but also provides theoretical support for the engineering design of concrete protective structures subjected to angular impact conditions. Full article

Ion concentration polarization (ICP) is a promising electrokinetic technique for the concentration and separation of nanoparticles in microfluidic systems. In this study, we investigated how key parameters, including Nafion membrane thickness, applied voltage, and sample flow rate, influence the size of the ion depletion zone (IDZ), which is a critical factor governing ICP efficiency. Nafion membranes were fabricated via solution casting and patterning, producing non-uniform profiles with thinner centers and thicker edges. We found that thinner membranes (formed from 0.5 to 0.75 wt% solutions) led to IDZ widths 2–5 times greater than those of thicker membranes, likely due to nanogap formation at membrane-channel interfaces that enhanced ion transport. Additionally, higher applied voltages consistently enlarged the IDZ, consistent with the Nernst–Planck model, while increasing the flow rates reduced it. Notably, the combination of thin Nafion membranes and high voltage enabled stable IDZ formation, even at high flow rates. These findings offer important design insights for enhancing the performance and throughput of ICP-based nanoparticle manipulation devices. Full article

Membrane innovations have become a key solution for overcoming the bottlenecks in efficiency upgrade in many green energy fields. Membrane performance depends on two key parameters permeability and selectivity, which typically follow a trade-off relationship: improving one often diminishes the other. Two-dimensional (2D) materials, which have atomic-level thickness, tunable pore sizes, and reasonable functionalization, offer great promises to break through the trade-off effect and redesign high-efficiency mass transfer pathways. This review systematically presents recent efforts in both preparation and potential applications of 2D materials for overcoming the permeability–selectivity trade-off. It highlights four prevailing fabrication strategies: chemical vapor deposition, interfacial synthesis, solution-phase synthesis, and exfoliation, and shows some major optimization techniques for various 2D materials. Additionally, this review discusses emerging applications of 2D materials across critical fields from water treatment (seawater desalination, metal ion extraction) to energy technologies (osmotic power generation, direct methanol fuel cells, and vanadium redox flow batteries). Finally, the challenges and future prospects of 2D materials in ion separation and energy conversion are discussed. Full article