Search Results (48)

Incremental sheet forming technology is finding increasing application in the production of components in many industries. This article presents the analysis of the formability of 0.68-mm-thick Zn-Cu-Ti alloy sheets during the single-point incremental forming (SPIF) of pyramid-shaped drawpieces. Basic mechanical properties of sheets were determined in a uniaxial tensile test. Formability tests were carried out using the Erichsen and Fukui methods. SPIF tests were carried out under the conditions of variable process parameters: tool diameter (12 and 20 mm), feed rate (500–3000 mm/min), tool rotational speed (250–3000 rpm), and step size (0.1–1.2 mm). The effect of SPIF process parameters on the value of basic mechanical parameters, maximum deviation of the measured wall profile from the ideal profile, limit-forming angle, and surface roughness of pyramid-shaped drawpieces was determined. It was found that increasing the step size resulted in a decrease in the value of the limit-forming angle. Both the step size and the tool rotational speed contribute to the increase of the maximum wall deviation. However, the use of higher feed rates and a larger tool diameter caused its reduction. Higher values of arithmetic mean surface roughness Ra were found for the outer surface of drawpieces. The use of a smaller step size with a larger tool diameter caused a reduction in the Ra value of the drawpiece wall. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that the Zn-Cu-Ti alloy demonstrates good suitability for SPIF when proper process parameters and sheet orientation are selected. An appropriate combination of tool diameter, feed rate, step size, and sample orientation can ensure the desired balance between dimensional accuracy, mechanical strength, and surface quality of the formed components. Full article

Dysregulated immune activation plays a key role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This study reviews immunological biomarkers associated with FTD and its subtypes. A systematic search of PubMed and Web of Science was conducted for studies published before 1 January 2025, focusing on immunological biomarkers in CSF or blood from FTD patients with comparisons to healthy or neurological controls. A total of 124 studies were included, involving 6686 FTD patients and 202 immune biomarkers. Key findings include elevated levels of GFAP and MCP1/CCL2 in both CSF and blood and consistently increased CHIT1 and YKL-40 in CSF. Complement proteins from the classical activation pathway emerged as promising targets. Distinct immune markers were found to differentiate FTD from Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), with GFAP, SPARC, and SPP1 varying between FTD and AD and IL-15, HERV-K, NOD2, and CHIT1 differing between FTD and ALS. A few markers, such as Galectin-3 and PGRN, distinguished FTD subtypes. Enrichment analysis highlighted IL-10 signaling and immune cell chemotaxis as potential pathways for further exploration. This study provides an overview of immunological biomarkers in FTD, emphasizing those most relevant for future research on immune dysregulation in FTD pathogenesis. Full article

Advanced high-strength steels are considered the first choice when manufacturing lighter vehicles. Quench-partitioning (QP) steels are good candidates that fulfill manufacturing and performance requirements with their outstanding strength and formability. Laser welding offers a productive solution to the challenges of liquid metal embrittlement due to a low heat input and higher welding efficiency. This study investigated the microstructural evolution and mechanical performance of dissimilar laser-welded joints between QP980 and QP1180 steels. The microstructure of the joint mainly consisted of martensite phase in the fusion zone (FZ) and super-critical heat-affected zone (HAZ). In the mid and sub-critical HAZ, the microstructure consisted of tempered martensite along with ferrite and retained austenite on both sides. Due to these microstructural evolutions, FZ and HAZ are strengthened, and thus, laser welds can be achieved without the formation of a visible soft zone. Fracture of the joints occurred in softer base metal (BM) with ductile characteristics without any considerable strength loss. However, the ductility of the joints was lower than that of BMs because of deformation localization due to microstructure, yield strength, and thickness variations in the tensile and Erichsen test specimens. These results show that laser welding can be considered an effective alternative for joining QP steels. Full article

Kidney stones typically present as renal colic in emergency departments (EDs), where patients experience severe pain and often require parenteral therapy for symptom management. The economic burden associated with managing kidney stones exceeds USD 5 billion annually in the US and accounts for more than a million visits to EDs each year. There is clear evidence emphasizing the need for innovative and alternative pain control options for patients with renal colic. Recent randomized controlled trials suggest that intranasal (IN) and intravenous (IV) ketamine are as effective as parenteral NSAIDs and opioids in treating renal colic. However, the limited studies available show inconsistent results regarding the analgesic effects of ketamine. In this study, we reviewed the mechanism of action of ketamine for kidney stones, its efficacy in treating acute renal colic, and the potential adverse side effects of ketamine treatment. A population, intervention, comparison, and outcome (PICO)-related question was formulated to guide our research inquiry: “What are the effects of IV or IN ketamine, as a single agent or as an adjuvant (I), in adult patients diagnosed with acute renal colic (P) on pain scale scores and adverse side effects (O) compared to NSAIDs and/or opioids (C)?” Full article

This study explores the development of Al-Mg alloy sheets manufactured through the Twin Roll Continuous Casting (TRC) technique, with the goal of enhancing their mechanical properties via thermomechanical processing. TRC is a cost-effective and efficient method for producing thin sheets directly from molten metal, and this work focuses on the deep drawability of AA5182, AA5754, and AA5052 alloys, widely used in automotive, packaging, and aerospace applications. Improving deep drawability is crucial for meeting the stringent requirements of these industries. The alloys were designed according to EN 573-3 standards, and sheet castings were carried out at both laboratory and industrial scales. Microstructure evolution was analyzed at the as-cast and final thicknesses using optical microscopy. The sheets underwent cold rolling to a thickness of 1 mm, followed by final annealing, and their mechanical properties—including yield strength, tensile strength, elongation, and anisotropy—were evaluated. The deep drawability of the sheets was assessed using Erichsen cupping tests and earing mechanisms. To further understand failure mechanisms, fracture surface morphologies were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was performed to analyze inclusions on fractured surfaces. The findings highlight the effectiveness of the TRC technique in producing high-performance Al-Mg sheets with mechanical properties comparable to or exceeding those of conventionally processed sheets. This study provides valuable insights into the optimization of alloy design and manufacturing methods, laying the groundwork for future advancements in TRC technology. Full article

In this study, the thermoforming formability of continuous glass fiber-reinforced polypropylene (CGFRPP) laminates below the melting temperature were investigated. The forming limits of CGFRPP laminates were explored using flexural tests, Erichsen tests and deep drawing tests. The failure mechanism of CGFRPP in thermoforming was investigated by observing typical failure specimens using a microscope. The results show that the flexural performance and Erichsen performance are optimal at 130 °C and 2 mm/min. At 160 °C and 100 mm/min, the deep drawing performance is optimal. The restriction of fibers by the matrix is affected by the deformation temperature, and the creation of defects is affected by the deformation rate. During forming, the CGFRPP laminates undergo shear and extrusion deformations, resulting in wrinkles, delamination, and fiber aggregation. Full article

Background/objectives: Iron deficiency anemia is common in patients with colorectal cancer and affects postoperative outcomes. Preoperative intravenous iron supplementation corrects anemia effectively; however, the effect on the postoperative clinical course is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of implementing a screening program for iron deficiency anemia and correction in patients with colorectal cancer. Methods: This was a retrospective single-institutional quality-assurance study that included patients undergoing elective surgery for colorectal cancer between January 2019 and December 2021. On 1 March 2020, screening for iron deficiency was implemented. Anemia was corrected by intravenous ferricarboyxmaltose. Patients with hemoglobin <7mmol/L and ferritin <30 µg/L or ferritin 30–100 µg/L and TSAT < 0.2 were divided into iron- and non-iron groups. The primary outcome was a change in hemoglobin concentration, and secondary outcomes included blood transfusion, complications, length of stay, mortality, and implementation efficacy. Data from the patients were extracted from digital patient charts and entered into a database. Results: A total of 532 patients were included, of which 177 patients (33.3%) were anemic, 63 were in the iron group, and 114 were in the non-iron group. Adherence to the screening program was 86.3%. Hemoglobin (iron group) increased from a mean of 5.7 mmol/L (SD 0.8) to 6.9 (0.8) mmol/L, p < 0.001. Iron treatment decreased transfusion rates from 27.7% to 9.1%, p = 0.007, and increased the rate of patients without complications from 53.2% to 79.6%, p < 0.001, which held true after controlling for confounding. In addition, 90-day mortality was lower in the iron group; however, this was not significant. Conclusions: Administration of intravenous iron increased hemoglobin, leading to reduced use of blood transfusion and fewer complications. Full article

Based on the impressive success of Car-T-cell therapy in the treatment of hematological malignancies, a broad application for solid tumors also appears promising. However, some important hurdles need to be overcome. One of these is certainly the identification of specific target antigens on cancer cells. Hypomethylation is a characteristic epigenetic aberration in many tumor entities. Genome-wide screenings for consistent DNA hypomethylations in tumors enable the identification of aberrantly upregulated transcripts, which might result in cell surface proteins. Thus, this approach provides a new perspective for the discovery of potential new Car-T-cell target antigens for almost every tumor entity. First, we focus on this approach as a possible treatment for prostate cancer. Full article

Placental nutrient transport capacity influences fetal growth and development; however, it is affected by environmental factors, which are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of the ovine placentome morphological subtype, tissue type, and maternal parenteral supplementation of arginine mono-hydrochloride (Arg) on nutrient transport capacity using a gene expression approach. Placentomal tissues of types A, B, and C morphologic placentome subtypes were derived from 20 twin-bearing ewes, which were infused thrice daily with Arg (n = 9) or saline (Ctrl, n = 11) from 100 to 140 days of gestation. Samples were collected at day 140 of gestation. Expression of 31 genes involved in placental nutrient transport and function was investigated. Differential expression of specific amino acid transporter genes was found in the subtypes, suggesting a potential adaptive response to increase the transport capacity. Placentomal tissues differed in gene expression, highlighting differential transport capacity. Supplementation with Arg was associated with differential expressions of genes involved in amino acid transport and angiogenesis, suggesting a greater nutrient transport capacity. Collectively, these results indicate that the morphological subtype, tissue type, and maternal Arg supplementation can influence placental gene expression, which may be an adaptive response to alter the transport capacity to support fetal growth in sheep. Full article

This study investigates the cold formability of twin-roll cast and rolled magnesium strips, specifically focusing on AZ31 and ZAX210 alloys. The aim is to assess the suitability of these alloys for various forming processes. The mechanical properties and formability characteristics of the strips were thoroughly examined to provide insights into their potential applications in transportation industries such as automotive and aerospace. The AZ31 and ZAX210 alloys were subjected to twin-roll casting and rolling processes to produce thin strips. The resulting strips were then evaluated for their cold formability. The results indicate that both alloys exhibit favourable cold formability. The ZAX210 alloy, in particular, demonstrates medium strengths with an average tensile strength of approximately 240 MPa at room temperature. The 0.2% proof stress values range between 136 MPa and 159 MPa, depending on the sampling direction. The total elongation values vary from 28% in the transverse direction to 32% at a 45° angle, indicating excellent ductility. Comparing the two alloys, the AZ31 alloy shows higher strengths due to its higher aluminium content. However, it also exhibits a more pronounced directional dependence of mechanical properties due to the formation of a strong basal texture during hot rolling. The transverse direction experiences reduced total elongation compared to the rolling direction, achieving only about 50% of the total elongation. The average Erichsen Index recorded for AZ31 and ZAX210 strips were 4.9 mm and 7.1 mm, respectively. The ZAX210 strip displays superior formability, which can be attributed to the fine-grained microstructure and the texture softening resulting from the weakening of the basal texture intensity and the splitting of the basal pole towards the rolling direction. In conclusion, the investigated twin-roll cast, rolled and annealed AZ31 and ZAX210 magnesium strips exhibit promising cold formability characteristics. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of their mechanical behaviour and can guide the selection and optimisation of these alloys for various forming applications. Full article

One of the main problems during sheet metal forming is the reduction in coefficient of friction and separation of contact surfaces in order to eliminate buildups of the formed material on the forming tools. For this purpose, technological lubricants based on mineral or synthetic oils are usually used. Unfortunately, their removal from the drawn parts and their subsequent utilization pose many problems and are expensive. Environmentally benign lubricants based on vegetable oils with the addition of boric acid could be an effective alternative to lubricants based on mineral and synthetic oils; however, the solubility of boric acid in oils is limited. Therefore, the paper proposes new, effective, and environmentally friendly methods for applying boric acid to the metal sheet by spraying it on a thin rapeseed oil layer previously applied to the metal sheet or by spraying a 25% solution of boric acid in methyl alcohol onto the sheet. The effectiveness of such lubrication was assessed on the basis of the so-called strip drawing test, Erichsen cupping test, and formation of cylindrical drawn parts in industrial conditions. The tests showed that the addition of boric acid was most effective for forming the DC01 steel sheet, reducing the coefficient of friction by about 60% compared to base oil lubrication. Although its usefulness is lower in the case of other frictional pairs, it eliminates the phenomenon of the formed material sticking to the tool, thus extending the life of the forming tools. The use of the proposed solution reduces production costs and indirectly boosts environmental protection. Moreover, an explanation of the tribological mechanism contributing to the lubrication action of boric acid is given. Full article

Podocytes are highly specialized cells that play a pivotal role in the blood filtration process in the glomeruli of the kidney, and their dysfunction leads to renal diseases. For this reason, the study and application of this cell type is of great importance in the field of regenerative medicine. Hypertension is mainly regulated by the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), with its main mediator being angiotensin II (ANG II). Elevated ANG II levels lead to a pro-fibrotic, inflammatory, and hypertrophic milieu that induces apoptosis in podocytes. The activation of RAAS is critical for the pathogenesis of podocyte injury; as such, to prevent podocyte damage, patients with hypertension are administered drugs that modulate RAAS signaling. A prime example is the orally active, non-peptide, selective angiotensin-II-type I receptor (AGTR1) blocker losartan. Here, we demonstrate that SIX2-positive urine-derived renal progenitor cells (UdRPCs) and their immortalized counterpart (UM51-hTERT) can be directly differentiated into mature podocytes. These podocytes show activation of RAAS after stimulation with ANG II, resulting in ANG II-dependent upregulation of the expression of the angiotensin-II-type I receptor, AGTR1, and the downregulated expression of the angiotensin-II-type II receptor 2 (AGTR2). The stimulation of podocytes with losartan counteracts ANG II-dependent changes, resulting in a dependent favoring of the specific receptor from AGTR1 to AGTR2. Transcriptome analysis revealed 94 losartan-induced genes associated with diverse biological processes and pathways such as vascular smooth muscle contraction, the oxytocin signaling pathway, renin secretion, and ECM-receptor interaction. Co-stimulation with losartan and ANG II induced the exclusive expression of 106 genes associated with DNA methylation or demethylation, cell differentiation, the developmental process, response to muscle stretch, and calcium ion transmembrane transport. These findings highlight the usefulness of UdRPC-derived podocytes in studying the RAAS pathway and nephrotoxicity in various kidney diseases. Full article

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major kidney disease with a poor clinical outcome. It is a common complication, with an incidence of 10–15% of patients admitted to hospital. This rate even increases for patients who are admitted to the intensive care unit, with an incidence of >50%. AKI is characterized by a rapid increase in serum creatinine, decrease in urine output, or both. The associated symptoms include feeling sick or being sick, diarrhoea, dehydration, decreased urine output (although occasionally the urine output remains normal), fluid retention causing swelling in the legs or ankles, shortness of breath, fatigue and nausea. However, sometimes acute kidney injury causes no signs or symptoms and is detected by lab tests. Therefore, the identification of cytokines for the early detection and diagnosis of AKI is highly desirable, as their application might enable the prevention of the progression from AKI to chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this study, we analysed the secretome of the urine of an AKI patient cohort by employing a kidney-biomarker cytokine assay. Based on these results, we suggest ADIPOQ, EGF and SERPIN3A as potential cytokines that might be able to detect AKI as early as 24 h post-surgery. For the later stages, as common cytokines for the detection of AKI in both male and female patients, we suggest VEGF, SERPIN3A, TNFSF12, ANPEP, CXCL1, REN, CLU and PLAU. These cytokines in combination might present a robust strategy for identifying the development of AKI as early as 24 h or 72 h post-surgery. Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of patient and healthy urine on human podocyte cells. We conclude that cytokines abundant in the urine of AKI patients trigger processes that are needed to repair the damaged nephron and activate TP53 and SIRT1 to maintain the balance between proliferation, angiogenesis, and cell cycle arrest. Full article

Incremental sheet forming (ISF) requires no or partial dies for sheet metal fabrication and is widely used for small batch production. In this process, necking is either suppressed or delayed due to the localized nature of tool–sheet contact; hence, more strains than conventional stamping and deep drawing are obtained. In the present study, two variations of ISF, namely cold ISF (CISF) and warm ISF (WISF), are compared. First, FEA modeling is carried out on ABAQUS to reach the forming forces involved in the process. It is found that WISF reduces the forming forces. The temperature for WISF is maintained at 180 °C. Following the simulation analysis, tests are carried out. The forming force in WISF is 55.77% less than that in CISF. The part fabricated by CISF is slightly more substantial than that by WISF; however, more forming depth can be achieved by WISF. There is a more uniform thickness distribution in the case of CISF than in WISF. However, the surface quality of the CISF product is inferior to that of WISF. It is observed that there is reduced forming force, increased formability, and better strain distribution in WISF compared to CISF. However, post-processing heat treatment and surface polishing of the formed parts is required to restore their mechanical properties. Full article

Friction, wear, and lubrication are inherent to all metal-forming processes. Unfortunately, they are particularly troublesome when forming titanium materials, which tend to form titanium buildup on the working surfaces of the forming tools. Lubrication is one of the most effective ways to separate contacting surfaces and eliminate galling, thus reducing tool wear. The paper presents the tribological aspects of titanium sheets forming using environmentally friendly lubricants with the addition of boric acid. The lubricant’s effectiveness was assessed on the basis of technological tests, such as the strip drawing test, the Erichsen cupping test, and the formation of spherical drawn parts in industrial conditions. Moreover, the results of the numerical simulation of forming a titanium hat-shaped part are presented. Numerical calculations of forming processes were performed using the PamStamp 2G system based on the finite element method. Both experiments and numerical analyses showed the positive effect of lubricants with boric acid on sheet titanium forming. Full article