Search Results (10)

Background: A persistent connection between the atria, known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO), is present in approximately 25% of the general population. PFO closure is indicated in patients under 60 years of age who have experienced an embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) confirmed by neurological imaging, and in selected cases of peripheral embolism. Follow-up after the procedure is indicated to confirm the position of the occluder, assess the effectiveness of the closure, and evaluate any potential thrombus formation on the device. Methods: We analyzed data from 75 consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous PFO closure procedures and were followed up for at least one year. The procedure was performed under fluoroscopy and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) guidance, and occluder size selection was made using TEE multiplanar imaging (MPR). All patients had standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) at 1 and 6–12 months after the procedure. To assess the long-term efficacy, contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler (ce-TCD) was performed at 12 months to record high-intensity transient signals (HITSs). Cases with positive ce-TCD had TEE performed. Results: During follow-up evaluations after 1 and 6–12 months (TTE), we did not observe any device dislodgements, thrombi, or residual leaks visible in TTE. ce-TCD detected HITSs in eight patients, prompting additional TEE examinations performed in seven cases. In five out of seven patients, a leak around the occluder was identified, including two patients with grade 2 HITSs. Conclusions: Assessing the effectiveness of PFO occluder placement is crucial for the residual embolic risk and thus the necessity of antithrombotic therapy. Even low grades of HITSs observed in ce-TCD help to identify patients with residual leaks confirmed in TEE. Full article

The behavior of gas emissions at the heading face of the coal mine is a key indicator of potentially harmful gas disaster risk, necessitating in-depth study via analytical and statistical methods. However, conventional prediction and evaluation methods depend on long-interval statistical data, which are too coarse for and lack the immediacy required for real-time applications. Based on the physical laws of gas storage and flow, a refined computational model has been developed to compute dynamic gas emission rates that vary with geology and excavating process. Furthermore, by comparing the computed outputs with actual monitoring data, it becomes possible to assess whether abnormal gas emissions are occurring. Methodologically, this model first applies the finite difference method to compute the dynamic gas flux and the dynamic residual gas content. It then determines the exposure duration of each segment of the roadway wall at any given moment, as well as the mass of newly dislodged coal. The total gas emission rate at a specific sensor location is obtained by aggregating the contributions from all of the exposed wall and the freshly dislodged coal. Owing to some simplifications, the model’s applicability is currently restricted to single, medium-thick coal seams. The model was preliminarily implemented in Python (3.13.2) and validated against a case study of an active heading face. The results demonstrate a strong concordance between model predictions and field measurements. The model notably captures the significant variance in emission rates resulting from different mining activities, the characteristic emission surges from dislodged coal and newly exposed coal walls, and the influence of sensor placement on monitoring outcomes. Full article

Rapid post-earthquake assessments of residential buildings are essential for preventing secondary disasters but typically require substantial human resources, with challenges related to accuracy and inspector safety. In wooden residential buildings, residual deformation can cause significant internal damage despite minor external indications. Thus, accurate evaluation of secondary components such as exterior walls and window frames is crucial. Although recent studies on digital assessment technologies focus mainly on reinforced concrete structures, limited research addresses wooden structures, especially considering residual deformation. This study proposes a rapid emergency risk assessment method utilizing 3D point cloud measurements obtained by a 3D scanning camera for densely built wooden residential areas. Its practicality was verified through three aspects. First, a comparison with conventional methods showed that the measurement accuracy of the proposed method is sufficient for practical use, with errors significantly lower than the inclination thresholds used in emergency risk assessments (e.g., 1/60 rad ≈ 1°). Second, in detection experiments using a deformed window frame model, the average error between the applied inclination and the measured values was less than 3%, demonstrating that deformation, dislodgement, and inclination of secondary components can be reliably detected from point cloud data. Third, field validation conducted in a commercial district confirmed that multiple buildings can be simultaneously measured and that individual buildings and their secondary components can be efficiently extracted and identified. Thus, this method demonstrates practical applicability and significantly improves the speed and efficiency of emergency assessments in densely built wooden residential areas. Full article

BioFlx crowns (BFCs) have been introduced in the dental market, combining the flexibility of stainless steel crowns (SSCs) with the esthetic appeal of preformed zirconia crowns. However, the existing literature does not provide adequate insights regarding the retentive strength of various types of luting cement with these newly developed BFCs. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and compare the retentive strength of BFCs and SSCs with different types of luting cement (glass ionomer cement [GIC], resin-modified glass ionomer cement [RMGIC], self-adhesive resin cement [SARC], and polycarboxylate cement [PXC]). A total of 160 standardized resin dies were fabricated and divided into two groups based on the type of crown (BFCs or SSCs). Each group was further subdivided into four subgroups (20/group) based on the luting cement used for cementing the crown on the die. A pullout test was performed using a universal testing machine to measure the retentive strength required for crown dislodgement. The residual cement in the crown was scored to determine the cement failure pattern. Data were analyzed using two-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs) to evaluate the interaction between the cement and the type of crown on retentive strength, followed by an independent t-test. Furthermore, Welch’s ANOVA and Dunnett’s T3 test were used to assess the impact of various types of luting cement on the retentive strength of each crown. The CFP was assessed by comparing the scores using descriptive statistics. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The mean retentive strength of SSCs and BFCs was the highest with SARC (560.29 ± 8.74 N; 657.72 ± 20.60 N), followed by RMGIC (534.20 ± 22.84 N; 454.90 ± 7.95 N) and GIC (435.14 ± 8.66 N; 237.68 ± 9.37 N), while the lowest was with PXC (365.67 ± 19.11 N; 131.26 ± 5.37 N). A significant difference in retention was observed between the crowns (p < 0.05). Cement failure primarily manifested as adhesive failures in the SARC and RMGIC groups; however, both adhesive and cohesive failures occurred in the GIC and PXC groups. Thus, SSCs demonstrate significantly higher retention than BFCs across all types of luting cements, except when using SARC. Within the limitations of this in vitro study, SSCs emerge as the preferred choice for full-coverage restorations that require optimal retention and durability. Nevertheless, BFCs with SARC provide a viable alternative when esthetic considerations are prioritized. Full article

Biofilm-related peri-implant diseases represent the major complication for osteointegrated dental implants, requiring complex treatments or implant removal. Microbial biosurfactants emerged as new antibiofilm coating agents for implantable devices thanks to their high biocompatibility. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of the rhamnolipid 89 biosurfactant (R89BS) in limiting Streptococcus oralis biofilm formation and dislodging sessile cells from medical grade titanium, but preserving adhesion and proliferation of human osteoblasts. The inhibitory activity of a R89BS coating on S. oralis biofilm formation was assayed by quantifying biofilm biomass and microbial cells on titanium discs incubated up to 72 h. R89BS dispersal activity was addressed by measuring residual biomass of pre-formed biofilms after rhamnolipid treatment up to 24 h. Adhesion and proliferation of human primary osteoblasts on R89BS-coated titanium were evaluated by cell count and adenosine-triphosphate quantification, while cell differentiation was studied by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity and observing mineral deposition. Results showed that R89BS coating inhibited S. oralis biofilm formation by 80% at 72 h and dislodged 63–86% of pre-formed biofilms in 24 h according to concentration. No change in the adhesion of human osteoblasts was observed, whereas proliferation was reduced accompanied by an increase in cell differentiation. R89BS effectively counteracts S. oralis biofilm formation on titanium and preserves overall osteoblasts behavior representing a promising preventive strategy against biofilm-related peri-implant diseases. Full article

Disodium carboxymethyl trithiocarbonate (DCMT) is considered to have the potential to replace sulfide and cyanide as a new chalcopyrite inhibitor. However, the effect of its application in the industrial field is often not ideal, mainly because the flotation involves solid, liquid and gas three-phase flotation systems, leading to many influencing factors, especially the chemical changes in pulp caused by the liquid phase. In order to promote the industrial application DCMT, we studied the effect of water quality in the flotation liquid phase on the inhibition of DCMT on chalcopyrite. Water quality generally involves the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water bodies. The water for beneficiation belongs to industrial water, and the main indicator of its water quality is the water hardness level. Flotation and contact angle studies showed that higher water hardness levels suppressed chalcopyrite inhibition by DCMT. Infrared and Raman spectra revealed that the free CO₃²⁻ and Ca²⁺ in water coordinated with the residual organic chains on the surface of the pretreated chalcopyrite and was subsequently adsorbed onto the chalcopyrite surface. Moreover, the addition of DCMT dislodged the captured CO₃²⁻ and Ca²⁺. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that DCMT could adsorb on the chalcopyrite surface and compete with the Ca²⁺. When Ca²⁺ was trapped on the chalcopyrite surface, there were fewer adsorption sites available to the DCMT, resulting in a lower inhibition capacity. Simultaneously, the presence of DCMT promoted the release of Ca²⁺ from the chalcopyrite surface. Therefore, the influence of water quality must be considered when designing a flotation reagent system, and the water hardness level should be reduced to optimize the flotation process. Full article

“Can systemic insecticides be used in bait spots in order to kill the adult olive fly?” Effort was directed toward providing an answer to that question. Both field and laboratory tests were implemented to detect the dislodgeable residues of dimethoate, phosmet and b-cyfluthrin in olive leaves and fruit using the LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS chromatographic techniques. Residues of dimethoate declined more over time than those of phosmet, while levels of beta-cyfluthrin remained almost stable, both in leaves and fruit. Additionally, significantly higher and faster toxicity of dimethoate and beta-cyfluthrin (>92%) compared to phosmet (80%) to fly adults was shown, which was reduced significantly after a two-week period. Conversely, 100% mortality of the larval stages within olive flesh was observed at the 2nd day for dimethoate and at the 7th day for phosmet. Although phosmet was not expected to contribute to preventing larval development, its application in bait sprays presented similar toxicity to that of dimethoate. However, no larval toxicity was recorded in beta-cyfluthrin. As a primary conclusion, we recommend the avoidance of the use of systemic insecticides in bait sprays. Full article

Sinus membrane perforation is the most frequent intraoperative complication occurring during maxillary sinus floor elevation. Although numerous techniques for perforation management are present, grafting material dissemination may still occur, representing a potential trigger factor leading to acute or chronic sinusitis. This case report describes two cases of xenogeneic bone substitute in gel form accidentally dispersed into the sinus cavity during maxillary sinus floor elevation with a transcrestal approach. In both cases, immediately postoperative radiographic imaging showed an important amount of gel graft dislodged into the sinus cavity as a consequence of hidden perforations that remained undetected during surgery. Patients were monitored for 6 months after surgery and reported no signs or symptoms related to possible sinus disease. Control radiographs showed no sinus membrane hypertrophy and/or presence of residual disseminated gel, confirming complete clearance of the accidentally dispersed graft through the ostiomeatal complex. In order to minimize postoperative complications, bone substitutes in gel form could represent an interesting alternative to granular grafts for their easier clearance from the maxillary sinus cavity in case of accidental dissemination during sinus augmentation procedures. Full article

This review focuses on self-cleaning surfaces, from passive bio-inspired surface modification including superhydrophobic, superomniphobic, and superhydrophilic surfaces, to active micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and digital microfluidic systems. We describe models and designs for nature-inspired self-cleaning schemes as well as novel engineering approaches, and we discuss examples of how MEMS/microfluidic systems integrate with functional surfaces to dislodge dust or undesired liquid residues. Meanwhile, we also examine “waterless” surface cleaning systems including electrodynamic screens and gecko seta-inspired tapes. The paper summarizes the state of the art in self-cleaning surfaces, introduces available cleaning mechanisms, describes established fabrication processes and provides practical application examples. Full article

Flowers are frequently treated with pesticides and, as a result, florists handling daily a large number of flowers can be exposed to pesticide residues. A study was conducted among twenty volunteer florists located in Namur Province and in the Brussels Capital Region of Belgium in order to assess their potential dermal exposure to dislodgeable pesticide residues transferred from flowers to hands. Two pairs of cotton gloves were worn during two consecutive half days while handling flowers and preparing bouquets (from min 2 h to max 3 h/day). The residual pesticide deposits on the glove samples were extracted with a multi-residue Quick Easy Cheap Effective Rugged Safe (QuEChERS) method and analyzed by a combination of gas and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS and LC-MS/MS) by an accredited laboratory. A total of 111 active substances (mainly insecticides and fungicides) were detected, with an average of 37 active substances per sample and a total concentration per glove sample of 22.22 mg/kg. Several predictive levels of contamination were considered to assess the risk. The potential dermal exposures (PDE) of florists were estimated at the average, for different percentiles, and at the maximum concentration of residues in samples. At the PDE P90 and at the PDE_MAX (or worst case) values, three and five active substances respectively exceed the Acceptable Operator Exposure Level (AOEL), indicating risk situations. For the systemic exposure (SE), one active substance (clofentezine) exceeds the AOEL at the P90 predictive level. In the worst case, SE_MAX (at the maximum concentrations), four active substances (clofentezine, famoxadone, methiocarb, and pyridaben) exceed their respective AOEL values. Among the 14 most frequently detected active substances, two have SE_MAX values exceeding the AOEL. Exposure could be particularly critical for clofentezine with an SE_MAX value four times higher than the AOEL (393%). The exposure of florists appeared to be an example of a unique professional situation in which workers are exposed regularly to both a very high number of toxic chemicals and rather high concentration levels. Therefore the priority should be to raise the level of awareness among the florists who must change their habits and practices if they want to minimize their exposure. Full article