Search Results (12)

Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (EvC) is a rare genetic disorder (7:10,000,000) caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in EVC and EVC2, which are located in close proximity on chromosome 4p16.2 in a divergent orientation. These genes encode ciliary complex proteins essential for Hedgehog signaling. EvC is characterized by congenital heart disease (CHD), postaxial polydactyly, and rhizomelic shortening. We present a case of a female newborn from southeast Mexico carrying a novel missense variant in EVC, which is aligned with a systematic review aimed at exploring genotype–phenotype correlations in EVC-related EvC. A PRISMA-based systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and OVID/Medline (until December 2024). Studies reporting EVC variants in EvC were included. Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by four reviewers, and genotype–phenotype correlation analysis was conducted. Fifteen studies (n = 66 patients) met the inclusion criteria. The most prevalent features were postaxial polydactyly (95.5%), nail hypoplasia (68.2%), and CHD (66.7%) with atrioventricular canal as the most frequent subtype. Fifty-five distinct EVC variants across 132 alleles were identified, predominantly affecting the N-terminal region (first 699 amino acids). They were syndactyly correlated with pathogenic variants in exons 6, 12, and 13, which were proximal to the second and third coiled-coil domains. This review confirms the key clinical features of EVC-related EvC and highlights genetic heterogeneity. The correlation between syndactyly and specific exonic variants suggests potential genotype–phenotype associations, warranting further functional studies. Full article

Deviation of the nail plate in the transverse plane has traditionally been regarded as a postoperative complication following the definitive surgical treatment of ingrown toenails, particularly when only a single nail fold is addressed. The quantification and longitudinal comparison of the operated versus non-operated nail folds could elucidate potential transverse deviations of the nail plate. The objective of this study was to assess the presence or absence of transverse nail plate deviation following ingrown toenail surgery on a single nail fold. Methods: A cohort of 11 patients (three males, eight females) with recurrent ingrown toenails undergoing unilateral partial matricectomy were included in this study. Preoperative measurements were compared to those taken at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days postoperatively. Results: The analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in measurements between the operated and non-operated nail folds, nor were there significant changes in the measurements over time within each group (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Despite the absence of visible deviations in the orientation of the nail plate, the angular measurements post-surgery at 35 days showed no statistically significant alterations. The angular values observed across all time points appeared to be influenced by the intrinsic morphological characteristics of each nail plate. Full article

Iron palaeometallurgy was carried out on three artefacts, classified as nails and excavated from the archaeological site of Loiola (La Arboleda, Biscay, northern Spain), to investigate Roman manufacturing techniques. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) coupled with Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) and micro-Raman spectroscopy were used to obtain elemental composition and structural characterization of mineral phases. Metallurgical properties and crystallographic texture were studied by combining microscopic methods such as optical microscopy (OM), Electron Backscatter Diffraction realized in environmental mode (EBSD) and measurements of local Vickers microhardness. The three artefacts had different microstructures, distinguished by a large gradient of carbon content, although important segregations (inclusions) were observed in all of them. Two pearlite-rich artefacts showed a high density of structural defects (geometrically necessary dislocations and large crystallographic orientation gradients in pearlitic ferrite, curved pearlitic cementite) resulting from a high level of plastic deformation that occurred during the manufacturing process. The third artefact consisted of pure ferrite without structural defects. This one was clearly manufactured differently from the two others, so it probably had another functionality. Full article

This study investigated the effects of adhesive resination and bamboo strand content on the physical and mechanical properties of thick Bamboo-Wood-oriented strand board (BWOSB), such as the air dry density (ADD), internal bond strength (IB), water absorption thickness swelling (TS), modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and gluing properties. The raw materials used included large strands prepared from Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata), bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), and modified isocyanate resin (PMDI). In this study, BWOSB specimens with different adhesive resination and bamboo strand content were fabricated, and their physical–mechanical properties were examined. It was found that the physical and mechanical properties of BWOSB with 8% PMDI resination were better than those with 5%, and their gluing damage was mostly in the form of the tearing of the raised vascular bundles of bamboo strands and the wood-breaking damage of wood strands. With the increase in the proportion of bamboo strands, the internal bonding strength and the short-span shear strength of BWOSB showed a tendency to decrease at first and then increase. The swelling rate of the water absorption thickness showed a tendency to decrease, and the other properties of BWOSB did not show a clear correlation with the change in the proportion of bamboo strands. The unique gluing interface between the bamboo and wood strands, which either used the “keyway” type of gluing effect or the “nail” type of gluing effect, determined the gluing performance of BWOSB, and the proportion of bamboo and wood strands influenced the gluing interface and gluing type of BWOSB, which ultimately affected the gluing performance of BWOSBs. The proportion of bamboo and wood strands also affected the gluing properties of BWOSBs by influencing the gluing interface and gluing type. This study provides a reference for the development of the production process of thick BWOSB and its application in the field of heavy load construction. Full article

This paper is focused on the retrofitting techniques of Zuo-Dou connections in Dieh-Dou timber frames in Far East Asia. The target is to develop appropriate techniques for the reinforcement and maintenance of the wooden cultural heritage. A series of full-scale tests are intended for the evaluation of the rotational and shear characteristics of the various retrofitting techniques for the Zuo-Dou joints. These retrofitting techniques are conceived by this study based on the principles of the conservation of cultural heritage. The reversible materials, invisible layouts, and structurally efficient schemes are taken into account to figure out the reinforcement strategies. Regarding the conservation targets, this study applies the self-tapping screw (STS) and the bamboo nail for reinforcement. Corresponding to the loading circumstances, moment- and shear-constraining schemes are developed. The STS and the bamboo nail are applied by means of moment- or shear-constraining strategies. Then, rotational and shear tests are carried out to estimate the structural efficiency of the conceived retrofitting techniques. With the appropriate schemes, the STS and the bamboo nail contribute to the enhancement of the structural performance of the Zuo-Dou connection. The STS in a moment-constraining profile can ameliorate the Zuo-Dou’s rotational behaviour. As far as post retrofitting and preventing reinforcing are concerned, the STS reveals considerable structural efficiency. The bamboo nail in a shear-constraining scheme can increase the shear capacity of the Zuo-Dou joint. Besides the quantitative outcomes, these retrofitting techniques exhibit ductility and enhance the deformation processes of the connections. With the alternative fasteners, the slump or vibration during the deformation becomes moderate and the severe damages, such as rocking or block shear failure, are alleviated. The techniques and associated materials used in this study exhibit compatibility and feasibility for constraining the rotation, deformation, and crack of the Zuo-Dou connection. These effects are helpful for retaining the joints’ structural behaviour and contribute to the conservation of traditional timber constructions. Full article

Conventional cross-laminated timber is an engineered wood product consisting of solid-sawn lumber panels glued together. In this study, the structural behavior of solid wood panels of Nail-Cross-Laminated Timber (NCLT) panels connected with nails instead of glue was studied. The failure mode and nail deformation of the novel NCLT panels under axial compression load using eight full-scale NCLT panels was investigated. The effects of four key design parameters, namely, the nail type, number of nails, nail orientation angle, and nail slenderness ratio on axial compression performance of NCLT panels were also analyzed. In addition, a formula for predicting the axial compression bearing capacity of NCLT panels was developed. For calculation of the slenderness ratio, the moment of inertia of the full section or the effective section was determined based on the nail type, number of nails, angle of nail orientation and number of layers of the plate. Results showed that specimens connected by tapping screws had best compressive performance. Full article

In recent years there has been a growing interest in the use of proteins as biocompatible and environmentally friendly biomolecules for the design of wound healing and drug delivery systems. Keratin is a fascinating protein, obtainable from several keratinous biomasses such as wool, hair or nails, with intrinsic bioactive properties including stimulatory effects on wound repair and excellent carrier capability. In this work keratin/poly(butylene succinate) blend solutions with functional properties tunable by manipulating the polymer blending ratios were prepared by using 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol as common solvent. Afterwards, these solutions doped with rhodamine B (RhB), were electrospun into blend mats and the drug release mechanism and kinetics as a function of blend composition was studied, in order to understand the potential of such membranes as drug delivery systems. The electrophoresis analysis carried out on keratin revealed that the solvent used does not degrade the protein. Moreover, all the blend solutions showed a non-Newtonian behavior, among which the Keratin/PBS 70/30 and 30/70 ones showed an amplified orientation ability of the polymer chains when subjected to a shear stress. Therefore, the resulting nanofibers showed thinner mean diameters and narrower diameter distributions compared to the Keratin/PBS 50/50 blend solution. The thermal stability and the mechanical properties of the blend electrospun mats improved by increasing the PBS content. Finally, the RhB release rate increased by increasing the keratin content of the mats and the drug diffused as drug-protein complex. Full article

The pullout resistance and displacement performance of reinforcement have significant effects on the safe and economic design of a reinforced-soil system. In this study, the nail pullout tests are conducted to assess the pullout behavior of soil nail reinforcement at different levels in the soil slope of granular materials. The similitude laboratory models of a reinforced soil system with a scale of 1:10 are prepared. The construction sequence used in a full scale slope was precisely followed in the laboratory model. The models consist of a Perspex wall box filled with sand and steel bars as a reinforcement. The models of sand beds are formed using an automatic sand raining system. Devices and instruments are installed to record the nails pullout resistance and displacement. The tests are carried out at variable footing pressures to get the pullout force of the nails based on a strain control technique. The finite element models of nailed soil slope are also analyzed to validate the laboratory model results. It infers from the numerical model results that the laboratory models underestimate the pullout behavior of nail reinforcement in nailed soil slope. The pull-out force in nail reinforcement increases as the displacement increases and then decreases slightly and becomes constant with an increase in displacement in the case of deeper placed nails, but it becomes constant immediately for upper nails. Full article

The earth nailing system is a ground improvement technique used to stabilize earth slopes. The behavior of the earth nailing system is dependent on soil and nailing characteristics, such as the spacing between nails, the orientation, length, and method of installation of nails, soil properties, slope height and angle, and surcharge loading, among others. In the present study, a three-dimensional physical model was built to simulate a soil nailed slope with a model scale of 1:10 with various soil nail characteristics. The simulated models consist of Perspex strips as facing and steel bars as a reinforcing system to stabilize the soil slope. Sand beds in the model were formed, using a sand raining system. The performance of nailed soil slope models under three important nails characteristics, i.e., length, spacing and orientation, with varying surcharge loading were studied. It was observed that there is a reduction in the lateral movement of slope and footing settlements with an increase in length. It was found that the slope face horizontal pressure is non-linear with different nail characteristics. The increase in length and inclination of the soil nails decreased the vertical, horizontal stress and footing settlement, while the increase in spacing of the nails increased the vertical and horizontal stress behind the soil mass. Full article

ZnO nanorod arrays (ZNAs) with vertically-aligned orientation were obtained by a two-step aqueous solution method. The morphology of the ZnO nanorods was regulated by changing the precursor concentration and the growth time of each step. ZnO nanorods with distinct structures, including flat top, cone top, syringe shape, and nail shape, were obtained. Moreover, based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis, the possible growth mechanisms of different ZnO nanostructrues were proposed. The room-temperature PL spectra show that the syringe-shaped ZNAs with ultra-sharp tips have high crystalline quality. Our study provides a simple and repeatable method to regulate the morphology of the ZNAs. Full article

Structural damage inspection after an earthquake is essential for safety assessment of the affected wood-frame buildings and for making knowledgeable decision regarding their repair, renovation, or replacement. We present a polarimetric radar system for sensing the concealed wood-frames damaged by earthquakes. This system employs an antenna array consisting of four linearly polarized Vivaldi antennas recording full-polarimetric radar echoes in an ultra-wideband ranging from 1 to 20 GHz. The detailed design of the system and the signal processing algorithms for high-resolution 3D imaging are introduced. We conducted a number of surveys on damaged wooden wall specimens in laboratory. The experiment results indicate that the high-frequency radar waves can penetrate the wooden walls. Deformations of wooden structures (about 2 cm displacement) inside the wall, as well as the concealed small metal nails (about 3 mm in diameter and less than 2 cm in length) and bolts can be clearly imaged. The shape and orientation of the wooden members have shown a great sensitivity to the radar polarization. It is concluded that radar polarimetry can provide much richer information on the condition of concealed building structures than the conventional single-polarization subsurface penetrating radar. Full article

A key element in the seismic load resisting system of a wood framed structure is the shear wall which is typically sheathed on one side with plywood or oriented strand board (OSB) and gypsum on the other. The shear capacity of gypsum sheathed shear walls is typically neglected in high seismic areas due to the susceptibility of conventional drywall screw connections to damage caused by earthquakes. The earthquake resistance of an innovative viscoelastic (VE) gypsum shearwall is evaluated and compared to conventional structural and non-structural walls. Ten 8 ft × 8 ft wood framed wall specimens of three configurations [nailed-OSB, screw-gypsum, and VE polymer-gypsum] were subjected to a cyclic test protocol. The energy dissipation, stiffness, and damage characteristics of all shearwalls are reported herein. Testing results indicate the VE-gypsum walls can dissipate more energy than the OSB structural panels and 500% more energy that the conventional gypsum sheathed walls and contains a constant source of energy dissipation not seen in the structural and non-structural walls. The wall stiffness of the OSB wall degrades at a far greater rate that the VE gypsum wall and at continued cycling degrades below the VE wall stiffness. Unlike both of the conventional wall types, the VE wall showed no visible or audible signs of damage when subjected to shear displacements up to 1. Full article