Iron-promoted zirconia-alumina supported Ni catalyst for highly efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production via dry reforming of methane.

Developing cost-effective and high-performance catalyst systems for dry reforming of methane (DRM) is crucial for producing hydrogen (H2) sustainably. Herein, we investigate using iron (Fe) as a promoter and major alumina support in Ni-based catalysts to improve their DRM performance. The addition of iron as a promotor was found to add reducible iron species along with reducible NiO species, enhance the basicity and induce the deposition of oxidizable carbon. By incorporating 1 wt.% Fe into a 5Ni/10ZrAl catalyst, a higher CO2 interaction and formation of reducible "NiO-species having strong interaction with support" was observed, which led to an ∼80% H2 yield in 420 min of Time on Stream (TOS). Further increasing the Fe content to 2wt% led to the formation of additional reducible iron oxide species and a noticeable rise in H2 yield up to 84%. Despite the severe weight loss on Fe-promoted catalysts, high H2 yield was maintained due to the proper balance between the rate of CH4 decomposition and the rate of carbon deposit diffusion. Finally, incorporating 3 wt.% Fe into the 5Ni/10ZrAl catalyst resulted in the highest CO2 interaction, wide presence of reducible NiO-species, minimum graphitic deposit and an 87% H2 yield. Our findings suggest that iron-promoted zirconia-alumina-supported Ni catalysts can be a cheap and excellent catalytic system for H2 production via DRM.

Co-doped cryptomelane-type manganese oxide in situ grown on a nickel foam substrate for high humidity ozone decomposition.

Monolithic catalysts with excellent O3 catalytic decomposition performance were prepared by in situ loading of Co-doped KMn8O16 on the surface of nickel foam. The triple-layer structure with Co-doped KMn8O16/Ni6MnO8/Ni foam was grown spontaneously on the surface of nickel foam by tuning the molar ratio of KMnO4 to Co(NO3)2·6H2O precursors. Importantly, the formed Ni6MnO8 structure between KMn8O16 and nickel foam during in situ synthesis process effectively protected nickel foam from further etching, which significantly enhanced the reaction stability of catalyst. The optimum amount of Co doping in KMn8O16 was available when the molar ratio of Mn to Co species in the precursor solution was 2:1. And the Mn2Co1 catalyst had abundant oxygen vacancies and excellent hydrophobicity, thus creating outstanding O3 decomposition activity. The O3 conversion under dry conditions and relative humidity of 65%, 90% over a period of 5 hr was 100%, 94% and 80% with the space velocity of 28,000 hr-1, respectively. The in situ constructed Co-doped KMn8O16/Ni foam catalyst showed the advantages of low price and gradual applicability of the preparation process, which provided an opportunity for the design of monolithic catalyst for O3 catalytic decomposition.

Design and application of an ultrasensitive and selective tobromycin electrochemiluminescence aptasensor using MXene /Ni/Sm-LDH-based nanocomposite.

Using a chemiluminescence reaction between luminol and H2O2 in basic solution, an ultrasensitive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) aptasensor was developed for the determination of tobramycin (TOB), as an aminoglycoside antibiotic. Ti3C2/Ni/Sm-LDH-based nanocomposite effectively catalyzes the oxidation of luminol and decomposition of H2O2, leading to the formation of different reactive oxygen species (ROSs), thus amplifying the ECL signal intensity of luminol, which can be used for the determination of TOB concentration. To evaluate the performance of the electrochemiluminescence aptasensor and synthesized nanocomposite, different methods such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses were performed. The considerable specific area, large number of active sites, and enhanced electron transfer reaction on this nanocomposite led to the development of an ECL aptasensor with high sensitivity and electrocatalytic activity. After optimizing the preparation method and analysis conditions, the aptasensor revealed a wide linear response ranging from 1.0 pM to 1.0 µM with a detection limit of 18 pM, displaying outstanding accuracy, specificity, and response stability. The developed ECL sensor was found to be applicable to the determination of TOB in human serum samples and is anticipated to possess excellent clinical potentials for detecting other antibiotics, as well.

Bimetal loaded graphitic carbon nitride with synergistic enhanced peroxidase-like activity for colorimetric detection of p-phenylenediamine.

In recent years, great progress has been made on the study of nanozymes with enzyme-like properties. Here, bimetallic Fe and Ni nanoclusters were anchored on the nanosheets of nitrogen-rich layered graphitic carbon nitride by one-step pyrolysis at high temperature (Fe/Ni-CN). The loading content of Fe and Ni on Fe/Ni-CN is as high as 8.0%, and Fe/Ni-CN has a high specific surface area of 121.86 m2 g-1. The Fe/Ni-CN can effectively oxidize 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) in the presence of H2O2, and exhibits efficient peroxidase-like activity, leading to a 17.2-fold increase compared to pure graphitic carbon nitride (CN). Similar to the natural horseradish peroxidase (HRP), the Fe/Ni-CN nanozyme follows catalytic kinetics. The Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) value of the Fe/Ni-CN nanozyme for TMB is about 8.3-fold lower than that for HRP, which means that the Fe/Ni-CN nanozyme has better affinity for TMB. In addition, the catalytic mechanism was investigated by combination of free radical quenching experiments and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations. The results show that the high peroxidase-like activity is due to the easy adsorption of H2O2 after bimetal loading, which is conducive to the production of hydroxyl radicals. Based on the extraordinary peroxidase-like activity, the colorimetric detection of p-phenylenediamine (PPD) was constructed with a wide linear range of 0.2-30 µM and a low detection limit of 0.02 µM. The sensor system has been successfully applied to the detection of residual PPD in real dyed hair samples. The results show that the colorimetric method is sensitive, highly selective and accurate. This study provides a new idea for the efficient enhancement of nanozyme activity and effective detection of PPD by a bimetallic synergistic strategy.

Deciphering the catalytic activity of nickel anchored on Fe3O4@SiO2@3-CPMS@L as a magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst for the efficacious reduction of 4-nitrophenol, nitrobenzene, and methyl orange.

In this paper, a versatile heterogeneous nanocatalyst was fabricated employing a self-assembly technique. To commence, Fe3O4 MNPs were coated with a thin layer of SiO2 using the stobbers method. Subsequently, the surface was further functionalized with 3-CPMS, followed by a reaction with a Schiff base. Finally, nickel NPs were deposited on the surface through in situ deposition, forming the Fe3O4@SiO2@3-CPMS@L-Ni magnetic nanocatalyst. The architecture of this magnetic nanocatalyst was meticulously characterized through an array of sophisticated techniques: XRD, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, BET and VSM. The XRD diffraction pattern confirmed the presence of Fe3O4 MNPs, SiO2, and Ni peaks, providing evidence for successful synthesis. Moreover, the successful functionalization with a Schiff base was demonstrated by the presence of an azomethane peak in the FTIR spectra of the synthesized nanocatalyst. The fabricated nanocatalyst was adeptly utilized for the reduction of 4-NP, NB, and MO demonstrating a remarkably elevated rate of catalytic efficacy. Moreover, this catalyst was effortlessly retrievable through the application of an external magnet, and it maintained its catalytic prowess across at least six consecutive cycles. The utilization of water as an environmentally friendly solvent, coupled with the utilization of abundant and cost-effective nickel catalyst instead of the costly Pd or Pt catalysts, along with the successful recovery and scalability of the catalyst, render this method highly advantageous from both environmental and economic perspectives for the reduction of 4-NP, NB, and MO.

Frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and related biochemical parameters in welders.

Stainless steel welders are exposed to heavy filler metals. We evaluated the concentration of these metals in whole blood and urine, and the relevant biochemical parameters in relation to the total chromosomal aberrations (CAs), chromatid-type (CTA-type, CTAs) and chromosome-type (CSA-type, CSAs), in 117 welders and control individuals. Statistically higher concentrations of the total Cr, Ni and Mn were observed in whole blood and urine of welders, and the concentrations were higher in welders who smoked. On the contrary, concentrations of urinary heavy metals Cr and Mn adjusted for creatinine were significantly higher in the control groups. A statistically higher frequency of total CAs was observed in the whole group of welders, and also in the non-smoking welders, as compared to controls. The frequency of total CAs significantly correlated with the concentration of Cr, Ni and Mn in whole blood (R=0.61, P˂0.0001, R=0.33, P˂0.0001 and R=0.66, P˂0.0001, respectively), with urinary concentrations of Ni and Mn (R=0.27, P=0.003 and R=0.28, P=0.003, respectively) and with urinary concentrations of Cr, Ni and Mn adjusted for creatinine (R=0.22, P=0.029, R=0.26, P=0.005 and R=0.20, P=0.030, respectively). Likewise, the frequency of CTA-types significantly correlated with the concentration of Cr and Mn in whole blood (R=0.31, P=0.0007 and R=0.34, P=0.0002). The frequency of CSA-types significantly correlated with concentrations of Cr, Ni and Mn in whole blood (R=0.43, P˂0.0001, R=0.38, P˂0.0001 and R=0.46, P˂0.0001, respectively). The statistically higher values of serum creatinine and total bilirubin were detected in all welders, as well as in smokers when compared to the corresponding controls. The exposure to heavy metals in welders increased the frequencies of CAs and altered the balance between urinary excretion of heavy metals and their possible accumulation.

Predicting nickel concentration in soil using fractional-order derivative and visible-near-infrared spectroscopy indices.

Accurate monitoring and estimation of heavy metal concentrations is an important process in the prevention and treatment of soil pollution. However, the weak correlation between spectra and heavy metals in soil makes it difficult to use spectroscopy in predicting areas with a risk of heavy metal pollution. In this paper, a method for detection of Ni in soil in eastern China using the fractional-order derivative (FOD) and spectral indices was proposed. The visible-near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectra were preprocessed using the FOD (range: 0 to 2, interval: 0.1) to solve the problems of baseline drift and overlapping peaks in the original spectra. The product index (PI), ratio index (RI), sum index (SI), difference index (DI), normalized difference index (NDI), and brightness index (BI) were applied and compared. The results showed that the spectral detail increased as the FOD increased, and the interference of the baseline drift and overlapping peaks was eliminated as the spectral reflectance decreased. Furthermore, the FOD extracted the spectral sensitivity information more effectively and improved the correlation between the Vis-NIR spectra and the Ni concentration, and the NDI had a maximum correlation coefficient (r) of 0.803 for order 1.9. The estimation model based on the NDI dataset constructed after FOD processing had the best performance, with a validation accuracy [Formula: see text] of 0.735, RMSE of 3.848, and RPD of 2.423. In addition, this method is easy to carry out and suitable for estimating other heavy metal elements in soil.

Exploring a facile preparation method for Co-Ni/MoS2-derived nanohybrid from wheat straw extract and its physicochemical properties.

This study presents a novel approach for the fabrication of a Co,Ni/MoS2-derived nanohybrid material using wheat straw extract. The facile synthesis method involves a sol-gel process, followed by calcination, showcasing the potential of agricultural waste as a sustainable reducing and chelating reagent. The as-prepared nanohybrid has been characterized using different techniques to analyse its physicochemical properties. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of the nanohybrid material, identifying the presence of NiMoO4, CoSO4 and Mo17O47 as its components. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy differentiated the functional groups present in the wheat straw biomass and those in the nanohybrid material, highlighting the formation of metal-oxide and sulphide bonds. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a heterogeneous morphology with agglomerated structures and a grain size of around 70 nm in the nanohybrid. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis shows the composition of elements with weight percentages of (Mo) 9.17%, (S) 6.21%, (Co) 12.48%, (Ni) 12.18% and (O) 50.46% contributing to its composition. Electrochemical analysis performed through cyclic voltammetry showcased the exceptional performance of the nanohybrid material as compared with MoS2, suggesting its possible applications for designing biosensors and related technologies. Thus, the research study presented herein underscores the efficient utilization of natural resources for the development of functional nanomaterials with promising applications in various fields. This study paves a way for manufacturing innovation along with advancement of novel synthesis method for sustainable nanomaterial for future technological developments.

[Study on fatigue resistance of mechanical nickel-titanium files by phase-locked infrared flaw detection method].

PURPOSE: The movement trend of the posterior teeth and the distribution of the periodontal membrane stress were studied by using three-dimensional digital technology. METHODS: CBCT data of 88 patients admitted to our hospital from June 2017 to June 2022 were selected, and input into Mimics20.0 software for preliminary extraction of all parts and stored with STL files; then the data were repaired and optimized through Geomagic Studio 2014 software. With the help of normal phase extension, the invisible appliance and periodontal membrane were constructed. Finally, the six FEM models were simulated and observed by the current teeth in different groups. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 21.0 software package. RESULTS: The effect force of the largest periodontal membrane was distributed in the neck of the tooth, followed by the apical area, with the maximum effect force value in the NA group. In all accessory groups, the periodontal membrane maximum paradigm isoeffect force values of all patients in the accessory vertical rectangular group were significantly smaller than the values obtained in the horizontal rectangular group. CONCLUSIONS: The design of orthodontic tooth accessories has a strong inhibition effect on the position movement of anterior teeth during recovery, which improves the accuracy of tooth three-dimensional movement to a certain extent. Meanwhile, the normal equivalent stress of the periodontal membrane of patients in the initial application of the invisible appliance without brackets is large.

[Study on fatigue resistance of mechanical nickel-titanium files by phase-locked infrared flaw detection method].

PURPOSE: The fatigue resistance of mechanical nickel-titanium files was tested by phase-locked infrared flaw detection method, in order to timely detect instrument wear, providing reference for clinical safe use and timely abandonment of nickel-titanium files. METHODS: Twenty sets of mechanical nickel-titanium files were selected from Reciproc-Blue(RB), MTWO and S3 respectively, and resin simulated root canals with 60° and 90° bending were prepared, which were divided into 6 subgroups. The fatigue value after use, the number of uses before breaking and the length of fracture of file 25# of each group of files were recorded and compared with SPSS 26.0 software package. RESULTS: With the increase of the times of use, the fatigue value of the three kinds of files increased gradually. Among the two types of curved root canals, the number of uses before fracture in RB group was significantly increased compared with that in MTWO group and S3 group (P＜0.05). The number of uses of the three kinds of files in the 90° curved root canal were significantly less than in the corresponding groups in the 60° curved root canal(P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in the length of fracture among the three kinds of files(P＞0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Phase-locked infrared flaw detection method can be used for non-destructive testing and quantitative analysis of the fatigue degree of nickel-titanium files.

Nickel-ion substituted hydroxyapatite matrices for metal-affinity chromatographic purification of recombinant proteins.

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) is a calcium phosphate ceramic, widely used as a matrix for protein chromatography. The crystal structure of HAp is amenable to a wide range of substitutions, thus allowing for the alteration of its properties. In this study, nickel-ion substituted HAp (NiSHAp) was synthesized using a wet-precipitation method, followed by spray drying. This resulted in the structural incorporation of nickel ions within well-defined microspheres, which were suitable for chromatographic applications. The chromatographic experiments were conducted with NiSHAp and compared with spray-dried hydroxyapatite (SHAp) matrices. Protein purification experiments were conducted using refolded recombinant L-asparaginase (L-Asp), which was produced as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli. The results showed that NiSHAp effectively adsorbed L-Asp, which was selectively eluted using a phosphate buffer, surpassing the efficiency of imidazole-based elution. In contrast, SHAp showed weaker binding and lower selectivity. The significance of this study lies in developing a scalable NiSHAp matrix for protein purification, especially for large-scale applications. The NiSHAp matrix offers a cost-effective alternative to commercial immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) adsorbents, especially for purifying His-tagged proteins. This innovative approach exhibits the advantages of mixed-mode chromatography by combining the properties of hydroxyapatite and IMAC in a single matrix, with the potential of improved industrial-scale protein purification.

An ecofriendly approach to bioremediate nickel oxide nanoparticles using a macrofungus, Pleurotus fossulatus.

Nowadays, nickel oxide nanoparticles are in great demands owing to their use in many sectors. These nanoparticles may release into aquatic environment from different industries and cause negative effect on aquatic flora and fauna. Therefore, an effective and efficient method is required to remove these nanoparticles from contaminated water. Hence, the aim of this study was to bioremediate nickel oxide nanoparticles using a macrofungus, Pleurotus fossulatus, and to analyze its impact on fungal physiology. For this purpose, fungal spawns were inoculated in malt dextrose agar media containing different concentrations of nickel oxide nanoparticles (24 mg/l, 48 mg/l, and 100 mg/l) as well as control group (having no nickel oxide nanoparticles) and allowed to grow for a period of 20 days. Fungal mycelia as well as media were collected at different time intervals (5th day, 10th day, 15th day, and 20th day) for evaluation of Ni concentration and different biochemical parameters. Ni removal efficiency of P. fossulatus from media was found to be highest in 48 mg/l (66.98%) followed by 24 mg/l (60.83%) and 100 mg/l (18.03%), respectively. Increased level of metallothionein, lipid peroxidation, activity of different antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione s transferase, glutathione reductase), activity of ligninolytic enzymes (laccase, lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase), and shift in FTIR spectra were also reported in mycelia cultured in malt dextrose agar media containing nickel oxide nanoparticles. This study suggests that P. fossulatus has great efficiency to remediate nanoparticles from contaminated water and it can be utilized as potential agent in wastewater treatment plants by different industries.

In silico analysis of the impact of toxic metals on COVID-19 complications: molecular insights.

COVID-19 can cause a range of complications, including cardiovascular, renal, and/or respiratory insufficiencies, yet little is known of its potential effects in persons exposed to toxic metals. The aim of this study was to answer this question with in silico toxicogenomic methods that can provide molecular insights into COVID-19 complications owed to exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel, and chromium. For this purpose we relied on the Comparative Toxicogenomic Database (CTD), GeneMANIA, and ToppGene Suite portal and identified a set of five common genes (IL1B, CXCL8, IL6, IL10, TNF) for the six metals and COVID-19, all of which code for pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The list was expanded with additional 20 related genes. Physical interactions are the most common between the genes affected by the six metals (77.64 %), while the dominant interaction between the genes affected by each metal separately is co-expression (As 56.35 %, Cd 64.07 %, Pb 71.5 %, Hg 81.91 %, Ni 64.28 %, Cr 88.51 %). Biological processes, molecular functions, and pathways in which these 25 genes participate are closely related to cytokines and cytokine storm implicated in the development of COVID-19 complications. In other words, our findings confirm that exposure to toxic metals, alone or in combinations, might escalate COVID-19 severity.

In situ electro-generated Ni(OH)2 synergistic with Cu cathode to promote direct ammonia oxidation to nitrogen.

To solve the problem of low removal rate and poor N2 selectivity in direct electrochemical ammonia oxidation (EAO), commercial Ni foam and Cu foam were used as anode and cathode of the EAO system, respectively. The coupling effect between the cathode and anode promoted nitrogen cycling during the reaction process, which improved N2 selectivity of the reaction system and promoted it to achieve a high ammonia removal rate. This study showed that the thin Ni(OH)2 with oxygen vacancy formed on the surface of Ni foam anode played an effective role in the dimerization of intermediate products in ammonia oxidation to form N2. This electrochemical system was used to treat real goose wastewater containing 422.5 mg/L NH4+-N and 94.5 mg/L total organic carbon (TOC). After treatment, this electrochemical system achieved good performance with an ammonia removal rate of 87%, N2 selectivity of 77%, and TOC removal rate of 72%. Therefore, this simple and efficient system with Ni foam anode and Cu foam cathode is a promising method for treating ammonia nitrogen wastewater.

Diverse Synthesis of C-Glycosides by Stereoselective Ni-Catalyzed Carboboration of Glycals.

C-Glycosides are important structures that are common to natural products and pharmaceutical agents. Established methods for their synthesis involve the reaction of an activated anomeric carbon. In this study, we report a conceptually new approach that involves the stereoselective Ni-catalyzed carboboration of glycals. In these reactions, not only is a C-C bond formed at the anomeric carbon, but a synthetically useful C-B bond is also installed. Upon C-B oxidation, differentially protected C-glycosides to be formed. In addition, stereospecific manipulation of the C-B bond leads to diverse C-glycosides. Finally, we report the application of this method in the synthesis of established C-glycosides, such as C-glycosyl amino acids, as well as a strategy to make all possible diastereomers at C1 and C2.

Friction versus frictionless mechanics during maxillary en-masse retraction in adult patients with Class I bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Extraction space closure is a challenging phase during orthodontic treatment that affects not only the total treatment duration but also the whole treatment outcome. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency of friction and frictionless mechanics during en-masse retraction of maxillary anterior teeth in adult patients with bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion. TRIAL DESIGN: Two-arm parallel group, single-center randomized clinical trial. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two adult patients with bimaxillary protrusion were recruited and randomly allocated to two different retraction mechanics. A friction group, using NiTi coil springs and a frictionless group using closing T-loops for en-masse retraction. Randomization in a 1:1 ratio was generated by Microsoft Excel. The randomization numbers were secured in opaque sealed envelopes for allocation concealment. Retraction started in all patients following first premolars extraction using miniscrews as a source of indirect anchorage. Activation was done on a monthly basis until complete retraction of anterior segment. The rate of retraction, amount of anchorage loss, the dental, and soft tissue changes were analyzed on digital models and lateral cephalograms taken before retraction and after space closure. BLINDING: The outcome assessor was blinded through data concealment during assessment. RESULTS: Two patients were lost to follow up, so 30 patients completed the trial. The rate of anterior segment retraction was 0.88 ±â€…0.66 mm/month in the frictionless group compared to 0.72 ±â€…0.36 mm/month in the friction group which was statistically significant. Anchorage loss of 1.18 ±â€…0.72 mm in the friction group compared to 1.29 ±â€…0.55 mm in the frictionless group with no significant difference. Comparable dental and soft tissue changes following en-masse retraction were reported in both groups, with no statistically significant difference. HARM: one patient complained of soft tissue swelling following miniscrew insertion, but the swelling disappeared after one week of using mouth wash. LIMITATION: The study focused only on the maxillary arch. CONCLUSION: Both mechanics have successfully achieved the required treatment objectives in patients with bimaxillary dentoalveolar protrusion. Frictionless group showed a faster rate of retraction than the friction group, which was statistically but not clinically significant. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov with the identifier NCT03261024.

Structure Engineering of Ni/SiO2 Vegetable Oil Hydrogenation Catalyst via CeO2.

Inspired by our finding that metallic Ni particles could be uniformly distributed on a reduced CeO2 surface and stabilized on Ce3+ sites, we suppose a possible improvement in the activity and selectivity of the MgNi/SiO2 vegetable oil hydrogenation catalyst by increasing the surface metal Ni availability via modification by ceria. The proposed approach involved the addition of a CeO2 modifier to the SiO2 carrier and as a catalyst component. Evaluation of the structure, reducibility, and surface and electronic states of the CeO2-doped MgNi/SiO2 catalyst was performed by means of the Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) combined with High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Temperature-programmed reduction with hydrogen (H2-TPR), and H2-chemisortion techniques. So far, no studies related to this approach of designing Ni/SiO2 catalysts for the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oil have been reported. The added ceria impact was elucidated by comparing fatty acid compositions obtained by the catalysts at an iodine value of 80. In summary, tuning the hydrogenation performance of Ni-based catalysts can be achieved by structural reconstruction using 1 wt.% CeO2. The introduction mode changed the selectivity towards C18:1-cis and C18:0 fatty acids by applying ceria as a carrier modifier, while hydrogenation activity was improved upon ceria operation as the catalyst dopant.

The Impact of Non-Extraction Orthodontic Treatment on the Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life between a Modified Aligner Appliance with Ni-Ti Springs and the Traditional Fixed Appliances: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background and Objectives: To compare the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) outcomes between patients treated with modified Ni-Ti spring-based alignment appliances or conventional fixed appliances using the Oral Health Impact Profile 14 (OHIP-14), as well as the levels of satisfaction with the appliance appearance, treatment progress, and outcomes. Materials and Methods: Thirty-six patients (11 males, 25 females) were randomly divided into two groups: either the modified aligner appliance with Ni-Ti springs group (MAA) or the traditional fixed appliances group (FA). The allocation ratio was 1:1, and the randomization process was carried out by an independent investigator not involved in this study. Mild crowding cases were included in this study. The OHRQoL of patients was evaluated using the short-form Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) at five time points: before the treatment commencement (T0); 2 weeks (T1), 1 month (T2), and 2 months (T3) after the treatment initiation; and post-treatment (T4). The visual analog scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the patient satisfaction. Blinding was performed only during the outcomes assessment. Results: This randomized controlled trial had no dropouts, and the demographic characteristics of the groups were comparable. The MAA group experienced significantly greater functional limitations compared with the FA group at all three evaluation time points (T1, T2, and T3), as evidenced by the statistically significant p-values (p = 0.004, p = 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively). The psychological disability in the MAA group was significantly lower than in the FA group at both T2 (p = 0.005) and T3 (p = 0.003). The patient satisfaction with the appliance appearance was significantly higher in the MAA group than in the FA group (p = 0.002). Conclusions: The OHRQoL improved in both the modified aligner appliance with Ni-Ti springs and fixed appliance groups after the treatment. Moreover, the functional limitations during the treatment were less severe in the FA group, while the psychological disability was lower, and the patient satisfaction with the appliance appearance was higher in the MAA group.

Self-assembled flower-like carbon nanosheets for magnetic solid-phase extraction of microcystins from aquatic organism.

Adsorbents with good dispersibility and high efficiency are crucial for magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE). In this study, flower-like magnetic nanomaterials (F-Ni@NiO@ZnO2-C) were successfully prepared by calcination of metal-organic framework (MOF) precursors that was stacked by two-dimensional (2D) nanosheet. The synthesized F-Ni@NiO@ZnO2-C has a flower-like layered structure with a large amount of pore space, promoting the rapid diffusion of targets. In addition, Zn2+ doped in MOF precursors was still retained that further produced strong metal chelation with targets. The unique structure of F-Ni@NiO@ZnO2-C was used as MSPE adsorbent, and combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) for extraction of three microcystins (MCs) detection, including microcystin-LR (MC-LR), microcystin-RR (MC-RR), microcystin-YR (MC-YR). The resulting method has a detection limit of 0.2-1.0 pg mL-1, a linear dynamic range of 0.6-500.0 pg mL-1 and has good linearity (R ≥ 0.9996). Finally, the established method was applied to the highly selective enrichment of MCs in biological samples, successfully detecting trace amounts of MCs (8.4-15.0 pg mL-1) with satisfactory recovery rates (83.7-103.1 %). The results indicated that flower-like magnetic F-Ni@NiO@ZnO2-C was a promising adsorbent, providing great potential for the determination of trace amounts of MCs in biological samples.

Optimizing the compression resistance of low-nickel stainless steel coronary stents using finite element and response surface methodology.

Considering the high strength and excellent biocompatibility of low-nickel stainless steel, this paper focused on optimizing the design of a vascular stent made from this material using finite element analysis (FEA) combined with the response surface methodology (RSM). The aim is to achieve the desired compressive resistance for the stent while maintaining a thin stent wall thickness. The parameters of the stent's support unit width (H), strut width (W), and thickness (T) were selected as input parameters, while the output parameters obtained from FEA included the compressive load, the equivalent plastic strain (PEEQ), axial shortening rate, radial recoil rate, and metal coverage rate. The mathematical models of input parameters and output parameters were established by using the Box Behnken design (BBD) of RSM. The model equations were solved under constrained conditions, and the optimal structural parameters, namely H, W, and T, were finally determined as 0.770 mm, 0.100 mm, and 0.075 mm respectively. In this situation, the compression load of the stent reached the target value of 0.38 N/mm; the PEEQ resulting from the stent expansion was small; the axial shortening, radial recoil, and metal coverage index were all minimized within the required range.