Three-Dimensional Printing of Natural Materials Involving Loess-Based Composite Materials Designed for Ecofriendly Applications.

In this work, loess-based materials were designed based on a multicomponent composite materials system for ecofriendly natural three-dimensional (3D) printing involving quick lime, gypsum, and water. The 3D printing process was monitored as a function of gypsum content; in terms of mechanical strength and electrical resistance, in the cube-shaped bulk form. After initial optimization, the 3D printing composition was refined to provide improved printability in a 3D printing system. The optimal 3D fabrication allowed for reproducible printing of rectangular columns and cubes. The development of 3D printing materials was scrutinized using a multitude of physicochemical probing tools, including X-ray diffraction for phase identification, impedance spectroscopy to monitor setting behaviors, and mercury intrusion porosimetry to extract the pore structure of loess-based composite materials. Additionally, the setting behavior in the loess-based composite materials was analyzed by investigating the formation of gypsum hydrates induced by chemical reaction between quick lime and water. This setting reaction provides reasonable mechanical strength that is sufficient to print loess-based pastes via 3D printing. Such mechanical strength allows utilization of robotic 3D printing applications that can be used to fabricate ecofriendly structures.

A Genome-Wide Analysis of the Pentatricopeptide Repeat (PPR) Gene Family and PPR-Derived Markers for Flesh Color in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus).

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an economically important fruit crop grown for consumption of its large edible fruit flesh. Pentatricopeptide-repeat (PPR) encoding genes, one of the large gene families in plants, are important RNA-binding proteins involved in the regulation of plant growth and development by influencing the expression of organellar mRNA transcripts. However, systematic information regarding the PPR gene family in watermelon remains largely unknown. In this comprehensive study, we identified and characterized a total of 422 C. lanatus PPR (ClaPPR) genes in the watermelon genome. Most ClaPPRs were intronless and were mapped across 12 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ClaPPR proteins could be divided into P and PLS subfamilies. Gene duplication analysis suggested that 11 pairs of segmentally duplicated genes existed. In-silico expression pattern analysis demonstrated that ClaPPRs may participate in the regulation of fruit development and ripening processes. Genotyping of 70 lines using 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 4 ClaPPRs resulted in match rates of over 0.87 for each validated SNPs in correlation with the unique phenotypes of flesh color, and could be used in differentiating red, yellow, or orange watermelons in breeding programs. Our results provide significant insights for a comprehensive understanding of PPR genes and recommend further studies on their roles in watermelon fruit growth and ripening, which could be utilized for cultivar development of watermelon.

Electrical/Mechanical Monitoring of Shape Memory Alloy Reinforcing Fibers Obtained by Pullout Tests in SMA/Cement Composite Materials.

Self-healing is an essential property of smart concrete structures. In contrast to other structural metals, shape memory alloys (SMAs) offer two unique effects: shape memory effects, and superelastic effects. Composites composed of SMA wires and conventional cements can overcome the mechanical weaknesses associated with tensile fractures in conventional concretes. Under specialized environments, the material interface between the cementitious component and the SMA materials plays an important role in achieving the enhanced mechanical performance and robustness of the SMA/cement interface. This material interface is traditionally evaluated in terms of mechanical aspects, i.e., strain-stress characteristics. However, the current work attempts to simultaneously characterize the mechanical load-displacement relationships synchronized with impedance spectroscopy as a function of displacement. Frequency-dependent impedance spectroscopy is tested as an in situ monitoring tool for structural variations in smart composites composed of non-conducting cementitious materials and conducting metals. The artificial geometry change in the SMA wires is associated with an improved anchoring action that is compatible with the smallest variation in resistance compared with prismatic SMA wires embedded into a cement matrix. The significant increase in resistance is interpreted to be associated with the slip of the SMA fibers following the elastic deformation and the debonding of the SMA fiber/matrix.

Treatment of an Adult Patient with Atopic Dermatitis Using Traditional Korean Medicine, Especially Sa-Am Acupuncture.

Atopic dermatitis is known not to respond well to many clinical treatments. In this report, we present the case of an adult woman with atopic dermatitis who was effectively treated by using traditional Korean medicine (TKM). The patient was diagnosed with psoriasis based on lung dryness and heat and heart fire. The patient underwent acupuncture treatment based on the theory of Sa-Am acupuncture. Two meridians, the hand tai-yin meridian and the foot tai-yang meridian, were used to control lung dryness, lung heat, and heart fire. Using the LU9 and SP3 acupoints to tonify the hand tai-yin meridian, we could sedate lung dryness and heat, and using the BL67 acupoint to tonify the foot tai-yang bladder meridian, we could sedate heart fire. With this treatment, her symptoms completely disappeared in about 6 months. This case report provides a preliminary indication that TKM, especially Sa-Am acupuncture, can be effective for treating patients with psoriasis. Thus, further study is warranted.