Enhancing the anti-biofouling property of solar evaporator through the synergistic antibacterial effect of lignin and nano silver.

Solar desalination is an effective solution to address the global water scarcity issue. However, biofouling poses a significant challenge for solar evaporators due to the presence of bacteria in seawater. In this study, an anti-biofouling evaporator was constructed using the synergistic antibacterial effect of lignin and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The AgNPs were easily synthesized using lignin as reductant under mild reaction conditions. Subsequently, the Lignin-AgNPs solution was integrated into polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAAm) without any purification steps, resulting in the formation of Lignin/AgNPs-PAAm (LAg-PAAm). Under the combined action of AgNPs and the hydroquinone groups present in oxidized lignin, LAg-PAAm achieved over 99 % disinfection efficiency within 1 h, effectively preventing biofilm formation in pore channels of solar evaporators. The anti-biofouling solar evaporator demonstrated an evaporation rate of 1.85 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun irradiation, and maintained stable performance for >30 days due to its high efficient bactericidal effect. Furthermore, it also exhibited exceptional salt-rejection capability attributed to its superior hydrophilicity.

Ginkgo biloba L. exocarp petroleum ether extract inhibits methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by modulating ion transport, virulence, and biofilm formation in vitro and in vivo.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: As reported in the Ancient Chinese Medicinal Books, Ginkgo biloba L. fruit has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment asthma and cough or as a disinfectant. Our previous study demonstrated that G. biloba exocarp extract (GBEE), an extract of a traditional Chinese herb, inhibits the formation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilms. However, GBEE is a crude extract that contains many components, and the underlying mechanisms of purified GBEE fractions extracted with solvents of different polarities are unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the different components in GBEE fractions extracted with solvents of different polarities and their antibacterial effects and mechanisms against MRSA and Staphylococcus haemolyticus biofilms both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The components in different fractions were detected by high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS). Microbroth dilution assays and time growth curves were used to determine the antibacterial effects of the fractions on 15 clinical bacterial isolates. Crystal violet staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were utilized to identify the fractions that affected bacterial biofilm formation. The potential MRSA targets of the GBEE fraction obtained with petroleum ether (PE), denoted GBEE-PE, were screened by transcriptome sequencing, and the gene expression profile was verified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS: HPLC-HRMS analysis revealed that the four GBEE fractions (extracted with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water) contained different ginkgo components, and the antibacterial effects decreased as the polarity of the extraction solvent increased. The antibacterial activity of GBEE-PE was greater than that of the GBEE fraction extracted with ethyl acetate (EA). GBEE-PE improved H. illucens survival and reduced MRSA colonization in model mouse organs. Crystal violet staining and SEM and TEM analyses revealed that GBEE-PE inhibited MRSA and S. haemolyticus biofilm formation. Transcriptional analysis revealed that GBEE-PE inhibits MRSA biofilms by altering ion transport, cell wall metabolism and virulence-related gene expression. In addition, the LO2 cell viability and H. illucens toxicity assay data showed that GBEE-PE at 20 mg/kg was nontoxic. CONCLUSION: The GBEE fractions contained different components, and their antibacterial effects decreased with increases in the polarity of the extraction solvent. GBEE-PE limited MRSA growth and biofilm formation by affecting ion transport, cell wall synthesis, and virulence-related pathways. This research provides a more detailed overview of the mechanism by which GBEE-PE inhibits MRSA both in vitro and in vivo and suggests that GBEE-PE is a new prospective antimicrobial with the potential to be used in MRSA therapeutics in the future.

Using chitosan nanofibers to simultaneously improve the toughness and sensing performance of chitosan-based ionic conductive hydrogels.

Conductive hydrogels, especially polysaccharide-based ionic conductive hydrogels, have received increasing interest in the field of wearable sensors due to their similarity to human skin. Nevertheless, it is still a challenging task to simultaneously prepare a self-healed and adhesive conductive hydrogel with good toughness, temperature tolerance and high sensing performance, especially with high sensitivity and a low detection limit. Herein, we developed a new strategy to improve the toughness and sensing performance of a multifunctional conductive hydrogel by simultaneously using dissolved chitosan (CS) and solid chitosan nanofibers (CSFs) to induce the formation of hierarchical polymeric networks in the hydrogel. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the hydrogel could be improved from 70.3 kPa and 1005 % to 173.9 kPa and 1477 %, respectively, simply by introducing CSFs to the hydrogel, and its self-healing, adhesive and antibacterial properties were effectively retained. When serving as a resistive sensing material, the introduction of CSFs increased the gauge factor of the hydrogel-based strain sensor from 8.25 to 14.27. Moreover, the hydrogel-based strain sensor showed an ultralow detection limit of 0.2 %, excellent durability and stability (1000 cycles) and could be used to detect various human activities. In addition, the hydrogel prepared by using a water-glycerol binary solvent system showed temperature-tolerant performance and possessed adequate sensitivity when serving as a resistive sensing material. Therefore, this work provides a new way to prepare multifunctional conductive hydrogels with good toughness, sensing performance and temperature tolerance to expand the application range of hydrogel-based strain sensors.

Using chitosan nanofibers to synergistically construct a highly stretchable multi-functional liquid mental-based hydrogel for assembling strain sensor with high sensitivity and broad working range.

Liquid metal (LM) microdroplets have garnered significant interest as conductive materials for initiating free radical polymerization in the development of conductive hydrogels suited for strain sensors. However, crafting multi-functional conductive hydrogels that boast both high stretchability and superior sensing capabilities remains as a challenge. In this study, we have successfully synthesized LM-based conductive hydrogels characterized by remarkable stretchability and sensing performance employing acrylic acid (AA) to evenly distribute chitosan nanofibers (CSFs) and to subsequently catalyze the free radical polymerization of AA. The resultant polymer network was crosslinked within situ polyacrylic acid (PAA), facilitated by Ga3+ in conjunction with guar gum (GG)-stabilized Ga droplets. The strategic interplay between the rigid, and protonated CSFs and the pliable PAA matrix, coupled with the ionic crosslinking of Ga3+, endows the resulting GG-Ga-CSF-PAA hydrogel with high stretchability (3700 %), ultrafast self-healing, robust moldability, and strong adhesiveness. When deployed as a strain sensing material, this hydrogel exhibits a high gauge factor (38.8), a minimal detection threshold, enduring durability, and a broad operational range. This versatility enables the hydrogel-based strain sensor to monitor a wide spectrum of human motions. Remarkably, the hydrogel maintains its stretchability and sensing efficacy under extreme temperatures after a simple glycerol solution treatment.

Lignosulfonate sodium and ionic liquid synergistically promote tough hydrogels for intelligent wearable human-machine interaction.

Flexible wearable devices are garnering significant interest, with conductive hydrogels emerging as a particularly notable category. While many of these hydrogels offer impressive conductivity, they often lack the innate ability to adhere autonomously to human skin. The ideal hydrogel should possess both superior adhesion properties and a wide responsive range. This study introduces a novel double-network conductive hydrogel, synthesized from lignosulfonate sodium and ionic liquid using a one-pot method. The gel's mechanical robustness (fracture elongation of ∼3500 % and tensile strength of ∼130 kPa) and exceptional conductivity sensing performance arise from the synergistic effects of electrostatic interactions, dynamic hydrogen bonding, and a three-dimensional network structure. Additionally, the phenolic hydroxyl and sulfonic groups from lignosulfonate sodium imbue the hydrogel with adhesive qualities, allowing it to easily bond with varied material surfaces. This hydrogel excels in human physiological signal detection and wireless monitoring, demonstrating a rapid response time (149 ms) and high sensitivity (a maximum gauge factor of 10.9 for strains between 400 and 600 %). Given these properties, the flexible, self-adhesive, and conductive hydrogel showcases immense promise for future applications in wearable devices and wireless transmission sensing.

TEMPO bacterial cellulose and MXene nanosheets synergistically promote tough hydrogels for intelligent wearable human-machine interaction.

Conductive hydrogels have received increasing attention in the field of wearable electronics, but they also face many challenges such as temperature tolerance, biocompatibility, and stability of mechanical properties. In this paper, a double network hydrogel of MXene/TEMPO bacterial cellulose (TOBC) system is proposed. Through solvent replacement, the hydrogel exhibits wide temperature tolerance (-20-60 °C) and stable mechanical properties. A large number of hydrogen bonds, MXene/TOBC dynamic three-dimensional network system, and micellar interactions endow the hydrogel with excellent mechanical properties (elongation at break ~2800 %, strength at break ~420 kPa) and self-healing ability. The introduction of tannic acid prevents the oxidation of MXene and the loss of electrical properties of the hydrogel. In addition, the sensor can also quickly (74 ms) and sensitive (gauge factor = 15.65) wirelessly monitor human motion, and the biocompatibility can well avoid the stimulation when it comes into contact with the human body. This series of research work reveals the fabrication of MXene-like flexible wearable electronic devices based on self-healing, good cell compatibility, high sensitivity, wide temperature tolerance and durability, which can be used in smart wearable, wireless monitoring, human-machine Interaction and other aspects show great application potential.

AKD Emulsions Stabilized by Guar Gel: A Highly Efficient Agent to Improve the Hydrophobicity of Cellulose Paper.

The aim of the present study was to investigate highly efficient alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) emulsions to improve the hydrophobicity of cellulose paper. AKD emulsions stabilized by guar gel were obtained; the guar gel was prepared by hydrogen bond cross-linking sodium tetraborate and guar gum. The cross-linking was confirmed by combining FTIR and SEM. The effect of guar gel on the performance of the AKD emulsions was also studied by testing AKD emulsions stabilized by different guar gel concentrations. The results showed that with increasing guar gel concentration, the stability of the AKD emulsions improved, the droplet diameter decreased, and the hydrophobicity and water resistance of the sized packaging paper were gradually enhanced. Through SEM, the guar gel film covering the AKD emulsion droplet surface and the three-dimensional structure in the aqueous dispersion phase were assessed. This study constructed a scientific and efficient preparation method for AKD emulsions and provided a new method for the application of carbohydrate polymer gels which may avoid the adverse effect of surfactant on paper sizing and environmental problems caused by surfactant bioaccumulation.

Establishing a Corrugated Carbon Network with a Crack Structure in a Hydrogel for Improving Sensing Performance.

Electronic conductive hydrogels have prompted immense research interest as flexible sensing materials. However, establishing a continuous electronic conductive network within a hydrogel is still highly challenging. Herein, we develop a new strategy to establish a continuous corrugated carbon network within a hydrogel by embedding carbonized crepe paper into the hydrogel with its corrugations perpendicular to the stretching direction using a casting technique. The corrugated carbon network within the as-prepared composite hydrogel serves as a rigid conductive network to simultaneously improve the tensile strength and conductivity of the composite hydrogel. The composite hydrogel also generates a crack structure when it is stretched, enabling the composite hydrogel to show ultrahigh sensitivity (gauge factor = 59.7 and 114 at strain ranges of 0-60 and 60-100%, respectively). The composite hydrogel also shows an ultralow detection limit of 0.1%, an ultrafast response/recovery time of 75/95 ms, and good stability and durability (5000 cycles at 10% strain) when used as a resistive strain sensing material. Moreover, the good stretchability, adhesiveness, and self-healing ability of the hydrogel were also effectively retained after the corrugated carbon network was introduced into the hydrogel. Because of its outstanding sensing performance, the composite hydrogel has potential applications in sensing various human activities, including accurately recording subtle variations in wrist pulse waves and small-/large-scale complex human activities. Our work provides a new approach to develop economical, environmentally friendly, and reliable electronic conductive hydrogels with ultrahigh sensing performance for the future development of electronic skin and wearable devices.

Ultrastable Emulsion Stabilized by the Konjac Glucomannan-Xanthan Gum Complex.

Surfactant-free emulsions are currently gaining increased interest due to their technofunctional, health-promoting, economic, biocompatible, and sustainable characteristics. Herein, we report an ultrastable, surfactant-free emulsion stabilized by the konjac glucomannan (KGM)-xanthan gum (XG) complex. The results suggested that KGM-XG tended to adsorb onto the oil/water interface, causing a reduction in interfacial tension. The emulsion droplets were less than 1 µm in diameter and had a narrow size distribution. Using laser confocal microscopy and cryo-SEM, it was observed that KGM-XG generated a compact film on the surface of emulsion droplets while simultaneously constructing a three-dimensional network in the continuous phase. Both of these factors contributed to the stability of the emulsion. The present study presents a straightforward approach for producing highly stable emulsions stabilized by polysaccharides. These emulsions can be effectively utilized to enhance the water resistance of cellulose paper, which is extensively employed in the packaging industry.

Design, Synthesis, and Activity Evaluation of Novel Dual-Target Inhibitors with Antifungal and Immunoregulatory Properties.

Dual-target (CYP51/PD-L1) plays an important role in the process of fungal proliferation and immune suppression. A series of novel quinazoline compounds with dual-target inhibition function was constructed using the skeleton growth method, and their structures were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated. Among them, the perfected compounds (L11, L20, L21) were selected for further study, which exhibited remarkable biological activity against different fungal strains (MIC50, 0.25-2.0 µg/mL) in vitro. On the one hand, these compounds inhibited CYP51 activity, induced ROS aggregation, and mitochondrial damage; this ultimately caused fungal lysis and death. On the other hand, they also effectively activated the body's immune ability by blocking the interaction between PD-L1 and PD-1, slowed down the inflammatory reaction, and accelerated the recovery process of fungal infections.

Predictive value of foramen ovale size on pain recurrence after percutaneous balloon compression. / 卵圆孔大小对经皮穿刺球囊压迫术后疼痛复发的预测价值.

OBJECTIVES: Primary trigeminal neuralgia (PTN) is a common cranial nerve disease in neurosurgery, which seriously endangers the physical and mental health of patients. Percutaneous balloon compression (PBC) has become an effective procedure for the treatment of PTN by blocking pain conduction through minimally invasive puncture. However, the recurrence of facial pain after PBC is still a major problem for PTN patients. Intraoperative balloon shape, pressure and compression time can affect the prognosis of patients with PBC after surgery. The foramen ovale size has an effect on the balloon pressure in Meckel's lumen. This study aims to analyse the predictive value of foramen ovale size for postoperative pain recurrence of PBC by exploring the relationship between foramen ovale size and postoperative pain recurrence of PBC. METHODS: A retrospectively analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 60 patients with PTN who were treated with PBC in Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College from November 2018 to December 2021. We followed-up and recorded the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) pain score at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after operation. According to the BNI pain score at 12 months after surgery, the patients were divided into a cure group (BNI pain score I to Ⅱ) and a recurrence group (BNI pain score Ⅲ to Ⅴ). The long diameter, transverse diameter and area of foramen ovale on the affected side and the healthy side of the 2 groups were measured. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC) were used for analysis the relationship between the recurrence of pain and the long diameter, transverse diameter, area of foramen ovale on the affected side, and aspect ratio, transverse diameter ratio, area ratio of foramen ovale on the affected side to healthy side in the 2 groups. RESULTS: At the end of 12 months of follow-up, 50 (83.3%) patients had pain relief (the cured group), 10 (16.7%) patients had different degrees of pain recurrence (the recurrence group), and the total effective rate was 83.3%. There were no significant differences in preoperative baseline data between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). The long diameter of foramen ovale on the affected side, the long diameter ratio and area ratio of foramen ovale on the affected/healthy side in the cured group were significantly higher than those in the recurrence group (all P<0.05), and there were no significant differences in the transverse diameter and area of foramen ovale on the affected side and the transverse diameter ratio of foramen ovale on the affected/healthy side between the 2 groups (all P>0.05). The ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of the long diameter of foramen ovale on the affected side was 0.290 (95% CI 0.131 to 0.449, P=0.073), and the AUC of aspect ratio of foramen ovale on the affected side to healthy side was 0.792 (95% CI 0.628 to 0.956, P=0.004). The AUC of area ratio of foramen ovale on the affected side to healthy side was 0.766 (95% CI 0.591 to 0.941, P=0.008), indicating that aspect ratio and area ratio of foramen ovale on the affected side to healthy side had a good predictive effect on postoperative pain recurrence of PBC. When aspect ratio of foramen ovale on the affected side to healthy side was less than 0.886 3 or area ratio of foramen ovale on the affected side to healthy side was less than 0.869 4, postoperative pain recurrence was common. CONCLUSIONS: Accurate evaluation of the foramen ovale size of skull base before operation is of great significance in predicting pain recurrence after PBC.

Enhanced dye adsorption with conductive polyaniline doped chitosan nanofibrous membranes.

Polyaniline is widely used in the field of electrochemistry due to its excellent electrical conductivity. However, its effectiveness and mechanism of enhancing adsorption property are unclear. Herein, chitosan/polyaniline nanofibrous composite membranes with average diameter ranging from 200 to 300 nm were fabricated by electrospinning technology. The as-prepared nanofibrous membranes exhibited significantly improved adsorption capacity of 814.9 mg/g and 618.0 mg/g towards acid blue 113 and reactive orange dyes, which were 121.8 % and 99.4 % higher than that of pure chitosan membrane. The doped polyaniline promoted the dye transfer rate and capacity due to the enhanced conductivity of the composite membrane. Kinetic data showed that chemisorption was the rate-limiting step, and thermodynamic data indicated the adsorption of the two anionic dyes was spontaneous monolayer adsorption. This study provides a feasible strategy to introduce conductive polymer into adsorbent to construct high performance adsorbents for wastewater treatment.

Novel Aryl Alkamidazole Derivatives as Multifunctional Antifungal Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation.

Dual-target drug design was considered as the more reasonable antifungal strategy. In this study, three different series of novel compounds were designed using the skeleton screening and splicing method based on dual-target enzyme features, and their structures were synthesized and characterized. Among them, target compounds 5a-1-2, 14b-1-2, and 14c-2-1 with excellent antifungal activity (0.125-2.0 µg/mL) were selected for the subsequent mechanistic study. On the one hand, these compounds blocked the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway by inhibiting the core enzyme CYP51, which effectively induced rapid accumulation of reactive oxygen species, damaged the mitochondrial function, and eventually led to the occurrence of fungal apoptosis. On the other hand, these compounds also inhibited the inflammatory inducible enzyme cyclooxygenase-2, which further affected the expression of inflammatory factors and body's immune function. In conclusion, this study discovered potential target compounds, which could accelerate the rehabilitation process of the infected region.

Optimal waiting period for frozen embryo transfer after hysteroscopic polypectomy: A propensity score matching analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the optimal waiting period for frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) after hysteroscopic polypectomy (HSC-P). Design: Retrospective cohort. Setting: University-affiliated hospital. Patients: All patients included in this research underwent hysteroscopy before the first FET cycle after whole embryo freezing. A total of 206 patients had undergone HSC-P, and 3681 patients without endometrial polyps were defined as the controls. Interventions: HSC-P. Main outcome measures: The HSC-P group was divided into three subgroups based on the time interval between HSC-P and the start of an FET cycle. Subgroup 1 consisted of patients who underwent FET after their next menses, subgroup 2 after two menstrual cycles, and subgroup 3 after three or more menstrual cycles. Demographics, baseline in vitro fertilization (IVF) characteristics, and pregnancy outcomes, especially perinatal outcomes after FET were compared among the groups. Results: There were 137 patients in subgroup 1, 40 in subgroup 2, and 29 in subgroup 3. There were no differences in the baseline characteristics of the three groups. IVF-related data and FET-related data, such as endometrial thickness and ET no. Of embryoes, were similar among the three subgroups. The three subgroups showed no significant differences in implantation rate, biochemical pregnancy rate, abortion rate, clinical pregnancy rate or live birth rate. Besides, There was no significant difference in perinatal outcomes including very preterm delivery, preterm delivery, low birth weight, macrosomia, small for gestational age, large for gestational age, birth weight(g), birth-height(cm)and Apgar Scores. Conclusions: Compared with FET after their next menses, FET after two or more menstrual cycles after HSC-P does not necessarily produce superior outcomes.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Dual-Target COX-2/CYP51 Inhibitors for the Treatment of Fungal Infectious Diseases.

The design of novel dual-target (COX-2/CYP51) inhibitors was proposed in the study, and three series of compounds were constructed though the pathway of skeleton screening and combination; their molecular structures were synthesized and evaluated. Most of the compounds exhibited significant antifungal ability. Among them, potential compounds (10a-2, 16b-3) with excellent antifungal and anti-drug-resistant fungal ability (MIC50, 0.125-2.0 µg/mL) were selected for the subsequent mechanistic study. On the one hand, these compounds could block the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway by inhibiting CYP51 and influence the internal physiological function of fungal cells, which included the increase of the ROS level, the anomaly of ΔΨm, and the emergence of an apoptotic state. On the other hand, these compounds also effectively showed COX-2 inhibition ability, eliminated the inflammatory reaction of the infected region, and activated the body's immune function. In summary, this study not only provided a novel antifungal drug design pathway but also discovered excellent target compounds.

The discovery of novel antifungal phenylpyridines derivatives based on CYP53 binding model.

Benzoates as toxic intermediate are naturally produced by fungal intracellular metabolism, and CYP53 can specific transform the substrates. In the study, we constructed the CYP53 homology model and analyzed the corresponding active region. At the same time, the molecular docking and the structure-based pharmacophore model (SBP) were performed to explore the bind mode of representative CYP53 inhibitors. On the basis, a series of phenylpyridines derivatives were designed as novel CYP53 inhibitors, and their molecular structures were synthesized and evaluated. Compared with the positive control groups, their antifungal activity showed the obvious upward trend. In particular, target compounds (13a, 15b) possessed the excellent biological activity against pathogenic fungi and drug-resistant fungi in vivo and in vitro. The preliminary action mechanism has confirmed that target compounds could inhibit CYP53 activity, and block the metabolism of toxic intermediates (Benzoates). This further induced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the pattern of mitochondrial depolarization, which eventually caused fungal lysis and death. In summary, the study provided the reasonable computational models, and effectively guided the generation of novel CYP53 antifungal inhibitors.

Engineering Properties of New Claw Connectors for Alkali-Resistant Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Plastics.

To optimize the engineering properties of connectors, a new claw-shaped alkali-resistant glass-fiber-composite-reinforced connection member was designed in this study. Tensile, shear, and durability tests were conducted on the joint. Moreover, numerical analysis was performed, and the performance of the proposed connector was verified in engineering applications. Hence, the following conclusions hold: (1) At the same shear diameter and anchorage depth, the anchorage performance and shear resistance of claw connectors are better than those of rod connectors. (2) Claw connectors with an anchorage depth of 3.5 cm and a hollow joint with an outer diameter of 14 mm exhibit an excellent overall performance. (3) Alkali-resistant glass-fiber-reinforced plastics exhibit good durability. (4) The ANSYS numerical model can be used to accurately predict the load-displacement variation law of the pull-out and shear of the connectors. (5) Through research, it has been proven that claw-shaped connectors have good pull-out resistance, shear resistance, and durability, and the structure has good stability in engineering applications. Therefore, the structure can provide a significant reference for similar projects.

Feasibility Study on the Steel-Plastic Geogrid Instead of Wire Mesh for Bolt Mesh Supporting.

Wire mesh is a common material for bolt mesh supporting structures, but its application in engineering has revealed many defects. At the same time, with the development of new materials for civil engineering, the new material mesh performance and cost show outstanding advantages over wire mesh. In this paper, the feasibility of replacing wire mesh with steel-plastic geogrid as an alternative material is carefully studied through indoor tests and field applications. The following conclusions were drawn from a comparative analysis with wire mesh, mainly in terms of mechanical properties, engineering characteristics, and construction techniques: (1) in terms of mesh wire strength, wire mesh is slightly better than steel-plastic geogrid, but in the case of similar tensile strength, the amount of steel used per unit length of steel geogrid bars is only 36.75% of that of steel-plastic geogrid, while the tensile strength of the high-strength steel wire attached to the steel-plastic geogrid belt is about 3.3 times that of steel bars; (2) in terms of junction peel strength, both values are similar, with the injection-moulded junction being 1154.56-1224.38 N and the welded junction of 4 mm mesh being 988.35 N; (3) in terms of the strength of the mesh, steel-plastic geogrid is better than wire mesh, and with the same mesh wire strength, the bearing capacity of steel-plastic geogrid is increased by about 63.17% and the contribution of the mesh wire bearing capacity is increased by 83.66%, with the damage mainly being in the form of wire breakage in the ribbon causing ribbon failure, leading to further damage to the mesh; (4) in terms of the engineering application of steel-plastic geogrid compared to wire mesh, the utilization rate of mesh increases by about 24.99%, the construction efficiency increases by about 14.10%, and the economic benefit increases by about 45.31%. In practical application, the steel-plastic geogrid has good adhesion with surrounding rock and strong corrosion resistance. According to the above research analysis, the steel-plastic geogrid is feasible to replace the wire mesh for bolt mesh supporting.

Comparison of Clinical Effects of the Modified Masquelet Technique and Kirschner Wire External Fixation-Assisted Autogenous Bone Transplantation in the Treatment of Segmental Metacarpophalangeal Bone Defects.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to explore the (1) clinical effects of the modified Masquelet technique, whose improved Masquelet technique innovates the in vitro plasticity of the bone cement module and prefabricated hollow design, and the Kirschner wire external fixation-assisted autologous bone transplantation technique in the treatment of segmental metacarpophalangeal bone defects and (2) the differences between the two techniques. METHODS: The clinical data of 32 patients with segmental metacarpophalangeal bone defects (15 patients treated with the modified Masquelet technique and 17 patients treated with the self-made Kirschner wire external fixation technique) admitted to our department between January 2012 and January 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The postoperative bone healing time, hand function, and complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable; there were no significant differences in age, sex, length of bone defect, and time from injury to operation between the two groups (P > 0.05). All patients were followed up with for 6-24 months (average = 13.7 months), and all patients with segmental metacarpophalangeal bone defects achieved fracture healing. The postoperative hospital stay, fracture healing time, functionary scores of the affected limb, and incidence of severe complications were better in the modified group than in the external fixation group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared with the Kirschner wire external fixation stent assisted autologous bone transplantation, the improved Masquelet technique has the advantages of simple operation, fast healing, accurate effect, wide indications, and less complications, making it more worthy of clinical promotion.