Exploring Vacuum-Assisted Thin Films toward Supercapacitor Applications: Present Status and Future Prospects.

Demand for high-performance energy storage devices is growing tremendously. Supercapacitors possess an excellent candidature to fulfill the energy storage requisites such as high energy density when compared to conventional capacitors, high power density, and cycling stability as compared to batteries, though not only for large-scale devices for higher energy/power density applications but also for macro- to microdevices for miniaturized electrical components. With the aid of various routes, many materials have been explored with well-tuned properties with controlled surface architecture through various preparative parameters to find those best suited for supercapacitive electrodes. Growth of a thin film can be accomplished through chemical or physical (vacuum-assisted) routes. Vacuum-assisted (physical) growth yields high purity, precise dimensions with a line-of-sight deposition, along with high adhesion between the film and the substrates, and hence, these techniques are necessary to manufacture many macro- to microscale supercapacitor devices. Still, much effort has not been put forth to explore vacuum-assisted techniques to fabricate supercapacitive electrodes and energy storage applications. The present review explores the first comprehensive report on the growth of widespread materials through vacuum-assisted physical deposition techniques inclusive of thermal evaporation, e-beam evaporation, sputtering, and laser beam ablation toward supercapacitive energy storage applications on one platform. The theoretical background of nucleation and growth through physical deposition, optimization of process parameters, and characterization to supercapacitor applications from macro- to microscale devices has been well explored to a provide critical analysis with literature-reviewed materials. The review ends with future challenges to bring out upcoming prospects to further enhance supercapacitive performance, as much work and materials need to be explored through these routes.

Transverse Changes in Mandible Following Bilateral Sagittal Split Ramus Osteotomy Advancement.

BACKGROUND: BSSRO is the most frequently performed surgical procedure for mandibular advancement. However, the effect of advancement on proximal segment is not clearly understood. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the radiographic transverse changes in mandible following BSSRO advancement and to compare the amount of transverse displacement of the proximal segment with the amount of surgical advancement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve cases of skeletal class II deformity undergoing fixed orthodontic mechanotherapy and requiring mandibular advancement were selected for the study. Pre-operative (T0) PA ceph and OPG were used to measure the linear distances from right to left Co-Go, Go-Me, Go-Go, Co-Co, Rp-Rp and Co-Me points. The cases were operated for BSSRO mandibular advancement. Post-operative (T1) PA ceph and OPG were used to compare the changes in linear measurements. RESULT: There were six male and six female patients with an average age of 19.5 years. The average mandibular advancement was 6.5 mm. Post-operative radiographic changes in transverse measurements of Go-Me, Go-Go, Co-Co, Rp-Rp and Co-Me were statistical significant. The changes in Co-Go measurements were statistically not significant. We could not establish any correlation between mandibular advancement and amount of transverse changes. CONCLUSION: Significant changes were noticed in transverse dimensions of mandible following BSSRO advancement in both PA ceph and OPG. The transverse changes had no clinical implication during the post-operative follow-up.

Complications of Midface Swing for Management of Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma.

INTRODUCTION: Access osteotomies provide direct exposure to inaccessible areas of the deep part of craniofacial skeleton for treating pathologies involving vital structures. The use of maxillary swing approach for gaining wide access to the nasopharynx, infratemporal fossa, parapharyngeal space, middle fossa of skull base. Though the maxillary swing requires transfacial incision for wide exposure but with careful handling the scar is minimum and this approach can be used in young people. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical resection is carried out following preoperative embolization of the involved feeder vessels. Total 16 cases were considered for this study. RESULTS: This article highlights cases successfully treated in our institution, the mention of complications associated with the cases along with management. CONCLUSION: Maxillary swing is a good approach for getting access to the deep pathologies like JNA.

Applied Taguchi method for fatigue testing of customized hip implant.

PURPOSE: Human activities generate stresses, which vary with time and may result in fatigue failure of the customized hip implant. This study aims to investigate fatigue testing of customized hip implants using the minimum number of experiments by the Taguchi method, for 147 patients. This study was also useful to determine the influential geometrical parameters on the fatigue safety factor of customized hip implants. METHODS: Horizontal offset (HO), vertical offset (VO) and neck shaft angle (NSA) of the hip joint of 147 patients were measured on computed tomography (CT) scanned images. Stress and strain of hip implants were calculated by finite element analysis and validated by in vitro experimental tests. Fatigue safety factors were calculated by Goodman, Soderberg and Gerber's fatigue theories and maximum stresses. RESULTS: Analysis of variance results show that the highest impact on fatigue safety factors was equal to 54.38% for HO, 16.33% for VO, and was equal to 29.16% for NSA with reference to Goodman, Soderberg and Gerber's fatigue theories. The hip implant shape of experiment no. 8 has the highest safety factor value compared to all other hip implants. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that HO has the maximum influence on fatigue safety factors. The determination of influential geometric parameters may be useful to redesign customized hip implants in order to achieve the highest fatigue safety factor. The Taguchi method is suitable for fatigue testing of custom hip implant with a minimum number of experiments.

Use of Superficial Temporal Fascia Flap for Treatment of Postradiation Trismus: An Innovation.

Post radiation trismus severely reduces the quality of life. Radiation causes fibrosis of muscles of mastication resulting in severe restriction of mouth opening. Treatment options are limited as most of the local flaps are in the radiation zone. The present case is the first case in existing literature where, following the release of fibrosis secondary to radiation, superficial temporal fascia (STF) was used to cover the defect with excellent results and no recurrence after a year of follow up.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Delonix regia (Boj. Ex. Hook).

The present work was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of Delonix regia leaves (Family: Caesalpiniaceae). The powder of Delonix regia leaves was subjected to extraction with ethanol in soxhlet extractor. The ethanol extract after preliminary phytochemical investigation showed the presence of sterols, triterpenoids, phenolic compounds and flavonoids. The anti-inflammatory activity was studied using carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and cotton pellet granuloma at a three different doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b.w. p.o.) of ethanol extract. The ethanol extract of Delonix regia leaves was exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity at the dose of 400 mg/kg in both models when compared with control group. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg b.w. p.o) was also shown significant anti-inflammatory activity in both models.