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Piezoelectric surgical units operate with a vibration in the range of 25 to 35 KHz, offering several advantages including high precision, selective cutting of bone while limiting damage to the surrounding soft tissues, less trauma to neurovascular tissues, reduced hemorrhage, and improved healing. Manual bone-cutting instruments operate at a high speed and can lead to thermal injury to the bone, severe damage to blood vessels, nerves, and soft tissues, and increased pain following bone surgery. This step-by-step manuscript describes the use of a piezoelectric surgical unit to perform a segmental (central) maxillectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the biofilm removal and apical extrusion of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) following machine-assisted irrigation using a three-dimensionally (3D) printed dentin-insert model. Methods: Multispecies biofilms were formed in a 3D-printed curved root canal model with dentin insert. The model was then placed in a container that was filled with 0.2% agarose gel containing 0.1% m-Cresol purple. Root canals were irrigated with 1% NaOCl using syringe irrigation, sonically agitated (EndoActivator or EDDY) or ultrasonically activated (Endosonic Blue) irrigation. Samples were photographed and the color-changed area was measured. Biofilm removal was assessed using colony-forming unit counting, confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis and scanning electron microscopic observations. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey test (P < 0.05). Results: EDDY and Endosonic Blue demonstrated significantly greater reduction of biofilms compared to other groups. No significant differences were observed in the remaining biofilm volume in syringe irrigation and EndoActivator groups. Furthermore, EDDY and Endosonic Blue presented with numerous exposed dentinal tubules. EDDY showed significantly greater NaOCl extrusion compared to other groups. Conclusion: Ultrasonic activation with a small-sized nickel-titanium file irrigation system may be beneficial in intracanal biofilm removal avoiding extrusion of NaOCl beyond the root apex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as an intracanal irrigant is widely debated in endodontic therapy. This study aimed to analyze and compare the penetration abilities of different modes of NaOCl application and assess the impact of various agitation strategies on promoting root canal cleanliness. This study included 168 single-rooted mandibular premolars that were randomly divided into 8 groups. The 2 modes of application of 5% NaOCl evaluated were intracanal heating and preheating, and the agitation strategies included ultrasonic, sonic, and manual dynamic agitations. The samples were sectioned and observed at a magnification of 1000 × under a scanning electron microscope. The analysis of variance test showed a statistically significant difference among the various groups of agitation (P <.05). The post hoc Tukey test confirmed that preheated NaOCl with ultrasonic agitation, intracanal-heated NaOCl with sonic agitation, and manual dynamic agitation had significantly higher debris scores of 1, 4, and 5, respectively, in the apical third of the canal. The results indicated that the combination of intracanal-heated NaOCl and ultrasonic agitation is an effective method for reducing debris in the root canal system. These findings highlight the importance of considering both the mode of application and the agitation strategies when optimizing the use of NaOCl as an intracanal irrigant in endodontic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The Ultrasonic and Microwave-Assisted Hydro-Distillation (US-MAHD) method is a process combination of ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) and microwave-assisted hydro-distillation (MAHD) carried out sequentially. This method aims to improve the UAE and MAHD methods in extracting citronella oil. This study evaluates the performance of US-MAHD in the extraction of citronella oil from the citronella plant. Extraction is conducted for 90 min at various solvent-plant ratios (v/m) (10:1, 12:1, 14:1), ultrasonic bath temperature (30 °C, 40 °C, 50 °C), and power of microwave oven (150 W, 300 W, 450 W). US-MAHD yields a maximum yield of citronella oil of 1.82 mg/g when extracting lemongrass plant with a combination of ultrasonic bath temperature of 30 °C, a solvent-plant ratio of 10:1, microwave power of 300 W, and time of 90 min. All quality parameters of the oil produced have met ISO 3848:1976 standard. Extraction of citronella oil using the US-MAHD method produces higher yields than the UAE and MAHD methods under the same operating conditions. The yields of citronella oil from the US-MAHD, UAE, and MAHD methods are 1.82, 0.92, and 1.48 mg/g, respectively. SEM analysis of residual lemongrass plant shows more cell wall damage which indicates more oil release from the plant matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When sludge produced by sewage treatment plants is improperly treated, it causes secondary pollution to the environment. Direct treatment is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and consumes enormous resources; therefore, pretreatment is required before sludge discharge. Sludge treatment with ultrasonic coordinated micro-bubbles revealed that at 30 s of ultrasonic treatment time, 450 W of power, and 5 min of micro-bubble treatment time, the volatile fatty acids content was the highest at 204.64 mg/L. The sludge cracking was analyzed by the polysaccharide content in extracellular polymers substances. The total polysaccharide content was the highest (52.75 mg/L) when ultrasonic treatment was performed for 30 s. The types and distribution of dissolved organic matter in the supernatant were analyzed by three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. Based on volatile fatty acids, the order of influence among the three factors is bubble treatment time > ultrasonic time > ultrasonic power, as shown by the response surface method experiment. After synergistic treatment with ultrasonic and micro-bubbles, the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed a change in the chemical properties of the sludge, thus affecting the dewatering performance. Under the combined action of the two treatments, scanning electron microscopy showed that the sludge particles became smaller with a loose structure, which was beneficial to improving the dewatering characteristics. These results provide a basis for the industrial application of ultrasonic coordinated micro-bubbles sludge treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The core build-up procedure is utilized to restore teeth With limited remaining coronal tooth structure. However, voids have been observed radiographically within composite resin- and glass ionomer-based core build-ups, potentially compromising the mechanical strength of a fully restored tooth and requiring build-up replacement before a final restoration can be delivered. The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine whether applying ultrasonic vibration during core build-up placement reduces the presence of radiographically detectable voids. A total of 120 acrylic resin mandibular premolar analogs were fabricated using a 3-dimensional printer and randomly allocated into 4 groups (n = 30). Dual-cured composite resin or glass ionomer core build-ups were placed with or without vibration. The final build-ups were assessed radiographically and rated by 3 independent calibrated clinicians based on a 4-category scale for the severity of voids. In an ordinal logistic regression model with the void severity rating as the outcome, a significant interaction was found for glass ionomer, composite resin, and the use of ultrasonic vibration (P = 0.03). Vibration was associated with worse void severity ratings in glass ionomer specimens (P < 0.01). No effect of vibration was found in the composite resin specimens. The Fleiss kappa score (K = 0.36) indicated fair agreement in all severity ratings among the 3 raters. These results suggest that the application of ultrasonic vibration during core build-up placement may not be clinically advantageous for improving restorative outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of workpiece tilt angle (0°, 30°) and tool ultrasonic vibration was evaluated when machining hardened steel with electroplated CBN grinding points (B15, B30, B54). Workpiece inclination had the greatest influence in decreasing surface roughness (Ra) by up to ∼44%, with the lowest value (∼0.32 µm) achieved at 30° tilt angle when ultrasonic assisted grinding using B30 wheels. Despite also reducing roughness, use of ultrasonic actuation generally increased specific volumetric grit loss (∼11%) and normal forces (∼14%) compared to conventional grinding when employing B15 and B30 points. No substantial microhardness modification was evident in most of the ground surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the present study was to compare repeated applications of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) to open flap debridement (OFD) in the treatment of residual periodontal pockets in non-furcation sites.Methods: Forty-six subjects with a diagnosis of Stage III or IV Grade C periodontitis, that had been previously treated, participated in the study.  Residual pockets were divided between two groups: (1) aPDT group: received ultrasonic periodontal debridement followed by immediate application of aPDT, and repeated on1st, 2nd, 7th, and 14th days; and (2) OFD group: treated by modified papilla preservation technique, where granulation tissue and visible calculus were removed with hand curettes and an ultrasonic device. Clinical, immunological, and microbiological parameters were evaluated before and after treatment.Results: Both treatments were effective reducing clinical parameters of disease. OFD resulted in a greater mean probing pocket depths (PPD) reduction in deep pockets (p = 0.001). However, aPDT resulted in a lower occurrence of gingival recession (GR), dentin hypersensitivity (DH) and analgesic intake. Reduction in Porphyromonas gingivalis was observed in both groups. Only the OFD group had a significant reduction in Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. aPDT group had greater increase in interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels and a greater reduction of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) at 14 days when compared to the OFD group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: OFD was superior in reducing PPD in deep pockets compared to the aPDT. However, OFD resulted in greater GR.  Both treatments lowered P. gingivalis levels but only OFD reduced levels of A. actinomycemtemcomitans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the regeneration of waste activated carbon by the synergic combination of ultrasonication and persulfate treatment was explored. The regeneration efficiencies achieved with sonication and persulfate, both in combination and separately, were assessed from a sample's ability to adsorb ofloxacin before and after regeneration. The introduction of persulfate increased the regeneration rate by 4–5% over that of ultrasound alone, and the regeneration rate increased from 40.95 % to 45.71 % upon increasing the persulfate dosage from 1 to 10 mmol/L. Furthermore, the regeneration rate was found to be largely unaffected by pH. The specific surface area of the activated carbon regenerated by the combined technology was 527 m2/g, which was 37 m2/g higher than that for ultrasonic regeneration alone, further demonstrating the utility of the combined approach. In summary, combined ultrasonication/persulfate regeneration provides a practical and cost-effective method for the reuse of waste activated carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean sprouts as one of year-round vegetable are widely consumed due to its high nutrition values and short growth period. In this study, soybean seeds were treated by the ultrasound during soaking periods at different processing modes. After germination, the morphological changes, antioxidant capacity, isoflavones and key genes of phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway in soybean sprouts were quantified. Results showed that ultrasonic treatment significantly increased germination rate, sprout length sprouts, protein content, as well as antioxidant activities of soybean sprouts. Moreover, a significantly increased in isoflavones content was observed, especially for the daidzin, glycitin, glycitein and genistein which was increased by 30.48%, 20.28%, 84.58%, 52.53%, respectively after ultrasound treatment. This was consistent with the up-regulation of isoflavones synthesis-related genes (PAL, C4H, 4CL). Additionally, the SOD (superoxide dismutase), POD (peroxidase) and CAT (catalase) activities in soybean sprouts were also markedly increased. The significant increase of MDA (malondialdehyde) content in soybean seeds after ultrasound treatment indicated that an oxidative stress damage was occurred, which consequently enhancing the generation of isoflavones by regulating the genes in phenylpropyl metabolic pathway and improving antioxidant activities of soybean sprouts. Consequently, ultrasound treatment could be considered as an effective way to improve the nutritional value of soybean sprouts. [Display omitted] • The effects of ultrasonic treatment on bioactive compounds of soybean sprouts. • Isoflavones and related synthetic genes of soybean sprouts were studied. • Ultrasonic treatment increased the germination rate and length of soybean sprout. • Ultrasonic treatment increased MDA content and caused oxidative stress damage. • The antioxidant enzyme activity was significant increased after ultrasound treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental caries is the most common chronic disease, whose aetiology is multifactorial. It results from chemical dissolution and demineralisation of tooth structure due to the organic acids produced by microbes. If these lesions are left untreated, it can result in pulpal and periapical infection. Hence careful conservative management of these carious lesions are done to prevent further destruction. There are various concepts on caries excavation, from complete removal of the carious lesion to treatment where the carious lesion is not touched. There are also few non-invasive methods to arrest these lesions which are described in this article. Other than hand instrumentation, both rotary and nonrotary techniques were utilized in caries removal. Rotary includes dental burs of varying shapes and sizes running on various speeds whereas non-rotary includes air abrasives, ultrasonic, laser, chemo-mechanical techniques. This review article mainly focuses on various caries removal techniques and instrumentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The current study uses an economical and eco friendly method to produce gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs) using Polygala elongata leaf (PEL) extract as a reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized materials were characterized using a range of methods, including as BET analysis, TEM-SAED, FT-IR, UV–Vis, and XRD. Biogenic AuNPs' spherical form was shown by SEM and TEM investigations, which also showed that the particles' size range was 10–20 nm, their distribution was homogeneous, and there observed minimal aggregation. The production of biogenic AuNPs was confirmed by the observation of a surface plasmon resonance peak in the absorption spectra, which was detected at 540 nm. Additionally, studies were conducted on the catalytic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, and anticancer characteristics of biogenic AuNPs. The biogenic AuNPs exhibited adaptable applications as a heterogeneous catalyst, achieving percentage degradations of 73 % and 88 % under UV light irradiation, particularly in catalyzing the reduction of Methylene Blue (MeB). Furthermore, the antioxidant properties were evaluated using DPPH free radical scavenging assay in regarding rutin, a widely used antioxidant. With a cytotoxicity value of 500 µg/ml, the produced AuNPs had a strong dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the development of the lung cancer cell line (A549). Therefore, biogenic AuNPs hold potential applications across various research domains, spanning biological and industrial sectors, as well as in the removal of harmful contaminants in water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The SO 2 /NO X pollution in the flue gas of non-ferrous smelting is increasingly serious. At the same time, the accumulation of red mud (RM) in the aluminum industry and phosphorus sludge (PS) in the yellow phosphorus industry has caused serious harm to the environment. To remove SO 2 and NO X from the non-ferrous smelting flue gas and realize the resource utilization of the above two solid wastes, an ultrasonic field was used in this study to strengthen the PS excited O 3 process and RM wet desulfurization and denitrification process. In the process of O 3 excitation, the response surface method (RSM) is used to obtain the optimal O 3 excitation concentration, and the optimal reaction conditions are designed based on the response surface optimization model: T is 53.226 °C, power density is 0.4 W/cm2, PS concentration is 51.433 g/L, O 3 formation concentration up to 250 ppm or more, which provides a theoretical basis for subsequent desulfurization and denitrification steps. It is proved that this study can replace the expensive traditional O 3 generator and provide a basis for NO X removal in the following process. In addition, the optimum experimental conditions of ultrasonic enhanced RM desulfurization and denitrification process were also explored. Under ultrasonic frequency of 28 kHz, ultrasonic power density of 0.4 W/cm2, T of 50 °C, RM concentration of 15 g/L, and stirring intensity of 1000 rpm, the desulfurization efficiency of the reaction system can be maintained above 95 % within 250 min, and the denitrification efficiency can be maintained above 90 % within 250 min. The effect of desulfurization and denitrification in this study is much better than that of traditional methods. Finally, the reaction mechanism of ultrasonic enhanced O 3 excitation and RM wet desulfurization and nitrogen removal was discussed by combining adsorption thermodynamics, isotherm, and kinetics. The results showed that the OH· free radicals generated by ultrasonic cavitation and the physical effects brought by emulsification had significant promoting effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activated carbon is used in water-treatment processes owing to its strong adsorption capacity. Ultrasonic-backwash regeneration of particulate activated carbon in an ozone activated carbon filter was investigated with sodium benzoate as the model pollutant, and the effects of regeneration parameters (ultrasonic frequency, power, regeneration time, and backwashing intensity) on the regeneration efficiency of the activated carbon were studied. The regenerated carbon was characterized by BET, SEM, XPS, and strength, and compared with used activated carbon. The ideal regeneration parameters were determined to be 120 kHz ultrasonic frequency, 360 W ultrasonic power, 1 L/min backwashing intensity, and 10 min regeneration time. The results showed that ultrasonic treatment changes part of the pore structure of the activated carbon; that the high-speed microjets generated by cavitation as well as the high-pressure microbubbles play important roles in the regeneration of the activated carbon; and that backwashing facilitates a range of ultrasonic action on the activated carbon, positively affecting the regeneration process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The parking area is urgently needed in public places such as malls and so on. As time goes by, the development of the productivity of a car in Indonesia evolving so rapidly so that an empty parking lot will also be more and more hard to find. The drivers will be hard to find a parking space so that it will keep spinning to looking for the empty parking spaces, it certainly will make the drivers confusion about which makes the drivers does not park their car. Even lately, the case of car theft in parking lots has increased greatly due to security systems and data that have not been properly managed. The parking area usually using conventional tickets that are easily lost and fell from a pocket that can be stolen by thieves and thieves will take the stolen car from the parking lot and escape using that ticket. This problem can be solved by smart parking system. Smart parking system is a system that can facilitate drivers looking for parking and parking transactions. In this research the researcher will using ethernet shield for sending the data from system to web or vice versa. The aim of his research is to build a smart parking system from transaction and monitoring of parking slots that can be seen on the website. The system consists of a microcontroller, using MFRC522 for transactions, using ultrasonic to detect parking slots, ethernet shield to send the data to database for display parking slot data on website and from database sent to LCD for display user data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While AI and imaging technologies are dramatically transforming the process and machine condition monitoring, product inspection remains confined to probing the geometry and surface morphology. Subsurface and bulk inspection remain prohibitively slow and imprecise. This paper presents an explainable AI (XAI)-infused ultrasound imaging approach for rapid detection of artifacts including product defects. The approach led to the discovery of correlated spatial patterns in the images located away from the artifacts. This discovery enabled accurate (> 80%) detection of artifacts that are not discernible with the current image segmentation methods, and it could profoundly impact product quality and (cyber)security assurance technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The faults in welding design and process every so often yield defective parts during friction stir welding (FSW). The development of numerical approaches including the finite element method (FEM) provides a way to draw a process paradigm before any physical implementation. It is not practical to simulate all possible designs to identify the optimal FSW practice due to the inefficiency associated with concurrent modeling of material flow and heat dissipation throughout the FSW. This study intends to develop a computational workflow based on the mesh-free FEM framework named smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) which was integrated with adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) to evaluate the residual stress in the FSW process. An integrated SPH and ANFIS methodology was established and the well-trained ANIS was then used to predict how the FSW process depends on its parameters. To verify the SPH calculation, an itemized FSW case was performed on AZ91 Mg alloy and the induced residual stress was measured by ultrasonic testing. The suggested methodology can efficiently predict the residual stress distribution throughout friction stir welding of AZ91 alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transmission of information using elastic ultrasonic waves on existing metallic pipes provides an alternative communication option for a nuclear facility. The advantages of this approach consist of transmitting information through barriers, such as the containment building wall, with minimal modification of the existing hardware. Because bit rates on the order of kilobits per second are achievable, relatively large volumes of data, such as images, can be transmitted. A viable candidate for an ultrasonic communication channel is a stainless steel pipe of the chemical volume control system (CVCS) that penetrates through the reactor containment building wall through a sealed tunnel. To study ultrasonic communication under simulated nuclear facility conditions of high temperature, a test article was developed by installing heating tapes, temperature controllers, and thermal insulation on a laboratory CVCS-like stainless steel pipe. High temperature and radiation-resilient lithium niobate ultrasonic transducers were utilized for information transmission on the heated pipe. The amplitude shift keying (ASK) digital communication protocol was developed and implemented in a GNU Radio software–defined radio environment. A root-raised-cosine filter was introduced to suppress ultrasonic transducer ringing and thus reduce inter-symbol interference. This resulted in the enhancement of the data transmission bit rate compared to information encoding with square pulses. Demonstrations of communication at high temperature included transmission of a 90-KB image at the bit rate of 10 Kbps with a bit error rate of 10−3 across a 6-ft-long straight pipe heated up to 230°C. Additional preliminary studies were conducted to evaluate ultrasonic communication system resilience to environmental degradation and damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tannin germanium residue (TGR) is the main enrichment in the process of hydrometallurgical extraction of germanium (Ge). The removal effect of impurity zinc (Zn) from TGR greatly affects the purity of TGR and the subsequent production process. In this study, a new method of high efficiency separation of impurity Zn from TGR by ultrasonic intensification was proposed. The results of single factor experiment showed that under the optimal purification conditions of ultrasonic frequency of 20 kHz, ultrasonic power of 225 W, acid concentration of 20 g/L, liquid–solid ratio of 7.5:1, reaction temperature of 40 °C and reaction time of 30 min, the removal efficiency of impurity Zn from TGR was 88.57 %, which is 5.22 % higher than the conventional purification method. The kinetic analysis based on the shrinking core model indicated that the removal of impurity Zn in TGR was controlled by the diffusion step, and the apparent activation energy of the reaction was reduced by the introduction of ultrasonic. The microscopic mechanism of ultrasonic action showed that the ultrasonic increased the surface free energy of solids and improved the wettability of the purified reagent to solids. When the ultrasonic power was 225 W, the ultrasonic can not only destroy the impurity inclusions and break the solid reactants into small particles, but also avoid the secondary agglomeration of small particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aero-engine casing manufacturing requires considerable processing accuracy. In the aero casing turning process, the entire profile needs to be machined in one process to ensure the surface smoothness and control the remained wall thickness. However, the wall thickness error will be affected by tool wear and workpiece deformation in turning. This paper proposed a non-contact ultrasonic measurement system to measure the wall thickness and compensate the wall thickness error. The wall thickness of the aero casing is measured on the lathe after each turning process and compensated in the next path. Experiments validate the effectiveness of the developed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precision bore holes in cemented carbide are often manufactured by using time-consuming or complex technologies such as grinding, eroding or laser ablation. The use of CVD-diamond coated drilling tools with defined cutting edges can increase the material removal rate. However insufficient process stability and deficient tool lifetime often occurs because of tool breakage. It is demonstrated that ultrasonic assistance can reduce cutting forces. The underlying effect is a micro crack induction inside the material. An ultrasonic related process adjustment by investigating the influence of different parameters was conducted to increase the productivity of the drilling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy alloy (HEA) is an emerging alloy which consists of five or more metallic elements with equimolar concentrations and exhibits excellent mechanical properties at cryogenic temperature. However, its machinability is almost unknown. In this study, high frequency one-dimensional ultrasonic vibration-assisted diamond turning (UVDT) experiments were conducted on an FeCrCoMnNi-based HEA to investigate the micro-nanoscale material removal mechanisms. Compared with conventional diamond turning, UVDT produced thinner chips, lower cutting forces, less tool wear and better surface integrity. Due to the ultrasonic vibration-assisted burnishing effect, surface scratches were significantly eliminated. A freeform surface was test-fabricated with optical-level finish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ultrasonic vibration-assisted indentation system/method is proposed and developed to fabricate structured or textured surfaces more precisely and efficiently than the conventional micro-cutting process. Indenters made of single crystalline diamond (SCD) were fabricated by laser fabrication and polishing with diamond abrasives on a cast iron plate. In the experiments, the microarray molds of four-corner cone and semi-sphere shapes were generated precisely on the electroless Ni-P substrate with ultrasonic vibration-assisted indentation using the SCD indenters. From the indentation experiments, it is clear that the microtextured patterns were formed precisely and effectively by using the developed indentation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the effect of passive ultrasonic activation (PUI) of EDTA solution followed by conventional irrigation with 2 concentrations of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on smear layer removal. Fifty single-root mandibular premolars were chemomechanically prepared with ProTaper Universal (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) nickel-titanium rotary instruments and 1% NaOCl. The roots were cleaved, and the dentin surfaces were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy operated at a low vacuum. Images were obtained from previously demarcated areas in each root canal third. The teeth were reassembled and distributed into 5 groups according to the final irrigation protocols (n = 10): group 1, EDTA/PUI + 1% NaOCl; group 2, EDTA/PUI + 5% NaOCl; group 3, EDTA/CI + 1% NaOCl; group 4, EDTA/CI + 5% NaOCl; and group 5 (negative control), saline solution/PUI. After irrigation, the teeth were reseparated and prepared for conventional high-vacuum scanning electron microscopy of the same dentin surface that was previously analyzed. The amount of debris was classified using a 4-point scoring system. Data were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn tests at α = 0.05. Groups 1 and 2, which used PUI and different concentrations of NaOCl, were not significantly different; however, they differed significantly from group 3 (P <.05). With respect to canal cleanliness at different root thirds, all groups showed the worst cleaning at the apical third. PUI activation of the EDTA irrigant is required when canal debridement is performed with EDTA and a lower concentration of NaOCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is difficult for conventional Wire Electrical Discharge Machining (Wire-EDM) to deal with the cutting of a very thick workpiece. The frequent wire-breakage resulting in wire scratches and severe time-cost, and even the inevitable drum-shaped remained on the lateral wall of workpiece also caused problems to the finishing. Although there was ultrasonic vibration-assisted Wire-EDM reported in the past, they were conducted by only one axial vibrator causing an elliptical expansion in that vibration direction. In this paper, a novel dual-axial ultrasonic vibration (DUV-WEDM) with phases difference of 90o along the orthogonal direction is proposed to prevent the wire from breakage and the elliptical expansion. The module is implemented among the upper guide and the top of workpiece, driven by two ultrasonic actuators and a dual-channel signal source. Because of the dispersion of sparks location and increase of stability index, the proposed strategy benefits from reducing the risk of wire-rupture significantly in comparison with the conventional Wire-EDM. Besides, it improves the cutting accuracy simultaneously because of the uniform EDM expansion by the circular trajectory compared to the single axial vibration mode. Moreover, even the drum-shapedd along the lateral wall is more flattened than conventional cutting by the DUV-WEDM module. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a paucity of data relating to histological margins of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and local recurrence. Retrospective data were collected for 721 patients with cSCC treated at Queen Victoria Hospital, UK, and followed up for five years. The local recurrence rate was 6.1%, the mean time to recurrence was 12.61 months and 93% of recurrences occurred within two years. Sixty-six per cent of recurrences had a deep margin of 2.5 mm or less (p 0.041). The Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a strong correlation with tumour grade (r=0.82, p, 0.05), lymphovascular invasion (r=0.73. p<0.05), medium correlation with deep histological margin(r= -0.55, p<0.05), a weak correlation with male sex (r= 0.31, p<0.05) and the anatomical site of head and neck (r=0.31, p<0.05).The multiple regression analysis model using the 5 variables generated an r value of 0.71 and adjusted r square of 0.7. In conclusion, our findings are consistent with previously mentioned prognostic indicators and also demonstrate that deep histological margin is a significant predictor of local recurrence of cSCC. We recommend larger multi-institutional studies to confirm the above results to subsequently guide the specialist skin multidisciplinary teams' recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the paper is bringing about an analysis of the propagation characteristics of the ultrasonic waves in the coal samples with holes of different inclination angles. With the ultrasonictime method for the experimental test, the transmission coefficient, wave velocities, and first wave amplitudes were measured and calculated, respectively. Theoretical analysis and numerical simulation are also applied in the paper. The study results revealed the following: (1) It was observed that with the increases in the inclination angles, the attenuation coefficients displayed linearly increasing trends and the transmission coefficients showed linearly decrease; (2) The longitudinal wave velocities and first wave amplitudes had decreased following the drilling of the coal samples, and the decrease rates of the first wave amplitudes were found to be larger than those of the longitudinal wave velocities; (3) When the inclination angles of the holes were 30°, and the frequency was 50 kHz, the detectable hole diameter range was within 0 to 54.6 mm when the ultrasonic waves penetrated through the coal samples containing circular holes; ( 4) When the inclination angles of holes were 30°, and the hole diameters were approximately 10 mm, then the attenuation coefficients were observed to increase with the increased frequencies of the ultrasonic waves. The present study results have certain potential reference values for the detection of mine gob or abandoned mine laneway using seismic or low-frequency waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several resorbable fixation systems are used for osteosynthesis in craniofacial surgery. Recently, ultrasonic-assisted pinned resorbable systems have been introduced; however, few studies have described the associated complications during the long-term follow-up until complete resorption. In this study, we investigated the complications of craniofacial surgery using the ultrasonic-assisted pinned resorbable system with a follow-up of at least 30 months. Among patients who underwent craniofacial surgery using a commercially available ultrasonic-assisted pinned resorbable system between 2014 and 2016, those with follow-up visits for at least 30 months were included in this study. We investigated the development of complications such as local infection, exposure of the device, and reoperation related to the implant. Twenty-four patients aged 6 months to 69.4 years (median: 3.5 years) were followed up for more than 30 months. None of the patients required reoperation regardless of implants. Further, no infection or device exposure was seen among all patients. However, two patients aged 6 and 22 months who underwent cranioplasty for craniosynostosis and another patient aged 148 months who underwent cranioplasty for cranial defect exhibited plate-related bulging in the scalp during the course of resorption between 7 and 12 months of follow-up. The bulges were characterized by swelling without pain or redness and resolved spontaneously within 18 months of follow-up, which was considered to occur after complete absorption of the plate. In conclusion, subcutaneous swelling is related to resorbable plates and has a benign clinical course. We recommend that patients be informed of this phenomenon preoperatively to relieve their anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes how to build, in-house, a new type of ultrasonic nebulizer and presents the results of tests to determine its rate of aqueous flow and its performance during the transport of a collagen-based adhesive (ratio of adhesive actually delivered to adhesive misted). It also reports on a consolidation treatment case study carried out with the new ultrasonic misting prototype: the NebulA-MG 14. This case study was applied to powdery paint layers of a medium-sized oil painting on canvas, 111.5 × 86.5 cm. The new device is shown to be both reliable and effective, particularly for consolidating medium and large-sized works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The short period of physical C-phycocyanin extraction from Arthrospira platensis. • Ultrasonic-assisted extraction of C-phycocyanin showed high efficiency. • C-phycocyanin encapsulation can be prepared using extrusion techniques. C-phycocyanin (C-PC) is a blue photosynthetic pigment and the major phycobiliprotein in many blue-green algae with high nutritional values and antioxidant, antivirus, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. It also boosts the immune system in various organisms and can be used in immunoassays to track target cells because it has fluorescent properties. This study focused on optimizing extraction conditions for C-phycocyanin encapsulation from Arthrospira platensis using ultrasonic and extrusion techniques. Parameters affecting C-phycocyanin production were type of biomass, buffer, and biomass-solvent ratio. Results indicated that the highest C-phycocyanin concentration of 6 mg ml−1 was obtained from freeze-dried samples extracted by 0.01 M sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7) and biomass-solvent ratio of 1:15, with extract purity and yield of 0.6 and 60 mg g−1, respectively. The optimized conditions of C-phycocyanin ultrasonic encapsulation at 98% were 3% sodium alginate, 2.5% calcium chloride, and 1 mg ml−1 initial C-phycocyanin concentration. C-phycocyanin extracted from A. platensis can be prepared in encapsulated form and utilized for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this investigation was to compare the root surface roughness following scaling by Er:YAG laser with the conventional ultrasonic and hand instruments. Materials and Methods: This in vitro investigation was performed on 15 premolars which had been freshly extracted due to existing periodontal problems. Scaling was performed either by an ultrasound system, hand instrument or Er:YAG laser. Each tooth was sectioned into halves, of which a second sectioning was performed to provide four samples of the same tooth for best possible comparison. Overall, 45 root surface sections with calculus and debris were grouped into three in a randomized selection manner. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for surface assessment at 50X, 400X, and 750X magnification. Data were analyzed using Kruskal Wallis and ANOVA tests. Results: There was a noticeable difference in surface roughness of samples with the three different approaches. Intergroup comparison of samples showed a significant difference between laser and hand instruments, and ultrasonic and hand instruments. The hand instrument group had the least surface roughness among all groups. Conclusion: A minimal surface roughness was observed under SEM in samples treated by Er:YAG. Laser use was not superior to the other two methods of ultrasonic and hand instrumentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal vanadium smelting produces roasting-acid leaching tailings containing approximately 1% vanadium residue, making it challenging to store and recycle these waste tailings in an environmentally friendly manner. To address this issue, a clean method called ultrasonic-enhanced oxalic acid complexation was proposed in this study for efficient removal of residual vanadium. Under the optimal conditions, the removal rate of vanadium and the decomposition rate of oxalic acid reached 86.88% and 23.6%. An in-depth analysis on the experimental results in combination with thermodynamics found a virtuous cycle chain induced by ultrasonic cavitation. Ultrasonic waves facilitated the decomposition of oxalic acid, producing more CO 2 to supplement the limited cavitation bubble nucleuses. Consequently, the cavitation effect was strengthened, leading to an increased yield of OH radicals. This resulted in a continuous improvement in the oxidation environment. Furthermore, the enhanced virtuous cycle generated by ultrasonic cavitation produced powerful microjets that facilitated the stripping and dispersion of mineral particles. Overall, the oxalic acid-ultrasonic leaching technique offers a clean and efficient technology for separating vanadium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the regeneration of spent biochar adsorbent and the degradation of adsorbed PFOA by the system of ultrasonic assisted activation of persulfate were explored. The effects of ultrasound, persulfate and biochar on PFOA removal were investigated through a series of regeneration and degradation experiments. Meanwhile, the degradation mechanism and reaction pathways of PFOA were investigated with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and high-resolution quadrupole orbitrap mass spectrometer. The results showed that PFOA adsorbed by biochar could be degraded efficiently with the synergistic effect of ultrasound and persulfate. The degradation of PFOA in biochar could be finished in 4 h, while the defluorination took longer, with a defluorination efficiency of 50.6% after 4 h and 99.6% after 10 h. In this process, PFOA was degraded and defluorinated gradually by thermal decomposition caused by cavitation bubbles and degradation caused by the attack of SO 4 •ˉ and •OH. Two different free radicals controlled different degradation pathways, with SO 4 •ˉ playing a dominant role. In this system, the regeneration of the waste biochar adsorbent was achieved by eliminating PFOA, which could be recycled more than three times. The application potential of the system was evaluated using real water sample, and it was found that the removal of PFOA in real water sample was satisfactory even with the influence of inorganic ions and organic matter, indicating that it has promising application prospects. This work provided new insight into the degradation of adsorbed PFOA and adsorbent regeneration. [Display omitted] • The regeneration of spent adsorbent involved separation and degradation of PFOA. • Cavitation bubbles caused thermal decomposition of PFOA. • Porous biochar promoted the generation of free radicals. • The attack of free radicals on PFOA involved two degradation pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the problem of germanium adsorption loss caused by lead sulfate adsorption during the leaching process of zinc oxide dust containing germanium, this article simulates and identifies the mechanism of lead sulfate adsorbing germanium, and innovatively introduces ultrasonic to suppress the adsorption of germanium by lead sulfate. Research has shown that the adsorption process of lead sulfate on germanium conforms to the pseudo-second-order kinetic adsorption model. The diffusion process of germanium adsorbed on lead sulfate particles can be divided into three stages: fast, slow, and equilibrium. The adsorption of germanium by lead sulfate conforms to the Langmuir isotherm adsorption model, and is mainly monolayer adsorption and chemical adsorption. In addition, the adsorption at 298–328 K is a spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy increasing process, while at 328–358 K it is a spontaneous, exothermic, and entropy decreasing process. At the same time, it was also found that low temperature, high temperature, and high-power ultrasonic can inhibit the adsorption process. Under ultrasound conditions of 358 K and 60.0 W, the equilibrium adsorption capacity of lead sulfate on germanium was 7.48 mg/g, and the germanium adsorption efficiency was 18.09%, which was 48.01% and 6.73% lower than conventional methods, respectively. Moreover, the leaching efficiency of germanium in actual dust leaching is increased by 6.17%, reaching 89.64%, verifying the simulation results. The new process of ultrasonic suppression of germanium adsorption by lead sulfate in the leaching process of zinc oxide dust containing germanium established in this article can effectively achieve efficient recovery of germanium from zinc oxide dust, providing a process and theoretical basis for the sustainable development of the world's germanium industry, and is of great significance for ensuring the safety of the world's important strategic resource supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Germanium in lead residue is adsorbed by silica gel and encapsulated in lead sulfate. • Further reduced the content of zinc and germanium in lead residue. • Clarified the mechanism of ultrasonic enhanced sulfuric acid washing process. Lead residue is the residue from the leaching process of zinc oxide dust containing germanium, which comprises a certain amount of valuable elements such as zinc and germanium. Conventional water washing treatment cannot effectively remove zinc and germanium from lead residue, resulting in a backlog of zinc and germanium in the system and raising production costs for enterprises. By using a dilute sulfuric acid solution and introducing ultrasonic waves for enhanced washing, the easily separated zinc and germanium are basically removed, while the residual zinc occurred as ZnS and germanium wrapped in lead sulfate are difficult to elute. The removal efficiency of zinc and germanium can reach 53.82% and 50.24%, respectively, which are 12.67% and 6.10% higher than conventional acid washing efficiency, and 31.10% and 22.51% higher than conventional water washing efficiency. During water washing, the hydrolysis of Zn2+ and Fe3+ results in low elution efficiency. While in pickling process, hydrolysis can be effectively inhibited. When use ultrasonic to enhance sulfuric acid washing, some ZnS dissolves, while the silica gel colloid that adsorbs germanium is destroyed, and germanium is released into the solution again, thus improving the removal efficiency of zinc and germanium. This article has reused more than half of the residual zinc and germanium in lead residue, and points out the direction for further reducing zinc and germanium residues in lead residue. It is of great significance for the comprehensive utilization of zinc and germanium resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal gasification fine slag (CGFS) is a solid waste byproduct generated during the coal gasification process. However, the high content of residual carbon hinders its potential for resource utilization. The urgent need for an efficient carbon extraction and ash reduction technology is evident. Hydrophobic–hydrophilic separation (HHS) is a technology that enriches hydrophobic particles in the oil phase while hydrophilic particles are in the water phase by stirring, and the different hydrophobic particles are separated by the separation of the oil and water phases. The molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the adsorption of n-heptane onto the residual carbon surface occurred spontaneously and was primarily driven by van der Waals forces. Ultrasonic pre-treatment pulp could enhance the effect of HHS. The fluctuation in tailings ash did not exceed 2% while the concentrate ash was reduced from 31.81% to 18.93% with a continual increase in ultrasonic power. The application of ultrasonic treatment on CGFS facilitated the separation of Carbon-ash molten state, as well as the elimination of ash materials particles residing within the pores of the residual carbon matrix and on its surface. Notably, many residual carbon particles are concentrated in the particle size range of 0.045–0 mm. The heightened hydrophobicity exhibited by particles within this size range enhanced the capture of oil droplets, thereby promoting the efficiency of HHS. This research aims to provide technical support and theoretical foundation for utilizing ultrasonic pretreatment as a means to enhance the HHS efficiency of CGFS. [Display omitted] • The concentrates ash decreased of 12.49% after ultrasonic pre-treatment. • The ash content of tailings remains above 96%. • The dewatering by displacement in HHS was studied through molecular simulations. • A visual model of ultrasonic pre-treatment was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A natural clinoptilolite zeolite was modified by ultrasonic-assisted chemicals (NaOH, FeCl 3 and HCl) to improve their performance in ammonium removal from (waste) water. The obtained modified zeolites were characterized by Field Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and gas sorption techniques to understand the relation between physiochemical factors of the modified zeolites and ammonium adsorption. The highest elimination efficiency of ammonium by the natural zeolite modified by ultrasonic-assisted HCl treatment, HZU2, was ≥ 99%. However, ammonium removal by the raw natural zeolite was only 51.66%. The efficiencies of ammonium removal in the presence of various disturbing anions and cations by the HZU2 and raw zeolite were in the range of 79–93% and 15–30%, respectively. The HZU2 was reused five times presenting stable adsorption removal of ammonium. The theoretical calculations were performed to identify the key kinetics and thermodynamics parameters controlling the adsorption rate. The maximum adsorption capacity (q max) of HZU2 obtained by the Langmuir model was about 142.85 (mg-ammonium/g-adsorbent) suggesting that the adsorption capacity of a monolayer and the relative content of alkali metal cations are suitable for the improvement of ammonium ion adsorption. The obtained thermodynamics parameters showed that the ammonium adsorption is a spontaneous and exothermic physisorption process. Consequently, we showed that ultrasonic-assisted chemical modification is a promising approach to control both textural properties and chemical composition of natural zeolites to enhance the ammonium removal from wastewater. [Display omitted] • An efficient approach of clinoptilolite zeolite modification was introduced. • Maximum ammonium adsorption capacity of modified zeolite increased by an order of magnitude. • Zeolite modification resulted higher resistance to disturbing ions in ammonium removal. • Modified zeolite was reusable at least five times. • Key parameters of kinetic and thermodynamic controlling ammonium adsorption were calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of DYNA - Ingeniería e Industria is the property of Publicaciones Dyna SL and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Ultrasonic activation of photosensitizer in aPDT enhances its penetration depth into dentinal tubules. • Ultrasonic increase antibacterial efficacy of aPDT. • There was no significant difference between antibacterial effects of aPDT + ultrasonic and ultrasonic activated NaOCl. This study aimed to assess the effect of ultrasonic activation of photosensitizer on the efficacy of Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) against Enterococcus faecalis and penetration depth of photosensitizer. In this ex vivo study, mature microbial biofilm of E. faecalis was formed in the root canals of 58 single-rooted single-canal mandibular incisors following their decoronation. The roots were longitudinally sectioned by a diamond disc and split into halves by a chisel. The E. faecalis biofilm was quantified and the penetration depth of photosensitizer was determined by the microbial viability assay and stereomicroscopic analysis in the following three study groups: (1) Ultrasonically activated 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 20 s, (2) aPDT using methylene blue (MB) plus 660 nm diode laser with 150 mW power for 1 minute, and (3) ultrasonically activated MB for 20 s followed by aPDT as in group 2. Independent sample t test and one way ANOVA were used to compare the dye penetration depth and microbial load, respectively in the apical and coronal regions among the groups. The penetration depth of photosensitizer in group 3 was significantly greater than that in group 2 (P < 0.05). The E. faecalis count in all three experimental groups was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). Groups 1 and 3 were significantly superior to group 2 in terms of reduction in microbial count but the difference between groups 1 and 3 was not significant (P > 0.05). Ultrasonic activation of photosensitizer in aPDT increases the penetration depth of photosensitizer into the dentinal tubules and enhances its antibacterial activity. Ultrasonic activation of photosensitizer in aPDT enhances its penetration depth into dentinal tubules and increases antibacterial efficacy. There was no significant difference between antibacterial effects of aPDT + ultrasonic and ultrasonic activated NaOCl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this experiment, the content of total flavo-noids in barley seedlings was determined by ultrasonic synergistic ultrafine pulverization method, and its antioxidant activity was studied. The results showed that the optimum extraction conditions were as follows: extraction with ethanol concentration of 70%, ratio of material to liquid of 1:20 (g/mL) and ultrasonic power of 200 W for 20 min, and the extraction amount could reach 0.3432 mg/g under this condition; The effect is better than the method of ultrasonic and enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively. The antioxidant activity of total flavo-noids prepared by this method was studied. The results showed that DPPH free radicals and hydroxyl radicals have strong scavenging ability. According to the stability of the experiment, the precision and the recovery of the standard addition indicate that the reproducibility of this experiment is an effective way to extract the total flavonoids from the Hordeum vulgare tender seedling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cukurova Medical Journal / Çukurova Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi Dergisi is the property of Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• EDTMPS can inhibit vaterite transforming into calcite. • The AEMF can effectively improve the scale inhibition effect of EDTMPS. • The US can promote the CaCO 3 precipitation as smaller size calcite crystals. • Under the action of US, EDTMPS would lose its effect after a period of time. In this study, the influence of Ethylene Diamine Tetra Methylene Phosphonic Acid Sodium (EDTMPS) on the precipitation of CaCO 3 under alternating electromagnetic field (AEMF) and ultrasonic (US) treatment were investigated. The variations of pH value and the Ca2+ concentration of hard water solution were monitored, and the crystalline phase and morphology of precipitated CaCO 3 crystals were characterized by XRD and SEM. The experimental results show that the presence of EDTMPS can inhibit the precipitation of CaCO 3. In the 30 mmol/L Ca(HCO 3) 2 solution, when the EDTMPS concentration were 2.5 mg/L, 5 mg/L, 7.5 mg/L and 10 mg/L, the antiscale efficiencies were 34.08%, 63.67%, 70.79% and 71.16%, respectively. Thus, the antiscale efficiency correlates positively with EDTMPS concentration. The presence of EDTMPS can also inhibit the CaCO 3 conversion from vaterite to calcite. The AEMF has the effect of hindering the precipitation of CaCO 3 and inducing CaCO 3 precipitates as vaterite crystals. Furthermore, it is significant that the AEMF can effectively improve the scale inhibition effect of EDTMPS, which means the EDTMPS used in combination with AEMF could be a good method to improve the scale inhibition. On the other hand, the US promotes the CaCO 3 precipitation as calcite crystals with smaller size. Under the action of US, the EDTMPS loses its inhibition effect after a certain period of time, possibly due to the US destroys the connection between Ca and EDTMP and free the Ca2+ in the solution. Ca2+ concentrations after each experiment. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology. Social Sciences Edition / Haerbin Gongye Daxue Xuebao. Shehui Kexue Ban is the property of Harbin Institute of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)