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Hydrogen (H₂) has great potential in the treatment of osteoarthritis, but its rapid diffusion and short retention time make it difficult to exert stable therapeutic effects. This study developed a short-fiber injectable material that can continuously generate hydrogen in situ to eliminate reactive oxygen species (ROS), alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation, and promote tissue repair. We prepared H–Si nanosheets with high hydrogen generation efficiency using a wet chemical exfoliation method and combined them with GelMA short fibers via electrospinning technology, achieving the in situ delivery of H–Si nanosheets and regulated hydrogen generation rate through the encapsulation and degradation of GelMA, ultimately achieving continuous and controlled hydrogen supply and stable therapeutic effects for osteoarthritis. In vitro and in vivo experiments confirmed the safety and efficacy of this material. The results showed that the material could continuously and efficiently generate hydrogen in simulated physiological environments (100 mg of material could generate 8.6 % hydrogen), effectively eliminate cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS positive rate reduced by 85.89 %), reduce cellular senescence and apoptosis (cell death rate decreased by 52 %, SA-βgal expression decreased by 78.3 %), promote normal chondrocyte function (Col II expression increased by 67.4 %, Ki67 expression increased by 87.5 %), and improve osteoarthritis in rats (OARSI score increased by 216 %). The in situ hydrogen generation and control system designed in this study provides a new method for the hydrogen's local and stable treatment of osteoarthritis. Hydrogen (H₂) has great potential in the treatment of osteoarthritis by alleviating oxidative stress, but its rapid diffusion and short retention time make it difficult to exert stable therapeutic effects. This study introduces an innovative injectable material combining H–Si nanosheets and GelMA short fibers to address this issue. By enabling continuous in situ hydrogen generation, this material effectively eliminates reactive oxygen species, reduces oxidative stress and inflammation, and promotes tissue repair. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrate its high hydrogen generation efficiency, safety, and therapeutic efficacy, offering a promising new approach for osteoarthritis management. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios is the property of Universidad Juarez Autonoma de Tabasco 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.)

Copyright of Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia is the property of Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia 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.)

Hyperpigmentation disorders are characterized by dark spots on the skin. Treatment for hypermelanosis involves the application of tyrosinase inhibitors, chemical peels, or lasers therapy, although they may cause skin irritation and other side effects. Potential natural alternatives for skin hyperpigmentation are quercetin (QT) and olive oil (OL) due to their antioxidant activity and anti-tyrosinase property. However, QT usage drawback is its low water solubility and high chemical instability that may be overcome with nanoencapsulation. To understand if QT and OL could be used as alternative to improve hypermelanosis, we evaluated the physical-chemical and biological properties of quercetin-loaded olive oil nanoemulsion (QT-NE). QT-NE was prepared by the highenergy emulsification method and, through the Box-Behnken design, we analyzed different concentrations of OL, surfactant mixture, and the agitation speed in relation to diameter and polydispersity index (PdI). The optimized formulation was characterized in terms of size, PdI, zeta potential, pH, electrical conductivity, stability and encapsulation efficiency. Besides, we evaluated in vitro antioxidant activity, tyrosinase inhibitory activity, and in vitro toxicity. The optimized QT-NE showed a size of 183.43 ± 9.53 nm with low PdI (0.19), zeta potential of 17.13 ± 0.61 mV, pH around 7, conductivity of 163.96 ± 8.92 mS/cm, and high encapsulation efficiency (99%). The QTNE exhibited high antioxidant activity (92%) and inhibited 56% of tyrosinase activity, indicating its potential for free radical scavenging and reducing skin hyperpigmentation. Furthermore, no irritation was observed by HET-CAM. Thus, this nanoemulsion (NE) is a promising alternative for hypermelanosis and could substitute the current treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gingival inflammation or gingivitis is an inflammation of the gingiva caused by deposits of supragingival plaque characterized by changes in clinical features. Treatment of gingivitis consists of mechanical procedure through scaling and root planing, but mechanical procedure alone sometimes is not effective, therefore mechanical treatment should be combined with adjunctive therapy. Mangosteen peel is an ingredient that has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of mangosteen peel extract mouthwash in reducing gingival inflammation. This study was conducted using a double-blind simple randomized-controlled trial. A total of 32 subjects with gingivitis were randomly assigned into 4 different groups, namely group I placebo, group II concentration of 2%, group III concentration of 4%, and group IV concentration of 6%. All subjects were given scaling as initial treatment then, the Modified Gingival Index (MGI) and Sulcular Bleeding Index (SBI) score were measured on the 1st and 8th days. The MGI and SBI scores are reduced in all groups on the 8th day. A significant MGI score reduction was seen in concentration 2% and concentration 6% compared to negative control and no significant differences between the two concentrations Mangosteen peel extract mouthwash can reduce gingival inflammation with the highest reduction seen at concentrations of 2% and 6% viewed based on the MGI parameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 10 years, we have seen exponential growth in the aesthetic industry. With this growth, we have also seen an influx of patients of differing ethnicities, in all varying shades of color. Some clinicians may not have the necessary knowledge and skill to appropriately treat these patients using modalities such as laser therapy, microneedling, and chemical peels. The aesthetic industry provides courses, conferences, and educational guides for helping aesthetic practitioners determine which patients are eligible to undergo these treatments. However, there is a considerable lack of information available for clinicians about treatment modalities that can be safely and effectively used on patients with Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI. As the population of patients of various ethnic origins seeking aesthetic treatments continues to grow, it is imperative for clinicians performing these treatments to increase their knowledge and skill related to treating patients with skin of color. The purpose of this article is to educate aesthetic clinicians about appropriate treatments, procedures, and protocols for preventing adverse reactions in patients with skin of color who are undergoing aesthetic treatments using lasers, microneedling, and chemical peels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Ciência & Saúde Coletiva is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Pos-Graduacao em Saude Coletiva 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.)

Copyright of Romanian Case Law Review / Revista Română de Jurisprudenţă is the property of Universul Juridic Publishing House 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.)

According to the previously described anti-photoaging effect of the enzyme-processed Panax ginseng extract and Gastrodia elata extract, we hypothesized that the combination of the two extracts would have superior effect to protect human skin from UVB radiation. Besides, the mixture of active components isolated from herbal extracts, ginsenoside F2, and α-gastrodin was investigated on the photo-protective capability. The expression of aging-related markers including matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and procollagen type 1 was evaluated using ELISA kits. It was reported that the herbal extract at a Panax ginseng extract to Gastrodia elata extract ratio of 1:10 (w/w) and the compound mixture with equal proportion of ginsenoside F2 and α-gastrodin exhibited significant inhibition of MMP-1 and IL-6 production, and marked upregulation of procollagen type 1 formation. Thus, the combination of either the enzyme-processed herbal extracts or their active components would enhance the properties of prevention and treatment of UVB-induced skin damage. The reverse effect of EPG on the UVB-induced damage via inhibiting MMP-1 and IL-6 production and accelerating procollagen type 1 synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinic keratoses (AKs) are rough, scaly papules or plaques on sun-exposed areas of the body that may progress to squamous cell carcinoma. AKs are extremely common, with the highest incidence in individuals living close to the equator. Risk factors for AKs include advanced age, fair skin, male gender, baldness in men, immunosuppression, and chronic sun exposure. Many effective therapies for individual AKs exist; however, underlying field cancerization—a mix of clinical and subclinical lesions—must be addressed for treatment to be successful. Nurses can play a pivotal role in empowering and educating their patients to make the right choices to keep their skin healthy and cancer-free for years to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Characteristics and characterization of graphene are discussed. • Graphene synthesis methods are evaluated via cost, environment and social impacts. • Oxidative exfoliation-reduction, LPE and CVD potentially can be commercialized. • More work is needed to overcome environmental concerns and the high graphene cost. Graphene and its derivatives have gained significant attention of late due to their remarkable physicochemical properties. This review focuses firstly on the synthesis methods of graphene and its derivatives along with their attributes and characterization techniques. This is followed by a discussion of the potential industrial implementation of the synthesis routes. The potential industrial implementation of the graphene synthesis methods are reviewed using the key criteria of cost, process condition, yield, scalability, product quality and environmental impact. The literature data supported that synthesis routes such as oxidative exfoliation-reduction, liquid-phase exfoliation and chemical vapor deposition have the potential to be commercialized due to their ability to produce large amount of high quality graphene. Further development is necessary to overcome barriers such as environmental concerns and the high graphene cost. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Plastic pollution in oceans is a global problem, with growing research efforts focusing on the threat of microplastics (<5 mm fractions). A source of microplastics pollution is derived from personal care products that contain polyethylene micro-spheres which are not captured by wastewater plants. In this work, ten personal care products (mainly scrubs) containing microplastics and marketed in Spain, were physico-chemically characterized. The obtained results proved that those microplastics had different particle size and are presented in high percentages in some cases, between 6 and 7% of the total product. Products with smaller particles usually showed higher concentrations than products with larger particles. Although all the microplastics were shown to be polyethylene, some impurities were observed that demonstrated the presence of silicates and oxides in the microplastics. Regards to morphology, the shape of the particles was irregular in general, although some completely spherical particles can be observed. Highlights • More than 50% of scrubs marketed in Granada (Spain) contain microplastics. • Some personal care products contain up to 10% by weight of microplastics. • Microplastics were polyethylene with particle diameters between 8.7 and 2188 μm. • Between 123 and 3730 microplastics per gram were found in cosmetics products. • Chemical additives like silicon or aluminium oxides were present in the products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Plastic pollution of South Africa's marine environment is widespread, yet limited research exists on the distribution, accumulation and transport of plastic debris around South Africa. In this paper, numerical modelling is used to provide a first approximation of the pathways and accumulation of marine micro-plastics around South Africa. To account for a range of plastic classes, particles with two different densities are considered. Low-density (LD) particles represent low- and high-density polyethylene while high-density (HD) particles are representative of Polyethylene terephthalate and Polyvinyl chloride. While the majority of micro-plastic particles that enter the ocean from the five major coastal urban-industrialised centers beach along the coastline of South Africa, a third is exported to the open ocean. LD and HD particles are primarily exported to the South Atlantic and South Indian Ocean, respectively. Particles that beach along South Africa's coastline tend to accumulate in close proximity to the coastal urban-industrialised centers. Highlights • Low-density particles are primarily exported to the South Atlantic Ocean. • High-density particles are mainly exported to the South Indian Ocean. • Particles mainly beach close to urban centers along the South African coastline. • Beached particles accumulate close to urban centers along South AfricaŠs coastline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cleaning is a fundamental concern of beach managers in many destinations as well as an important requirement in beach quality awards. However, it has been largely neglected in the literature. This paper provides an overview of empirical studies on beach cleaning and analyzes cleaning-related requirements of 11 beach awards that generate controversy in the literature. This study comments on key aspects of beach cleaning, resolves various misconceptions, and provides new perspectives by integrating related topics drawn from a wide range of literature. The arguments based on both the ecological and tourism managerial perspectives are presented, indicating the gaps and proposing research solutions. The paper calls for empirical studies with regard to the efficiency of different cleaning approaches on beaches with varying levels of use intensity and for methodological designs that separate the impacts of mechanical grooming from those of trampling, dune destruction, shore armoring, artificial lighting, among others. Highlights • Studies should separate impacts of mechanical cleaning from those of urbanization. • Very few studies analyze cost and effectiveness of mechanical and manual cleaning. • Beach certification schemes do not require or encourage mechanical cleaning. • There is a significant research gap in various aspects of beach cleaning. • Research gaps are highlighted, research designs and management strategies are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels are a treatment used to improve the skin's appearance and exfoliate the skin surface by coagulating both living and dead keratinocytes. Peels can be performed with different strength concentrations of acid to achieve different depths of exfoliation. Superficial peels (for cosmetic indications) are often performed with a 10%–25% TCA solution. Because TCA is able to penetrate the stratum spinosum (the depth of dysplastic cells in actinic keratosis), medium-depth 35% TCA peels may be used as an adjuvant therapy for actinic keratoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transport of ionic species in nano-fluidic channels has recently attracted tremendous interest in various research areas. This is because extraordinary nanoscale transport phenomena have been achieved in these materials, including ultrafast and highly selective ion movement. A variety of organic and inorganic materials have been employed to construct nano-channels or nano-pores with controlled sizes and dimensions. In particular, because of its unique two-dimensional planar architecture, as well as the possession of numerous oxygenated functionalities, GO has emerged as a promising building block for high-performance nano-fluidic ion channels. The simple exfoliation-reconstruction approach can readily assemble individual GO sheets into a free-standing, layered, film-like structure. In addition to its utilization as a versatile solid support for nano-fluidic ion transport, GO can play different but positive roles as a filler in composite electrolytes, as a mixed proton/electron conductor, and as a selective ion permeation membrane. Herein, we summarize the recent advances in the transport of ionic species within GO-based electrolytes. Moreover, the perspectives and current challenges of this promising field are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphite is an abundant natural material, but its specific area and adsorptive ability are low. In this study, a graphite sheet modified by an electrochemical exfoliation/oxidant process (GS EEO-modified ) was used as an adsorbent to remove caffeine from solution. Experimental results indicate that GS EEO-modified effectively adsorbs caffeine and that the adsorptive ability of GS EEO-modified prepared with KMnO 4 is obviously higher than that of GS EEO-modified prepared with H 2 O 2 or S 2 O 8 2− . The optimal preparation conditions for GS EEO-modified were 1.2 M H 2 SO 4 , 0.1 M KMnO 4 , 80 °C, and an applied voltage of 4 V. GS EEO-modified of 4.0 g L −1 efficiently adsorbed 95% of the caffeine (C 0 = 50 mg L −1 ) within 30 min. Langmuir isotherms describe the adsorption behavior well (q max = 1000 mg L −1 , b = 0.001, R 2 = 0.9912). Additionally, 0.1 M acetone effectively regenerated exhausted GS EEO-modified , which maintained a high adsorptive ability (81%) after seven cycles of adsorption-regeneration treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of triaxial compression tests were performed on the methane hydrate-bearing sands formed with rounded glass beads and natural sands to examine their mechanical properties. The effect of particle characteristics on the mechanical response of methane hydrate-bearing sands with regard to the exertion of bonding force and de-bond mechanism between grains is explained from the grain-scale viewpoint. In comparison with the natural sand, methane hydrate-bearing glass beads owns a similar initial stiffness and rapidly attains the peak shear strength at a smaller axial strain. The obvious post-peak strain-softening behaviour of methane hydrate-bearing glass beads which differs from the tender post-peak strain-softening tendency of methane hydrate-bearing natural sand is observed. It is attributed to almost simultaneous exfoliation of hydrate mass from the glass beads with smooth surface within the straightly sheared layers. The substantial resource of shear strength enhancement for methane hydrate-bearing glass beads is the cohesion but the shear strength of methane hydrate-bearing natural sand was jointly governed by the cohesion and angle of internal friction. In contrast to the increasing tendency of difference of shear strength with the level of effective confining pressure for methane hydrate-bearing natural sand, the methane hydrate-bearing glass beads exerts a stronger effect of bonding force on the difference of shear strength at relatively lower pressures but this effect decreases at higher pressures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel synthesis procedure is presented for preparing single layer graphene (SGr) with high specific surface area (SSA). The SGr has been introduced as a promising additive for preparing super conductive nanofluids for high performance heat transfer applications. Owing to high SSA and unique degree of functionalization with hydrophilic groups, the SGr demonstrates an excellent colloidal stability and thermo-physical properties as an additive in aqueous media. Using UV–vis spectrometer, a highest dispersion stability of 0.866-relative concentration was reached after 30 days from preparation. Water-based SGr nanofluids illustrated fairly Newtonian behavior. Nanofluid containing SGr sheets with SSA of 761 m 2 /g and weight concentration of 0.01% showed the largest increase in thermal conductivity, i.e. , from 0.748 to 0.795 W/m K as the temperature increased from 20 to 50 °C. The average heat transfer coefficient ratio ( h nf / h bf ) ave showed a downward trend with increasing of Reynolds number, decreasing from 233.5% at Re of 2000 to only 83.8% at Re of 16,000 at the constant weight concentration of 0.01%. Finally, the water-based SGR nanofluids were shown to be dramatically more effective in the duct with a backward-facing step in terms of overall thermal performance e.g. , performance index and pumping power, and rheological properties including effective viscosity in comparison to distilled water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium-assisted ultrasound exfoliation was used to synthesize CdS/g-C 3 N 4 ultrathin nanosheet catalysts with visible-light photocatalytic activity. The samples showed enhanced photocatalytic performance. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy confirmed the synthesized CdS/g-C 3 N 4 ultrathin nanosheets. The photocurrent intensity and degradation of methyl orange (MO) of ultrathin CdS/g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst were 2 and 1.4 times higher than those of CdS/g-C 3 N 4 nanocomposite obtained via ultrasound exfoliation without assistance of cadmium ion. These results were due to the well-matched band structure and close contact interfaces between the g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets and CdS, which resulted in the effective transfer and separation of the photogenerated charge carriers. The mechanism for the photodegradation of MO by ultrathin CdS/g-C 3 N 4 photocatalyst was also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standard application principles for the peeling test, also known as the scotch tape test, for assessing the surface cohesion characteristics of materials have been presented by the authors in earlier papers on laboratory testing of stone and mortar consolidation effects. The method has been in use for a long time for evaluating the strengthening of surface layers of mortars, but there have been no standards or reliably verified recommendations on how the test should be applied. Nevertheless, the method has been attracting continuing research, because it is a simple and quite reliable method for in situ testing of consolidation effects, if it is applied correctly. Our paper summarizes the basic principles, and presents illustrative results of an investigation of important historic buildings. It goes on to suggest some practical approaches and designs that are useful for in situ applications. We present a mathematical procedure suitable for evaluating the results that are obtained. We recommend repeated peeling on exactly the same place on the surface in order to compensate for and eliminate the effect of the natural decrease in the material detached from the subsurface layers, which might be incorrectly interpreted as a consolidation effect. The examples and validation measurements presented here include in situ measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the high concentration exfoliation of graphene nanosheets in dimethyl formamide (DMF) as a solvent from graphite powder. UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy shows low power bath sonication yields less concentration of graphene nanosheets exfoliation, whereas the high power probe sonication yields high concentration graphene nanosheets exfoliation. The concentration of graphene nanosheets exfoliation depends on amount of energy supplied, and there exists a linear relationship between the concentration of graphene and energy supplied during sonication. TEM micrograph confirms the exfoliation of graphene nanosheets. AFM studies shows; high power sonication for longer time reveals graphene exfoliation with fewer graphene layers. The strategy of bath sonication followed by probe sonication of grapheme solution shows the stable suspension of graphene nanosheets even after one month. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exfoliation of extruded AA2024-T4 (UNS A92024) in the industrial and coastal-industrial environments was investigated by the field test and laboratory-accelerated test. Results show that the exfoliation corrosion was influenced by the alloy structure and the type of the atmospheric environment, especially the concentration of SO42- in the environment. In the field test, AA2024-T4 suffered slighter exfoliation in both environments than that in the coastal environments. The side wall with a thinner coarse-grain structure of extruded AA2024-T4 suffered more severe exfoliation than the bottom with a thicker coarse-grain structure after a 20-year exposure. Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) results show that the corrosion products of extruded AA2024-T4 exposed in both environments contained a small amount of S in addition to a large amount of Al and O. In the laboratory-accelerated test, both the critical relative humidity (RH) and induction period for exfoliation in the simulated coastal-industrial environments were higher and longer than those in the sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) free simulated coastal environment. Exfoliation was hindered due to the existence of SO42- in Ct-containing environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polimery is the property of Industrial Chemistry Research Institute 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.)

An apple-peel intestinal atresia is a rare form of bowel atresia. Herein, reported a case of apple-peel intestinal atresia that was treated with a diamond-shaped anastomosis to adjust the anastomosis size. A female infant was born at 33 weeks of gestation with a birth weight of 1936 g. The prenatal ultrasound revealed proximal intestinal dilatation and polyhydramnios. She had a prenatal diagnosis of suspected congenital jejunal atresia. Post-natal abdominal X-ray showed triple bubble sign with the paucity of gas in the lower bowel, as well as concerned proximal bowel obstruction. She underwent surgical repair for jejunal atresia at 2 days of age. Surgical exploration revealed a markedly distended atretic jejunum with apple-peel jejunal atresia and a significant loss of intestinal length. A difference in the diameter of approximately 3: 1 was found between the oral and the anal intestine, and the end-to-end anastomosis was difficult. Therefore, a diamond-shaped anastomosis was performed using 5-0 polyglycolic acid sutures by incising the dilated oral tract in the minor axis and the anal in the major axis. A trans-anastomotic tube was placed nasally beyond the anastomotic site. The postoperative course was uneventful. Therefore, the diamond-shaped anastomosis may be an option for apple-peel intestinal atresia. • Apple-peel intestinal atresia is a rare form of bowel atresia that affects approximately 1/50000 live births. • In recent years, primary anastomosis with proximal enteroplasty has been successfully performed in patients with apple-peel type congenital small intestinal atresia. • We report a case of apple-peel intestinal atresia that was treated with a diamond-shaped anastomosis to adjust the anastomosis size. • The diamond-shaped anastomosis may be an option for apple-peel intestinal atresia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Histopathological alterations can indicate time-integrated impacts on organisms stemming from alterations at lower biological organisation levels. Long-term (native mussels) and short-term (transplanted clams) changes in the tissues of molluscs exposed to the effluents from two land-based marine fish farms (LBMFFs) were determined. Histological alterations were related to the δ15N isotopic signal measured in mussels and macroalgae. Effluents from LBMFFs were found to cause severe and moderate gill filament exfoliation in clams and mussels, respectively. Some transplanted clams showed severe degrees of hemocytic phagocytosis in gonads and connective tissue. In an attempt to semi-quantitatively summarize the observed histopathological alterations, a weighted index of damage (WID) was calculated for each type of alteration, species and sampling site. The WID was clearly related to the δ15N descriptor of exposure. Further studies aimed at standardizing this relationship may establish critical thresholds of the descriptor for its implementation within environmental monitoring plans for LBMFFs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, detailed insights in the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) properties and its formation kinetics on different graphite types and in electrolyte mixtures based on ethylene carbonate as well as on propylene carbonate are presented. The competing most important reactions of (i) SEI formation and (ii) solvent cointercalation leading to exfoliation could be controlled by adjusting the specific current in the first cycle; in some cases it was possible to suppress the exfoliation completely and the electrode could be stably cycled. Post mortem scanning electron microscopy clearly revealed differences in the SEI film morphology on graphite particles after electrochemical cycling, depending on the formation conditions. By means of differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS) the solvent cointercalation prevailing over SEI film formation could be detected in propylene carbonate based electrolytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal behavior and structural changes of representative types of lithiated graphitic materials were investigated in solutions comprising ethylene carbonate (EC), ethylmethyl carbonate (EMC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and LiPF6. We show that the protective films formed on intercalated graphite electrodes upon cathodic polarization are stable in these electrolyte solutions up to ∼80°C, in DSC experiments. Upon increasing the temperature, between 80 and 120°C, reactions of the surface films with solution species take place and the level of the graphite lithiation is reduced. After destruction of the surface films on lithiated graphite at higher temperatures >120°C, solvent molecules diffuse into the graphite particles and interact with Li ions therein thus forming reduction products. The later decompose upon further heating at temperatures >200°C, with the formation of gaseous products. This results in an internal pressure within the graphite particles that causes their partial exfoliation in an endothermic process. While the protective surface films on the lithiated graphite are removed from the particles in the course of the thermal reactions, we have indications that surface films on fully delithiated graphite do not react with the electrolyte solution at least up to 200°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We propose a simple and fast fabricating method of tool electrode for micro-EDM. A ‘peeling tool’, a wire coated with a different material, has been developed as an interim product for a microelectrode. A zinc layer was coated by electroplating on a tungsten electrode of 100μm diameter. The zinc layer makes both handling and chucking of the electrode easy. Part of the zinc layer is instantly ‘peeled’ by a single discharge, exposing tungsten electrode under the zinc layer undamaged and the exposed electrode can be used in microhole drilling by EDM. Time-resolved imaging revealed the peeling process dynamically. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Halpin-Tsai equations were used for the composites with low level content of reinforcements, which contain lamellar shape, high modulus and high aspect ratio. These characteristics of reinforcements were taken into consideration to simplify the Halpin-Tsai equations. The effect of different parameters on the longitudinal Young's modulus of well aligned polymer/clay nanocomposites was investigated for both exfoliated and intercalated microstructures. It was shown that the applied simplification had negligible effect on the prediction of the Halpin-Tsai model. For the intercalated structures with a high number of platelets per stack (n), increase in the gallery spacing did not influence the predicted modulus values. In an intercalated structure, the surface area of a stack, as the interface of filler-matrix, is n times lower than that of the exfoliated state. By considering the effect of the degree of exfoliation in the proposed model, a new equation was developed to predict the modulus enhancement in the nanocomposites filled with Montmorillonite (MMT). The theoretical predictions were supported by the experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]