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Hallux valgus (HV) is a foot deformity most commonly found in female and elderly patients. Its symptoms include foot pain, impaired gait patterns, poor balance, and falls in older adults. Recently, various HV orthoses have been introduced in the market; however, they have many shortcomings, such as high costs, unclear therapeutic effects, and effects on push-off of the foot during walking. The present study employs 3D printing technology to develop an HV orthosis and uses motion analysis to investigate the effects of wearing it. This study recruited 12 individuals with HV, who were asked to first perform a static HV measurement without orthosis, followed by a dynamic HV measurement using a Vicon motion analysis system in three trials. The results indicated that wearing the 3D-printed orthosis significantly corrected the HV angle by approximately 11° during static standing and by approximately 9° during dynamic walking. However, no significant difference was observed during use of the orthosis in terms of the ground reaction force. The obtained results demonstrate that the 3D-printed HV orthosis is an effective device for correcting the HV angle during static standing and dynamic walking, especially during the push-off phase of gait.

A nitrogen DC-pulse atmosphere pressure plasma jet (APPJ) is used to convert ferric nitrate (Fe(NO3)3) and chloroplatinic ac (H2PtCl6) mixed liquid precursor films into PtFe nanocompounds on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. Scanning transmi sion electron microscopy indicates nanoparticles distributed on a thin continuous layer on the FTO substrate. The APPJ-synthesize PtFe nanocompounds contain a mixture of crystalline and amorphous phases. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows that mo Pt is in the metallic phase and most Fe, in the oxidized phase. A dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with only 5-s APPJ-processe PtFe counter electrode (CE) shows significantly improved efficiency. This suggests the rapid processing capability of the nitroge DC-pulse APPJ. A PtFe prepared with higher H2PtCl6/Fe(NO3)3 volume ratio shows better catalytic performance, as confirme by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and Tafel experiments. The DSSC with APPJ-processed PtFe C shows comparable efficiency to that of 15-min furnace-calcined Pt CE, suggesting that the APPJ processed PtFe requires less Pt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]