Search

Thin-walled tubular structures are widely employed in applications. The current study proposes an innovative cost-saving and eco-friendly thin-walled cylinder concept using recycled beverage cans. Axial compression experiments are conducted to characterize the crushing performance under quasi-static and dynamic loading. Besides, the polyurethane foam (PUF)-filled beverage cans are fabricated to improve the compression resistance and energy absorption capacity. Experimental results show that empty beverage cans behave as a typical Type-II absorber and fail by local buckling of the cylinder belly. The initial peak force increases with deformation rates while the highest mean crushing force is obtained at compressive velocity of 50 mm/min. In contrast, PUF-filled beverage cans collapse with a progressive folding process and present significant improvement in crashworthiness. Experimental results are compared with theoretical analysis and conventional energy absorbers to clarify the crashworthiness. In addition, the interaction effect between the PUF fillings and the recycled beverage cans is discussed comprehensively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some cancers such as human breast cancer, prostate cancer, and lung cancer easily metastasize to bone, leading to osteolysis and bone destruction accompanied by a complicated microenvironment. Systemic administration of bisphosphonates (BP) or denosumab is the routine therapy for osteolysis but with non-negligible side effects such as mandibular osteonecrosis and hypocalcemia. Thus, it is imperative to exploit optimized drug delivery systems, and some novel nanotechnology and nanomaterials have opened new horizons for scientists. Targeted and local drug delivery systems can optimize biodistribution depending on nanoparticles (NPs) or microspheres (MS) and implantable biomaterials with the controllable property. Drug delivery kinetics can be optimized by smart and sustained/local drug delivery systems for responsive delivery and sustained delivery. These delicately fabricated drug delivery systems with special matrix, structure, morphology, and modification can minimize unexpected toxicity caused by systemic delivery and achieve desired effects through integrating multiple drugs or multiple functions. This review summarized recent studies about optimized drug delivery systems for the treatment of cancer metastatic osteolysis, aimed at giving some inspiration in designing efficient multifunctional drug delivery systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, metallic pyramidal lattice truss core sandwich structures, including single-layered as well as multi-layered ones, are fabricated from EOS Aluminium AlSi10 Mg, utilizing additive manufacturing method. Out-of-plane and in-plane compression as well as shear tests were carried out in order to measure the stiffness and strength properties of the structures. The out-of-plane compressive strength is determined by buckling of struts, and specimens fail in plastic yielding of face sheets for in-plane tests. And for the shear performance of the specimens, the strength is dominated by the node failure. In addition to experimental testing, finite element models have been developed for simulating the stiffness and strength properties and the numerical results agree well with experimental performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) was first piloted in April 2004 in Yunnan, China, to reduce HIV transmission. This study aimed to examine public support for MMT and was based on cross-sectional data collected in March-April 2006 on a random sample of 411 police staff, medical/health professionals, community members, and drug users. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyze the data. The support was the strongest amongst the police and medical professionals but the lowest in drug users. A considerable proportion of the respondents viewed MMT as contradictory to China's drug control policies and this factor was negatively associated with support for MMT. Dissemination of more accurate knowledge and the resolution of these conflicts are urgently needed to increase the public support for MMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]