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Background: Tumor localization during totally laparoscopic gastrectomy is challenging owing to the invisibility of tumors on the serosal surface. We aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of intra-operative gastroscopy in totally laparoscopic partial gastrectomy. Methods: We reviewed 1084 gastric cancer patients who underwent either intra- or extracorporeal partial gastrectomy between 2014 and 2018. The intracorporeal group with intra-operative gastroscopy (intra-operative gastroscopy group, n = 187), the intracorporeal group without intra-operative gastroscopy (non-intra-operative gastroscopy group, n = 267), and the extracorporeal group (n = 630) were evaluated for the adequacy of surgical resection margins. We assessed whether total gastrectomy could be avoided according to the performance of intra-operative gastroscopy if the tumor was located within 3–5 cm away from the gastroesophageal junction. Results: The proximal margin positivity was lesser in the intra-operative gastroscopy group than in the non-intra-operative gastroscopy group (0% versus 2.2%; P = 0.045) but similar to that in the extracorporeal group (0% versus 0.6%; P = 0.579). The number of cases with proximal resection margins < 1 cm was lower in the intra-operative gastroscopy group than in the non-intra-operative gastroscopy group (3.7% versus 9.4%; P = 0.025) but comparable with that in the extracorporeal group (3.7% versus 4.1%; P = 0.815). Among 94 patients with lesions located within 3–5 cm apart from the gastroesophageal junction, the intra-operative gastroscopy group (n = 47) had fewer patients who underwent total gastrectomy than the non-intra-operative gastroscopy group (n = 47) (12.8% versus 44.7%; P = 0.001). Intra-operative gastroscopy was the only independent factor that prevented total gastrectomy (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Intra-operative gastroscopy can provide margin safety during intracorporeal partial gastrectomy, avoiding unnecessary total gastrectomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the preliminary design of the ITER blanket shield block (SB) #8, the full scale prototype (FSP) has been manufactured and tested in accordance with pre-qualification program, and related R&D was performed to resolve the technical issues of fabrication. The objective of the SB pre-qualification program is to demonstrate the acceptable manufacturing quality by successfully passing the formal test program. 316L(N)-IG stainless steel forging blocks with 1.80L × 1.12W × 0.43t (m) were developed by using an electric arc furnace, and as a result, the material properties were satisfied with technical specification. In the course of applying conventional fabrication techniques such as cutting, milling, drilling and welding of the forged stainless steel block for the manufacturing of the SB #8 FSP, several technical problems have been addressed. And also, the hydraulic connector of cross-forged material re-melted by electro slag or vacuum arc requires the application of advanced joining techniques such as automatic bore TIG and friction welding. Many technical issues – drilling, welding, slitting, non-destructive test and so on – have been raised during manufacturing. Associated R&D including the computational simulation and coupon testing has been done in collaboration with relevant industries in order to resolve these engineering issues. This paper provides technical key issues and their possible resolutions addressed during the manufacture and formal test of the SB #8 FSP, and related R&D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A methodology to identify human error hazards has been established. [•] The proposed methodology is a preventive approach to identify not only human error causes but also its hazards. [•] Using the HFACS framework we tried to find out not causations but all of the hazards and relationships among them. [•] We determined countermeasures against human errors through dealing with latent factors such as organizational influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases, which do not play independently but work synergistically through complex interactions exacerbating neurodegeneration. Therefore, the mechanism that is directly implicated in controlling oxidative stress and inflammatory response could be an attractive strategy to prevent the onset and/or delay the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The transcription factor nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is the guardian of redox homeostasis by regulating a battery of antioxidant and phase II detoxification genes, which are relevant to defense mechanism against oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. In this study, we show that a recently identified Glycyrrhiza-inflata-derived chalcone, licochalcone E (Lico-E), attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in microglial BV2 cells and protects dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells from 6-hydroxydopamine cytotoxicity. Lico-E activates Nrf2-antioxidant response element (ARE) system and up-regulates downstream NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects of Lico-E are attenuated in siRNA-mediated Nrf2-silencing cells as well as in the presence with specific inhibitor of HO-1 or NQO1, respectively. Lico-E also has neuroprotective effect against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration in mice, with up-regulation of HO-1 and NQO1 in the substantia nigra of the brain. This study demonstrates that Lico-E is a potential activator of the Nrf2/ARE-dependent pathway and is therapeutically relevant not only to oxidative-stress-related neurodegeneration but also inflammatory responses of microglial cells both in vitro and in vivo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel indirubin derivative, 5'-nitro-indirubinoxime (5'-NIO), exhibits a strong anti-cancer activity against human cancer cells. Here, the 5'-NIO-mediated G1 cell cycle arrest in lung cancer cells was associated with a decrease in protein levels of polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) and peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase Pin1. Treatment with Plk1 siRNA or Pin1 inhibitor effectively inhibited the Rb phosphorylation, suggesting their regulatory role at G1 phase. In addition, the overexpression of Plk1 or Pin1 inhibited apoptotic signals following the cleavage of PARP in 5'-NIO-treated cells. These findings suggest that 5'-NIO have potential anti-cancer efficacy through the inhibition of Plk1 or/and Pin1 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The effects of seat tube angle (STA) on the cycling performance at low intensity were investigated in terms of metabolic cost. Oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (HR), ventilation (VE) were measured during cycling at each of three STA (80°, 60°, 40°) and at constant 60° upper body angle using a custom made steady-state ergometer. 12 male untrained students (age 24.5±1.6 years) were recruited and submaximal cycling tests (work load: 35% of individual peak power, cadence: 60rpm, duration: 30min) were performed. Measured mean VO2 were 24.6±2.8, 25.2±2.9 and 24.8±2.5ml/min*kg and mean heart rates were 140.7±10, 132.8±8.8 and 131.7±10.1 beat/min at 80°, 60° and 40° STA, respectively. There was no significant difference on the oxygen consumption but the mean heart rate at 60° and 40° STA was significantly lower than at 80° STA. In conclusion, riding a bicycle at shallow STA is as cost efficient as at steep STA and is better in terms of heart rate which is evaluated to be more suitable postures for casual cycling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The global concerns about safety in the digital technology of the main control room (MCR) are growing as domestic and foreign nuclear power plants are developed with computerized control facilities and human–system interfaces. In a narrow space, the digital technology contributes to a control room environment, which can facilitate the acquisition of all the information needed for operation. Thus, although an individual performance of the advanced MCR can be further improved; there is a limit in expecting an improvement in team performance. The team performance depends on organic coherence as a whole team rather than on the knowledge and skill of an individual operator. Moreover, a good team performance improves communication between and within teams in an efficient manner, and then it can be conducive to addressing unsafe conditions. Respecting this, it is important and necessary to develop methodological technology for the evaluation of operators’ teamwork or collaboration, thus enhancing operational performance in nuclear power plant at the MCR. The objectives of this research are twofold: to develop a systematic methodology for evaluation of the team performance of MCR operators in consideration of advanced MCR characteristics, and to validate that the methodology is adaptable to the advanced MCR of nuclear power plants. In order to achieve these two objectives, first, team performance factors were extracted through literature reviews and methodological study concerning team performance theories. Second, the team performance factors were identified and behavior markers were deducted based on the factors. Lastly, an estimation model for the evaluation of team performance was developed, and the model thereon was validated. The estimation model consists of an evaluation of task characteristics, identification of team performance factors, evaluation of team performance, calculation of team performance, and analysis of team performance. The detailed contents and validations of the model are also presented in this paper. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ceramic-coated separators are prepared by coating the sides of a porous polyethylene membrane with nano-sized Al2O3 powder and hydrophilic poly(lithium 4-styrenesulfonate) binder. These separators exhibit an improved thermal stability at high temperatures without significant thermal shrinkage. Due to the high hydrophilicity of the polymer binder and large surface area of the small ceramic particles, the separators show good wettability in non-aqueous liquid electrolytes. By using the ceramic-coated separators, lithium-ion cells composed of a carbon anode and a LiCoO2 cathode are assembled and their cycling performance is evaluated. The cells are proven to have better capacity retention than for cells prepared with polyethylene membrane. It is expected that the ceramic-coated separator in this study can be potential candidate as a separator for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that require thermal safety and good capacity retention. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Live imaging is a powerful technique that can be used to characterize the fate and location of stem cells in animal models. Here we investigated the characteristics and in vitro cytotoxicity of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) labeled with silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles incorporating rhodamine B isothiocyanate, MNPs@SiO2(RITC). We also conducted various in vivo–uptake tests with nanoparticle-labeled human MSCs. MNPs@SiO2(RITC) showed photostability against ultraviolet light exposure and were nontoxic to human MSCs, based on the MTT, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest assays. In addition, MNPs@SiO2(RITC) did not affect the surface phenotype or morphology of human MSCs. We also demonstrated that MNPs@SiO2(RITC) have stable retention properties in MSCs in vitro. Furthermore, using optical and magnetic resonance imaging, we successfully detected a visible signal from labeled human MSCs that were transplanted into NOD.CB17-PrkdcSCID (NOD-SCID) mice. These results demonstrate that MNPs@SiO2(RITC) are biocompatible and useful tools for human MSC labeling and bioimaging. From the Clinical Editor: The characteristics and in vitro cytotoxicity of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) labeled with silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles incorporating rhodamine B isothiocyanate, RITC were investigated in this study. RITC showed photostability against ultraviolet light exposure and was nontoxic to human MSCs. Using both optical and magnetic resonance imaging, successful detection of signal from labeled human MSCs transplanted into mice is demonstrated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Previously, we suggested that tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), an obligatory cofactor for dopamine synthesis, as an intrinsic contributor to dopaminergic neuron vulnerability. The BH4 toxicity is observed in dopamine-producing cells, including Cath.a cells, but not in non-dopaminergic cells. Furthermore, the dopaminergic cell death induced by BH4 is apoptotic in nature and involves oxidative stress, similar to that observed in Parkinson''s disease. Accordingly, various antioxidants have been found to protect dopaminergic cells from BH4. This study was undertaken to evaluate protective effects of the dopamine receptor agonist bromocriptine on BH4-induced Cath.a cell death, because bromocriptine has been reported to be an antioxidant with a neuroprotective activity. In the presence of bromocriptine, the increase in LDH activity and mitochondrial cytochrome c release induced by BH4 were significantly abolished. This cytoprotective effect was phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway-dependent. In addition, bromocriptine was found to up-regulate the expressions of nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 and antioxidant enzymes including NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase 1. Our findings show that bromocriptine stimulates antioxidant defense mechanisms in Cath.a cells and suggest a potential use of bromocriptine as a neuroprotectant. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A numerical simulation approach of wind load on buildings and wind tunnel experiment are presented in the present paper. Four Korean high-speed train (KTX) stations (Cheonan-Asan, Daejeon, Gwangmyeong and Gyeongju) were selected for this purpose. For the numerical simulation, 3-D incompressible flow with the standard k–ε turbulence model was adopted and the commercial CFD software STAR-CD was used. In order to validate results of the numerical solution, a wind tunnel experiment was performed. Results from the wind tunnel experiment using a scaled model and CFD of four high-speed train station buildings were compared, and good agreement was achieved for the wind loads on the station buildings. Hence, it was shown that CFD is a good tool for predicting the wind load of huge and irregularly shaped buildings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: 'Chiral switching' from an existing racemate to a pure enantiomeric compound is a popular theme in drug development, especially when the enantiomer is found to have better efficacy and safety profiles. Amlodipine is a racemic mixture, composed of the S(-)-enantiomer, which is the pharmacologically active isomer, and the R(+)-enantiomer, which is 1000-fold less active. S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate, a chirally switched form of amlodipine nicotinate, has been developed and found to be bioequivalent to amlodipine besylate in Phase I clinical trials in Korea. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety profiles of S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate with those of amlodipine besylate in adult Korean patients with mild to moderate hypertension (diastolic blood pressure [DBP] >/=90 mm Hg and /=90 and /=90 mm Hg). The primary end point was noninferiority of the difference in mean SiDBP from baseline to week 8 for S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate compared with amlodipine besylate. Secondary end points were as follows: (1) noninferiority of the difference in mean sitting systolic blood pressure (SiSBP) from baseline to week 8 between the study groups; and (2) SiDBP response rate (defined as the proportion of patients whose SiDBP was <90 mm Hg or whose SiDBP reduction was >/=10 mm Hg from baseline) after the 8-week treatment. Also, the incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs) and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were reported. Severe AEs/ADRs were defined as those associated with any of the following: death; an event associated with a high risk of mortality; an event requiring hospitalization; or development of a permanent disability or congenital malformation. Results: One hundred fifty-seven patients were assessed for inclusion in the study. Of these, 124 patients were randomly allocated to receive S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate (42 men, 21 women; mean [SD] age, 52.4 [10.3] years [range, 23-70 years]; weight, 67.7 [10.8] kg [range, 44-92 kg]) or amlodipine besylate (45 men, 16 women; mean [SD] age, 54.5 [10.0] years [range, 30-73]; weight, 68.9 [9.8] kg [range, 49-95 kg]). One hundred sixteen patients completed the study, but 11 patients (8.9%) were dropped from the per-protocol analysis due to violations; therefore, 105 patients were included in the modified intent-to-treat population analysis (S[-]-amlodipine nicotinate, 55 patients; amlodipine besylate, 50 patients). There were no significant between-group differences in the baseline characteristics. Baseline mean (SD) SiSBP and SiDBP were 142.6 (11.3) and 94.9 (4.8) mm Hg in the S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate group, and 141.8 (8.3) and 96.1 (4.9) mm Hg in the amlodipine besylate group. Mean (SD) changes in SiSBP were 17.6 (11.2) mm Hg in the S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate group and 18.6 (12.3) mm Hg in the amlodipine besylate group. The SiDBP response rates were 92.7% in the S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate group and 88.0% in the amlodipine besylate group. There were no significant between-group differences in the prevalence of AEs and ADRs. In the S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate group, 15 patients (23.8%) reported a total of 28 AEs, and 19 patients (31.1%) reported a total of 27 AEs in the amlodipine besylate group. Six patients (9.5%) in the S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate group and 7 patients (11.4%) in the amlodipine besylate group experienced a total of 19 ADRs (11 and 8, respectively). The most common ADRs were liver enzyme elevation (3/63 [4.8%]) in the S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate group and facial flushing (3/61 [4.9%]) in the amlodipine besylate group. No cases of severe AEs or ADRs were reported in either group. Conclusions: The reduction of SiDBP after 8 weeks of treatment with S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate was noninferior compared with that of racemic amlodipine besylate in these adult Korean patients with mild to moderate hypertension. The SiDBP response rate and the reduction of SiSBP after 8 weeks of treatment with S(-)-amlodipine nicotinate were not significantly different from those with racemic amlodipine besylate. Both treatments were generally well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: The hallmarks of Perrault syndrome are progressive sensorineural hearing loss and ovarian dysgenesis, but the disorder is both clinically and genetically heterogenous. Case: We report a 15-year-old girl with gonadal dysgenesis, unilateral sensorineural deafness, cataracts in both eyes, and Marfanoid body proportions diagnosed Perrault syndrome. We detected 14 single nucleotide variations including 2 homozygous missense change of c.317G>A (p.Arg106His) and c.1675A>G (p.Ile559Val) in HSD17B4. No significant mutation in HARS2 and PSMC3IP, and gene copy number variant were found as the cause of Perrault syndrome. Summary and Conclusion: Mutations in HARS2, HSD17B4, and PSMC3IP genes do not explain Perrault syndrome in our patient, indicating that other critical genes remain to be identified. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: The study investigated the association between childbirth history and health-related quality of life (QOL) in menopausal South Korean women.Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis of data from the 2010-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES) for 4277 menopausal women aged over 50. We used the EuroQol index to measure health-related QOL.Main Outcome Measures: The relationship between delivery history and health-related QOL in menopausal South Korean women was analyzed.Results: After adjustment for age (model 1), women who were younger at their first delivery and who had a greater number of deliveries had a significantly higher risk of problems with mobility, self-care, usual activities and pain or discomfort; the risk of anxiety or depression was not increased. After adjustment for age, BMI, smoking, use of alcohol, exercise, income, education, marital status, metabolic syndrome and stress (model 2), women who were younger at their first delivery and who had a greater number of deliveries had a significantly higher risk of problems with mobility, self-care and pain or discomfort. Age at last delivery was not significantly associated with health-related QOL in either model.Conclusions: South Korean women who were younger at their first delivery and who had more deliveries appear to be at increased risk of health-related QOL problems after menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A specifically designed pilot-scale hybrid wastewater treatment system integrating an innovative equalizing reactor (EQ), rotating hanging media bioreactor (RHMBR) and submerged flat sheet membrane bioreactor (SMBR) was evaluated for its effectiveness in practical, long-term, real-world applications. The pilot system was operated at a constant flux, but with different internal recycle flow rates (Q) over a long-term operating of 475 days. At 4Q internal recycle flow rate, BOD 5 , COD Cr , NH 4 + -N, T-N, T-P and TSS was highly removed with efficiencies up to 99.88 ± 0.05%, 95.01 ± 1.62%, 100%, 90.42 ± 2.43%, 73.44 ± 6.03%, and 99.93 ± 0.28%, respectively. Furthermore, the effluent quality was also superior in terms of turbidity (<1 NTU), color (<15 TCU) and taste (inoffensive). The results indicated that with providing only chemically cleaned-in-place (CIP) during the entire period of operation, the membrane could continuously maintain a constant permeate flux of 22.77 ± 2.19 L/m 2 h. In addition, the power consumption was also found to be reasonably low (0.92–1.62 kWh/m 3 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Conventional alarm systems tend to overwhelm operators during a transient because of a large number of nearly simultaneous annunciator activations with varying degrees of relevance to operator tasks. Thus alarm processing techniques have developed to support operators in coping with the volume of alarms, to identify which alarms are significant, and to reduce the need for operators to infer the plant conditions. This paper proposes a proactive alarm reduction method for SMART (System-integrated Modular Advanced ReacTor) whereby based on the contents of the past operating effects alarm reduction is carried out during the next transient. We designed and implemented the proactive alarm reduction system and constructed the environment for the human factors validation test. Also, eight subjects actually working in a nuclear power plant (NPP) tested the practical effectiveness of the proposed proactive alarm reduction method according to the procedure of human factors validation test under a dynamic simulation of a partial scope for an NPP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Because estrogen plays important neurotrophic and neuroprotective roles in the brain by activating estrogen receptors (ERs), disruption of normal estrogen signaling can leave neurons vulnerable to a variety of insults, including β-amyloid peptide (Aβ). Aroclor1254 (A1254) belongs to the endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) polychlorinated biphenyls and has anti-estrogenic properties. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of A1254 on the protective activity of estrogen against Aβ toxicity in differentiated cholinergic SN56 cells. Aged Aβ25–35 causes apoptotic cell death in differentiated SN56 cells, and the cytotoxic evidences are effectively rescued by estrogen. We found that A1254 abolishes the neuroprotective activity of estrogen against Aβ toxicity, and attenuates the suppressive effect of estrogen on Aβ-induced tau phosphorylation and JNK activation. The effects of A1254 on the neuroprotective effects of estrogen in Aβ toxicity are very similar to the effects of the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI182,780. Thus, exposure to EDCs that have anti-estrogenic activity might interfere with normal estrogen-activated neuroprotective signaling events and leave neurons more vulnerable to dangerous stimuli. Our present results provide new understanding of the mechanisms contributing to the harmful effects of EDCs on the function and viability of neurons, and the possible relevance of EDCs in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim: Our study aimed to demonstrate whether agmatine (Ag) could regulate proliferation and cell fate determination of subventricular zone neural stem cells (SVZ NSCs). Main methods: SVZ NSCs were grown in the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (20ng/ml) until 4days in vitro (DIV) and later the culture medium was replaced without EGF and bFGF until 11 DIV in the absence (EGF/bFGF+/−/Ag−) or presence of agmatine (EGF/bFGF+/−/Ag+). Another set SVZ NSCs were maintained with EGF and bFGF until 11 DIV without (EGF/bFGF+/+/Ag−) or with agmatine treatment (EGF/bFGF+/+/Ag+). Agmatine''s effect on proliferation and cell death (H and PI staining and Caspase-3 immunostaining) was examined at DIV 4 and 11. Agmatine''s (100μM) effect on cell fate determination was confirmed by immunostaining and Western blot at 11 DIV. Key findings: Agmatine treatment reduced the neurosphere size and total cell count number dose-dependently in all the experimental groups both at DIV 4 and11. Immunoblotting and staining results showed that agmatine increased the Tuj1 and Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) and decreased the Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) with no change in the Oligo2 protein expressions. This neurogenesis effect of agmatine seems to have a relation with Extracellular-signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) activation and anti-astrogenesis effect is thought to be related with the suppression of Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) 2,4 and contraction of Sma and Mad (SMAD) 1,5,8 protein expression. Significance: This model could be an invaluable tool to study whether agmatine treated SVZ NSC transplantation to the central nervous system (CNS) injury could trigger neurogenesis and decrypt the full range of molecular events involved during neurogenesis in vivo as evidenced in vitro. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The orphan nuclear receptor Nur77 is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Nur77 is known to regulate survival and death in response to extracellular stimuli, but it is unclear whether Nur77 is regulated by oxidative stress and contributes to the cytotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases. Here we showed that (1) Nur77 was up-regulated, phosphorylated, and translocated from the nucleus into the cytosol and mitochondria by H2O2 treatment in HEK293 cells, as well as in 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA)-treated dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells, (2) oxidative stress-mediated cell death was exacerbated in Nur77-overexpressed cells and abolished by dominant-negative-Nur77 transfection, and (3) blockade of nuclear export attenuated 6-OHDA-induced SH-SY5Y cell death. Together, our results show that the nuclear export and targeting to mitochondria of Nur77 and resultant activation of apoptotic death may participate in the pathogenesis of Parkinson''s disease. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Consolidants based on tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) have been widely used for the consolidation of decaying stone heritages. These products polymerize within the porous structure of the decaying stone, significantly increasing the cohesion of the material. However, TEOS-based consolidants suffer from practical drawbacks, such as crack formation of the gel during the drying phase due to the developed capillary force, which is typical for TEOS-based consolidants. We have prepared new consolidants TEOS-based consolidants containing flexible (3-glycidoxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (GPTMS) and silica nanoparticles in order to reduce capillary force development during gel drying, and have characterized them for the application of stone consolidants. Different sizes of silica nanoparticles were used, which were smaller than the pore size of the tested stone. The properties of the TEOS/GPTMS/nanoparticle composite solution were compared with those of the commercial products Wacker OH and Unil sandsteinfestiger OH 1:1. The gelation time was similar to that of commercial consolidants, and the TEOS/GPTMS/nanoparticle solution was stable over a period of up to six months. The contact angle of the surface increased with the addition of the nanoparticle, as well as with the addition the GPTMS, which is higher than that of commercial Wacker OH. The addition of a nanoparticle, as well as GPTMS having flexible segment, provided a crack-free material, while the gels obtained from the commercial consolidants exhibited cracking. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]