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Simple Measurement Method for Resistive Sensors Based on ADCs of Microcontrollers
- Zbigniew Czaja
2024 IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL
A new, complete measurement method for resistance measurement of resistive sensors for systems based on microcontrollers equipped with analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) is proposed. The interface circuit consists of only four resistors, including a resistive sensor and a reference resistor, connected directly to the microcontroller pins. It is activated only during measurements, which significantly reduces power consumption. The measurement procedure consists of measuring three voltages via the ADC. Thanks to this, the measurement results of the resistance are independent of the supply and reference voltages, the ON-resistance of the microcontroller pin, and also the offset and gain errors of the ADC. The method is illustrated in the example of a system consisting of an Arduino Micro and a Pt1000. Experimental studies have shown that the relative systematic measurement error of the sensor resistance is less than 0.29%, and the relative random error is less than 0.56%. They result solely from the quantization error of the 10-bit ADC. An oversampling method has also been proposed. With 64 times oversampling, the above errors were reduced to 0.27% and 0.11%, respectively.
Simple smartphone-based methods for the determination of bioactive compounds in wine
- Kaja Kalinowska
- Muhammad Saad Hussain
- Gerjen Herman Tinnevelt
- Marek Tobiszewski
2024 FOOD CHEMISTRY
A set of simple smartphone-based methods of bioactive compounds determination were developed for wine analysis. Procedures for smartphone-based determination of the total content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, anthocyanins and biogenic amines, as well as measurement of antioxidant activity were developed and fully validated. The experimental setup is based on smartphone and 3D-printed device, though it is very simple and can be conveniently applied in lab and in field. The proposed solutions have satisfactory figures of merit with R2 in the range of 0.9860–0.9981 for linear range. The recoveries were in range 98.6–102%, RSDs up to 4.2% and LODs below 2.3 mg/L. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed procedures, wine samples were analysed using spectrophotometry and newly developed methods. The results of application of smartphone and spectrophotometer are comparable, in terms of validation parameters and measured concentrations in real samples.
Simulation Model for Application of the SDN Concept in IMS/NGN Network Transport Stratum
- Sylwester Kaczmarek
- Maciej Sac
- Jakub Adrych
2024
The paper presents a simulation model allowing examination of cooperation between two currently used telecommunication networks concepts: IP Multimedia Subsystem/Next Generation Network (IMS/NGN) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN). Application of the SDN architecture elements in IMS/NGN networks will enable unified control and management of transport resources for various transport technologies and equipment manufacturers. However, such a cooperation is a new concept requiring verification, which is the aim of this paper. The structure of the modeled multidomain network and details about the simulator operation are described. Tests proving correctness of its operation are carried out. Selected research results regarding mean Call Set-up Delay and mean Call Disengagement Delay in the considered network are presented demonstrating that the cooperation between IMS/NGN and SDN is possible.
Simulation-Based Approach to a More Efficient Handling Strategy for a Container Terminal Storage Yard: Case Study of the Baltic Hub Container Terminal
- Karol Moszyk
- Olga Janowczyk
- Mariusz Deja
2024 Pełny tekst Polish Maritime Research
The primary objective of this research was to implement a more efficient handling strategy in the container terminal storage yard at the Baltic Hub Container Terminal (BHCT). Following an analysis of the current logistics system associated with starboard-side mooring, an attempt was made to shift the mooring to the port side. Two routing strategies corresponding to the analysed mooring operations were tested using a developed model. Simulations were conducted to enable a comparison of various handling strategies that were suitable for the mooring arrangements and equipment under investigation. This analysis was based on reliable information obtained from a real process. Evaluative criteria for examining the impact of changing the handling strategy of internal movement vehicles (IMVs) in the terminal storage yard in terms of process efficiency included the total time and distance of container transportation and the truck utilisation level. A new route for IMVs was developed to accommodate the changed mooring operation. This adjustment aimed to enhance the discharge process and to reduce the distance travelled, resulting in a reduction in fuel consumption. The shorter travel distance also positively impacted productivity, and contributed to a reduction in operating costs. The changes to the mooring arrangement directly resulted in a 10% increase in the quay crane gross productivity, measured in moves per hour (mph). Given that many ports do not pay attention to how ships are moored, the case study and analysis presented here can help staff quickly improve their handling strategy and productivity, thus increasing the port’s competitiveness.
Simulations of the Behavior of Granular Bodies Using the Discrete Element Approach
- Jan Kozicki
- Andrzej Tejchman-Konarzewski
2024
Zachowanie niespójnych ciał ziarnistych opisano metodą elementów dyskretnych (DEM) w warunkach quasi-statycznych dwu- i trójwymiarowych. Do symulacji nieregularnego kształtu granulatu wykorzystano kule z momentami kontaktowymi lub skupiska sztywnych kul. Początkowo badano dwa różne problemy dla zagęszczonego materiału ziarnistego: pasywne przemieszczanie ściany oporowej i ściskanie w płaskim stanie odkształceń pod stałym ciśnieniem bocznym. Skupiono się na lokalizacji ścinania, która jest podstawowym zjawiskiem w ciałach ziarnistych. Lokalizację ścinania zidentyfikowano w DEM na podstawie rotacji ziaren i rosnącego współczynnika pustych przestrzeni. Aby uzyskać lepszy wgląd w początek powstawania lokalizacji ścinania, wyznaczono struktury wirowe za pomocą rozkładu Helmholtza-Hodge'a (HHD) pola wektorowego przemieszczeń uzyskanego za pomocą DEM. Rozkład pola wektorowego przemieszczeń pozwolił na wydzielenie trzech jednoznacznie zdefiniowanych części składowych: wolnej od wirów (związanej ze zmianą objętości), wolnej od dywergencji (związanej z wirami i czystym ścinaniem) i harmonicznej (związanej z czystą translacją). Stwierdzono bezpośrednią korelację pomiędzy lokalizacjami ścinania a strukturami wirowymi. Wiry lokalizowały się wcześniej w miejscach, w których ostatecznie rozwinęły się strefy ścinania.
Single Cell Expression Systems for the Production of Recombinant Proteins for Immunodiagnosis and Immunoprophylaxis of Toxoplasmosis
- Karolina Sołowińska
- Lucyna Holec-Gąsior
2024 Microorganisms
Toxoplasmosis represents a significant public health and veterinary concern due to its widespread distribution, zoonotic transmission, and potential for severe health impacts in susceptible individuals and animal populations. The ability to design and produce recombinant proteins with precise antigenic properties is fundamental, as they serve as tools for accurate disease detection and effective immunization strategies, contributing to improved healthcare outcomes and disease control. Most commonly, a prokaryotic expression system is employed for the production of both single antigens and multi-epitope chimeric proteins; however, the cloning strategies, bacterial strain, vector, and expression conditions vary. Moreover, literature reports show the use of alternative microbial systems such as yeast or Leishmania tarentolae. This review provides an overview of the methods and strategies employed for the production of recombinant Toxoplasma gondii antigenic proteins for the serological detection of T. gondii infection and vaccine development.
Single-Phase 15-Level Switched-Capacitor Boost Multilevel Inverter Topology for Renewable Energy Applications
- Ahmed Awadelseed
- Arkadiusz Lewicki
- Atif Iqbal
2024 Pełny tekst IEEE Access
Galvanic isolation is a vital part of a grid-connected solar PV system. With the growth of multilevel inverters for grid-connected applications, the multilevel inverters having isolation are not sufficiently discussed in the literature. In this paper, a 15-level isolated multilevel inverter topology requiring only thirteen switches is proposed. The envisaged configuration includes two cells, designated as upper and lower cells. The upper cell includes a standard H-bridge, and the lower cell is a switched capacitor-based 5level inverter. The outputs of the lower and upper cells are supplied to the load through single-phase isolation transformers. The proposed single-phase isolated inverter requires reduced switches to generate 15-level AC output voltage with a voltage gain of 7. In comparison to the MLIs mentioned in the literature, the switches connected in the proposed inverter experienced less voltage stress. The proposed inverter construction is contrasted with state-of-the-art MLIs described in the literature. PLECS software is used to simulate the inverter under various working environments, the proposed MLI able to maintain capacitor voltage balance and generate good power quality even at low values of modulation index. The experimental results achieved on a low-power laboratory prototype are utilized to validate the proposed inverter’s performance. The claimed efficiency of the inverter calculated using simulation results is found to be 97.1%. However, the efficiency calculated using experimental results is 96.4% at 700W.
Single-Phase Dual Ground 7L Inverter Topology with Reduced Component Count and Stress
- Atif Iqbal
- Jagabar Sathik M
- Gopinath Np
- Jarosław Guziński
2024
In this article, an improved single-phase dual-ground transformerless inverter topology is proposed. The proposed inverter topology is able to generate a 7L output voltage waveform with a boosting factor of 1.5. The increased voltage gain of the proposed topology does not result in increased voltage stress on the components. The proposed structure requires 8 IGBTs, one diode, and three switched capacitors (SCs) with self-voltage balancing. To further reduce leakage current, the proposed topology employs a dual ground configuration between the source's negative terminal and the grid's neutral. A comparison with recent seven-level inverter topologies is included to emphasize the proposed topology's benefits. After confirming the viability of the proposed topology through simulation using the Simulink platform, an experimental validation using 1 kW is carried out using a prototype setup, and the results are measured.
Singlet and triplet excited states of a series of BODIPY dyes as calculated by TDDFT and DLPNO-STEOM-CCSD methods
- Aoussaj Sbai
- Julien Guthmuller
2024 PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
The singlet and triplet excited states of three iodine substituted BODIPY dyes differing by their substituent (-phenyl, -phenylOH and -phenylNO2) at the meso position of the BODIPY core (BOD) are investigated by (TDA)-TDDFT and DLPNO-STEOM-CCSD calculations. An assessment of hybrid (B3LYP and MN15) and double hybrid (SOS-PBE-QIDH and SOS-ωPBEPP86) exchange-correlation functionals is performed with respect to the DLPNO-STEOM-CCSD method for four types of transitions, namely πBOD → πBOD*, πPhenyl → πBOD*, πBOD → πPhenyl* and πBOD → σIodine*. It is found that MN15 and SOS-PBE-QIDH provide a balanced description of the excited states energies when compared to the DLPNO-STEOM-CCSD results. An investigation of the effects of solvent (dichloromethane), of the substituent and of geometrical relaxation in the excited states is then performed. In particular, the study discusses the possibility of populating charge transfer states (πPhenyl → πBOD* and πBOD → πPhenyl*) following photoexcitation in the first and second absorption bands in these systems.
Singlet oxygen-dominated peroxymonosulfate activation by layered crednerite for organic pollutants degradation in high salinity wastewater
- Chengji Sui
- Zixuan Nie
- Huan Liu
- Grzegorz Boczkaj
- Weizhen Liu
- Lingshuai Kong
- Jinhua Zhan
2024 JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES-CHINA
Advanced oxidation processes have been widely studied for organic pollutants treatment in water, but the degradation performance of radical-dominated pathway was severely inhibited by the side reactions between the anions and radicals, especially in high salinity conditions. Here, a singlet oxygen (1O2)-dominated non-radical process was developed for organic pollutants degradation in high salinity wastewater, with layered crednerite (CuMnO2) as catalysts and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as oxidant. Based on the experiments and density functional theory calculations, 1O2 was the dominating reactive species and the constructed Cu-O-Mn with electron-deficient Mn captured electron from PMS promoting the generation of 1O2. The rapid degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) was achieved by CuMnO2/PMS system, which was 5-fold and 21-fold higher than that in Mn2O3/PMS system and Cu2O/PMS system. The CuMnO2/PMS system shown prominent BPA removal performance under high salinity conditions, prominent PMS utilization efficiency, outstanding total organic carbon removal rate, wide range of applicable pH and good stability. This work unveiled that the 1O2-dominated non-radical process of CuMnO2/PMS system overcame the inhibitory effect of anions in high salinity conditions, which provided a promising technique to remove organic pollutants from high saline wastewater.
Sintering Parameter Investigation for Bimetallic Stainless Steel 316L/Inconel 718 Composite Printed by Dual-Nozzle Fused Deposition Modeling
- Cho-pei Jiang
- Masrurotin Masrurotin
- Maziar Ramezani
- Alvian Toto Wibisono
- Ehsan Toyserkani
- Wojciech Macek
2024 Pełny tekst RAPID PROTOTYPING JOURNAL
Fused deposition modeling (FDM) nowadays offers promising future applications for fabricating not only thermoplastic-based polymers but also composite PLA/Metal alloy materials, this capability bridges the need for metallic components in complex manufacturing processes. The research is to explore the manufacturability of multi-metal parts by printing green bodies of PLA/multi-metal objects, carrying these objects to the debinding process, and varying the sintering parameters. Three different sample types of SS316L part, Inconel 718 part, and bimetallic composite of SS316L/IN718 were effectively printed. After the debinding process, the printed parts (green bodies), were isothermally sintered in non-vacuum chamber to investigate the fusion behavior at four different temperatures in the range of 1270°C -1530°C for 12 hours and slowly cooled in the furnace. All samples was assessed including geometrical assessment to measure the shrinkage, characterization (XRD) to identify the crystallinity of the compound, and microstructural evolution (Optical microscopy and SEM) to explore the porosity and morphology on the surface. The hardness of each sample types was measured and compared. The sintering parameter was optimized according to the microstructural evaluation on the interface of SS316L/IN718 composite. The investigation indicated that the de-binding of all the samples was effectively succeeded through less weight until 16% when the PLA of green bodies was successfully evaporated. The morphology result shows evidence of an effective sintering process to have the grain boundaries in all samples, while multi-metal parts clearly displayed the interface. Furthermore, the result of XRD shows the tendency of lower crystallinity in SS316L parts, whilst IN718 has a high crystallinity. The optimal sintering temperature for SS316L/IN718 parts is 1500 ⁰C. The hardness test concludes that the higher sintering temperature gives a higher hardness result. This study highlights the successful sintering of a bimetallic stainless steel 316L/Inconel 718 composite, fabricated via dual-nozzle fused deposition modeling, in a non-vacuum environment at 1500°C. The resulting material displayed maximum hardness values of 872 HV for SS316L and 755.5 HV for IN718, with both materials exhibiting excellent fusion without any cracks.
Sleep alterations in treatment-resistant depression patients undergoing ketamine treatment
- Aleksander Kwaśny
- Wiesław Jerzy Cubała
- Adam Włodarczyk
- Krzysztof Pastuszak
2024 Pharmacological Reports
Background This study examines self-reported sleep alterations in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) inpatients following intravenous ketamine administration. Methods This is a post-hoc analysis of a naturalistic observational study, which enrolled 28 inpatients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder and analyzed self-reported sleep changes (items 1–4; ‘insomnia’, ‘nighttime restlessness’, ‘early morning waking’, ‘hypersomnia’) in Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology 30-item (IDS SR-30) in responders and non-responders stratified per Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) during short-term ketamine treatment. Results Responders, as well as non-responders, did not experience significant changes in IDS SR-30 sleep items (‘insomnia’, ‘nighttime restlessness’, ‘early morning waking’, ‘hypersomnia’) (p’s > 0.05) at 7-day follow-up after eight intravenous ketamine infusions as compared to baseline. Conclusion Neither responders, nor non-responders reported any significant alterations in sleep patterns during ketamine infusions. These findings are not in line with current literature, as so far modest improvements in sleep during ketamine treatment have been reported. Results should be interpreted with caution, primarily due to the small sample size.
Smart Karyotyping Image Selection Based on Commonsense Knowledge Reasoning
- Yufeng Xu
- Lei Shi
- Juan Wang
- Haoxi Zhang
- Edward Szczerbicki
2024 Pełny tekst CYBERNETICS AND SYSTEMS
Karyotyping requires chromosome instances to be segmented and classified from the metaphase images. One of the difficulties in chromosome segmentation is that the chromosomes are randomly positioned in the image, and there is a great chance for chromosomes to be touched or overlap with others. It is always much easier for operators and automatic programs to tackle images without overlapping chromosomes than ones with largely overlapped chromosomes. In order to reduce the processing difficulty, adding a smart image selection procedure ahead of segmentation is practical and necessary. In this paper, we introduce the Smart Karyotyping Image Selection (SKIS) based on Commonsense Knowledge Reasoning. The initial experiment demonstrates that the proposed approach can select the expected images based on reasoning and benefit following karyotyping processes.
Smartphone-Assisted and Optical Quantification of Copper and Glucose Using Palm Wine-Tailored Carbon Dots and Their Multiple Logic Gate Application
- Anisha Mandal
- Subrahmanyam Sappati
- Ankita Karmakar
- Supratim Pradhan
- Iwona Gabriel
- Swambabu Varanasi
2024 ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering
In this work, potassium, sulfur, nitrogen, and chlorine self-doped carbon dots (CDs) were hydrothermally synthesized using palm wine as a carbon source. The palm wine-derived CDs (PW-CDs) are amorphous in nature and displayed an average particle size of 4.19 ± 0.89 nm. The as-synthesized CDs are used to fabricate a photoluminescent sensing probe to simultaneously detect Cu2+ and glucose via the “Turn ON−OFF−ON” mechanism. The PL quenching mechanism of PW-CDs enables the selective and sensitive detection of Cu2+ ions with a detection limit (LOD) of 0.8 ppb (4.7 nM). The sensing probe quantified Cu2+ in tap water, drinking water, and e-waste samples to prove its viability. Using CDs to quantify copper in e-waste leachate samples is a novel approach as no prior instances of such application have been reported. The system’s performance is considered to be highly reproducible due to the relative standard deviation being <6.64%, along with excellent recoveries within the range of 3.24−109.86%. The quenched PL can be recovered by introducing glucose into the PW-CD + Cu2+ system; this strategy is employed to quantify glucose with a LOD of 0.11 ppm (0.61 μM). The feasibility of this sensor was confirmed by the determination of glucose in actual human plasma specimens of diabetic patients. It is to be noted that these samples were neither diluted nor spiked with glucose. The developed PW-CD + Cu2+ sensing system yields satisfactory recoveries of 93.45−107.37%. This probe was also incorporated into a smartphone-based sensing platform to detect Cu2+ and glucose with desirable recoveries. The proposed smartphone-based sensing platform is flexible, reliable, and accurate, making it suitable for resource-constrained areas. Furthermore, based on the effect of Cu2+ ions and glucose on the PL response and absorbance spectra of PW-CDs, four logic gates (YES, IMPLICATION, NOT, and OR) were designed, and PW-CDs were also used for cell imaging applications.
Smartphone-based digital image colorimetry for the determination of total capsaicinoid content in chili pepper extracts
- Khrystyna Vakh
- Zarina Mallabaeva
- Marek Tobiszewski
2024 SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A-MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY
A simple smartphone-based digital image colorimetry was proposed for the determination of total capsaicinoid content and the assessment of chili pepper pungency. The biobased solvent D-limonene was used for the first time to isolate analytes. Capsaicinoids were efficiently separated from chili pepper by solid-liquid extraction with D-limonene followed by partitioning of the analytes into the ammonium hydroxide solution to eliminate the matrix interference effect. For colorimetric detection of total capsaicinoid content, a selective chromogenic reaction was performed using Gibbs reagent (2,6-dichloroquinone-4-chloroimide). Measurements were performed using a smartphone-based setup and included image analysis with the program ImageJ. The limit of detection of the proposed procedure was 0.15 mg g-1. The intra-day repeatability did not exceed 10.0%. The inter-day repeatability was less than 16.5 %. The comparison of the smartphone-based procedure with high-performance liquid chromatography showed satisfactory results.
Smooth least absolute deviation estimators for outlier-proof identification
- Janusz Kozłowski
- Zdzisław Kowalczuk
2024 Pełny tekst MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND SIGNAL PROCESSING
The paper proposes to identify the parameters of linear dynamic models based on the original implementation of least absolute deviation estimators. It is known that the object estimation procedures synthesized in the sense of the least sum of absolute prediction errors are particularly resistant to occasional outliers and gaps in the analyzed system data series, while the classical least squares procedure unfortunately becomes of little use for reliably identifying systems in the presence of destructive measurement errors. Bearing in mind that the classic task of minimizing the quality functional of absolute deviations encounters fundamental analytical problems, it is proposed to use a dedicated iterative estimator for off-line evaluation of the parameters of the analyzed process. In addition, a simplified recursive version of the absolute deviation estimation procedure was developed, which allows for practical on-line tracking of the evolution of variable parameters of non-stationary systems. Importantly, a novel refinement of the discussed absolute deviation estimators was proposed to effectively overcome some inconvenient numerical effects. We also present an interesting comparison of the improved (by non-linear modification) iterative absolute-deviation estimator with the classical Gauss-Newton gradient algorithm, which leads to constructive conclusions. Finally, using computer simulations, the operation of the developed iterative and recursive estimators minimizing the absolute deviation is illustrated. The work ends with an indication of directions for further research.
Social Media in the Fashion Industry. Fundamentals, Strategy and Research Methods
- SanMiguel Patricia
- Harley Tekila Nobile
- Cristina Sánchez-Blanco
- Nadzeya Sabatini
2024
This book introduces social network fundamentals in the fashion domain. It addresses the creation of social media marketing plans, highlighting strategic approaches that allow fashion brands to differentiate themselves in the ephemeral and challenging fashion context. Through a variety of academic and professional sources and by sharing the results of their own research, the authors present research methodologies, including netnography, visual, sentiment, and argumentation analysis, for developing rigorous studies to gain social media insights that can be useful for decision-making and value creation. The book also discusses future trends regarding social media management in the fashion domain via interviews with senior fashion experts. This cutting-edge book that combines theory and practice will appeal to undergraduate and master students across a broad range of fields including fashion studies, marketing, digital marketing, and communication and to young professionals who are starting to work in social media. In addition, this book is also developed for young researchers and PhD students employing social media analysis in their studies.
Society 4.0: Issues, Challenges, Approaches, and Enabling Technologies
- Edward Szczerbicki
- Ngoc Thanh Nguyen
2024 Pełny tekst CYBERNETICS AND SYSTEMS
This guest edition of Cybernetics and Systems is a broadening continuation of our last year edition titled “Intelligence Augmentation and Amplification: Approaches, Tools, and Case Studies”. This time we cover research perspective extending towards what is known as Society 4.0. Bob de Vit brought the concept of Society 4.0 to life in his book “Society 4.0 – resolving eight key issues to build a citizens society”. From the Systems Science point of view, one of this concept’s enabling technologies mechanisms would be Semantic Web driven by Artificial Intelligence, Augmented Intelligence, Digital Twin, Platform Economies, Internet of Things, Smart Social Networks, Machine Learning/Deep Learning, and Cyber Physical Systems. With the help and progress in these research themes and technologies, business, commerce, production etc. would become increasingly smarter, and machines talking to machines would handle most of our daily activities, including decision-making, sustainability, wellbeing, and security. The aim of this Guest Edition of Cybernetics and Systems is to address some aspects in this global transformation path of our society
Soft Tissue Retraction Maneuver in Cone Beam Computed Tomography Prior to Crown-Lengthening Procedure—A Technical Note
- Paulina Adamska
- Marcin Stasiak
- Wojciech Dąbrowski
- Dorota Pylińska-Dąbrowska
- Łukasz Adamski
- Adam Zedler
- Ewa Kozłowska
- Michal Studniarek
2024 Pełny tekst Journal of Clinical Medicine
Background: An accurate determination of the biological width and the relationship of the cemento-enamel junction with the border of the alveolar bone is crucial during a clinical crown-lengthening (CCL) procedure. The aim of this study was to present a technical note about the retraction techniques in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) prior to CCL, highlighting the significant enhancement in procedural accuracy and predictability that these techniques offer. Methods: Clinical and radiological examinations should be performed before a CCL procedure. It is necessary to determine the length of the tooth crowns, the periodontal pockets’ depth, and the phenotype of the gingiva. The ideal CBCT examination should be performed with soft tissue retraction. This can be achieved using retractors or cotton rolls. Results: Retraction of the lips, cheeks, and tongue allows one to assess the marginal gingiva, the cemento-enamel junction, and the alveolar bone. A detailed plan of the CCL procedure, which involves retraction, ensures both the aesthetic appeal and the achievement of a newly defined gingival zenith, enhancing the overall visual harmony. Conclusions: Compared with conventional radiographic imaging, the soft tissue retraction maneuver in CBCT prior to CCL surgery offers an effective approach to the evaluation and diagnosis of soft and hard tissue. This is because of the detailed planning of the aesthetic CCL procedure. Such an approach leads to superior aesthetic outcomes in dentistry, contributing to the advancement of aesthetic dentistry through a harmonious blend of art and science.
Soil burial degradation of chemically compatibilized poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/thermoplastic starch/poly(ε-caprolactone)/cellulose biocomposites
- Aleksander Hejna
- Mateusz Barczewski
- Paulina Kosmela
- Mohammad Saeb
2024 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
Developing bio-blends and biocomposites has become a widespread strategy to combat plastic pollution in line with sustainability principles and decarbonization necessities. Although chemically modified ternary and quaternary biocomposites are developing rapidly because of their broader processing and performance windows than single matrix and binary counterparts, a few have been reported about their biodegradation. Herein, diisocyanates-based chemically modified ternary biocomposites based on poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate), thermoplastic starch (TPS), poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), and cellulose (Mater-Bi/PCL/cellulose) are prepared and undergone soil burial biodegradation providing a broader perspective on biodegradation of complicated systems. The mass gain of sunflower sprouts, weight retention, and the appearance of biocomposites are studied and discussed in the course of biodegradation. The unfilled Mater-Bi/PCL bio-blends presented moderate mass loss over 12 weeks, attributed to the presence of TPS in the Mater-Bi phase. The PCL addition hindered TPS decomposition and featured a noticeably lower degradation rate compared to previous reports. A significant increase in the b* parameter (position on the blue-yellow axis in the CIELAB color space), along with the yellowness and whiteness indices, was observed. Prior to soil burial, roughness differences were negligible. Still, they significantly increased over time due to the higher hydrophilicity of unfilled Mater-Bi/PCL and biocomposite containing unmodified filler.