Influence of Surface Morphology on the Torsion Fracture of NiTi Endodontic Instruments

This study analyzed the influences of manufacturing process (twisting and machining) and surface finishing on the angular distortion, maximum torque, and toughness of two NiTi endodontic instruments (Race—FKG Dentaire and TF—Twisted Files, SybronEndo). Statistical analysis of results showed that TF instruments (twisted) had higher distortion angle (p < 0.05) and lower maximum torque to fracture (p < 0.05) than Race instruments (machined). SEM analysis of fractured instruments showed a surface morphology characteristic of ductile fracture, with plastic deformation in the helical shafts. The results suggest that both instruments are equally suitable for clinical applications. This study is purely scientific as it evaluates only some material properties, and is not intended to endorse a commercial product.     

Purification Processes and Market Potential of Bromelain in Brazil

Bromelain is the denomination given to the group of endoproteases obtained from members of Bromeliacea family. These enzymes have a wide range of proven applications and have been an object of study for worldwide researchers for decades. Over the years, several different downstream processes were studied in order to determine which technique would be worthwhile to be implemented in Brazil and provide the national market with such product. The objective of the present study is to relate the main studies in Brazil that has proven that bromelain purification can be cost-effective, in addition to the well-known benefits owned by such enzymes, and highlight the applications that create their market potential in the Brazilian market.     

Economic value and environmental impact (EVEI) analysis of biorefinery systems

The selection of product portfolios, processing routes and the combination of technologies to obtain a sustainable biorefinery design according to economic and environmental criteria represents a challenge to process engineering. The aim of this research is to generate a robust methodology that assists process engineers to conceptually optimise the environmental and economic performances of biorefinery systems. A novel economic value and environmental impact (EVEI) analysis methodology is presented in this paper. The EVEI analysis is a tool that emerges from the combination of the value analysis method for the evaluation of economic potential with environmental footprinting for impact analysis. The methodology has been effectively demonstrated by providing insights into the performance of a bioethanol plant as a case study. The systematisation of the methodology allowed its implementation and integration into a computer-aided process engineering (CAPE) tool in the spreadsheet environment.     

Oil‐spill cleanup: The influence of acetylated curaua fibers on the oil‐removal capability of magnetic composites

A magnetic resin based on cardanol, furfural, and curaua fibers was prepared and characterized. The material could be used in oil‐spill cleanup processes, because of its aromatic/aliphatic balance. The resin was prepared through bulk polycondensation of cardanol and furfural in the presence of curaua fibers and maghemite nanoparticles. Hydrophobicity of the curaua fibers was improved by acetylation, increasing the oil‐absorbing capability of the composites. The obtained magnetic composites were studied by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis. Degree of cure, magnetic force, and oil‐removal capability tests were also performed. The results show that the composites possess an elevated cure degree in addition to a considerable magnetic force. The materials exhibit a good oil removal capability in the presence of a magnetic field, which is improved by the use of acetylated curaua. In the best case, the composite filled with maghemite and curaua can remove 12 parts of oil from water. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41732.     

The potential of surface water utilization for domestic purposes in Jordan

Two main problems seem to face the use of surface water for domestic purposes in semi‐arid regions. These problems are eutrophication of surface water bodies and the formation of chlorinated hydrocarbons during water treatment. Both problems develop as direct of indirect results of anthropogenic activities. The eutrophication problem will be discussed with reference to King Talal Reservoir, whereas the formation of chlorinated hydrocarbons will be illustrated when discussing the use of the East Ghor Canal water for domestic purposes.     

Atopic Dermatitis: The Fate of the Fat

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disease in which dry and itchy skin may develop into skin lesions. AD has a strong genetic component, as children from parents with AD have a two-fold increased chance of developing the disease. Genetic risk loci and epigenetic modifications reported in AD mainly locate to genes involved in the immune response and epidermal barrier function. However, AD pathogenesis cannot be fully explained by (epi)genetic factors since environmental triggers such as stress, pollution, microbiota, climate, and allergens also play a crucial role. Alterations of the epidermal barrier in AD, observed at all stages of the disease and which precede the development of overt skin inflammation, manifest as: dry skin; epidermal ultrastructural abnormalities, notably anomalies of the lamellar body cargo system; and abnormal epidermal lipid composition, including shorter fatty acid moieties in several lipid classes, such as ceramides and free fatty acids. Thus, a compelling question is whether AD is primarily a lipid disorder evolving into a chronic inflammatory disease due to genetic susceptibility loci in immunogenic genes. In this review, we focus on lipid abnormalities observed in the epidermis and blood of AD patients and evaluate their primary role in eliciting an inflammatory response.     

Characteristics of a rectangular waveguide containing a magnetized cylindrical ferrite post

A rigorous formulation of the scattering by a magnetized ferrite in a rectangular waveguide is presented. The EM field depends on the dimension, the frequency and the internal static magnetic field of the ferrite post. For some special values of the above quantitites the reflection or the transmission coefficient becomes equal to zero. These values give a family of filters and the results which follow explain their characteristics.     

适用于光学显微镜的细胞培养芯片

虽然细胞分子生物学近年来发展很快,但是细胞培养的方法变化很慢.将近一个世纪以前发明的有盖培养皿至今仍在常规使用,但它已经不适合许多用来观察和分析活体细胞内发生的变化的现代光学分析方法.这篇文章描述了一种细胞培养芯片装置,它能有效地用于细胞培养和随后的高端光学分析,比如荧光和共焦显微镜方法.     

Surface area production during grinding

During grinding, in cascading mills, the mass distribution of the material moves continuously to finer sizes. Grinding models are usually designed to predict the size distribution of the mill products either as a function of effective breakage events and the time or the energy consumed by the mill. Mill products are always tested for their size analysis and their fineness is usually expressed as the size d through which a certain amount of material passes, i.e. d₈₀. However, particulate materials have some supplementary properties that a grinding model should predict as well. The specific surface area is such an important supplementary property. Initially, the present work examines the relationship between mass distribution and the surface area of ground materials and determines the conditions under which, mass distribution can be used to determine the surface area. Based on these findings the work further examines the operating conditions of a cascading mill under which the surface area of the material increases at the highest rate. The operating parameter examined is the mill load ratio expressed as the mass ratio of mill grinding media and the material present in the mill.