A superhydrophilic titanium implant functionalized by ozone gas modulates bone marrow cell and macrophage responses

Bone-forming cells and M? play key roles in bone tissue repair. In this study, we prepared a superhydrophilic titanium implant functionalized by ozone gas to modulate osteoconductivity and inhibit inflammatory response towards titanium implants. After 24 h of ozone gas treatment, the water contact angle of the titanium surface became zero. XPS analysis revealed that hydroxyl groups were greatly increased, but carbon contaminants were largely decreased 24 h after ozone gas functionalization. Also, ozone gas functionalization did not alter titanium surface topography. Superhydrophilic titanium (O₃–Ti) largely increased the aspect ratio, size and perimeter of cells when compared with untreated titanium (unTi). In addition, O₃–Ti facilitated rat bone marrow derived MSCs differentiation and mineralization evidenced by greater ALP activity and bone-like nodule formation. Interestingly, O₃–Ti did not affect RAW264.7 M? proliferation. However, naive RAW264.7 M? cultured on unTi produced a two-fold larger amount of TNFα than that on O₃–Ti. Furthermore, O₃–Ti greatly mitigated proinflammatory cytokine production, including TNFα and IL-6 from LSP-stimulated RAW264.7 M?. These results demonstrated that a superhydrophilic titanium prepared by simple ozone gas functionalization successfully increased MSCs proliferation and differentiation, and mitigated proinflammatory cytokine production from both naive and LPS-stimulated M?. This superhydrophilic surface would be useful as an endosseous implantable biomaterials and as a biomaterial for implantation into other tissues.     

Nonlinearity of bituminous mixtures

This paper presents an experimental characterization of the strain dependency of the complex modulus of bituminous mixtures for strain amplitude levels lower than about \(110~\upmu\mbox{m}/\mbox{m}\). A series of strain amplitude sweep tests are performed at different temperatures (8, 10, 12 and 14°C) and frequencies (0.3, 1, 3 and 10 Hz), during which complex modulus is monitored. For each combination of temperature and frequency, four maximum strain amplitudes are targeted (50, 75, 100 and \(110~\upmu\mbox{m}/\mbox{m}\)). For each of them, two series of 50 loading cycles are applied, respectively at decreasing and increasing strain amplitudes. Before each decreasing strain sweep and after each increasing strain sweep, 5 cycles are performed at constant maximum targeted strain amplitude.Experimental results show that the behavior of the studied material is strain dependent. The norm of the complex modulus decreases and phase angle increases with strain amplitude. Results are presented in Black and Cole–Cole plots, where characteristic directions of nonlinearity can be identified. Both the effects of nonlinearity in terms of the complex modulus variation and of the direction of nonlinearity in Black space seem to validate the time–temperature superposition principle with the same shift factors as for linear viscoelasticity.The comparison between results obtained during increasing and decreasing strain sweeps suggests the existence of another phenomenon occurring during cyclic loading, which appears to systematically induce a decrease of the norm of the complex modulus and an increase of the phase angle, regardless of the type of the strain sweep (increasing or decreasing).     

Quantification of the inherent uncertainty in the relaxation modulus and creep compliance of asphalt mixes

Advanced material characterization of asphalt concrete is essential for realistic and accurate performance prediction of flexible pavements. However, such characterization requires rigorous testing regimes that involve mechanical testing of a large number of laboratory samples at various conditions and set-ups. Advanced measurement instrumentation in addition to meticulous and accurate data analysis and analytical representation are also of high importance. Such steps as well as the heterogeneous nature of asphalt concrete (AC) constitute major factors of inherent variability. Thus, it is imperative to model and quantify the variability of the needed asphalt material’s properties, mainly the linear viscoelastic response functions such as: relaxation modulus, \(E(t)\), and creep compliance, \(D(t)\). The objective of this paper is to characterize the inherent uncertainty of both \(E(t)\) and \(D(t)\) over the time domain of their master curves. This is achieved through a probabilistic framework using Monte Carlo simulations and First Order approximations, utilizing \(E^{*}\) data for six AC mixes with at least eight replicates per mix. The study shows that the inherent variability, presented by the coefficient of variation (COV), in \(E(t)\) and \(D(t)\) is low at small reduced times, and increases with the increase in reduced time. At small reduced times, the COV in \(E(t)\) and \(D(t)\) are similar in magnitude; however, differences become significant at large reduced times. Additionally, the probability distributions and COVs of \(E(t)\) and \(D(t)\) are mix dependent. Finally, a case study is considered in which the inherent uncertainty in \(D(t)\) is forward propagated to assess the effect of variability on the predicted number of cycles to fatigue failure of an asphalt mix.     

GraftFast Surface Engineering to Improve MOF Nanoparticles Furtiveness

Controlling the outer surface of nanometric metal–organic frameworks (nanoMOFs) and further understanding the in vivo effect of the coated material are crucial for the convenient biomedical applications of MOFs. However, in most studies, the surface modification protocol is often associated with significant toxicity and/or lack of selectivity. As an alternative, how the highly selective and general grafting GraftFast method leads, through a green and simple process, to the successful attachment of multifunctional biopolymers (polyethylene glycol (PEG) and hyaluronic acid) on the external surface of nanoMOFs is reported. In particular, effectively PEGylated iron trimesate MIL‐100(Fe) nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit suitable grafting stability and superior chemical and colloidal stability in different biofluids, while conserving full porosity and allowing the adsorption of bioactive molecules (cosmetic and antitumor agents). Furthermore, the nature of the MOF–PEG interaction is deeply investigated using high‐resolution soft X‐ray spectroscopy. Finally, a cell penetration study using the radio‐labeled antitumor agent gemcitabine monophosphate (³H‐GMP)‐loaded MIL‐100(Fe)@PEG NPs shows reduced macrophage phagocytosis, confirming a significant in vitro PEG furtiveness.     

以第一性原理研究立方相CeO2的弹性、电子结构和光学性质

运用基于密度泛函理论(DFT)框架下的超软赝势平面波(USPP)方法,计算了立方相CeO2的几何结构、弹性性质、电子结构和光学性质,并采用HSE06杂化泛函矫正了带隙.所得晶格参数及体模量与先前文献报道数据基本吻合.计算出了二阶弹性常数及德拜温度值,并给出了能带结构、态密度、差分电荷密度的分布情况.最后,为了阐明CeO2的光学跃迁机制,计算并分析了其复介电常数、折射率、吸附光谱、反射光谱等光学性质.     

桥梁车辆荷载识别的贝叶斯方法研究

基于贝叶斯推理提出了一种可实现误差模式选择的桥梁车辆荷载识别方法。该方法通过静力影响线构建车辆荷载与实测响应的关系表达式,并建立修正曲面以消除动力效应造成的识别误差。引入与结构响应大小和车速相关的五种误差模式。根据假设的先验分布推导车辆轴重参数的后验分布,以获得车辆荷载的最优估计值和置信区间,并计算各误差模式的后验概率。分别采用简支梁数值算例和某连续梁桥动载试验,对该方法在不同车速工况下的识别精度和可靠性进行了验证。结果表明,修正曲面可以有效消除车辆动力冲击的影响,提高了荷载识别精度;荷载识别结果以置信区间形式呈现,可量化荷载识别结果的不确定性;贝叶斯方法能够识别出最佳误差模式,进一步提升了荷载识别的鲁棒性。     

沙漠砂混凝土框架节点抗震性能试验研究

为研究古尔班通古特沙漠砂混凝土框架节点的抗震性能,对 9 个缩尺比为 1/2 的框架节点进行了拟静力试验研究,研究了沙漠砂替代率、轴压比和配箍率对节点破坏模式、耗能能力、延性、刚度和恢复力模型的影响。研究结果表明：沙漠砂替代率由 0% 逐渐增加到 80% 时,试件的破坏现象、骨架曲线、耗能、刚度退化主要受沙漠砂混凝土的强度和应力?应变关系影响,延性逐渐降低,且沙漠砂替代率为 80% 的构件其延性较首个试件降低了 11.48%;轴压比由 0.2 逐渐增加到 0.6 时,峰值荷载提高约 3%,延性降低约 5%,等效黏滞阻尼系数增加约 18%,刚度退化程度增加;配箍率由 0.50% 逐渐增加到 2.52% 时,峰值荷载提高近 10%,延性提高约 6%,等效黏滞阻尼系数增加约25%,刚度退化减缓。整体而言,沙漠砂混凝土框架节点的抗震性能与普通混凝土试件相似。建立了沙漠砂混凝土框架节点的三折线恢复力模型,且计算模型与试验结果吻合良好。     

The complement-activating action of modern x-ray contrast agents

The study conducted proved that triombrast (dose dependently) > hexabrics > Ultravist > or = melitrast = omnipac in a concentration interval of 0.03-30.0 mg iodine/ml in vitro and in a dose interval of 0.5-2.0 g iodine/kg in vivo activate the complement system (CS) according to the alternative way in the blood of "sensitive" rats. The degree of CS activation by radiopaque agents (ROA) is significantly determined mathematically by their viscosity and relation of the number of iodine atoms to the number of ions or dissolved particles, and by their hydrophilic (for nonion CS) and osmotic (for ion monomeric CS) properties.     

The characteristics of formulating a diagnosis in diseases of the temporomandibular joint

Pulmonary diseases caused by dust occupy a leading place in occupational morbidity structure. Those diseases inspire much attention due to their high prevalence, especially in ecologically hazardous regions where the workers are under "double exposure". Upper respiratory tract diseases serve as a trigger for all respiratory disorders in workers exposed to dust. Early diagnosis of respiratory disorders includes history, clinical data, X-ray examination and assessment of pulmonary ventilation and together with concurrent cardiovascular diagnosis is necessary for well-justified prophylaxis.