Influence of introducing Zr,Ti,Nb and Ce elements on externally solidified crystals and mechanical properties of high-pressure die-casting Al–Si alloy

High pressure die casting(HPDC)AlSi10Mn Mg alloy castings are widely used in the automobile industry.Mg can optimize the mechanical properties of castings through heat treatment,while the release of thermal stress arouses the deformation of large integrated die-castings.Herein,the development of non-heat treatment Al alloys is becoming the hot topic.In addition,HPDC contains externally solidified crystals(ESCs),which are detrimental to the mechanical properties of castings.To achieve high strength and toughness of non-heat treatment die-casting Al-Si alloy,we used AlSi9Mn alloy as matrix with the introduction of Zr,Ti,Nb,and Ce.Their influences on ESCs and mechanical properties were systematically investigated through three-dimensional reconstruction and thermodynamic simulation.Our results reveal that the addition of Ti increased ESCs'size and porosity,while the introduction of Nb refined ESCs and decreased porosity.Meanwhile,large-sized Al_3(Zr,Ti)phases formed and degraded the mechanical properties.Subsequent introduction of Ce resulted in the poisoning effect and reduced mechanical properties.

Clinical study on the treatment of acute pancreatitis with external application of Yi-Dan Therapy based on the method of“stagnation requiring dispersion”:study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background:Acute pancreatitis is an unpredictable and potentially lethal disease,causing tremendous pain in patients.The initial treatment of acute pancreatitis in modern medicine is supportive,but it is generally ineffective in relieving abdominal pain and distension.Traditional Chinese medicine has been shown to be more effective in regulating the body’s homeostasis and reducing the clinical symptoms of pancreatitis.Yi-Dan ointment,derived from Dahuang-Mudan Decoction,is an effective external ointment for treating acute pancreatitis.The aim of this trial is to investigate the clinical efficacy of Yi-Dan ointment,providing a valuable complement to existing treatment options for pancreatitis.Methods:This is a randomized controlled clinical trial with two parallel groups.Patients in the control group were given basic treatment and nursing for 7 days;in the treatment group,Yi-Dan ointment was applied externally in addition to basic treatment and nursing.The main indicator is the overall efficacy,serum amylase,acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡscore,symptom score,inflammatory markers,and classification of computed tomography.Conclusion:The trial results will provide high-quality evidence for Yi-Dan ointment,and provide a complement to existing treatment options for pancreatitis.

Effect of external and internal cues on core muscle activation during the Sahrmann five-level core stability test

BACKGROUND Pain in the back or pelvis or fear of back pain may affect the timing or cocontraction of the core muscles.In both static and dynamic movements,the Sahrmann core stability test provides an assessment of core muscle activation and a person's ability to stabilize the lumbopelvic complex.Preparatory cues and images can be used to increase the activation of these muscles.To attain optimal movement patterns,it will be necessary to determine what cueing will give the most effective results for core stability.AIM To investigate the effects of external and internal cues on core muscle activation during the Sahrmann five-level core stability test.METHODS Total 68 participants(21.83±3.47 years)were randomly allocated to an external(n=35)or internal cue group(n=33).Participants performed the Sahrmann fivelevel core stability test without a cue as baseline and the five-level stability exercises with an internal or external cue.External cue group received a pressure biofeedback unit(PBU),and the internal cue group received an audio cue.A Delsys Trigno^(TM)surface electromyography unit was used for muscle activation from the rectus abdominis,external oblique,and transverse abdominis/internal oblique muscles.RESULTS Linear mixed effects model analysis showed that cueing had a significant effect on core muscle activation(P=0.001);however,there was no significant difference between cue types(internal or external)(P=0.130).CONCLUSION Both external and internal cueing have significant effects on core muscle activation during the Sahrmann five-level core stability test and the PBU does not create higher muscle activation than internal cueing.

External Application of Herbal Medicine to Acupoints

Application of herbal medicine to acupoints is to regulate the meridians, yin-yang, and qi and blood for preventing and treating diseases through the pharmacological action of herbal medicines and with their stimulation to the acupoints. This article explains how to apply herbal medicines and gave the examples for the treatment of hypertension, asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergic rhinitis. Application of herbal medicines to acupoints is one of the important components of TCM, which shows satisfactory effects in treatment of some chronic diseases.

External application of a Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

Diabetic foot ulcers are one of the most severe complications of diabetes that have imposed great financial and psychological burdens on diabetic patients.A Nocardia rubra cell wall skeleton(Nr-CWS)can be externally applied to accelerate wound healing.However,its clinical application has not yet been reported.Herein,we report two patients with diabetic foot ulcers treated with Nr-CWS.After wound debridement,the wound was covered with a sterile cotton ball infiltrated with an Nr-CWS that was diluted with 2.0 mL of saline.The covers were changed every two days until complete wound healing occurred.The two wounds healed after 3 and 12 weeks,respectively.This article aims to provide a new treatment for diabetic foot ulcers,with the hope that physicians may consider an Nr-CWS as a complementary method for the treatment of chronic wounds.

Application of high resolution computer tomography in external ear canal cholesteatoma diagnosis

Objective: To evaluate High Resolution Computer Tomography(HRCT) in the diagnosis of external ear canal cholesteatoma.Methods: In this retrospective study, HRCTs of 27 patients with external ear canal cholesteatoma were reviewed. The changes in the external ear canal, tympanic membrane(TM), scutum, tympanum and mastoid were measured and categorized.Results: Fourteen patients showed no or mild destruction in the external ear canal(stage Ⅰ group). Eight patients had obvious enlargement in the external ear canal(stage Ⅱ group) but showed limited destructions of the mastoid bone and no damage of the tympanums. Five patients had serious destruction of the mastoid bone and damage of the tympanum(stage Ⅲ group). All patients in the stage Ⅲ group showed a compression of manubriums and TMs, with 3 having damages on ossicular chain. Bone destruction of the vertical section of facial nerve canal was discovered in one case in the stage Ⅲ group.Conclusion: HRCT can provide detail information about the extent of external ear canal cholesteatoma. Such information can be used to identify special situations with serious complications and to differentiate external ear canal cholesteatoma from middle ear cholesteatoma.

Kinematic improvement after the external-application herbs combine rehabilitation in upper-limb spasticity due to stroke

Background: Spasm is one of the most serious physical impairment after stroke. the external-application herbs have showed some effects on the spasm. This study was conducted to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the external-application herbs and physical therapy in upper limb spasticity after stroke. Methods: A total of 100 patients with upper limb spasm after stroke (stroke time less than 1 month), have been recruited in Shun-yi Hospital of Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Patients will be randomly allotted to one of two groups (N = 50, respectively): the TCM external application group, and the usual rehab (conventional physical therapy and medication treatment) group. The two groups will be administered once a month for three months. The primary outcome will be Modified Athworth Scale (MAS) and the simplified scale (Fugl-Meyer assessment, FMA) for upper limb. Results: Muscle tension and motor function were evaluated before and 4 weeks after treatments. There was a significant improvement in muscle tension and motor function in patients with stroke after the external-application herbs and physical therapy (P < 0.05). Conclusion: There was a significant improvement in kinematics in patients with stroke.

Multi-centric clinical study of the effect of intervention time on efficacy of gastroparesis external application prescription treatment of gastrointestinal tumor postsurgical gastroparesis

Objective:This intervention has been shown to be clinically efficacious and safe.The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different intervention times on the efficacy of gastroparesis external application prescription versus placebo for the treatment of gastrointestinal tumor postoperative,postsurgical gastroparesis.Methods:A multicenter,randomized,double-blind,placebo controlled phaseⅢclinical trial was designed to demonstrate superiority and conducted at four grade 3A hospitals in Beijing.Patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal tumor postsurgical gastroparesis and local cold syndrome in the abdomen were enrolled and received conventional treatment(nutritional support,gastrointestinal decompression,and prokinetic medication).Treatment and control groups respectively received gastroparesis external application prescription or placebo acupoint application over a treatment course of 14 days or until the primary efficacy endpoint(clinical efficiency)was achieved.Results:A total of 120 patients were enrolled in the treatment and control groups(n Z 60 per group),and 15 patients dropped out of the study because of skin allergies(n Z 7)or poor efficacy(nZ8).The efficacy among patients in Class B of Group A(treatment group)was marginally better than that of Group B(control group)(64.28%vs.55.56%)although the difference between the two groups was not significant.However,the efficacy among patients in Class C of Group A was significantly better than that of Group B(79.49%vs.43.33%).For Group A,the time for patients in the three classes to achieve the efficacy endpoint increased significantly with disease progression(3.00,6.78,and 8.29 days for Class A,B,and C,respectively).Conclusions:Gastroparesis external application prescription can effectively treat gastrointestinal tumor postsurgical gastroparesis and may be more efficacious in progressive disease compared placebo.Patients with gastrointestinal tumor postsurgical gastroparesis should therefore undergo intervention at an earlier stage.

The research progress in external application of physic liquor exosmosis in mannitol intravenous infusion

Mannitol is the first choice of clinical dehydrating agent, which can alleviate brain edema and reduce intracranial pressure. As a hypertonic solution, it has strong vascular irritation. Moreover, fast infusion speed is required, which can be related to pain, physic liquor exomosis and some other side effects. Regarding of the physic liquor exosmosis in mannitol intravenous infusion, this paper reviewed the research progress of different external application treatment, and provided references for clinical treatment of physic liquor exosmosis in mannitol intravenous infusion.

The evolution of robotics:research and application progress of dental implant robotic systems

The use of robots to augment human capabilities and assist in work has long been an aspiration.Robotics has been developing since the 1960s when the first industrial robot was introduced.As technology has advanced,robotic-assisted surgery has shown numerous advantages,including more precision,efficiency,minimal invasiveness,and safety than is possible with conventional techniques,which are research hotspots and cutting-edge trends.This article reviewed the history of medical robot development and seminal research papers about current research progress.Taking the autonomous dental implant robotic system as an example,the advantages and prospects of medical robotic systems would be discussed which would provide a reference for future research.

Influence of an External DC Electric Current on Plasma Cleaning Rate: an Application on the Enlarged Plasma-Surface Theor

During the last decades many researchers have been occupied with other plasma applications apart from the big challenge which the thermonuclear fusion poses. Many experiments have been carried out on the plasma behavior in contact with a solid surface; when the surface material consists of chemical compounds （e.g. oxides of metals）, then the plasma chemistry takes place. The present paper contains the final experimental and theoretical work of Plasma Laboratory at ＂Demokritos＂, which consists of an elaboration of plasma sheath parameters adapted to experimental conditions, a suitable choice of plasma gases （either H 2 or N 2 ）, and an electric po-tential current enforcement on objects. Additionally, a brief theory is given to explain the results, with a short reference to both boundary phenomena in thermonuclear reactors and low pressure plasma of glow discharges, so as to reveal the similarities and differences of these two cases. An extensive examination of the treated objects by X-ray diffraction method （XRD） gives results in agreement with the theoretical predictions. Using this improvement on plasma restoration system, （a combination of electric current on metallic object into suitable plasma）, it is shown that better results can be achieved on the cleaning and conservation of archaeological objects.

Potential industrial applications of photo/electrocatalysis: Recent progress and future challenges

Nowadays,the rapid development of the social economy inevitably leads to global energy and environmental crisis.For this reason,more and more scholars focus on the development of photocatalysis and/or electrocatalysis technology for the advantage in the sustainable production of high-value-added products,and the high efficiency in pollutants remediation.Although there is plenty of outstanding research has been put forward continuously,most of them focuses on catalysis performance and reaction mechanisms in laboratory conditions.Realizing industrial application of photo/electrocatalytic processes is still a challenge that needs to be overcome by social demand.In this regard,this review comprehensively summarized several explorations in thefield of photo/electrocatalytic reduction towards potential industrial applications in recent years.Special attention is paid to the successful attempts and the current status of photo/electrocatalytic water splitting,carbon dioxide conversion,resource utilization from waste,etc.,by using advanced reactors.The key problems and challenges of photo/electrocatalysis in future industrial practice are also discussed,and the possible development directions are also pointed out from the industry view.

Mechanical Performance of Bio-inspired Bidirectional Corrugated Sandwich Pressure Shell Under External Hydrostatic Pressure

This paper aims to enhance the compression capacity of underwater cylindrical shells by adopting the corrugated sandwich structure of cuttlebone.The cuttlebone suffers uniaxial external compression,while underwater cylindrical shells are in a biaxial compressive stress state.To suit the biaxial compressive stress state,a novel bidirectional corrugated sandwich structure is proposed to improve the bearing capacity of cylindrical shells.The static and buckling analysis for the sandwich shell and the unstiffened cylindrical shell with the same volume-weight ratio are studied by numerical simulation.It is indicated that the proposed sandwich shell can effectively reduce the ratio between circumferential and axial stress from 2 to 1.25 and improve the critical buckling load by about 1.63 times.Numerical simulation shows that optimizing and adjusting the structural parameters could significantly improve the advantage of the sandwich shell.Then,the hydrostatic pressure tests for shell models fabricated by 3D printing are carried out.According to the experimental results,the overall failure position of the sandwich shell is at the center part of the sandwich shell.It has been found the average critical load of the proposed sandwich shell models exceeds two times that of the unstiffened shell models.Hence,the proposed bio-inspired bidirectional corrugated sandwich structure can significantly enhance the pressure resistance capability of cylindrical shells.

Drilling-based measuring method for the c-φ parameter of rock and its field application

The technology of drilling tests makes it possible to obtain the strength parameter of rock accurately in situ. In this paper, a new rock cutting analysis model that considers the influence of the rock crushing zone(RCZ) is built. The formula for an ultimate cutting force is established based on the limit equilibrium principle. The relationship between digital drilling parameters(DDP) and the c-φ parameter(DDP-cφ formula, where c refers to the cohesion and φ refers to the internal friction angle) is derived, and the response of drilling parameters and cutting ratio to the strength parameters is analyzed. The drillingbased measuring method for the c-φ parameter of rock is constructed. The laboratory verification test is then completed, and the difference in results between the drilling test and the compression test is less than 6%. On this basis, in-situ rock drilling tests in a traffic tunnel and a coal mine roadway are carried out, and the strength parameters of the surrounding rock are effectively tested. The average difference ratio of the results is less than 11%, which verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method for obtaining the strength parameters based on digital drilling. This study provides methodological support for field testing of rock strength parameters.

Effect of Infrared Irradiation Combined with External Application Nursing on Maintenance of Vascular Access in Hemodialysis Patients

Objective:This paper mainly analyzes the effect of infrared radiation combined with external application nursing on maintenance of vascular access in hemodialysis patients.Methods:A total of 150 hemodialysis patients in our hospital from December 2019 to September 2020 were divided into the conventional group and the study group,75 cases in each group.The conventional group was given external application nursing alone,and the study group was given infrared radiation combined with external application nursing,and the effect on the maintenance of vascular access was counted.Results:After the intervention,the indexes of URR,kt/V and human albumin in the study group were higher than those in the routine group,and the indexes of β2-mg and MIS in the study group were lower than those in the routine group,P<0.05;The improvement of vascular elasticity and quality of life in the study group was higher than that in the conventional group,and the incidence of complications was lower than that in the conventional group,P<0.05.Conclusion:Infrared radiation combined with external application of nursing care in hemodialysis patients with vascular access maintenance effect is significant,can effectively improve vascular elasticity.

Application of external treatment of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of cancer-related fatigue

External treatment of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),also known as external treatment of internal diseases,has many advantages,such as simple,easy to operate,cost-effective and so on.Therefore,external treatment of TCM is favored by the majority of medical workers.By consulting the domestic literature reports on the treatment of cancer-related fatigue(CRF),it is found that the external treatment of TCM has a significant effect on the intervention of CRF,and has a good effect on reducing fatigue,improving the quality of life and prolonging the survival time.The purpose of this paper is to summarize the application of several external treatments in this disease,and to provide a variety of references for clinical treatment of CRF.

A Review of Contact Electrification at Diversified Interfaces and Related Applications on Triboelectric Nanogenerator

The triboelectric nanogenerator(TENG)can effectively collect energy based on contact electrification(CE)at diverse interfaces,including solid–solid,liquid–solid,liquid–liquid,gas–solid,and gas–liquid.This enables energy harvesting from sources such as water,wind,and sound.In this review,we provide an overview of the coexistence of electron and ion transfer in the CE process.We elucidate the diverse dominant mechanisms observed at different interfaces and emphasize the interconnectedness and complementary nature of interface studies.The review also offers a comprehensive summary of the factors influencing charge transfer and the advancements in interfacial modification techniques.Additionally,we highlight the wide range of applications stemming from the distinctive characteristics of charge transfer at various interfaces.Finally,this review elucidates the future opportunities and challenges that interface CE may encounter.We anticipate that this review can offer valuable insights for future research on interface CE and facilitate the continued development and industrialization of TENG.

Flail Chest Associated with a Simple Fall and Successful External Tamponade Application in a Pediatric Case

A flail chest is characterized by four or more rib fractures unilaterally or at more than two sites. The current article reports a 10-year-old case of a flail chest due to a simple fall from a chair while at breakfast. This pediatric case is presented because of its rare occurrence with a successful external tamponade application. Pneumothorax and tension pneumothorax associated with simple falls should be considered in pediatric patients. In the current case, blunt chest trauma-associated bilateral multiple rib fractures and a flail chest were present. The chest wall was destabilized and respiratory functions were compromised. Early stabilization with tube thoracostomy and external tamponade were achieved in the emergency setting. Intubation was not required after these procedures.

Application Problems and Countermeasures of External Diaphragm Pacer in Elderly Patients with Lung Cancer after Surgery

This article summarized the nursing problems and corresponding nursing strategies of 18 cases of external diaphragm pacemakers in the application of elderly patients with lung cancer after thoracic surgery. Timely psychological care, correct operation, close observation and infection prevention during treatment can effectively optimize the use of external diaphragm pacemakers, improve respiratory muscle function, and the quality of life after lung cancer surgery in elderly patients.

Application of Statistical Process Control for Setting Action Thresholds as Quality Assurance of Dose Verifications in External Beam Radiotherapy

Purpose: To test the concept of Statistical Process Control (SPC) as a Quality Assurance (QA) procedure for dose verifications in external beam radiation therapy in conventional and 3D Conformal Radiotherapy (3D-CRT) treatment of cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: A study of QA verification of target doses of 198 cervical cancer patients undergoing External Beam Radiotherapy (EBRT) treatments at two different cancer treatment centers in Kenya was conducted. The target doses were determined from measured entrance doses by the diode in vivo dosimetry. Process Behavior Charts (PBC) developed by SPC were applied for setting Action Thresholds (AT) on the target doses. The AT set was then proposed as QA limits for acceptance or rejection of verified target doses overtime of the EBRT process. Result and Discussion: Target doses for the 198 patients were calculated and SPC applied to test whether the action limits set by the Process Behavior Charts could be applied as QA for verified doses in EBRT. Results for the two sub-groups of n = 3 and n = 4 that were tested produced action thresholds which are within clinical dose specifications for both conventional AP/PA and 3D-CRT EBRT treatment techniques for cervical cancer. Conclusion: Action thresholds set by SPC were within the clinical dose specification of ±5% uncertainty for both conventional AP/PA and 3D-CRT EBRT treatment techniques for cervical cancer. So the concept of SPC could be applied in setting QA action limits for dose verifications in EBRT.