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The core-shell structured Ag@SiO 2 nanomaterial integrated with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy promises a critical application in anti-counterfeiting. Security labels have been fabricated based on Ag@SiO 2 embedded with Raman reporters. The Ag@SiO 2 nanomaterial shows good stability and excellent anti-interference property for anti-counterfeiting. Multiple kinds of Raman probe molecules have been anchored in the Ag@SiO 2 labels to provide specific and abundant encoding information. The flexible encoding security information could be controlled conveniently by adjusting probe molecules, which not only enrich the SERS information but also improve the level of anti-counterfeiting. Furthermore, the Ag@SiO 2 shown excellent stability in organic solvent, and successfully used in ink for the anti-counterfeiting application., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

With rapid advancements in health and human-computer interaction, wearable electronic skins (e-skins) designed for application on the human body provide a platform for real-time detection of physiological signals. Wearable strain sensors, integral functional units within e-skins, can be integrated with Internet of Things (IoT) technology to broaden the applications for human body monitoring. A significant challenge lies in the reliance of most existing wearable strain sensors on rigid external power supplies, limiting their practical flexibility. In this study, we present an innovative strategy to fabricate glutaraldehyde (GA)-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)/Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) conductive hydrogels through multiple hydrogen bonding systems. Combining the advantageous rheological properties of the precursor solution and the high specific surface area after freeze-thaw cycling, we have created a self-powered sensing system prepared by large-area printing using direct ink writing (DIW) printing. The resulting conductive hydrogel exhibits commendable mechanical properties (411 KPa), impressive stretchability (580 %), and robust self-healing capabilities (>98.3 %). The strain sensor, derived from the conductive hydrogel, demonstrates a gauge factor (GF) of 2.5 within a stretching range of 0-580 %. Additionally, the resultant supercapacitor displays a peak energy density of 0.131 mWh/cm 3 at a power density of 3.6 mW/cm 3 . Benefiting from its elevated strain response and remarkable power density features, this self-powered strain sensing system enables the real-time monitoring of human joint motion. The incorporation of a 5G transmission module enhances its capabilities for remote data monitoring, thereby contributing to the progress of wireless tracking technologies for self-powered electronic skin., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Considering the increasingly demand for printing in daily life, more attention should be paid to the health risks of printer emissions to consumers. This study designed a two-stage cross-over study with 20 volunteers to investigate whether the short-term exposure to printing shop particles (PSPs) could cause inflammatory responses and genetic damage in healthy young volunteers. According to the study, short-term exposure to high level of PSPs caused the elevation of eotaxin and TNF-α levels in serum, indicating PSPs exposure led to the inflammation in healthy subjects. However, no significant changes of the urine 8-OH-dG was observed after PSPs exposure and there was no significant difference of micronucleus frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes of volunteers between the high-exposure-level and low-exposure-level period. Our study suggested that short-term exposure to high level of PSPs could cause mild inflammatory responses but no DNA damage in healthy subjects. More attention should be paid to the health hazards of the regular use of laser printers in daily life., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: There is currently a strong trend in developing RF coils that are high-density, lightweight, and highly flexible. In addition to the resonator structure of the RF coil itself, the balun or cable trap circuit serves as another essential element in the functionality and sensitivity of RF coils. This study explores the development and application of reproducible highly miniaturized baluns in RF coil design., Methods: We introduce a novel approach to producing Bazooka baluns with printed coaxial capacitors, enabling the achievement of significant capacitance per unit length. Rigorous electromagnetic simulations and thorough hardware fabrication validate the efficacy of the proposed design across various magnetic field strengths, including 1.5 T, 3 T, and 7 T MRI systems., Results: Bench testing reveals that the proposed balun can achieve an acceptable common-mode rejection ratio even when it is highly miniaturized. The use of printed capacitors allows for a notable reduction in balun length and ensures high reproducibility. Findings demonstrate that the proposed balun exhibits no RF field distortion even when placed close to the sample, making it suitable for flexible coils, wearable coils, and high-density coils, particularly in high-field MRI., Conclusion: The reproducibility inherent in the manufacturing process of printed coaxial capacitors allows for simple fabrication and ensures consistency in production. These advancements pave the way for the development of flexible coils, wearable coils, and high-density coils., (© 2024 The Author(s). Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.)

Ternary hybrid thin films composed of a diblock copolymer templating two types of nanoparticles (NPs) expand the functionality of binary systems, which renders them interesting for magnetic sensing or magnetic data storage applications. Herein, one-pot slot-die printed hybrid polystyrene- block -poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS- b -PMMA) thin films are prepared with iron oxide (magnetite, Fe 3 O 4 , d = 20 nm) and nickel NPs (Ni, d = 46 nm) in one step by the advanced slot-die coating technique, which facilitates upscaling of fabrication. The evolution of the hybrid film morphology is probed with in situ grazing-incidence small-angle X-ray scattering and compared to that of a PS- b -PMMA thin film without NPs. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy are used to analyze the surface morphology of hybrid films with an increasing NP content after deposition. It is found that different from the pure PS- b -PMMA thin film drying kinetics with five stages, the ternary hybrid film formation can be divided into four stages that are attributed first to the wet film, solvent evaporation, a subsequent rapid coalescence and microphase separation, and finally the dry film. The magnetic properties of the hybrid thin films are investigated with a superconducting quantum interference device magnetometer. All hybrid films are ferrimagnetic and with increasing nickel weight percent in the hybrid film, while the iron oxide weight percent is kept constant, the magnetic properties of the film are modulated accordingly.

Objective: To develop and validate a high-fidelity, nonbiohazardous simulator model for the ultrasound-guided percutaneous nephrolithotomy procedure. Methods: We employed a systematic framework based on Delphi consensus and modern education theory to design a simulation model. Twelve expert surgeons provided input through a hierarchal task analysis and identified procedural tasks, anatomical landmarks, and potential errors. These were translated into engineering deliverables by a team of biomedical engineers and surgical educators. A prototype was developed using three-dimensional printing and hydrogel molding, followed by expert validation through recorded simulations and subsequent multicenter trails with 48 participants. Results: A hydrogel prototype with realistic anatomical features was created using results from the Delphi process. It received positive feedback in areas such as anatomy, procedural fidelity, and education effectiveness, with overall high satisfaction ratings. Validation studies showed a significant difference in performance between novices and experts. Residents demonstrated significant skill improvement and retention after repeated simulations. Conclusions: The developed simulator provides a realistic, effective training tool for urologic education, addressing the need for safer and more accessible surgical training modalities.

Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC), a thin-film material, is emerging as a promising alternative for durable surfaces due to its eco-friendly application process. This study evaluated the use of thin-film DLC on the wafer surface of gravure cylinders for roll-to-roll printing of fine-line electrodes and microtext patterns, specifically for applications in flexible electronics and graphics security. Results suggested that using thin film DLC on the wafer surface allows reliable reproduction of isometric grids and line structures with widths of 15, 20, and 30 µm, as well as solid electrodes. The uniform conformity of thin-film DLC on the wafer surface, featuring an engraved micron-size cell structure, demonstrates superior ink transfer onto flexible PET (polyethylene terephthalate) substrates. This results in increased electrode line width and reduced electrical resistance compared to chrome. Statistical analysis confirmed the reliability and repeatability of the findings. Visual analysis of lines and microtext also demonstrated the reliable print-reproducing capabilities of DLC-coated surfaces. Overall, these results suggest that thin-film DLC is a promising alternative for use as a protective layer on gravure wafer surfaces. It has the potential to produce high-quality, high-volume electronics, such as sensors, antennas, and batteries, for applications in the Internet of Things (IoT) and other sustainable technologies., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Recent advancements in printing technologies allow for fabricating various wearable sensors, circuits, and integrated electronics. However, most printing tools have limited ranges of handling ink viscosity, a short working distance, and a limited feature size for developing sophisticated electronics. Here, this paper introduces an all-in-one integrated wearable electronic system via multilayer, multinanomaterial printing. Versatile, high-resolution aerosol-jet printing could successfully print Cu nanoparticles, Ag nanoparticles, PEDOT:PSS, and polyimide (PI) to manufacture nanomembrane composite structures, including skin-contact electrodes and wireless circuits. The printed polymer, PEDOT:PSS deposited on the Cu, ensures biocompatibility when making direct skin contact while enhancing electrical conductivity for electrodes. A self-assembled monolayer facilitates better adhesion of Cu nanoparticles on the PI. Also, using intensive pulsed light, a photonic sintering method minimizes Cu-oxidation while avoiding thermal damage. The combined experimental and computational study shows the mechanical flexibility and reliability of the printed integrated device. With human subjects, the flexible wireless bioelectronic system demonstrates superior performance in detecting high-fidelity physiological signals on the skin, including electromyograms, electrooculograms, electrocardiograms, and motions, proving its potential applications in portable human healthcare and persistent human-machine interfaces.

Microneedles are mainly used for pain-free drug administration and in biosensing for wearable systems. They are also promising for fields such as agronomy for precision farming, but their fabrication is not straightforward, often requiring expensive equipment and cleanroom protocols, being unsuitable for mass production. Here, we report a new and simple method for the scalable fabrication of all-inkjet-printed conductive microneedles based on silver nanoparticles (extensible to any other metallic nanoparticle ink) and a simple example of their application for monitoring the electrochemical properties of plants., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

At present, priority pollutants in printing and dyeing wastewater have attracted increasing attention, but their types and limits in the wastewater discharge standards for China's dyeing and finishing industry are still lacking. This study selected 9 printing and dyeing enterprises in a region of Zhejiang Province as the research objects. Through literature collection, field investigations, and chemical analysis, combined with industry priority pollutant screening technology, 103 and 21 characteristic pollutants were selected as preliminary and supplementary lists of priority pollutants, respectively. The results of the pollutant category analysis revealed that 55% of the pollutants on the preliminary list included carcinogens, and 29% of the pollutants on the supplementary list included alcohols. According to the four rules for in-depth screening, a total of 23 indicators (excluding those in GB 4287-2012 and its revised versions) were selected as the final list of priority pollutants, most of which were polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) but also included a small number of lipid substances, such as bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate. The screening of these indicators not only provides data support for the expansion of water pollution control indicators and the determination of their limits in China's printing and dyeing industry, but also promotes the supplementation and improvement of the sewage discharge standard system in related industries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Excessive or burst generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can induce oxidative stress, precipitating a range of critical illnesses, including cancers, Parkinson's disease and Ischemia-reperfusion injury. Conventional biological assays for ROS, involving discrete steps of capturing, labelling, and spectrometric detection, are complex and time-intensive. Moreover, their accuracy is substantially compromised by the short lifespan (microseconds to milliseconds) of ROS. Consequently, there is a pressing need for a rapid and efficient method that enables real-time detection. In this study, we have developed a printable, flexible ROS sensor based on a robust nanoenzyme composite by direct deposition of the paste onto a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate. This device demonstrated the fast and real-time responses to the hydrogen peroxide (mimetic agent) in the laboratory and to total ROS in sweat of an individual, exhibiting an outstanding current response to hydrogen peroxide across a broad concentration range of 0.01-10 mM, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.85 μM. The device's sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide (136.59 μA mM -1  cm -2 ), was found to be 1.5 to 10 times higher than that of sensors previously reported. Moreover, the IFRS device successfully identified instantaneous ROS levels in the sweat of adult males in vitro, with amperometric response increased 8 times after half an hour strenuous exercise, thereby exhibiting excellent selectivity, remarkable stability, and confirmed high biosafety. Overall, the IFRS provides a viable and practical solution for simple, expedited, and real-time ROS detection in the near future., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: In oral rehabilitation, a full mouth minimal invasive treatment can represent a major challenge for the patient and the dentist. The purpose of this article is to present a new technique to restore eroded teeth and recover the vertical dimension with a simple and predictable technique., Clinical Considerations: Occlusal tabletop restorations are a suitable conservative option to restore anatomy and vertical dimension augmentation but highly sensitive. The cementation of those restorations without stable landmarks, the cement excess removal, the insertion path, or the time needed are some of the difficulties can be faced. Now a days with the new CAD-CAM techniques is possible to develop a new occlusal tabletop manufacturing alternative utilizing 3D-printed technology by unifying the restorations with a customized connector that allows us to print several onlays at same time, as a single object, also being cemented at once., Conclusions: This protocol reduces the technique sensitivity of a vertical dimension oral rehabilitation process, reduce the chair time, enhancing the patient-comfort and delivers a unique way to restore dental lost anatomy as a definitive or temporary way with printing materials., Clinical Significance: With the advent of new CAD-CAM 3D printing materials, which are increasingly versatile and gaining favor among clinicians, it is now possible to address complex clinical situations with greater predictability. This technology enables the development of treatment solutions that are both effective and efficient, consequently reducing clinical time for the patient., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The wastewater of printing and dyeing is difficult to treat due to the degradation resistance of dye and the use of massive chemicals, causing a threat to the ecosystem. Pigment printing of fabrics possesses great advantages like high efficiency and flexible production, but there are some challenges like the risk of color depth and hand feeling due to the large size of the pigment and poor adsorption of light. In order to improve the coloration ability of pigment, herein, a novel kind of cationic dye/porous silica nanospheres were prepared through the adsorption of methylene blue and rhodamine B onto electronegative porous silica nanospheres and applied in printing on woven cotton fabric. It was found that the nanospheres exhibited an average diameter, good color depth, hand feeling, and high image quality for pigment preparation. In comparison with dye-printed fabrics, fabrics with dye/WHMS show higher color depth, resulting from the lower visible light reflectance. Notably, the strong interaction between dyes and hydrophilic porous silica nanospheres (WHMS) facilitates the improvement of absorption efficiency and stability. Meanwhile, the printed fabrics with dye/WHMS demonstrate splendid color fastness. The dry/wet rubbing fastnesses are 4 and 3-4, respectively. Furthermore, dye/WHMS-printed cotton fabrics possess a satisfactory hand feeling and breathability. The consumptions of dye wastewater were reduced, and the printing process was simplified. We think that this work may provide a novel insight into printed textiles with enhanced color effects and alleviate the environmental impact of conventional textile coloration.

Objective: To evaluate and compare the survival rates of 3D-printed and chairside milled resin polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) immediate temporary provisional full-arch implant restorations using prosthetic survival as the primary outcome., Materials and Methods: Records of 335 routine patients receiving 443 temporary six-implant retained maxillary or mandibular prosthetic restorations between January 2019 and January 2022 at a private clinic (Dr Sobczak Clinical Centre, Radosc, Poland) were considered for this retrospective analysis. The analysis compared prosthetic and implant failure rates between printed and milled restorations as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Patient-related and treatment-related characteristics between groups were compared using the Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U-test, respectively. Group-specific cumulative prosthetic survival was qualitatively and quantitively compared using Kaplan-Meier, generalized linear mixed models and univariate cox proportional hazard analyses. Prosthetic survival was set into context to implant survival using Chi-square tests. A multivariable cox proportional hazards model with frailty was used to identify confounding factors affecting prosthetic survival., Results: Prosthetic failure rates of milled and printed temporary restorations were 13.01% and 11.25% over the average follow-up period of 307.7 ± 115.5 days, respectively. The corresponding 180-day cumulative prosthetic survival rates were 92.4% and 93%. Hazard ratios for the prosthetic failure of milled and printed restorations did not show a statistical difference (p = 0.794). Implant failure rates in restorations that experienced prosthetic failure (17.31%) were higher compared to restorations without failures (5.63%), with a 3.2 times significantly higher odds of failure for a prosthesis experiencing implant loss (p = 0.003). Gender, presence of teeth at treatment baseline, smoking, and bone augmentation were identified as confounding factors impacting prosthetic survival., Conclusion: Chairside 3D-printed restorations may represent an equivalent treatment modality to established chairside milled restorations for immediate full-arch therapy. Provisional prosthetic survival may impact implant survival and treatment success., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Free-standing capillary microfluidic channels were directly printed over printed electrodes using a particle/polymer mixture to fabricate microfluidic-electrochemical devices on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films. Printed devices with no electrode modification were demonstrated to have the lowest limit of detection (LOD) of 7 μM for sensing glucose. The study shows that both a low polymer concentration in the mixture for printing the microfluidic channels and surface modification of the printed microfluidic channels using 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane can substantially boost the device's performance. It also shows that both device structure and enzyme doping level of the devices play an important role in ensuring the best performance of the devices under various testing conditions.

Accurate implant placement is essential for achieving successful outcomes. To aid in this, digitally designed surgical guides have been introduced. Both closed-sleeve and open-sleeve designs are commonly utilized. However, the closed-sleeve design has limitations with restricted interocclusal distance, interference with irrigation, and limited visibility, while the open-sleeve design is known to be less accurate. To address these limitations, a new slope-sleeve design was introduced. This design reduces the interocclusal distance requirement compared to the closed-sleeve design and provides improved accuracy. A constraint model with a 31 mm interocclusal distance was created, and three types of surgical guides (closed, open, and slope), printed using either a PolyJet or Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printer, were tested on resin bone blocks. Horizontal and angular deviations were measured for the accuracy of each guide after drilling, with data analyzed using one-way ANOVA and independent t -tests. The slope-sleeve design showed significantly lower horizontal and angular deviations in wide-sized guides. Additionally, PolyJet-printed guides showed higher accuracy compared to DLP-printed guides. The slope-sleeve guide offers enhanced stability and precision in restricted interarch spaces. When coupled with high-precision 3D printing technologies like PolyJet, the slope-sleeve design provides a reliable solution for improving implant placement accuracy in challenging clinical scenarios.

In order to shorten the process of textile printing with natural dyes, develop new methods, and improve the color fastness and quality of printed products, this study presents a novel approach by synthesizing a natural complex dye through the interaction between purpurin and Fe 2+ ions, resulting in a compound named purpurin-Fe 2+ (P-Fe). This synthesized complex dye was meticulously characterized using state-of-the-art analytical techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry, and scanning electron microscopy energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The characterization confirmed the successful complexation of purpurin with Fe 2+ ions. The prepared complex dye P-Fe was used for the printing of silk fabric. The optimized printing process involves steaming at a temperature of 100 °C for a duration of 20 min. In comparison to fabrics printed using direct dyes, the K / S values of the fabric printed with the P-Fe complex showed a significant enhancement, with all color fastness ratings achieving grade four. Furthermore, the proportion of metal elements on the white background of the printed fabric was found to be less than 0.180%, and the level of whiteness was above 50. The application of the P-Fe dye in silk fabric printing not only streamlines the printing process but also enhances the depth and speed of the printed color, effectively addressing the issue of color transfer onto a white background, which is commonly associated with natural dyes.

Molecular transport processes in printed polymer droplets hold enormous importance for understanding wetting phenomena and designing systems in applications such as encoding, electronics, photonics, and sensing. This paper studies thickness-dependent dewetting modes that are activated by thermal annealing and driven by interfacial interactions within microscopically confined polymeric features. The printing of poly(2-vinylpyridine) is performed in a regime where coffee-ring effects lead to strong thinning of the central region of the deposit. Thermal annealing leads to two different modes of dewetting that depend on the thickness of the central region. Mode I refers to the formation of randomly positioned small features surrounded by large hemispherical ones located along the periphery of the printed features and occurs when the central regions are thin. Observed at large central thicknesses, Mode II mediates significant molecular transport from edges toward the center of the printed droplet with thermal annealing and forms a hemispherical feature from the initial ring-like deposit. The selective adsorption of red, green, and blue emitting quantum dots over the poly(2-vinylpyridine) results in photoluminescent patterns. The selective assembly of photoluminescent quantum dots over patterned surfaces leads to deterministic and stochastic features beneficial to creating security labels for anti-counterfeiting applications., (© 2024 The Author(s). Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Objectives: This study aimed to document adverse health effects among office, copy, and print shop workers using the Nano-Control, International Foundation Survey., Methods: Self-reported information on 16 health outcomes and three surrogate exposure variables were collected from 1998 individuals between 1999 and 2010. Logistic regression models, adjusted for age, gender, and smoking status, assessed the association between printer exposure and health symptoms., Results: Among the participants, 61.9% were office workers, 5.5% were technicians, and 23.3% held other professions. Technicians had a higher risk for cancer compared to office workers (odds ratio [OR], 2.5; P < 0.01). Visible toner dust exposure was associated with chronic fatigue (OR, 9.6; P < 0.01), bronchial hyperresponsiveness (OR, 5.1; P < 0.01), cardiovascular diseases (OR, 3.6; P < 0.01), asthma, allergies, and other diseases (OR range, 1.4-3.2; P < 0.01)., Conclusions: The increased chronic and acute health risks among these workers warrant further investigations of causal associations., Competing Interests: Ethical considerations and disclosures: Data for all participants involved in this study were de-identified. As such, this work was exempt from the UML IRB. Authors A. Ojo, D. Bello, K. Heavner, K. Lucas, and A. Bello have no relationships/conditions/circumstances that present potential conflict of interest. Conflict of interest: None declared., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.)

The increasing prevalence of arsenic (As 3+ ) in water and its health impacts necessitate advanced detection methods. Similarly, monitoring L-Cysteine, a vital thiol-containing amino acid, is crucial for assessing physiological processes and disorders. This study presents a novel method for detecting As 3+ and L-Cysteine in food samples using 4-amino-3-(D-galactopentitol-1-yl)-5-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole (AMTPP) functionalized silver nanoparticles (AMTPP-AgNPs) by UV/Vis spectrophotometric method and smartphone-assisted inkjet-printed paper-based sensors. AMTPP-AgNPs, synthesized through a detailed process, show exceptional selectivity and sensitivity to As 3+ and L-Cysteine, undisturbed by other metal ions and amino acids. Characterization techniques like FTIR, DLS, Zeta Potential, AFM, and SEM detailed their morphological and interaction properties. Optimizing detection parameters, such as response time, pH, and temperature, improved sensitivity and achieved low detection limits. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0.0052 μM for L-cysteine and 0.0092 μM for As 3+ , as calculated using UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods. The method also demonstrated high recovery rates in spiked meat and corn samples. This research offers a cost-effective, rapid method for on-site food analysis, significantly aiding environmental and public health monitoring., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: To date, no suitable model tooth has been available for all standard restorative and prosthodontic procedures. To fill this gap, a realistic multilayer tooth with enamel, dentin, integrated caries, pulp, and electrometric and X-ray imaging abilities was developed. The aim of this study was to test the printed tooth while focusing on caries excavation and pulp capping., Methods: Based on micro-CT data, a tooth was designed and produced via 3D printing. A total of 396 teeth were tested and evaluated by 66 fourth- and fifth-year students experienced in caries excavation at standard typodonts, extracted teeth and patients. They excavated the caries and capped the pulp on six teeth and rated them in a questionnaire., Results: Compared with natural teeth, the printed teeth were generally rated positively and significantly better in all criteria than typodonts used previously (p < .001). They were rated as a suitable training option (Ø 2.3 ± 0.9) with fair examination conditions (Ø 2.1 ± 0.8) and easy to use (Ø 2.0 ± 0.8). Subjective learning success was also significantly greater (Ø 2.3 ± 0.9) than that of standard typodonts (Ø 3.2 ± 1.1) (p < .001). In general, the students desired more exercises with 3D-printed teeth for their studies (Ø 1.8 ± 0.8)., Conclusions: Multilayered 3D-printed teeth were successfully tested and can improve and extend the teaching methods used for caries excavation and pulp capping. Its other abilities will be tested in subsequent studies., Year of the Study: 2023., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Piezoelectric biomaterials hold a pivotal role in the progression of bioelectronics and biomedicine, owing to their remarkable electromechanical properties, biocompatibility, and bioresorbability. However, their technological potential is restrained by certain challenges, including precise manipulation of nanobiomolecules, controlling their growth across nano-to-macro hierarchy, and tuning desirable mechanical properties. We report a high-speed thermal-electric driven aerosol (TEA) printing method capable of fabricating piezoelectric biofilms in a singular step. Electrohydrodynamic aerosolizing and in situ electrical poling allow instantaneous tuning of the spatial organization of biomolecular inks. We demonstrate TEA printing of β-glycine/polyvinylpyrrolidone films, and such films exhibit the piezoelectric voltage coefficient of 190 × 10 -3 volt-meters per newton, surpassing that of industry-standard lead zirconate titanate by approximately 10-fold. Furthermore, these films demonstrate nearly two orders of magnitude improvement in mechanical flexibility compared to glycine crystals. We also demonstrate the ultrasonic energy harvesters based on the biofilms, providing the possibility of wirelessly powering bioelectronics.

Rapid quantitative testing of illegal drugs is urgently needed for precisely cracking down on drug crimes. Herein, an optimized paper-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) platform with patterned printing of plasmonic nanoparticles was constructed for the on-site quick testing of illegal drugs in urine. The filter paper was first coated with a layer of positive-charged chitosan, so as to reduce its roughness by filling the holes of the cellulose matrix and enhance the adhesion of negative-charged silver ink. Subsequently, hydrophobic modification was performed based on the binary silylation reaction, which could obviously improve the sensitivity of the paper-based SERS substrate by concentrating the amount of analyte. Meanwhile, SERS-active silver ink was fabricated and further printed on the surface of the above modified paper with custom-designed pattern (3 × 6). The performance of this SERS platform was assessed by using crystal violet (CV) as a model tag, and the obtained results proved it possesses excellent sensitivity and reproducibility, in which the relative standard deviation (RSD) dropped remarkably. More importantly, as a proof of concept, rapid detection of standard methylamphetamine (MAMP), one of the most widely abused drugs, was achieved with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.43 ppb using a portable Raman spectrometer. And it also had a good capability in human urine sample detection, with a correlation index ( R 2 ) up to 0.9927. This optimized paper-based SERS platform was easily manufactured, cheap, and portable, providing a new strategy for the on-site detection of illicit drugs.

For this article, a low-cost, compact, and flexible inkjet-printed electromagnetic sensor was investigated for its chemical and biomedical applications. The investigated sensor design was used to estimate variations in the concentration of chemicals (ethanol and methanol) and biochemicals (hydrocortisone-a chemical derivative of cortisol, a biomarker of stress and cardiovascular effects). The proposed design's sensitivity was further improved by carefully choosing the frequency range (0.5-4 GHz), so that the analyzed samples showed approximately linear variations in their dielectric properties. The dielectric properties were measured using a vector network analyzer (VNA) and an Agilent 85070E Dielectric Probe Kit. The sensor design had a resonant frequency at 2.2 GHz when investigated without samples, and a consistent shift in resonant frequency was observed, with variation in the concentrations of the investigated chemicals. The sensitivity of the designed sensor is decent and is comparable to its non-flexible counterparts. Furthermore, the simulation and measured results were in agreement and were comparable to similar investigated sensor prototypes based on non-flexible Rogers substrates (Rogers RO4003C) and Rogers Droid/RT 5880), demonstrating true potential for chemical, biomedical applications, and healthcare.

Comprehensive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emission control is imperative to decreasing occupational health risks and environmental impact of the packaging and printing industries. In this work, we investigated the VOCs emission characteristics and concentrations of individual contaminants generated by the packaging and printing industries, with regard to various categories, processes, and geographic regions. VOCs emissions, ozone formation potential (OFP), and associated health risks were assessed at 10 representative packaging and printing firms across several cities in Shandong Province, China. Plastic packaging enterprises had the greatest levels of unorganized VOCs emissions, consisting predominantly of oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs), followed by alkanes and halocarbons. From metal and paper packaging enterprises, OVOCs, alkanes, and aromatics were significant components of unorganized VOCs emissions. Aromatics, halocarbons, and OVOCs contributed significantly to OFP in workshops. The potential carcinogenic risk associated with VOCs in the packaging and printing industries was not significant. However, according to the findings in this study, the workshop environment may provide a comparatively elevated non-carcinogenic risk attributable to ethyl acetate, isopropanol, acrolein, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, and naphthalene exposure. In particular, the endocrine-disrupting and genetic toxic effects caused by benzene, toluene, styrene, and naphthalene should not be overlooked. Thus, it is essential to provide precedence to the working environment conditions of workshop laborers, while also undertaking scientific and systematic measures to mitigate the detrimental impacts of VOCs on the environment and human welfare., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Ensuring a strong bond between chairside autopolymerized acrylic resin to denture base is essential for denture repair and reline procedures. However, there is no established protocol to enhance bond strength between autopolymerizing resin and computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) denture base materials. The purpose of this study was to determine shear bond strength of CAD-CAM denture bases and autopolymerizing acrylic resin after mechanical and chemical surface treatments compared with heat-polymerized acrylic resin. Heat-polymerized, milled, and 3-dimensional (3D) printed denture bases were divided into 4 surface treatment protocols: none (control), airborne-particle abrasion (APA), tetrahydrofuran, and Vitacoll application. Autopolymerizing acrylic resin cylinders were bonded to denture surface. Shear bond strength and failure modes were determined after thermocycling. Denture base surfaces were assessed for surface roughness, surface morphology, and microhardness before and after surface treatment. Data was analyzed using two-way ANOVA and multiple comparison tests. The results showed that APA significantly increased shear bond strength and surface roughness of all denture base materials. Tetrahydrofuran and Vitacoll application improved shear bond strength of heat-polymerized acrylic resin, but did not reach the level achieved by APA. Conversely, tetrahydrofuran application improved bond strength of 3D-printed denture to the level of APA. Tetrahydrofuran and Vitacoll application significantly reduced denture base hardness, compared with control and APA. In conclusion, mechanical surface treatment using APA enhances the adhesion of autopolymerizing acrylic resin to heat-polymerized and CAD-CAM denture bases. Tetrahydrofuran and Vitacoll chemical surface treatment improved adhesion to heat-polymerized acrylic resin, with only tetrahydrofuran enhancing bond strength of 3D-printed denture to the level of APA. Without surface treatment, the highest bond strength was shown in 3D-printed denture base material., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Textile printing and dyeing wastewater is a substantial source of highly toxic halogenated pollutants because of the chlorination decolorization. However, information on the occurrence and fate of the highly toxic halogenated byproducts, which are produced by chlorination decolorization of the textile printing and dyeing wastewater, is very limited. In this study, the occurrence of six categories of halogenated byproducts (haloacetic acids (HAAs), haloacetonitriles (HANs), N -nitrosamines (NAs), trihalomethanes, halogenated ketones, and halonitromethanes) was investigated along the full-scale treatment processes of textile printing and dyeing wastewater treatment plants. Furthermore, the ecological risk of the halogenated byproducts was evaluated. The results showed that the total concentration of halogenated byproducts increased significantly after chlorination. Large amounts of HAAs (average 122.1 μg/L), HANs (average 80.9 μg/L), THMs (average 48.3 μg/L), and NAs (average 2314.3 ng/L) were found in the chlorinated textile wastewater, and the results showed that the generations of HANs and NAs were positively correlated with the BIX and β/α index, indicating that the HANs and NAs might form from the microbial metabolites. In addition, HAAs and HANs exhibited high ecological risk quotients (>1), suggesting their high potential ecological risk. The results also demonstrated that most halogenated byproducts could be effectively removed by reverse osmosis treatment processes except NAs, with a lower removal rate of 18%. This study is believed to provide an important theoretical basis for controlling and reducing the ecological risks of halogenated byproducts in textile printing and dyeing wastewater effluents.

Nano/microfabrication is of fundamental importance both in scientific and industrial situations. There are, therefore, many attempts at realizing easier, quicker, and more precise fabrication of various structures; however, achieving this aim without a bulky and costly setup is still challenging. Here, we introduce a facile and versatile means of printing an ordered structure consisting of nanoscale stripes and more complicated geometries including pillars and wavy form with a lateral resolution of single micrometers. To this end, we prepare a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) slab with an oxygen plasma-induced wrinkled surface where liquid PDMS exudes by syneresis. Since this liquid PDMS is automatically loaded, the printing is repeatable without inking. A substrate moderately wettable to the liquid PDMS as well as amount/property-controlled syneresis is primarily important for the creation of well-defined structures. Precisely controlling these conditions will make this method universally applicable to diverse substrates and liquids including suspensions., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Study Design: Biomechanical study., Purpose: To investigate the mechanical characteristics of bone models created from medical images., Overview of Literature: Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) printing technology have affected its application in surgery. However, a notable gap exists in the analyses of how patient's dimorphism and variations in vertebral body anatomy influence the maximum insertional torque (MIT) and pullout strength (POS) of pedicle screws (PS) in osteoporotic vertebral bone models derived from medical images., Methods: Male and female patients with computed tomography data were selected. Dimensions of the first thoracic (T1), fourth lumbar (L4), and fifth lumbar (L5) vertebrae were measured, and bone models consisting of the cancellous and cortical bones made from polyurethane foam were created. PS with diameters of 4.5 mm, 5.5 mm, and 6.5 mm were used. T1 PS were 25 mm long, and L4 and L5 PS were 40 mm long. The bone models were secured with cement, and the MIT was measured using a calibrated torque wrench. After MIT testing, the PS head was attached to the machine's crosshead. POS was then calculated at a crosshead speed of 5 mm/min until failure., Results: The L4 and L5 were notably larger in female bone models, whereas the T1 vertebra was larger in male bone models. Consequently, the MIT and POS for L4 and L5 were higher in female bone models across all PS diameters than in male bone models. Conversely, the MIT for T1 was higher in male bone models across all PS; however, no significant differences were observed in the POS values for T1 between sexes., Conclusions: The mechanical properties of the proposed bone models can vary based on the vertebral structure and size. For accurate 3D surgical and mechanical simulations in the creation of custom-made medical devices, bone models must be constructed from patientspecific medical images.

Introduction: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has evolved for medical applications as it can produce customized 3D models of devices and implants that can improve patient care. In this study, we aimed to validate the geometrical accuracy of the 3D models of intracranial aneurysms printed using Stereolithography 3D printing technology., Materials and Methods: To compare the unruptured intracranial aneurysm mesh between the five patients and 3D printed models, we opened the DICOM files in the Sim&Size® simulation software, selected the region of interest, and performed the threshold check. We juxtaposed the 3D reconstructions and manually rotated the images to get the same orientation when needed and measured deviations at different nodes of the patient and 3D printed model meshes., Results: In the first patient, 80% of the nodes were separated by <0.56 mm and 0.17 mm. In the second patient, the deviations were below 0.17 mm for 80% of the meshes' nodes. In the next three patients, the deviations were below 0.21, 0.23, and 0.11 mm for 80% of the meshes' nodes. Finally, the overall deviation was below 0.21 mm for 80% of the mesh nodes of the five aneurysms., Conclusions: 3D printed models of intracranial aneurysms are accurate, having surfaces that resemble that of patients' angiographies with an 80% cumulative deviation below 0.21 mm., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

In this paper, paper microfluidic channel fabricated by directly screen-printing of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is proposed for paper spray mass spectrometry analysis of therapeutic drugs in the blood samples. Compared with traditional paper spray, PDMS-printed paper spray (PP-PS) allows fluid to flow to the tip of paper with less sample loss which significantly improved the signal intensity of target compounds in blood samples. As paper can reduce the matrix effect, PP-PS also has a greater advantage than electro-spray Ionization (ESI) when directly analyzing complex biological sample in terms of the detection efficiency. Linearity and limits of detection (LOD) were evaluated for five psychotropic drugs: olanzapine, quetiapine, 9-hydroxyrisperidone, clozapine, risperidone. As a result, PP-PS improved the signal intensity of the psychotropic drugs at a concentration of 250 ng/ml in blood samples by a factor of 2-5 times and lowered the relative standard deviation (RSD) by a factor of 2-5.6 times compared with traditional paper spray. And PP-PS also improved signal intensity by a factor of 9-33 times compared with ESI. Quantitative experiments of PP-PS mass spectrometry indicated that the linear range was 5-500 ng/ml and the LOD were improved by a factor of 5-71 times for all these drugs compared with traditional paper spray. In addition, PP-PS was applied to the home-made miniaturized mass spectrometer and the precursor ions of all five psychotropic drugs (250 ng/ml) in the mass spectrometry results were obtained as well. These could prove that PP-PS has the potential to analyze complex biological samples in application on the miniaturized mass spectrometer which can be used outside the laboratory., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To evaluate the effect of build direction, post-polymerization time, and aging on the fracture resistance, failure mode, margin quality and Marginal (MD) and Internal Discrepancies (ID), and degree of conversion of tridimensional (3D) printed provisional crowns using the liquid crystal display technique (LCD). A left mandibular first molar was prepared and scanned. After, a full crown was designed (ExoCad) and exported to the LCD-printer software. One hundred and eighty crowns were printed at two build directions (30°, 90°) and post-polymerized for different periods (15, 30, 45 min). Half of the samples were aged (ST) in distilled water (37 °C/90 days). The marginal quality of the crowns was evaluated by the Schriwer method under a stereomicroscope (40x). The replica technique was used to measure the MD and ID and measured under a stereomicroscope (10x), through 20 reference points defined in 5 regions: Occlusal (O), Cusp (CP), Axial (AX), Chamfer (CH), and Finish Line (F). After, the crowns were cemented onto the respective dies using temporary cement and submitted to compression test (ISO150, 1 mm/min, 100 kgf).The failure mode was classified by Burke's fracture mode. The degree of conversion was evaluated through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The data (μm) of MD and ID and fracture resistance (N) were subjected to ANOVA (3 factors) and Tukey's test (5%); Weibull analysis was also performed for fracture resistance data (N). For MD, ID and fracture resistance ANOVA revealed that all factors (P < .001) were significant. For aged groups, the crowns printed at 30° showed lower MD (Tukey). The O&#95;90&#95;30 min (172.13 A μm) and O&#95;90&#95;15 min (170.20 A μm) groups showed the highest ID values. Higher resistance values were observed for the 30&#95;45 min (844.30 A N), 30&#95;30 min (835.35 A N), and 90&#95;30 min (820.62 A N) groups (Tukey). In the margin analysis, 98.6% of the crowns printed at 30° showed smooth margins without defects. The most prevalent fracture mode (41.7%) was Burke type 5. The degree of conversion (DC) increased with increasing post-polymerization time and aging. Printing provisional crowns at 30° provided lower crown MD and ID, as well as higher fracture resistance. A post-polymerization time of 30 min resulted in higher crown fracture resistance, while aging reduced the resistance of the crowns., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Society of The Nippon Dental University.)

Purpose: The aim was to analyze the accuracy of digital models and 3D-printed casts from full-arch digital impressions using two intraoral scanners (iTero TM and Primescan TM )., Materials and Methods: A crossover reliability study was designed, scanning children and teenagers with iTero TM and Primescan TM . Accuracy was evaluated by measuring intercanine, intermolar, and ipsilateral canine-molar distances intraorally and comparing these measurements with those from plaster casts, digital models obtained with intraoral scanners, and 3D-printed casts. A paired comparison and a general linear model with a one-way repeated measures ANOVA procedure were carried out with a confidence level of 95% ( p ≤ 0.05)., Results: A total of 51 subjects were analyzed (mean age 12.35 ± 2.57). Statistical differences ( p < 0.05) were found in the upper and lower arch regarding accuracy in comparison to intraoral measurements, except for the iTero TM -printed cast and canine-molar upper right and intercanine lower distances ( p > 0.05 for all comparisons). Regarding a comparison between reproduction methods, the plaster cast oversized the intercanine upper distance in comparison with both intraoral scanners' digital models and the Primescan TM -printed cast ( p = 0.001), but there were no differences in the lower arch ( p > 0.05 for all comparisons)., Conclusion: Intraoral scanners reproduce tooth structures with similar accuracy to conventional methods.

Smart photochromic and fluorescent textile refers to garments that alter their colorimetric properties in response to external light stimulus. Cotton fibers have been reported as a main resource for many textile and non-textile industries, such as automobiles, medical devices, and furniture applications. Cotton is a natural fiber that is distinguished with breathability, softness, cheapness, and highly absorbent. However, there have been growing demands to find other resources for cotton textiles at high quality and low cost for various applications, such as sensor for harmful ultraviolet radiation. Herein, we present a novel method toward luminescent and photochromic nonwoven textiles from recycled cotton waste. Using the screen-printing technology, a cotton fabric that is both photochromic and fluorescent was developed using aqueous inorganic phosphor nanoparticles (10-18 nm)-containing printing paste. Both CIE Lab color coordinates and photoluminescence spectra showed that the transparent film printed on the nonwoven fabric develops a reversible green emission (519 nm) under ultraviolet light (365 nm), even at low pigment concentration (2%) in the printing paste. Colorfastness of printed fabrics showed high durability and photostability., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Study., Objective: To determine whether 3D-printed porous titanium (3DPT) interbody cages offer any clinical or radiographic advantage over standard solid titanium (ST) interbody cages in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusions (TLIF)., Methods: A consecutive series of adult patients undergoing one- or two-level TLIF with either 3DPT or ST "banana" cages were analyzed for patient reported outcome measures (PROMs), radiographic complications, and clinical complications. Exclusion criteria included clinical or radiographic follow-up less than 1 year., Results: The final cohort included 90 ST interbody levels from 74 patients, and 73 3DPT interbody levels from 50 patients for a total of 124 patients. Baseline demographic variables and comorbidity rates were similar between groups ( P > .05). Subsidence of any grade occurred more frequently in the ST group compared with the 3DPT group (24.4% vs 5.5%, respectively, P = .001). Further, the ST group was more likely to have higher grades of subsidence than the 3DPT group ( P = .009). All PROMs improved similarly after surgery and revision rates did not differ between groups (both P > .05). On multivariate analysis, significant positive correlators with increasing subsidence grade included greater age ( P = .015), greater body mass index ( P = .043), osteoporosis/osteopenia ( P < .027), and ST cage type ( P = .019)., Conclusions: When considering interbody material for TLIF, both ST and 3DPT cages performed well; however, 3DPT cages were associated with lower rates of subsidence. The clinical relevance of these findings deserves further randomized, prospective investigation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Andrew Grossbach, MD: Research funding from DePuy Synthes, Medtronic, 3M/KCI; consultation fees from 3M/KCI. Stephanus Viljoen, MD: Research funding from Medtronic. David Xu, MD: NuVasive consultation fees

Introduction: Long-term enophthalmos and diplopia resulting from orbital bone loss pose significant challenges in reconstructive surgery. This study evaluated the effectiveness of patient-specific porous titanium implants (PSIs) for addressing these conditions., Materials and Methods: This retrospective study involved 12 patients treated at Croix-Rousse Hospital, Lyon, from April 2015 to April 2022 who underwent late reconstruction via PSI for unilateral complex orbital bone loss. These implants were customized via 3D mirroring techniques on the basis of high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans of the patients' unaffected orbits., Results: All 12 patients presented with significant preoperative enophthalmos, with an average displacement of 3.24 mm, which was effectively corrected postoperatively to an average of 0.17 mm (p < 0.001). Orbital volume notably improved from a preoperative average of 3.38 mL to 0.37 mL postsurgery (p < 0.001). Functional improvements were evident as both enophthalmos and diplopia resolved completely. The Lancaster test revealed an improvement in the visual field, with 83.3 % of patients achieving normal results postoperatively., Discussion: By ensuring anatomical accuracy, patient-specific porous titanium implants, tailored from patient-specific imaging and fabricated via advanced 3D printing technology, provide a precise, effective, and reliable solution for reconstructing complex orbital defects and performing complicated revision surgeries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interests The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Lateral flow assay (LFA) color signal quantification methods were developed by utilizing both International Commission on Illumination (CIE) LAB (CIELAB) color space and grayscale intensity differences. The CIELAB image processing procedure included calibration, test, control band detection, and color difference calculation, which can minimize the noise from the background. The LFA platform showcases its ability to accurately discern relevant colorimetric signals. The rising occurrence of infectious outbreaks from foodborne pathogens like Salmonella typhimurium presents significant economic, healthcare, and public health risks. The study introduces an aptamer-based lateral flow (ABLF) platform by using inkjet printing for specially detecting S. typhimurium. The ABLF utilized gold-decorated polystyrene microparticles, functionalized with specific S. typhimurium aptamers (Ps-AuNPs-ssDNA). The platform demonstrates a detection limit of 10 2 CFU mL -1 in buffer solutions and 10 3 CFU mL -1 in romaine lettuce tests. Furthermore, it sustained performance for over 8 weeks at room temperature. The ABLF platform and analysis methods are expected to effectively resolve the low-sensitivity problems of the former LFA systems and to bridge the gap between lab-scale platforms to market-ready solutions by offering a simple, cost-effective, and consistent approach to detecting foodborne pathogens in real samples., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Chronic n-Hexane poisoning is prevalent among workers in small and micro printing industries in China. Despite this, there is limited research on occupational health risk assessment in these sectors. Conducting comprehensive risk assessments at key positions and proposing effective countermeasures are essential., Methods: Data were collected from 84 key positions across 32 small and micro-sized printing enterprises. Air samples were tested for n-Hexane exposure levels in accordance with Chinese standards. Five risk assessment models were employed: COSHH, EPA, MOM, ICMM, and Technical Guide GBZ/T 289-2017 of China. The consistency of results across these models was analyzed., Results: Workers in 84 job positions were categorized into four exposure groups, with exposure to n-Hexane for 8-10 h daily, 5-6 days weekly. Most positions operated with low automation levels (96.9% in printing, 5.9% in oil blending, and 42.9% in pasting), while others were manual. Localized ventilation rates were notably low in oil blending (23.5%), cleaning (14.3%), and pasting (9.5%) groups. n-Hexane concentrations exceeded Chinese occupational limits in 15.6% of printing, 17.7% of oil blending, and 21.4% of cleaning groups. Risk assessment models identified over 60% of work groups as high risk. Significant differences ( p  < 0.05) were found among the seven risk assessment methods. Consistency analysis revealed moderate agreement between the Chinese synthesis index and exposure index methods ( k  = 0.571, p  < 0.01)., Conclusion: The Chinese synthesis and exposure index methods from Technical Guide GBZ/T 289-2017 are practical and reliable for assessing n-Hexane exposure risks in small and micro printing enterprises. Cleaning and printing roles were found to be at the highest risk for n-Hexane exposure. These findings provide valuable insights for targeted risk management strategies to protect workers' health in the industry., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Hu, Chen, Zhong, Chen, Cai and Cai.)

Printing as a process itself generates many environmental concerns. The paper addresses ink management in terms of environmental issues in the label printing industry, focusing on its environmental implications. The goal is to demonstrate how a proper ink management system impacts overall printing process efficiency and environmental sustainability for printing companies. The paper introduces an empirical approach to managing components for label and packaging production, utilizing automatic ink dispensing systems. The results demonstrate that the proper management of ink dispensing to minimize waste in packaging printing is crucial for optimizing operating print costs, potentially reducing the amount of ink needed to prepare colors by 52% and achieving energy savings of 37%. This approach fulfills the goal of sustainability by addressing environmental, economic, and social concerns. By optimizing ink usage and energy consumption, companies can significantly reduce operating costs and enhance economic performance. Simultaneously, these practices improve product quality, meet consumer demands for sustainable packaging, and create better working conditions for employees. Future directions and practical implications for supporting operational excellence in production are also discussed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The escalating global incidence of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria, especially in developing countries, emphasises the urgent need for rapid and portable pathogen detection devices. This study introduces a sensitive and specific electrochemical biosensing platform utilising cost-effective electrodes fabricated by inkjet-printing gold and silver nanoparticles on a plastic substrate. The biosensor exploits the CRISPR/Cas12a system for detecting a specific DNA sequence selected from the genome of the target pathogen. Upon detection, the trans-activity of Cas12a/gRNA is triggered, leading to the cleavage of rationally designed single-strand DNA reporters (linear and hairpin) labelled with methylene blue (ssDNA-MB) and bound to the electrode surface. In principle, this sensing mechanism can be adapted to any bacterium by choosing a proper guide RNA to target a specific sequence of its DNA. The biosensor's performance was assessed for two representative pathogens (a Gram-negative, Escherichia coli, and a Gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus), and results obtained with inkjet-printed gold electrodes were compared with those obtained by commercial screen-printed gold electrodes. Our results show that the use of inkjet-printed nanostructured gold electrodes, which provide a large surface area, in combination with the use of hairpin reporters containing a poly-T loop can increase the sensitivity of the assay corresponding to a signal variation of 86%. DNA targets amplified from various clinically isolated bacteria, have been tested and demonstrate the potential of the proposed platform for point-of-need applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Precise localized printing of plasmonic nanoparticles at desired locations can find a plethora of applications in diverse areas, including nanophotonics, nanomedicine, and microelectronics. The focused laser beam-assisted optical printing technique has illustrated its potential for the localized printing of differently shaped plasmonic particles. However, the technique is either time-consuming or often requires focused optical radiation, limiting its practical applications. While the optothermal printing technique has recently emerged as a promising technique for the direct and rapid printing of plasmonic nanoparticles onto transparent substrates at lower laser intensities, its potential to print the plasmonic nanoparticles to the core of the optical fiber platforms and utilize it for biological cell trapping as well as an analytical platform remains unexplored., Results: Herein, we demonstrate the thermal-convection-assisted printing of the Ag plasmonic nanoparticles from the plasmonic colloidal solution onto the core of single-mode optical fiber and its multi-functional applications. The direct printing of plasmonic structure on the fiber core via the thermal-convection mechanism is devoid of the requirement of any additional chemical ligand to the fiber core. Further, we demonstrated the potential of the developed plasmonic fiber probe as a multifunctional surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) platform for sensing, chemical reaction monitoring, and single-cell studies. The developed SERS fiber probe is found to detect crystal violet in an aqueous solution as low as 100 pM, with a plasmonic enhancement of 10 7 . Additionally, the capability of the fiber-tip platform to monitor the surface plasmon-driven chemical reaction of 4-nitrothiophenol (4NTP) dimerizing into p, p'-dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB) is demonstrated. Further, the versatility of the fiber probe as an effective platform for opto-thermophoretic trapping of single biological cells such as yeast, along with its Raman spectroscopic studies, is also shown here., Significance: In this study, we illustrate for the first time the optothermal direct printing of plasmonic nanoparticles onto the core of a single-mode fiber. Further, the study demonstrates that such plasmonic nanoparticle printed fiber tip can act as a multi-functional analytical platform for optothermally trap biological particles as well as monitoring plasmon-driven chemical reactions. In addition, the plasmonic fiber tip can be used as a cost-effective SERS analytical platform and is thus expected to find applications in diverse areas., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interest or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Single-cell analysis by mass spectrometry (MS) is emerging as a powerful tool that not only contributes to cellular heterogeneity but also offers an unprecedented opportunity to predict pathology onset and facilitates novel biomarker discovery. However, the development of single-cell MS analysis techniques with a focus on sample extraction, separation, and ionization methods for volume-limited samples and complexity of cellular samples are still a big challenge. In this study, we present a high-throughput approach to inkjet drop on demand printing single-cell MS for rapid screening of biomarkers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure at the KYSE-150 cell, aiming to elucidate the pathogenesis of PAH-induced esophageal cancer. With an analytical bulk KYSE-150 cell throughput of up to 51 cells per minute, the method provides a new opportunity for simultaneous single-cell analysis of multiple biomarkers. We screened 930 characteristic ions from 3,683 detected peak signals and identified 91 distinctive molecules that exhibited significant differences under various concentrations of PAH exposure. These molecules have potential as clinical diagnostic biomarkers. Additionally, the current study identifies specific biomarkers that behave completely opposite in single-cell and multicell lipidomics as the concentration of PAH changes. These biomarkers potentially subdivide KYSE-150 cells into PAH-sensitive and PAH-insensitive types, providing a basis for revealing PAH toxicity and disease pathogenesis from the heterogeneity of cellular metabolism.

Purpose: External ear reconstruction has been a challenging subject for plastic surgeons for decades. Popular methods using autologous costal cartilage or polyethylene still have their drawbacks. With the advance of three-dimensional (3D) printing technique, bioscaffold engineering using synthetic polymer draws attention as an alternative. This is a clinical trial of ear reconstruction using 3D printed scaffold, presented with clinical results after 1 year., Materials and Methods: From 2021 to 2022, five adult patients with unilateral microtia underwent two-staged total ear reconstruction using 3D printed implants. For each patient, a patient-specific 3D printed scaffold was designed and produced with polycaprolactone (PCL) based on computed tomography images, using fused deposition modeling. Computed tomography scan was obtained preoperatively, within 2 weeks following the surgery and after 1 year, to compare the volume of the normal side and the reconstructed ear. At 1-year visit, clinical photo was taken for scoring by two surgeons and patients themselves., Results: All five patients had completely healed reconstructed ear at 1-year follow-up. On average, the volume of reconstructed ear was 161.54% of that of the normal side ear. In a range of 0 to 10, objective assessors gave scores 3 to 6, whereas patients gave scores 8 to 10., Conclusion: External ear reconstruction using 3D printed PCL implant showed durable, safe results reflected by excellent volume restoration and patient satisfaction at 1 year postoperatively. Further clinical follow-up with more cases and refinement of scaffold with advancing bioprinting technique is anticipated. The study's plan and results have been registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS No. 3-2019-0306) and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS No. 1182)., Competing Interests: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose., (© Copyright: Yonsei University College of Medicine 2024.)

The use of optoelectronic devices for high-speed and low-power data transmission and computing is considered in the next-generation logic circuits. Heterostructures, which can generate and transmit photoresponse signals dealing with different input lights, are highly desirable for optoelectronic logic gates. Here, the printed on-chip perovskite heterostructures are demonstrated to achieve optical-controlled "AND" and "OR" optoelectronic logic gates. Perovskite heterostructures are printed with a high degree of control over composition, site, and crystallization. Different regions of the printed perovskite heterostructures exhibit distinguishable photoresponse to varied wavelengths of input lights, which can be utilized to achieve optical-controlled logic functions. Correspondingly, parallel operations of the two logic gates ("AND" and "OR") by way of choosing the output electrodes under the single perovskite heterostructure. Benefiting from the uniform crystallization and strict alignment of the printed perovskite heterostructures, the integrated 3 × 3 pixels all exhibit 100% logic operation accuracy. Finally, optical-controlled logic gates responding to multiwavelength light can be printed on the predesigned microelectrodes as the on-chip integrated circuits. This printing strategy allows for integrating heterostructure-based optical and electronic devices from a unit-scale device to a system-scale device., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

In the present study, biosynthesized ZnO nanoparticles in food wastewater extract (FWEZnO NPs) was used in the photocatalytic degradation of real samples of printing ink wastewater. FWEZnO NPs were prepared using green synthesis methods using a composite food waste sample (2 kg) consisted of rice 30%, bread 20 %, fruits 10 %, chicken 10 %, lamb 10%, and vegetable 20%. The photocatalysis process was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) as a function of time (15-180 min), pH 2-10 and FWEZnO NP (20-120 mg/100 mL), while the print ink effluent after each treatment process was evaluated using UV-Vis-spectrophotometer. The behaviour of printing ink wastewater samples for photocatalytic degradation and responses for independent factors were simulated using feed-forward neural network (FFNN). FWEZnO NPs having 62.48 % of the purity with size between 18 and 25 nm semicrystalline nature. The main functional groups were -CH, CH 2 , and -OH, while lipid, carbon-hydrogen stretching, and amino acids were the main component in FWEZnO NP, which contributed to the adsorption of ink in the initial stage of photocatalysis. The optimal conditions for printing ink wastewater were recorded after 17 min, at pH 9 and with 20 mg/100 mL of FWEZnO NPs, at which the decolorization was 85.62 vs. 82.13% of the predicted and actual results, respectively, with R 2 of 0.7777. The most significant factor in the photocatalytic degradation was time and FWEZnO NPs. The FFNN models revealed that FWEZnO NPs exhibit consistency in the next generation of data (large-scale application) with an low errors (R 2 0.8693 with accuracy of 82.89%). The findings showing a small amount of catalyst is needed for effective breakdown of dyes in real samples of printing ink wastewater., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome., (Copyright © 2024 The University of Newcastle. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Three-dimensional printing (3DP) is being integrated into surgical practice at a significant pace, from preprocedural planning to procedure simulation. 3DP is especially useful in surgical education, where printed models are highly accurate and customizable. The aim of this study was to evaluate how 3DP is being integrated most recently into surgical residency training., Methods: We performed a structured literature search of the OVID/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PUBMED databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Articles published from 2016 to 2023 that met predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were included. Data extracted included surgical subspecialty using 3DP, application of 3DP, and any reported satisfaction measures of trainees. A thorough analysis of pooled data was performed to evaluate satisfaction rates among studies., Results: A total of 85 studies were included. The median number of participants was 18 (interquartile range 10-27). Fourteen surgical disciplines were represented, with ear, nose, and throat/otolaryngology having the highest recorded utilization of 3DP models among residents and medical students (22.0%), followed by neurosurgery (14.0%) and urology (12.0%). 3DP models were created most frequently to model soft tissue (35.3%), bone (24.7%), vessel (14.1%), mixed (16.4%), or whole organs (6.66%) (Fig.1). Feedback from trainees was overwhelmingly positive regarding the fidelity of the models and their support for integration into their training programs. Among trainees, the combined satisfaction rate with their use in the curriculum was 95% (95% confidence interval, 0.92-0.97), and the satisfaction rate with the model fidelity was 90% (95% confidence interval, 0.86-0.94)., Conclusions: There is wide variation in the surgical specialties utilizing 3DP models in training. These models are effective in increasing trainee comfort with both common and rare scenarios and are associated with a high degree of resident support and satisfaction. Plastic surgery programs may benefit from the integration of this technology, potentially strengthening future surgical curricula. Objective evaluations of their pedagogic effects on residents are areas of future research., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

The field of biosensing would significantly benefit from a disruptive technology enabling flexible manufacturing of uniform electrodes. Inkjet printing holds promise for this, although realizing full electrode manufacturing with this technology remains challenging. We introduce a nitrogen-doped carboxylated graphene ink (NGA-ink) compatible with commercially available printing technologies. The water-based and additive-free NGA-ink was utilized to produce fully inkjet-printed electrodes (IPEs), which demonstrated successful electrochemical detection of the important neurotransmitter dopamine. The cost-effectiveness of NGA-ink combined with a total cost per electrode of $0.10 renders it a practical solution for customized electrode manufacturing. Furthermore, the high carboxyl group content of NGA-ink (13 wt%) presents opportunities for biomolecule immobilization, paving the way for the development of advanced state-of-the-art biosensors. This study highlights the potential of NGA inkjet-printed electrodes in revolutionizing sensor technology, offering an affordable, scalable alternative to conventional electrochemical systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of three-dimensional (3D)-printed guide plates for assisting in the positioning of the rotation axis of an elbow-hinged external fixator., Methods: Terrible triad (TT) patients, who were screened using the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, underwent installation of a hinged external fixator on the basis of internal fixation; 3D-printed guide plates, generated from the patient's imaging data, assisted in positioning the rotation axis. All patients received the same peri-operative management and were followed up at six, 12, 24, and 48 weeks postoperatively. The duration of positioning pin placement, the number of fluoroscopies, pin placement success rate, types and incidence of post-operative complications, and the Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS) of the diseased elbow and range of motion (ROM) of both elbows were assessed., Results: In 25 patients who completed the follow-up, the average time required for positioning pin placement was 329.32 ± 42.38 s (263-443 s), the average number of fluoroscopies was 2.32 ± 0.48 times (2-3 times), and the pin placement success rate was 100%. At the last follow-up, the mean MEPS of the diseased elbow was 97.50 ± 6.92 (75-100), with an excellent and good rate of 100%, and all patients demonstrated stable concentric reduction. The average range of flexion and extension was 135.08° ± 17.10° (77-146°), while the average range of rotation was 169.21° ± 18.14° (108-180°). No significant difference was observed in the average ROM between the both elbows (P > 0.05). Eight (32%) patients developed post-operative complications, including elbow stiffness due to heterotopic ossification in three (12%) patients, all of whom did not require secondary intervention., Conclusion: Utilizing 3D-printed guide plates for positioning the rotation axis of an elbow-hinged external fixator significantly reduced intra-operative positioning pin placement time and the number of fluoroscopies with excellent positioning results. Satisfactory results were also obtained in terms of post-operative complications, elbow ROM, and functional scores., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to SICOT aisbl.)

Combinatorial sensing is especially important in the context of modern drug development to enable fast screening of large data sets. Mesoporous silica materials offer high surface area and a wide range of functionalization possibilities. By adding structural control, the combination of structural and functional control along all length scales opens a new pathway that permits larger amounts of analytes being tested simultaneously for complex sensing tasks. This study presents a fast and simple way to produce mesoporous silica in various shapes and sizes between 0.27-6 mm by using light-induced sol-gel chemistry and digital light processing (DLP). Shape-selective functionalization of mesoporous silica is successfully carried out either after printing using organosilanes or in situ while printing through the use of functional mesopore template for the in situ functionalization approach. Shape-selective adsorption of dyes is shown as a demonstrator toward shape selective screening of potential analytes., (© 2024 The Authors. Small published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)