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The effect of aging time and temperature variants on the Ni-Ti Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) has been investigated in this study. After the aging process, microstructural characterization was carried out using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) data. Using an innovative technique, Austenite finish (Af) temperature was determined. Aging effects on the hardness of the material were studied using Vickers Microhardness Test. SEM results revealed uniform distribution of α-Ni and β-Ti phases, appearance and disappearance of martensite plates and presence of precipitates. XRD analysis of the samples indicated that etching resulted in formation of oxides. The Af temperature was observed to increase with increase in aging temperature. In the Vickers Microhardness Test, it was seen that the mid-range time variant samples showed lower HV values.

A new technique of guided implant surgery is presented. A conventional complete denture is converted into both tomographic and surgical guides and later into an interim implant-supported fixed prosthesis. A plate derived from a computed tomography scan becomes the physical link between the virtual planning and tube positioning device. Furthermore, the interim placement of mini-implants adjacent to the symphysis region stabilizes the guide throughout the guided surgery. This technique reduces treatment time and costs.

Creation of defects in metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) has been demonstrated to be of significance for many potential applications. MOF-808(Zr), as an important member of MOFs, has attracted extensive attention due to its advantages such as high stability, large surface area and pore size. Therefore, the development of defective MOF-808(Zr) is of great interest. In this contribution, we report that MOF-808(Zr) with abundant defects can be fabricated by the fracture of partial Zr O bonds in its structure by the treatment of NH4HCO3 solution. During the treatment, the effect of NH4HCO3 concentration and treatment time on the structural properties of MOF-808(Zr) was investigated. The catalytic performance of obtained materials was evaluated by the oxidative desulfurization reaction of dibenzothiophene. The results revealed that MOF-808(Zr) obtained under the conditions of 0.08 M NH4HCO3 and treatment time of 10 min exhibited superior catalytic activity (124.8 mmol/h/g) at 60 °C due to the formation of rich defect sites in MOF-808(Zr).

Purpose The leading concern of orthodontic patients is prolonged treatment with fixed appliances and demand speedy treatment from the orthodontists. Piezocision is a relatively innovative, safe and reliable technique of corticotomy in the domain of surgically-accelerated orthodontic treatment. Our aim was to compare the efficiency of piezo corticotomy (piezocision) and conventional bur in rapid orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). Subjects and method: The study employed a randomized, double-blind, split-mouth design. 24 subjects with Class II div 1 malocclusion were randomly assigned to the two interventions, viz; piezo and bur group. The primary parameters evaluated were the rate and amount of tooth movement and total treatment time required for canine retraction. Additionally, the duration of surgery and postoperative complications were also evaluated. Observations and results Rate and amount of tooth movement were significantly higher with reduction in total treatment time in piezo compared to bur group. The duration of surgery was significantly longer in piezo group with no significant difference observed in post-operative complications. Conclusion Piezo-guided corticotomy was effective in providing rapid OTM with profound reduction in total treatment time and may be proposed as a suitable adjuvant to conventional corticotomy having comparable post-operative complications.

Summary Treatment time and mechanics required to solve palatally impacted canines are usually challenging. Different biomechanics and protocol approaches are available, and among these, the use of skeletal anchorage as reactive unit can be noteworthy. The purpose of this article is to show a treatment of a palatally impacted canine by the means of a double miniscrew and cantilever system only. Two miniscrews with bracket heads were applied in a 16 years old patient; different cantilevers were used to solve the impaction and bring the canine in the right position. Results: the impacted canine was successfully moved into proper position with good three-dimensional control. Both miniscrews worked successfully as anchorage for the entire treatment. The palatally impacted canine was successfully treated utilizing two miniscrews and cantilever approach.

Non-invasive monitoring of temperature elevations inside tumor tissue is imperative for the oncological thermotherapy known as hyperthermia. In the present study, two cancer patients, one with a developing right renal cell carcinoma and the other with pseudomyxoma peritonei, underwent hyperthermia. The two patients were irradiated with radiofrequency current for 40 min during hyperthermia. We report the results of our clinical trial study in which the temperature increases inside the tumor tissues of patients with right renal cell carcinoma and pseudomyxoma peritonei induced by radiofrequency current irradiation for 40 min could be detected by statistical analysis of ultrasonic scattered echoes. The Nakagami shape parameter m varies depending on the temperature of the medium. We calculated the Nakagami shape parameter m by statistical analysis of the ultrasonic echoes scattered from the tumor tissues. The temperature elevations inside the tumor tissues were expressed as increases in brightness on 2-D hot-scale maps of the specific parameter αmod, indicating the absolute values of the percentage changes in m values. In the αmod map for each tumor tissue, the brightness clearly increased with treatment time. In quantitative analysis, the mean values of αmod were calculated. The mean value of αmod for the right renal cell carcinoma increased to 1.35 dB with increasing treatment time, and the mean value of αmod for pseudomyxoma peritonei increased to 1.74 with treatment time. The increase in both αmod brightness and the mean value of αmod implied temperature elevations inside the tumor tissues induced by the radiofrequency current; thus, the acoustic method is promising for monitoring temperature elevations inside tumor tissues during hyperthermia.

Friction stir welding and processing are widely used for joining of aluminum alloys and composites and fabrication of aluminum matrix composites. However, the friction stirred plates possess different microstructural zones which create significant difference in local properties and heat treatment is required to establish uniformity. In this article, the state-of-the-art of heat treatment on FSWed/FSPed aluminum alloys is discussed. The effects of heat treatment time and temperature on microstructural appearances and mechanical properties are examined thoroughly. Special attention is provided on the change in the state of precipitates by different heat treatment processes. Also, the effects of different heat treatment techniques are compared. Finally, some ideas regarding direction of new research related to current topic are addressed.

Background Pulsed light (PL) as a promising non-thermal technology for food preservation can be used to decontaminate, preserve or enhance the nutritional and sensorial quality of food. However, data about the impacts of this emerging technique on phenolic compounds are controversial, and more information about the effects of processing parameters and proper mechanism adjustments are needed. Scope and approach PL can modify the phenolic profile of fruits and vegetables. Depending on PL technology utilized, applications can cause overheating or intensify reactions that result in the degradation of these compounds and/or the enzymes, leading to appearance of undesirable effects such as browning, discoloration, and oxidation. As well, conventional thermal processing decontaminates food at the cost of hampering nutritional value. In line with this, considering that an increasing number of consumers are demanding natural, nutritional, and healthy food in the last years, 21st century has led many researchers and the food industry to develop non-thermal processes for food preservation. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize the effects of PL treatments for maintaining or enhancing the nutritional profile of phenolic-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables. Key findings and conclusions The effects of PL treatment on phenolic compounds were evaluated based on the equipment parameters optimization such as fluency, the number of flashes, the voltage applied, the distance between sample and lamps, the spectral range of light flashes, the treatment time, the type of sample, and the type of phenolics (total phenolic content, chemical families, and individual phenolics).

PURPOSE: In the Netherlands, head and neck cancer (HNC) patients are selected for proton therapy (PT) based on estimated normal tissue complication probability differences (ΔNTCP) between photons and protons, which requires a plan comparison (VMAT vs. IMPT). We aimed to develop tools to improve patient selection for plan comparisons.METHODS: This prospective study consisted of 141 consecutive patients in which a plan comparison was done. IMPT plans of patients not qualifying for PT were classified as 'redundant'. To prevent redundant IMPT planning, 5 methods that were primarily based on regression models were developed to predict IMPT Dmean to OARs, by using data from VMAT plans and volumetric data from delineated targets and OARs. Then, actual and predicted plan comparison outcomes were compared. The endpoint was being selected for proton therapy.RESULTS: Seventy out of 141 patients (49.6%) qualified for PT. Using the developed preselection tools, redundant IMPT planning could have been prevented in 49-68% of the remaining 71 patients not qualifying for PT (=specificity) when the sensitivity of all methods was fixed to 100%, i.e., no false negative cases (positive predictive value range: 57-68%, negative predictive value: 100%).CONCLUSION: The advanced preselection tools, which uses volume and VMAT dose data, prevented labour intensive creation of IMPT plans in up to 68% of non-qualifying patients for PT. No patients qualifying for PT would have been incorrectly denied a plan comparison. This method contributes significantly to a more cost-effective model-based selection of HNC patients for PT.

Summary Background The time between arrival at the emergency department (ED) and balloon (D2B) in STEMI is one of the best indicators of the quality of care. Our aim is to describe treatment times and evaluate the causes of delay. Methods This is an observational retrospective study, including all consecutive STEMI code patients ≥18 years old treated in the ED from 2013 to 2016.All the patients were stratified into two groups: delayed group with D2B > 70 min and non-delayed ≤70. The primary variable was D2B time. Findings In total 327 patients were included, stratified according to their D2B as follows: 166 (67·48%) in the delayed group and 80 (32·52%) in the non-delayed group. The delayed group was older (p = 0·005), with more females (p = 0·060) and more atypical electrocardiogram (ECG) STEMI signs or symptoms (p = 0·058) (p = 0·087). Predictors of shorter D2B time were: typical STEMI ECG signs and short training sessions for nurses on identifying STEMI patients. Interpretation There are delays particularly in specific groups with atypical clinical presentations. Short training sessions aimed at emergency nurses correlate with shorter delay. This suggests that continuing training for emergency nurses, along with organizational strategies, can contribute to increasing the quality of care. Clinical trial number NCT04333381

Purpose VMAT delivery technique is currently not applicable to Magnetic Resonance-guided radiotherapy (MRgRT) hybrid systems. Aim of this study is to evaluate an innovative VMAT-like (VML) delivery technique. Material and methods First, planning and dosimetric evaluation of the MRgRT VML treatment have been performed on 10 different disease sites and the results have been compared with the corresponding IMRT plans. Then, in the second phase, 10 of the most dosimetrically challenging locally advanced pancreas treatment plans have been retrospectively re-planned using the VML approach to explore the potentiality of this new delivery technique. Finally, VML robustness was evaluated and compared with the IMRT plans, considering a lateral positioning error of ± 5 mm. Results In phase one, all VML plans were within constraint for all OARs. When PTV coverage is considered, in the 50% of the cases VML PTV coverage is equal or higher than in IMRT plan. In the remaining 50%, the highest target under coverage difference in comparison with IMRT plan is −1.71%. The mean and maximum treatment time differences (VML-IMRT) is 0.2 min and 3.1 min respectively. In phase two, the treatment time variation (VML-IMRT), shows a mean, maximum and minimum variations of 1.3, 4.6 and −0.6 min respectively. All VML plans have a better target coverage if compared with IMRT plans, keeping in any case the OARs constraints within tolerance. VML doesn’t increase plan robustness. Conclusion VMAT-like treatment approach appeared to be an efficient planning solution and it was decided to clinically implement it in daily practice, especially in the frame of hypo fractionated treatments.

The optimal overall treatment time (OTT) from radical surgery to the end of adjuvant radiation therapy for some squamous cell carcinomas has been found to impact treatment outcomes. This study aims to identify the impact of OTT on overall survival (OS) for women with completely resected, node-positive squamous cell carcinomas of the vulva.The National Cancer Data Base was queried for women with surgically resected, node-positive vulvar squamous cell carcinomas between 2004 and 2016 who were treated with adjuvant radiation therapy. Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards tests were utilized for OS calculations.A total of 1500 women met inclusion criteria. The median OTT was 104 days. Shorter OTT was associated with age, facility volume, private insurance, and duration of post-operative hospitalization. Median OS with OTT ≤ 104 days was 56.1 months vs 45.4 months if ≥105 days (p = 0.015). On multivariable Cox analysis, OTT was independently associated with an increased risk of death of 0.4% per additional day (95%CI 1.001-1.007, p = 0.003), as were age at diagnosis (HR 1.031 [95%CI 1.024-1.037], p 0.001), number of nodes positive (HR 1.031 [95%CI 1.024-1.037], p = 0.006), the use of concurrent chemotherapy (HR 0.815 [95%CI 0.693-0.960], p = 0.014) and increasing pT/pN stage. After propensity adjustment for factors predicting a shorter OTT, OTT continued to be associated with an increased risk of death per additional day (HR 1.004 [95%CI 1.001-1.007], p = 0.007).Overall treatment time is an independent risk factor for death in women being treated with adjuvant radiation therapy following complete resection of node-positive squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

Purpose To document time analysis of detailed workflow steps for the online adaptive magnetic resonance–guided radiation therapy treatments (MRgRT) with the ViewRay MRIdian system and to identify the barriers to and solutions for shorter treatment times. Methods and Materials A total of 154 patients were treated with the ViewRay MRIdian system between September 2018 and October 2019. The time process of MRgRT workflow steps of 962 fractions for 166 treatment sites was analyzed in terms of patient and online adaptive treatment (ART) characteristics. Results Overall, 774 of 962 fractions were treated with online ART, and 83.2% of adaptive fractions were completed in less than 60 minutes. Sixty-three percent, 50.3%, and 4.2% of fractions were completed in less than 50 minutes, 45 minutes, and 30 minutes, respectively. Eight-point-three percent and 3% of fractions were completed in more than 70 minutes and 80 minutes, respectively. The median time (tmed) for ART workflow steps were as follows: (1) setup tmed: 5.0 minutes, (2) low-resolution scanning tmed: 1 minute, (3) high-resolution scanning tmed: 3 minutes, (4) online contouring tmed: 9 minutes, (5) reoptimization with online quality assurance tmed: 5 minutes, (6) real targeting tmed: 3 minutes, (7) beam delivery with gating tmed: 17 minutes, and (8) net total treatment time tmed: 45 minutes. The shortest and longest tmean rates of net total treatment time were 41.59 minutes and 64.43 minutes for upper-lung-lobe-located thoracic tumors and ultracentrally located thoracic tumors, respectively. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first broad treatment-time analysis for online ART in the literature. Although treatment times are long due to human- and technology-related limitations, benefits offered by MRgRT might be clinically important. In the future, implementation of artificial intelligence segmentation, an increase in dose rate, and faster multileaf collimator and gantry speeds may lead to achieving shorter MRgRT treatments.

Shea nut shell (SNS) is an agrowaste obtained from Vitellaria paradoxa tree and discarded by burning. The extraction of nanocellulose from this agrowaste is expected to be a value addition to Shea farming and processing. However, the isolation of quality nanocellulose begins with optimal pretreatment of the agrowaste material. In this work, the mercerization of SNS collected from local processing centers was carried out by varying the treatment conditions such as temperature, time, liquor ratio (LR) and concentration of the alkali solution. The resulting samples were characterized using FTIR, TGA and DTGA. From the results obtained, the minimum treatment conditions required to isolate cellulose from SNS was obtained as 100 °C for treatment temperature, 2 h for treatment time, 1:20 for LR and 20% for alkali solution concentration. The isolated cellulose was also found to be of good thermal properties when compared to cellulose from other agrowaste. However, these conditions can be varied to give desired properties for specific application.

Cell-free protein synthesis system is emerging as a powerful tool for rapid expression of therapeutic proteins. However, one drawback of cell-free technology is the necessity to store the major components below freezing in bulky aqueous solutions. To preserve the cell-free synthesis system for a longer time, the lyophilized cell-free system was developed, and its stability under freeze-drying conditions was explored. The novelty and the difference of this study from the others lie in determining more detailed storage conditions, which could provide a more accurate storage strategy. The effects of the treatment time, the storage temperature, and the component-mixing mode on the freeze-dried cell-free system were investigated. This study explored a robust storage strategy for freeze-dried cell-free systems and could further open up a better opportunity for on-demand synthesis of therapeutic proteins.

A faster treatment reduces the risk of intra-fraction movement of organs, offers a more comfortable treatment to the patient, allows to treat lesion of larger volumes in a reasonable time and most of all expands the capacity of the facility. This work presents possible machine upgrades for synchrotron based ion beam therapy centers to shorten the irradiation time. The expected delivery times for each scenario are simulated for the study case of proton beams of MedAustron. The second part of the work focuses on the MedAustron development roadmap, where recently increase of ring fillings and delivered intensities were implemented for proton treatments achieving an average irradiation time of ~50% since start of operation.

Gingers are improper in shape, so the peeling process is very time consuming. Gingers of equal weight (approximate) were taken and washed in tap water and then were drained to remove the excess water and done for the primary trials. We have studied the impact of infrared heating and microwave heating parameters on physical and peeling properties of ginger and done the comparative study of infrared and microwave assisted ginger peeling. ANOVA represents that both MW power and MW time had a important (p 0.05) changes with change in treatment time. Peel loss and peelability were significantly (p

Purpose This is a study of our experience with Co-60 high dose rate brachytherapy (HDR BT) from a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods One thousand patients were treated with Cobalt-based HDR BT for more than 6 years. The practice of BT was analyzed for clinical outcome, physical, radiobiological, and technical aspects. Results Among those 1000 patients, 906 (90.6%) patients had gynecologic cancer, 29 (2.9%) patients had intraluminal BT, 63 (6.3%) hadhead &neck (2.1%), keloid (2.1%) and mold BT (2.1%), and 2 (0.2%) had sarcoma. Dose rate decreased by 48.9%, and treatment time increased from 9.33 to 18.27 min over 5 years. No patients treatment was abandoned because of machine-related problems. Conclusion Cobalt-based HDR BT is preferable in terms of lesser source exchanges, relatively uniform treatment time, quality assurance requirement, and cost.

The pulsed electric field (PEF) assisted extraction of bio-compounds (soluble solids concentration, °Brix, and total polyphenol content, TPC) from apple peels was studied. The aqueous suspensions of apple peels were treated by PEF with different intensities, E (480–1200 V/cm), and different treatment times, tPEF (0–2 s). The cell disintegration was analyzed using measurement of electrical conductivity (disintegration index, Zc) and microstructure evaluation by confocal laser scanning microscopy (microscopic cell disintegration index, Zd). The near linear Zc (Zd) dependencies were obtained for PEF treatment protocols with different treatment time, tPEF, and electric field intensity, E. The °Brix and TPC extraction efficiencies were dependent upon applied value of E. For example, at the highest PEF intensity, E = 1200 V/cm, and Zc ≈ 1, the enhancements in values of °Brix and TPC were approximately the same ≈3.15. However, at lower PEF intensities (480, 600 and 800 V/cm) and the fixed value of Zc the extraction of soluble matter was more effective compared to TPC. Therefore, the extraction efficiency of different bio-molecules is not only affected by the level of tissue disintegration (by value of Zc). The other details of PEF protocols (e.g., value of E) may be also important.

Purpose Pediatric radiation therapy (RT) requires optimal immobilization that often necessitates daily anesthesia. To decrease anesthesia use, we implemented a novel audiovisual-assisted therapeutic ambience in RT (AVATAR) system that projects video onto a radiolucent screen within the child's line of vision to provide attentional diversion. We investigated its reduction on anesthesia use, payer charges, and treatment time, in addition to its impact on radiation delivery. Methods and Materials A 6-year retrospective analysis was performed among children undergoing RT (n = 224) 3 years before and 3 years after the introduction of AVATAR. The frequency of anesthesia use before and after AVATAR implementation, in addition to RT treatment times, were compared. The number of spared anesthesia treatments allowed for a charge to payer analysis. To document the lack of surface dose perturbation by AVATAR, a phantom craniospinal treatment course was delivered both with and without AVATAR. Additionally, an ion chamber course was delivered to document changes to the dose at depth. Results More children were able to avoid anesthesia use entirely in the post-AVATAR cohort compared with the pre-AVATAR cohort (73.2% vs 63.4%; P = .03), and fewer required anesthesia for each treatment (18.8% vs 33%; P = .03). AVATAR introduction reduced anesthesia use for all ages studied. Treatment time per session was reduced by 38% using AVATAR compared with anesthesia. There were 326 fewer anesthesia sessions delivered over 3 years after AVATAR was introduced, with an estimated savings of >$500,000. Optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters revealed a small increase in dose of 0.8% to 9.5% with AVATAR, whereas the use of a thermomolded face mask increased skin dose by as much as 58%. Conclusions AVATAR introduction decreased anesthesia use in children undergoing RT. More children avoided anesthesia entirely, and fewer needed anesthesia for every treatment, resulting in a reduction in treatment time and savings of nearly $550,000 in approximately 3 years, with minimal perturbation of RT dose delivery.

Recent outbreaks traced to contaminated flour have created a need in the milling industry for a process that reduces pathogens in wheat while maintaining its functional properties. Vacuum steam treatment is a promising technology for treatment of low-moisture foods. Traditional thermal treatment methods can compromise wheat functionality due to high temperatures; thus, maintaining the functional quality of the wheat protein was critical for this research. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vacuum steam treatment of hard red spring (HRS) wheat kernels on final flour quality and the overall efficacy of vacuum stream treatment for reducing pathogens on HRS wheat kernels. HRS wheat samples were treated with steam under vacuum at 65, 70, 75, and 85°C for 4 and 8 min. Significant changes in dough and baked product functionality were observed for treatments at ≥70°C. Treatment time had no significant effect on the qualities evaluated. After determining that vacuum steam treatment at 65°C best preserved product quality, HRS wheat was inoculated with Escherichia coli O121 and Salmonella Enteritidis PT 30 and processed at 65°C for 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 min. The treatments achieved a maximum average reduction of 3.57 ± 0.33 log CFU/g for E. coli O121 and 3.21 ± 0.27 log CFU/g for Salmonella. Vacuum steam treatment could be an effective pathogen inactivation method for the flour milling industry. HIGHLIGHTS

Background and Purpose The purpose of this work is to report the workflow and the accuracy of the new markerless dynamic tumor tracking (MLDTT) method of the Vero 4DRT system introduced with ExacTrac 3.6.1. Material and Methods Phantom measurements were performed to assess the accuracy of the MLDTT algorithm by using the QA-tool which is provided by the vendor. A patient breathing curve was used as the motion trajectory of the phantom and the target positions detected by the MLDTT algorithm were compared to the defined positions. Furthermore, eight patients have been treated with MLDTT between May 2018 and July 2019. A log-file analysis is used to evaluate MLDTT treatment data. Results The accuracy of the MLDTT detection is 0.12 mm ± 0.12 mm, 0.12 mm ± 0.11 mm, 0.20 mm ± 0.21 mm for the x-, y-, z-direction, respectively. These values are comparable to the accuracy of marker based DTT at the Vero system. The median treatment time was 21 min 34 seconds and 175 kV images were acquired during treatment for monitoring the target motion. Conclusion The accuracy of the MLDTT algorithm is comparable to the marker based approach and the accuracy reported for the XSight Lung of the CyberKnife. Eight patients were treated successfully using MLDTT and the treatment times are comparable to a standard DTT treatment.

We explore latency arbitrage activities with a new arbitrage strategy that we test with high-frequency data during the first six months of 2019. We study the profitability of mean-reverting arbitrage activities of 74 cross-listed stocks involving three exchanges in Canada and the United States. Our arbitrage strategy is a hybrid between triangular arbitrage and pairs trading. We synchronize the high-frequency data feeds from the three exchange venues considering explicitly the latency that comes from the transportation of information between the exchanges and its treatment time. Other trading costs and arbitrage risks are also considered. The annual net profit of an HFT firm that uses limit orders is around CAD $8 million (USD $6 million), a result that we consider reasonable when compared with the previous literature. International latency arbitrage with market orders is never profitable.

Patients and orthodontists seek to reduce treatment time in braces. Rapid canine retraction through dentoalveolar distraction osteogenesis is one of several treatment approaches to reduce treatment in braces. This article provides an overview of technique of dentoalveolar distraction osteogenesis to accomplish rapid canine retraction and associated outcomes. When this treatment protocol is implemented well, rapid canine retraction is achieved predictably with minimal side effects. Although current evidence suggests that adverse sequelae, such as root resorptions and pulp devitalization, are rare, prospective clinical studies that are adequately powered and documenting long-term follow-up of these outcomes are lacking.

This work is devoted to the extraction of shale oils from Moroccan oil shale (Timahdit). The optimization of extraction process was studied using the responses surface methodology. Three parameters were studied: the volume of ammonia, the reaction time and temperature. The results obtained from the experience of the matrix have been exploited to determine the optimum conditions that enable better yield extraction of oils in which they are 50 ml of ammoniac volume, 122 min of treatment time and 382 °C of temperature.

Currently, many researchers are focused on promising new energy technologies such as Cu2ZnSnS4-based solar cells to replace fossil fuel sources. Investigations into a variety of methods have been done to analyze the interfacial problems and improve the cell interfacial properties via a variety of methods. In particular, In order to improve the electrical performance of Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) based solar cells, the Cd partial electrolyte (Cd PE) treatment that is an effective method in CIGS solar cells prior to applying their CdS buffer layer to their absorber layer has been studied. In our study, we investigated the Cd PE treatment time, the Cd PE bath temperature, and the correlation between Cd PE treatment and CdS thickness. The optimum Cd PE absorber treatment was 7 min at 70 °C, with a CdS layer of 35 nm thick deposited cells. This combination increased photo-carrier collection in the short wavelength range and reduced absorber-buffer interface recombination. The efficiency of a 35 nm buffer layer sample without PE treatment was 8.90%. The efficiency of another 35 nm buffer layer sample was 10.38% (Voc: 441 mV, Jsc: 38.15 mA/cm2, and FF: 61.58%) after Cd PE treatment due to the increase of Jsc, FF and Rs despite the deficit of Voc.

The interactive effects of mild heat and gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) on populations of Salmonella on almonds were studied. Almonds, dip inoculated with a two-strain cocktail of attenuated Salmonella Typhimurium, were treated with three concentrations of ClO2 at ambient temperature (ca. 22°C), and at 45, 50, 55, and 60°C for 4 h and with more than 90% relative humidity. Concentrations of ClO2 during treatments were measured, and populations of Salmonella were determined following treatments. Results demonstrated that ClO2 at concentrations of more than 4 mg/L and ambient temperature only reduced populations of Salmonella by 1.46 log CFU/g. With increasing treatment temperature, the efficacy of gaseous ClO2 increased. At 55 and 60°C, >1 mg/L ClO2, and a 4-h treatment time, >4 log CFU/g Salmonella was inactivated. Reductions greater than 4 log of the bacterium by gaseous ClO2 at 55°C were confirmed using a three-strain cocktail of pathogenic Salmonella. Overall, results demonstrated that mild heating is necessary for gaseous ClO2 to achieve more than 4 log CFU/g inactivation of Salmonella on almonds.

The objective of the present study is to improve the biohydrogen production from marine macroalgae (Ulva reticulate) by acidic - hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced microwave (AHMW) pretreatment. Higher soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) release of 1450 mg/L and its liquefaction rate of 30.2% was achieved in microwave (MW) pretreatment with treatment time period of 15 mins. Varying concentration of H2O2 from 0.003 to 0.03 g/g TS were used in the optimal microwave power (40%) to enhance the organic release in H2O2 induced microwave pretreatment (HMW). Maximum liquefaction of 33.9% was obtained at the H2O2 concentration of 0.024 g /g TS. The combined HMW pretreatment under acidic (pH 4–6.5) show synergistic effect on organic release. At optimal pH 5, AHMW pretreatment shows the SCOD release of 1850 mg/L with its liquefaction of 38.5% at time of 10 min. Therefore, AHMW pretreatment significantly reduce the treatment time and increase liquefaction when compared to MW and HMW. The maximum biohydrogen production was observed as 92.5 mL H2/g COD in AHMW pretreatment.

Background and Purpose: The topotherapy technique was recently suggested as a robust alternative to helical radiation delivery for total body irradiation (TBI). It allows to deliver a discrete number of beams with fixed gantry. A Topotherapy-based low-dose TBI technique was optimized and clinically implemented. Materials and methods: TBI delivery was split in two parts: the first treating from the head to half thigh and the second the remaining legs. An in-silico investigation aimed to optimize plan parameters was first carried out on four patients. For the upper plan, field width and pitch were fixed to 5 cm and 0.5: the combined impact of five modulation factor (MF) values and different field configurations (6/8/12 fields) was investigated. For the lower plan, two anterior/posterior beams (field width: 5 cm; pitch: 0.5; MF:1.5) were used. After assessing the optimal technique, set-up/quality assurance/image-guidance procedures were defined and the technique clinically implemented: 23 patients were treated up to now. Results: The best compromise between treatment time and planning target volume (PTV) coverage/homogeneity was found for MF = 1.5 and 8 fields. All clinical plans were automatically optimized using an “ad-hoc” plan template: excellent PTV coverage (PTV95%>98.5%) and homogeneity (median SD:4%) were found with a median beam-on time of 17/9 min for the upper/lower plan. All patients were successfully treated and transplanted. Conclusions: TBI delivered with the topotherapy approach robustly guarantees adequate coverage and dose homogeneity. Semi-automatic clinical plans can be quickly generated and efficiently delivered. Keywords: TBI, TomoDirect, Tomotherapy, Automatic planning

The sterilization of a small vial using electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma was investigated. The ECR plasma was generated throughout the inside of the small vial, which was sealed with nonwoven fabric, by using magnetic configuration in which the ECR point was located inside the small vial. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the temperature of the small vial was finely controlled by the pulse width and pulse frequency of the pulsed microwave power. A biological indicator (BI), Geobacillus Stearothermophilus, containing 1 × 105 spores present inside the small vial was successfully inactivated in a total treatment time of about 14 min while maintaining treatment temperature of less than 65 °C.

Summary Introduction The purpose of this study was to systematically review the evidence regarding conventional versus skeletal anchorage devices for molar distalization. Method An electronic search was conducted. Hand searching was done in the reference lists of included studies and some journals. Studies comparing conventional and skeletal anchorage for molar distalization in Angle class I or II malocclusions were assessed. Presence of periodontal disease, second or third molar extraction and application of tooth accelerating methods led to exclusion of studies. Generic-inverse variance approach was used for meta-analysis by use of the mean difference and random-effect model. Risk of bias was evaluated in included studies. Results A total of 1996 articles were found; of which, 1991 were excluded. The mean amounts of molar distalization/tipping in skeletal anchorage and conventional anchorage groups were 5.35 mm/8.44° and 4.25 mm/8.31°, respectively, which were not significantly different. The mean amounts of premolar movement in skeletal anchorage and conventional anchorage groups were −0.96 mm and +2.21 mm, respectively, which was statistically significant (P = 0.004). Duration of treatment in skeletal anchorage and conventional anchorage groups was 8.23 months and 7.95 months, respectively, which were significantly different (P = 0.0001). Risk of bias was assessed to be high. Conclusion The conventional and skeletal anchorage devices were not significantly different in terms of the amount of molar distalization/tipping. However, the anchorage loss was lower in the skeletal anchorage group. The treatment time was shorter in the conventional anchorage group. More studies with proper design are required.

This preliminary study aimed to compare the application of pulsed electric field (PEF) with a traditional blanching as pre-treatments before frying for the mitigation of acrylamide content in potato crisps. Measuring the degree of cell disintegration index (po) and the changes in water electrical conductivity during washing of potato slices, PEF protocol and sample preparation scheme were optimized. Peeled potato slices (thickness 1.5 ± 0.2 mm) were subjected to PEF (1.5 kV/cm, pulse duration 10 μs, total treatment time 10 ms, pulse frequency 100 Hz) and to blanching (85 °C for 3.5 min) pre-treatments and then to washing in water, evaluating the reduction of acrylamide precursors (reducing sugars and free asparagine). After frying (175 °C, 3 min), product quality, in terms of colour, texture and acrylamide content were evaluated. Results showed that PEF promoted acrylamide precursors leaching followed by a reduction of the final acrylamide content of around 30%, significantly higher if compared to the reduction obtained with blanching, with only slight modifications of the final quality of the product, in terms of colour and texture. Industrial relevance The Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 of 20 November 2017 has introduced new benchmark levels and mitigation strategies for the reduction of the presence of acrylamide in foods, directing food businesses to the research of measures to lower the acrylamide formation in foods. The actual industrial production process of fried potato crisps involves the use of many mitigation strategies, such as a blanching of raw potatoes. However, the traditional blanching treatment presents several practical drawbacks and leads to undesirable changes of the product quality. The application of PEF as a pre-treatment could reduce the acrylamide content in deep-fat fried potato crisps. This preliminary study gives important indications regarding the possibility of combining a PEF pre-treatment on raw potato slices with subsequent industrial processing steps for the production of potato crisps with low acrylamide concentration.

Background Elastomeric ligatures are polyurethane materials for securing arch wires into bracket slots. The mechanical properties of these ligatures deteriorate over time when exposed to different media prolonging treatment time. Objectives To determine the mechanical properties of different brands of elastomeric ligatures in three media. Methodology Experimental study assessing four brands of elastomeric ligatures: Dalton, American Orthodontics, Ormco, and Orthoclassics. A total of 120 ligatures per brand were divided equally and exposed to the oral environment, dry medium, and artificial saliva for 6 weeks. A digital force gauge was used to measure maximum tensile force and maximum tensile extension before and after exposure of elastomeric ligatures to the media. Normal distribution was assessed using Kolmogrov-Smirnoff test. Analysis of variance was used to compare mean maximum tensile force and mean maximum tensile extension between and within groups of elastomeric ligatures; level of significance was set at P Results Tensile properties of all brands of elastomeric ligatures were significantly different from one another in as-received condition. After 6 weeks in the different media, all the ligatures experienced a significant reduction in maximum tensile force P Conclusion There were significant differences in mechanical properties of the elastomeric ligatures of the brands in as-received condition and after exposure to different media.

Ultrasound has potential to modify physicochemical properties of food systems. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) has become more popular due to the attractive nutritional quality. Whole grain quinoa flour was treated by ultrasound (20 kHz, 250 W) to different time length (up to 19 h). The treatment for more than 5 h significantly increased the water solubility and in vitro starch digestibility of quinoa flour, while decreasing the gelatinization temperatures and enthalpy change, viscosity during pasting event, gelling capacity, in vitro antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content. These changes were seen to depend mostly on treatment time, and indicated degradation and modifications of the chemical components (starch in particular) of quinoa flour. This study suggests the potential of ultrasound as a non-thermal processing tool to modify grain flour functionality.

Boiling effectively decreased radioactive cesium concentrations in beef. Water extraction was also effective but not as effective as boiling. The decontamination effect increased with treatment time. The decontamination effect was inversely proportion to the square of the thickness of the beef slice.

A spore-forming bacterium, Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris, is often responsible for fruit juices quality degradation. The objective was to study the influence of ultrasounds and combinations with temperature (thermosonication) on A. acidoterrestris spores inactivation in apple juices. Commercially available juice was artificially inoculated with the bacterium (∼105 CFU/mL). Sonication was carried out in an ultrasonic bath (35 kHz; 120–480 W) at room temperature and at 70, 80, 85, 90 and 95 °C for different times. Thermal treatments at the same temperatures were performed as a control. Sonication had no significant effect on A. acidoterrestris spores inactivation. However, when applied at 70 and 80 °C, it allowed 1 log-cycle more of inactivation when compared to thermal treatments and at the end of the processes. Ultrasounds at higher temperatures required approximately half of the treatment time to attain the same inactivation that occurred when the thermal processes were applied alone. In thermosonicated juices, spores decreased by 4.8, 4.7 and 5.5 log-cycles (at 85, 90 and 95 °C, respectively) after 90, 60 and 20 min. The Weibull model satisfactorily fitted inactivation data of thermosonicated juices. Thermosonication is efficient for A. acidoterrestris spores inactivation, with a drastic impact on spores’ loads when high temperatures are used.

Al–1Fe (wt%) alloy containing nanosized Al3Fe phase was processed by continuous rheo-extrusion, and subjected to heat treatment at different temperatures. During heat treatment, due to the diffusion of Fe atoms, the nanosized Al3Fe phase was blunted and fragmented along the width direction, and the bluntness and fragmentation resulted in the spheroidization of Al3Fe phase. However, with the extension of heat treatment time, the spheroidized Al3Fe phase became coarse and grew along a particular plane. Then, the morphology of Al3Fe phase transformed into small plate-like. While, the plate-like Al3Fe phase with an average length of 30 µm in the as-cast Al–1Fe (wt%) alloy indicated good thermal stability during heat treatment. The different thermal stability of Al3Fe phases was attributed to their size. The large surface curvature of nanosized Al3Fe phase significantly accelerated the diffusion of Fe atoms. When the heat treatment temperature was 200 ℃ and 300 ℃, the tensile strength and elongation of the rheo-extruded Al–Fe alloy marginally decreased. The decrease of tensile strength and the decrease of elongation increased when the heat treatment temperature was greater than 400 ℃. The tensile strength and elongation of as-cast Al–1Fe (wt%) alloy were insignificantly altered. Though the loss of tensile strength of Al–Fe alloy containing nanosized Al3Fe phase was much greater, its tensile strength was always higher than the tensile strength of the as-cast Al–Fe alloy in the entire heat treatment.

Highlights • Our study suggests that intra-fractional bladder filling does not affect the delivery of adaptive bladder radiotherapy. • Current use of the adaptive bladder treatment planning margins and decision making for all plan selections sufficed. • This study addressed its aims and its findings are supported by other national and international studies., A retrospective audit on the “Plan of the day” (POD) selection and intra-fractional bladder fillings were carried out on twenty adaptive bladder radiotherapy patients at a single institution. Treatment time, differences in bladder volume and displacement of outer bladder wall expansion over the treatment fraction were analysed. Average treatment time was 8.9 min. The mean percentage difference in bladder volume pre and post treatment was 13.7%, resulting in expansion of the bladder predominately in the superior and anterior directions. This audit confirmed that the institution’s POD process sufficed without being significantly affected by the intra-fractional bladder filings.

Treatment of actual industrial wastewater is a challenging task and has not been investigated using the cavitation-based approaches significantly. In the present work, sonocatalytic degradation (catalysts as CuO and TiO2) of phosphonate based industrial wastewater, procured from a local company, has been studied in terms of COD reduction under optimized conditions (established using initial studies involving only ultrasound) of pH as 3.2, the temperature of 32 ± 2 °C and 120 min as treatment time. The combination of ultrasound with H2O2 and ozone in different approaches has been investigated for maximizing the COD reduction. The optimum set of operating conditions for the sonocatalytic degradation were established as power dissipation of 90 W and catalyst loading as 0.75 g/L for CuO and 0.5 g/L for TiO2. Use of only ultrasound resulted in COD reduction of 37.2% whereas the combination of US with different approaches resulted in higher extents of COD reduction. The combined operation of US + H2O2 + O3, US + O3 + H2O2 + CuO, and US + O3 + H2O2 + TiO2 resulted in the extent of COD reduction as 91.5%, 93.8%, and 95.8% respectively. Overall, it has been clearly established that maximum COD reduction is obtained for the combined operation of sonocatalysis (catalyst as TiO2) with ozone and H2O2.

Objectives This study aimed to determine the efficacy of a combination of photocatalysts—hydrogen peroxide at a low concentration (3.5%) and titanium dioxide (TiO2)—activated at a wavelength of 405 nm using quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) technology, and to quantify their tooth-bleaching efficacy using fluorescence images obtained from QLF technology. Materials and methods Forty bovine incisors were extrinsically stained according to Stookey’s method, and were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 per group). Two bleaching solutions were prepared by mixing 3.5% H2O2 with 0.05% of anatase and rutile TiO2 powders. These solutions were applied to the stained teeth using a microbrush and then irradiated for 15 min at either 306 or 405 nm to activate the bleaching agent. The color difference (ΔE*) was assessed before and after every 5 min of treatment. The ΔE* and the changes in the fluorescence loss (ΔΔF) were obtained from white-light and fluorescence images, respectively. Results All of the low-H2O2/TiO2 treatments caused significant tooth-bleaching efficacy after irradiation at 306 and 405 nm (p 0.05), but the bleaching efficacy was greater with anatase TiO2 at 306 nm and rutile TiO2 at 405 nm. Analysis of the fluorescence images revealed that the ΔF values increased significantly in all groups with the treatment time (p Conclusions Combining low-H2O2/TiO2 with QLF technology at 405 nm has an efficacy of tooth-bleaching as a less harmful and biofriendly method, while the fluorescence images obtained by QLF technology could be used to assess tooth-bleaching.

Introduction This study aimed to assess the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the orthodontic patient. It also assessed the knowledge and attitude of patients to the COVID-19 infection and the willingness to carry out specific precautionary measures in the orthodontic clinics to mitigate the spread of the virus. Methods It was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Questionnaires were distributed to orthodontic patients via Google forms. The questionnaire assessed participants’ knowledge, attitude, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on orthodontic treatment, and willingness to carry out infection control precautionary measures in the orthodontic clinic. Results A total of 304 responses were obtained; 83 males (27.3%), 221 females (72.7%) with a mean age of 35.6 years. Subjects demonstrated good knowledge of COVID-19 infection (94.7%). Most respondents (95%) considered the infection as dangerous and believed the orthodontic patient was at risk of contracting the disease but were willing regardless to carry on with their orthodontic treatment during the pandemic. Fear of contracting the COVID-19 virus during orthodontic appointments and missed orthodontic appointments (74%), and increased treatment time (50%) were the immediate and long-term concerns, respectively. A high acceptance rate of compliance to precautionary measures to mitigate virus spread in the clinic was observed. Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on the orthodontic treatment and the financial and emotional wellbeing of orthodontic patients. Patients were willing to continue with orthodontic management during the pandemic while complying with precautionary measures to prevent disease spread in the orthodontic practice setting.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread globally and the meteorological factors vary greatly across the world. Understanding the effect of meteorological factors and control strategies on COVID-19 transmission is critical to contain the epidemic. Using individual-level data in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and the number of confirmed cases in other regions, we explore the effect of temperature, relative humidity, and control measures on the spread of COVID-19. We find that high temperature mitigates the transmission of the disease. High relative humidity promotes COVID-19 transmission when temperature is low, but tends to reduce transmission when temperature is high. Implementing classical control measures can dramatically slow the spread of the disease. However, due to the occurrence of pre-symptomatic infections, the effect of the measures to shorten treatment time is markedly reduced and the importance of contact quarantine and social distancing increases., Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image, Highlights • High temperature mitigates the transmission of COVID-19. • High relative humidity promotes COVID-19 transmission when temperature is low. • High relative humidity reduces COVID-19 transmission when temperature is high. • Contact quarantine and social distancing are critical to contain the epidemic.

Objective: This study compared the clinical time spent and the costs incurred whilst constructing complete dentures (CDs) using a two-visit digital-denture protocol with the conventional complete denture protocol, in a university setting. Methods: Twelve undergraduate final-year dental students utilized both the digital denture protocol and the conventional complete denture protocol to construct two sets of CDs for patients requiring either an upper CD opposing a partial natural dentition restored using a partial removable prosthesis [Group#1: students: n = 6, upper CD: n = 12 (6-digital complete dentures +6-conventional complete dentures)] or both upper and lower CDs [Group#2: students: n = 6, upper and lower CDs: n = 24 (12-digital complete dentures+ 12-conventional complete dentures)]. Overall time spent and costs (clinical, materials, and laboratory) were calculated. A cost minimization analysis was performed to compare the economic costs of the two protocols. Paired t-tests were applied for the statistical analyses (p

This work examines the influence of glow plasma technology on vitamins, carotenoids, phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and color of acerola juice. The effects of nitrogen plasma treatment were observed at different operation conditions: flowrates (from 10 to 20 mL/min) and processing times (5 to 15 min). The study explored the suitability of glow plasma on 40 mL samples, which is considered a large sample of current plasma technology studies. Nitrogen glow plasma increased the content of vitamin A and carotenoids in acerola juice under specific processing conditions. The highest increase of vitamin A and carotenoids was found at gas flow rate of 10 mL/min and 10 min of treatment time. The effect of glow plasma on vitamin C (main vitamin in acerola juice) was not significant, maintaining the retention of vitamin C above 95% under all operating conditions that were studied. The phenolics content reduced by 30% due to reaction with reactive nitrogen species when the juice was treated at the most severe condition (gas flow rate of 20 mL/min and 15 min of treatment time). The antioxidant capacity was little affected by the reactive nitrogen species formed by N2 glow plasma, which remained relatively constant at high plasma flow rate (20 mL/min) but reduced when lower gas flow rates were used (10 mL/min). The typical orange color of the juice improved due to the increase in free carotenoid content. In summary, this study showed that the operating conditions of glow plasma treatment could be adjusted to have a positive influence on vitamin A, carotenoids and color of acerola juice.

Mineralization of ampicillin, a semi-synthetic β-lactam penicillin, was investigated in subcritical water medium in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Optimisation of the employed method was performed by the central composite design of the response surface methodology. Effects of each independent variable such as temperature, treatment time, and concentration of the oxidizing agent and their co-effects on TOC removal percentages were evaluated. 81.59% of TOC removal was obtained at 403 K of temperature, 80 mM of hydrogen peroxide and 147.3 min of treatment time. The reliability of the method was assessed by ANOVA and the theoretical equation was proposed for TOC removal of ampicillin. F value was obtained as 113.88 and p-value was obtained to be lower than 0.0001. The applicability of the theoretical model was proved by a series of validation experiments.

This work aimed to study the pumpkin puree processing by cold plasma corona discharge as an alternative to heat treatment to reduce Escherichia coli contamination and evaluate physicochemical alterations, using argon (Ar) as the process gas. The treatment time to verify E. coli inactivation was between 2 and 20 min, while physicochemical alterations were analyzed at 5, 10, 15, and 20 min. Cold plasma corona discharge technology to inactivate E. coli proved to be promising, reaching 3.62 log cycles of reduction at 20 min of treatment. The inactivation kinectics showed a tendency of higher decrease with time. Physicochemical characteristics indicate that plasma induces a decrease of pH; however, there is an indication that process gases have an important role and react with the environment and procedure reactive species. This technology may reduce the total carotenoid content of pumpkin puree and in color, mainly the a* parameter, which showed great reduction.

The sterilization of a small vial using electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasma was investigated. The ECR plasma was generated throughout the inside of the small vial, which was sealed with nonwoven fabric, by using magnetic configuration in which the ECR point was located inside the small vial. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the temperature of the small vial was finely controlled by the pulse width and pulse frequency of the pulsed microwave power. A biological indicator (BI), Geobacillus Stearothermophilus, containing 1 × 105 spores present inside the small vial was successfully inactivated in a total treatment time of about 14 min while maintaining treatment temperature of less than 65 °C.

Adjuvant radiotherapy is the pillar of breast conserving surgery. Its omission is related with a higher risk of local recurrence and of breast cancer related or non-related mortality. It is of paramount importance to guarantee this treatment is fully administered to all patients after breast conserving surgery, including the elderly. In the last three decades several hypofractionated treatment schemes have shown their non-inferiority, allowing for treatment time reduction facilitating adhesion to treatment and reducing radiotherapy burden. This review focuses on the schemes and indications which have been validated by large phase 3 trials and those which are still under evaluation.