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Metallic glasses (MGs) have garnered significant attention for the possibility to use as advanced structural materials in recent decades. However, their high processing costs remain a major obstacle to their commercialization. This research offers a practical guideline to significantly reduce production costs through tailored alloy design and precise control of thermoplastic forming (TPF) process parameters. Specifically, we discovered commercially available MGs with a low glass transition temperature (Tg) can be developed in the Zr-rich alloy systems. Moreover, we addressed the challenge of maintaining a wide TPF window in Be-free Zr-based MGs while keeping Tg low. Our research has yielded the development of Be-free Zr-rich multicomponent MGs with a low Tg below 350 °C (623 K) and a wide TPF window of over 70 K, resulting in excellent thermoplastic formability (TPFA). Notably, the MGs we developed exhibit a lower Tg than advanced engineering plastics like Polyimide and Polybenzimidazole, which suggests that the TPF process of plastics could be extended to MGs. In addition, we employed Flash-DSC to accurately identify the TPF window and TPFA according to the heating rate in a wide range from 10-1 to 104 K/s, and proposed novel TPFA parameters that are based on continuous heating transformation diagram with iso-viscosity contours. Our findings demonstrate that even marginal MGs have a significant advantage in manufacturing micro-to-nano scale products that can be molded at ultra-fast heating rates, similar to advanced engineering plastics. Indeed, this work will undoubtedly inspire us to further explore the potential of MGs as a practical material for industrial applications.

Development of metallic glasses is hindered by the difficulties in manufacturing bulk parts large enough for practical applications. Spark plasma sintering (SPS) has emerged as an effective consolidation technique in the formation of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) from melt-spun ribbons. In this study, Mg65Zn30Ca5 melt-spun ribbons were sintered at prolonged sintering times (15 min to 180 min) via SPS under a pressure of 90 MPa and at a temperature of 150 °C (which is below the crystallization temperature), to provide an insight into the influence of sintering time on the consolidation, structural, and biodegradation behavior of Mg-BMGs. Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to characterize the microstructure of the surface, while the presence of the amorphous phase was characterized using X-ray diffraction and Electron Backscatter Diffraction. Pellets 10 mm in diameter and height with near-net amorphous structure were synthesized at 150 °C with a sintering time of 90 min, resulting in densification as high as 98.2% with minimal crystallization. Sintering at extended durations above 90 min achieved higher densification and resulted in a significant amount of local and partial devitrification. Mechanical properties were characterized via compression and microhardness testing. Compression results show that increased sintering time led to better structural integrity and mechanical properties. Notably, SPS150_90 displayed ultimate compressive strength (220 MPa) that matches that of the cortical bone (205 MPa). Corrosion properties were characterized via potentiodynamic polarization with Phosphate Buffered Solution (PBS). The results suggest that the sintered samples have significantly better corrosion resistance compared to the crystalline form. Overall, SPS150_90 was observed to have a good balance between corrosion properties (10× better corrosion resistance to as-cast alloy) and mechanical properties.

Background The purpose of the present study was to evaluate efficacy and patient satisfaction of acupuncture or Chuna therapy for back pain. Methods Amongst all the patients with back pain who had been treated at Sun-cheon korean medicine hospital, Dong-shin university, only patients that had received either acupuncture or Chuna manual therapy between September 1 and October 31, 2017 were selected and their medical charts retrospectively analyzed. A questionnaire was used in the investigation that consisted of a numeric rating scale (NRS), the Oswestry low-back pain disability index (ODI), general, emotional, conversational, and technical satisfaction. The questionnaire was completed before treatment and at weekly intervals (approximately). Treatment efficacy was analyzed using the first and last questionnaires. The last questionnaire was also used to establish patient satisfaction. The data were analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 21.0. Results The NRS, Current degree of pain (ODI-1), and total ODI were significantly decreased in both the acupuncture and Chuna groups. The differences in NRS, ODI-1, and total ODI changes between treatment groups were not significant. There were no statistically significant differences between the acupuncture and Chuna groups in terms of general, emotional, conversational, and technical satisfaction. Conclusions Acupuncture treatment significantly reduces NRS and ODI in patients who have back pain without structural transformation, and Chuna therapy significantly reduces NRS and ODI-1 in patients who have back pain with structural transformation. These results indicate that further studies should be conducted in more patients and over a longer period.

Background This study was performed to review the efficacy of national and international randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating Chuna manipulative treatment for ankle sprains. Methods Online databases (PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, CNKI, NDSL, OASIS), were searched for studieswhere Chuna treatment was performed for ankle sprains up to October 12th, 2017. Only RCT were selectedthat fulfilled the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results There were 676 studies retrieved from the databases, resulting in analysis of 24 RCT. There was an average of 7 treatment visits over a 7 day period and the most frequent evaluation tool used was efficacy rate,with drug therapy being the most common control used in the trials. In 15 RCT, several Chuna methods were used in combination, amongst which, the osteopathic technique was most common. Statistically significant improvement in evaluation indices was reported in 19 RCT, and in 3 RCT, statistically significant improvement was reported, but not for all indices. In the remaining 2 RCT, there were no significant differences in any of the evaluation indices. No adverse reactions were reported in any of the RCT, although it was book whether all the trial protocols indicated that adverse reactions should be monitored, and for this reason, the risk of bias was unclear. Conclusions The review of 24 studies suggest that Chuna manipulative treatment for ankle sprains waseffective in most cases, although, potential bias in these studies was difficult to evaluate.

Objective: Cancer diagnosed during pregnancy poses unique challenges to both patients and healthcare providers. While advances in oncology and maternal-fetal medicine have improved the management of this complex condition, there remains a need for comprehensive research on the risks and outcomes associated with cancer during pregnancy. We aimed to investigate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes and fetal malformations in patients diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy. Methods: Among a cohort of 1,985,678 women who underwent deliveries between 2015 and 2022, we applied exclusion criteria that removed individuals diagnosed with cancer in the year preceding their pregnancies and cases involving multiple pregnancy. Consequently, the final cohort for analysis consisted of 1,839,651 women. Results: A total of 6,884 subjects were diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy, among whom 956 cases were associated with congenital malformations, while 5,928 served as controls. Our analysis revealed a significantly increased risk of congenital malformations in women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy compared to the control group (p<0.001). After adjusting for maternal age, pre-pregnancy hypertension, prepregnancy diabetes, gestational diabetes, and child sex, we found that the risk of congenital malformation increased by 1.59-fold (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.21-2.08) for breast cancer, 1.47-fold (95% CI=1.31-1.66) for ovarian cancer, and 2.88-fold (95% CI=1.21-6.84) for gastric cancer. Conclusion: This comprehensive analysis has important implications for clinical decision-making, patient counseling, and the development of strategies to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes in cancer during pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of acupuncture treatment and taping therapy on a 22-year-old man who suffered from left foot pain due to Lisfranc joint injury were examined. Fractures of the first, second, and third metatarsal bones and a cuneiform bone were treated with acupuncture and taping therapy from March 24, 2017 to May 4, 2017. The patient was evaluated using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society’s Ankle–Hindfoot Scale. His Ankle–Hindfoot Score increased from 27 points pre-treatment to 65 points post-treatment. There were no side effects. While the improvement observed in this patient is encouraging, no definitive conclusion on the effects of acupuncture treatment and taping therapy on Lisfranc joint injuries can be reached without further large-scale study.