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This document is an editorial from the journal "Crystals" that provides an overview of recent developments in additive manufacturing (AM) and highlights the studies featured in a special issue of the journal. The studies cover various aspects of AM, including laser additive manufacturing, electrodeposition, and fused filament fabrication, and explore innovations in material properties, microstructural control, and overall performance. The editorial also identifies existing knowledge gaps in AM and suggests future research directions, such as multi-material AM techniques, advanced simulation and modeling tools, scalability, sustainability, and long-term durability and performance studies. The document emphasizes the importance of continued research in these areas to fully realize the potential of AM and drive industrial innovation. [Extracted from the article]

The article explores the concept of global excellence in digital manufacturing, which involves using advanced technologies to enhance efficiency, production processes, and product quality on a global scale. It discusses various technologies such as additive manufacturing, automation, big data analytics, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence. Digital manufacturing is crucial for remaining competitive in the manufacturing industry and aligns with European future goals. It also promotes sustainability and waste reduction, with examples of research papers on topics like medical device design, electricity pylon design, and reusing end-of-life mosquito nets. The article emphasizes the significance of digital manufacturing in driving innovation, productivity, and competitiveness across industries. [Extracted from the article]

This study aims to investigate the impact of Islamic Corporate Governance (ICG) on Social Sustainability Performance (SP) in Islamic Banks of Pakistan, focusing on the moderating role of insider and institutional ownership. The study derives influential Islamic CG mechanisms from the theoretical perspectives of Agency Theory, Institutional Theory, and Legitimacy Theory, primarily focusing on Shariah board attributes and ownership structure. The study uses the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) for regression analysis and proposes three propositions to enhance social sustainability performance through responsible decision-making. The study results reveal that Islamic corporate governance significantly influences social sustainability performance, with Shariah board independence having a positive impact while size, competence, and process have a negative impact. The ownership structure of Islamic banks in Pakistan also significantly moderates the relationship between Islamic corporate governance and social sustainability performance, with insider ownership and institutional ownership playing a significant role. This study provides policy insights for policymakers, practitioners, and corporate boards to promote sustainable operations through Islamic corporate governance, adding to existing developmental plans to address sustainability-related issues. This study also contributes to the literature by establishing the nexus between Islamic corporate governance and triple-bottom-line performance in IBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study is focused on the development of ionic liquids (ILs) based polymeric membranes for the separation of carbon dioxide (CO2) from methane (CH4). The advantage of ILs in selective CO2 absorption is that it enhances the CO2 selective separation for the ionic liquid membranes (ILMs). ILMs are developed and characterized with two different ILs using the solution-casting method. Three different blend compositions of ILs and polysulfone (PSF) are selected for each ILMs 10, 20, and 30 wt %. Effect of the different types of ILs such as triethanolamine formate (TEAF) and triethanolamine acetate (TEAA) are investigated on PSF-based ILMs. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis of the membranes showed reasonable homogeneity between the ILs and PSF. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that by increasing the ILs loading thermal stability of the membranes improved. Mechanical analysis on developed membranes showed that ILs phase reduced the amount of plastic flow of the PSF phase and therefore, fracture takes place at gradually lower strains with increasing ILs content. Gas permeation evaluation was carried out on the developed membranes for CO2/CH4 separation between 2 bar to 10 bar feed pressure. Results showed that CO2 permeance increases with the addition of ILs 10-30 wt % in ILMs. With 20-30 wt % TEAF-ILMs and TEAA-ILMs, the highest selectivity of a CO2/CH4 53.96 ± 0.3, 37.64 ± 0.2 and CO2 permeance 69.5 ± 0.6, 55.21 ± 0.3 is observed for treated membrane at 2-10 bar. The selectivity using mixed gas test at various CO2/CH4 compositions shows consistent results with the ideal gas selectivity. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017, 134, 45395. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laser powder bed fusion is a laser-based additive manufacturing technique that uses a high-energy laser beam to interact directly with powder feedstock. LPBF of oxide ceramics is highly desirable for aerospace, biomedical and high-tech industries. However, the LPBF of ceramics remains a challenging area to address. In this work, a new slurry-based approach for LPBF of ceramic was studied, which has some significant advantages compared to indirect selective laser sintering of ceramic powders. LPBF of Al 2 O 3 was fabricated at different MgO loads up to 80 wt%. Several specimens on different laser powers (70 W-120 W) were printed. The addition of magnesia influenced the microstructure of the alumina ceramic significantly. The findings show that when the laser power is high and the magnesia load is low, the surface quality of the printing parts improves. It is feasible to produce slurry ceramic parts without binders through LPBF. Furthermore, the effects of SiC and MgO loads on the microstructure and surface morphology of alumina are compared and analysed., Competing Interests: Author AUR was employed by ERMAKSAN. The remaining 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 © 2023 Ur Rehman, Ullah, Liu, Ur Rehman and Salamci.)

Objectives: To evaluate the results of covered Cheatham-Platinum stent implantation in the management of native coarctation of the aorta and report intermediate and long-term follow-up., Background: Covered stents are being used increasingly in severe and complex coarctation of the aorta mainly to reduce risk of aortic wall complications. There is, however, limited data on the intermediate and long-term outcome., Patients and Methods: Fifty-six patients received 59 covered Cheatham-Platinum stents (January 2002-December 2011) at a single center-in 54 patients as primary treatment and in 2 as a rescue. Mean age was 22.25 ± 1.2 (11-56) years and mean weight 58.6 ± 2.1 (32-99) kg. Primary end points were reduction in systolic pressure gradient and an increase in coarctation segment diameter. Changes in antihypertensive medicines and complications were recorded on follow-up., Results: Mean coarctation segment diameter increased from 4.69 ± 0.20 to 15.1 ± 3.2 mm (P < 0.0001). The systolic gradient decreased from mean of 51.4 ± 3.4 to 4.6 ± 0.7 mm Hg (P < 0.0001). There was one death 3 days postprocedure due to cerebral anoxia. There was one dissection diagnosed 24-hr postprocedure. At a mean follow-up of 45.9 ± 3.9 (3-120) months, all stents were patent and in good position on computed tomography. Four (7.1%) patients underwent successful redilation. Antihypertensive medication was decreased or stopped in 37 (66%) patients., Conclusions: Covered Cheetham-Platinum stents may be used effectively as therapy of choice in selected patients with severe coarctation of the aorta. Aortic wall complications occur even with covered stents. Covered stents provide a safe alternative to conventional stenting in the intermediate and long-term and can be redilated safely to keep pace with somatic growth., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)