To explore ways to protect dogs' paw pads from hot asphalt in the summer and snow removal chemicals in winter, a film was created by adding erythritol, a sugar alcohol that has a moisturizing effect and is a phase-changing material that undergoes an endothermic reaction when it changes from a solid to a liquid, and coconut oil, which is often used as a moisturizer, to a pullulan solution. When 15g of erythritol was evenly mixed with 50 mL of water, the temperature of the water decreased by 8 ℃, and when the coconut oil melted, the temperature decreased by 2.63 ℃. By utilizing the properties of these substances, a film was created. First, when a film was created using a ratio of 1/10 of erythritol (g):1% pullulan solution (mL), due to crystallization, it was difficult to maintain the shape of the film. When this film was dropped in water, it reduced the temperature by 8% more than the pullulan film, but when it was mixed with coconut oil, the temperature reduction wasn’t much different. To stabilize the film, the erythritol content was reduced, and the pullulan content was increased. The results of adding 1g and 3g of erythritol to 1% and 3% of 100mL pullulan solution showed that the 1g erythritol film was much more stabilized than the 3g erythritol film. When the films were dissolved in water, the 1g erythritol film didn’t show much effect, but the 3g erythritol film had a 2% temperature reduction in comparison to the pullulan film. Moreover, because the film dissolved more slowly if the density of the pullulan solution increased, the 3% pullulan film with erythritol dissolved more slowly than the 1% film, resulting in the 1% film showing a greater reduction in temperature. When coconut oil and sodium alginate were added to these films, the films were stable but showed no cooling effect. Because the 1% pullulan solution with 1g of erythritol was the most stable film, it was used as a model for the furtherance of other films. Through experimenting with the surface temperature of pig skin by comparing the temperature increase with the control, which was with no film, the film made with erythritol and coconut oil showed a 6% decrease in temperature compared to the control, and the moisture content increased by 70%. Therefore, using erythritol and coconut oil can effectively moisturize and reduce temperatures. Because it is a type of film, it is convenient and easy to use and can reduce the surface temperature of dogs’ paws, something that prior moisturizers couldn’t do. Therefore, this film can be seen to effectively treat the damages inflicted upon dogs due to outside activity in extreme conditions.

Traditionally, steel pipelines have been used for the construction of hydrocarbon pipelines, with the use of plastic pipes being restricted to water and sewage applications. There has been a trend to substitute traditional steel pipes with plastic pipes for constructing pipelines used in the transportation of hydrocarbons. Plastic pipes can also be used for various associated applications, including seawater cooling lines, water injection lines, drilling effluent lines, ballast lines, fire mains, potable water lines, and sewage lines. Using plastic pipes for hydrocarbon transport and terminal applications is generally driven by cost. However, the material's corrosion and chemical resistance properties give it distinct advantages over ferrous materials. This research gives information on the selection process for the acceptance and suitability of plastic pipes for the transportation of hydrocarbons and general utility applications at terminals and pump stations

In this paper, the study of research on the microstructure and corrosion behavior and mechanical properties of a Mg-5.45Zn-6.63Sn-0.51Ca alloy under different thermal and mechanical states is reported. The cast of the alloy in a mild steel mould took place at 700°C; then, it was homogenized at 400°C for 18 hours and characterized by means of optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The corrosion behavior was tested in the 3.5% NaCl solution using corrosion potential and linear polarization resistance (LPR) measurements. Post-corrosion analysis of the degraded surface was carried out by SEM. After that, the samples were hot-rolled at 400°C down to 15% of their original thickness and again tested. It was therefore concluded that hot rolling had a major microstructural influence on the properties, an observation consistent with comparison between results in the homogenized and rolled conditions. Hot Rolling tends to improve the corrosion resistance of the alloy and refines the microstructure. Tensile strength, and elongation at failure were obtained using tensile tests, carried out on the hot-rolled samples at temperatures ranging from 200 to 350°C, and two strain rates of 10-4 and 5×10-4 s-1.

Service structures could be built from different materials and concrete is commonly used in construction due to its beneficial mechanical properties, such as its superior compressive strength, long-lasting durability, and ability to resist fire. Structures are anticipated to withstand the various loads they encounter during their operational lifespan, which can typically be determined based on factors such as the type of service, geographical location, and dimensions. These loads can be accurately modeled using advanced software tools that are continuously evolving. However, fire incidents are difficult to predict, making it challenging to foresee their location, timing, and the extent of their impact on structures, resulting reductions in strength and unexpected stress. Therefore, in this study, to examine the performance of concrete of different strength grades and reinforced concrete (RC) beam specimens exposed to fire at different temperatures, an experimental investigation was carried out. During the test, the maximum duration of fire exposure taken is four hours and maximum concrete surface temperature considered is limited to 246°C. For the RC beams, test was conducted under one-point loading with different specimens of 25 mm and 35 mm concrete covers. The results showed that, the strength of RC beam after fire exposure reduces up to 18% and the compression strength of concrete at 246°C of fire exposure temperature with 25 MPa and 30 MPa were observed to drop by 32%, and 48%, respectively as compared to initial strength. Moreover, comparison of experimental results with numerical models were made. The results revealed that the predicted values of the residual compressive strength proposed by Hertz's model are in good agreement with the experimental values.

This study's main idea is to explore the interaction between acrylic bone cement and bone tissue in total hip arthroplasty procedures. Acrylic bone cement has been widely used in total hip arthroplasty procedures over the years. The importance of the interaction between cement and bone tissue, as well as the penetration of cement into bone, has been the subject of extensive research. Analyses using SEM and EDAX have examined these aspects in detail, highlighting the importance of uniform cement distribution in strengthening and protecting the implant. Additionally, possible anomalies, such as the formation of voids or fissures in the cement, which can affect the long-term strength and stability of the implant, have been identified. These research findings have made significant contributions to understanding the need for a rigorous cement application technique to avoid such problems and ensure the success of the intervention. Furthermore, a detailed investigation revealed a specific case where acrylic bone cement was applied in an excessively thick layer, leading to significant penetration into the bone tissue. The lack of uniformity and reduced viscosity of the cement exacerbated this issue, emphasizing the need for careful cement application to ensure the stability and durability of the implant.

Titanium and its alloys are amongst the most effective and commonly used biomaterials for the production of dental implants. But, in order to ensure long term success of these implants, surface modification techniques that improve osseointegration and prevent bacterial colonization are highly required. Until now, a variety of surface modification methods were proposed, the most basic ones involving mechanical or chemical processing to increase the roughness coefficient thus favoring osseointegration. However, this is not enough to prevent the common implant-related complications such as peri-implantitis. Therefore, an increased research interest was directed towards the development of functional coatings that can be tailored to both enhance osseointegration and prevent bacterial infections. This review aims to present the currently available titanium-based implants modification methods along with their main benefits and drawbacks. For a better understanding of the subject, the chemical structure and surface characteristics of titanium-based dental implants, and the main causes of implant failure were presented. Moreover, current trends such as nano-scale surface roughening and 3D printing of dental implants were also mentioned.

The research work aims at analyzing for the first time the data set obtained on cohesive soil samples following the publication of the Romanian Invention Patent RO 134239. The standard test method for the direct shear test provides the shear strength parameter – internal friction angle in consolidated drained condition - of either undisturbed or remolded soil samples forcing the shear plane at the midsection of the sample in the horizontal direction. The samples are provided in parallelepipedal shape (6 cm x 6 cm x 2 cm) and the displacement rate in horizontal direction is 0.1 mm/min. The new equipment patented in Romania changes the direction of shearing, from horizontal to vertical, and the soil samples are of cubic shape (6 cm x 6 cm x 6 cm). The experimental program involves testing both the parallelepipedal and cubic samples using the same motorized mechanism, with simultaneous readings from their respective micro-comparators. The UU test is performed without allowing consolidation and shearing at 1.0 mm/min. For the CD test, samples are consolidated under vertical loads for 24 hours before shearing at 0.1 mm/min. The shear stresses for cubic samples were higher than those for parallelepipedal samples, with residual stresses reflecting this trend. For cubic samples, both the peak and residual shear stresses trend lines indicated higher cohesion (c) and lower internal friction angle (𝜙) for UU tests and CD tests in contrast to parallelepipedal samples in both testing conditions. The innovative testing program allows for variability in shear strength parameters along the soil failure surface in both natural and compacted soil structures. This differentiation divides the soil condition into drained and undrained states at the initiation, emergence points, and the point of maximum depth along the failure surface. This approach is significant for accurately assessing soil shear resistance and potential failure mechanisms. The study's findings suggest a nuanced approach to parameter selection for slope stability analysis, ensuring accurate representation of both cohesion and internal friction in stability models.

The article presents a circular economy proposal as a way to promote greater sustainability in the footwear industry. As part of the work, we analysed the essential components for a shoe and the materials used in the production of footwear. Currently, new proposals have emerged for footwear that use materials derived from waste and the forwarding of specific end-of-life products. These new concepts are associated with added value and targeted marketing towards sectors of society more concerned with the industry's environmental impact. This reinforces the interest in the positioning of the footwear industry in relation to the circular economy. The purpose of this article focuses on the last phase of the circular economy – recycling, educating, and valuing the role of the consumer through the collection, treatment and forwarding of used footwear materials with the aim of reducing waste in landfills but simultaneously increasing awareness of the footwear industry.

Using the simple Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) method, Cu-doped thin films of zinc sulfide (ZnS) were deposited on glass substrates in a concentration range of 0.05-0.1% Cu. These films were made to be used as a buffer or window layer in solar cells. Different deposition conditions were investigated to find the optimal growth conditions; after that, the conditions were deployed to deposit the required films. XRD graphs confirmed a hexagonal structure, and SEM images indicated that the incorporation of Cu stabilises small grain growth in the films. The appearance of the sample surface was dense, with an ordered granular shape, and free of any cracks. The optical and surface properties of the prepared films have been analysed using state-of-the-art instruments. The effect of pH on such properties has also been investigated. The transmittances of the films were about 20–85%, and the incident wavelength range was 300–1100 nm. The transmission line shows a sharply increasing tendency. After that, it increases slowly and goes to a stable state above 400 nm. A film of pH 10.0 showed a high transmission coefficient (85%). Also, the absorbance of the ZnS thin films rapidly decreases up to 360 nm. After that, it decreases slowly and becomes stable above 400 nm. The band gap is in the range of 3.58–3.62 eV, which indicates that it absorbed the UV portion of the electromagnetic wave and could be used as the UV filter.