We conducted a retrospective review on eleven patients who were treated for Type A and C distal femoral fractures (based on AO classification) between January 2004 and December 2004. All fractures were fixed with titanium distal femoral locking compression plate. The patient’s ages ranged from 15 to 85 with a mean of 44. Clinical assessment was conducted at least 6 months post-operatively using the Schatzker scoring system. Results showed that four patients had excellent results, four good, two fair and one failure.
Microalgae cultivation using open cultivation systems requires large area and it is susceptible to contamination as well as weather changes. Meanwhile, the closed systems require large capital investment, and they are susceptible to the build-up of dissolved oxygen. Air-liquid interface culture systems with low water-footprint, but high packing density can be used for microalgae cultivation if low-cost culture scaffolds are available. In this study, cellulose-based scaffolds were synthesized using NaOH/urea aqueous solution as the solvent. Titanium dioxide (TiO2), silica gel and polyethylene glycol 1000 (PEG 1000) nanoparticles were added into the membrane scaffolds to increase the hydrophilicity of nutrient absorbing to support the growth of microalgae. The membrane scaffolds were characterized by FTIR, SEM, contact angle, porosity and porometry. All three nanoparticles additives showed their ability in reducing the contact angle of membrane scaffolds from 63.4 ± 2.3° to a range of 52.6 ± 1.2° to 38.8 ± 1.5° due to the hydrophilic properties of the nanoparticles. The decreasing in pore size when nanoparticles were added did not affect the porosity of membrane scaffolds. Cellulose membrane scaffold with TiO2 showed the highest percentage of microalgae Navicula incerta growth rate of 22.1% because of the antibacterial properties of TiO2 in lowering the risk of cell contamination and enhancing the growth of N. incerta. The results exhibited that cellulose-based scaffold with TiO2 added could be an effective support in plant cell culture field.
Culture scaffolds allow microalgae cultivation with minimum water requirement using the air-liquid interface approach. However, the stability of cellulose-based scaffolds in microalgae cultivation remains questionable. In this study, the stability of regenerated cellulose culture scaffolds was enhanced by adjusting TiO2 loading and casting gap. The membrane scaffolds were synthesized using cellulose dissolved in NaOH/urea aqueous solution with various loading of TiO2 nanoparticles. The TiO2 nanoparticles were embedded into the porous membrane scaffolds as proven by Fourier transform infrared spectra, scanning electron microscopic images, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectra. Although surface hydrophilicity and porosity were enhanced by increasing TiO2 and casting gap, the scaffold pore size was reduced. Cellulose membrane scaffold with 0.05 wt% of TiO2 concentration and thickness of 100 μm attained the highest percentage of Navicula incerta growth rate, up to 37.4%. The membrane scaffolds remained stable in terms of weight, porosity and pore size even they were immersed in acidic solution, hydrogen peroxide or autoclaved at 121 °C for 15 min. The optimal cellulose membrane scaffold is with TiO2 loading of 0.5 wt% and thickness of 100 μm, resulting in supporting the highest N. incerta growth rate and and exhibits good membrane stability.
This work investigates the structural formation and analyses of titania membranes (TM) prepared using different vacuum exposure times for molecular weight (MW) cut-off performance and oil/water separation. Titania membranes were synthesized via a sol-gel method and coated on macroporous alumina tubes followed by exposure to a vacuum between 30 and 1200 s and then calcined at 400 °C. X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption analyses showed that the crystallite size and particle size of titania increased as a function of vacuum time. All the TM membranes were mesoporous with an average pore diameter of ~3.6 nm with an anatase crystal morphology. Water, glucose, sucrose, and polyvinylpyrrolidone with 40 and 360 kDa (PVP-40 kDa and PVP-360 kDa) were used as feed solutions for MW cut-off and hexadecane solution for oil filtration investigation. The TM membranes were not able to separate glucose and sucrose, thus indicating the membrane pore sizes are larger than the kinetic diameter of sucrose of 0.9 nm, irrespective of vacuum exposure time. They also showed only moderate rejection (20%) of the smaller PVP-40 kDa, however, all the membranes were able to obtain an excellent rejection of near 100% for the larger PVP-360 kDa molecule. Furthermore, the TM membranes were tested for the separation of oil emulsions with a high concentration of oil (3000 ppm), reaching high oil rejections of more than 90% of oil. In general, the water fluxes increased with the vacuum exposure time indicating a pore structural tailoring effect. It is therefore proposed that a mechanism of pore size tailoring was formed by an interconnected network of Ti-O-Ti nanoparticles with inter-particle voids, which increased as TiO₂ nanoparticle size increased as a function of vacuum exposure time, and thus reduced the water transport resistance through the TM membranes.
Prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) are essential for the study of rare samples such as meteorites because of non-destructivity and relatively being free from contaminations. The objective of this research is to utilize PGA and INAA techniques for comparative study and apply them to meteorite analyses. In this study, 11 meteorite samples received from the Meteorite Working Group of NASA were analyzed. The Allende meteorite powder was included as quality control material. Results from PGA and INAA for Allende showed in good agreement with literature values, signifying the reliabilities of these two methods. Elements Al, Ca, Mg, Mn, Na and Ti were determined by both methods and their results are compared. Comparison of PGA and INAA data using linear regression analysis showed correlations coefficients r2 > 0.90 for Al, Ca, Mn and Ti, 0.85 for Mg, and 0.38 for Na. The PGA results for Na using 472 keV were less accurate due to the interference from the broad B peak. Therefore, Na results from INAA method are preferred. For other elements (Al, Ca, Mg, Mn and Ti), PGA and INAA results can be used as cross-reference for consistency. The PGA and INAA techniques have been applied to meteorite samples and results are comparable to literature values compiled from previously analyzed meteorites. In summary, both PGA and INAA methods give reasonably good agreement and are indispensable in the study of meteorites.
Over the last decade, interest in the utilization of solar energy for photocatalysis treatment processes has taken centre-stage. Researchers had focused on doping TiO2 with SiO2 to obtain an efficient degradation rate of various types of target pollutants both under UV and visible-light irradiation. In order to further improve this degradation effect, some researchers resorted to incorporate plasmonic metal nanoparticles such as silver and gold into the combined TiO2-SiO2 to fully optimize the TiO2-SiO2's potential in the visible-light region. This article focuses on the challenges in utilizing TiO2 in the visible-light region, the contribution of SiO2 in enhancing photocatalytic activities of the TiO2-SiO2 photocatalyst, and the ability of plasmonic metal nanoparticles (Ag and Au) to edge the TiO2-SiO2 photocatalyst toward an efficient solar photocatalyst.
Perovskite-structured lead titanate thin films have been grown on FTO-coated glass substrates from a single-source heterometallic molecular complex, [PbTi(μ2-O2CCF3)4(THF)3(μ3-O)]2 (1), which was isolated in quantitative yield from the reaction of tetraacetatolead(IV), tetrabutoxytitanium(IV), and trifluoroacetic acid from a tetrahydrofuran solution. Complex 1 has been characterized by physicochemical methods such as melting point, microanalysis, FTIR, (1)H and (19)F NMR, thermal analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Thin films of lead titanate having spherical particles of various sizes have been grown from 1 by aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition at 550 °C. The thin films have been characterized by powder XRD, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. An optical band gap of 3.69 eV has been estimated by UV-visible spectrophotometry.
Vocal cord palsy secondary to recurrent laryngeal nerve injury may be attributable to trauma, infiltrating neoplasm, congenital cardiac anomaly and others. Regardless the causes, majority of unilateral adductor palsy cases are usually managed by speech rehabilitation in order to allow compensation. In selected cases, medialization procedure may be required to achieve a complete glottal closure during phonation. Multiple techniques have been developed to achieve this goal. This case report illustrates the recent advancement in vocal fold medialization procedure, which has not been widely practiced in Malaysia.
Xanthan integrated graphene oxide functionalized by titanium dioxide was successfully prepared through facile, eco-friendly and cost effective ice-templating technique. The three-dimensional (3D) graphene composite demonstrated relatively high temperature stability, chemical functionalities and porous sponge-like structure. The adsorption of lead was favored by high initial concentration and shaking speed at the operational solution pH. The process equilibrium and kinetic adhered to the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order correlations, respectively. The biomass integrated graphene composite showed maximum adsorption capacities ranging from 132.18 to 199.22 mg/g for 30-70 °C. Moreover, it was highly regenerable under mild conditions (0.1 M hydrochloric acid, 30 °C) and used repeatedly while retaining 84.78% of its initial adsorption capacity at the fifth adsorption-regeneration cycle. With comparatively high lead adsorption capacities, adequate recyclability and environmentally friendliness, the as-prepared 3D graphene composite has high application potential in heavy metal-wastewater separation for protection of the environment and human health.
The influence of SiO2/TiO2 nanocomposites (STNCs) content on non-radiative energy transfer (Förster-type) from poly (9,9'-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diyl) (PFO) to poly [2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) using steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopies was investigated at room temperature. The improved energy transfer from PFO to MEH-PPV upon an increment of the STNCs was achieved by examining absorbance, emission (PL) and photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra. The shorter values of the quantum yield (φDA) and lifetime (τDA) of the PFO in the hybrid thin films compared with the pure PFO, indicating efficient energy transfer from PFO to MEH-PPV with the increment of STNCs in the hybrid. The energy transfer parameters can be tuned by increment of the STNCs in the hybrid of PFO/MEH-PPV. The Stern-Volmer value (kSV), quenching rate value (kq), Förster radius (R0), distance between the molecules of PFO and MEH-PPV (RDA), energy transfer lifetime (τET), energy transfer rate (kET), total decay rate of the donor (TDR), critical concentration (Ao), and conjugation length (Aπ) were calculated. The gradually increasing donor lifetime and decreasing acceptor lifetime, upon increasing the STNCs content, prove the increase in conjugation length and meanwhile enhance in the energy transfer.
With the prognosis of dental implant replacement of missing teeth becoming better each year, practitioners are focusing their attention on the aesthetic aspects of implantology. However, improvement in aesthetics is only possible with the improvement in implant technology, surgical techniques and prosthodontic procedures. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of various physical and chemical agents on the implant surface; with the view of obtaining increased surface area and biocompatibility. The study found that the treatment of air-aluminum oxide blasted implants using a mixture of 30% HNO3-5% HF acids produced a surface which meets the consideration of aesthetics for implants placed in the anterior maxillary region.
Water treatment plants generate vast amounts of sludge and its disposal is one of the most expensive and environmentally problematic challenges worldwide. As sludge from water treatment plants contains a considerable amount of titanium, both can create serious environmental concerns. In this study, the potential to recover titanium from drinking water treatment residue was explored through acid leaching technique. Statistical design for the optimization of titanium recovery was proposed using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a five-level central composite design (CCD). Three independent variables were investigated, namely the acid concentration (3 M-7 M), temperature (40 °C - 80 °C) and solid/liquid ratio (0.005-0.02 g/mL). According to the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the p-value (<0.0001) indicated the designed model was highly significant. Optimization using RSM gave the best fit between validated and predicted data as elucidated by the coefficient of determination with R2 values of 0.9965. However, acid concentration and solid/liquid ratio showed an initial increase in titanium recovery followed by recovery reduction with increasing concentration and ratio. Quadratic RSM predicted the maximum recovery of titanium to be 67.73% at optimal conditions of 5.5 M acid concentration, at a temperature of 62 °C with a solid/liquid ratio of 0.01 g/mL. The verification experiments gave an average of 66.23% recovery of titanium, thus indicating that the successfully developed model to predict the response. This process development has significant importance to reduce the cost of waste disposal, environmental protection, and recovery of economically valuable products.
Arabinoxylan (AX) is a natural biological macromolecule with several potential biomedical applications. In this research, AX, nano-hydroxyapatite (n-HAp) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) based polymeric nanocomposite scaffolds were fabricated by the freeze-drying method. The physicochemical characterizations of these polymeric nanocomposite scaffolds were performed for surface morphology, porosity, swelling, biodegradability, mechanical, and biological properties. The scaffolds exhibited good porosity and rough surface morphology, which were efficiently controlled by TiO2 concentrations. MC3T3-E1 cells were employed to conduct the biocompatibility of these scaffolds. Scaffolds showed unique biocompatibility in vitro and was favorable for cell attachment and growth. PNS3 proved more biocompatible, showed interconnected porosity and substantial mechanical strength compared to PNS1, PNS2 and PNS4. Furthermore, it has also showed more affinity to cells and cell growth. The results illustrated that the bioactive nanocomposite scaffold has the potential to find applications in the tissue engineering field.
Chest wall resection is defined as partial or full-thickness removal of the chest wall. Significant morbidity has been recorded, with documented respiratory failure as high as 27%. Medical records of all patients who had undergone chest wall resection and reconstruction were reviewed. Patients' demographics, length of surgery, reconstruction method, size of tumor and chest wall defect, histopathological result, complications, duration of post-operative antibiotics, and hospital stay were assessed. From 1 April 2017 to 30 April 2019, a total of 20 patients underwent chest wall reconstructive surgery. The median age was 57 years, with 12 females and 8 males. Fourteen patients (70%) had malignant disease and 6 patients (30%) had benign disease. Nine patients underwent rigid reconstruction (titanium mesh for sternum and titanium plates for ribs), 6 patients had non-rigid reconstruction (with polypropylene or composite mesh), and 5 patients had primary closure. Nine patients (45%) required closure with myocutaneous flap. Complications were noted in 70% of patients. Patients who underwent primary closure had minor complications. In total, 66.7% of patients who had closure with either fasciocutaneous or myocutaneous flaps had threatened flap necrosis. Two patients developed pneumonia and 3 patients (15%) had respiratory failure requiring tracheostomy and prolonged ventilation. There was 1 mortality (5%) in this series. In conclusion, chest wall resections involving large defects require prudent clinical judgment and multidisciplinary assessments in determining the choice of chest wall reconstruction to improve outcomes.
In this paper, the newly explored TiO(2)-Chitosan/Glass was suggested as a promising alternative material to conventional means of wastewater treatment. Characterization of TiO(2)-Chitosan/Glass photocatalyst was studied with SEM-EDX, XRD, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The combination effect of photodegradation-adsorption process for the removal of methyl orange (MO), an acid dye of the monoazo series occur promisingly when four layers of TiO(2)-Chitosan/Glass photocatalyst was used for MO removal. Approximately, 87.0% of total MO removal was achieved. The reactive -NH(2), -OH, and metal oxide contents in the prepared photocatalyst responsible for the photodegradation-adsorption effect were confirmed by FTIR study. Similarly, MO removal behavior was well supported by SEM-EDX and XRD analysis. Significant dependence of MO removal on the TiO(2)-Chitosan loading can be explained in terms of relationship between quantum yield of photocatalytic reactions and photocatalyst structure/activity. Hence, the research work done thus far suggests a new method, having both the advantages of photodegradation-adsorption process in the abatement of various wastewater pollutants.
A modified smoothed particle hydrodynamic (MSPH) computational technique was utilized to simulate molten particle motion and infiltration speed on multi-scale analysis levels. The radial velocity and velocity gradient of molten alumina, iron infiltration in the TiC product and solidification rate, were predicted during centrifugal self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) simulation, which assisted the coating process by MSPH. The effects of particle size and temperature on infiltration and solidification of iron and alumina were mainly investigated. The obtained results were validated with experimental microstructure evidence. The simulation model successfully describes the magnitude of iron and alumina diffusion in a centrifugal thermite SHS and Ti + C hybrid reaction under centrifugal acceleration.
Water scarcity and pollution rank equal to climate change as the most urgent environmental turmoil for the 21st century. To date, the percolation of textile effluents into the waterways and aquifer systems, remain an intricate conundrum abroad the nations. With the renaissance of activated carbon, there has been a steadily growing interest in the research field. Recently, the adoption of titanium dioxide, a prestigious advanced photo-catalyst which formulates the new growing branch of activated carbon composites for enhancement of adsorption rate and discoloration capacity, has attracted stern consideration and supports worldwide. Confirming the assertion, this paper presents a state of art review of titanium dioxide/activated carbon composites technology, its fundamental background studies, and environmental implications. Moreover, its major challenges together with the future expectation are summarized and discussed. Conclusively, the expanding of activated carbons composites material represents a potentially viable and powerful tool, leading to the plausible improvement of environmental conservation.
This paper presents the review of the effects of operating parameters on the photocatalytic degradation of textile dyes using TiO2-based photocatalysts. It further examines various methods used in the preparations of the considered photocatalysts. The findings revealed that various parameters, such as the initial pH of the solution to be degraded, oxidizing agents, temperature at which the catalysts must be calcined, dopant(s) content and catalyst loading exert their individual influence on the photocatalytic degradation of any dye in wastewaters. It was also found out that sol-gel method is widely used in the production of TiO2-based photocatalysts because of the advantage derived from its ability to synthesize nanosized crystallized powder of the photocatalysts of high purity at relatively low temperature.
For the synthesis of a highly active TiO2-chitosan nanocomposite, pH plays a crucial role towards controlling its morphology, size, crystallinity, thermal stability, and surface adsorption properties. The presence of chitosan (CS) biopolymer facilitates greater sustainability to the photoexcited electrons and holes on the catalysts' surface. The variation of synthesis pH from 2 to 5 resulted in different physico-chemical and photocatalytic properties, whereby a pH of 3 resulted in TiO2-chitosan nanocomposite with the highest photocatalytic degradation (above 99 %) of methylene orange (MO) dye. This was attributed to the efficient surface absorption properties, high crystallinity, and the presence of reactive surfaces of -NH2 and -OH groups, which enhances the adsorption-photodegradation effect. The larger surface oxygen vacancies coupled with reduced electron-hole recombination further enhanced the photocatalytic activity. It is undeniable that the pH during synthesis is critical towards the development of the properties of the TiO2-chitosan nanocomposite for the enhancement of photocatalytic activity.
WO₃-decorated TiO₂ nanotube arrays were successfully synthesized using an in situ anodization method in ethylene glycol electrolyte with dissolved H₂O₂ and ammonium fluoride in amounts ranging from 0 to 0.5 wt %. Anodization was carried out at a voltage of 40 V for a duration of 60 min. By using the less stable tungsten as the cathode material instead of the conventionally used platinum electrode, tungsten will form dissolved ions (W(6+)) in the electrolyte which will then move toward the titanium foil and form a coherent deposit on the titanium foil. The fluoride ion content was controlled to determine the optimum chemical dissolution rate of TiO₂ during anodization to produce a uniform nanotubular structure of TiO₂ film. Nanotube arrays were then characterized using FESEM, EDAX, XRD, as well as Raman spectroscopy. Based on the FESEM images obtained, nanotube arrays with an average pore diameter of up to 65 nm and a length of 1.8 µm were produced. The tungsten element in the samples was confirmed by EDAX results which showed varying tungsten content from 0.22 to 2.30 at%. XRD and Raman results showed the anatase phase of TiO₂ after calcination at 400 °C for 4 h in air atmosphere. The mercury removal efficiency of the nanotube arrays was investigated by photoirradiating samples dipped in mercury chloride solution with TUV (Tube ultraviolet) 96W UV-B Germicidal light. The nanotubes with the highest aspect ratio (15.9) and geometric surface area factor (92.0) exhibited the best mercury removal performance due to a larger active surface area, which enables more Hg(2+) to adsorb onto the catalyst surface to undergo reduction to Hg⁰. The incorporation of WO₃ species onto TiO₂ nanotubes also improved the mercury removal performance due to improved charge separation and decreased charge carrier recombination because of the charge transfer from the conduction band of TiO₂ to the conduction band of WO₃.