UNASSIGNED: Recently, a group of universal single-shade resin-based composites (RBCs) has been developed to simplify the process of shade selection. Excellent mechanical and physical properties are crucial for the ultimate success and clinical longevity of restorations. Therefore, evaluating the properties of the single-shaded RBCs is imperative. This study aimed to determine the flexural strength (FS) and degree of conversion (DC) of universal single-shade RBCs.
UNASSIGNED: In this study, four commercial RBCs were used; three universal single-shade RBCs; Omnichroma (OC), Charisma® Diamond ONE (CD), and Vittra APS Unique (VU), and a conventional nanohybrid composite Filtek™ Z250 XT (FT) which was used as a control. Sixty composite beams and 40 composite discs were used for FS and DC, respectively. A universal test machine with a three-point bending test was used to measure the FS, whereas the DC was measured using a Fourier-transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). Three fractured specimens from each resin composite group were qualitatively analyzed using scanning electron microscopy.
UNASSIGNED: ANOVA was used to compare the mean values of FS and DC among the four RBCs (OC, CD, VU, and FT). Highly significant differences were observed in the mean FS and DC values (F = 673.043, p < 0.001 and F (=782.4, p < 0.0001), respectively. The highest FS was observed in the CD group, followed by FT and VU groups; the lowest value was observed in the OC group. In addition, a statistically significant difference was identified in DC values. The highest DC value was observed in VU, followed by OC and CD, and the lowest DC value was observed in FT.
UNASSIGNED: Universal single-shade RBCs demonstrated a good FS, except for OC, which exhibited a significantly low FS. The DC of the universal single-shade RBCs was higher than that of the conventional nanohybrid composite restorative material.

The flue gas composition is often measured using a combination of techniques that differ in terms of both physical operation principle and type of output. Gas analyzers, FTIR spectrometers, and mass spectrometers are the most popular tools used for this purpose. In this research, we study the composition of the flue gas from the combustion of fuel slurries and dry composite fuels based on industrial and agricultural waste. It has been established that the use of slurry fuels makes the anthropogenic emissions 2-4 times lower than from the combustion of coal slime. For example, the CO2 emissions from the combustion of dry coal slime were 2.5-3.7 times higher than from the combustion of slurry fuels. In addition, the combustion of slurry fuels made it possible to cut down the nitrogen oxide emissions by 1.3-1.5 times and sulfur oxide emissions by 1.3-2.7 times. A comparison of the results obtained using different measurement techniques has shown that differences between the CO and CO2 content in the combustion products measured by a gas analyzer and an FTIR spectrometer did not exceed 20%. The use of FTIR spectroscopy provided new knowledge on the concentrations of hydrocarbons from the combustion of fuels based on promising industrial wastes.

Methamphetamine (MA) is a synthetic psychoactive drug which is consumed both licitly and illicitly. In some countries it is prescribed for attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and short-term treatment of obesity. More often though, it is abused for its psychostimulant properties. Unfortunately, the spread and abuse of this synthetic drug have increased globally, being reported as the most widely consumed synthetic psychoactive drug in the world in 2019. Attempting to overcome the shortcomings of the currently used on-site methods for MA detection in suspected cargos, the present study explores the potential of electrochemical identification of MA by means of square wave voltammetry on disposable graphite screen-printed electrodes. Hence, the analytical characterization of the method was evaluated under optimal conditions exhibiting a linear range between 50 μM and 2.5 mM MA, a LOD of 16.7 μM, a LOQ of 50.0 μM and a sensitivity of 5.3 μA mM-1. Interestingly, two zones in the potential window were identified for the detection of MA, depending on its concentration in solution. Furthermore, the oxidative pathway of MA was elucidated employing liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry to understand the change in the electrochemical profile. Thereafter, the selectivity of the method towards MA in mixtures with other drugs of abuse as well as common adulterants/cutting agents was evaluated. Finally, the described method was employed for the analysis of MA in confiscated samples and compared with forensic methods, displaying its potential as a fast and easy-to-use method for on-site analysis.

Microplastics (MPs, plastic fibers, debris, or particles that are generally smaller than 5 mm in diameter) can serve as carriers for hazardous substances, which are ingested by organisms in the ocean and can affect their growth and metabolism. Moreover, MPs will spread with ocean currents, and MP pollution has become a global problem. In this study, the MP abundance distribution of four typical beaches near the coast of Qingdao was studied by the combination of ordinary microscope and fluorescence microscope methods. In addition, the distribution of MPs collected from various beaches in different particle size ranges, shapes, and chemical compositions was discussed. Abundances on the sea surface varied between 5.05×103 particles·m-3 and 1.25×104 particles·m-3, and the concentration of MPs in sand varied between 1.91×103 particles·m-2 and 4.35×103 particles·m-2, with no significant differences detected among the four beaches examined. The results show the pervasiveness of MP pollution in coastal environments of Qingdao. The size of particles found in this study ranged from 5 mm to 50 μm, and increases in abundance were detected with the decreasing particle size. Polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), 96% polystyrene+4% butadiene copolymer (SB), polymethyl acrylate (PMA), and polyamide (PA) were present in seawater in coastal environments of Qingdao, and compared with the seawater samples, no PA or PMA were found in sand. Research results indicated that fiber was dominant in seawater and sand. MPs in the sand were similar to those in seawater in terms of the particle size, shape, and composition, thus indicating that the seawater and sand of the bathing beaches in Qingdao may have the same pollution sources, e. g., the packaging industry, clothing textile industry, and tourism. This paper studies the distribution and sources of MPs in the bathing beaches of Qingdao, and it provides basic data for research and supervision of environmental MP pollution in Chinese coastal zones.