Exploring high strength materials with a higher concentration of reinforcements in the alloy proves to be a challenging task. This research has explored magnesium-based composites (AZ31B alloy) with tungsten carbide reinforcements, enhancing strength for medical joint replacements via league championship optimisation. The primary objective is to enhance medical joint replacement biomaterials employing magnesium-based composites, emphasising the AZ31B alloy with tungsten carbide reinforcements. The stir casting method is utilised in the manufacture of magnesium matrix composites (MMCs), including varied percentages of tungsten carbide (WC). The mechanical characteristics, such as micro-hardness, tensile strength, and yield strength, have been assessed and compared with computational simulations. The wear studies have been carried out to analyse the tribological behaviour of the composites. Additionally, this study investigates the prediction of stress and the distribution of forces inside bone and joint structures, therefore offering significant contributions to the field of biomedical research. This research contemplates the use of magnesium-based MMCs for the discovery of biomaterials suitable for medical joint replacement. The study focuses on the magnesium alloy AZ31B, with particles ranging in size from 40 to 60 microns used as the matrix material. Moreover, the outcomes have revealed that when combined with MMCs based on AZ31B-magnesium matrix, the WC particle emerges as highly effective reinforcements for the fabrication of lightweight, high-strength biomedical composites. This study uses the league championship optimisation (LCO) approach to identify critical variables impacting the synthesis of Mg MMCs from an AZ31B-based magnesium alloy. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images are meticulously analysed to depict the dispersion of WC particulates and the interface among the magnesium (Mg) matrix and WC reinforcement. The SEM analysis has explored the mechanisms underlying particle pull-out, the characteristics of inter-particle zones, and the influence of the AZ31B matrix on the enhancement of the mechanical characteristics of the composites. The application of finite element analysis (FEA) is being used in order to make predictions regarding the distribution of stress and the interactions of forces within the model of the hip joint. This study has compared the physico-mechanical and tribological characteristics of WC to distinct combinations of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15%, and its impact on the performance improvements. SEM analysis has confirmed the findings\' improved strength and hardness, particularly when 10%-15% of WC was incorporated. Following the incorporation of 10% of WC particles within Mg-alloy matrix, the outcomes of the study has exhibited enhanced strength and hardness, which furthermore has been evident by utilising SEM analysis. Using ANSYS, structural deformation and stress levels are predicted, along with strength characteristics such as additional hardness of 71 HRC, tensile strength of 140-150 MPa, and yield strength closer to 100-110 MPa. The simulations yield significant insights into the behaviour of the joint under various loading conditions, thus enhancing the study\'s significance in biomedical environments.

Considering recent climate changes, special importance is given to any attempt to depollute and protect the environment. A circular economy seems to be the ideal solution for the valorization of mineral waste, resulting from various industrial branches, by reintroducing them in the process of obtaining alternative building materials, more friendly to the environment. Geopolymers can be considered as a promising option compared to Portland cement. Information about the influence of the composition of the precursors, the influence of the activation system on the mechanical properties or the setting time could lead to the anticipation of new formulations of geopolymers or to the improvement of some of their properties. Reinforcement components, different polymers and expansion agents can positively or negatively influence the properties of geopolymers in the short or long term.

This article proposes thermography as a non-contact diagnostic tool for assessing drive reliability. The application of this technique during the operation of the belt transmission with a heat-welded thermoplastic polyurethane V-belt was presented. The V-belt temperature changes depending on the braking torque load at different values of the rotational speed of the active pulley, which were adopted as diagnostic characteristics. In this paper, the surface morphology of the polyurethane (PU) belts was assessed on the basis of microscopic and hardness tests. A surface roughness tester was used to evaluate the surface wear. The surface morphology and topography of the materials was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy. It was found that the most favorable operating conditions occurred when the temperature values of active and passive connectors were similar and the temperature difference between them was small. The mechanical and structure results indicate that the wear of the PU belt was slight, which provided stability and operational reliability for V-belt transmission. The microscopic images lacked clear traces of cracks and scratches on the surface, which was confirmed by the SEM observations.

Microalgae have an excellent potential for producing valuable natural products, including biofuels. Therefore, it is imperative to explore and document the existing microalgal flora and utilize their potentials to cope the increasing human needs. The present work aims at exploring and characterizing newly isolated microalgae from desert Cholistan, a habitat with myriad algal diversity. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and molecular phylogenetic approaches were used for species-level identification. Characterization and growth optimization of Scendesmus sp. were analyzed under three different growth modes to determine the most favorable conditions for increasing biomass, growth rate, and lipid content. The results revealed that mixotrophic (MT) mode significantly increases photosynthetic activity, growth rate, and lipid content with glycerol as supplement carbon source. The investigated Scenedesmus dimorphous produced a maximum dry weight of 1.73 g L-1 , improved fatty acid methyl esters profile and yield lipid up to 40% of DCW (68 g L-1 ) under MT mode, which is almost double to that of photoautotrophic cultivation. The glycerol availability in medium has been identified as the critical element for boosting growth and lipid content. Thus, it can reduce the cost of biofuel production.

Morpho-biological notes and histopathology, based on LM and SEM observations, of the fig cyst nematode Heteroderafici isolated from Ficuscarica roots, collected in home and public gardens of Apulia region, southern Italy, are described and illustrated. Seventy-five localities throughout the Apulia region were sampled and one-quarter of the sampled localities had fig roots infested with H.fici, with population densities ranging from 44 to 180 cysts/100 ml of soil. All attempts to detect H.fici on ornamental Ficus spp. as well as on imported bonsai in Italy were unsuccessful. Morphometric characters of the Italian population conform to those of the type and re-description populations reported for H.fici. Molecular analysis using ITS, D2-D3 expansion domains of the 28S rRNA, and the partial 18S rRNA sequences of H.fici newly obtained in this study matched well with the corresponding sequences of H.fici present in the GenBank database. Phylogenetic trees confirmed and supported the grouping of H.fici in the Humuli group. Heteroderafici completes its embryogenic development in 14-16 days at 25 °C. Post-invasion development and maturity in the roots of F.carica seedlings is completed in 64-68 days at 25-28 °C with juveniles and adults showing different parasitic habits, being endoparasitic and semi-endoparasitic respectively. The establishment of permanent feeding sites that consist of the formation of large syncytia causes anatomical modification of vascular elements and general disorder in the root stelar structures. Syncytia structures associated with mature females showed different degrees of vacuolisation, numbers of syncytial cells, and contained nuclei and nucleoli which were constantly hypertrophied.

BACKGROUND: Early observations of enamel surfaces prepared by erbium lasers motivated clinicians to use laser as an alternative to chemical etching.
OBJECTIVE: Evaluate shear bond strength (SBS) values of different dental adhesives on Erbium:Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) laser prepared enamel and to evaluate possible etching patterns correlations between dental adhesives and SBS values.
METHODS: One hundred bovine incisors were randomly assigned to SBS tests on enamel (n = 15) and to enamel morphology analysis (n = 5) after Er:YAG laser preparation as follows: Group I - 37% phosphoric acid (PA)+ ExciTE(®); Group II - ExciTE(®); Group III - AdheSE(®) self-etching; Group IV - FuturaBond(®) no-rinse. NR; Group V - Xeno(®) V. Teeth were treated with the adhesive systems and subjected to thermal cycling. SBS were performed in a universal testing machine at 5 mm/min.
METHODS: One-way ANOVA and post-hoc tests (P < 0.05). For the morphology evaluation, specimens were immersed in Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and the etching pattern analyzed under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM).
RESULTS: Mean bond strengths were Group I - 47.17 ± 1.61 MPa (type I etching pattern); Group II - 32.56 ± 1.64 MPa, Group III - 29.10 ± 1.34 MPa, Group IV - 23.32 ± 1.53 MPa (type III etching pattern); Group V - 24.43 MPa ± 1.55 (type II etching pattern).
CONCLUSIONS: Different adhesive systems yielded significantly different SBSs. Acid etching significantly increased the adhesion in laser treated enamel. No differences in SBS values were obtained between AdheSE(®) and ExciTE(®) without condition with PA. FuturaBond(®) NR and Xeno(®) V showed similar SBS, which was lower in comparison to the others adhesives. No correlation between enamel surface morphology and SBS values was observed, except when PA was used.