Investigation of surface cleaning procedures for the removal of radon daughters from PTFE surfaces and their applicability in liquid xenon detectors.

Background identification and suppression is of paramount importance for experiments seeking extremely rare events. Direct dark matter searches such as the XENON1T experiment fall in this category. 222Rn daughters are the dominant contribution to the internal background of the XENON1T detector. Air contains traces of radon which plates out its progeny onto the surface of the detector materials, such as the PTFE. This polymer is in direct contact with the sensitive liquid xenon as it is used to house the detector's dual-phase time projection chamber. The effects of surface cleaning procedures to remove surface sources from PTFE are investigated in this work. With a dedicated experimental setup, we investigate the efficiency of standard surface treatments and their applicability for XENON1T and the future upgrade XENONnT

Microstructure and precipitation behavior of advanced RAFM steels for high-temperature applications on fusion reactors

The composition of new eigth 9% Cr reduced activation ferritic/martensitioc steels (RAFMs) has been finely tuned in order to increase the amount of fine MX precipitates and reduce coarse M$_{23}$C$_{6}$ carbides through the application of thermomechanical treatments. The microstructural investigations by TEM/STEM and EELS have shown M$_{23}$C$_{6}$, M$_{2}$X (Cr$_{2}$N), and MX (Ta, V, and Ti-rich) precipitates after tempering at 750 °C/2 h. Higher N contens (0.04–0.03 wt%) seems to favored M$_{2}$X precipitation over MX with V contents round 0.2 wt%. MX-Ti rich presents sizes larger than MX (Ta or V rich). EELS anlysis have shown that the MX (Ta, V and Ti rich) precipitated after tempering at 750 °C/2 h are mainly carbo-nitrides. Composition, size, number density and carbon and nitrogen content on MX and M$_{2}$X is discussed in terms of the composition of each Alloy

Design with use of 3D printing technology

[EN] Dynamic development of 3D printing technology contributes to its wide applicability. FDM (Fused Deposition Method) is the most known and popular 3D printing method due to its availability and affordability. It is also usable in design of technical objects-to verify design concepts with use of 3D printed prototypes. The prototypes are produced at lower cost and shorter time comparing to other manufacturing methods and might be used for a number of purposes depending on designed object's features they reflect. In the article, usability of 3D printing method FDM for designing of technical objects is verified based on sample functional prototypes. Methodology applied to develop these prototypes and their stand tests are covered. General conclusion is that 3D printed prototypes manufactured with FDM method proved to be useful for verifying new concepts within design processes carried out in KOMAG.Rozmus, M.; Dobrzaniecki, P.; Siegmund, M.; Gómez Herrero, JA. (2020). Design with use of 3D printing technology. Management Systems in Production Engineering. 28(4):283-291. https://doi.org/10.2478/mspe-2020-0040S283291284[1] A. Alafaghani, A. Qattawi. “Investigating the effect of fused deposition modeling processing parameters using Taguchi design of experiment method.” Journal of Manufacturing Processes, vol. 36, pp. 164-174, Dec. 2018[2] D. Bałaga, M. Kalita, M. Siegmund. „Use of 3D additive manufacturing technology for rapid prototyping of spraying nozzles”. Mining Machines, vol. 3 pp. 3-13, Sep. 2017.[3] C. Baletti, M. Ballarin, F. Guerra. “3D printing: State of the art and future perspectives.” Journal of Cultural Heritage, vol. 26, pp. 172-182, Mar. 2017[4] C. Buchanan, L. Gardner. “Metal 3D printing in construction: a review of methods research, applications, opportunities and challenges.” Engineering Structures, vol. 180, pp. 332-348, Feb. 2019.[5] J. M. Chacon, M. A. Caminero, E. Garcia-Plaza, P. J. Nunez. “Additive manufacturing of PLA structures using fused deposition modelling: Effect of process parameters on mechanical properties and their optimal selection.” Materials and Design, vol. 124, pp. 143-157, Jun. 2017.[6] P. Dobrzaniecki, M. Kalita. „Possibility of using the neodymium magnets in machines and equipment clutches”, Mining Machines, vol. 4, pp. 27-38, Dec. 2018.[7] S. Ford, T. Minshall. “Invited review article: Where and how 3D printing is used in teaching and education.” Additive Manufacturing, vol. 25, pp. 131-150, Jan. 2019.[8] A.W. Gebisa, H. G. Lemu. “Influence of 3D Printing FDM Process Parameters on Tensile Property of ULTEM 9085.”, Procedia Manufacturing, vol. 30, pp. 331-338, Jan. 2019.[9] A. Gisario, M. Kazarian, F. Martina, M. Mehrpouya. “Metal additive manufacturing in the commercial aviation industry: A review.” Journal of Manufacturing Systems, vol. 53, pp. 124-149, Oct. 2019.[10] T.W. Kerekes, H. Lim, W. Y. Joe, G. J. Yun. “Characterization of process-deformation/damage property relationship for fused deposition modelling (FDM) 3D-printed specimens.” Additive Manufacturing vol. 25, pp. 532-544, Dec. 2018[11] K.G. Mostafa, C. Montemagno, A.J. Qureshi. “Strength to cost ratio analysis of FDM Nylon 12 3D Printed Parts.” Procedia Manufacturing, vol. 26, pp. 753-762, 2018.[12] T.D. Ngo, A. Kashani, G. Imbalzano, K.T. Nguyen, D. Hui. “Additive manufacturing (3D printing): A review of materials, methods, applications and challenges.” Composites Part B: Engineering, vol. 43, pp. 172-196, Jun. 2018.[13] D. Prostański. “Dust control with use of air-water spraying system.” Archives of Mining Sciences, vol. 57(4), pp. 975-990, Dec. 2012.[14] Y. Qian et al. “A Review of 3D Printing Technology for Medical Applications.” Engineering, vol. 4(5), pp. 729-742, Oct. 2018.[15] N. Shahrubudin, T.C. Lee, R. Ramlan. “An Overview on 3D Printing Technology: Technological, Materials, and Applications.” Procedia Manufacturing, vol. 35, pp. 1286-1296, 2019.[16] A. Sheoran, H.Kumar. “Fused Deposition modeling process parameters optimization and effect on mechanical properties and part quality: Review and reflection on present research.” Materials Today: Proceedings, vol. 21, pp. 1659-1672. Dec. 2019.[17] M. Siegmund, D. Bałaga, M. Kalita. „Testing the parameters of spraying stream form fine-drops nozzles”. Mining Machines, vol. 3 pp. 3-13, Sep. 2018.[18] S. Singh, S. Ramakrishna, R. Singh. “Material issues in additive manufacturing; a review.” Journal of Manufacturing Processes, vol. 25, pp. 185-200, Dec. 2016.[19] M. Snopczyński, J. Kotliński, I. Musiałek. “Testing of mechanical properties of materials used in FDM technology.” Mechanik, vol. 4, pp. 285-287, Apr. 2019.[20] M. Upadhyay, T. Sivarupan, M.E. Mansori. “3D printing for rapid sand casting – A review.” Journal of Manufacturing Processes, vol. 29, pp. 211-220, Oct. 2017.[21] P. Wang, B. Zou, H. Xiao, S. Ding, C. Huang. “Effects of printing parameters of fused deposition modelling on mechanical properties, surface quality, and microstructure of PEEK.” Journal of Materials Processing Technology, vol. 271, pp. 62-74, Sep. 2019

Exfoliated graphite flakes as soft-electrodes for precisely contacting nanoobjects

This is the post-peer reviewed version of the following article: P. ares et al. “Exfoliated graphite flakes as soft-electrodes for precisely contacting nanoobjects”. 2D Matererials, 2015, 2(3): 035008. Which has been published in final form at:http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/2053-1583/2/3/035008We introduce a simple, clean and reliable method to transfer exfoliated graphite flakes as soft-electrodes for the electrical contacts of nano-objects. The microelectrodes thus produced exhibit extremely well-defined and thin edges and can be placed at any sample location with sub-micrometer precision. The procedure is carried out under ambient conditions and does not require chemical agents. We present electrical characterization of relevant examples including carbon nanotubes, metal-organic MMX nanoribbons, reduced graphene sheets and damaged circuit repair. The quality of the electrical contacts thus obtained is as good as those fabricated with conventional techniques. This technique is particularly relevant for conductive atomic force microscopy (AFM) studiesThis work was supported by Consolider CSD2010-0024, MAD2D-CM, S2013/MIT-3007 and MAT2013-46753-C2-1 and

The Effectiveness of Minimally Invasive Techniques in the Treatment of Patellar Tendinopathy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

The aim was to determine the effectiveness of minimally invasive techniques (MIT) in patients with patellar tendinopathy. Database searches were performed for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in electronic databases (WOS, Cochrane Central, SportDiscus, and Medline via PubMed and PEDro). The inclusion criteria used were published in English or Spanish and involving adults with patellar tendinopathy (pain on the inferior pole of the patella for a minimum of 3 months), with at least one group receiving MIT. The quality of the relevant RCTs was evaluated using the PEDro scale. The primary outcome was functionality using the VISA-p questionnaire. Secondary outcome was focused on pain. A total of 1164 studies were screened for possible inclusion in our systematic review. Finally, 10 RCTs were included with a total of 326 individuals. Five RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. The quality assessment revealed that all the studies included were considered to possess high methodological quality. All studies analyzing MIT such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), dry needling, or skin-derived tenocyte-like cells, when combined with exercise, proved to be effective for patellar tendinopathy. Moreover, the PRP technique with doses greater than 4 mL together and combined with an exercise program lasting over 6 weeks obtained better results in functionality and pain than other treatments in the short term. However, in the long term, dry needling and skin-derived tenocyte-like cells are more effective than PRP. Although the infiltration of drugs was effective at posttreatment, these improvements were not maintained over time and may have secondary effects. Although there are no RCTs analyzing the effectiveness of MIT like percutaneous needle electrolysis, there has been an increasing number of publications achieving excellent results in the last years. However, it is necessary to develop RCTs analyzing not only the effect but also comparing the effectiveness between different MIT such as dry needling and percutaneous needle electrolysis

Cost-effectiveness of two dry needling interventions for plantar heel pain: A secondary analysis of an rct

Plantar heel pain is a common cause of foot pain that affects patients’ quality of life and represents a significant cost for the healthcare system. Dry needling and percutaneous needle electrolysis are two minimally invasive treatments that were shown to be effective for the management of plantar heel pain. The aim of our study was to compare these two treatments in terms of health and economic consequences based on the results of a published randomized controlled trial. For this, we evaluated the costs from the point of view of the hospital and we carried out a cost-effectiveness study using quality of life as the main variable according to the Eq-5D-5L questionnaire. The cost of the complete treatment with dry needling (DN) was €178.86, while the percutaneous needle electrolysis (PNE) was €200.90. The quality of life of patients improved and was translated into +0.615 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for DN and +0.669 for PNE. PNE presented an average incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of €411.34/QALY against DN. These results indicate that PNE had a better cost-effectiveness ratio for the treatment of plantar heel pain than DN

Latitudinal gradients of galactic cosmic rays during the 2007 solar minimum

Ulysses, launched in 1990 October in the maximum phase of solar cycle 22, completed its third out-of-ecliptic orbit in 2008 February. This provides a unique opportunity to study the propagation of cosmic rays over a wide range of heliographic latitudes during different levels of solar activity and different polarities in the inner heliosphere. Comparison of the first and second fast latitude scans from 1994 to 1995 and from 2000 to 2001 confirmed the expectation of positive latitudinal gradients at solar minimum versus an isotropic Galactic cosmic ray distribution at solar maximum. During the second scan in mid-2000, the solar magnetic field reversed its global polarity. From 2007 to 2008, Ulysses made its third fast latitude scan during the declining phase of solar cycle 23. Therefore, the solar activity is comparable in 2007-2008 to that from 1994 to 1995, but the magnetic polarity is opposite. Thus, one would expect to compare positive with negative latitudinal gradients during these two periods for protons and electrons, respectively. In contrast, our analysis of data from the Kiel Electron Telescope aboard Ulysses results in no significant latitudinal gradients for protons. However, the electrons show, as expected, a positive latitudinal gradient of ~0.2% per degree. Although our result is surprising, the nearly isotropic distribution of protons in 2007-2008 is consistent with an isotropic distribution of electrons from 1994 to 1995

Minimally invasive non-surgical management of plantar fasciitis: A systematic review

Background: Minimally invasive non-surgical techniques have been widely used worldwide to treat musculoskeletal injuries. Of these techniques, injectable pharmaceutical agents are the most commonly employed treatments, with corticosteroids being the most widely used drugs. The aim of this article is to review current scientific evidence as well as the effectiveness of minimally invasive non-surgical techniques, either alone or combined, for the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Methods: This systematic review was conducted from April 2016 until March 2017, in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement and was registered with PROSPERO. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of adult patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis were included as well as intervention studies, with a minimal sample size of 20 subjects per study (10 per group). Assessment of study eligibility was developed by three reviewers independently in an unblinded standardized manner. The physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale was used to analyse the methodological quality of studies. Results: Twenty-nine full-text articles on minimally invasive techniques were reviewed. These articles focused on corticosteroid injections, platelet-rich plasma, Botox, dextrose injections, as well as comparative studies with dry needling vs sham needling. Conclusion: The treatment of plantar fasciitis has dramatically improved in the past decade with minimally invasive techniques becoming increasingly available. Research findings have shown that the long term effects of minimally invasive (non-surgical) treatments such as shock wave therapy, botulinum toxin type-A injections, platelet-rich plasma injections and intratissue percutaneous electrolysis dry needling show similar and sometimes better results when compared to only corticosteroid injections. The latter have been the mainstay of treatment for many years despite their associated side effects both locally and systemically. To date, there is no definitive treatment guideline for plantar fasciitis, however the findings of this literature review may help inform practitioners and clinicians who use invasive methods for the treatment of plantar fasciitis regarding the levels of evidence for the different treatment modalities available

Cost-effectiveness of upper extremity dry needling in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke

Introduction: Dry needling (DN) has been shown to be effective for the treatment of upper extremity hypertonia in patients with stroke. Purpose: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of DN in patients with stroke. Methods: A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed in a research study conducted at a Spanish public hospital where patients were classified into two groups with or without DN. Hypertonia was measured using the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (MMAS), and quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the EuroQoL 5-dimension questionnaire. Data regarding the effects and costs of physiotherapy were presented by calculating the mean and 95% confidence interval. The health outcomes were evaluated considering the rate of responders to the treatment based on the MMAS. Spanish preference weights were used to estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) were calculated to determine the economic value of DN. Results: Eighty patients with stroke in the subacute stage of recovery were selected to participate in this study. Based on the rate of responders, the ICER of the DN group was very low. Despite the sensitivity analysis performed, the results of the ICUR were not encouraging. Discussion: Cost-effectiveness with responder rate results were favourable for the DN group and were confirmed by the sensitivity analysis according to levels of care. In addition, our findings revealed that 4 weeks of treatment could be more cost-effective than 8 weeks. DN treatment of the upper extremity appears to be cost-effective based on the rate of responders measured using the MMAS scale. © The Author(s) 2021