Thevariables analyzed were irritation and hydration by the Wilcoxon andKruskall-Wallis tests. the study started with 35 participants with a mean age of 26.3 years. Ofthese, 30 (85.71%) were female, 29 (82.90%) were white skinned and 32(91.40%) had no previous pathologies. One participant was removed from thestudy reporting erythema at the site of application, and four otherparticipants for not attending the last evaluation. In the 30 participantswho completed the study, the tested formulation did not cause erythema,peeling, burning, pruritus or pain; there was an improvement in cutaneoushydration in the site of application of the formulation with microparticles.In the evaluation of the barrier function, there was an increase intransepidermal water loss in all sites. o. RBR-3h78kz in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials(ReBEC).the formulation with chamomile microparticles is safe for topical use, notcausing irritation and improving skin hydration over four weeks of use. Itseffects on barrier function need further investigation. N These microparticles are incorporated in lanolin-based formulation, asafe substance for topical applications that incorporates various bioactiveagentsChamomilla recutita (L.)Rauschert microparticles for application on the skin of healthy volunteersevaluating the following variables: erythema, variation in the amount of melanin,desquamation, burning, pruritus, pain and alterations in cutaneous hydration. Thehypothesis was that the use of this formulation would be safe for cutaneousapplication over four weeks of use.In view of the above, a study was carried out to evaluate the safety of the topicalformulation containing chitosan-coated Blind, controlled, non-randomized, single-dose Phase I clinical trial in which a lowdose with biological activity of the active ingredient was administeredexvivo model.Extraction and microencapsulation methodologies developed and validated in a previousstudy were applied for the development of the microparticles used in this studyThe formulations were prepared at the Laboratory of Industrial PharmaceuticalDevelopment of the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Universityof São Paulo (LADIFARP/FCFRP/USP). The formulation with Chamomile (F1) had 99.8% ofLanolin and 0.2% of microparticles, and Formulation without Chamomile (F2) had 100%of Lanolin. The dose of chamomile in the microparticles and consequently in theformulation was selected based on the guidelines established by ANVISAThe criteria for inclusion of participants were: age (18 years and over); healthyskin in the site of application of the product (forearms); absence of history ofhypersensitivity to fish, seafood or any component of the formulation ; non-use of heparin, oral anticoagulants, and antiplateletagents. The exclusion criteria were: injury at the sites of application, expressintention to stop participation, and non-application of the product for more thanfour consecutive days.NationalThe study was carried out in partnership with the Nucleus of Advanced Studies inCosmetic Technology at the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto,University of São Paulo (NEATEC/FCFRP/USP), whose laboratory is equipped for skinanalysis. Participants were recruited through an invitation made personally by theprincipal investigator in the university during the period from August to September2015.The four evaluation sites of each participant were: two control sites of skin withoutapplication of any product, one in each forearm (C1 and C2); one control site ofapplication of the formulation (F2); and one experimental site (F1). Thus, eachparticipant presented four evaluation sites, two with application of formulationsand two without application of formulations .For the application of the formulations, the procedures were standardized as follows:the application site should be free of any spot, lesions, irritations or abrasions,as set out in the inclusion criteria; the amount of formulation was pre-determinedat the tip of a spatula and applied separately; formulation 1 (F1) was applied onthe anterior side of the right forearm and formulation (F2) on the anterior side ofthe left forearm; in the proximal portion of both, no product was applied to allowassessment of skin conditions . The dose was applied once a day, daily, always at the same time, and theparticipants were instructed not to use any other product at the application andevaluation sites during the 28 days of study.Before each evaluation, all participants remained in a room with conditioned airat24ºC (± 2ºC), with relative air humidity (RH) around 50% (± 4%), for 15 minutes. Theskin area evaluated was demarcated with a ruler, to help performing all evaluationsin the same sites. On the first day of treatment (D0), an initial evaluation of theskin was made and the participants were instructed about the procedures ofapplication of the formulations and the standardization of the sites. Eachparticipant received two pots containing information on expiration date andapplication, one for the left forearm and one for the right forearm. Allparticipants used both formulations.After 24 hours (D1) of the first application, the participants were evaluated fortolerance and onset of adverse reactions. If no complaints or signs of irritationwere reported, the treatment was continued until the day D28, when the participantswere re-evaluated.® MX18 and local skin pH was measured with a Skin-pH-Meter pH 900® . The visual clinical evaluation ofmacroscopic desquamation and the subjective evaluation were performed by inquiringthe participants about the sensation of heat, burning, pruritus and pain. Skinhydration was evaluated by: the water content retained in the stratum corneumassessed with a Corneometer® CM 825 ; the transepidermal water loss assessed with a Tewameter® TM 210; clinical parameters ofopacity and roughness; and a subjective evaluation of the participants regarding thesensation of hydration.The outcomes analyzed were skin irritation and hydration, evaluated by means ofquantitative measurement instruments, clinical evaluation and subjective evaluation.Quantitative determinations of erythema and melanin were performed withMexameterQuantitative measurements were performed by a pharmacist with experience in theseanalyses. The clinical evaluation was done by a nurse and the subjective evaluationby the participants themselves. All the results were annotated in a data collectioninstrument previously submitted to three judges for the evaluation of content andface validity.®, thecontrol formulation (F2) presented the same appearance as the one in the test(F1).The nurse and pharmacist who conducted the evaluations, as well as the participants,did not know which formulation contained the chitosan microparticles with chamomile.Furthermore, given the typical odor and the consistency of Lanolin® software; asignificance level (α) of 5% and power of 80% were adopted. The Wilcoxon test waschosen to evaluate the situation before and after the experiment in each applicationsite. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the application sites of theformulations (F1 and F2) and controls (C1 and C2) at each moment.A descriptive analysis of each variable was performed and their distribution wasverified by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test; the appropriate statistical test was chosenonly after this test. The analyses were run in the SASThe study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the College of Nursing ofRibeirão Preto (EERP/USP) under number 1,177,590/2015.A total of 52 participants were evaluated for eligibility and recruited by theprincipal investigator. Of these, 17 did not attend the appointment; thus, 35participants were allocated to the study. The study was completed after four weeks,according to the initial schedule plan. After initiation, one participant wasremoved from the study because of local irritation. He reported small red dots onthe right forearm three hours after applying the formulation (F1), with spontaneousregression about 30 minutes later. At the time of the evaluation of the D1, the sitewas unchanged and the participant reported no other complaints. For safety, thisparticipant was instructed not to use the formulations and was removed from thestudy. Another four participants did not attend the final evaluation (D28), notconcluding the proposed schedule. However, contact with these participants wasmaintained up to 21 days after application, when the date of the final evaluationwas confirmed. We emphasize that until that date, none of these four participantshad manifested any adverse reaction to the treatment. The flow of participants isshown in The mean age of the participants was 26.30 years , average body mass index (BMI) of 23.20 . Other variables analyzed in the initialcharacterization of the participants are presented in Firstly, an evaluation was carried out to identify possible differences in erythema,melanin, pH, hydration and transepidermal water loss between the four sites assessedat the beginning (D0) and at the end of the treatment (D28). These data arepresented in Another evaluation was performed comparing each site before (D0) and after treatment(D28) in order to identify whether the use of the formulation significantly alteredthe mentioned parameters. Thus, no changes were observed in the clinical evaluationof the parameters of desquamation and edema after the first day of application or atthe end of the four weeks. There was no difference between the initial and finalmean values for erythema and melanin variables at any of the application sites,which confirms the expected results. This same analysis for the pH averages showed adifference between the initial and final values at the application site of theformulation with microparticles (p = 0.0492) and at the right control site (p =0.0303) .There was an increase in the average hydration coefficient at the site of applicationof the formulation with microparticles (F1) (p = 0.0483) and in the right control(C1) (p = 0.0413). In relation to the skin barrier function, there was an increasein the average of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in the four evaluated sites , indicating adecrease in the barrier function .The clinical evaluation of irritation did not find desquamation in any participant inthe evaluated period. As for the subjective parameters of irritation , only one participant (3.3%) at the end of the four weeks of thestudy reported mild pain at the application site of the formulation withmicroparticles (F1), with rapid relief after a few minutes of application.Regarding the clinical evaluation of skin hydration (opacity and roughness), nochange was observed in D0 or D28. Data concerning the evaluation of the subjectiveparameter of hydration indicate that, at the application site of the formulationwith microparticles, (F1) there was an improvement in the sensation of hydrationreported by 37.1% of the participants on the second day and in all participants inthe last day. In the left forearm, formulation without microparticles (F2), therewas an improvement in the sensation of hydration in 48.6% on the second day and inall participants on the last day. The control was evaluated with better hydration by2.9% of the participants on the second day and by 96.7% on the last day.-As to age, the participants in this study had an average of 26.3 years . The variability in the age of studyparticipants may predict the action of the product in different stages of skinaging. This variation in the participants’ age has been observed in other studiesthat evaluated the safety and efficacy of new formulations-Concerning sex, 30 (85.7%) of the participants were female . Skin chThe same occurs with BMI. This variable influences skin quality and, therefore,selecting a sample with a wide variation of BMI is important to understand theaction of the product in a broader way. In this study, BMI also varied considerably,with a mean of 23.2 .The quantification of erythema showed that the tested formulation did not produce alocal inflammatory response, since there was no difference between average erythemain D0 and D28 (p = 0.8650). The first event after the onset of the inflammatoryresponse is vasodilation with increased local blood flow, followed by increasedvascular permeability. These phenomena are promoted by chemical mediators and areclinically translated into the onset of erythema,The evaluation of melanin showed a difference between the averages of the evaluatedsites in both D0 (p = 0.0037) and D28 (p = 0.0053). These findings demonstrate thatthe amount of melanin was not homogeneous at the four sites evaluated at D0 and D28.Melanin levels may vary in the different parts of the bodyThe function of melanin is the protection of the DNA of the keratinocytes againstradiationThe evaluation of the amount of melanin showed a decrease in the average values onlyat the application site of the formulation with microparticles , althougA study that evaluated the effects of a tamarind-containing emulsion on melaninidentified a reduction in the amount of melanin at the application sites andattributed this result to the presence of phenolic compounds present in theextractIn the pH evaluation, there was no difference between the sites in D0 (p = 0.0819),but there was a significant difference in D28 (p = 0.0019). Furthermore, the mean pHof the skin was similar in the four sites evaluated at D0, but there was a changebetween values in D28, without, however, changing the physiological values. As thischange was also verified in the control of the same arm, it can be inferred thatthis increase is not related to the use of the formulation. Furthermore, thisalteration did not interfere in the values of pH normality in the skin.pH is also a variable that varies in the different body regionsNo significant alterations were found in the subjective evaluations of burning,pruritus and heat, or in the clinical evaluation of desquamation. It is known thatthe three components used are released by regulatory agencies, studied in differenttypes of research and used for various purposes, among them skin treatments andcare.Chamomile extract was evaluated for toxicity, presenting safety at the dosagesrecommended for humans, without cytotoxic, genotoxic or mutagenic effectsAs for the participant who was removed from the study in D1 due to a report of localreaction, the event is attributed to a possible unknown personal sensitivity to thecomponents of the formulation, since this was an isolated case with spontaneousregression of signs. The participant who reported a sensation of pain indicated thatthe pain had a mild degree, with short duration, and it was spontaneouslyrelieved.-The evaluation of the skin barrier function showed a significant increase in theaverage of transepidermal water loss at the four evaluated sites , indicating a decrease of thefunction . VariatiThe comparison of the results of the four sites evaluated (Table 3) showed that therewas no difference in the average hydration values at D0 (p = 0.4837) and D28 (p =0.1348). As for the average values of transepidermal water loss, a difference wasobserved between the groups at D0 (p = 0.0006) and D28 (p = 0.0029). This datademonstrates non-homogeneity in the amount of transepidermal water loss betweensites assessed at the beginning and at the end of the study.The hydration analysis at the end of the study evidenced an increase in the averageof this coefficient in all the evaluated sites; only the site where the formulationwith microparticles was applied (F1) (p = 0.0483) and the right control (C1) ( p =0.0413) presented a significant difference .Currently, the prevention of skin lesions is performed according to the type ofinjury. Products of various brands are available for application to the whole skinaiming at the formation of a protective film and, thus, promoting protection againstphysical or chemical aggressors. However, these products do not present chitosanmicroparticles with chamomile; microparticles that promote an increase in thestability of the encapsulated botanical extract and also the slow and controlledrelease of their actives that can be a differential.The study had as possible limitations the non-randomization of the application sitesand the non-measurement of the exact amount of the product to be applied.It is, therefore, a technological product that uses in its composition an activeprinciple with proven biological activities with the advantage of presenting acontrolled release, added in a base of known use and easy incorporation.Furthermore, these results stimulate the continuity of the use of this formulationin animal tests for the evaluation of its action in the cicatrization of lesions andfuture clinical studies to evaluate its effect in the prevention and also in thetreatment of skin lesions such as radiodermatitis, peristomal lesions and pressurelesions, which are areas of interest for nursing.Chamomillarecutita (L.) rauschert microparticles coated with chitosan would besafe for application to the intact skin of healthy volunteers was confirmed. Despitean isolated case of erythema, this event was not observed in other participants.There was alteration in melanin, attributed as protective effect of the formulation.There was no desquamation; one participant reported pain, with spontaneous and briefregression. The formulation did not cause pruritus or burning in the analyzedperiod.The hypothesis that the lanolin formulation, containing The results showed an improvement in skin hydration at the application site of theformulation with chamomile; the subjective evaluation of the sensation of hydrationby the volunteers at the end of the period was positive in all evaluated sites.


The present data article aimed to investigate the leisure time among students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences and its relationship with health-related quality of life. In this descriptive and correlational data article, the statistical population consisted of 420 students at faculties of Health, Paramedics, Nursing and Midwifery in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences who were selected through multi-stage cluster sampling. For data collection, the demographic questions, 36-item short form survey (SF-36) and a researcher-made leisure time questionnaire were utilized. for data analysis, the descriptive and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient) were employed in the SPSS0.23 Statistics Software. The obtained data of the present data article demonstrated that the means and SDs of students’ leisure time and health-related quality of life measured 3.25 ± 0.61 and 2.50 ± 0.41, respectively. Also, the obtained data indicated that the quality of life significantly and positively correlated with students’ leisure time. In addition, the obtained data showed that in-person communication had the highest relationship with the total quality of life. In contrast, no relationship was found between the artistic activities and the total quality of life. Specifications tableValue of the data•In the data of the present data article, the status of students’leisure time and health-related quality of life at Kermanshah university were investigated. Hence, the data of the present data article can be used by health authorities and decision-makers in the relevant area.•The obtained data of the present data article demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between leisure time and health-related quality of life. It is suggested that university administrators and plannersimprove the health of students and improve their quality of life through holding workshops and training courses with the aim of enhancing the usefulness of students׳ leisure activities.•The obtained data of this data article can be used to improve the leisure time, health-related quality of life and the interest of students in research at KUMS.1Of the whole 420 subjects, 220 subjects (52.4%) were female and 200 subjects (47.6%) were male, and the average age of participants was 21.96 ± 3.70. In addition, the under-20 age range was in the majority (221 subjects or 52.6%). In terms of marital status, the majority of participants were single (390 subjects or 92.9%). Besides, in terms of education, 339 subjects (80.7%) were doing a bachelor׳s degree, and the majority of samples were majoring in nursing and midwifery (198 subjects or 47.1%). Moreover, in terms of the Residence, 201 subjects (47.9%) were living in dormitories, and the majority of students were born in urban areas (316 subjects or 75.2%) .Table 1TThe mean and standard deviation of the total score of students’ leisure time measured 3.25 ± 0.61. The obtained data also demonstrated that in-person communication and training classes had the highest and lowest relationships with the total quality of life .It was found that the mean and standard deviation of the total score of students’ quality of life measured 2.50 ± 0.41. As for the health-related quality of life of samples, the obtained data indicated that vitality and limitations related to physical problems had the highest and lowest means and standard deviations  .Table 2TThe obtained data demonstrated that the relationship between the total leisure time and total quality of life of students was positive and significant. It was found that in-person communication had the highest relationship with the total quality of life. In contrast, no relationship was found between the artistic activities and the total quality of life .Table 3T2Here, 420 students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences were studied in 2017. Moreover, research samples were selected in two stages. In the first stage, out of seven colleges affiliated to Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, three colleges  were selected, and in the second stage, the samples were selected through multistage cluster sampling and Cochran sample size formula.Further, the ethical principles employed included obtaining the necessary permits, retaining the rights for the schools being researched to either accept or reject to participate, and ensuring the confidentiality and non disclosure of the personal information of samples. Then questionnaires were distributed among the target sample. To this end, the objectives were explained to the target subjects Informed consent was obtained from all participants before data was collected. Not to mention, the exclusion criteria were the samples disinterested in participation in the study and handing over incomplete questionnaires.As for data collection, three questionnaires were used: a demographic questionnaire, a researcher-made leisure time questionnaire, and the health-related quality of life questionnaire by Ware and Sherbourne.Demographic Questionnaire: It consisted of seven items: gender, age, place of birth, marital status, residence, education, and faculty.Leisure Time Questionnaire:This 45-item instrument was developed by the researcher to assess the status of spending leisure by the samples under data article. In the formulation of this questionnaire, the studies conducted by the National Youth Organizations about the young׳s leisure time and lifestyles were reviewed 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36):This 36-item scale, developed in America by Ware and Sherbourne Furthermore, for data analysis, the descriptive  and inferential statistics (Pearson correlation coefficient) were employed in the SPSS Statistics Software Version 23.0, and it should be noted that the related presumptions were examined prior to the above-mentioned tests.


The micro-hardness and tensile strength of the weld joints were also investigated. Due to Si content in the compensating metal, there was a prevention of iron diffusion into the aluminum, thus hindering the development of the IMC layer and reducing its thickness in such a way that the weld joint strength increases. The analyzed results show that the average micro-hardness of the stainless steel, weld seam, aluminum alloys, and IMC layer were 218 HV, 88.3 HV, 63.3 HV, and 411 HV, respectively. The fracture occurred at the brazed interface, and the ultimate tensile strength value reached 225 MPa.The tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding method most commonly used to weld ferrous metals, nonferrous metals, and other metals since it is simple, easily implemented, and achieves consistent high-quality welds. In this study, butt joints produced between aluminum alloy A6061-T6 and stainless steel SUS304L have been achieved by using TIG welding with ER4047 filler metal. The macrostructure and microstructure of the resulting specimens were analyzed by means of an optical microscope (OM), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). A uniform intermetallic layer was found at the interface between the stainless steel and the weld seam having a thickness of 2 µm, and the intermetallic compound (IMC) includes Fe In order to improve diverse product attributes such as product quality, weight reduction, cost reduction and savings, and decreased environmental pollution during the industrial welding applications, a hybrid structure of dissimilar metals including Al/Mg, Al/Cu, Al/Ti, Al/Al, Ti alloy/Fe alloy, Mg/Fe ,5,6,7,8 5–Al7Fe2Si, and the stainless steel side having a phase of θ-FeAl3. When these researchers studied the metallurgical and mechanical properties of dissimilar tungsten inert gas-welded butt joints between aluminum alloy 5A06 to stainless steel SUS 321 utilizing BJ380A filler wire and modified non-corrosive flux. Research revealed that the mechanical properties of the butt joints obtained in this procedure, such as an incidence of tensile strength measured at 125 MPa, while the highest hardness value of 950 HV was attained. Ye et al. [2Al5 and FeAl3, to be found in the IMC layer of the weld. It should be noted that there have been no published studies to date on the possibility of welding aluminum alloy with stainless steel SUS304L. In this study, dissimilar A6061-T6 alloy and SUS304L steel butt joints were successfully produced by means of a pulse tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding-brazing process, and the microstructural and mechanical properties of the weld joint were discussed.By comparison, the tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding method is simple, easy to accomplish, the price of welding equipment is acceptable, welds are seldom restricted due to space limitations, and the weld temperature is controllable. Therefore, the TIG welding method is the most commonly form of welding for different material applications. For example, Song et al.  have anae et al.  comparede et al.  chose toJoining between dissimilar materials has been used extensively in a number of industrial applications such as in the automotive industry, aerospace industry, and shipbuilding industry ,31,32,332O3 particles up to 0.05 µm. Then, the surface of the sample was cleaned with 5 mL of a HNO3 + 100 mL C2H5OH solution at room temperature for 4 s. An optical microscope  was used to investigate the macro-structure of the interface formed between the weld seam and the steel. The micro-structure and composition of the IMC were observed by means of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and an energy dispersive JSM-7000F X-ray spectroscope (EDS), and an X-ray was made to determine phase formation in both the IMC and weld zones. Finally, the mechanical properties of the welded joint have been characterized by their micro-hardness and tensile strength, and the tensile-test specimen was pointed out in After welding was completed, a typical cross section of the welds was cut perpendicular to the welded line by means of a wire cutter A3017. Once obtained, the cross-section of the welds was fixed in plastic with a casting time of 30 min, a casting temperature of 1200 °C, and a press of 786 kPa. Next, the welding samples were ground and polished by means of a Mopao 1000 automatic grinder/polisher machine, with metallographic sandpaper grits of 450, 600, 800, 1200, 1500, 2000 SiC grades, and buffed using AlThe surface and cross-section of the TIG weld is displayed in A scanning electron microscope process was carried out in order to investigate the characteristics of the braze interface, with the analyzed results are shown in In order to find the composition of the elements and their distribution in a welded joint produced between aluminum and steel, EDS elemental analysis and linear scanning were applied, as displayed in 4Al13, Fe2Al5, and FeAl3 phase. FeAl3 is an equivalent phase with the α(Al) phase, and can usually be represented with Fe4Al13 and Fe2Al7. The IMC’s layer nearest the steel side is pointed out to be FeAl2 and Fe2Al5, and the IMC’s layer nearest the weld seam is indicated to be Fe4Al13. The formation of these phases can be explained as follows. During the arc welding process, the temperature of the arc column is directed toward the stainless steel plate, which immediately matches the temperature of the arc heating the Fe atoms, and gives the Fe atoms large amounts of energy to diffuse into a short, rather confined distance. Further, the temperature of the welding arc continues to melt the filler wire and aluminum alloy basic to form a liquid metal pool, then, this liquid spreads onto the surface of stainless steel sheet. At this time, the Fe atoms in the solid phase combine with the Al atoms in the liquid phase to produce phase Fe2Al5. However, due to the relatively quick cooling rate of the molten pool and overall welding speed, it makes the Fe atoms in the Fe2Al5 phase partially crystallize to form the FeAl phase. Finally, the FeAl3 phase continues to combine with aluminum atoms in order to form the Fe4Al13 phase.The X-ray diffraction test method was applied to identify the phase composition of the IMC layer, as shown in 3Al, FeAl, FeAl2, Fe2Al5, and FeAl3 phases.In addition, the formation of new phases in the IMC layer may also be determined in the binary phase diagram of the Fe-Al , as deno4Al13 phase. This result has indicated that the average hardness value at the welding seam is greater than the mean hardness value measured on the aluminum alloys side and lower on the stainless steel side. The hardness value measured at the welding area is higher than that of the aluminum alloys due to the diffusion of the alloying elements from the filler wire into the weld pool.The mechanical properties of the welded joints in this study are characterized by micro-hardness and tensile strength. Vickers hardness testing was performed on the specimen’s cross-section with a 10 N loading force, and held for 10 s to measure the micro-hardness from the SUS304L steel side to the welding seam, and from the welding seam to the aluminum alloys side, especially at the IMC layer, as shown in After welding, the weld joints are always stronger than the base metals in both tensile strength and surface shape of weld joints, they are important parameters that can be used to evaluate the quality of solder joints. When the weld joints were putting into use in different environments, the temperature (the temperature conditions can be increase or decrease) will effects and causing difficulties to components weld joints. Therefore, a tensile strength testing of weld joints will give the information and the characteristics of the joints after welding. The specimens were tested at room temperature conditions. Five samples selected from 9 welding samples for the tensile strength test were welded under the same conditions. The results of the tensile tests of the five welded specimens are presented in The fracture surface of the weld specimen was illustrated in -Dissimilar metals weld between an A6061-T6 aluminum alloy and SUS304L stainless steel were done by tungsten inert gas welding–brazing with welding rod ER4047. The welding joint had a good formation with no defects such as cracks, porosity, and undercut, which appeared on the weld surface. In addition, the size of the heat-affected zone was very small.-4Al13, Fe2Al5, and FeAl3 phases.The Si element prevented the diffusion of Fe into the weld pool, and limited the formation and growth of the interlayer. As a result, a thin intermetallic compound layer was formed along the interface between the welded joint and the stainless steel with a thickness of 2 µm, and it was smaller than the thickness limit. Phase compositions found in the interlayer contained Fe-The mechanical properties of the welded joint depend on the thickness of the brittle intermetallic compound layer and the formation of microscopic cracks inside the welding seam. The quality of the weld joints was improved when the thickness of the intermetallic compound layer was minimum.-The micro-hardness value gradually decreased from the stainless steel to the welding seam, and the average hardness value of the SUS304L steel was found to be 218 HV, the welding seam was 88.3 HV, the aluminum alloys side was 63.3 HV, and the intermetallic compound layer was 411 HV.-2Al5 brittle phase. Here, the material’s cleavage occurred and created a fracture. The fracture model of welding joint was a combination of the brittle fracture and the cleavage fracture.The ultimate tensile strength of the test specimens obtained was higher than the tensile strength of the filler metal ER 4047, and it was approximately 79% compared tensile strength of the A6061-T6 aluminum alloy. The fault locations occurred at the interface between the welding seam and the steel. The fracture process of the tensile specimen started from the micro-cracks located on the FeBased on the analysis results of the microstructure and mechanical properties of the butt joint produced between A6061-T6 alloy and SUS304L steel using the tungsten inert gas welding method with ER4047 filler metal, the main summary is indicated as follows.


Six models were established, three of which contained nano-SiO2 particles together with water concentration of 1 wt.%, 2 wt.%, or 3 wt.%. For each model variations in free volume, mean square displacement, and interaction energy were assessed. The addition of nano SiO2 particles was found to reduce the free volume fraction of the model and as well as the free motion of water molecules in the oil. These particles also increased the interaction between the oil and water molecules, indicating that insulating oil containing nano-particles has a greater binding effect on water. The diffusion coefficient of water in oil containing nano-SiO2 particles was reduced, such that water molecules were less likely to diffuse. The results also show that these particles adsorb water molecules in the oil and to reduce diffusion. Consequently, the addition nano-scale SiO2 particles could potentially improve the breakdown voltage of the insulating oil.Moisture has a significant effect on the internal insulation performance of transformers, and is closely related to the breakdown voltage of transformer insulating oil. In the present work, we studied the effect of nano-SiO With the rapid development of China’s power industry, transformers have become vital components of the power transmission system. The internal insulation of these transformers is based on oil that gradually deteriorates due to many factors during prolonged use, resulting in a decrease in the insulating performance of the oil. This loss of performance is partly associated with increased water levels in the oil, together with other impurities. In the presence of an electric field, the so-called ‘small bridge’ effect of such impurities will render the insulating oil more vulnerable to breakdown ,2,3.Nano-particles have a variety of special properties  because 2 to oil and reported that the breakdown voltage of the oil was increased by a factor of 1.15. Katiyar et al. 2 is an iq et al.  added 20u et al.  combined2 particles can effectively improve the breakdown voltage of insulating oil. However, although the presence of water is the primary cause of changes in the breakdown voltage of insulating oil, there has been little research regarding the mechanism by which nano-particles affect water diffusion in oil [2 modified insulating oils are described on the molecular level. These results should assist in providing a theoretical foundation for further research regarding nano-modified insulating oils.The above studies have demonstrated that the addition of nano-SiOn in oil ,15. Unden in oil ,17. Ther2 particles was created using the Materials Studio 5.0 Building Tool software (version) package [A model of a cluster made of nano-SiO package  as shownMineral oil is widely used in power transformer insulation systems due to its excellent insulating properties and suitable thermal conductivity. Based on the levels of various hydrocarbons, insulating mineral oil is referred to as either paraffin or naphthenic base oil. Naphthene oil is widely used because of its excellent low temperature performance . Thus, i2 and another mixture without nano-SiO2. The mass-based percentages of water in the three groups of models were 1%, 2%, and 3%. The density of each of the six models was 0.6 g/cm3 and the radius of the nano-SiO2 particles was 5 Å, the concentration of the nano-SiO2 particles was 5 wt.%, with a model size of 4 × 4 × 4 nm [Based on our goal of modeling varying levels of water in the oil, three groups of two models were constructed using Theodorou’s  method o4 × 4 nm ,23. FiguPrior to molecular dynamics simulations , the modThe COMPASS force field  was usedT, is composed of the volume occupied by the polymer, V0, and the free volume not occupied by the polymer, VF. The ratio of free to total volume is the fractional free volume (FFV).The free volume in the model is an important factor affecting the diffusion behavior of the material, as the free volume provides the necessary active space for small particles. Thus, the size and shape of this volume affects the diffusion behavior of water molecules in the oil . AccordiThe free volumes of small molecules having different sizes will be different in the same model, and are primarily determined by the properties and sizes of the small molecules. This work employed the Materials Studio Atom Volume and Surface software program to create a Connolly surface, so as to calculate the free volume in the system. A hard ball probe was used, the radius of which equaled the van der Waals radius of a water molecule (1.60 Å). 2 reduced the diffusion volume available to the water molecules, thus constraining the movement of water in the oil. However, with increasing water concentrations in the oil, the binding of the nano-particles to water molecules was reduced and the free volume fraction increased, allowing more free space for the diffusion of water. As a result, the difference in the free volume fractions of the models with and without nano-SiO2 particles was minimized at 3% water. This result demonstrates that the effect of nano-particles on the free volume of the model decreases with increases in the level of moisture.The data in E, between the water molecules and oil is also an important factor affecting the diffusion behavior of the water molecules. This value can be calculated using the Equation (1).The interaction energy, E value for the water molecules and oil can be obtained from the Equation (2) [In the model containing nanoparticles, the interaction energy, tion (2) .(2)E= can be obtained from the slope of their MSD in a time interval with Einstein relation. This coefficient can be calculated via the Equation (3):t and time zero, respectively, and Mean square displacement (MSD) can study the diffusion behavior of water molecules in insulating oil. The diffusion coefficient is an important parameter that can be used to assess the diffusion capacity of a material. The larger the diffusion coefficient, the smaller the media’s effect on the diffusion of particles. The diffusion coefficient 2 particles were reduced, and so the diffusion of water molecules was restricted. Thus, water molecules had a smaller diffusion coefficient in oils containing nano-particles, meaning less diffusion occurred.The free volume fractions in the models containing nano-SiO(2)2 particles showed greater interaction energy between the oil and water molecules, demonstrating that the addition of these particles increased the binding of water molecules by the oil.The model containing nano-SiO(3)2 particles can effectively increase the binding of insulating oil to water molecules and reduce the diffusion of water molecules in insulating oil. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the modification of insulating oil with nano-SiO2 particles.The results prove that the addition of nano-SiOThe diffusion behavior of water molecules in nano-modified insulating oil was studied by molecular simulations, concentrating on variations in the free volume, diffusivity and interaction energy at different water levels. On the basis of the results, we present the following conclusions.


Background: the main goal of the study was to investigate the prevalence of the articular cartilage defects (ACD) in the patellofemoral (PF) region of the knee joint based on the anatomical shapes of patella and its impact on the level of physical activity in the population needing arthroscopic procedures for all types of pathologies in the knee. Methods: The articular cartilage status of the PF region was obtained from 1098 arthroscopic procedures of the knee joint. The ACD were correlated to Wiberg’s shape of the patella and classified according to the degree, size and depth of the ACD in the PF region using the ICRS  system: group I consisting of patients with Wiberg type I shape (W1), group II—patients with Wiberg type II shape (W2) and group III—patients with Wiberg type III shape (W3). The Tegner physical activity scale was used to evaluate the physical activity of the patients. Results: The mean of ACD size (PF region) in the W3 group was 3.10 ± 0.99 cm2, which was a statistically significantly larger area in comparison with the W1  and W2 . The patients from the W3 group (mean 3.10 ± 0.99) were less physically active (<4 Tegner) compared to the W2 group  and W1 group . Conclusions: The patients with the Wiberg type III patella shape had a higher incidence and larger size of ACD in the PF of the knee compared to the groups of Wiberg type I and II. Wiberg III patients with a lower level of physical activity had a larger size of ACD in the PF joint. One-third of the elderly population is affected by osteoarthritis (OA) in their knee(s) , which iThe main goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence of the articular cartilage defects (ACD) in the patellofemoral (PF) region of the knee joint based on the anatomical shapes of patella and its impact on the level of physical activity in the population needing an arthroscopic procedure.All procedures and investigations performed in the present study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments and comparable ethical standards BE-2-22). The data related to the articular cartilage status of patellofemoral region were obtained from 1098 arthroscopic procedures of the knee joint in the period of 2005–2010. According to our research protocol, each patient prior to the arthroscopic knee procedure underwent X-ray in the Merchant view or MRI investigations in the outpatient clinic to determine the shape of the patella. Independent observers performed all the patella measurements. The investigated first involved the assessment of the Wiberg‘s type ,12. The . The datThe patients were divided into 3 patella shape groups according to the MRI and/or X-ray. Group I included the patients with Wiberg type I shape (W1 group), Group II included the patients with Wiberg type II shape (W2 group) and Group III included the patients with Wiberg type III shape (W3 group). After this, the arthroscopies of the knee were performed on a regular basis for different pathologies and articular cartilage defects were inspected and classified according to the degree, size and depth of the ACD in the PF region using the International Cartilage Repair Society (ICRS) articular cartilage classification system . The pat2, with a group size of 32 required for a power of 80% and α of 0.05. The Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare the three Wiberg types of patella between the three groups and for all variables. The results with a p value of ≤ 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.The data were stored in a Microsoft Access database. The statistical analyses were made using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 17 version . The sample size required was calculated based on the expected ACD size of 0.5 cmAll arthroscopic procedures were performed due to different knee pathologies. Menisci ruptures had the highest prevalence of associated cartilage lesions in the patellofemoral region (46%), followed by anterior cruciate ligament injuries (34%) and patellar instability (15%), which is illustrated in Out of 1098 arthroscopic knee surgeries, articular cartilage defects (ICRS grade 1–4) were detected in 779 (71%) knees. Out of 1098 patients, an acute onset of the knee symptoms was reported in 43% and a gradual onset in 57%. Grade 3–4 (ICRS) articular cartilage defects were most commonly located in the patellofemoral (33%) and lateral femoral condyle (34%) regions, followed by the lateral tibial (18%) and medial femoral condyles (2%). According to our findings, articular cartilage defects in the patellofemoral region were detected in 343 (44%) patients. The distribution of ACD in the PF region according to the patella shape was analyzed: 9.6% (N = 33) of the defects were detected in Wiberg type I group, 58.6% (n = 201) in Wiberg type II and 31.7% (n = 109) in Wiberg type III group.2, which constituted 19% of all knees (2 was observed in 49 (5%) knees (2 (p = 0.001), compared to other ACDs that were larger than 2 cm2  ACD in the patellofemoral region were larger than 2 cmll knees . A full-%) knees . Superfi2, which was statistically significantly larger area when compared to the Wiberg type I  and Wiberg type II  and Wiberg I shapes (p < 0.0000).The most severe ACD sizes were documented in the patients with Wiberg type III patella shapes. The Wiberg type III shapes had a significant larger ACD compared to the Wiberg type II (2) were detected in more physically active (>4 Tegner) patients (p = 0.03). Patients with a larger ACD size (>2 cm2) had a significantly lower level of physical activity compared with those having <2 cm2 ACD lesions  and Wiberg type I . The patients with Wiberg type I and II patella shapes had a similar level of physical activity . A smaller ACD (<2 cmOur study suggests that a significantly higher number of ACD cases in the PF region were documented in patients having a patella with a Wiberg type III shape. Furthermore, the ACD occurring in the PF region have an impact on the level of physical activity in the population needing an arthroscopic procedure. We found no significant difference in the distribution of ACD between Wiberg type I and II in our study. Wiberg himself stated that type I and II shapes of patella are less vulnerable to ACD in the PF region. Unfortunately, he has no substantiated findings showing an association between ACD and different shapes of the patella . FurtherAccording to our data, the articular cartilage defects in the patellofemoral region were detected in 44% of patients and confirmed the theory that the patellofemoral region is the one of the most pregnable locations for ACD of the knee joint. The importance of the patella shape to the articular cartilage degeneration has been also widely discussed in the literature ,14,24. BIn our study, we observed that patients with Wiberg type III shape of the patella have lower levels of physical activity compared to patients with Wiberg type I and II shapes. Wiberg type I and II patients had the same level of physical activity. This suggests that the shape of the patella could be a principal anatomical factor influencing the patellofemoral biomechanics of the knee joint and the incidence of ACD. In a study by Lancourt et al., a correlation was found between the Wiberg’s classification of the patella and the width of the lateral patellofemoral ligament. The authors showed that the more that a patella shape resembled Wiberg type II, the broader the lateral patellofemoral ligament was . They coA lower level of physical activity in our patients was associated with a larger size of ACD. However, it is unclear if the size of ACD itself or the shape of the patella was the reason for the decreased level of physical activity in these patients. This implies that there is a correlation between the anatomical shape of the patella and the size of ACD in the PF region. Patients with Wiberg type III patella and ACD in the PF region tend to be less physically active. Otherwise, the negative findings in the clinical tests of patellar pain and crepitation, the lack of bilateral symptoms during the follow-up, low body height and young age predict good long-term outcomes of chronic patellofemoral pain syndrome .The main limitation of our study was the lack of other subjective and objective scoring systems for PF pain and their relations to the shape of the patella and articular cartilage degeneration in the patellofemoral region. Further studies need to be performed to look at the correlations between the shape of patella, ACD and clinical outcomes.The patients with the Wiberg type III patella shape had a higher incidence and larger size of articular cartilage defects in the patellofemoral joint of the knee compared to the groups of Wiberg type I and II. The lower level of physical activity of the Wiberg III patients was associated with a larger size of the articular cartilage defects in the patellofemoral joint. This suggests that the Wiberg classification of anatomical shape of the patella obtained from radiological data may be a good clinical predictor of the risk of articular cartilage defects and the knee-related physical activity level of the patients. Based on our findings, we concluded that the anatomical shape of the patella is an important anatomic parameter, which may reflect the development of articular cartilage defects in the patellofemoral region.


In extratropical ecosystems, the growth of trees is cyclic, producing tree rings composed of large-lumen and thin-walled cells (earlywood) alternating with narrow-lumen and thick-walled cells (latewood). So far, the physiology behind wood formation processes and the associated kinetics has rarely been considered to explain this pattern. We developed a process-based mechanistic model that simulates the development of conifer tracheids, explicitly considering the processes of cell enlargement and the deposition and lignification of cell walls. The model assumes that (1) wall deposition gradually slows down cell enlargement and (2) the deposition of cellulose and lignin is regulated by the availability of soluble sugars. The model reliably reproduces the anatomical traits and kinetics of the tracheids of four conifer species. At the beginning of the growing season, low sugar availability in the cambium results in slow wall deposition that allows for a longer enlargement time; thus, large cells with thin walls  are produced. In late summer and early autumn, high sugar availability produces narrower cells having thick cell walls . This modeling framework provides a mechanistic link between plant ecophysiology and wood phenology and significantly contributes to understanding the role of sugar availability during xylogenesis. Current research on the dynamics of tree-ring formation in conifers has provided new insights into how the rate and duration of growth processes  control the size of the xylem conduits both across the tree-ring width  with only a minor proportion (1.6%) translocated to the stem. At the same time, the first earlywood tracheids in the stem are either completing differentiation or mature  and buds (in the canopy) occurs at the same time  on xylogenesis has also been extensively investigated. Early research on the subject reported that exogenous applications of IAA to cambia that were forming latewood tracheids could induce the formation of earlywood tracheids Larson, . This evSeveral mathematical models have been developed to simulate wood formation in conifers, each model having different assumptions. In particular, climatic and physiological factors were included in various models of xylogenesis, either with validation by tree-ring anatomical data  the periclinal division of a cambial mother cell into two daughter cells; (2) the increase in volume of the daughter cells combined with integration of new polymers into the walls; (3) the formation of different layers of secondary wall due to the deposition of cellulose and non-cellulosic polysaccharides; (4) cell-wall lignification; and (5) programmed cell death , the area covered by the wall  and the portion of lignified wall .Here we present a novel process-based model that reproduces the morphogenetic development of differentiating xylem tracheids, i.e., the phases of cell enlargement, cell-wall deposition and lignification. The initial state of the simulated cell is that of a derivative produced by the cambium toward the xylem side and enclosed by a layer of primary cell wall. The cell is described in transverse section by three state variables that represent the entire cell area (The model is based on the assumptions that (1) each cell grows independently of the others; (2) cells are rectangular in cross-section and enlarge only radially; (3) cell death occurs when the wall is completely lignified  on the considered processes was not explicitly included in the model. In particular, water availability was assumed to not be a limiting factor, while temperature has a direct effect only on the wall deposition of the last latewood cells  is its dependency on wall thickness [1-min], which is derived directly from the fourth assumption. The remainder of the equation represents a simple logistic growth in which the term CAmax is assumed to be the theoretical upper limit of cell expansion in the absence of wall deposition. Then, based on the assumption of a rectangular shape of the cell, cell-wall thickness is defined by:where CTD and CRD are the cell tangential and cell radial dimensions, respectively. As no tangential growth was assumed in the model, CTD is constant during morphogenesis, while CRD is calculated at each time step (CRD = CA/CTD).where The dynamics of cell-wall deposition are described by the differential equation:vw is the specific rate of wall deposition, Si is sugar availability within the ith cell of the ring, WAmax is the maximum amount of wall that a cell can accumulate and mw and sw are calibration parameters. Death is a Boolean variable that sets the death of the cell when the wall is completely lignified according to:where The dynamics of cell-wall lignification are described through the differential equation:vl is the specific wall lignification rate, while ml and sl are both calibration parameters (Table where rs Table .LA), lumen radial diameter (LRD) and wall thickness (WT) were used to derive the cell tangential diameter (CTD = LA/LRD + 2WT). From observations of the derivatives produced by the cambium of several conifer species, we measured the initial cell radial diameter (CRD0) and calculated the initial value of the state variable CA (CA0 = CTD × CRD0). The initial value of the cell-wall area (WA0), namely the area of the primary wall, was calculated as:The measured values of the lumen area  were selected at tree line in the eastern Italian Alps . Twenty trees of Picea mariana were selected in the boreal forest of Quebec . All trees were adult, dominant or co-dominant individuals, having healthy crown and upright stems and lacking reaction wood.Data were collected from permanent plots in Italy in 2001 and in Canada from 1999–2004. Fifteen trees of Wood microcores (2.4 mm in diameter) were collected in autumn at a height of 1.3 m on the stems using an increment puncher or Trephor  was assumed to be constant within each run of a single cell, but it could vary between the different cells of the ring. Two functions of sugar variation across the ring were tested, an exponential and a quadratic curve using the following formulas:The model was first developed in the SIMILE (Simulistics Ltd.) visual modeling environment to facilitate discussion within the multidisciplinary team during the implementation phases. The mathematical equations were then integrated using MATLAB R2016b (the MathWorks) with a non-adaptive solver that implemented the classical Runge-Kutta method of Order 4. The equations were solved separately for each cell across the tree ring, and the final outputs were then aggregated and compared with the measured tracheidograms dataset. Based on the initial assumptions, the parameter a, b and c are the calibration parameters and xi is the relative position of the ith cell within the ring, which assumes values ranging from 0 (first cell) to 1 (last cell).where Model calibration was performed by minimizing the sum of the squared errors (SSE) according to:n1, n2 and n3 are the number of samples per observed output, WTi, LRDi, and LAi are the values of the ith measured outputs, and ith outputs predicted by the model. The minimization was performed using the fminsearch MATLAB routine that implements a Nelder–Mead simplex algorithm  is reached slowly (18 days), leaving a long time for the cell area to expand before reaching its asymptote, thereby producing a large cell , a best-fit between the simulations and measurements of LA, LRD and WT was obtained using a quadratic function of sugar availability. An exponential curve was best for P. mariana  than in P. abies (between 665.2 and 203.9 μm2), while WT ranged between 2.8 and 3.6 μm in P. cembra and between 2.5 and 3.9 μm in P. abies. Larix decidua had a more pronounced variation between earlywood and latewood, as LRD and LA values decreased markedly from 42.9 to 2.8 μm and from 1228.5 to 30.7 μm2, respectively. Also, WT values increased sharply across the tree ring from 2.7 up to 7.6 μm over the first 75% of the ring and then decreased to ca. 5 μm in latewood  and P. abies (from 9.9 to 7.2 days) with a constant decrease across the tree ring. A wider variation in enlargement duration was observed in L. decidua (from 19 to 3.9 days) and P. mariana (from 25.7 to 4.3 days) with a phase of pronounced decrease. However, the predicted duration of exhibited greater interspecific variability , while P. abies showed a pronounced increase in the duration of wall thickening for ca. 75% of the tree ring with values increasing from 13.2 to 39 days. In contrast, the simulations for L. decidua predicted an initial increase in the duration of the thickening phase over the first half of the tree ring (from 18.7 to 30 days), then followed by a decrease (down to 13.5 days). A similar pattern emerged for P. mariana, where the duration of the phase increased slightly over the first 75% of the ring (from 22 to 24 days) with a decrease to 9.7 days toward the end of the tree ring.The model also estimated the duration of the enlargement and wall-thickening phases Figure . The durThis paper presents a simulation model of tracheid development that assumes changes in tracheid anatomy from earlywood to latewood are coupled to the end of primary growth, when new shoots become sources of assimilates . After the cessation of cell enlargement, several layers of secondary wall are then deposited and progressively lignified. The biosynthesis processes of cellulose and non-cellulosic polysaccharides are known to be tightly coupled with the biosynthesis and polymerization of lignin  and emergent properties at the tissue-scale . In particular, the model has the potential to link such processes with the effects of climatic factors, mainly temperature and water, to investigate the variability of wood density profiles and the appearance of intra-annual density fluctuations in Mediterranean environments.FC, AD, SR and FG planned and designed the research under the coordination of HM and SM. All authors contributed jointly to model development. FG and FC carried out the mathematical implementation of the model. FC and AD wrote most of the manuscript with substantial contributions from VD, SR and SM.The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.


The modification of an unoccupied n of atomic layers in the Au films increases to three or more, the Pt(111) surface state shifts upward upon reduction of the distance between the Pt(111) surface and the Au adlayer. At equilibrium, the Pt-derived surface state transforms into an unoccupied quantum-well state of the Au adlayer. This change is explained by the fact that the relevant electronic state in free-standing Au films with We present a first-principles fully-relativistic study of surface and interface states in the  Many atomically-clean metal surfaces support the electronic states tightly bound to the “metal-vacuum” interface: the surface states ,2,3 and A prototypical example of a surface state is a Shockley Be(0001) ,9, nobleBe(0001) ,13,14,15Be(0001) ,23,24,25Since the electronic surface states reside at a metal surface, their properties can be modified by the deposition of some amount of adatoms or by adlayers of different kinds . In suchn ML Au/Pt(11) systems, we studied the evolution of the electronic structure versus the distance between the Pt(111) surface and the Au adlayers choosing In this paper, we consider a strong coupling case studying transformation of the electronic structure of the Pt(111) surface (characterized by an unoccupied surface state just above the Fermi level) upon deposition of a few atomic layers of gold. The catalytic properties of Au/Pt(111) surfaces have been investigated ,49,50,51The rest of the paper is organized as follows: In n atomic layers was simulated with the n ML Au/Pt(111) systems, where a 23-layer film was employed for the description of the platinum substrate and the adlayers were placed on both sides of the slab. A 10 Å vacuum gap between slabs was used. The in-plane lattice parameter for the Au adlayers was chosen to be equal to the Pt bulk constant (3.978 Å) obtained in this work, which is about 2% smaller than the Au lattice parameter [The calculations were carried out within the framework of the electron density functional theory formalism by the projector augmented wave method , implemek scheme . A semi-arameter . Our strarameter ,66,67,68arameter ,69,70,71d-character. Its spatial distribution was closely confined to the Au atomic layer, as can be appreciated in the lower panel of s character and possessed strong upward dispersion crossing the Fermi level. Note that with increasing the number of atomic layers in the Au slab, the number of such states gradually increased, as well forming in the momentum-energy phase space a region of so-called quantum-well states [z perpendicular to the surface is shown.When the Au atomic layer was located at a distance l states . EventuaThe The electronic structure of the clean Pt(111) surface was characterized by the continuum of the projected bulk electronic states  surface was at 6.1 eV above the Fermi level. Comparison of When the distance between the Au atomic layer and the Pt(111) surface layer was reduced to 5 Å the hybridization between the surface states became notable. As seen in In The Au-derived Reduction of Au-Pt interlayer distance More dramatic changes were experienced by the /Pt(111) . MoreoveCuriously, the At the equilibrium atomic positions in the 1 ML Au/Pt(111) system, the d-like electronic states participated in the bonding formation of the Au-Pt interface. Moreover, from d electronic states located at −1.35 and −1.66 eV in the d-like states with energies above −3 eV resided at slightly lower energies, less than 0.2 eV. The maximal difference of 0.6 eV was observed at the bottom of the valence band. At the moment, it is not clear which approximation (LDA or GGA) is better for the description of such states. Since a more detailed analysis of the evolution of such d-like states upon interface formation is beyond the scope of this work, we shall not discuss them in the other systems.The s region ,83. We ws region ,74, thesIn this part, we discuss the surface electronic states formed in the Au/Pt(111) heterostructure when the number of the Au atomic layers increased to two. In Approaching the Au bilayer to the Pt surface gradually switched on the interaction between both systems, resulting in hybridization of the electronic states most expanded into the vacuum side. In the case when In A distance of 4 Å between the Au and Pt atomic layers forming the Au-Pt interface provoked a notable downward shift of the Pt-derived surface bands merging at the When we reduced the distance between the nearby Au and Pt atomic layers to 3 Å, the impact of the hybridization of the electronic states increased on a scale observed in the case of the 1 ML Au/Pt(111) heterostructure. More precisely in The The electronic structure of the 2 ML Au/Pt heterostructure at equilibrium with ) system  where a In the nearby region, two energy bands forming the Dirac cone at the Analyzing the electronic structures shown in The electronic structure of the 3 ML Au/Pt(111) system with a distance of 10 Å between the nearest Au and Pt atomic layers is presented in Our calculations show that when we gradually reduced the distance between the Au slab and the Pt surface, the Regarding the ectively ,82,85.The spatial distribution of the The downward and upward shifts of the ) system . As FiguAs seen in Upon increasing the thickness of the Au slab, the tendencies observed in the evolution of the electronic states in the 3 ML Au/Pt/(111) system with the variation of In  Au slab  now was Notice that in this situation, the Pt When However, the situation was more complex since the symmetric surface state in the Au slab shifted upward with the reduction of At At equilibrium atomic positions with n ML Au/Pt(111) heterostructures. Following the evolution of relevant surface electronic states upon variation of the distance between the substrate and the adlayers, two different mechanisms of transformation have been found. In particular, the unoccupied We have studied the mechanism of the transformation of electronic surface states upon adsorption of thin metal layers considering as an example The situation is different when the thickness of the Au slab is three or more atomic layers. In this case, the energy of the relevant quantum state of the free-standing Au slab was lower than the energy of the Pt(111) surface state. This situation results in the upward shift of the energy of the Pt(111) surface state upon approximation of the Au slab. In the equilibrium atomic position, the former Pt(111) surface state transformed into a quantum-well state of the Au slab and increased its energy from 0.30 eV on the clean Pt(111) surface to 4.2 eV and 3.6 eV in the 3 ML Au/Pt(111) and 7 ML Au/Pt(111) heterostructures, respectively. In contrast, the surface state energy of the Au slab with three or more atomic layers experienced a downward shift upon approaching the Pt(111) and transformed into a partly-occupied surface state of the combined system. Eventually, upon the increase of the Au adlayer thickness, such a state evolved into a The predicted effects can be probed by the angle-resolved photoemission, inverse two-photon photoemission, and time-resolved photoemission. We propose that our findings in the lattices out of equilibrium can be realized in the STM experiments or by the growth of ultra-thin dielectric layers separating the Pt(111) and the Au adlayers.


Introduction: The study objective was to assess the impact of pharmacist-led education on the patient’s knowledge and skills on SBPM (self-blood pressure monitoring). Methods: Patient knowledge was assessed using tests and patients’ skills were based on a checklist (20 parameters) completed by the researcher based on the SBPM video records. Patients taking pressure measurements were filmed for 20 days and after 6 months. After the first 10 days, patients were educated about the correct SBPM procedure. Knowledge tests were repeated three times (before/after/6 months after education). Results: All patients’ knowledge and skills in the field of SBPM were improved after education. After the education, patients scored an average of 9 out of 10 points in the knowledge test (increasing an average of five points after education), six months later—an average increase of 7.36 points. Patient skills after training were rated at 17.4 out of 20 points on average (increase by an average of 5.14 points after education), six months later, there was an average of 16.23 points. Conclusions: The study showed an increase in patients' knowledge and skills in the field of SBPM after training.  Scientific publications and guidelines of scientific associations indicate the significant role of self-blood pressure measurements (SBPM) in the process of arterial hypertension therapy monitoring and for the therapeutic decision-making ,3,4,5,6.SBPM constitutes an indispensable assistance in the control of the health state of a patient only when the measurement is correctly conducted and it complies with the recommendations/guidelines of scientific associations, since only then the obtained results are reliable ,15,16,17Unfortunately, the knowledge as well as skills of patients in this field are insufficient ,18,19,20The study objective was to assess the impact of training process on the change of the knowledge and skills levels of patients with arterial hypertension in the field of self-blood pressure measurement using semi-automatic pressure gauge. Moreover, the usability of the used methods and education tools was also assessed. The study was performed in the facilities  described in the article of Dymek et al. . The metWithin the study, patients performed self-blood pressure measurements using the provided, individually to each patient, arm monitors, which were semi-automatic with built-in memory. The choice of a semi-automatic device, instead of a fully automatic device, allowed patients to master the ability to independently select the pressure value to which the cuff should be pumped. This type of pressure device is cheaper than fully automatic ones and therefore more often used among Polish patients.The measurements were performed twice a day for 20 consecutive work days in the presence of a researcher. The measurement was recorded using audiovisual means. After the first 10 days, each patient had individual educational meeting with researcher concerning the principles of proper blood pressure measurement . The topPrior to the process of education, patients were assigned at random to two groups , in accordance with the simple randomization principles using dependent randomization. During training, patients in group 1 were provided with individualized leaflets containing information provided in the course of the meeting. Patients were able to use the leaflet during subsequent measurements. Patient education in group 2 was not supported with written information during an educational meeting. Patients in this group received an educational leaflet after completing TEST 2 . After 1Assessment of the patient knowledge in the field of self-blood pressure measurement (SBPM) was performed based on the results of knowledge test results. The test contained 10 questions, and was identical for all study participants at any stage of the study . Over a half of the participants (57.14%) consisted of persons with secondary education, those with university and primary education made up 21.43% of the total. The study included two men. Patients suffered from arterial hypertension for the period of 6 months to 32 years (6).Patient knowledge was assessed based on a three repetitions of test containing 10 questions. After the training, the knowledge on SBPM increased in all patients by a mean of 5 points (TEST 2 vs TEST 1 p < 0.0001). In this test, patients scored a mean of 9 points out of 10. In TEST 3, the results were reduced relative to TEST 2 (p < 0.02), by an average of 1 point. Finally, the TEST 3 results remained significantly higher relative to those obtained in TEST 1 (p < 001). In TEST 3, patients scored an average of 7.36 points. The difference in the percentage of persons responding correctly to individual test questions is presented in The greatest increase (by over 70%) of the percentage of correct answers in TEST 2 as compared with TEST 1 concerns the question on the time interval between a hearty meal and the SBPM and on the cuff inflation value .In TEST 3, as compared with TEST 2, a decrease in the percentage of correct answers to seven test questions occurred. The greatest decrease of the percentage of correct answers concerns questions on the selection of arm for the measurement, time lapse between administration of medicines before the measurement and the time interval between measurements (decrease by over 20%).The final increase in the knowledge, i.e., comparison of TEST 3 and TEST 1, concerns all questions and it amounts to 4.4% in the case of question on the time interval between medicine administration and measurement to 64.3% in the question on the factors influencing result reliability. Details on the increase of knowledge on the individual test questions are presented in The results failed to reject normality with the Ryan-Joiner test at a 0.01 significance level. Assuming normality of distribution, the t-Student test (paired t-test) for the dependent samples has demonstrated that differences in the percentage of correct answers between TEST 2/TEST 1; TEST 3/TEST 2; TEST 3/TEST 1 are statistically significant (p = 0.05). Results were verified with a non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test, which demonstrated that medians of differences between the percentage of correct answers in the appropriate combinations are significantly different (p = 0.05).By comparing the increase of knowledge in SBPM in both analyzed groups , differeAssessment of patients’ skills during self-blood pressure measurement was performed on the basis of analysis of 1064 video recordings of measurements performed by 14 patients. In all patients, an increase of skill in SBPM performance was observed after the training, both in the second as well as in the third study stage. Measurements performed by patients after training were rated at 17.34 points on average (max. 20). This means an average increase of 5.14 points relative to measurements prior to training (in group 1 patients by 5.46 and in group 2 patients by 4.81). In both groups, a decrease in the skill level was observed after 6 months from training. Results of skill analysis after this period demonstrated that patients scored a lower number of points on average than after the training. However, this result was still higher than the result obtained prior to training (average increase by 4.29 points in group 1 and by 3.89 points in group 2). Based on the ANOVA with repeatable measurements it can be stated that patients of group 1 and group 2 do not differ statistically (p = 0.65) within the range of results determining the ability to perform self-blood pressure measurement prior and after training and after a 6-month period after training. The increase in skills of both patient groups is presented in After the training, the greatest increase of skills expressed by the number of points scored per measurement concerned assuming the correct body posture during measurement, patients sat facing the table more frequently (increase by 63%), they kept back upright (increase by over 58%) and rested the back against the chair’s backrest (increase by over 83%) . Results presenting increase of skills were verified with non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test, which has demonstrated that medians of differences between the percentage of correct answers in the appropriate combinations  are significantly different (p = 0.05). Mean pressure values were compared before and after the training for each patient individually. For comparison of pressure values, results obtained by patients within 10 days before and 10 days after education were used. This analysis does not take into account the results of measurements made after 6 months, because their value, apart from the method of pressure measurement itself, could have been influenced by changes in lifestyle and pharmacotherapy during the next 6 months.In two patients, mean systolic pressure and diastolic received during 10 days of measurements after education was higher than before education  and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) on average). In 10 patients, there was a decrease in mean systolic and or diastolic pressure in the measurements performed after the educational meeting. The most significant reduction of the pressure values is a 10% decrease relative to the initial SBP and 17% compared to the initial DBP.In the presented study, a pharmacist was the educator, which is part of the role of a modern pharmacist ,22,23,24Education of all patients was performed by one educator. Thus, the issue arising in scientific publications was eliminated, consisting in the influence of differences in the level of substantive knowledge, communication competences or styles of providing information by various educators ,34. In aEducation of each patient was expanded with analysis of knowledge test results as well as analysis of video recordings of SBPM performance. This enabled adjustment of educational  content to the individual needs of each patient. The available literature data indicate that individualized provision of information during training greatly impacts the efficiency of an education process ,39,40,41Following the procedure described in the literature, in order to assess the efficiency of the educational activities undertaken, tools used by the educator to assess the knowledge and skills of patients prior to the training were also used after the education ,43,44.An undisputed advantage of the conducted education was the use of semi-automatic devices, provided to each patient. Blood pressure measuring devices, according to the guidelines, were validated according to internationally accepted protocols . The devAs presented by the study, verbal education conducted in all patients covered by the study constitutes an efficient training method. This remains in line with the study results of Axtell et al., which confirmed the high efficiency of direct trainings; furthermore, it indicated a considerably higher knowledge level and patient skills using this educational technique as compared with other education forms . HoweverFollowing the data analysis from the present study and the mentioned publications, we can assume that the influence of educational leaflet on the increase of knowledge level is significant in the situation when the educator uses only this educational tool, completely replacing verbal education. This is confirmed by the study by Axtell et al. as well as in the study by Dawes et al. ,44. The Patients’ education increased the ability to perform self-blood pressure measurement by the patients, which became apparent by the reduction of the frequency of errors made during measurement. As a result of education, the percentage of correctly performed parameters increased from 61% to 86.7%. It appears that the presented study is the first one providing such a complex analysis of the impact of education on the ability to correctly perform 20 different elements of SBPM. The analyzed, available studies typically analyze the pressure measurement method, including errors during the performance of such a measurement and regularity at which it is performed. Those studies typically assess in detail one selected aspect, without examining the influence of education on the change of behavior and patient skills ,46,47. Following the assumptions of studies on health education of patients with chronic diseases, the present study also examined the durability of effects of the conducted education after 6 months ,48. As sThe study has demonstrated an increase of knowledge under the impact of education conducted by the pharmacist in all patients who participated in the study. Moreover, the conducted training caused an increase in the skills of self-blood pressure measurement, which translates into the reduced frequency of errors made by patients during the measurement. The knowledge and skills levels acquired during educational meetings decrease over time. It is necessary to repeat the education process. According to our results, it could be valuable to re-educate patients at least every six months.