Browsing by Subject "Metals"

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    2D transition metal carbides (MXenes) in metal and ceramic matrix composites
    (Springer, 2021-06-02) Wyatt, Brian C.; Nemani, Srinivasa Kartik; Anasori, Babak; Mechanical and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology
    Two-dimensional transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbonitrides (known as MXenes) have evolved as competitive materials and fillers for developing composites and hybrids for applications ranging from catalysis, energy storage, selective ion filtration, electromagnetic wave attenuation, and electronic/piezoelectric behavior. MXenes’ incorporation into metal matrix and ceramic matrix composites is a growing field with significant potential due to their impressive mechanical, electrical, and chemical behavior. With about 50 synthesized MXene compositions, the degree of control over their composition and structure paired with their high-temperature stability is unique in the field of 2D materials. As a result, MXenes offer a new avenue for application driven design of functional and structural composites with tailorable mechanical, electrical, and thermochemical properties. In this article, we review recent developments for use of MXenes in metal and ceramic composites and provide an outlook for future research in this field.
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    Association of exposure to manganese and fine motor skills in welders - Results from the WELDOX II study
    (Elsevier, 2021) Lotz, Anne; Pesch, Beate; Casjens, Swaantje; Lehnert, Martin; Zschiesche, Wolfgang; Taeger, Dirk; Yeh, Chien-Lin; Weiss, Tobias; Schmidt-Wilcke, Tobias; Quetscher, Clara; Gabriel, Stefan; Samis Zella, Maria Angela; Woitalla, Dirk; Dydak, Ulrike; van Thriel, Christoph; Brüning, Thomas; Behrens, Thomas; Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine
    The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exposure to manganese (Mn) on fine motor functions. A total of 48 welders and 30 unexposed workers as controls completed questionnaires, underwent blood examinations, and a motor test battery. The shift exposure of welders to respirable Mn was measured with personal samplers. For all subjects accumulations of Mn in the brain were assessed with T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Welders showed normal motor functions on the Movement Disorder Society-Sponsored Revision of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale part III. Furthermore welders performed excellent on a steadiness test, showing better results than controls. However, welders were slightly slower than controls in motor tests. There was no association between fine motor test results and the relaxation rates R1 in globus pallidus and substantia nigra as MRI-based biomarkers to quantify Mn deposition in the brain.
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    Urinary fluoride levels and metal co-exposures among pregnant women in Los Angeles, California
    (BMC, 2023-10-26) Malin, Ashley J.; Hu, Howard; Martínez‑Mier, E. Angeles; Eckel, Sandrah P.; Farzan, Shohreh F.; Howe, Caitlin G.; Funk, William; Meeker, John D.; Habre, Rima; Bastain, Theresa M.; Breton, Carrie V.; Cariology, Operative Dentistry and Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry
    Background: Fluoride is ubiquitous in the United States (US); however, data on biomarkers and patterns of fluoride exposure among US pregnant women are scarce. We examined specific gravity adjusted maternal urinary fluoride (MUFsg) in relation to sociodemographic variables and metal co-exposures among pregnant women in Los Angeles, California. Methods: Participants were from the Maternal and Developmental Risks from Environmental and Social Stressors (MADRES) cohort. There were 293 and 490 women with MUFsg measured during first and third trimesters, respectively. An intra-class correlation coefficient examined consistency of MUFsg between trimesters. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests examined associations of MUFsg with sociodemographic variables. Covariate adjusted linear regression examined associations of MUFsg with blood metals and specific gravity adjusted urine metals among a subsample of participants within and between trimesters. A False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction accounted for multiple comparisons. Results: Median (IQR) MUFsg was 0.65 (0.5) mg/L and 0.8 (0.59) mg/L, during trimesters one and three respectively. During both trimesters, MUFsg was higher among older participants, those with higher income, and White, non-Hispanic participants than Hispanic participants. MUFsg was also higher for White, non-Hispanic participants than for Black, non-Hispanic participants in trimester three, and for those with graduate training in trimester one. MUFsg was negatively associated with blood mercury in trimester one and positively associated with blood lead in trimester three. MUFsg was positively associated with various urinary metals, including antimony, barium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, nickel, tin, and zinc in trimesters one and/or three. Conclusions: MUFsg levels observed were comparable to those found in pregnant women in Mexico and Canada that have been associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes. Lower urinary fluoride levels among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black participants in MADRES compared to non-Hispanic White participants may reflect lower tap water consumption or lower fluoride exposure from other sources. Additional research is needed to examine whether MUFsg levels observed among pregnant women in the US are associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes.