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In this study, undoped and Nd 2 O 3 -doped TeO 2 –V 2 O 5 –B 2 O 3 oxide glasses were synthesized and their characterizations were performed. Physical parameters belonging to the glass series having four samples prepared with melt-quenching technique were determined and the changes in structural, thermal, and optical properties with Nd 2 O 3 doping were examined. Density, molar volume, molar refractivity, and metallization criterion values were calculated as physical parameters. Structural properties were examined with XRD and FTIR, and as a result of these examinations, the structure was found to be amorphous and the glass network was observed to consist of TeO 4 , TeO 3 , BO 3 , and BO 4 structural units with the help of absorption spectrum within the region of 400–1500 cm −1 , and it was also understood that conversions occurred in these structural units with doping. It was determined with DSC thermograms that changes occurred in thermal data with Nd 2 O 3 doping. Transmittance and absorption spectra were used in optical characterization. Seven characteristic absorption bands were found in this glass structure belonging to Nd within the visible region. Moreover, optical band gap, Urbach energy, and refractive index values according to absorption edge were calculated and changes in these novel synthesized glasses due to doping were examined and commented in detail. Data arising as a result of glass characterization were concluded to be due to structural changes in the glass network depending upon the Nd 2 O 3 concentration in glasses and Nd 2 O 3 was present within the structure as the modifier.

The study aimed to contribute to condition assessments of historic bridges in Izmir, Turkey and the estimation of their predictable functional lifetime after the Samos earthquake. This document is a summary of the study into the reliability of Non-Destructive Techniques (NDT) for testing the state of different historic bridges impacted by the October 30, 2020 Earthquake. Besides providing data on material characteristics, NDT can help identify hidden bridge structure defects, such as cavities and moisture. This study also used FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) spectral data analysis in conjunction with NDT as a multidisciplinary evaluation technique and demonstrates the value of this approach in the field. This study is of special relevance to bridge engineers.

Ag-doped vanadium–borophosphate glasses having 46V 2 O 5 –46P 2 O 5 –(8 − x )B 2 O 3 – x AgO as the base structure have been successfully synthesized with different compositions of AgO ( x  = 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 mol%) by the conventional melt-quenching technique. Density and molar volume values were calculated by Archimedes principle. The transmittance and absorbance spectra, XRD, and FTIR measurements of the glasses were performed at room temperature. While XRD data showed that the glasses had an amorphous structure away from crystallization, FTIR spectra showed that vanadium and phosphate compounds forming the glass network consisted of VO 4 , VO 5 and PO 3 , PO 2 structural units, respectively. It was observed that AgO, which replaces B 2 O 3 , acted as a modifier in the glass network. Direct and indirect band gaps of synthesized glasses were calculated using Tauc method. Urbach energies were also calculated. The glass transition temperature, crystallization temperature, and melting temperature values of the samples were determined with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the range of room temperature to 1000 °C.

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common tumors of the female genital tract, affecting 50% to 70% of females by the age of 50. Despite their prevalence and enormous medical and economic impact, no effective medical treatment is currently available. This is, in part, due to the poor understanding of their underlying pathobiology. Although they are thought to start as a clonal proliferation of a single myometrial smooth muscle cell, these early cytogenetic alterations are considered insufficient for tumor development and additional complex signaling pathway alterations are crucial. These include steroids, growth factors, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β)/Smad; wingless-type (Wnt)/β-catenin, retinoic acid, vitamin D, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). An important finding is that several of these pathways converge in a summative way. For example, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt pathways seem to act as signal integrators, incorporating input from several signaling pathways, including growth factors, estrogen and vitamin D. This underlines the multifactorial origin and complex nature of these tumors. In this review, we aim to dissect these pathways and discuss their interconnections, aberrations and role in leiomyoma pathobiology. We also aim to identify potential targets for development of novel therapeutics.

Structural, optical, and gamma radiation safety properties of 46V 2 O 5 ·46P 2 O 5 ·(8– x )B 2 O 3 · x ZnO ( x  = 0,2,4,6, and 8 mol%) abbreviated as VPB/Zn glasses were investigated. The structure of the synthesized glasses has been examined via FTIR spectra within the range of 400–1500 cm −1 at room temperature. UV–Vis–NIR measurements of the proposed glasses were performed within the range of 200–3300 nm. The optical characteristics such as optical energy bandgap ( E Optical ), refractive index ( n Linear ), and Urbach’s energy ( E U ) have been determined. In addition, the mass attenuation coefficients (MAC) for VPB/Zn glasses were performed utilizing MCNP-5 simulation code and XCOM program for various gamma ray energy varied in range 0.015–15 MeV. Based on MAC values, the equivalent atomic number ( Z eq ) and buildup factors (EABF and EBF) were evaluated. Results reveal that the direct E Optical Tauc ′ s of the VPB/Zn glasses ranged from 0.688 to 0.710 eV, while from 0.560 to 0.647 eV for the indirect transition. The admission of the ZnO improves the MAC of the VPB/Zn glasses. Thus, one can conclude that the proposed glasses can be applied for optical devices as semiconductor glasses and considered as good materials for γ-rays shielding.

Considerable research into the area of bridge health monitoring has been undertaken; however, information is still lacking on the effects of certain defects, such as moisture ingress, on the results of ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveying. In this paper, this issue will be addressed by examining the results of a GPR bridge survey, specifically the effect of moisture in the predicted position of the rebars. It was found that moisture ingress alters the radargram to indicate distortion or skewing of the steel reinforcements, when in fact destructive testing was able to confirm that no such distortion or skewing had occurred. Additionally, split-spectrum processing with order statistic filters was utilized to detect moisture ingress from the GPR raw data.

In this study, five different zinc sodium tetraborate glasses based on nominal composition of xCaO-(40-x) ZnO-59Na 2 B 4 O 7 -1CuO were investigated in terms of their extensive mechanical and ionizing radiation resistance properties. Mathematical methodologies and sophisticated modeling techniques were included in the study. The development in elastic moduli parameters (bulk, Young’s, shear, and longitudinal) and Poisson’s ratio of the heavier CaO content of the CZNBC glasses were confirmed via Makishima-Mackenzie (M-M) and bond compression (B-C) models. The B-C bulk elastic (K B-C ) modulus was found to increase from 112.22 to 120.40 GPa, while the M-M bulk (K M-M ) modulus increased from 15.73 to 22.83 GPa for CZNBC-0 (glass sample free with CaO) and CZNBC-40 (glass sample rich with CaO), respectively. On the other hand, our findings showed that gamma radiation shielding properties decreased with increasing CaO contribution in the glass structure. Consequently, a direct relationship was observed between the changing trends of mechanical and gamma ray shielding properties. It can be concluded that increasing CaO may be beneficial for improving the mechanical characteristics of zinc sodium tetraborate glasses, while decreasing ZnO/CaO may result in a reduction in gamma ray shielding capabilities. Graphic Abstract

The thermionic vacuum arc is an original technique in terms of both the deposition mechanism and the properties of the produced plasma. The thermionic vacuum arc has been used as a method for deposition of thin film since it is an anodic arc discharge of the material to be evaporated into vapors. The resulting material ions fall at the substrate where they form a well-adhesive, free from droplets, high-purity, extremely flat, low-roughness, dense, and good structured layer when the thermal stress of the substrates being coated is low and deposition rate is high. In this study, cadmium oxide-doped vanadium phosphate glass was synthesized by using traditional melt-quenching method prior to deposition. This synthesized glass was first deposited as a glassy thin film via the thermionic vacuum arc process. Due to the thermionic vacuum arc method, the thin film deposition process of CdO-doped vanadium phosphate glass was carried out within a short time of 120 s. On the other hand, structural comparisons were made between the similarities of the deposited glassy thin film and the previously synthesized bulk glass sample. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the glassy thin film had an amorphous structure similar to the synthesized bulk glass. Structural properties of the CdO-doped vanadium phosphate glassy thin film were determined by using Raman spectrum and scanning electron microscopy images, and the elements in the thin film were discussed with the energy-dispersive X-ray analysis in detail. Finally, transmittance properties of glassy thin film were investigated with surface scanning method.

Assessing the health and condition of structures like bridges involves frequently using structural health monitoring (SHM). In the past, wire sensors had to be installed on bridge structures as part of the SHM process so that data could be collected and sent to a data gathering unit there. However, this study suggests switching out the conventional wire sensors with wireless ones to create a Bridge Health Monitoring System (BHMS) that is affordable, practical, and simple to install. A software translation program attached to the monitoring server is used by each wireless sensor. In a GSM LAN (Global System for Mobile Communications) environment, this monitoring server system has the ability to link and interact with other similar systems of that type. The evaluation approach provided by the BHMS is thorough, secure, and portable.

In order to evaluate possible dangers to the building and its occupants, this research provides a thorough inquiry into the monitoring and analysis of environmental toxins surrounding a historic church. This case study centres on a well-known historical place where pollution threatens both local human health and conservation efforts. The study takes a multipronged strategy in identifying the origins, distribution channels, and effects of environmental pollutants by integrating laboratory data, field measurements, and historical records. Particulate matter sampling, soil analysis, and air quality evaluations are all included in field monitoring, which offers current information on pollutant concentrations and geographic distribution. In order to place the results in a larger historical and socioeconomic perspective and clarify how pollution sources and regulatory responses have changed over time, historical documents and archival research are also used. The study’s findings indicate that there may be hazards to the historic church’s structural integrity, the preservation of its cultural heritage, and public health in the area. These risks related to increased levels of certain pollutants. To sum up, this study sheds light on the intricate relationship between environmental pollutants and historic preservation, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary approaches to effectively assess risk and develop mitigation techniques for heritage conservation initiatives.