Journal of Experimental Botany, after 25years’ service as head of the journal’s office in Lancaster. Maryjoined the journal in 1995 while completing her PhD (‘Root growth in dryingsoil: a role for ABA?) under the supervision of Bill Davies. Bill wasEditor-in-Chief of JXB from 1995 to 2007 and appointed Mary to thepost of Executive Editor , when the previousincumbent, Sarah Blackford, decided to follow a different career path. Billrecognised that Mary’s enthusiasm for plant science and understanding of itsvalue to society for addressing global challenges would be tremendous assets forboth JXB and its parental organisation, the Society forExperimental Biology (SEB).In July 2020 we bid a fond farewell to Mary Traynor, who is retiring as ExecutiveEditor of the JXB to become a truly global plant science journal byencouraging the appointment of overseas editors and promoting the journal atinternational conferences.The intervening years have seen enormous changes and challenges in the world ofscientific publishing with the digital revolution and increased competition from newjournals. Yet under Mary’s wise and inspiring leadership, the journal has notonly survived but thrived, growing in scientific reputation and reaching an ever-widerinternational audience, while at the same time providing valuable income for the SEB tosupport its activities in the scientific community. In the early years, Mary and Billlaunched the journal’s Special Issues, which were initially linked to symposia atSEB meetings. These and other new features, such as the Flowering Newsletter, that wereinstituted during Mary’s time in office have made a major contribution to thesuccess of the journal. In partnership with Bill’s successors as Editor-in-Chief,Jerry Roberts (2008–2012) and Christine Raines (2012–2020), Mary played aleading role in other important innovations, including the early adoption of Open Accessfor authors from subscribing institutions, the development of the eXtra Botany sectionand Darwin Reviews, and the creation of a strong online presence. Mary and her team alsohelped JXB and its ethos as a community-based journal. Underpinning theseprofessional attributes and a key to her success are Mary’s personal qualities,which are reflected in the warm and affectionate comments we received from many of herpast and present colleagues from the journal office. She is above all a kind andgenerous person who genuinely cares about people, social issues and nature. Over theyears she has displayed a remarkable talent for spotting potential in people, nurturingand inspiring younger members of staff with her kindness, good humour and wisdom. Bygiving each person a voice and demonstrating her trust in their abilities, Mary createda happy and supportive environment in which her junior colleagues flourished, withseveral of her protégés advancing to senior editorial positions with otherjournals. Colleagues from the SEB and our publisher, Oxford University Press, alsoexpressed their warm appreciation for Mary’s abilities and character, recognisingher genuine desire and determination to make things better for the journal. Never shy toprotect the journal’s interests, she has always done so with professionalism, apositive attitude and good humour. The journal’s authors and scientific editorshave also benefitted greatly from Mary’s sage advice over the years, based on herability to see both sides of an argument, make sound judgements, and express her viewsin a tactful and constructive way.These achievements reflect Mary’s strong scientific background, sound judgement,organisational skills, understanding of the publishing world and, above all, commitmentto JXB, we owe a particular debt ofgratitude to Mary for her invaluable support in helping us to meet the many challengesof the job, and it is clear to all of us how much the success of JXBover the last 25 years has depended on Mary as the lynchpin between the scientific,administrative and publishing arms of the journal. On behalf of all our authors,editors, readers and staff, we wish to express our heartfelt thanks to Mary for hersuperb and devoted service to the journal, and we wish her a long and happy retirementto enjoy watching her grandchildren grow up and share her passion for the natural worldand the hills of the Lake District.As past and current Editors-in-Chief of Mary (right), with Christine Raines, at the SEB Meeting in Prague, July 2015.


With the increment of starch, the disulfide stretching vibrations of the gauche–gauche–gauche conformation were reduced in both gel matrices. The structural variations of different components collectively resulted in changes in texture profile analysis and water holding capacity. Overall, the results demonstrated that starch addition had a great and positive effect on the weak gel matrix by direct heating.The modifications of histological properties and chemical forces on heated surimi gels with starch addition (0–12 g/100 g surimi) were investigated. Two types of heating processes (direct heating and two-step heating) were carried out on surimi gels in order to reveal the effect of setting on mixed matrices. The results of transverse relaxation time showed less immobile water and free water converted into bound water in a matrix subjected to the setting process. Scanning electron microscope and light microscopy images revealed inefficient starch-swelling in two-step heated gels. Chemical interactions and forces in direct cooking gels were more vulnerable to starch addition, resulting in significant decreases in hydrophobic interaction and sulfhydryl content ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), widely cultured in China, is considered a low-commercial value fish due to its muddy flavor and higher by-product content . A . A 47]. d starch . SCG shop < 0.05). Moreover, two-step heated gels showed higher whiteness in different starch content compared with direct heating gels. The differences in two types of gels might be attributed to a restrictive effect on starch swelling. L*, a*, and b* values decreased as potato starch content increased and presented significant differences between CG and SCG.Whiteness is one of the most essential indications of surimi quality. The variation in whiteness is found to be correlated not only to the conformation of the gel network but also to the color of additives ,49. As pp < 0.05). This was in line with previous research by Mi et al. [P2b and lower TP22; and (iii) the setting effect improved the stability of immobile water, whereas it limited starch swelling.WHC represents the stability of the mixed matrix suffering external forces, which indirectly reflects the compactness of surimi gels and water absorption capacity of starch . As showi et al.  and Luo i et al. . It has i et al. . Some poChanges in the water migration and distribution, tissue microstructures, chemical interactions, protein spatial structure, and physical properties were studied. The addition of starch expanded and caused moisture migration, which was ascribed to the combination of free water and hydrophilic groups in starch. The competition between surimi and starch for water affected the chemical interactions and forces in surimi gel components, thereby indirectly resulting in changes in the microstructure and water holding properties of the gel matrix. For the direct cooking matrix, the porous surimi gel lost water when it was squeezed by starch, resulting in a reduction in pore size and immobile water inside. Moreover, starch was not conducive to the interactions of hydrophobic groups, whereas weak disulfide bonds were generated after adding starch. The enhancement of textural properties might be related to changes in protein structure. Subjected to the setting process, the matrix showed an ascendant trend in non-specific associations, ionic bonds, and hydrogen bonds, which was similar to non-setting gels. Setting-cooking gels with a compact structure were less affected by starch-swelling. However, adding excessive starch destroyed the integrity of SCG and decreased cohesiveness and resilience. Therefore, this study found that the addition of starch content had a better supporting effect on weak gels, which provided some insights for improving the quality of surimi-based products. Moreover, further studies are needed to improve the compatibility and active filling of starch in the two-step heating process.


PurposeTo evaluate the fracture resistance and fracture mode of high-translucency monolithic zirconia (HTZ) crowns and porcelain-veneered zirconia (PVZ) crowns.Material and methodsA master die was scanned to design and fabricate the HTZ group (n = 10) and PVZ group (n = 10). Both groups were artificially aged before loaded to fracture. The means of fracture loads of the two groups were compared using an independent t-test at a significance level of 0.05. The mode of fracture was determined using a digital magnifier.ResultsThe mean fracture strength for the HTZ group ) was significantly higher than in the PVZ group  . All crowns in the HTZ group presented core fracture mode. However, crowns in the PVZ group showed both a core and adhesive fracture mode of 60% and 40%, respectively.ConclusionThe fracture strength of HTZ crowns is superior to PVZ crowns. The fracture strength of both types surpassed the maximum bite force in the posterior region, which may be deemed clinically adequate. The need for ceramic restorations has risen over the past years. As an outcome, a substantial number of studies have been conducted to examine the reliability of ceramic restorations for application in posterior restorations. Yttrium oxide-stabilized zirconia is considered the strongest tooth-coloured restorative material available nowadays. Its superior flexural strength of 900 to 1,200 megapascals (MPa) and excellent biocompatibility make it a favourite option among other all-ceramic systems. However, due to the inherent opaque nature of zirconia, it is often used as a coping and veneered with a layer of a more translucent ceramic-like feldspathic porcelain [Yttria-tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (Y-TZP) coping veneered with feldspathic porcelain presented superior mechanical properties as well as excellent aesthetics . AlthougRecently, computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacture (CAD/CAM) has significantly improved all-ceramic restorations in terms of the varieties of material that can be utilized, the better ways that dies are handled and produced, and how crowns can be manufactured without a master die model .By employing a CAD/CAM system, the zirconia core and veneer layers are designed mutually in the CAD software. After a standard zirconia core fabrication process, the veneer layer will be milled from lithium disilicate glass-ceramic with consolidation of the core and veneer employing a glass-ceramic powder. This process has helped to decrease the working time, improve cost-effectiveness, and optimize the control of shade and design of zirconia restorations .Another way to improve the strength of zirconia restorations is to use monolithic restorations -14. A fuTherefore, the current study aims to compare the fracture resistance of posterior high-translucency monolithic zirconia (HTZ) crowns and porcelain-veneered zirconia (PVZ) crowns. Also, we will examine the fracture mode of both types of crowns. The null hypothesis is that there is no significant difference in the mean fracture resistance between the PVZ and HTZ groups.Fabrication of the PVZ groupTo manufacture zirconia copings for the PVZ group, an artificial maxillary right first molar tooth (CEREC AC Model)  was prepared to receive an all-ceramic crown. The preparation had a 1 mm heavy chamfer, a 2 mm occlusal reduction, and a total convergence angle of 10 degrees. The demo model was scanned using the Smart Optical 3D laser scanner . The data were then uploaded into the Exocad software  to mill 20 metal dies  in a milling machine  .The metal dies were scanned using the Smart Optical 3D intraoral scanner to design 10 zirconia copings by using Exocad software with parameters set at 0.6 mm thickness and a 30 μm spacer.The 10 copings were milled using pre-sintered Y-TZP materials  and the sintering procedure was followed to the manufacturer's specifications  . Each crown underwent a firing cycle in a ceramic furnace  following the manufacturer's instruction . All crowns were prepared with finishing burs and silicon carbide paper  , then coated with IPS e.max Ceram Glaze  as per the manufacturer's instructions.Fabrication of HTZ groupSimilarly, the metal dies were scanned to design and mill 10 fully anatomical high-translucency crowns for the HTZ group from a high- translucency zirconia blank (ZircoStar). One of the crowns from the PVZ group was scanned by the Smart Optical 3D scanner and used as a bio-copy to design the translucent monolithic zirconia crowns with a 30 μm spacer using Exocad software. The crowns were sintered in a furnace at 1,450° C to attain their full strength and glazed using Vita AKZENT Plus  at glazing temperatures specified by manufacturer's instructions Figure .The first stage of artificial agingTwo stages of artificial aging were applied: thermocycling and cyclic preload. In the thermocycling stage, all 20 crowns underwent 3,000 cycles in two water baths at temperatures of 5° C and 55° C in a thermocycler machine (THE‑1100‑SD) . Every cycle persisted for 60 seconds; 20 seconds in each bath and 10 seconds for the change between the baths.Cementation Using a dental surveyor, the metal dies were installed vertically in a self-cured orthodontic acrylic resin. The size of the holder in the masticatory machine used for the preloading experiments dictated the size of the cylindrical silicone mold, which was 35 mm in diameter. According to the manufacturer's directions, the 20 crowns were bonded to the corresponding metal die with glass-ionomer cement , and a uniform seating load of 15 newtons (N) was applied in the direction of insertion for 60 seconds [After cementation, the crowns were stored in a plastic container with water covering the bottom surface and a sealed lid to create a humid atmosphere resembling the oral cavity to avoid desiccation of the luting cement.The second stage of artificial agingIn this subsequent stage of artificial aging, the cyclic was preloaded. Also, a three-point contact between the occlusal surface of each crown and the indenter was confirmed on cusp slopes. Each crown was cyclically pre-loaded in wet conditions for 10,000 cycles using a using chewing stimulating (chewing simulator CS-4) machine . The loads were between 30 and 300 N with a load frequency of 1 Hz that was parallel to the vertical plane.Load to fractureAfter being stored in distilled water for 24 hours, the crowns were mounted in a vertical position; the load was applied toward the occlusal surface using a 3.7 mm diameter stainless steel ball and a 0.5 mm/min crosshead speed using an Instron® 5960 universal testing machine . The fracture was described as the occurrence of visible cracks in combination with load drops and acoustic events.Analysis of fracture modeInspection of the broken crowns and fractured fragments was conducted, and the fracture mode  was ascertained by using a Mobiloskop magnifier . Statistical analysisThe sample of 10 crowns for each group was chosen based on previous in vitro studies -6. It acThe statistical analysis was performed by using IBM Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS), version 25 . The means of fracture loads of the two groups were compared using an independent t-test. A p-value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Fracture loadTable Fracture modeTwo types of fracture mode were detected, either a core fracture which included both the core and the veneer, or an adhesive fracture which affected the bonding area between the veneer and the core. All crowns in the HTZ group revealed a core fracture Figure . On the This study examined the fracture resistance of HTZ crowns and PVZ crowns. In this study, a CAD/CAM technique was used for the fabrication of the wax veneered layers of the PVZ group to avoid the complications and variations brought on by the traditional layered veneering technique. A similar protocol was utilized in some earlier studies -11.Both PVZ and HTZ crowns showed high fracture loads, which is beyond the average bite force reported in posterior teeth  -18. ThisUnlike the veneered zirconia crowns, which had 0.6 mm uniform thickness zirconia copings, the monolithic zirconia crowns had the thickness of full anatomic crowns. The increasing values in progressing from dental veneering zirconia to zirconia indicate an increasing shielding capacity so that higher loads are needed to deliver enough stress to the interior to propagate the internal fracture . The modSince the monolithic crowns were fabricated based on the manufacturer's instructions without a need for a porcelain veneer, as expected, the core fracture was the standard fracture mode. However, in porcelain-veneered crowns, two types of fracture modes occurred: core fractures and adhesive fractures. PVZ crowns exhibited adhesive failures in four of the samples. The reason can be attributed to the development of tensile stresses at the interior surface of the veneering layer emerging from the presence of a moderately weak intermediate layer .In the current study, the null hypothesis was rejected as a significant difference in the mean fracture load existing between the PVZ and HTZ groups. The mean fracture load of the HTZ group was more than double that of the PVZ group.In this study, some limitations should be acknowledged. As in all in vitro studies, it cannot perfectly duplicate the exact clinical situations. Therefore, the results obtained from in vitro analyses may not entirely predict the results in the normal dentition. Also, other impact factors, such as lateral and oblique forces, were not tested in this study. Also, working on metal dies does not provide the equivalent modulus of elasticity as in natural teeth which could influence the fracture resistance values.The following conclusion can be drawn within the limitations of this in vitro study: the monolithic HTZ crowns are expected to exhibit better clinical performance compared to PVZ. However, the fracture strength of both crowns types surpasses the maximum bite force in the posterior region, which may be deemed clinically adequate. More in-situ studies are needed to yield a more reliable estimation performance for clinical cases.


To develop more efficient PET tracer(s) for aromatase imaging, we synthesized three analogs of cetrozole. We synthesized meta-cetrozole, nitro-cetrozole, and iso-cetrozole, and prepared the corresponding 11C-labeled tracers. The inhibitory activities of these three analogs toward aromatase were evaluated using marmoset placenta, and PET imaging of brain aromatase was performed using the 11C-labeled tracers in monkeys. The most promising analog in the monkey study, iso-cetrozole, was evaluated in the human PET study. The highest to lowest inhibitory activity of the analogs toward aromatase in the microsomal fraction from marmoset placenta was in the following order: iso-cetrozole, nitro-cetrozole, cetrozole, and meta-cetrozole. This order showed good agreement with the order of the binding potential (BP) of each 11C-labeled analog to aromatase in the rhesus monkey brain. A human PET study using [11C]iso-analog showed a similar distribution pattern of binding as that of [11C]cetrozole. The time–activity curves showed that elimination of [11C]iso-cetrozole from brain tissue was faster than that of 11C-cetrozole, indicating more rapid metabolism of [11C]iso-cetrozole. [11C]Cetrozole has preferable metabolic stability for brain aromatase imaging in humans, although [11C]iso-cetrozole might also be useful to measure aromatase level in living human brain because of its high binding potential.Aromatase is an estrogen synthetic enzyme that plays important roles in brain functions. To quantify aromatase expression in the brain by positron emission tomography (PET), we had previously developed [ Positron emission tomography (PET) is one of the most suitable techniques for investigating the dynamics of these hormones’ behavior, including their receptor systems in the body5. Several PET tracers for sex hormone systems have been developed. 16α-[18F]Fluoro-17β-estradiol is one of the most frequently used PET tracers for estrogen receptor imaging8, while [18F]fluorodihydrotestosterone has been used for androgen receptor imaging in animals10 and human studies12. These tracers have also been used for cancer and tumor imaging in clinical studies.Estrogen is involved in anxiety, depression, and Alzheimer’s disease18. In postmortem studies in humans, decreased aromatase immunoreactivity was observed in the hypothalamus of the patients with major depressive disorder19 and Alzheimer’s disease20.Estrogen is produced by aromatase, which catalyzes the demethylation of the androgen’s carbon 19. Aromatase is also involved in several brain functions such as cognition, behavior, emotion, and the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease and autism spectrum disorder11C]cetrozole as a PET tracer for aromatase21. [11C]Cetrozole shows better specificity and selectivity for aromatase than the previously developed [11C]vorozole22. Furthermore, the radioactive metabolites of [11C]cetrozole were not taken up into the brain, unlike the metabolite of [11C]vorozole, indicating that [11C]cetrozole could be used for highly quantitative measurement of aromatase in the brain. Human PET studies with [11C]cetrozole were performed in healthy participants24 and demonstrated the association between aromatase levels in the brain and human personality24.We had previously developed cetrozole and [11C]nitro-cetrozole were comparable. BPND of [11C]meta-cetrozole was significantly lower than that of [11C]cetrozole in the aromatase-rich regions . BPND of [11C]iso-cetrozole was 178–195% higher than that of [11C]cetrozole in the aromatase-rich regions . All tracers showed low binding to the nonspecific binding region of the thalamus, white matter, and temporal cortex in rhesus monkey brain.The distribution volume ratio (DVR) images of all tracers showed a similar distribution pattern, i.e., high binding of the tracers was observed in the amygdala, hypothalamus, and nucleus accumbens; however, the signal intensity was different Fig. . The ima11C]cetrozole, [11C]nitro-cetrozole, and [11C]iso-cetrozole showed higher accumulation of tracers in the aromatase-rich regions  than in the aromatase-less region (cerebellum). In contrast, the gap in the curves between the aromatase-rich and aromatase-less regions was small for [11C]meta-cetrozole.The time–activity curves of all tracers showed a time-dependent gradual decline in the accumulated regions Fig. . The cur11C]iso-cetrozole and the data were compared with the previously published results for [11C]cetrozole24. The distribution pattern of [11C]iso-cetrozole was similar to that of [11C]cetrozole in humans ; however, the two tracers did not show differences in the BPND values in the thalamus, amygdala, white matter, temporal cortex, and nucleus accumbens , nitro-cetrozole (IC50 = 0.73), cetrozole (IC50 = 0.98), and meta-cetrozole (IC50 = 3.50). This result indicated that (1) the methyl group substituted at the para position of the benzene ring is important, (2) the cyano group can be replaced with other electron-withdrawing groups without a significant decrease in the inhibitory activity, and (3) the triazole moiety can be exchanged with other types of triazoles. These features were consistent with the results reported for the structure–activity relationship of YM51127, which is a leading aromatase inhibitor of cetrozole. To examine the potential of each analog as a PET tracer, 11C-labeled analogs were prepared by palladium(0)-mediated rapid 11C-methylation28 from the corresponding tributylstannyl precursors.In this study, we prepared three analogs of 1Ccetrozo11C]cetrozole. All analog tracers penetrated the blood–brain barrier and showed a distribution pattern similar to that of [11C]cetrozole. However, the binding properties of the analogs were somewhat different from those of [11C]cetrozole. [11C]Meta-cetrozole showed low BPND, which was 35–43% of that of [11C]cetrozole in the aromatase-rich regions  were recruited for 60-min PET scans with [11C]iso-cetrozole. The distribution pattern of [11C]iso-cetrozole was similar to that of [11C]cetrozole, suggesting that [11C]iso-cetrozole binds to aromatase in the human brain , 0.24 mM NADPH , 0.3, 1, 3, 10, or 30 nM unlabeled cetrozole, meta-cetrozole, nitro-cetrozole, or iso-cetrozole, and 10 μL of the microsomal fraction of marmoset placenta in a total volume of 400 μL at 37 °C. The mixture was centrifuged and the aqueous phase was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in ethyl acetate, and aliquots were applied to Silica 60 thin-layer chromatography plates . The plates were developed with ethyl acetate/isooctane. After migration, the plates were dried and exposed to BAS-SR2040 imaging plates overnight. The distribution of radioactivity on the imaging plates was determined with digital PSL autoradiography.The aromatase inhibitory activity assay using marmoset placenta was performed by the same protocols as previously describedMacaca mulatta; 3.9–7.7 kg) were housed individually and received food twice a day and water ad libitum. Animals were maintained and handled in accordance with the recommendations of the United States National Institutes of Health, and the study was approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Kobe Institute at RIKEN.Male adult rhesus monkeys . The monkeys were sedated with ketamine hydrochloride , and venous cannulae were placed in the saphenous veins for further continuous anesthesia with propofol (10 mg/kg/h) and PET tracer injection. Before the emission scan, a transmission scan was performed for 30 min for attenuation correction. Each tracer  was administered intravenously as a bolus. The monkeys were scanned for 90 min in list mode with the PET scanner of Focus220 . The acquired data were sorted into dynamic sinograms  and reconstructed using Fourier Rebinninig (FORE) and 2D-filtered back projection (FBP) with a Hann filter and a cutoff frequency of 0.4 cycle per pixel.PET scans were performed in rhesus monkeys by using [11C]cetrozole analysis reported previously21. Briefly, using PMOD software , volumes of interest (VOIs) were delineated in the superior semilunar lobule of cerebellum, amygdala, hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens, white matter, thalamus and temporal cortex. The data were analyzed with Logan’s reference tissue model based on the averaged k2′31 values. The averaged k2′ values were calculated in the aromatase-rich regions, namely amygdala and hypothalamus, with simplified reference tissue model32 using the superior semilunar lobule of cerebellum as a reference region. Then, BPND and DVR were calculated. The difference in BPND between the tracers was analyzed statistically using the Mann–Whitney U test.For PET image analysis, we employed same modeling and protocol as [11C]iso-cetrozole. All participants underwent a brain PET scan, and two of the three females (38 and 39 years old) underwent a whole-body PET scan to measure their radiation exposure. Two females and two males had undergone a brain PET scan with [11C]cetrozole in a previous study (3.3–3.9 yr previously). All participants provided written informed consent.We recruited six healthy volunteers  for the PET study with [11C]cetrozole which were previously described24. The participants lay down in the PET scanner  with their heads fixed with bandages to minimize movement. The left and right median cubital veins were cannulated for blood sampling and radiotracer administration, respectively. CT scans were carried out for head positioning and attenuation correction before the emission scans. At the start of the emission scan, [11C]iso-cetrozole (201–309 MBq) was intravenously administered for approximately 30 s, and the catheter line was flushed with 15–20 mL saline to prevent radiotracer retention. Serial PET scanning of the brain was performed for 60 min in the list mode and sorted into dynamic sinograms . Images were reconstructed with FORE and FBP with no post filter. Blood samples were taken from the venous line at 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, and 60 min after administration of [11C]iso-cetrozole, and used for radiometabolite analyses (N = 5). One sample was missed because blood could not be collected from one person.The human PET studies were performed by the same protocols as human PET studies with cetrozole in monkeys were originally published in JNM. Takahashi et al. 11C-Cetrozole: An improved C-11C-methylated PET probe for aromatase imaging in the brain. J Nucl Med. 2014;55:852–85721. The data of [11C]cetrozole in humans were published in Scientific Reports. Takahashi K et al. Association between aromatase in human brains and personality traits. Sci Rep. 2018;8:1684124.In this study, the data of [Declaration of Helsinki) and registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (No. UMIN000006586). The study was carried out in compliance with the ARRIVE guidelines.The protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kobe Institute of RIKEN and Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine. All experiments were conducted in compliance with national legislation and the Code of Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects of the World Medical Association (Supplementary Information.


The increased use of zirconia crowns in adult orthodontic patients warrants the establishment of methods and materials to adhere orthodontic brackets properly to zirconia crowns. However, studies in this regard are scarce, and many materials remain untested. This preliminary study aimed to examine three new adhesives containing zirconia primers for the first time. t-test. They were also compared with each other using the one-way ANOVA and Tamhane post hoc test (α = 0.05).  Sixty identical monolithic zirconia crowns were fabricated and randomly divided into 4 groups of 15 each ). After glaze removal with a diamond bur, a metal orthodontic bracket was attached to the surfaces of the crowns using the respective adhesive. Specimens were incubated at 37°C and then thermocycled for 2000 cycles. Shear bond strengths (SBS) of brackets in different groups were estimated using a universal testing machine. Mean SBS values were compared with the values 6, 8, and 10  and 13 MPa (as the maximum SBS tolerable by zirconia) using the one-sample P < 0.0005); however, the 3 test groups were not significantly different from each other (P > 0.30). The SBS of the control group was significantly lower than the minimum acceptable SBS . The mean SBS of the TheraCem was not significantly different from 10 MPa (P = 0.902), while the mean SBS values of Panavia SA Cement Plus and G-CEM were significantly greater than 10 MPa (P < 0.05). None of the three zirconia adhesives had mean SBS values higher than 13 MPa.  The ANOVA indicated a significant overall difference; the Tamhane test showed that the difference between the control group and all test groups was significant  generated SBS values adequate to attach metal orthodontic brackets to zirconia prostheses (at or greater than 10 MPa) without damaging the zirconia during bracket removal (not above 13 MPa). Esthetics is an ever-increasing demand of dental patients, especially adult ones; the number of adults who have esthetic dental restorations and seek orthodontic treatment is increasing , 2. OrthZirconia has recently gained a lot of attention due to its esthetics and durability , 9. PrevDespite its advantages, zirconia is a challenge for orthodontists. It cannot be easily etched, even using hydrofluoric acid, and therefore does not provide proper bracket bonds , 4, 13. Not many studies have assessed methods to improve the bond strength of orthodontic brackets bonded to zirconia –4, 20–23An acrylic tooth was selected and trimmed. An impression was taken from the acrylic tooth. A die was fabricated from that impression, and it was duplicated until fabricating 60 similar dies. Then, 60 monolithic zirconia crowns were manufactured using CAD-CAM technology. The zirconia block in use was Sirona, and blocks were cut using a Sirona CAD-CAM device . Afterward, the surface treatment of glaze removal was carried out using a diamond bur. Next, the crowns were embedded in the heat-cured acrylic blocks. Finally, buccal tubes  with different cement materials in 4 groups were bonded to monolithic zirconia crowns. In terms of resin cement used, the samples were randomly divided into four groups: Group 1: Panavia SA Cement Plus ; Group 2: G-CEM (GC); Group 3: TheraCem ; Group 4 (as the control group): Transbond XT Composite . The sample size was predetermined as 15 specimens per group by augmenting the sample sizes of previous studies [2). The authors asked the manufacturer for the surface area of the bracket in use. However, the manufacturer declined to give information beyond what was presented in the catalog. Therefore, the authors themselves estimated the bracket base surface area using a digital image editing program as 17.854 mm2  with a rod moving at 1 mm/min crosshead speed was used to measure the shear force (in Newton). The SBS was measured in megapascal (MPa) by dividing the shear force (in Newton) by the surface area of the bracket attached to the crown (in mm.854 mm2 . For est.854 mm2 . Therefo.854 mm2 .P > 0.05). Groups were compared with each other using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tamhane post hoc test. They were also compared with the value of 10 MPa  using a one-sample t-test. Since the value of TheraCem was not significantly different from 10 MPa, it was also compared with another recommended clinically acceptable SBS value, 8 MPa, which is the median of the clinically acceptable range. Also, the SBS of the control group was compared with 6 MPa, which is the minimum acceptable SBS. The mean SBS values of all experimental groups were compared with the value of 13 MPa, above which can be damaging to zirconia [Descriptive statistics and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for each group. Data were normally distributed . The Tamhane post hoc test showed that the mean SBS of the control group was significantly lower than that of the other groups, but the experimental cements had mean SBS values that were not significantly different from each other . The mean SBS of the TheraCem was not significantly different from 10 MPa (P = 0.902), while the mean SBS values of Panavia SA Cement Plus and G-CEM were significantly greater than 10 MPa .The one-sample P = 0.005), while the values of Panavia SA Cement Plus (P = 0.877) and G-CEM (P = 0.839) were not significantly different from 13 MPa.Compared with the SBS value of 13 MPa, TheraCem had a value significantly lower than 13 MPa  of SBS in different groups, with some groups having much greater SDs than others. However, it should be noted that standard deviations should be assessed in light of mean values. This is why we have also calculated and reported coefficients of variation (CVs), which are calculated by dividing the standard deviation by the mean. The CV values of different groups did not change considerably across groups. Future studies should assess the efficacy of these materials and methods in clinical conditions.All three cements containing zirconia primers  were able to generate shear bond strengths adequate to attach metal orthodontic brackets to zirconia prostheses (at or greater than 10 MPa). At the same time, the bond strengths were not excessive (not above 13 MPa) to damage zirconia prostheses during bracket debonding. The control group did not produce adequate shear bond strengths to bond brackets to zirconia (below 6 MPa).


X-ray diffraction demonstrated that the mechanical properties of the fibers increased with the crystalline orientation factor (cf) and the fractions of highly oriented crystalline and non-crystalline anisotropic phases. The results of structure analysis indicated that a characteristic skin-core structure developed at high drafts  and low spinning temperatures, which contributed to weakening the mechanical properties of the TLCP fibers. It is supposed that this heterogeneous structure in the cross-section of the fibers was induced by differences in the cooling rates of the skin and core of the fiber in the spin-line.High-speed melt spinning of thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) resin composed of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) and 2-hydroxy-6-napthoic acid (HNA) monomers in a molar ratio of 73/27 was conducted to investigate the characteristic structure development of the fibers under industrial spinning conditions, and the obtained as-spun TLCP fibers were analyzed in detail. The tensile strength and modulus of the fibers increased with shear rate in nozzle hole, draft in spin-line and spinning temperature and exhibited the high values of approximately 1.1 and 63 GPa, respectively, comparable to those of industrial as-spun TLCP fibers, at a shear rate of 70,000 s Thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers (TLCPs), which exhibit liquid crystal behavior at adequate temperature, is one of the typical anisotropic polymers and represented almost exclusively by aromatic copolyesters ,2,3. EspIn the case of melt spinning for TLCP resins, liquid crystal domains in the polymer melt can be readily oriented in the direction of the fiber axis by the shear and elongational forces, and the resultant TLCP fibers exhibit excellent mechanical properties, similar to those of conventional lyotropic LCP fibers such as aramid fibers , with be−1 and the draft  of 2~10 using a capillary rheometer and reported that the TLCP that exhibited higher orientability in elongational flow also exhibited higher orientability in shear flow. Cuculo and Chen [−1 and the draft of 1~15 using a capillary rheometer and reported that the mechanical property of as-spun fibers tended to increase as the draft and spinning temperature increased. Wissbrun and Ide [Kenig  performeand Chen  investigand Chen  also con and Ide ,14,15,16The results of these prior studies indicate that aromatic copolyester TLCP resins exhibit high shear thinning behavior in the nozzle hole, and its fiber formation and structure development in the spin-line complete immediately after extruding from the nozzle hole. These mean that the fiber formation and structure development of the TLCP fibers are considerably influenced by the spinning conditions such as shear rate in nozzle hole, draft in spin-line and spinning temperature. However, few studies have explored how the structure and mechanical property of the TLCP fibers are affected by the melt spinning conditions on an extreme industrial scale. −1 and the draft of 10~25 using a pilot-scale melt spinning process and investigated the correlation between the structural and mechanical properties of the as-spun TLCP fibers by tensile testing, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and two-dimensional wide-angle X-ray diffraction (2D-WAXD). The relationship between the mechanical properties and structure of the fibers was assessed in detail, with a focus on the changes in crystalline orientation factor (fc) and the volume fractions of oriented crystalline and non-crystalline anisotropic phases in the as-spun TLCP fibers.In this study, we conducted high-speed melt spinning of HBA/HNA TLCP resin under industrial spinning conditions, the shear rates of 30,000~70,000 sCommercial grade TLCP resin, synthesized with HBA and HNA monomers in a molar ratio of 73/27, for fiber spinning was supplied by Seyang Polymer Co., Ltd., .−1·hole−1) and take-up velocity (550~2200 m·min−1) under two spinning temperatures (285 and 295 °C). The apparent shear rate in the nozzle hole and the draft  in the spin-line were controlled in the range of approximately 30,000~70,000 s−1 and 10~25, respectively, comparable to the spinning conditions used in industrial settings.In this study, to systematically investigate the variations of structure and mechanical property of the TLCP fibers by the spinning conditions, various TLCP as-spun fibers were prepared by varying the throughput rate (0.78~1.81 g·minγapp) of the TLCP melt in the nozzle hole was calculated using Equation (1) [Qv and Qm are the volumetric and mass flow rate of the polymer, respectively; r0 is the radius of the hole (capillary); V1 and V2 are the take-up velocity and throughput rate, respectively; Hn is the spinneret hole number; D is the hole diameter of the spinneret (r0 = D/2); ρ is the melt density (≈1.30) of the TLCP, estimated using a precise metering gear pump in the spinning process.The apparent shear rate (tion (1) , assumintion (1) .γapp = −1) of the winder in this study.The surface morphology of the as-spun TLCP fibers was observed using FESEM  with an acceleration voltage of 10 kV after sputter coating with platinum (Pt).−1, respectively. Twenty tensile test measurements were conducted for each sample, and the average value was reported.The tensile properties of the as-spun fibers were measured using a tensile mechanical testing machine for single fibers  according to ASTM D3822. The gauge length and crosshead speed were 40 mm and 20 mm·minλ = 1.541 Å) generated at 50 kV and 100 mA was used. The beam diameter was approximately 0.5 mm, and the camera length and exposure time were 120 mm and 20 min, respectively. The sample holder used for the measurement was a rectangular shape (30 mm length and 20 mm width) with a hole of 5 mm diameter in the center. A bundle of fibers, arranged evenly in the direction of the fiber axis, was prepared with a width of approximately 3 mm in the center of the holder, and the measurement was performed on the fiber sample placed in the center of the holder.Two-dimensional WAXD analysis of the TLCP as-spun fibers was performed using a RIGAKU D/MAX-2500 R-AXIS apparatus , for which a nickel-filtered Cu Kα X-ray source (P1) positioned between the metering gear pump and the spinning nozzle (P2) at the exit of the nozzle hole to be zero and the TLCP melt exhibits an incompressible and Newtonian laminar flow for each Qm in the nozzle hole, the apparent melt viscosity (ηapp) of the TLCP melt in the nozzle hole of a length L can be calculated using Hagen–Poiseuille’s law [g nozzle . As expele’s law  and writηapp) and apparent shear rate (γapp) of the TLCP melt in the vicinity of the nozzle hole, calculated from the values of nozzle pressure and throughput rate shown in −1 and decreased continuously as the shear rate increased to 70,000 s−1, indicating that the shear thinning effect due to stretching  and disentangling of the TLCP still occurs even at this extremely high shear rate. The melt viscosity was much higher at 285 than at 295 °C but still decreased steeply as the shear rate increased. This suggests that the mobility of the TLCP melt structure was considerably suppressed at the lower spinning temperature. It is expected that the change in melt structure in the vicinity of the nozzle hole owing to changes to the shear rate and spinning temperature will affect the structural development of the fibers in the spinning line and the mechanical properties of the as-spun fibers.Morphological analyses of the TLCP as-spun fibers prepared under different spinning conditions were performed using FESEM . All the−1 had a slightly rough surface, which tended to become smoother as the shear rate increased to 70,000 s−1. The fiber surface also changed with shear rate when the spinning temperature was 295 °C, but the smoother surface started to appear at a relatively lower shear rate of 50,000 s−1. The fiber surface was hardly affected by the draft. These results suggest that the TLCP fiber surface structure was influenced by the shear rate and temperature conditions in the nozzle hole, which could be improved by using a higher shear rate and spinning temperature.At the low spinning temperature of 285 °C, the TLCP as-spun fibers obtained at shear rates of 30 and 50,000 s−1 and draft of 20 under different spinning temperatures in this study. It is observed that the stress increased linearly with strain until the maximum stress was reached at a low strain of approximately 2.0%, suggesting that a highly oriented structure developed in the as-spun fibers during melt spinning. However, the maximum stress  tended to increase as the spinning temperature increased, which indicates that the degree of structural development in the fibers was affected by the spinning conditions. The characteristic relationship between the mechanical properties of the TLCP as-spun fibers and the spinning conditions is plotted in detail in −1) and draft (25) conditions. The tensile strength of the as-spun fibers obtained at the low spinning temperature of 285 °C showed a similar tendency. However, the tensile strength was much lower at the low shear rate of 30,000 s−1, and the curves shifted more obviously toward higher values as the shear rate increased compared with the curves of the fibers obtained at the higher spinning temperature.At a spinning temperature of 295 °C, the tensile strength a increasThese results indicate that the mechanical properties of the TLCP fibers were considerably influenced by the shear rate and draft in the spin-line. In addition, it is speculated that the effects of these conditions could be more enhanced or suppressed by changing the spinning temperature. In other words, considering the relationship between the mechanical properties of fibers and their structural development, it is supposed that the structural development in the spin-line is mainly governed by the temperature-dependent melt structure behavior, and the degree of structural development due to the forces such as the shear rate  and draft  can be enhanced by increasing the mobility of the melt structure. It can be further controlled by the spinning temperature as predicted by the rheological properties of the TLCP resin.The modulus curves b furtherThe elongation at the break of the as-spun fibers showed negligible changes depending on the spinning conditions, with low values of approximately 2.0%. This high rigidity and low elongation property of the as-spun fibers appears to be due to the low mobility of characteristic aromatic molecular structures of HBA/HNA in the TLCP ,2.n with irregular intervals in the 2D-WAXD patterns indicate that a considerable fraction of nematic crystalline structures formed with an orientation direction parallel to the fiber axis [ber axis . Howevern peaks also remained unchanged; however, the peak intensity of all the as-spun fibers obtained at 295 °C tended to be higher than those obtained at 285 °C. θ ≈ 19.6° on the meridional intensity profiles of all the L-30K/50K/70K-20 as-spun fibers, which were obtained at the high draft of 20 and low spinning temperature of 285 °C. The peak positions of the broad peaks almost corresponded to the Bragg’s angle of the equatorial (110) peak, indicating that a small fraction of non-oriented polycrystalline domains representing the (110) peak exists in the fibers.It is worth noting that another broad peak was observed at 2θ ≈ 19.8° and the broad peak at 2θ ≈ 22.8°, and we supposed that the extracted broad peak was produced by the non-crystalline phase consisting of the highly oriented anisotropic and non-oriented isotropic phases in the as-spun fibers. On the contrary, the meridional profile was well fitted with the three meridional peaks of m1, m2 and m3 at 2θ ≈ 13.3, 29.6 and 45.0°, respectively, as well as the non-oriented polycrystalline domains of (110) at 2θ ≈ 19.6°, if an additional weak broad peak (Si) was assumed at 2θ ≈ 22.7°. It is supposed that this additional broad peak was produced due to the non-crystalline isotropic (non-oriented) phase in the fibers, as the peak could be detected in all azimuthal directions, and the peak position almost corresponded with that of the equatorial broad peak of the non-crystalline phase.To investigate the structural development of the as-spun TLCP fibers according to the spinning conditions, their 2D-WAXD patterns were analyzed in detail. Xc), non-crystalline anisotropic (oriented) (Xa) and non-crystalline isotropic (non-oriented) (Xi) phases in the TLCP as-spun fibers were calculated with Equations (5)–(7), respectively [Stotal is the total area of the equatorial intensity profile, Sa is the peak area of the non-crystalline anisotropic phase in the equatorial profile, and Si is the peak area of the non-crystalline isotropic phase in the meridional profile. The peak areas of the three mn peaks and the (110) peak caused by the crystalline phase in the meridional profile were not considered in the calculation of the fractions of the three phases.Fractions of the crystalline  of the (110) reflection plane was calculated with Bragg’s Equation (Equation (8)) [λ is the X-ray wavelength, and θ is the Bragg angle of the peak. The crystallite size for the (110) reflection plane was estimated using Scherrer’s Equation (Equation (9)) [K is Scherrer’s constant (=0.9), and β110 is the intrinsic half-width of the (110) peak.The interplanar spacing (ion (8)) ,24.d110ion (9)) ,24.L110fc) was estimated from the azimuthal intensity profile of the (110) peak, which were calculated using Equations (10) and (11), respectively [ϕ is the inclination of the c axis to the fiber axis, and XE is the half-width of the azimuthal intensity profiles of the (110) peak on the equator.The crystalline orientation factor  and non-crystalline anisotropic (Xa) phases, while quite low fractions of the non-crystalline isotropic phase (Xi) were observed. However, it is interesting to note that the L-30K/50K/70K-20 as-spun fibers, which showed a broad non-oriented (110) crystalline peak on the meridional intensity profiles, showed relatively lower crystallinities (Xc) and higher fractions of non-crystalline isotropic phase (Xi) than those of the remaining fibers. In addition, if the meridional mn peaks were caused by the oriented nematic crystalline structure of typical HBA/HNA (73/27 molar ratio) random copolymer, it is supposed that the area ratio (Sm1/Si) of the m1 peak to the non-crystalline isotropic phase peak in the meridional direction can indirectly represent the volume ratio of the highly oriented crystalline phase to the non-crystalline isotropic phase of the fibers. This ratio tended to increase with the shear rate and the spinning temperature; however, in the case of the L-30K/50K/70K-20 as-spun fibers, the area ratios were significantly lower than those of other as-spun fibers and remained unchanged. These results confirmed that only the L-30K/50K/70K-20 fibers possess highly non-crystalline isotropic phase, which suggests that the different characteristics of structural development, unseen in other TLCP fibers, occurs in the L-30K/50K/70K-20 fibers during the melt spinning process.d-spacing and lamella size of the (110) plane were similar in all the as-spun fibers, and the crystalline orientation (fc) showed a tendency to increase as the shear rate, draft and spinning temperature increased.The calculated fc), indicating that all the as-spun fibers contained a considerable fraction of crystalline phase whose mechanical properties were controlled by the degree of crystal orientation. The mechanical properties also tended to increase as the area ratio (Sm1/Si) increased (Xi) increased  and fraction of non-crystalline isotropic phase (Xi) compared with those of the other as-spun fibers. Their positions in the plots deviated from the trend lines (black dotted lines) formed by other as-spun fibers (L-50K/70K-10 and H-30K/50K/70K-20), and their mechanical properties also tended to change independently without being affected by the changes in the area ratio (Sm1/Si) or Xi fraction.However, it is worth noting that the L-30K/50K/70K-20 as-spun fibers showed different behavior of mechanical property variation due to the area ratio  increased from 10 to 20 and the spinning temperature decreased from 295 to 285 °C. These results are assumed to be attributed to the influence of radial velocity element rV, increased with the cooling effect at the skin part in the fibers.Considering these results, we suppose that the heterogeneous structure in the cross-section of the TLCP fibers can be developed due to differences in the cooling rates of the skin and core of the fiber in the spin-line under the specific spinning conditions, and the characteristic results for the L-30K/50K/70K-20 as-spun fibers in On the other hand, the skin-core structure may contribute to the lower mechanical properties of the L-30K/50K/70K-20 as-spun fibers, as shown in −1. The tensile strength and modulus of the fibers increased with the shear rate and draft, and the rate of increase in the mechanical properties due to these two parameters was enhanced at a higher spinning temperature. Two dimensional WAXD patterns of the TLCP as-spun fibers confirmed that all the fibers formed domains comprising parallel-arranged nematic crystalline structure of typical HBA/HNA random copolymer, and a substantial non-crystalline highly oriented structure still existed in the fibers. The mechanical properties of TLCP as-spun fibers increased with the crystalline orientation (fc) and the total fraction of the highly oriented crystalline and non-crystalline anisotropic phases in the fibers. It is worth noting that the as-spun TLCP fibers, spun at a high draft of 20 and low spinning temperature of 285 °C, formed a skin-core structure in the cross-sections of the fibers, weakening the mechanical properties of the TLCP fibers. Numerical simulation indicated that this structure can be formed by differences in the cooling rates of the skin and core of the fiber in the spin-line. To investigate in detail the mechanism of characteristic structure development of the TLCP fibers in the spin-line, an additional simulation study will be conducted using on-line measurement of fiber diameter in spin-line in the future.In this study, high-speed melt spinning of HBA/HNA (73/27 molar ratio) TLCP resin was conducted to investigate the characteristic structure development of the fibers under industrial spinning conditions and the correlation between the structural and mechanical properties of the as-spun fibers. The shear thinning behavior of the TLCP resins was still observed in the spinning nozzle hole under the extremely high shear rate of 70,000 s


The edible film can quickly dissolve into hot water so that the seasoning bag can mix in the soup of instant noodles during preparation. To meet the specific requirements of the packaging, such as reasonable high tensile properties, ductility under arid conditions, and low gas permeability, hydroxypropyl cornstarch with various edible additives from food-grade ingredients were applied to enhance the functionality of starch film. In this work, xylose was used as a plasticizer, cellulose crystals were used as a reinforcing agent, and laver was used to decrease gas permeability. The microstructures, interface, and compatibility of various components and film performance were investigated using an optical microscope under polarized light, scanning electron microscope, gas permeability, and tensile testing. The relationship was established between processing methodologies, microstructures, and performances. The results showed that the developed starch-based film have a modulus of 960 MPa, tensile strength of 36 Mpa with 14% elongation, and water vapor permeability less than 5.8 g/m Developing eco-friendly packaging materials is no longer an option, but it has become an urgent necessity since many countries have restricted non-biodegradable materials, particularly for disposable packaging materials. The simplest way to treat the food packaging is to eat them with the foods packaged in. Edible packaging has attracted increasing attention ,2,3,4, aThe bag used for packaging seasonings has been widely used in instant noodles, easy soup, and various pre-prepared ingredients for cooking. It was reported that, on average, everyone ate about 13.6 bags of instant noodles, and the market was more than one myriad bag in 2018 in the world [Food and non-food packaging have benefited from starch films’ development ,12,14,15The aim of this work is to develop edible starch-based film used for packaging seasoning in instant noodles through considering and novelly combining multiple factors, including plasticing, reinforcing, and barriering. The film used for packaging seasonings would keep with the noodles constantly under low humidity conditions (20–30% RH) in a plastic bag or container to maintain the shelf-life of the noodles. The starch-based film needs to be plasticized and reinforced to meet these requirements. Another challenge is to boost the gas barrier function of the film to maintain the flavors. Because it possesses appropriate mechanical and processing capabilities, this investigation used a commercially available food-grade modified (hydroxypropyl) cornstarch (HPCS) as a matrix. It has previously been used to make pharmaceutical capsules and edible films for food packaging ,11,12. IThe ingredients utilized in the current study are all readily accessible in the marketplace. Hengrui Starch Company, Luohe, China, provided commercially accessible hydroxypropyl cornstarch (HPCS) . It has good mechanical characteristics ,11,12. FThe final and optimized starch film contains plasticizer , reinforced cellulose crystals, and laver as the barrier filler. The effect of each additive on the starch-based film was initially studied separately, then mixed according to optimized formulations. The baseline was established as the starch-based film plasticized with water and glycerol. The specimen codes and compositions are included in w/w), in which 10 g (10% w/w) of starch on a dry basis was dissolved in 90 g water (90% w/w). Glycerol was added at a constant weight of 0.5 g (5%) (w/w) in proportion to the 10 g of starch on a dry basis. A referee starch film was made by pre-mixing the solution, then heating it 25 °C to 99 °C, where that was kept for 1 h while continually stirring it with a magnet. The gelatinized starch suspension was rapidly stirred for 45 min before being put onto a polystyrene plate (diameter 10 cm). The film was then dried in an oven for 10–12 h at around 35 degrees Celsius to get a consistent weight. The film containing xylose was prepared by adding concentrations of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%  into the hot gelatinized suspension of the starch prepared reference sample. The cellulose crystal films were prepared by adding concentrations of 2%, 5%, 7%, and 10%  into the hot gelatinized suspension of the starch prepared, the same as the reference sample. The films containing laver were prepared by adding concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 30%  into the hot gelatinized suspension of the starch prepared, the same as the reference sample. Cast films had a final thickness of around 150 µm, and this was measured by estimating how much starch suspension was placed on the plate. A micrometer (μm) was used to determine the actual thickness of the dried film.The starch solutions were made in a beaker using the solution-casting methodology  with a humidity of 20% RH. The data are based on the mean value of the seven samples.The tensile properties were tested using the standards of ASTM D882-12. The prepared starch films were cut into uniformly-sized tensile bar-shaped specimens. The tensile testing apparatus (Instron 5565) was used at 25 °C with the cross-head at 5 mm/minThe moisture effect on the film was tested using contact angle changes with water droplets. The sessile drop methodology was used to analyze water’s liquid/solid/contact angles on sample surfaces using a contact angle goniometer: model OCA 20 from Dataphysics . Based on the results of three separate drops, average contact angles were calculated.2. Every cup was placed in a desiccator with a small beaker containing saturated NaCl solution at the surface. To ensure that the saturated solution remained saturated at all times, a small quantity of solid NaCl was left at the bottom. At room temperature, the saturated NaCl solution in the desiccators maintained a constant RH of 75%. Increment in the weight of the cup was used to determine the water vapor transport. To calculate the water vapor transmission rate (WVTR), the slope (g/h) was divided by the transfer area (m2).As per the ASTM E96/E96M-14 standardized process , the watTo examine the film’s surface and the contact between the laver and starch matrix, a scanning electron microscope , Waltham, MA, USA) was utilized. All specimens were gold-coated under vacuum using an Eiko Sputter Coater, and mounted on metal stubs that had been previously coated with double-sided glue. In this experiment, a low voltage of 3 kV was used to minimize the risk of damaging the surface.The morphology of scattered lavers in the matrix of starch was observed through an optical microscope  linked with a 35 mm SLA camera. XTZ Optical Instrument Factory’s stage micrometer Type C1 slide (1 div = 0.01 mm) was used to calibrate the microscope. Each sample was examined using a microscope at a magnification of 500×, where the photographs were 1.3 times larger than their original size. The crystalline structures of cellulose contained in the laver were studied using polarized light.p < 0.05, samples were considered to have significant differences according to Duncan’s multiple range tests.All quantitative date were statistically analyzed and presented as means ± standard deviation (SD). The data were analyzed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS 17.0 package , and when The instant noodles were manufactured in less than 50 RH% conditions, and the water content contained in the noodles itself was less than 5%. The relative humidity in the plastic bag or container is about 20–30% RH. Thus, all the performances of the film were evaluated under 20% RH to meet the conditions. The inclusion of the cellulose crystals considerably enhanced the starch film’s strength, as depicted in The starch film WVTP was not affected by the cellulose crystals. It was not expected that a rigid particle could reduce the gas permeability if it has much low gas permeability, since the gap or weak interface between the particle and matrix significantly increases gas permeability. The results indicate that the interface between the starch and cellulose particle is excellent. CA of the starch film improved marginally after adding the cellulose crystals, indicating the moisture sensitivity of the film decreased. The modulus elevated when adding more laver, and steadily increased when enhancing laver concentration, indicating that laver improves the films’ stiffness as predicted. The tensile strength rose slightly as well, especially when the laver loading was more than 20%. One theory is that the stiff fibers strengthen the coatings in the laver cell walls. As with how most other fillers behaved, elongations of starch-based films reduced marginally with laver content, and steadily declined when increasing laver content. Similar to the reinforcement by the cellulose crystals, the elongation standard dividends (±) of the starch-based film comprising laver are also reasonably high.CA increased as laver content increased, implying that the starch-based film’s moisture sensitivity diminished. The findings explain why the laver is moisture resistant. The laver’s moisture resistance is due to its semi-crystalline cellulose and protein .After adding laver to starch-based films, the WVTP declined significantly, and the WVTP decreased even more when the laver content was raised. Creating a channel with some twists in the film matrix that help water vapors go through reduces WVTP when laver is induced . FurtherThe mechanical performance of starch-based materials relies on plasticizer content (water or others). To achieve reasonable flexibility (toughness) under arid conditions (20% RH), different plasticizers were used in this work. The most common plasticizer system used for starch-comprised products is water with glycerol, since glycerol has assertive moisture absorption behavior and is used to maintain the water in the materials. However, the water is still not stable under low RH conditions. A constant concentration of water/glycerol 10/3 was used in this work, and additional plasticizer xylose from food ingredients was added. Xylose is a monosaccharide with a linear structure which has shown remarkably high efficiency in destroying the order structures, and enhancing the movement of polymer chains. As a result, plasticization efficiency improves.  Table 2 WVTR slightly decreased after the additional xylose. CA was slightly enhanced by xylose, indicating that the hydrophobicity of the starch film marginally increased. The hydroxyl groups in linear xylose are more flexible and face out, which makes sense .The linkage between cellulose crystals or laver and the starch matrix was investigated using SEM see . It is vThe cross-section images of the films using SEM were used to investigate the linkage between the fillers and the starch matrix see . The purThe above results helped to develop coating, and extrude the starch-based films and various flavor bag packagings. It is well established that the functionality of starch-based products strongly depends on plasticizers and environmental conditions. One of the key challenges of applying starch-comprised film in flavor bag packaging is keeping the film with a good strength and toughness. Improving gas permeability is an additional advantage. In this work, xylose was used as a plasticizer, cellulose crystals were used as a reinforcing agent, and laver was used to decrease gas permeability. Tensile strength improved, according to the findings, after the addition of both cellulose crystals and laver. The laver also decreased WVTR significantly. But the flexibility or toughness of the starch-based film became worse. The films are generally brittle since they have very low elongation at the broken point with or without cellulose crystals and laver under low RH conditions. Additional xylose significantly improved the toughness, and the elongation increased up to 7–8 times. The mechanical properties could be balanced through designing and optimizing various additives. Moisture sensitivity also decreased after adding cellulose crystals and laver, which is crucial for food packaging.The morphologies of the starch-based film have been investigated using SEM to explain the results. Both surface morphologies and cross-section images showed that starch matrix was compatible with cellulose crystals and laver. That was an excellent indication of a linkage between the strengthening components and the matrix. This was expected, as both starch and cellulose contained in crystals and laver have the same chemical unit, glucose. Actually, that is why they were selected as suitable materials for this work.The edible starch-based film has been successfully developed for packaging seasonings applied in instant noodles. To meet the specific requirements of the packaging, such as reasonable high tensile properties, ductility under arid conditions, and low gas permeability, several edible additives from food-grade ingredients were applied to enhance the functionality of the starch film. Tensile strength increased after additional cellulose crystals and laver, whereas toughness significantly improved with additional xylose. The laver also decreased WVTR significantly. Based on the particular function of each additive, the balanced and optimized starch-based film for flavor bag packaging has been successfully developed.


Potential complications of autografting for burn wound coverage of the hand include edema, hematoma formation, and bleeding; all of which can lead to graft failure. Self-adherent elastic wraps are commonly used by burn rehabilitation clinicians to minimize complications by providing graft protection and decreasing edema post-operatively; however, there is a lack of evidence on its impact on graft healing. The purpose of this study was to determine if the application of self-adherent elastic wraps to the hand in the operating room after autografting improves the percentage of graft viability.A retrospective chart review was performed for 37 patients with burned hands who underwent autografting from January 2017 to July 2021. Grafted hands were categorized into 2 groups: post-operative dressings with and without self-adherent elastic wraps. Post-operative day 4 pictures for both groups were collected from the medical record and a blinded digital photograph analysis of graft viability was performed by 5 expert raters including 3 Burn Surgery Fellows,1 Burn Attending Surgeon and 1 Hand Attending Surgeon. A rating system was developed based on percentage of graft take as seen in Table 1 and presence of hematomas were assessed.Patients who received self-adherent elastic wraps suffered burns with significantly larger TBSA (p=0.007) and were admitted for a longer duration (p=0.009) than patients who did not. Patients with elastic wrap had a higher percentage of grafts with >95% take  and a lower rate of hematoma formation . Intra-class correlation coefficient across raters was 0.90 for graft take and 0.87 for determining presence of hematomas, indicating excellent interrater reliability.Despite suffering larger burns requiring longer hospitalizations, patients who received elastic wrap had a higher rate of >95% graft take than those without. This study is limited by a relatively small sample size, however these findings warrant continued research in the use of self-adherent elastic wrap to maximize graft take in hand burns.


Interstitial interface keratitis (IIK) in lamellar keratoplasty is a term used to describe infectious keratitis that primarily involves the graft-host interface. It poses specific challenges due to impaired access for microbiological testing and poor penetration of antimicrobial drugs, as well as ease of deeper extension of the microorganism. A 33-year-old male with a medical history of left eye deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) with keratoconus, subsequently complicated with steroid-induced glaucoma controlled with Xen tube insertion, presented with acute left eye pain and redness for two days due to one broken corneal graft suture at 5 o’clock position with infiltrate at the graft-host junction. He was treated for suture-related bacterial keratitis (culture-negative) with intensive single broad-spectrum topical antibiotic after suture removal. However, the condition worsened, with dense stromal infiltrate extending into the graft-host interface junction which further progressed to an endothelial plaque. Systemic and topical antifungal treatments were started with adjunctive intracameral and subconjunctival voriconazole before improvement was observed. The condition was resolved with localized scarring without the need for repeat keratoplasty. The best-corrected vision was maintained at 6/36 due to residual sutured-related astigmatism with no signs of corneal graft rejection. Lamellar keratoplasty poses an increased risk of fungal IIK even after several years if there is a predisposing factor e.g., steroid usage and broken suture. Timely diagnosis and intervention are the keys to ensure an optimal outcome. Infective keratitis is one of the most severe complications which may occur post-corneal transplant, especially after penetrating keratoplasty. Long-term topical corticosteroid usage in keratoplasty and exposed or broken corneal sutures in corneal graft increase the risk of infection. Steroids also may mask the signs of infection for a long period of time and delay the diagnosis due to the slow growth of microorganisms .In recent years, lamellar keratoplasty is getting more popular and is replacing penetrating keratoplasty. Deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK) is a relatively new surgical technique that selectively replaces the anterior portion of cornea down to the Descemet's membrane, preserving the Descemet's membrane and endothelial layer . DALK haIn lamellar keratoplasty, e.g., DALK, there is a formation of an interface between the donor graft and recipient bed known as the graft-host interface. Infection that arises from this space in the deep stromal layer is known as interstitial interface keratitis (IIK) and poses a treatment challenge due to impaired access for microbiological testing and penetration of antimicrobial drugs ,4. SharmA 33-year-old gentleman with no known medical illness underwent uncomplicated DALK in his left eye for keratoconus three years ago without complication. He was treated with tapering dosage of topical dexamethasone 0.1% for about one year which was then maintained at once daily frequency. However, the patient developed steroid-induced glaucoma and underwent minimally invasive glaucoma surgery with Xen tube insertion in the second year of DALK. Subsequently, no topical antiglaucoma was needed in later years.He presented to the emergency eye clinic three years after the DALK with acute onset painful left red-eye for two days. Slit-lamp biomicroscopic examination revealed a broken corneal graft suture at 5 o’clock position with white to cream-colored deposit (infiltrate) at suture area over the superficial graft-host junction with clear graft Figure . IntraocHe was treated for suture-related bacterial keratitis with suture removal and then followed by monotherapy broad-spectrum topical antibiotic (gutt. moxifloxacin 0.5%) two hourly with two topical antiglaucoma medications and continued on low dose topical steroid (gutt. loteprednol 0.5%) once daily on the left eye Figure . HoweverDespite this intensive antibacterial treatment, and the initial corneal tissue culture and sensitivity showing no growth, the clinical findings worsened with denser stromal infiltrate and formation of endothelial plaque Figure . The corAfter a few days of antifungal therapy, cyclosporine topical immunosuppressant ointment 0.1% was added as slow improvement was observed. Meanwhile, the topical antifungal and antibiotics were tapered slowly. After about six weeks of treatment, the infiltrates and endothelial plaque contracted and scarred, with minimal graft thinning and vascularization Figure . The antInterstitial interface keratitis (IIK) between the donor and host cornea following lamellar keratoplasty is a rare complication. Sharma et al. found that microbial keratitis developed in post-keratoplasty in 15 cases out of 135, but only three involved the interface area . The mosThe time from surgery to presentation varies. Interface keratitis can present even from day one and up to several months post-uncomplicated keratoplasty. Late-onset IIK following lamellar keratoplasty is unlikely caused by Candida species unless there is a history of trauma or intervention . The risMicrobiological and histopathological examinations are the mainstay of investigation for diagnosis of IIK followed by anterior segment-optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) and confocal microscopy to help for the confirmation and to monitor the disease progress . Sharma Treatment options for IIK can be divided into medical and surgical therapies. At initial presentation, empirical broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapy must be started for sterilization phase. In cases of suspected fungal keratitis, both systemic and topical antifungals such as natamycin, fluconazole, amphotericin B, and voriconazole can be considered during initial presentation itself. The medical therapy could be changed according to clinical response and microbiological findings on its growth and sensitivity. Steroid therapy has always been controversial in infectious keratitis and generally contraindicated in fungal infection ,16. OtheHowever, the deep location of infiltrates in the interface challenges the penetration of eye drops. Medical therapy alone is typically not very effective, due to the deeper location of the infection. Gao et al. reported that 63% of IIK failed medical therapy and required surgical therapy . Thus, sIn our case, the multi-route combination of topical, subconjunctival, and intracameral antifungals, together with the initial topical prophylactic antibacterial, successfully treated the infection without the need for penetrating keratoplasty. Timely initiation of immunomodulator further protected the graft from rejection.Eyes with a history of lamellar keratoplasty have the risk of fungal IIK even after years of surgery if there is presence of predisposing factor. Timely diagnosis and intervention are the keys to ensure optimal outcomes in IIK without the need for repeating keratoplasty. AS-OCT is a rapid non-invasive test that can provide high-resolution images of graft-host interface junction at all times. The early initiation of antifungal therapy is beneficial and highly recommended even though the culture is not suggestive. It plays a major role in the outcome of the surgery. In the future, it is beneficial to send the suture to involve for microbiological analysis in suture-related keratitis patients.


The enrollment of international periodontal students in U.S. dental schools has been increasing in recent years. Interest in applying to a periodontics specialty program may differ between U.S and international dental school graduates. The purpose of this study is to assess, from the perspective of periodontal residents, (1) factors that interest dental students to apply to periodontics programs and (2) differences in background and interest between U.S and international graduates.A 20-question survey was sent out electronically to periodontics residents. The survey questions were designed to obtain information on the participants’ backgrounds, factors that influenced them to specialize in periodontics, and their preferred features of graduate periodontics programs. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for socio-demographic variables, a Wilcoxon two sample test to compare mean Likert scale scores, and Fisher’s exact test for associations between comparison groups.p ≤ 0.05). Working experience as a dentist was significantly greater among international residents (73%) in comparison to U.S graduates (32%). In contrast with international graduates, U.S graduates more frequent reported that good relationships with the periodontics predoctoral faculty contributed to their interest in periodontics (p ≤ 0.05). Program cost and location had a greater impact on the decision of U.S. graduates than international graduates (p ≤ 0.05).Of the two hundred residents invited to participate, 28% responded. The majority of the respondents stated that interest in implantology, previous exposure to periodontal procedures, interest in improving periodontal surgery skills, a good relationship with periodontics faculty, the residency curriculum, advanced program and faculty reputation as influencing factors in selecting periodontics as specialization. The majority of international graduates have up to $50,000 dollars in student debt; by comparison, half of the domestic graduates have a debt of over $250,000 dollars (Overall, factors associated with personal finance and predoctoral education have a greater impact on the decision of American graduates than international graduates to pursue an advanced education in periodontics, which may influence the increased enrollment of international students. Fifty-five university- and hospital-based graduate periodontics programs exist in the United States. Forty-five programs admit international students who do not have a U.S dental license. According to the American Dental Association (ADA)’s annual Survey of Advanced Dental Education and the Council on Dental Education and Licensure (CDEL), the number of enrolled international periodontal students in U.S. dental schools increased from 2012 to 2018. In the graduating class of 2012, 27% of graduates from advanced programs in periodontics were international students, compared to 33% in 2020. Moreover, the number of programs accepting international students increased from 39 programs (2012) to 47 programs (2020). However, the percentage of international students who enrolled in other specialties such as endodontics and prosthodontics has remained almost stable [In our previous study, from the periodontics department chairpersons’ perspectives reported by Luke Hearty et al., specialty clinic rotations and elective courses appear to increase student interest in a periodontal residency program. Periodontal residencies that offer externships had a greater number of candidates. However, factors such as residency stipends and fellowships did not have great influence on dentist interest in a periodontal program . Data frDifferences between dental students in terms of social, economic and cultural backgrounds are expected to influence their career plans. Surveyed dental students from different Middle Eastern nationalities in a Jordan Dental school agreed on most factors affecting their choice of a specialty, except for the reputation of the specialty . AuthorsInterest in applying to a periodontics specialty program may differ between U.S and international dental school graduates. The aim of this study is to assess the perspective of periodontal residents regarding (1) factors that attract dental students to apply to periodontics programs and (2) differences in background and interest between U.S and international graduates.The research protocol for this study was approved by the Case Western Reserve University Institutional Review Board as exempt from oversight IRB-2018-1242). The survey was carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. In 2018, a 20-question survey . Some of the standardized survey questions were derived from previous investigations , 8, and The survey questions were framed to obtain information related to the participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, factors in selecting periodontics as an area of specialization , and the preferred graduate periodontics program features . Previous experience before enrolment in the periodontics program and goals after completion of the program was also surveyed.p < 0.05.The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software version 27, with descriptive statistics on socio-demographic variables; Chi-square analysis and/or Fisher’s exact test was performed to test associations between socio-demographic variables and previous experiences in dentistry and research among International and US graduates; and a non-parametric Wilcoxon two sample test was done to compare mean Likert scale scores on factors influencing advanced periodontal education and future prospects among US and International graduates. The statistical significance for all tests was set at A total of 58 28%) invited residents responded to the survey. About 50% of respondents were between 30 and 40 years of age and had less than $50,000 in educational debts prior to their attendance in the residency program, and 78% were male with 65% having graduated from an accredited dental school in the U.S (Table 8% invitep ≤ 0.05) different with only 37% of the U.S graduates in this age category. The majority of the international graduates (70%) had no educational debt and in comparison, it was significantly different (p ≤ 0.05), with approximately 21% of US graduates had incurred an educational debt less than $150,000, and 50% had a debt greater than $150,000 dollars  were between the ages of 30 and 35 years that was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) different between international (70%) and U.S. graduates (32%) . Moreover, unlike U.S. graduates, international graduates reported that the completion of a periodontics program was one way to obtain a dental license to practice in the U.S.; this influenced their interest in periodontics (p ≤ 0.05)  Table .Table 4Dp ≤ 0.05) . One-third of the international graduates reported that they intend to practice dentistry in their home country  academic position than were U.S. graduates (15%)  could be partially explained by residents’ main focus on completion of their residency program, by the workload needed to successfully fulfill all of a program’s requirements, and by a potentially outdated list of e-mail addresses in the AAP directory. However, given the small sample, this study identified interesting and informative factors that describe the choice differences between U.S. and international graduates in selecting periodontal programs. A post-hoc power analysis revealed power ranging from 53.3 to 95.8% for dichotomous variables and 65.8% to 80.5% for continuous variables that were analyzed to detect differences between US and International graduates in this study. Studies with small sample size could potentially reveal important characteristics that could be expanded with larger studies and may be included in systematic reviews , 22. FurThis study found that a good relationship with pre-doctoral faculty had a greater influence on American graduates than international graduates when choosing periodontics as a career. Personal finances and program location had a greater negative impact on American graduates than international graduates when selecting an advanced periodontics program of choice. Hence, the increasing cost of dental education in the U.S. as it translates to educational debt incurred by US graduates; could explain the increased enrollment of international students in advanced periodontal education.


Stent-graft infection is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of endovascular aortic repair. There are currently no consensus guidelines for treating stent-graft infections, but surgical treatment is generally considered preferable due to the low overall survival rate of patients receiving conservative therapy; however, the revascularization method remains controversial. We report a case in which stent-graft infection after endovascular aneurysm repair was successfully treated by stent-graft removal and extra-anatomical bypass (EAB). EAB is an effective method of revascularization for stent-graft infection. Among post-EVAR AAA-related complications, endoleak and graft infection are the most important. The frequency of post-EVAR stent-graft infection is low at 0.2%–0.7%. However, the complications are life-threatening, with the mortality rate within 30 days after surgery being approximately 17%. The treatment strategies for stent-graft infection are selected from among conservative methods such as antibacterial agent administration, drainage, lavage, and surgical methods involving extra-anatomical bypass (EAB) or in situ bypass.Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is an effective treatment method for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture and impending rupture, infected AAA, etc.We report the case of a patient whose stent-graft infection after EVAR for impending AAA rupture was treated by EAB.The patient was a 64-year-old man. At the age of 61 years, magnetic resonance imaging was performed as part of a detailed examination by a local physician for low back pain. Impending AAA rupture was diagnosed, and the patient was urgently transferred to the authors’ hospital. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) was performed, and it revealed an AAA surrounded by diverse cystic structures up to 52 mm in diameter (18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) showed a marked uptake of FDG, consistent with the mass lesions shown by CT  concentrations at 13400 cells/µL and 21.5 mg/dL, respectively. Contrast CT showed an enlarged mass opacity below the renal artery surrounding the stent-graft , a right axillary-bifemoral bypass was created to ensure blood flow to the legs and intrapelvic organs. We closed and draped the skin incision of the bypass, followed by laparotomy. After taping using a 4-millimeter vessel loop and clamping, the abdominal aorta was severed, and the stent-graft was exposed. Following ligation and dissection of both legs of the stent-graft, the legs were pulled out of the left and right common iliac arteries, and each of these arteries was ligated. Next, the tip of the 20-milliliter syringe was cut off, and the main body of the stent-graft was inserted inside the syringe  treatment is controversial. A recent systematic review found no difference in mortality between the two groups, but the EVAR group was reported to have less bowel ischemia.Staphylococcus was the most common causative bacteria at 30.1%, followed by Streptococcus at 14.8%. In approximately 27%–30% of patients, the culture results are negative due to preoperative administration of antibacterial agents. Recently, FDG-PET has gained attention as a useful diagnostic method for stent-graft infection; nevertheless, no standards for this have been established to date. No clear diagnostic criteria for stent-graft infection have been established, and it is not unusual for diagnosis to be challenging. This patient was administered antibacterial agents for 7 days before surgery, and the blood and stent-graft culture results were negative. However, there was no improvement in the initial physical examination or inflammatory response.Stent-graft infection is diagnosed comprehensively based on clinical symptoms, contrast CT, and culture with samples collected from the blood, the stent-graft, and the drainage from around the aorta.Additionally, FDG-PET at the same sites showed significant FDG uptake; therefore, we diagnosed graft infection. Since the patient was 64 years old and relatively young, we believed that conservative treatment alone might cause repeated infections in the future; therefore, we opted for surgical intervention. Recently, gene amplification and sequencing have been established as a method for detecting and identifying microorganisms. Such methods may also be useful in identifying causative organisms. Furthermore, CT-guided puncture culture before the second surgery may have been useful in diagnosing the causative organism.Staphylococcus epidermidis. In addition, the nature of late infection often lacks the signs of sepsis. The treatment may include long-term administration of antibacterial agents. There is no consensus on the appropriate duration of postoperative antibiotic therapy. A previous report showed that it should be continued for 6 weeks or longer. However, the reinfection occurred 3.5 years after surgery. Laohapensang et al. showed that antibiotic therapy should be continued as life-long therapy. Therefore, we believe that oral antibiotics should be continued as long-life therapy in this patient.In this patient, a late stent-graft infection occurred 3.5 years after EVAR. Late infections are typically mild and result from colonization by low-virulence organisms, such as  Contrarily, the survival rate of patients who undergo surgical resection is approximately 58%. Therefore, surgical treatment is considered preferable if the stent-graft infection is operable.There are no consensus guidelines for the treatment of stent-graft infections. According to Li et al., the overall survival rate of patients receiving conservative treatment based on antibacterial agents is only 33%. In the present case, although the proximal side of the stent-graft was not barbed, a method to maximally reduce vascular wall damage while pulling the stent-graft out was used, and it was removed safely. Additionally, depending on the condition of the aneurysm, it is a viable option to place the stent-graft lower to allow the space for the aortic clamp when placing a stent-graft for an infected aneurysm. Non-barbed stent-graft, such as Excluder (W. L. Gore and Associates), might be a more appropriate option in anticipation of subsequent stent-graft removal.The surgical techniques used to treat stent-graft infections are broadly divided into stent-graft removal and vascular reconstruction. Stent-graft removal involves risks of vascular wall damage by the stent-graft, and particularly, there are several problems with removing stent grafts that are barbed on the proximal site. A previous report suggested that a method for handling this involves severing the tip region of a 20-milliliter syringe and pulling the stent-graft out simultaneously while inserting it inside the syringe. However, it necessitates procedures such as omental implantation and is thus not appropriate for severe infection. On the other hand, EAB involves concerns about long-term graft patency and risks of aortic stump rupture and renal arterial occlusive complications, but the surgery duration is short; this method is useful for patients with severe infection around the graft. To avoid aortic stump rupture, we should strictly control the blood pressure. In addition, the reinfection at the aortic stump site promotes tissue fragility and may lead to rupture. Therefore, we believe that the long-term administration of antibiotic therapy and strict blood pressure control are necessary.Vascular reconstruction such as in situ or EAB is required. Aortic stump formation can be more readily avoided in situ than EAB, and the former also has a higher patency rate.In the present case, severe infection around the stent-graft made it impossible to predict the safety of the intrapelvic organs during aortic clamping or the leg clamping tolerance time, and EAB was selected to prevent repeated infection of the prosthetic graft after replacement. It will be necessary to continue monitoring this patient carefully regarding long-term patency and complications. The patient’s progression has been favorable to date.Stent-graft removal and EAB were performed for stent-graft infection, and the outcome was favorable. An in situ technique or EAB is selected for vascular reconstruction after stent-graft removal to treat stent-graft infection. However, EAB may be one of the appropriate therapies in cases of severe intraperitoneal infection.