Behavior of peanut bulk under static loads

In this study, the method of peanut shelling is selected as application of pressure on peanut bulk for the design of shelling machine and thus behavior of peanut bulk has been investigated. To this end, medium-size peanuts have been placed inside an iron cylinder of 70 mm height and 90 mm diameter to form one, two and three layers, each singly at a time and have been subjected to the static pressure through a wooden piston fitted with the cylinder in a 20 ton universal testing machine under the constant loading speed. Values of loads and corresponding deformations have been recorded by the machine on a graph. The experimental data have been transformed into the linear and nonlinear models of stress-strain and pressure-density relationships. One observation regarding the bulk behavior is that at the beginning and ends of the loading there appear to be linear areas and a nonlinear domain in between them. The intersection of the extensions of the two linear areas, which falls inside the nonlinear domain, has been found to reflect the start of shelling. It has been concluded that the start of shelling on the basis of three layers requires a pressure of 0.278 N/mm2 with zero damage and 4.45% breakage. On the other hand, shelling energy per volume has been found to vary from 36 × 10-3 to 88 × 10-3 Nmm/mm3 involving three layers. The average bulk modulus has been determined to vary between 1.13 and 1.64 N/mm2. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Apical instrumentation alters the rotational correction in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effect of apical vertebral instrumentation in the axial plane in the surgical treatment of idiopathic scoliosis. Seventy-six consecutive patients with King type 11 idiopathic scoliosis, treated with posterior spinal instrumentation, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 14.5 years (range 10-18 years), and the mean follow-up was 49 (range 28-74) months. Preoperative radiological evaluation was performed with postero-anterior, lateral, traction and side-bending radiographs. Vertebral rotation was measured with a Perdriolle torsion meter. Patients were retrospectively divided into two groups according to the presence of apical vertebra instrumentation. Group 1 consisted of 43 patients in whom the upper and lower neutral and intermediate vertebrae of thoracic curves had been instrumented on the concave side. Group 2 consisted of 33 patients who had received instrumentation of the apical vertebra on the concave side in addition to the instrumentation configuration of group 1. Posterior fusion was added in all patients. Cobb and Perdriolle measurements were compared between the two groups preoperatively and at the last follow-up. Preoperative age and gender distribution, Cobb angle and rotational measurements, and correction ratios on side-bending films were similar in the two groups. Although the differences between the two groups in preoperative mean values of both Cobb angle and apical rotation were not statistically significant (P>0.05), mean values of apical rotation were significantly different postoperatively (P<0.05). At the same time, apical derotation ratios differed significantly between the two groups (P=0.000). We conclude that instrumentation of the apical vertebra provides better derotation at the apex

Research on the fatigue behavior for peanut shelling

One of the methods to be utilized in the shelling of peanut is fatigue. It is well-known that fatigue results when a point of a material is subjected to varying stress. In this research the pressure applied on a peanut in the static sense is exercised while the peanut rolls or is made to move in a predetermined fashion. In this case, an apparatus which will apply controllable pressure on a peanut while moving it with constant velocity has been designed. Peanuts which are used in this research are measured with respect to some physical properties. Furthermore, the surface material in contact with the peanut hull was selected as sheet iron, iron grate, wood, wire screen and tyre rubber, which are likely to be used in a peanut shelling machine. With the resulting data correlation between the shelling pressure and the number of cycles has been determined assuming linear and logarithmic models. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Accidental displacement of an impacted mandibular third molar into the lateral pharyngeal space

PubMedID: 10632172[No abstract available

Effect of preoperative chemotherapy on the outcome of surgical treatment of vertebral tuberculosis: retrospective analysis of 434 cases

A retrospective analysis of 434 patients with vertebral tuberculosis who were treated surgically was performed with special reference to the preoperative duration of chemotherapy. Of these, 376 underwent 4 weeks of a chemotherapy regimen with isoniazid, rifampin and ethamburol, and in 2 re-activation of the disease was observed. The remaining 58 underwent operation for neurological impairment with 6-18 h of the same chemotherapy regimen, and in no case did re-activation occur. These results suggest a shorter duration of chemotherapy may be utilised in all patients undergoing surgical treatment for vertebral tuberculosis, providing a thorough debridement is performed, leaving no necrotic or infected tissue behind

Bilateral trochanteric fractures of the femur in a patient with chronic renal failure

We report a spontaneous intertrochanteric fracture with bilateral avulsion of the greater trochanter in a patient with chronic renal failure

Iliolumbar veins have a high frequency of variations

The spectrum of individual anatomic variations of the vascular structures are broad, however, the exact incidence of variations of the lumbosacral vein is obscure. In the current study, 38 iliolumbar veins were dissected from 19 formaldehyde-preserved male cadavers. The drainage pattern of the iliolumbar vein was determined. The diameter and the length of the iliolumbar vein were measured, and the relationships of the iliolumbar vein with the lumbosacral trunk, obturator nerve, and iliolumbar artery were ascertained. Means and standard deviations were used as descriptive measures to define variations among the cases. The iliolumbar vein or veins were detected in both sides of all 19 cadavers. Five drainage patterns were seen between the iliolumbar vein and the lumbosacral major veins. In only five cadavers, symmetric drainage patterns were seen on the left and the right sides. In our study, two drainage patterns were seen that were not previously reported. Anatomic variations of the iliolumbar vein are numerous and should be considered to avoid complications when doing surgery