Percolation induced gel-gel phase separation in a dilute polymer network

Cosmic large-scale structures, animal flocks, and living tissues are non-equilibrium organized systems created by dissipative processes. Despite the uniqueness, the realization of dissipative structures is still difficult. Herein, we report that a network formation process in a dilute system is a dissipative process, leading to percolation induced gel-gel phase separation (GGPS) in a prominent miscible polymer-water system. The dilute system, which forms a monophase structure at the percolation threshold, eventually separates into two gel phases in a longer time scale as the network formation progresses. The dilute hydrogel with GGPS exhibits an unexpected mesoscale co-continuous structure and induces adipose growth in subcutaneous. The formation mechanism of GGPS and a cosmic large-scale structure is analogous, in terms of attractive interactions in a diluted system driving phase separation. This unique phenomenon unveils the possibility of dissipative structures enabling advanced functionalities and will stimulate research fields related to dissipative structures.Comment: 23+5 pages, 4+4 figure

ENTEROCOLITIS DUE TO METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS - REPORT OF TWO CASES

Two cases of postoperative enterocolitis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) after gastrectomy were experienced. Case 1: A 59-year-old male underwent subtotal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer. Diffuse peritonitis progressed after the first operation, so reoperation for drainage was required. Two days after the second operation, a profuse watery diarrhea developed. Case 2: A 46-year-old male underwent total gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. On the fourth postoperative day, frequent vomiting and cholera-like diarrhea started, followed by profound shock several hours later. Both cases were treated successfully by the administration of vancomycin.Stool cultures of both cases revealed MRSA and it had the same minimal inhibitory concentration, coagulase type and enterotoxin type, so that nosocomial infection was indicated