Heating experiments of carbon grains: Implication for the origin of interstellar dust

Amorphous carbonaceous grains produced in a methane gas atmosphere were analyzed by high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). Structural alteration of the amorphous carbonaceous grains was directly observed by in situ HRTEM observation. The specimen was heated to a maximum of 550℃. The HRTEM image of a prepared specimen showed the structure of the onion-like carbon. The onion-like structure distorted at 100℃, which suggested the evaporation of -OH groups included in the grains. Upon heating to 260℃, the centers of the onion-like grains formed holes of the order of 3 nm in size. On further heating to 550℃, the structure of the chained grains with a size of 10 nm changed to graphite sheets with a length of 50 nm by the surface melting coalescence among chained grains. The structural changes at the above temperatures have been observed only in amorphous carbonaceous grains produced in a methane gas atmosphere and have been attributed to the existence of hydrogen in the grains

Tetrataenite in chondrites and experimental demonstration on formation of tetrataenite fine grains

Tetrataenite (Fe_Ni_γ" phase) is a unique metallic mineral in meteorites. A magnetic granulometry analysis of chondrites on the basis of magnetic hysteresis parameters at various temperatures has shown that some LL chondrites contain very fine grains of tetrataenite metal, the grain sizes of which are 10nm or smaller in diameter. The coalescence growth process of a joint cloud of fine smoke particles evaporated from Fe and that from Ni produces fine grains of tetrataenite (FeNiγ"), in addition to those of ordered kamacite (Fe_3Ni), awaruite (FeNi_3) as well as disordered taenites. An outline of the experimental procedures of coalescence growth formation of tetrataenite and the other ordered crystal grains of Fe-Ni alloy and main results of the experiments is described

Experimental demonstration of formation of magnetite and wustitefine grains

Production method of magnetite and wustite grains have been introduced. Magnetite and wustite grains were produced in an Ar gas pressure range of 25 to 100 Torr and 17 to 20 Torr respectively by evaporating FeO powder from a tantalum boat. The growth of these grains has been discussed as the result of oxidation of Fe fine grains and coalescence growth among the oxidized grains

Electron microscopic and infrared spectral studies on the structure of alumina phases

Alumina produced by oxidation of aluminum in air was studied by infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Infrared spectra of both alumina particles and alumina film oxidized in air showed an absorption peak at 10.8μm, though that of γ-Al_2O_3 particles showed a broad 13μm peak. On the basis of the infrared spectra and electron diffraction pattern, it was concluded that alumina produced by the oxidation of aluminum in air is η-Al_2O_3. The phase transition from η-phase to γ-phase and to α-phase took place at 900℃ and 1100℃, respectively. The relationships between infrared spectra and crystal structure of some alumina phases are discussed

Structural and infrared spectral changes of silicon oxide grains by heat treatments

In order to elucidate the relationship between crystallographic structures of amorphous silicon oxide grains and infrared (IR) spectra, ultrafine grains produced by the gas evaporation method have been studied on the basis of IR spectral measurements and electron microscopic (EM) observations. The shifts and disappearance in the IR absorption peaks of specimen heat-treated in air have been found. The spectral changes have been discussed in the relation with the polymorphism of silica

Growth of Functional FeTi Clusters Covered with Carbon Layer

FeTi clusters with a diameter of less than 10 nm and covered with a graphitic layer have been preferentially produced in an H2 gas atmosphere at pressures of 10 and 26.6 kPa by the simultaneous evaporation of Fe and Ti wires from a concave carbon boat. To compare this result with cluster formation in an inert gas atmosphere, the result for an Ar gas pressure of 10 kPa is also discussed. The formation of disordered FeNi clusters predominately took place in an H2 gas atmosphere

Transcription and Translation Products of the Cytolysin Gene psm-mec on the Mobile Genetic Element SCCmec Regulate Staphylococcus aureus Virulence

The F region downstream of the mecI gene in the SCCmec element in hospital-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) contains two bidirectionally overlapping open reading frames (ORFs), the fudoh ORF and the psm-mec ORF. The psm-mec ORF encodes a cytolysin, phenol-soluble modulin (PSM)-mec. Transformation of the F region into the Newman strain, which is a methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) strain, or into the MW2 (USA400) and FRP3757 (USA300) strains, which are community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains that lack the F region, attenuated their virulence in a mouse systemic infection model. Introducing the F region to these strains suppressed colony-spreading activity and PSMα production, and promoted biofilm formation. By producing mutations into the psm-mec ORF, we revealed that (i) both the transcription and translation products of the psm-mec ORF suppressed colony-spreading activity and promoted biofilm formation; and (ii) the transcription product of the psm-mec ORF, but not its translation product, decreased PSMα production. These findings suggest that both the psm-mec transcript, acting as a regulatory RNA, and the PSM-mec protein encoded by the gene on the mobile genetic element SCCmec regulate the virulence of Staphylococcus aureus

Bone morphogenetic proteins in tissue engineering: the road from laboratory to clinic, part II (BMP delivery)

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are cytokines with a strong effect on bone and cartilage growth and with important roles during embryonic patterning and early skeletal formation. BMPs have promising potential for clinical bone and cartilage repair, working as powerful boneinducing components in diverse tissue-engineering products. Synthetic polymers, natural origin polymers, inorganic materials and composites may be used as carriers for the delivery of BMPs. Carriers range from nanoparticles to complex three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds, membranes for tissue-guided regeneration, biomimetic surfaces and smart thermosensitive hydrogels. Current clinical uses include spinal fusion, healing of long bone defects and craniofacial and periodontal applications, amongst others. BMP-2 and BMP-7 have recently received approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for specific clinical cases, delivered in absorbable collagen sponges. Considering the expanding number of publications in the field of BMPs, there are prospects of a brilliant future in the field of regenerative medicine of bone and cartilage with the use of BMPs

Complications Associated With Spine Surgery in Patients Aged 80 Years or Older: Japan Association of Spine Surgeons with Ambition (JASA) Multicenter Study

Study Design:Retrospective study of registry data.Objectives:Aging of society and recent advances in surgical techniques and general anesthesia have increased the demand for spinal surgery in elderly patients. Many complications have been described in elderly patients, but a multicenter study of perioperative complications in spinal surgery in patients aged 80 years or older has not been reported. Therefore, the goal of the study was to analyze complications associated with spine surgery in patients aged 80 years or older with cervical, thoracic, or lumbar lesions.Methods:A multicenter study was performed in patients aged 80 years or older who underwent 262 spinal surgeries at 35 facilities. The frequency and severity of complications were examined for perioperative complications, including intraoperative and postoperative complications, and for major postoperative complications that were potentially life threatening, required reoperation in the perioperative period, or left a permanent injury.Results:Perioperative complications occurred in 75 of the 262 surgeries (29%) and 33 were major complications (13%). In multivariate logistic regression, age over 85 years (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.007, P = 0.025) and estimated blood loss ≥500 g (HR = 3.076, P = .004) were significantly associated with perioperative complications, and an operative time ≥180 min (HR = 2.78, P = .007) was significantly associated with major complications.Conclusions:Elderly patients aged 80 years or older with comorbidities are at higher risk for complications. Increased surgical invasion, and particularly a long operative time, can cause serious complications that may be life threatening. Therefore, careful decisions are required with regard to the surgical indication and procedure in elderly patients

Risk Factors for Delirium After Spine Surgery in Extremely Elderly Patients Aged 80 Years or Older and Review of the Literature: Japan Association of Spine Surgeons with Ambition Multicenter Study

Study Design:Retrospective database analysis.Objective:Spine surgeries in elderly patients have increased in recent years due to aging of society and recent advances in surgical techniques, and postoperative complications have become more of a concern. Postoperative delirium is a common complication in elderly patients that impairs recovery and increases morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to analyze postoperative delirium associated with spine surgery in patients aged 80 years or older with cervical, thoracic, and lumbar lesions.Methods:A retrospective multicenter study was performed in 262 patients 80 years of age or older who underwent spine surgeries at 35 facilities. Postoperative complications, incidence of postoperative delirium, and hazard ratios of patient-specific and surgical risk factors were examined.Results:Postoperative complications occurred in 59 of the 262 spine surgeries (23%). Postoperative delirium was the most frequent complication, occurring in 15 of 262 patients (5.7%), and was significantly associated with hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, cervical lesion surgery, and greater estimated blood loss (P < .05). In multivariate logistic regression using perioperative factors, cervical lesion surgery (odds ratio = 4.27, P < .05) and estimated blood loss ≥300 mL (odds ratio = 4.52, P < .05) were significantly associated with postoperative delirium.Conclusions:Cervical lesion surgery and greater blood loss were perioperative risk factors for delirium in extremely elderly patients after spine surgery. Hypertension and cerebrovascular disease were significant risk factors for postoperative delirium, and careful management is required for patients with such risk factors