Improved wear performance of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene coated with hydrogenated diamond like carbon

Hydrogenated diamond like carbon (DLCH) thin films were deposited on medical grade ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) by radio frequency plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The DLCH coating thicknesses ranged from 250 to 700. nm. The substrates were disks made of UHMWPEs typically used for soft components in artificial joints, namely virgin GUR 1050 and highly crosslinked (gamma irradiated in air to 100. kGy) UHMWPEs. Mechanical and tribological properties under bovine serum lubrication at body temperature were assessed on coated and uncoated polyethylenes by means of nano-hardness and ball-on-disk tests, respectively. Morphological features of the worn surfaces were obtained by confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. This study confirms an increase in surface hardness and good wear resistance for coated materials after 24. h of sliding test compared to uncoated polyethylene. These results point out that to coat UHMWPE with DLCH films could be a potential method to reduce backside wear in total hip and knee arthroplasties.Ministerio de Ciencia y Educación MAT2006-12603- C02-01, CSD2008-0002

Special issue on digital marketing and eCommerce

publishersversionpublishe

Understanding the impact of line-of-sight in the ergodic spectral efficiency of cellular networks

In this paper we investigate the impact of lineof-sight (LoS) condition in the ergodic spectral efficiency of cellular networks. To achieve this goal, we have considered the kappa-mu shadowed model, which is a general model that provides an excellent fit to a wide set of propagation conditions. To overcome the mathematical complexity of the analysis, we have split the analysis between large and small-scale effects. Building on the proposed framework, we study a number of scenarios that range from heavily-fluctuating LoS to deterministic-LoS. Finally, we shed light on the interplay between fading severity and spectral efficiency by means of the amount of fading.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Tratamiento quirúrgico con placa bloqueada en fracturas de fémur distal tipo C en pacientes mayores de 60 años

Objetivo. Determinar el resultado clínico, radiológico y complicaciones asociadas del tratamiento con placa bloqueada en fracturas distales de fémur tipo C en pacientes mayores de 60 años. Material y métodos. Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de 16 pacientes. Se registraron variables epidemiológicas, comorbilidades, complicaciones y resultados clínicos y radiológicos. Resultados. Edad media de 75,3 años. El seguimiento medio fue de 13,5 meses. La flexión media postoperatoria de la rodilla fue de 61,6º. Sólo un 12,5% de los pacientes no referían gonalgia ni precisaban ayudas para la deambulación al final del seguimiento. Radiológicamente, en un 68,7% la translación femoral era mayor de 5 mm, y en un 31,3% la reducción en el plano lateral no era correcta. Se consiguió la consolidación de la fractura en 13 pacientes (86,6%), con un tiempo medio de 10,2 semanas. Como complicaciones hubo una pseudoartrosis, una consolidación viciosa y una infección. Discusión. El tratamiento de la fractura distal de fémur con placa bloqueada viene avalado en la literatura como un método fiable. Sin embargo, en nuestra serie, hemos tenido un alto porcentaje de malos resultados clínicos con presencia de dolor en la rodilla y necesidad de ayudas para la deambulación.Objective. To evaluate functional and radiographic results, and complications, after surgical treatment with locked plate in fractures of the distal femur in patients 60 years old or older. Material and methods. We reviewed 16 patients. We recorded epidemiological variables, comorbidities, functional and radiographic results. Results. Mean aged of 75,3 years. Mean follow-up of 13,5 months. Mean knee flexion of 61,6º. Only 12,5% of the patients did not refer knee pain and walked unaided. Radiologically, in 68,7% of the patients femoral translation was greater than 5 mm, and in 31,3% lateral reduction was not correct. Fracture healed in 13 patients (86,6%), in a mean time of 10,2 weeks. There were 1 nonunion, 1 malunion, and 1 infection. Discussion. Locked plating is a realiable treatment for distal femoral fractures. But, in our elderly serie, we experienced bad clinical results with high percentage of knee pain and walking aid

Isobaric molar heat capacities of the mixture (p-cymene + ethanol) at several temperatures and atmospheric pressure

Experimental isobaric molar heat capacities at atmospheric pressure have been determined every 10 K for the mixture p-cymene (1) + ethanol (2) in the temperature interval (298.6–328.4) K over the whole composition range with a Calvet type calorimeter. Densities, necessary for calculating heat capacities, have been also measured in the same conditions. Excess molar volumes have been calculated from densities. Excess molar heat capacities have been calculated from the molar heat capacities, their values being positive and increasing as the temperature rises. Excess properties are discussed in terms of intermolecular interactions. The solvation model COSMO-RS has been applied to predict the excess molar heat capacities. The model predicts fairly well the values of the excess heat capacities

Transpiración nocturna en vid

Se presentan las medidas de transpiración media cada quince minutos, de la vid (Vitis vinifera cv. Tempranillo), en tres periodos fenológicos del cultivo: cerrado de racimo, envero y maduración. El estudio se realizó en dos plantas de 16 años de edad, a un marco de plantación de 3 m x 1,5 m, regadas mediante goteo y plantadas en un lisímetro de pesada continua monolítico de 9 m2 de superficie. Con la finalidad de poder medir la transpiración, la superficie del lisímetro fue cubierta con una lona impermeable, para evitar la pérdida de agua por evaporación, dejándose únicamente al aire libre el cultivo; de esta manera, las medidas registradas de pérdida de peso se debieron únicamente al efecto de la transpiración. Los resultados indicaron transpiración antes y después de la salida del sol, oscilando los valores de un 7% a un 16%, con respecto a la transpiración total del día.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad AGL2014- 54201-C4-4-RMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad RTA2011-00100-C05-04Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad RTA 2014-00049-C05-0