Formation of Hot Ice Caused by Carbon Nanobrushes

Confinement in nanoscaled porous materials changes properties of water significantly. We perform molecular dynamics simulations of water in a model of a nanobrush made of carbon nanotubes. Water crystallizes into a novel structure called dtc in the nanobrush when (6,6) nanotubes are located in a triangular arrangement, and there is a space that can accommodate two layers of water molecules between the tubes. The mechanism of the solidification is analogous to formation of gas hydrates: hydrophobic molecules promote crystallization when their arrangement matches ordered structures of water. This is supported by a statistical mechanical calculation, which bears resemblance to the theory on the clathrate hydrate stability

Shed Blood-derived Cells from Total Hip Arthroplasty Have Osteoinductive Potential: A Pilot Study

Background: Cell therapy using autologous cells has been used in the treatment of various medical conditions. The mononuclear cell (MNC) fraction of bone marrow (BM) contains stem/progenitor cells that could contribute to osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Questions/purposes: We asked whether MNCs derived from intraoperative shed blood (SB), consisting of peripheral blood and BM, have osteoinductive and angiogenic potential. Methods: We harvested SB and BM from six patients undergoing THA. Isolated MNCs from SB and BM were analyzed by flow cytometry to evaluate the CD34+ cell fraction and 1 × 106 cells were seeded on an interconnective porous calcium hydroxyapatite ceramic (IP-CHA) and transplanted in the backs of athymic rats. IP-CHAs without cells were transplanted as controls and all composites were harvested after 4 and 8 weeks. Osteoinductive potential was evaluated by histologic observation, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using anti-osteocalcin (OC) antibodies qualitatively and quantitatively. To evaluate angiogenic potential, capillary density was measured by immunohistochemistry using Isolectin B4 4 weeks after implantation. Results: We found that CD34+ cells existed in SB-MNCs and there was a trend toward lower frequency compared with BM-MNCs. Histologic osteoinduction, OC expression, and capillary density were increased by transplantation of MNCs from SB. Similar results were achieved with MNCs from BM. Conclusions: MNCs from SB have equivalent osteoinductive and angiogenic potential compared with those from BM. Clinical Relevance: SB could be an attractive source for isolation of MNCs, enhancing osteoinduction and neovascularization, to augment the reconstruction of skeletal defects

Modified double patch repair with infarct exclusion technique for ventricular septal perforation: a case study

Abstract Background Ventricular septal perforation (VSP) after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is accompanied by the worsening of rapid hemodynamics, resulting in a poor prognosis. In our department, infarct lesions are preoperatively detected with electrocardiogram (ECG)-synchronized contrast computed tomography, and the scope of approach and exclusion is determined. Furthermore, to effectively prevent a residual shunt, modified double patch repair and infarct exclusion techniques were used in combination to preserve left ventricular (LV) function. This method is reported because it considers both techniques as a surgical procedure that can be accomplished relatively easily and simultaneously. Case presentation We targeted two consecutive VSP patients who underwent this procedure. It took an average of 1 day from the onset of VSP to surgery. We performed double patch and infarct exclusion for VSP using bovine pericardium via an LV incision. Two patches were marked with a skin pen to anastomose eight mattresses equally. In addition, a one piece-coupled patch was made for infarct exclusion. The two patients were extubated on the day after surgery and intra-aortic balloon pump assistance was also withdrawn. Without perioperative complications, they could leave the intensive care unit after 6.5 days on average. Early postoperative ECG and magnetic resonance angiography showed good LV wall contraction, except at the infarcted area, with no evidence of a residual shunt. Conclusion The modified double patch repair with infarct exclusion technique is more effective for preventing a residual shunt and maintaining postoperative cardiac function than either of the techniques alone

Degradation kinetics of azo dye by ozonation in water

Decomposition of azo dye by ozonation was investigated. A methyl orange (MO) was used as a typical compound of azo dye. Concentration of MO in water was adjusted to 200 mg/L. 2.0% ozone in oxygen was introduced into the MO solution from the bottom of a bubble column reactor. The MO solution was decolorized rapidly by ozonation and the COD and TOC of MO solutions were also decreased with an increase in ozonation time. The color reduction rate of MO solution by ozonation was much faster than those of COD and TOC reduction. The decolorization and degradation were followed by pseudo-first-order kinetics independentl

Experimental Results of Ion Heating by Magnetic Reconnection Using External Coils

One of the purposes of the UTST device is to demonstrate of magnetic reconnection heating using external coils to conduct field line merging. In order to measure the ion heating, a Doppler spectroscopy system was developed. By increasing the reconnection magnetic field to 17 mT from 4 mT after the UTST upgrade, the ion heating was observed for the first time in the UTST reconnection experiments. The ion temperature increased to 50 eV from 15 eV due to reconnection during the plasma merging