Friction and wear behaviour of Mo − W doped carbon-based coating during boundary lubricated sliding

A molybdenum and tungsten doped carbon-based coating (Mo−W−C) was developed in order to provide low friction in boundary lubricated sliding condition at ambient and at high temperature. The Mo−W−C coating showed the lowest friction coefficient among a number of commercially available state-of-the-art DLC coatings at ambient temperature. At elevated temperature (200°C), Mo−W−C coating showed a significant reduction in friction coefficient with sliding distance in contrast to DLC coatings. Raman spectroscopy revealed the importance of combined Mo and W doping for achieving low friction at both ambient and high temperature. The significant decrease in friction and wear rate was attributed to the presence of graphitic carbon debris (from coating) and 'in-situ' formed metal sulphides (WS2 and MoS2, where metals were supplied from coating and sulphur from engine oil) in the transfer layer

Age Is No Longer a Limit: Two Cases of Hepatectomy in Patients Over 90 Years Old

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with poor prognosis. The age of patients affected by HCC is considered to be increasing, and several studies have reported significantly higher rates of morbidity and mortality after hepatectomy for HCC in elderly patients. However, other studies have reported that the short- and long-term outcomes of surgery for HCC in elderly patients are similar to those in younger patients. Whether the indications for hepatic resection in elderly patients resemble those in younger patients has thus been questioned. We describe two cases of patients over 90 years old who underwent major hepatectomy for HCC, representing the oldest patients in the world to have done so

Carcinomatous Pericarditis in 3 Breast Cancer Patients with Long-Term Survival

With advances in drug treatment of breast cancer, the number of patients experiencing cardiac toxicity or carcinomatous pericarditis is expected to increase. These conditions can cause cardiac tamponade, which is a potentially fatal condition requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment. We experienced 3 breast cancer patients with cardiac tamponade due to carcinomatous pericarditis who survived for prolonged periods after treatment with pericardiocentesis and intrapericardial instillation. The 3 women were 68, 46 and 46 years old, respectively, and receiving treatment for recurrent breast cancer after surgery. They developed dyspnea and cough and were diagnosed with cardiac tamponade by echocardiography. Pericardiocentesis was performed, and cytology of the effusion confirmed the diagnosis of carcinomatous pericarditis. Intrapericardial instillation of cisplatin reduced the cardiac effusion, ameliorating symptoms. The patients died 13, 31 and 14 months later, respectively. In our clinical review of 13 other cases of cardiac tamponade due to breast cancer, 85% achieved local control after the aforementioned local treatments, which were considered to be effective. Although the overall prognosis was poor with a median survival time of only 4 months, some patients were able to survive more than 1 year after local treatment with subsequent systemic therapy

Magnetic and magneto-optical properties of nickel hexacyanoferrate/chromate thin films

One of the most important challenges of modern science and technology is the quest for novel and tuneable materials, the properties of which can be widely controlled by chemical modifications or external stimuli. Simultaneously, an interest in the development of magnetic thin films also gains significant attention. In the current paper we bring together both these challenges and present a study of a new type of low-dimensional nickel hexacyanoferrate/chromate system. Thin films were obtained by the "layer by layer" deposition technique, where the ratio of Fe/Cr was controlled by the dipping sequence. The scope of this work is a comprehensive analysis of structural, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of the compound and the investigation of the evolution of material properties induced by the change of the chemical composition