Phase transition of zircon at high P-T conditions

In situ observations of the zircon-reidite transition in ZrSiO4 were carried out using a multianvil high-pressure apparatus and synchrotron radiation. The phase boundary between zircon and reidite was determined to be P (GPa) = 8.5 + 0.0017×(T-1200) (K) for temperatures between 1100-1900 K. When subducted slabs, including igneous rocks and sediments, descend into the upper mantle, zircon in the subducted slab transforms into reidite at pressures of about 9 GPa, corresponding to a depth of 270 km. Reidite found in an upper Eocene impact ejecta layer in marine sediments is thought to have been transformed from zircon by a shock event. The peak pressure generated by the shock event in this occurrence is estimated to be higher than 8 GPa

Effect of preoperative thoracic duct drainage on canine kidney transplantation

Chronic drainage of the thoracic duct to the esophagus was developed in dogs, and its efficacy in immunomodulation was tested using kidney transplantation. Compared to 9.7 days in the control, the mean animal survival was prolonged to 9.9 days, 17.8 days, and 18.5 days when TDD was applied preoperatively for 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 9 weeks, respectively. Prolongation was significant after 6 weeks. Patency of the fistula was 93.5, 80.4, and 76.1% at respective weeks. Number of peripheral T-lymphocytes determined by a new monoclonal antibody diminished after 3 weeks. All animals were in normal health, requiring no special care for fluid, electrolyte, or protein replacement

In Vivo Visualization of Vascular Patterns of Rotator Cuff Tears Using Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

Background: Hypoxia and decreased blood supply have been proposed as risks for tendon rupture. Visualization of the vascularity of intact and torn rotator cuffs would be useful for improving treatments for rotator cuff tear. Purpose: To assess vascularity inside a tendon or an adjacent rotator cuff insertion point in patients differing in age and extent of damage to the tendon. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Ten volunteers (all men) and 15 patients (10 men, 5 women) consented to participate in the study. Contrast agent for enhanced ultrasound was injected intravenously. Enhanced ultrasound images of the torn cuff and the contralateral shoulder were recorded for 1 minute. Four small regions of interest, the articular and bursal sides of the tendon and the medial and lateral sides of the bursa, were studied on all shoulders. Results: There was a significant decrease in blood flow in the intratendinous region in elderly subjects compared with young subjects but age had no effect on blood flow in bursal tissue. Blood flow in ruptured rotator cuffs did not differ from that in intact rotator cuffs. The intraclass correlation coefficient for intraobserver reproducibility was 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.77 to 0.86). Conclusions: The findings of this investigation were the hypovascular pattern in intratendinous tissue compared with the subacromial bursa, the age-related decrease in intratendinous vascularity, and the hypovascular pattern in the tendon, regardless of rupture of the tendon. Clinical Relevance: Clarification of vascular patterns inside or around the torn ends of a rotator cuff will assist in the development of successful treatments for torn rotator cuffs

In Vivo Vascularity Alterations in Repaired Rotator Cuffs Determined by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

The alterations in blood flow after rotator cuff repair remain unclear. Visualization of vascular patterns could clarify basic and clinical investigations. Purpose: To assess longitudinal blood flow inside the repaired cuff and the surrounding tissue after rotator cuff repair, using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: Fifteen patients (7 men, 8 women, mean age 65.0 ± 9.8 years) consented to their participation. The patients underwent an ultrasound scan before and 1, 2, and 3 months after surgery. Enhanced ultrasound images were recorded for 1 min after intravenous injection of contrast reagent. Four regions of interest inside the cuff, and 2 regions in the anchor hole and subacromial bursa were superimposed on the obtained images. Calculated areas under the time-intensity curves were expressed in acoustic units (AU). Results: We found area-dependent differences in patterns of alteration and magnitude of blood flow inside the repaired cuff and peritendinous tissues. Vascularity in the articular distal and bursal distal region of the repaired cuff at 1 month postoperatively increased significantly compared with that at the preoperative baseline (76 vs. 5 AU, P = .0037, 92 vs. 7 AU, P = .043). The vascularity peaked at 1 month after surgery in the bursal area within the cuff, but at 2 months in the articular area. The vascularity in the articular proximal region of the repaired cuff was significantly lower than that in the bursal proximal (P = .0046), bursal distal (P = .0183), and articular distal regions (P = .0163) 1 month after surgery. Conclusions: Enhancement patterns in intratendinous tissue increased at 1 or 2 months postoperatively and decreased at 3 months. We found area-dependent differences in enhancement patterns inside the repaired cuff and peritendinous tissue. Clinical Relevance: Visualization of vascularization using contrast-enhanced ultrasound could help in deciding on appropriate repair technique or on the form of postoperative rehabilitation following rotator cuff repair

Magnetic Properties of Shandite-Phase Co3−xFexSn2S2(x=0–1.0)\mathrm{Co_{3− x}Fe_{x}Sn_{2}S_{2}(x = 0–1.0)} Obtained with High Pressure Synthesis

In situ high-pressure (HP) and high-temperature (HT) energy dispersive X-ray diffraction of shandite-phase Co$_{3− x}$Fe$_x$Sn$_2$S$_2$ was carried out in the pressure range of 0–11 GPa and temperature range from room temperature to 1673 K. The Fe solubility limit xmax rises from below 0.6 up to 1.0 following HP and HT heat treatments. The ferromagnetic transition temperatures (TC) of Co$_{3− x}$Fe$_x$Sn$_2$S$_2$ decreases with x, and TC changes from 175(5) K (x = 0) to 68(3) K (x = 1), and this result is in qualitative agreement with theoretical calculations using the density functional theory with a pseudopotential. These results indicate that HP and HT techniques enable us to expand the solubility limits and magnetic phase diagrams in sulfides

Data on the effect of hypomyelinating leukodystrophy 6 (HLD6)-associated mutations on the TUBB4A properties

Hypomyelinating leukodystrophy (HLD) is genetic demyelinating or dysmyelinating disease and is associated with at least 13 responsible genes. The mutations seem likely cause the functional deficiency of their gene products. HLD4- and HLD5-associated HSPD1 and FAM126A mutations affect biochemical properties of the gene products (Miyamoto et al. (2015,2014) [1,2]). Herein we provide the data regarding the effects of HLD6-associated tubulin beta 4A (TUBB4A) mutations on the properties