How to model the contractive behavior of soil in a heating test

In this paper, the thermodynamic behavior of soil was observed in well-known heating tests via a simulation, which included THM-coupled finite element analysis as the boundary value problem (BVP). The primary purpose of the paper was to identify the necessity to model a phenomenon called ‘the volumetric contraction of soft clay due to heating’ by introducing some extra parameters in the thermo-elastoplastic model in which the THM analyses were conducted. Based on the simulation, it was determined that the heating test is only a BVP, and the phenomenon is simply an average behavior of the BVP, not an inherent property of soil. Based on the universal rule that any material will expand when heated, it is not necessary to introduce an extra parameter into a properly organized thermo-elastoplastic model to describe the phenomenon. The results may provide a useful insight for researchers who are interested in modeling the thermodynamic behavior of soils

Combination of Carbon Dioxide Angiography and Outback® Elite for Revascularization of a Patient with Renal Insufficiency with Bilateral Femoropopliteal Chronic Total Occlusions

A new reentry device (Outback Elite) system has been available in Japan since June 2016. This new device enables easier treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) in the lower extremities. We report a case of a woman in her 70s who underwent revascularization using this new device twice to treat both of her femoropopliteal CTO lesions. She was referred to our hospital complaining of intermittent claudication in both legs. She had a long history of diabetes mellitus complicated with severe chronic kidney disease. Her estimated glomerular filtration rate was <20. She refused surgical revascularization; therefore, we performed our treatment without iodine contrast medium. First, magnetic resonance imaging was performed to confirm that the CTO lesions had caused severe claudication before intervention. Subsequently, the Outback Elite device and carbon dioxide (CO2) angiography made it possible to revascularize both of her legs without iodine contrast medium. At 6 months after the procedures, we did not observe exacerbation of claudication in her legs