Multi-grooved cutting tool to reduce cutting force and temperature during bone machining

The cutting temperature of a cutting tool are required to be low during bone machining for preventing damage to bone cells. However, conventional tools are practically the same as those used for metal cutting, and many operational limitations have been reported. In this study, a dedicated cutting tool was designed for reducing cutting force and temperature. A short contact between the workpiece and the cutting edge leads to a reduction in the cutting force. Furthermore, a straight-line edge improves surface roughness. The effectiveness was evaluated using bovine bone, and the cutting force was found to be decreased by about 40%.     

Programmable self-assembly of metal ions inside artificial DNA duplexes

The ultimate bottom-up approach for the construction of functional nanosystems requires the precise arrangement of atoms and molecules in three dimensions. DNA is currently one of the most prominent molecules able to self-assemble into complex networks and is therefore regarded as the 'silicon of the nano-world'. Metals and metal ions, in contrast, are the atomic building-blocks needed in such materials to establish functions such as electrical conductivity or magnetism. Here we report a new concept, which efficiently combines metal ions and DNA. The DNA structure is used as a matrix to program robustly the complexation of different metal ions under precise control with regard to element, number and composition.     

A new technique for foaming submicron size poly(methyl methacrylate) particles

About 0.7–2 μm diameter poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) foamed particles were prepared via thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) from a PMMA/ethanol mixture and vacuum dried. It was found that ethanol, known to be a poor solvent to PMMA, could dissolve PMMA when the temperature was over 60°C. The solubility of PMMA (M_w = 15,000 and M_w = 120,000) in ethanol was measured and was found to increase as the temperature increased. PMMA particles on the scale of submicron and single micron diameter could be precipitated from the PMMA/ethanol solution by temperature quenching. Then, since the precipitated particles contained a certain amount of ethanol, the precipitated particles could be foamed using the ethanol as a foaming agent in a vacuum drying process. Vacuum drying at temperatures slightly below the glass transition temperature of the polymer could make the particles foam. The effects of foaming temperature and the molecular weight of the polymer on the size of foamed particles were investigated. The experimental results showed that the vapor pressure and the molecular weight of the polymer are key factors determining the expandability of the micro particles. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Analysis of inner structure in high-strength biodegradable fibers by X-ray microtomography using synchrotron radiation

The observation of the inner structure of materials without pretreatment or damage is a very useful analytical method in the field of materials science as well as in medicine and biology. We have carried out a three-dimensional (3D) analysis of biodegradable polyester bacterial-poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-(R)-3-hydroxyvalerate] (P(3HB-co-3HV)) fibers with high tensile strength (1.07 GPa) using X-ray microtomography with synchrotron radiation. The inner structure of the fibers was visualized at a spatial resolution of 1 μm. There are many fine voids for one-step-drawn P(3HB-co-3HV) fibers after isothermal crystallization from the result of X-ray microtomography. This revealed that the clear streak reflection along the equator in small-angle X-ray scattering is caused by these fine voids. The recalculated tensile strength of one-step-drawn P(3HB-co-3HV) fibers after isothermal crystallization is suggested to be 2.02 GPa, taking the cross-section area with 52.7% (polymer region) into consideration. These fine voids in fibers seemed to be generated by the volume changes due to the contraction of polymer chains during isothermal crystallization.     

Preparation of ZnO-TiO2 Composite Fine Particles Using the Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis Method and Their Characteristics on Ultraviolet Cutoff

ZnO-TiO₂ composite fine particles were prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis of TiO₂ (anatase) particles suspended in Zn(NO₃)₂ aqueous solution. The morphology and the crystalline phases of fine particles were studied with varying nebulizing solution compositions, reactor temperature, and nitrogen carrier gas flow rate. The aggregate particles produced were spheres of ZnO (wurtzite structure) and TiO₂ (anatase), whose diameters ranged from 0.36 to 0.5μm. These particles were hollow or solid aggregate particles consisting of ultrafine primary particles with diameters ranging from 10 to 100 nm. The crystallinity of prepared particles was improved by increasing the reactor temperature and lowering the flow rate of nitrogen. The largest crystallites were obtained at a solution concentration ratio of C_Zn(NO3)2/C_TiO2 = 10:7. These composite particles showed a combined ultraviolet cutoff characteristic of ultraviolet light shielding in the wide range of wavelength ranging from 200 to 370 nm.     

Effects of active dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae on ruminal fermentation and bacterial community during the short-term ruminal acidosis challenge model in Holstein calves

We investigated the effects of active dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ADSC) on ruminal pH, fermentation, and the fluid bacterial community during the short-term ruminal acidosis challenge. Five rumen-fistulated male Holstein calves (147.0 ± 5.8 kg of body weight; 3.6 ± 0.2 mo of age) were used in a crossover design, and 0 g (control group, n = 5) or 2 g (SC group, n = 5) of ADSC (1 × 10¹⁰ cfu/g) was administered twice daily for 21 consecutive days. Calves were fed a high-forage diet during the first 15 d (d –14 to d 0; prechallenge), a high-grain diet for 2 d (d 1 and 2; ruminal acidosis challenge), and a high-forage diet for 4 d (d 3 to 6; postchallenge). Ruminal pH was measured continuously. Rumen fluid samples were collected once daily (0800 h) on d 0, 3, 4, and 6 and twice daily (0800 and 1100 h) on d 1 and 2. Bacterial DNA was extracted from fluid samples collected on d 0 and 3. The 24-h and 1-h mean ruminal pH was significantly depressed during the ruminal acidosis challenge in each group, although the changes were more severe in the SC group, consistent with a significant increase in lactic acid on d 2 (1100 h) compared with d 0 and a significantly higher proportion of butyric acid on d 2 (1100 h) compared with the control group. Feeding a high-grain diet caused a decrease in bacterial diversity due to high acidity in both groups. The relative abundances of the genus Bifidobacterium and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) 3 (Bifidobacterium species) increased significantly in both groups but were higher in the SC group. Correlation analyses indicated that OTU3 (Bifidobacterium species) were positively correlated with lactic acid concentration and that OTU1 (Prevotella species) and OTU5 (Succinivibrio species) were correlated with the proportion of butyric acid. These results suggest that ADSC supplementation induced the intense decreases in ruminal pH by increased butyric and lactic acid production through a high-grain diet fermentation by rumen fluid bacterial species during the short-term ruminal acidosis challenge in Holstein calves after weaning.     

Strain Anisotropy Driven Spontaneous Formation of Nanoscrolls from 2D Janus Layers

2D Janus transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have attracted attention due to their emergent properties arising from broken mirror symmetry and self-driven polarization fields. While it has been proposed that their vdW superlattices hold the key to achieving superior properties in piezoelectricity and photovoltaic, available synthesis has ultimately limited their realization. Here, the first packed vdW nanoscrolls made from Janus TMDs through a simple one-drop solution technique are reported. The results, including ab initio simulations, show that the Bohr radius difference between the top sulfur and the bottom selenium atoms within Janus ${\mathrm{M}}_{\mathrm{Se}}^{\mathrm{S}}$ (M = Mo, W) results in a permanent compressive surface strain that acts as a nanoscroll formation catalyst after small liquid interaction. Unlike classical 2D layers, the surface strain in Janus TMDs can be engineered from compressive to tensile by placing larger Bohr radius atoms on top (${\mathrm{M}}_{\mathrm{S}}^{\mathrm{Se}})$to yield inverted C scrolls. Detailed microscopy studies offer the first insights into their morphology and readily formed Moiré lattices. In contrast, spectroscopy and FETs studies establish their excitonic and device properties and highlight significant differences compared to 2D flat Janus TMDs. These results introduce the first polar Janus TMD nanoscrolls and introduce inherent strain-driven scrolling dynamics as a catalyst to create superlattices.