Epinephrine facilitates cardiac fibrillation by shortening action potential refractoriness

Epinephrine released during ventricular tachycardia (VT) or early fibrillation (VF) appears to be instrumental in stabilizing fibrillation. However, mechanisms remain unclear. Effects of epinephrine on refractory period at normal sinus rates depend on basic cycle length, but effects at short cycle lengths, typical of VT/VF, are unknown. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine whether epinephrine shortens action potential duration and refractoriness at these short cycle lengths. To simulate early VT/VF, myocardial cell aggregates (n = 35) were paced using field stimulation (5 ms rectangular waveform) at cycle lengths of 200, 180, 160 and 140 ms, which occur during in situ fibrillation: normal sinus rhythm was simulated by pacing at 600 and 400 ms intervals. Action potentials and excitation threshold were recorded with intracellular microelectrodes under control conditions, with 0.9 microM/l epinephrine, and with 0.9 microM/l epinephrine and 0.5 microM/l propranolol. At short cycle lengths, epinephrine significantly shortened action potential duration and refractoriness compared to control. At a cycle length of 160 ms, action potential duration was reduced by 14 ms at 60% repolarization (P < 0.0002) and stimulation threshold by 18% (P < 0.02). Epinephrine also allowed pacing at a cycle length of 140 ms, not achievable under control conditions. Because epinephrine decreases action potential duration at short cycle length in situ, re-entry wavefronts are less likely to encounter refractory tissue: fibrillation is more likely to occur and to remain stabilised. Reduction in action potential duration and excitation threshold were reversed by propranolol, suggesting that epinephrine effects are produced by beta-stimulation.     

Application of the Largest Movable Mold EMS on a Large Section Size CC Bloom

The largest movable mold EMS developed by POSCO in collaboration with Daineli-Rotelec for improving internal quality of a large CC bloom is being used at a large size bloom caster of POSCO since 2011.Internal quality of carbon steel CC bloom of 700×700 mm~2 section size with the mold EMS was much improved compared with without the mold EMS.Equiaxed zone ratio increased from 50%to 100%and the grain of equiaxed structure became globular and fine.Top shrinkage was also much reduced by applying the movable mold EMS.     

Electrochemical oxidation of some basic alcohols on multiwalled carbon nanotube–platinum composites

Some composites of multiwalled carbon nanotubes, which were chemically treated in acidic and/or hydrogen peroxide solution, and platinum nanoparticles were prepared by the simple reduction in glycerol solution. Carboxylated and/or hydroxyl MWNTs were structurally analysed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. In addition, the MWNT?CPt composites were characterized by XRD and TEM in detail. The electrochemical oxidation of some basic alcohols, which was catalyzed by the MWNT?CPt composites, was analysed by cyclic voltammetry. Their catalytic activities were studied with cyclic voltammograms of alcohols.     

A method to estimate plastic loads for elbows with non‐uniform thicknesses

This paper provides a method to estimate plastic loads [defined by the twice‐elastic‐slope (TES)] for elbows with non‐uniform thicknesses under in‐plane bending and under internal pressure, based on systematic FE limit analyses using elastic‐perfectly plastic materials. The intrados thickness is assumed to be up to 30% thicker than the straight pipe thickness, whereas the extrados thickness up to 30% thinner. The FE plastic loads are compared with estimated ones using closed‐form approximations for elbows with uniform thicknesses, to provide guidance on the choice of a representative thickness to predict plastic loads for elbows with non‐uniform thicknesses. Results suggest that the use of the straight pipe thickness gives overall satisfactory predictions. Estimated plastic loads are conservative, and differ from FE results by less than 10% for all cases considered. Despite its simplicity, results look very promising, and thus the use of the straight pipe thickness can be recommended to estimate plastic loads for elbows with non‐uniform thicknesses in practice.