Blood flow interpretation in femoral pseudoaneurysm

A femoral artery pseudoaneurysm is one complication of vascular intervention, and the incidence is increasing. Early management is then needed to avoid potential dangers from it. It differs from a true aneurysm in that it doesn＇t include any component of the vascular wall, and is not studied as much as a true aneurysm. Here, a model of a femoral pseudoaneurysm was made and a Computational Fluid Dynamics（CFD） simulation was verified with PIV experiment. Afterwards, a CFD simulation with two different models was performed to look for any findings which may help in developing new treatment methods.     

The ability of zinc to inhibit the sporulation and viability of Clostridium sporogenes and growth of other bacteria

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of zinc on the sporulation and viability of Clostridium sporogenes and on the growth of other bacteria. When 0.5% ZnCl₂ was added to a sporulation medium, it completely inhibited C. sporogenes (PA 3679) sporulation for up to 3 weeks. At concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0%, ZnCl₂ not only completely inactivated the vegetative cell viability (>7.0 Log reduction) but also significantly reduced the spore viability (<2.1 Log reduction) of C. sporogenes. Taken together, it was concluded that zinc blocks C. sporogenes sporulation by damaging (or killing) vegetative cells and probably by interfering with the biosynthesis of spore components. In addition to the inhibitory effect on the sporulation and viability of C. sporogenes, ZnCl₂ was found to have a broad antimicrobial spectrum against all Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative spoilage and pathogenic bacteria tested. The minimal inhibitory concentration for inhibiting the bacteria ranged between 3.7 and 7.4 mm . Therefore, we expect that this compound or a combination thereof has a potential as a surface‐cleaning agent or disinfectant.     

Salt in food processing; usage and reduction: a review

Salt is one of the most widely used additives in food industries because of its low cost and varied properties. It has a preservative and antimicrobial effect as a direct consequence of the capacity of sodium chloride to reduce water activity values. In addition, sodium chloride is a flavour enhancer as a consequence of its effect on different biochemical mechanisms. It also has flavour enhancing effects from reducing or enhancing the enzymatic activity of some enzymes responsible for the development of different organoleptic parameters. Trends in sodium chloride use in food industries point to salt replacement or reduction by means of the use of sodium chloride substitutes such as KCl or phosphates; flavour enhancers and the optimisation of the physical form of salt. This trend has arisen as a result of the greater awareness of the negative effects of excess dietary intake of sodium, which has been linked to hypertension and consequently an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The average total daily sodium intake per individual in developed countries is 4–5 g of Na, which is up to 25 times greater than the minimum adult requirement.     

Torrefied biomass‐polypropylene composites

Torrefied almond shells and wood chips were incorporated into polypropylene as fillers to produce torrefied biomass‐polymer composites. The composites were prepared by extrusion and injection molding. Response surface methodology was used to examine the effects of filler concentration, filler size, and lignin factor (relative lignin to cellulose concentration) on the material properties of the composites. The heat distortion temperatures, thermal properties, and tensile properties of the composites were characterized by thermomechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile tests, respectively. The torrefied biomass composites had heat distortion temperatures of 8–24°C higher than that of neat polypropylene. This was due to the torrefied biomass restricting mobility of polypropylene chains, leading to higher temperatures for deformation. The incorporation of torrefied biomass generally resulted in an increase in glass transition temperature, but did not affect melting temperature. Also, the composites had lower tensile strength and elongation at break values than those of neat polypropylene, indicating weak adhesion between torrefied biomass and polypropylene. However, scanning electron microscopy results did indicate some adhesion between torrefied biomass and polypropylene. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 41582.     

Solid‐State Conversion of Single Crystals: The Principle and the State‐of‐the‐Art

Solid‐state conversion of single crystals from polycrystalline materials has the advantages of cost‐effectiveness, chemical homogeneity, and versatility over the conventional melt growth and solution growth methods, particularly for systems with high melting points, incongruent melting, high reactivity (volatility), and phase transformations at high temperature. Nevertheless, for commercial production, this technique has only been successful in a few limited systems, in particular ferroelectric systems. This is mostly because of the difficulty in controlling the microstructure, particularly suppressing grain growth in the polycrystal during its conversion. This article describes the principle and the current status of the solid‐state conversion of single crystals. We first introduce the recently developed principle of microstructural evolution to explain the basis of the microstructure control in polycrystals for solid‐state conversion. We then report recent technical developments in fabricating single crystals by the solid‐state single crystal growth (SSCG) method and their physical properties. The SSCG method is expected to be studied and utilized more widely in fabricating single crystals with complex compositions as a strong alternative to the melt growth and solution growth methods.     

Computational Analysis of Oxide Ion Conduction in Orthorhombic Perovskite Structured La0.9A0.1InO2.95 (A = Ca,Sr and Ba)

Oxide ion conduction in orthorhombic perovskite structured oxides, La_0.9A_0.1InO_2.95 (A = Ca, Sr and Ba) is analyzed using molecular dynamics simulation. Factors influencing oxide ion conductivity of the compositions considered are analyzed using radial distribution function, bond energies between dopant and oxide ions, and the diffusion path. It is known that perovskite oxides with smaller ion size mismatch between host and dopant ions have higher electrical conductivities. However, exceptions exist, such as a La_0.9A_0.1InO_2.95 (A = Ca, Sr and Ba) system, where high electrical conductivities occur with large ion size mismatches. Based on this study, a dopant with smaller ion than host ion results in the formation of strong ionic bonds with oxide ions, suggesting that the A‐site dopant should be larger than the host ion for forming weaker O–A bonds. Consequently, the trade‐off between ion size mismatch and O–A bond needs to be considered for enhancing oxide ion conductivity of perovskite oxides.     

The Updated Bottom Up Solution Applied to Atmospheric Pressure Photoionization and Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry

The Updated Bottom Up Solution (UBUS) was recently applied to atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) mass spectrometry (MS) of triacylglycerols (TAG). This report demonstrates that the UBUS applies equally well to atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) MS and to electrospray ionization (ESI) MS. Critical Ratio 1 (CR1), the [MH]⁺/Σ[DAG]⁺ or [MNH₄]⁺/Σ[DAG]⁺ ratio, does not exhibit the same strongly sigmoidal shape as it does by APCI‐MS. CR1 varies more widely for APPI‐MS than by APCI‐MS, having a maximum value of 11.8, indicating a much greater effect of unsaturation on ion ratios in APPI‐MS than APCI‐MS. Critical Ratio 2, the [AA]⁺/[AB]⁺ ratio for Type II TAG or [AC]⁺/([AB]⁺+[BC]⁺) ratio for Type III TAG, allows quantification of regioisomers of TAG, and shows good agreement for APPI‐MS to regioisomer quantification determined by APCI‐MS. Critical Ratio 3, the [BC]⁺/[AB]⁺ ratio for Type III TAG, reveals new trends relating the degree of unsaturation by APPI‐MS, and shows that structural assignments made by ESI‐MS are in good agreement to APCI‐MS data. In addition to providing valuable structural information, the Critical Ratios also constitute a reduced data set that allows APPI‐MS or ESI‐MS mass spectra to be reconstructed when processed through the UBUS. Quantification by APPI‐MS of vitamin D in the gelcaps gave values of 42.90 ± 0.83 μg, or 1716 ± 33 international units, in good agreement with APCI‐MS.     

Investigation of Heat‐Induced Degradation of Virgin Olive Oil Using Front Face Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Chemometric Analysis

A simple setup using a 365‐nm light‐emitting diode coupled to a USB spectrometer through an optical fiber, in a front‐face fluorescence configuration, was used to investigate the heat‐induced deterioration of virgin olive oil at different heating temperatures and times. The samples were heated for 30, 60, 120 and 180 min for every temperature setting of 140, 160 and 180 °C, respectively. Two important results are reported in this article. First, a neo‐formed compound around 665 nm due to the degradation of chlorophyll was observed. This new peak was attributed to pyropheophytins. The second result showed an important rise of the peak around 489 nm, which corresponded to the oxidation products. The correlation obtained between the peroxide value and the 489 nm peak using principal component analysis revealed the mechanism of the oxidation process. It further showed that the peak around 489 nm is a direct consequence of the degradation of hydroperoxide.