Comparison of demineralized allogeneic bone matrix grafting (the Urist procedure) and the Ilizarov procedure in large diaphyseal defects in sheep

The bone inductive capability of the Urist and Ilizarov procedures was compared in the repair of large diaphyseal defects in sheep. In 30 animals, a 4 cm segmental defect was created in the middle portion of the right femur and was stabilized with an external fixator. The sheep were divided into four groups according to the type of reconstruction of the defect. In group 1, a demineralized allogeneic bone matrix (DABM) cylinder was used; in group 2, DABM chips; and in group 3, gradual transport of a piece of bone detached from the proximal femoral fragment was used to fill the defect. Group 4 served as a control (the defect was left empty). New bone formation was assessed by serial radiographs until the time of death at 2 or 4 months. Postmortem specimens were analyzed with respect to bone mineral content, uptake of isotopes (45Ca and 3H-proline), and histology. The first signs of new bone formation were radiographically evident at 4 weeks. In the two groups in which reconstruction involved DABM (Urist procedures), new bone failed to form in eight of the 13 animals. Full bridging of the defect was observed at 8 weeks in one animal with a DABM cylinder and two with DABM chips. No decisive difference in bone yield could be demonstrated between the two Urist procedures. In the group treated with the Ilizarov procedure, new bone formation consistently occurred at a high rate; full bridging of the defect was observed in seven of the eight animals. Bone mineral scanning and histologic analysis essentially confirmed the radiographic results. Uptake of isotopes was selectively analyzed in two sheep from each experimental group in which new bone formation was exhibited in the defect; new bone formation was increased compared with that in the contralateral femur but was equal among the three experimental groups. Our study shows that gradual transport of a detached piece of autogeneic bone (Ilizarov procedure) is more effective than implantation of DABM (Urist procedure) in eliciting new bone formation in large diaphyseal defects in sheep. The variable bone induction by DABM may be explained by differences in host immune responses to the implants.     

Magnetic resonance findings in skeletal muscle tears

Magnetic resonance (MR) images of skeletal muscle tears can clearly delineate the severity of muscle injury. Although MR imaging is seldom necessary in patients with acute muscle trauma, it can be helpful in deciding on clinical management. The two major MR findings in acute muscle tears are deformity of the muscle and the presence of abnormal signal reflecting hemorrhage and edema. In acute tears, methemoglobin within the extravascular blood causes high-signal areas on both T1- and T2-weighted images. With partial tears, the blood may dissect in a distinctive linear pattern along the muscle bundles and fibers. As healing begins, the muscle signal diminishes, first on the T1-weighted images and then on the T2-weighted images. When there is residual abnormal signal on images obtained more than several months after the injury, it is presumed to represent hemorrhage from recurrent tears. In patients with a questionable history of a remote injury, the clinical presentation may be that of persistent pain or a soft tissue mass. In these cases MR imaging may identify the cause of the pain and can exclude a neoplasm by proving that the mass is a hypertrophied or retracted muscle. Thus, MR imaging has a limited, but occasionally important role in selected patients with skeletal muscle tears.     

Scale‐up and Spouting of Two‐Dimensional Beds

The objective of this paper is to present an analysis on the scale‐up procedure of two‐dimensional spouted beds. The task was carried out with three different beds measuring 0.15, 0.30 and 0.80 in width. The conditions of scale‐up were studied through geometrical similitude analysis. Some parameters of scale were adimensionalised, tested and validated in order to propose relationships capable of predicting values of dependent properties. Those relationships should be followed in a prototype of an equipment of industrial scale. The study permitted the development of correlations to predict values of maximum pressure drop, minimum spout velocity and maximum height of spouting.     

Electronic gate detection for cell or particle counting and sizing in liquids: front-end characteristics, flow-dependent gate impedance, and its remediation

The detection sensitivity and the sizing resolution of electronic gating are inherently limited by fluctuating gate impedance and flow-induced noise. Instabilities of this type, as shown, are due to varying flow patterns of the carrier liquid beyond the gate. Their effects, although largely hidden in dc-operated gating, cause broadening and shift of cell/particle-size distributions under measurement. RF-operated gating, more specifically the demodulation operation, is much more hindered. For an investigation of these effects, a physical model is proposed along with a procedure for the identification of the system parameters. A detector of dedicated concept is used for evaluating the model, and, more specifically, for investigating the impact of configurational and hydrodynamic parameters. Experiments prove that the origin of flow-dependent gate impedance is to be located inside a zone of only a few-micrometer extent at the gate outlet. This is confirmed by the calculated electric field patterns. On such grounds, electrode configurations are proposed that minimize the current density in the zone of hydrodynamic instability and, hence, the flow-induced noise. The same configurations also minimize the impedance of the gate as signal source, facilitating broadband operation, and multifrequency cell impedance measurements.     

Simulation of runoff and phosphorus transport in a Carpathian catchment,Slovakia

A comprehensive, GIS‐based modelling approach is developed to estimate runoff and phosphorus transport within a watershed at a daily time step. The approach relies on the use of GIS data for deriving major critical model parameters that exhibit distinct spatial variability over the catchment. Surface runoff is calculated by a modified rational method, which depends upon rainfall intensity, soil moisture status, slope, land‐use and soil characteristics. Phosphorus loading is estimated as a function of the runoff volume and the event mean concentration for different land use categories. A diffusive approximation method is used to trace runoff and phosphorus transport to the basin outlet. The modelling approach is tested in the Margecany catchment, Hornad River basin, Slovakia, to simulate runoff, phosphorus loading, and its transport on a daily time scale using data observed between 1995 and 2000. Satisfactory results of the hydrographs and phosphorus concentration at the basin outlet are obtained, though more efforts regarding the phosphorus cycling and its biochemical reactions need to be clarified by further research. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spectral nephelometry for making extravirgin olive oil fingerprints

In spectral nephelometry, absorption spectroscopy and nephelometry are innovatively combined to provide simultaneous online monitoring of color and turbidity of edible oils. Spectral nephelometry instrumentation consists of an optoelectronic device that measures the absorption spectrum of the oil sample at different angles. Data processing, carried out by principal component analysis (PCA), allows identification of the oil sample and creates a two-dimensional map as a fingerprint of oil types.     

Towards a new definition of EPOC parameters for anionic electrochemical catalysts: case of propene combustion

The electrochemical promotion of catalysis (EPOC) of propene combustion was investigated using Pt sputtered thin film on an O²⁻ conductor, 8 mol% Y₂O₃-stabilized-ZrO₂ (YSZ). In order to separate the influence of the thermal migration of the O²⁻ oxide ions from the electrolyte to the catalyst surface and the impact of an electrical polarization on the catalytic activity, several light-off experiments (cool down and heat up procedures) were successively performed under different polarizations, i.e. OCV, +2 and −2 V. These experiments have clearly shown that the presence of O²⁻ (thermally or electrochemically induced) inhibits the catalytic activity of the platinum for the propene deep oxidation. These results demonstrate the importance to define a normalized rate enhancement ratio, ρ _n , from a reference value of the catalytic rate corresponding to a Pt surface state free of O²⁻ ions.     

Use of postconsumer polyethylene in blends with polyamide 6: Effects of the extrusion method and the compatibilizer

Blends of polyamide and high‐density polyethylene show adequate properties for a large range of applications: they are used for the production of filaments, containers, and molding resins. The effect of the addition of 2 wt % of a compatibilizer, maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene, to the blend was studied and compared to the use of postconsumer polyethylene. The samples were extruded with single‐ and twin‐screw extruders with 25, 50, or 75 wt % f polyethylene, and the test specimens, molded by injection, were characterized by stress–strain tests, thermal properties, and morphologies. Processing the blends with postconsumer polyethylene in both extruders improved the mechanical properties in comparison to the blends processed with high‐density polyethylene and the compatibilizer. The morphologies of these blends showed that there was a decrease in the domain size of the disperse phase with the use of the compatibilizer or postconsumer polyethylene. The results indicate that for this blend, postconsumer polyethylene substituted, with advantages, for the necessity of a compatibilizer and the use of the high‐density polyethylene. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008.