Numerical simulation of thermal bone necrosis during cementation of femoral prostheses

The implant of a femoral prosthesis is a critical process because of the relatively high temperature values reached at the bone/cement interface during the cementation of the infibulum. In fact, the cement is actually a polymer that polymerizes in situ generating heat. Moreover, the conversion of monomer into polymer is never 100%; this is dangerous because of the toxicity of the monomer. In this paper, we present a 3-D axisymmetric mathematical model capable of taking into account both the geometry of the implant and the chemical/physical properties of the cement. This model, together with its numerical simulation, thus represents a useful tool to set up the optimal conditions for the new materials developed in this orthopaedic field. The real complex geometry is assumed to be a bone/cement/metallic system having cylindrical symmetry, thus allowing the model to be reduced to two space variables. The cementation process is described by the Fourier heat equation coupled with a suitable polymerization kinetics. The numerical approximation is accomplished by semi-implicit finite differences in time and finite elements in space with numerical quadrature. The full discrete scheme amounts to solve linear positive definite symmetric systems preceded by an elementwise algebraic computation. We present various numerical simulations which confirm some critical aspects of this orthopaedic fixing technique such as thermal bone necrosis and the presence of unreacted residual monomer.This work was partially supported by MURST (Fondi per la Ricerca Scientifica 40%) and CNR (IAN, Contract 880032601, and Progetto Finalizzato Sistemi Informatici e Calcolo Parallelo, Sottoprogetto Calcolo Scientifico per Grandi Sistemi) of Italy     

Interaction of melittin with dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine liposomes. Evidence for boundary lipid by raman spectroscopy

The interaction of melittin, a polypeptide consisting of 26 amino acid residues, with dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine bilayers was investigated by vibrational Raman spectroscopy. Spectral peak height intensity ratios, involving vibrational transitions in both the 3000 cm^?1 acyl chain methylene carbon-hydrogen stretching mode region and the 1100 cm^?1 acyl chain carbon-carbon skeletal stretching mode interval, served as temperature profile indices for monitoring the bilayer order-disorder processes. For a lipid : melittin molar ratio of 14 : 1 two order-disorder transitions were observed. In comparison to a gel to liquid crystalline phase transition of 22.5°C for the pure lipid, the lower transition, exhibiting a 2°C width, is centered at 17°C and is associated with a depression of the main lipid phase transition of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine. The second thermal transition, displaying a 7°C interval, occurs at approx. 29°C and is associated with the melting behavior of approximately seven immobilized boundary lipids which surround the inserted hydrophobic segment of the polypeptide. For a lipid : melittin molar ratio of 10 : 1 two thermal transitions are also observed at 11 and 30°C. As before, they represent, respectively, the main gel to liquid crystalline phase transition and the melting behavior of approximately four boundary lipids attached to melittin. From these data alternative schemes are suggested for disposing the immobilized lipids around the hydrophobic portion of the polypeptide within the bilayer.     

Distinct states of lipid mobility in bovine rod outer segment membranes Resolution of spin label results

Freely diffusable lipid spin labels in bovine rod outer segment disc membranes display an apparent two-component ESR spectrum. One component is markedly more immobilized than that found in fluid lipid bilayers, and is attributed to lipid interacting directly with rhodopsin. For the 14-doxyl stearic acid spin label this more immobilized component has an outer splitting of 59 G at 0°C, with a considerable temperature dependence, the effective outer splitting decreasing to 54 G at 24°C. Spin label lipid chains covalently attached to rhodopsin can also display a two-component spectrum in rod outer segment membranes. In unbleached, non-delipidated membranes the 16-doxyl stearoyl maleimide label shows an immobilized component which has an outer splitting of 59 G at 0°C and a considerable temperature dependence. This component which is not resolved at high temperatures (24–35°C), is attributed to the lipid chains interacting directly with the monomeric protein, as with the diffusable labels. In contrast, in rod outer segment membranes which have been either delipidated or extensively bleached, a strongly immobilized component is observed with the 16-doxyl maleimide label at all temperatures. This immobilized component has an outer splitting of 62–64 G at 0°C, with very little temperature dependence (61–62 G at 35°C), and is attributed to protein aggregation.     

Cellular defense reactions of the shore crab, Carcinus maenas: in vivo hemocytic and histopathological responses to injected bacteria

The cellular defense reactions of the shore crab, Carcinus maenas, were studied, following injections of the bacteria Bacillus cereus and Moraxella sp., by histological and ultrastructural examination of the gills, heart, and hepatopancreas. The majority of the bacteria were sequestered to the gills, but some were also later evident in the heart and hepatopancreas. The presence of the bacteria in the gills initiated the formation of numerous small cell clumps, composed of both refractile and phagocytic cells, which entrapped many microorganisms. The clumps reached a maximum size 6 hr after inoculation and although some were cleared from the gills others persisted for 7 days, becoming more compact and necrotic during this period. Clump formation appears to occur following recognition of the bacteria as foreign and results in the hemocytes becoming sticky and adherent. The response is very effective in rapidly immobilizing the bacteria, thus restraining the spread of infection. It is proposed that this phenomenon may be a significant component of crustacean cellular host defenses.     

Bacteriorhodopsin,boundary lipid and protein conformers. A spin label study

A spin label study, as a function of temperature, has been made with the bacteriorhodopsin membrane using a stearic acid spin label. The ESR spectra show a strong variation with temperature and the presence of isosbestic points. The spectra are interpreted as indicating the presence of a two-component system with an activation energy (approx. 14 kcal/mol) corresponding to a protein conformational change. This activation energy is similar to that deduced from recent flash photolysis studies.It is concluded that the spin label is sensitive to the temperature-dependent protein conformational change in this membrane system.     

农田林网化地区近地面层廓线特征研究

大面积林网化地区近地面层大气的系留气球观测发现,近地面层大气的风、温、湿分为两层,即下边界层和扰动边界层,其厚度和廓线分布与理查逊数有关,在中性天气条件下均满足对数分布规律,边界层（特别是扰动边界层）内的摩擦速度Ｕ．＂与旷野对比点的摩擦速度Ｕ０增大１个数量级,而粗糙度Ｚ＂０增大２个数量级,甚至更大。     

Are there turbidites in the Silurian/Devonian boundary stratotype? (Klonk near Suchomasty,Barrandian, Czechoslovakia)

Summary A discussion arose in 1977 regarding the nature of the Silurian/Devonian boundary bed at Klonk, and the beds below and above it. Present revision of the stratotype sequence found that most clayey limestones display a multiple and composed rhythmic arrangement of laminae. Deposition of pelagic particles, effects of traction bottom currents, and turbidite inputs are distinguishable, however, the latter are rare. Semilithified surfaces and hardgrounds were found. The boundary bed No. 20 consists of several laminated rhythms. The Devonian base, marked by first occurrences ofMonograptus uniformis corresponds to a semilithified surface, a break in deposition for several tens to hundreds of years, and a change in direction of bottom currents. A moderately rippled set at the Devonian base is only about 1 cm thick and passes again into the horizontal laminated rhythms. The deposition of the boundary bed lasted about 1.2 to 2.0 Ka. It cannot be explained as a turbidite.     

Spherical Boundary Conditions: A Finite and System Size Independent Geometry for Simulations of Electrolytic Liquids

The system size dependence of the thermodynamic properties of electrolytic systems in "Spherical Boundary Conditions" (SBC) have been examined in this work. Coulombic systems were simulated with different system sizes (N ) for a wide range of concentrations, different ionic charges and solvent permittivities. The effects of system size upon the mean internal energy ?U? and mean ionic activity coefficient ?γ _±? values were determined. Our results indicated that there was no dependence of the thermodynamic properties upon system size in the non-Euclidean geometry. Different methods of extrapolating the thermodynamic properties to infinite numbers were studied in detail. In contrast to the Euclidean geometry, the method of extrapolating ?U? or ?γ _±? versus N ^-1, N ^-2/3 and N ^-1/3 was not statistically justifiable nor advantageous. Therefore, SBC is well suited to simulating systems involving long-range electrostatic interactions because the results do not dependent upon system size.