Decanting Technique Research Articles

Lipotranferences in post neurosurgical esthetic defects

Background: There are numerous procedures in which, beyond adequate manipulation of the temporalis muscle and cranial closure, patients may present bone and muscle defects due to atrophy and consequent facial asymmetry, causing psychological discomfort and functional deterioration. The objective of our work is to combine the knowledge of plastic surgery and apply it to cranial reconstructions with fat transfers in post-neurosurgical patients, analyzing its results. Methods: During the year 2022, 45 fat transfer procedures were performed for the correction of craniofacial defects, of which 29 were female and 16 were male. All had a surgical history of pterional craniotomies and their variants, orbitozygomatic and transzygomatic approaches, with the consequent volume deficit. Results: The procedure was performed on an outpatient basis, with local anesthesia, and in an average time of 30–40 min. The lower hemiabdominal region was used as the donor area, processing the fat using the decantation technique and injecting it into the receptor area at the craniofacial level. The patients tolerated the procedure adequately without intraoperative complications or superadded events. Conclusion: Fat transfer is a minimally invasive, effective, and cost-effective technique that plastic surgery offers us to implement in post-neurosurgical patients, as it achieves natural results that stand the test of time.

Recoverable Nanocatalyst for Regioselective Triazoles Synthesis: Lignin‐Copper(I) Nanomagnetic Composite

AbstractIn this paper, a novel efficient utilization of lignin‐based nanomagnetic copper (I) is presented as an eco‐friendly recoverable catalyst. We report a simple one‐pot synthesis of magnetic copper chloride (I) composite by using lignin as a reducing agent and heterogenized support. The copper (I) nanocomposite shows high catalytic potential in one‐pot three component click reaction for synthesis of 1,2,3‐triazoles, with excellent turnover efficiency even after 4 cycles in green conditions. The lignin‐copper (I) chloride magnetic nanocomposite catalyst demonstrates highly efficient, stable and recyclable copper (I), and cost effectiveness advantages. The catalyst is easily recovered by an external magnetic field, and therefore, time and energy are saved since there is no filtration or decantation technique. Also, the stable nanomagnetic copper (I) can be handily prepared and applied for large scale operations. Besides, due to totally clear of nanomagnetic copper (I) away from the reaction media, the desired highly pure products can be achieved in excellent yields. High thermal stability of nanomagnetic copper (I) turns its ability to be useable in organic reactions under high temperatures. According to high dispersibility in aqueous solvent, nanomagnetic copper (I) can be utilized as highly efficient catalyst. The prepared composite is characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, EDX, TGA, VSM and FT‐IR.

Transesterification Condition of Crude Palm Oil to Biodiesel Using Solid Catalyst Zeolite/NaOH

The use of NaOH as a catalyst for biodiesel production has long been used and provides high conversion conversions. Homogeneous NaOH phase during the transesterification reaction causes soap to form at the end of the process. Soap is diseparasi from biodiesel by washing and decantation techniques. The presence of soap can reduce the quality of biodiesel, especially at the flash point of biodiesel. Heterogeneous catalyst zeolite / NaOH is synthesized from natural zeolite and NaOH through the impregnation method. Natural zeolite is contained in natural rock obtained from Ujong Pancu, Aceh Besar. The synthesis of natural zeolite catalyst was initiated by activating zeolite powder with 4 M HCl for 10 hours at 90oC. Activated zeolite was impregnated using 2.5% NaOH at a ratio of 1: 2 (w / v) at 90oC for 2 hours. Application of zeolite / NaOH in transesterification reaction using crude palm oil off grade. The results showed that the use of zeolite / NaOH can prevent the formation of soap with characteristics that have met SNI 04-7182-2006 standards.

A Comparison of Fat Graft Processing Techniques: Outcomes in 1,158 Procedures in Prosthetic Breast Reconstructions.

Background:As fat grafting in breast reconstruction evolves, questions of technique and outcomes persist. We compared 2 common fat processing techniques—decantation (DEC) versus closed wash and filtration (CWF)—with regard to outcomes and efficacy.Methods:Chart review of a single surgeon experience with breast fat grafting was performed. Data extracted included demographics, technique, complications, graft volume, and revision rates. Secondarily, the timeline of complication profiles was analyzed. Lastly, subgroup analysis of radiated versus nonradiated breast outcomes was performed.Results:One thousand one hundred fifty-eight fat grafting procedures were performed on 775 breasts (654 DEC, 504 CWF). Time-to-event analysis for all complications showed no difference between groups. Independent risk factors for fat necrosis included DEC technique, body mass index >30 kg/m2, and fat injection >75 mL. The majority of cases of fat necrosis, cyst/nodule formation, ultrasounds, and biopsies occurred more than 6 months after grafting. Average graft volume was lower in DEC compared with CWF breasts (50.6 versus 105.0 mL, P < 0.01), and more DEC breasts required repeat fat grafting procedures (39.9% versus 29.6%, P < 0.01). Radiated breasts received larger fat graft volume (89.9 versus 72.4 mL, P < 0.01) and required more fat graft procedures (average 1.62 versus 1.47, P < 0.01).Conclusions:This study represents the largest series of breast reconstruction fat grafting to date. DEC harvest technique may be a risk factor for fat necrosis, which results in less fat injection and greater need for repeat procedures. Similarly, radiated breasts require larger graft volume and more repeat procedures.

Microfluidic In-Flow Decantation Technique Using Stepped Pillar Arrays and Hydraulic Resistance Tuners.

Separating the particles from the liquid component of sample solutions is important for several microfluidic-based sample preparations and/or sample handling techniques, such as plasma separation from whole blood, sheath-free flow focusing, particle enrichment etc. This paper presents a microfluidic in-flow decantation technique that provides the separation of particles from particle-free fluid while in-flow. The design involves the expansion of sample fluid channel in lateral and depth directions, thereby producing a particle-free layer towards the walls of the channel, followed by gradual extraction of this particle-free fluid through a series of tiny openings located towards one-end of the depth-direction. The latter part of this design is quite crucial in the functionality of this decantation technique and is based on the principle called wee-extraction. The design, theory, and simulations were presented to explain the principle-of-operation. To demonstrate the proof-of-principle, the experimental characterization was performed on beads, platelets, and blood samples at various hematocrits (2.5%–45%). The experiments revealed clog-free separation of particle-free fluid for at least an hour of operation of the device and demonstrated purities close to 100% and yields as high as 14%. The avenues to improve the yield are discussed along with several potential applications.

Ionic Liquid‐Assisted Extraction and Isolation of Cynaropicrin and Cnicin from Artichoke and Blessed thistle

AbstractThe sesquiterpene lactones cynaropicrin and cnicin are isolated from artichoke (Cynara scolymus) and blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus), respectively. These natural products exhibit several biological activities, including inhibitory activity against Trypanosoma brucei, which causes human African trypanosomiasis (HAT; sleeping sickness). The present study describes a novel ionic liquid‐assisted plant extraction and isolation method for cynaropicrin and cnicin using centrifugation and decantation techniques. The results showed that the extraction yield of cynaropicrin and cnicin using 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium methylphosphonate ([C2mim][(MeO)(H)PO2])/acetone (1:1) was 1.9 and 1.4 times higher than that obtained using only acetone, respectively. The proposed extraction and isolation method will enable the acquisition of other natural products from medicinal plants.

A new cost-effective and fast method of autologous fat grafting

Due to the increasing number of fat grafting procedures, several laboratories have developed their own fat processing system (Puregraft(®), LipiVage(®), Viafill(®), etc.), such as closed harvesting systems, centrifugation or washing and filtration devices, or even simple decantation techniques. However, all these tissue-engineering systems are expensive. Our team has developed a simple and fast autologous fat grafting system, useable even for a large volume of lipofilling, and based on low-pressure suction and a sterile closed-system for processing the harvested fat tissue. It is a cost-effective system, as it only costs 9.28Eur (10.52USD) for a 500milliliters autologous fat graft procedure.

The effect of suspended matter concentration on the coagulation–flocculation and decantation process for low brackish water C(NaCl) = 3 g/L

This work fits within the pretreatment of brackish water before treatment by reverse osmosis. Our objective was to study the influence of coagulation–flocculation and decantation technique on suspended matter concentrations in brackish water. Tests were conducted in jar tests by varying the coagulant dose, the flocculant dose, and the pH of the medium. A first jar test series conducted on brackish water samples of low salt concentration with different initial concentrations of suspended matter has shown that aluminum sulfate remains the most interesting compound for the suspended matter removal, and determining the optimum dose of coagulant is very difficult for low turbidity water. Then, a second jar test series carried out with a mixture of aluminum sulfate and the polymer showed the influence of molecular weight and the degree of cross-linking polymers on treatment efficacy. In fact, a phase of study was conducted focusing on determined optimal concentration of coagulant and flocculant which aims to evaluate the pH effect on the removal of suspended matter. Finally, some tests have been carried out on the pilot “TE 600”, and then, we compared the given results within those found in the jar test.

Methodologies for recovering calcareous nannofossils from bituminous claystone

The usual methods applied to recover calcareous nannofossils from claystones are extremely simple, cost-effective and fast. Some samples, however, exhibit heterogeneous mixtures of biogenic materials, detrital particles and other aggregates that visually mask the coccoliths under the microscope. For instance, a high content of organic matter in associationwith calcareous nannofossil specimens was observed in outcrop samples of the Vaca Muerta Formation (Neuquén Basin, Argentina). To solve this problem, traditional preparation techniques are herein improved to aid better visualization of calcareous nannofossils. Sixteen tests were qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated, testing the efficiency of some chemicals and physicals methods such as the addition of a solvent (oxidizing agent) in the smear slide technique, as well as the use of ultrasound in the random decantation technique.

Recovery and Purification of Rapamycin from the Culture Broth of Mtcc 5681

In this study of the recovery and purification of rapamycin from the culture broth of an actinomycetes strain MTCC 5681, we investigated various factors such as biomass separation, suitable solvents for extraction, normal phase and flash chromatographic conditions and selective precipitation to obtain rapamycin in substantially pure form of the product. Adsorption chromatography particularly with normal phase and flash chromatography, in combination with centrifugal decantation is found to be the most suitable for separation as well as purification of rapamycin. Centrifugal decantation technique is likely to emerge as an efficient, industrially scalable, high yielding and economical process for biomass separation. The purity of rapamycin obtained through the method described was 99.4% which has not been reported so far.

True and apparent digestibility of protein and amino acids of feed in Nile tilapia

It was determined in this work the coefficients of apparent and true digestibility of protein and amino acids of five feeds (corn, wheat bran, soybean meal, corn gluten meal, fish meal) in Nile tilapia. It was used 252 reverted Thai strain Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in growth phase, with weight of 310 ± 9.68 g, distributed in experimental randomized blocks design, with five treatments, six replicates per treatment and seven fish per experimental unit. Each experimental diet contained a single source of protein, composed by the studied ingredients. An additional group of fish was fed protein-free diet for quantification of the endogenous fraction and determination of true digestibility coefficients. Digestibility was estimated by the indirect method by using chromium oxide at the concentration of 0.50% of the diet as a marker, performing fecal collection at every four hour interval by using decantation technique. Coefficients of apparent digestibility of the protein and amino acids are: corn, 83.57 and 82.45%; wheat bran 82.87 and 81.47%; soybean meal 91.12 and 89.41%; corn gluten meal 90.07 and 87.78%; fish meal 83.53 and 81.65% respectively. Coefficients of true digestibility of protein and the mean of the amino acids are: corn, 90.02 and 89.60%; wheat bran 89.62 and 89.14%; soybean meal 93.58 and 91.88%; corn gluten meal 92.50 and 90.34%; fish meal 86.01 and 84.27%, respectively.

REGULARITIES IN GROWTH AND STRUCTURE OF (Sr,Ca):Bi CUPRATES

Single crystals of (Sr,Ca):Bi cuprates were grown from non-stoichiometric melts using the decanting technique. The structure of the crystals obtained was studied by X-ray single crystal analysis. Regularities in the dependence of the structure on the composition of the initial load are discussed for the whole family of (Sr,Ca):Bi cuprates.

Dendritic growth during directional solidification of hypoeutectic Fe-C-Si alloys

The liquid decanting technique has been used to study the morphology of dendrites in directionally solidified Fe-3.08 pct C-2.01 pct Si alloy. The experimental results indicated that the morphology of primary dendrites in the Fe-C-Si system is very similar to those obtained in some transparent metal model systems and in some other metal systems. In order to study the morphological transition between cellular and dendritic growth, directionally solidified samples were quenched in cold water at various stages of solidification and the morphology was examined on the polished and etched surface. It has been found that when the growth velocity decreased from 326.6 to 0.8 μn/s, the average dendrite tip radius increased from 1.12 to 33.1 μm. At a growth velocity of about 0.65 μm/s, a transition from dendritic to cellular growth occurred. Models for dendritic growth proposed by various investigators have been briefly reviewed and compared with the present experimental results. Significant disagreements were found for some of the available theoretical models. Possible explanations have been given for these disagreements.

Meiofauna extraction efficiency by a modified Oostenbrink apparatus

A semi-automatic method for the extraction of soil nematodes (Oostenbrink, 1960) was modified for the separation of psammolittorine meiofauna from routine samples collected during a marine pollution monitoring programme. This method was compared with Elmgren's (1976) decantation technique. The two procedures used did not differ significantly in terms of extraction efficiency. They were applied to samples containing nematodes and harpacticoid copepods of known numbers in medium-fine and coarse sand, using fresh water and sea water as extraction media. Losses within the apparatus were found to be negligible. By 2×2×2 factorial analysis, which was used to separate the effects of methods and treatments, nonsignificant differences for nematode recovery were obtained; harpacticoids, however, were less efficiently recovered by the Oostenbrink method using sea water. The Oostenbrink flotation method took 9 to 12 min per sample, caused no or only little damage to the fauna and gave consistent results with different operators.

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON DENDRITIC GROWTH IN METALS

The direction of dendrite growth has been determined as a function of crystallographic orientation for high purity tin and zinc, using a single crystal decanting technique. Measurements are reported on the rate of dendrite growth in lead, and the spacing between dendrite rows of a lead crystal for varying amounts of supercooling. The initial formation of dendrite stalks appears related to a cell structure observed on the exposed solid liquid interface.A mechanism of dendrite growth is advanced and compared with the experimental observations. It is shown that dendritic growth occurs only during the initial part of solidification. The remainder is a result of the nondendritic advance of a solid liquid interface with some thickening of the existing branches.