Warm Plate Research Articles

Vorticity skewness of finite-amplitude rapidly rotating Rayleigh–Bénard convection

Rotating Rayleigh–Bénard convection denotes the convection between a warm plate and a cold plate in a rotating environment. It is a classic model for understanding convective vortices in the atmosphere and ocean. The influence of background rotation on fluid inertia breaks the symmetry between cyclones and anticyclones. Such a symmetry breaking could be represented by vorticity skewness, which still lacks a systematic theory. Rapidly rotating convection with stress-free boundaries and unit Prandtl number is a convenient starting point. The investigation starts from the convective onset stage, where the vortices grow stationarily. Asymptotic analysis shows that the volumetric vorticity skewness $S$ is produced by the interaction between the $n=0,1$ and $n=1,2$ vertical eigenmodes. The $n=0$ (barotropic) mode contributes positively to $S$ mainly by stretching the vertical relative vorticity, an ageostrophic effect. The $n=2$ mode makes a minor negative contribution to $S$ by preferentially intensifying the outflow over the inflow, a non-hydrostatic effect. The theory predicts $S$ to be proportional to the global Rossby number defined with the volumetric standard deviation of vorticity, ${Ro_g}$ . The proportional factor does not depend on the Rayleigh and Ekman numbers, agreeing with direct numerical simulations. Then the system enters the equilibrium stage. The stretching of vertical vorticity still contributes to $S$ dominantly. At ${Ro_g}\gtrsim 0.5$ , the emergent unsteady flow significantly suppresses the asymmetry between the inflow and outflow strength, and weakens its influence on $S$ .

Deep‐Focus Earthquake Mechanisms at the Subducting Nazca Plate (Peru‐Brazil Border): Cold Slab Behavior in a Warm Plate

AbstractWe calculate focal mechanisms and centroid depths for deep‐focus earthquakes (DFEs) along the Peru‐Brazil border. We obtained a total of 28 focal solutions for events with magnitudes between 4.2 and 7.5 Mw and occurring between 2014 and 2022. Focal mechanisms indicate predominance of normal faulting, demonstrating a rather uniform down‐dip compression (DDC) regime within the plate. The orientations of the nodal planes suggest that earthquakes tend to occur along faults parallel to the local slab strike, although other fault types are documented. Stress orientations derived from the focal mechanisms agree with patterns expected if faulting were initiated by transformational faulting on a metastable olivine wedge (MOW) under DDC. Centroid depths range between 557 and 659 km, defining a narrow seismic zone within the lower portion of the subducting plate and an aseismic upper portion. We suggest that DFEs nucleate through transformational faulting within a narrow MOW preserved at a colder slab segment right above the lower mantle and juxtaposed to a shallower, warmer segment at around 500 km depth. This thermal complexity was possibly produced through flat subduction initiated by the subduction of the Nazca Ridge. We speculate that subduction of other aseismic ridges is possibly controlling the thermal state of the Nazca slab as a whole and, consequently, the depth distribution of DFEs along the South America subduction front.

Model-Based Interpretation of Thermal-Gradient Effects in Li-Ion Cells

The present study develops a combined experimental and modeling approach to study temperature gradients in Li-ion batteries. Although through-plane temperature differences may be small (ΔT ≈ 1-10 °C), large interelectrode thermal gradients (∇T ≈ 1,000-10,000 °C/m) can be present and have been found to significantly affect Li-ion battery performance and degradation [1,2]. Figure 1 illustrates a thin pouch cell (order of 300 microns thick) sandwiched between cool and warm plates. The cell uses a graphite anode and a NMC622 cathode. By maintaining the temperature of the cool and warm blocks, a thermal gradient can be enforced across the cell. Depending on how the cell is positioned, the cell’s cathode or anode can be on the cool or warm side. Experiments include overpotential analysis and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT) at different states of charge. Results show different behaviors as the thermal gradient is applied and the directionality of the thermal gradient changes.This presentation presents a pseudo-two-dimensional (P2D) model [3] that has been modified to represent the experimental conditions, including the thermal gradients. The model considers the temperature dependencies of thermodynamic properties, electrolyte conductivities, electrode diffusion coefficients, intercalation rates, etc. [4]. The model captures some, but not all, of the measured behaviors. Thus, an important objective is to investigate physical and chemical behaviors that are not included in typical P2D models. For example, off-diagonal Onsager contributions could be significant in the presence of high temperature gradients. The results predict how thermal gradients can contribute to Li-ion concentration fluxes (Soret contribution), and thus affect battery performance. The scientific intent is to understand the thermal gradient behaviors and thus assist battery design guidelines and battery-management control considerations. Acknowledgments The authors thank the Office of Naval Research (Dr. Michele Anderson) for financial support (ONR award numbers: N00014-23-1-2694 and N00014-22-1-2411) of this work.

Experimental Approaches Used to Investigate Voluntary Behavioral Thermoregulatory Responses.

A new behavioral test was developed to investigate the neural mechanisms of voluntary, behavioral thermoregulatory responses. The apparatus used in this test consisted of a thermostatic chamber that maintained the ambient temperature at a chosen level and two side-by-side floor plates that were placed in the thermostatic chamber and could be set to different temperatures. As the three temperatures, ambient temperature and two plate temperatures, can be controlled independently, we term this behavioral test the three-temperature (3T) test. When the ambient temperature was 28°C with floor plate temperatures of 25°C and 35°C, mice showed preference to the warm plate over the cool one. By contrast, when the ambient temperature was 40°C, the mice showed preference to the cool plate, that is, a cool-seeking behavior. Detailed analyses of the time courses of the plate preference and core body temperature revealed that this cool-seeking behavior contributed to the regulation of body temperature. By using the 3T test in combination with the latest in vivo imaging techniques for real-time measurement of neuronal activities and neurotransmitter releases in the brain of freely-moving animals, the neural mechanisms of voluntary, behavioral thermoregulatory responses could be elucidated in the near future.

E EFEKTIVITAS ANALGETIK EKSTRAK BATANG PEPAYA (Carica papaya L.)PADA MENCIT JANTAN YANG DIINDUKSI LEMPENG PANAS

Papaya stems (Carica papaya L.) are experimentally utilized by the community as new vegetables. Dried papaya stems contain auxiliary metabolites of flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, polyphenols, steroids and triterpenoids. This compound acts as an antioxidant. The flavonoid compounds found in papaya stems act as analgesics. The point of this ponder was to look at the pain relieving impact of papaya stems on male rats initiated by warm plate. Making wounds on creatures by implies of warming plates made with a estimate of 1cm x 1cm. The hair on the mice's backs was shaved, a warming cushion was connected to the mice's backs for around 2 seconds until they come to the dermis and fundamental tissue, causing the skin to rankle and peel in a few places. Pain relieving perceptions in test creatures were given after acceptance by regulating CMC-Na, paracetamol, papaya stem ethanol extricate at measurements of 100 mg/kgBW, 300 mg/kgBW and 600 mg/kgBW. Papaya stem extricate contains auxiliary metabolites of flavonoids, tannins and saponins that act as analgesics. At a measurements of 600 mg/kg body weight, the extricate had an pain relieving impact comparable to that of paracetamol.

The Effect of Plate and Decoration Color on Consumer Food Waste in Restaurants: A Case of Four Chinese Cities

Food waste hampers global food security, rational use of global resources and environmental sustainability. Food waste is becoming a global problem, especially on restaurants, and it is particularly important to explore more effective measures to reduce food waste. Color psychology studies show that color can influence human behavior, but how colors may affect consumer food waste behavior has not been thoroughly investigated to date. In this study, we aim to investigate whether food plate colors or restaurant decorations affect food waste behavior using a large-scale field survey in four Chinese cities (2160 samples across Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, and Lhasa). Our results show that the per capita food waste of all consumers in the surveyed restaurants was 80.21 g per meal, whereas the per capita food waste of those with warm-color plates was 61.83 g per meal. The results suggest that warm plate colors are associated with reduced restaurant consumer food waste. We also show that the restaurant decoration color was found to correlate significantly with the reduced amount of food ordered per capita per meal (both warm and cool colors). Cool colors for plates and decoration have a negative effect on the weight of per capita per meal food eaten. Additionally, other characteristics of consumers, such as their age, education, and income levels, and other factors, such as for the purposes of meals, were found to affect food waste behavior. Our case study suggests that further investigation into the role of color psychology may be warranted to help mitigate consumer food waste.

Crustal thickening and continental formation in the Neoarchean: Geochemical records by granitoids from the Taihua Complex in the North China Craton

The Earth’s lithosphere changed dramatically in many aspects during the Neoarchean era. In this period, the crust became more felsic and shows significant diversification in the composition of granitoids. Although this change has been noticed for many years, the mechanism that drove the change remains unclear. Here we report a geochemical study of Neoarchean granitoids from the Taihua Complex in the North China Craton. Zircon U-Pb dating reveals two episodes of granitoid magmatisms at ca. 2.65 Ga and ca. 2.55–2.50 Ga. Sodic TTGs at ca. 2.65 Ga are characterized by low K2O/Na2O ratios of < 0.6, high Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N ratios, positive Eu anomalies, positive zircon ɛHf(t) values of 0.9 to 5.2, and zircon δ18O values of 6.3–6.5‰, suggesting that they were derived from partial melting of the thickened oceanic crust. In contrast, K-rich granitoids at ca. 2.65 Ga have higher K2O/Na2O ratios, low Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N ratios, negative Eu anomalies, mostly positive zircon ɛHf(t) values of −0.4 to 8.0, and high zircon δ18O values of 7.0–8.4‰. The K-rich granitoids at 2.55–2.50 Ga show similarly high Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N ratios to the sodic TTGs at ca. 2.65 Ga. All these geochemical evidences suggest that these Neoarchean K-rich granitoids were derived from partial melting of the low-T seawater-hydrothermally altered oceanic basalt at different depths. Therefore, the sodic TTG and K-rich granitoids are linked to each other through both similarity and difference in their source compositions rather than magmatic processes such as partial melting and crystal fractionation. On the other hand, high-K granites at ca. 2.55–2.50 Ga are highly siliceous, have very high K2O/Na2O ratios of 4.0–7.9, and contain many relict zircons with U-Pb ages of ca. 3.49–2.68 Ga, indicating their formation by reworking of the pre-existing continental crust. Using a filtered global geochemical database, we find that the Neoarchean is the most important period for the growth of both sodic TTGs and K-rich granitoids. The Sr/Y and (La/Yb)N ratios of these granitoids also reach the maximum during this period, suggesting global-scale thickening of the oceanic crust caused by warm plate convergence. Once the orogenic lithospheric mantle was foundered for thinning, the thickened oceanic crust experienced partial melting at different depths. This gave rise to the different types of granitoid for growth of the continental crust along convergent plate boundaries. Therefore, partial melting of the thickened crust at different depths is a viable mechanism for the compositional transition of continental crust in the Neoarchean.

Meditations on Entropy in the Kitchen

Research Article| May 01 2021 Meditations on Entropy in the Kitchen Sam Browett Sam Browett Sam Browett is a professional chef with a degree in philosophy. After graduating from King’s College London, he began working in Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris and London. A keen eater and traveler, he enjoys writing about the intersection of food, philosophy, and culture around the world. Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Gastronomica (2021) 21 (2): 109–110. https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2021.21.2.109 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Cite Icon Cite Search Site Citation Sam Browett; Meditations on Entropy in the Kitchen. Gastronomica 1 May 2021; 21 (2): 109–110. doi: https://doi.org/10.1525/gfc.2021.21.2.109 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentGastronomica Search I remember as a young child being fascinated by the alchemy that would take place in my home kitchen. My mother would take a few simple ingredients out of the pantry and combine and heat them in a certain way. Then, almost out of nowhere, a warm plate of Anzac biscuits would be sitting on the counter. Once unpalatable and reminiscent of sawdust, some oats and desiccated coconut were transformed into an edible embrace. I ate them just as homesick ANZAC soldiers (the name stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) had in World War I, and just as my mother had growing up in small-town New Zealand in the 1960s. Eating them felt like I was engaging with something persisting and transcendent, like I was witnessing an eternal flame. And yet, even as a child, I would... © 2021 by The Regents of the University of California2021 You do not currently have access to this content.

The role of excess oxygen for modeling high-Mn, low-Ca garnets in metapelites from the northern Central Metasedimentary Belt of the Grenville Province, Ontario, Canada

The Bancroft terrane and the associated Central Metasedimentary Belt boundary thrust zone represent the northern part of the Central Metasedimentary Belt (CMB) of the Canadian Grenville Province. Only a few direct pressure and temperature calculations based on phase equilibrium petrology methods exist in the central Bancroft terrane, and this study applies thermodynamic approaches such as garnet isopleth geothermobarometry to fill this gap and investigate the metamorphic history of the northern CMB. Four metapelitic rock samples were collected in the vicinity of the enigmatic Bancroft shear zone, which approximates the border between the Bancroft terrane and the Elzevir terrane to the south. Garnet isopleths for these samples only intersect if a certain amount of excess oxygen is added to the bulk rock composition corresponding to a Fe3+/Fetot ratio of 0.33–0.38. The northernmost sample records metamorphic peak conditions of approximately 1 GPa and 780 °C, whereas the southernmost sample, which is located in the Elzevir terrane, records a peak metamorphic pressure of approximately 0.9 GPa at a temperature of 520 °C. The latter result contradicts previous pressure estimates of the region and the proposed metamorphic field gradient but is based on a poorly constrained sample in terms of thermodynamic modeling. Hence, we conclude that the metamorphic field gradient in the northern CMB conceals two different P–T trajectories. Such a scenario is commonly observed in crustal thickening models and suggests that the cold upper plate (Elzevir terrane) was thrust over the warm lower plate (Bancroft terrane) in a northwesterly direction.

Catecholaminergic and opioidergic system mediated effects of reboxetine on diabetic neuropathic pain.

Current data indicate that the noradrenergic system plays a critical role in neuropathic pain treatment. Notably, drugs that directly affect this system may have curative potential in neuropathy-associated pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential therapeutic efficacy of reboxetine, a potent and selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, on hyperalgesia and allodynia responses in rats with experimental diabetes. Furthermore, mechanistic studies were performed to elucidate the possible mode of actions. Experimental diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin. Mechanical hyperalgesia, mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, and thermal allodynia responses in diabetic rats were evaluated by Randall-Selitto, dynamic plantar, Hargreaves, and warm plate tests, respectively. Reboxetine treatment (8 and 16mg/kg for 2weeks) demonstrated an effect comparable to that of the reference drug, pregabalin, improving the hyperalgesic and allodynic responses secondary to diabetes mellitus. Pretreatment with phentolamine, metoprolol, SR 59230A, and atropine did not alter the abovementioned effects of reboxetine; however, the administration of α-methyl-para-tyrosine methyl ester, propranolol, ICI-118,551, SCH-23390, sulpiride, and naltrindole significantly inhibited these effects. Moreover, reboxetine did not induce a significant difference in the rat plasma glucose levels. Our findings indicate that the antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects of reboxetine are mediated by the catecholaminergic system; β2-adrenoceptors; D1-, D2/D3-dopaminergic receptors; and δ-opioid receptors. The results suggest that this analgesic effect of reboxetine, besides its neutral profile on glycemic control, may be advantageous in the pharmacotherapy of diabetic neuropathy-induced pain.

34 Effect of polysaccharide from Flammulina velutipes on the vitrification of bovine oocytes

The developmental competence of oocytes after cryopreservation is compromised by the physical injury due to the ice crystallisation. Recent studies have reported that polysaccharide (xylomannan) derived from the mycelium and fruit body of the basidiomycete Flammulina velutipes inhibits the ice recrystallisation in the cryopreserved Chinese hamster ovary cells. In this study, we aimed to clarify the effect of xylomannan from Flammulina velutipes on the developmental competence of bovine vitrified oocytes. Bovine ovaries were obtained from a local abattoir, and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from follicles (2-6mm in diameter) using a 19-gauge needle attached to a syringe. The COCs were matured for 22h in tissue culture medium-199 supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 0.02IUmL−1 FSH, and 10μgmL−1 gentamycin. After maturation, COCs were incubated in base solution (BS: 10% FBS-tissue culture medium-199, control group; n=149) or BS supplemented with 100μgmL−1 xylomannan (xylomannan group; n=175) for 1h before vitrification. All vitrification procedures were performed at room temperature. The COCs were equilibrated in BS with 3% ethylene glycol for 12min and then in vitrification solution (BS with 30% ethylene glycol, 1.0M sucrose) for 1min. The COCs were loaded on a Cryotop (Kitazato) and transferred into liquid nitrogen. The warming procedure was performed on a warm plate (42°C). The COCs were placed into BS supplemented with 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, and 0M sucrose for 5min each. After washing with IVF100 solution (Research Institute for the Functional Peptide), COCs were applied for IVF. The viability of putative zygotes was morphologically evaluated following IVF, and ones that survived were cultured in CR1aa supplemented with 5% FBS. The cleavage pattern was evaluated at 28h after IVF as follows: embryos with blastomeres of the same size without fragmentation were classified as normal cleavage; embryos with 2 blastomeres and several small fragments, direct cleavage from the 1-cell stage to 3 or 4 blastomeres, or 2 blastomeres of different size were classified as abnormal cleavage. The rates of cleavage and blastocyst formation were calculated on 2 and 8 days after culture, respectively. Total cell number and apoptosis of blastocysts were measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labelling assay. All data were obtained from more than four replicates. Viability and invitro development data were analysed using the chi-squared test. Total cell number and apoptosis data were analysed by a Student's t-test. Although no significant differences in viability, cleavage pattern, and cleavage rate (85.8 vs. 80.3%, 17.2 vs. 14.8%, and 35.4 vs. 36.7%, respectively) were observed, the developmental rate to blastocysts in the xylomannan group was significantly higher than that in the control group (68.6 vs. 42.2%; P&amp;lt;0.01). The present results suggest that co-incubation with xylomannan before vitrification is an effective method to improve the vitrification outcome in bovine oocytes.

The change of proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α level in the use of meloxicam in rat model of osteoarthritis.

Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease in the joints. One of the proinflammatory cytokines that is thought to have a major role in the inflammatory process, the emergence of pain, and cartilage damage in OA is tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug class of drugs that is relatively selective in inhibiting the activity of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) formation. This study is conducted to prove the change in TNF-α level in the use of meloxicam with model in animals suffering from OA. Methods The OA rat model was induced with sodium monoiodoacetate intra-articularly. Rats were divided into 5 groups: negative control group, positive control group, and treatment groups with various doses of meloxicam. Hyperalgesia effect was evaluated using a warm plate test, and TNF-α level was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The treatment groups that received meloxicam at a dose of 1.0, 3.0, or 10.0 mg/kg body weight (BW) did not show significant differences in rat knee joint diameter (p = 0.99), but showed a significant difference in sensitivity to heat stimulation (p = 0.02) compared to the control group. Osteoarthritis rats experienced a significant reduction in TNF-α level after being given meloxicam at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW compared with the control group. This shows that the 10 mg/kg BW of meloxicam is a potential dose in reducing the TNF-α level in OA rat models. Conclusions Based on these data, it can be concluded that the inhibition of pain and the development of OA by meloxicam in animal models may be assigned to a decreased level of TNF-α.

At the southern limits of the Devonian reef zone: Palaeoecology of the Aferdou el Mrakib reef (Givetian, eastern Anti‐Atlas, Morocco)

Devonian reefs of north‐western Gondwana represent the southernmost record of shallow‐water coral reefs in the Palaeozoic. However, few studies have attempted to date palaeoecological reconstructions of these high‐latitude reefal buildups. This study provides the first detailed palaeoecological analysis of Aferdou el Mrakib, an isolated, Givetian coral‐stromatoporoid reef, which developed in a semirestricted basin in the south‐eastern part of the Rheic Ocean. The study documents spatial facies variability and succession of faunal replacements accompanying progressive reef accretion towards the sea surface. The investigations included both autochthonous communities found at the base of the reef and, partially, within the reef core, and allochthonous deposits of reef‐derived skeletal debris that accumulated in the fore‐reef setting. Contrary to some previous suggestions, the study shows that the Aferdou reef shared many characteristics of classical Middle Devonian coral‐stromatoporoid buildups, including the ecological succession, limited role of calcareous algae, and development within the range of the euphotic zone, but likely below the zone of regular water agitation. Critical factors in the facies development and temporal changes in the character of reef building were the palaeobathymetry, dominant sedimentary and circulation regimes, level of wave energy, and, possibly, light availability. Distinctive features of the palaeoecology of Aferdou el Mrakib are the dominance of massive colonies of heliolitid tabulates and a subordinate role of massive stromatoporoids, both explained here primarily as a result of increased water turbidity in the high‐latitude sedimentary basin. The growth of the high‐latitude coral‐stromatoporoid reefs in the south‐eastern Rheic Ocean was favoured by a combination of the exceptionally warm climate and plate tectonic configuration typifying the Devonian. Of critical importance appears the palaeogeographic position of the Rheic, which resulted in the seawater circulation in the ocean being dominated by tropical water masses, with restricted inflow of cold water from the circumpolar oceanic circulation.

Seismogenesis of dual subduction beneath Kanto, central Japan controlled by fluid release

Dual subduction represents an unusual case of subduction where one oceanic plate subducts on top of another, creating a highly complex tectonic setting. Because of the complex interaction between the two subducted plates, the origin of seismicity in such region is still not fully understood. Here we investigate the thermal structure of dual subduction beneath Kanto, central Japan formed as a consequence of a unique case of triple trench junction. Using high-resolution three-dimensional thermo-mechanical models tailored for the specific dual subduction settings beneath Kanto, we show that, compared with single-plate subduction systems, subduction of double slabs produces a strong variation of mantle flow, thermal and fluid release pattern that strongly controls the regional seismicity distribution. Here the deepening of seismicity in the Pacific slab located under the Philippine Sea slab is explained by delaying at greater depths (~150 km depth) of the eclogitization front in this region. On the other hand, the shallower seismicity observed in the Philippine Sea slab is related to a young and warm plate subduction and probably to the presence of a hot mantle flow traveling underneath the slab and then moving upward on top of the slab.

Crystallographic texture of straight-rolled α-uranium foils via neutron and X-ray diffraction

The texture of recrystallized straight-rolled α-uranium foils, a component in prospective irradiation target designs for medical isotope production, has been measured by neutron diffraction, as well as X-ray diffraction using both Cu and Mo sources. Variations in the penetration depth of neutron and X-ray radiation allow for determination of both the bulk and surface textures. The bulk α-uranium foil texture is similar to the warm straight-rolled plate texture, with the addition of a notable splitting of the (001) poles along the transverse direction. The surface texture of the foils is similar to the bulk, with an additional (001) texture component that is oriented between the rolling and normal directions. Differences between the surface and bulk textures are expected to arise from shear forces during the rolling process and the influence that distinct strain histories have on subsequent texture evolution during recrystallization.

Deformation Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of an Austenitic Stainless Steel Subjected to Warm Rolling

The deformation microstructures and mechanical properties of an austenitic stainless steel subjected to warm plate rolling were studied. The warm rolling was carried out at 300°C to different total true strains of 0.5, 1, 2 or 3. The structural changes during warm rolling were characterized by the elongation of original grains towards the rolling direction and the development of spatial network of strain-induced high-angle boundaries leading to the evolution of ultrafine-grained microstructure at sufficiently large strains. The grain refinement was assisted by the development of deformation twinning. After straining to 3, the transverse grain size decreased down to 220 nm in the warm rolled samples. The warm plate rolling resulted in significant strengthening. The microhardness increased from 2910 MPa to 4192 MPa with increase in the total strain from 0.5 to 3. Correspondingly, the yield strength approached 1005 MPa after warm rolling to a total strain of 3.

Effect of subacute agomelatine treatment on painful diabetic neuropathy: involvement of catecholaminergic mechanisms.

In this study, we investigated the effects of subacute agomelatine (40 and 80 mg/kg) administration on chronic hyperglycemia, metabolic parameters, and pain perception in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Fasting blood glucose measurements and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed to evaluate the effect of agomelatine on glycemia, while metabolic parameters were monitored using metabolic cages. Potential effect of agomelatine on diabetes-induced mechanical and thermal allodynia was evaluated using dynamic plantar aesthesiometer and warm plate (38 °C) tests, respectively. Additionally, influence of agomelatine on hyperalgesia occurring in connection with diabetic neuropathy was examined using the Randall-Selitto (mechanical nociceptive stimulus), Hargreaves (thermal nociceptive stimulus), and cold plate (4 °C, thermal nociceptive stimulus) tests. Obtained data indicated that, in diabetic rats, agomelatine significantly improved hyperalgesia and allodynia responses, without no effect on hyperglycemia or the associated polydipsia, polyuria, and hyperphagia. Therapeutic potential of agomelatine on neuropathic pain was suppressed with α-methyl-para-tyrosine methyl ester (an inhibitor of catecholamine synthesis), phentolamine (a nonselective α-adrenoceptor antagonist), and propranolol (a nonselective β-adrenoceptor antagonist) administrations. However, p-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester (an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis) pretreatment could not be achieved to reverse these antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects. These results suggest that the curative effect of agomelatine on neuropathic pain is mediated through rising synaptic catecholamine levels as well as through interactions with both α- and β-adrenoceptors. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show findings that indicate catecholaminergic system mediated antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects of agomelatine.

Evaluation of fluid warmer safety using hemorheologic analysis with outdated human blood.

A newly developed fluid warmer (ThermoSens®) has a direct blood warming plate, which can result in hemolysis or red blood cell injury during heating. Therefore, to evaluate the safety of heating blood products with a fluid warmer, we conducted laboratory tests to study hemolysis and erythrocyte rheology. We used outdated human blood taken from a Korean blood bank. Packed red blood cells mixed with 100 mL isotonic saline was passed through the fluid warmer. Blood flow was achieved by either gravity or 300 mmHg pressure. Blood samples were analyzed before and after heating for hemolysis marker and erythrocyte rheology parameters. The temperatures at the outlet were higher than 38°C at gravity and 300 mmHg pressure, respectively. There were no significant differences in hemolysis markers (hemoglobin, hematocrit, lactate dehydrogenase, and plasma free hemoglobin) or erythrocyte rheology (deformability, disaggregating shear stress, and aggregation index) between before and after heating (p > 0.05) except LDH at gravity (p = 0.0001). The ThermoSens® fluid warmer caused no erythrocyte injury or negative effects on rheology during heating. Regarding medical device development, hemorheologic analysis can be useful for safety evaluation of medical devices that directly contact blood for temperature modulation.

Birth of live llama (Lama glama) derived from embryo transfer storage at 5 °C for 24 h

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the efficacy of maintaining llama embryos metabolically inhibited but viable at 5°C during 24h. Adult females (n=20) were used as embryo donors and were superstimulated with eCG. A total 61 embryos were non-surgically collected from 16 of the 20 llamas flushed at Day 7 after mating. Fourteen excellent hatched blastocysts were stored in sterile test tubes containing 1.5ml of TCM 199-Hepes+10% cow serum (v/v concentration)+antibiotics and cooled to 5°C (cooling rate=0.5°C/min) and maintained at 5°C during 24h. After this, the embryos were warmed on warming plate (38°C), washed three times and loaded individually into 0.25ml French straws. Fourteen adult llamas were used as recipients and embryos were transferred only into the left uterine horn of the recipient regardless of side ovulation. All recipient llamas were pregnancy tested by transrectal ultrasonography at 45 days after transfer. Three (21.5%) pregnant females were detected and delivered three normal healthy male calves at term. To our knowledge, these offspring are the first llamas produced following transfer of refrigerated embryos. In summary, llama embryos can be cooled to 5°C and maintained in storage for up to 24h without significant losses of viability.

Effect of Severe Cold or Warm Deformation on Microstructure Evolution and Tensile Behavior of a 316L Stainless Steel

The deformation microstructures and mechanical properties of a 316L austenitic stainless steel subjected to large strain cold or warm plate rolling are studied. The cold or warm rolling was carried out at room temperature or 573 K, respectively, to different total true strains up to 3. The structural changes are characterized by the development of nanocrystalline structures with the transverse grain size of about 80 or 160 nm at room temperature or 573 K, respectively. The evolution of nanocrystalline structure under cold working conditions (room temperature) is assisted by the development of mechanical twinning and partial martensitic transformation that result in rapid grain refinement. The development of nanocrystalline structures during cold/warm working is accompanied by significant strengthening. The yield strength approaches 1 680 or 1 070 MPa after cold or warm rolling to a total strain of 3, respectively.