Wider Blades Research Articles

Suspended particles behavior in aqueous [Bmim]BF4 solution by novel on-line electrical sensing zone method

Ionic liquids (ILs) and aqueous ionic liquid solutions have been investigated as excellent solvents or catalysts in a few multiphase systems. To optimize the reactor design and operation conditions, it is significant to study the suspended particles behaviors in ILs involved solid–liquid mixing processes. A novel on-line electrical sensing zone (ESZ) method is developed to achieve the measurement of local solids concentration in aqueous [Bmim]BF4 conductive solutions. The suspension degrees of solid particles stirred by different impellers at varied agitation speeds have been obtained. The mean fluid velocities and turbulent fluctuating velocities close to the bottom of the unbaffled tanks have been determined by stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV). The results showed that the aqueous [Bmim]BF4 solutions are more efficient on solids than normal saline solution. Radical flow impeller with wider blades at C/T = 0.2 presents its better performance on solids suspension. The variations of solids suspension curves are more consistent with that of mean radial velocities at axial height of z/H = 0.99. It indicated that the solids suspension in unbaffled stirred tanks is mainly related to the mean flow rather than to turbulent fluctuations.

Phylogenetic relationships of Stenogramma (Gigartinales, Rhodophyta) with a description of S. coreanum sp. nov.

:Despite the recent description of Stenogramma guleopoense in Korea, the issue of S. interruptum in the northwestern Pacific is still a matter of debate. We analyzed 24 rbcL sequences from specimens collected in Korea, including a longer fragment of rbcL (949 base pairs from the type of S. guleopoense, in addition to morphological observations. Phylogenetic analysis of rbcL sequence revealed a new distinct clade that differed from S. guleopoense from Korea and other species of Stenogramma. The morphology and anatomy of the Korean clade supported its distinct position in the genus Stenogramma. On the basis of these results, we describe S. coreanum sp. nov. from Korea. Stenogramma coreanum is distinguished by a combination of its large size (up to 24 cm) of dichotomous to subdichotomous branches divided up to nine times, wider blades with laciniate segments, one to two layers of cortical cells, two to three layers of medullary cells, a gradient of one to two layers of smaller cells between the cortex and medulla, and discontinuous cystocarps on the centre of the frond. Stenogramma coreanum occurs mostly along the south coast of Korea, whereas S. guleopoense occurs along the west coast. The biogeographic implications of the global diversification in Stenogramma are discussed.

Five new species and one new combination in Brazilian Myrtaceae

Eugenia asema, E. trichogyna, Myrcia altomontana, M. fria and M. macucana are described and illustrated, and the new combination Eugenia subglomerata, based on Myrtus subglomerata, is proposed. Eugenia asema, from the state of Rio de Janeiro, seems related to E. subavenia, but has glabrous shining blades and smaller flowers; E. trichogyna, also from Rio de Janeiro, is apparently close to E. pluriflora, but has wider blades and pilose flowers with unequal pairs of calyx lobes; Myrcia altomontana, from Espírito Santo, is related to M. neocambessedeana, but differs by its denser indumentum and shorter inflorescences; M. fria, also from Espírito Santo, is apparently related to Calyptranthes pauciflora but has glabrous flowers and larger inflorescences, and M. macucana, from the state of Minas Gerais, is apparently close to Calyptranthes anceps, from which it is distinguished by its markedly shorter inflorescences. Additionally, conservation status is assessed for the species described here.

Four new Myrtaceae from Amazonian Brazil

There are described and illustrated four species of Myrtaceae from Amazonian Brazil: Eugenia altoalegre, from the state of Roraima, and Eugenia fortuita, Myrcia amanana and Plinia tapuruquarana, these three from the state of Amazonas. Eugenia altoalegre is related to E. tachirensis, being distinguished by its larger, acuminate blades and inflorescences with two or more flowers; Eugenia fortuita is related to E. spruceana, but has larger inflorescences and densely pilose flowers; Myrcia amanana is related to M. splendens, but has a greyish floccose indumentum, and Plinia tapuruquarana is related to P. pinnata, but has wider blades, thicker petioles and larger flowers. Additionally, conservation issues are discussed for each species.

Carex concava (Carex sect. Rhomboidales, Cyperaceae), a new species from Hainan, China

A new species of Carex sect. Rhomboidales, Carex concava, is described and illustrated from Hainan, China. The new species is similar to C. paracheniana but differs in having wider blades and longer sheaths of bracts; inflorescence with 3 spikes; terminal spike 2–6 cm long and with a 4–14 cm long peduncle; lateral spikes 3–6 cm long, loosely flowered and with 8–15 cm long peduncles; staminate glume ovate, 1-veined costa excurrent into a shortly awn ca. 0.3 mm; pistillate glume ovate, ca. 4 mm long, 1-veined costa excurrent into a awn ca. 1 mm; perigynia fusiform and green; nutlets inclined-oval, brownish black, with 3 angles deeply constricted at the middle and the side toward of spike-stalk deeply concave at base.

Rhynchospora panduranganii (Cyperaceae), a new sedge species from the Western Ghats of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, India

Summary. Rhynchospora panduranganii Viji, Shaju & Geetha Kum., a new species from the Western Ghats occurring within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is described and illustrated. The species is similar to the American R. scutellata Griseb., but differs by its more robust nature, much wider leaf blades, congested and more numerous spikelets per inflorescence, and larger achenes.

EComment. The number of sternal wires influences sternal wound outcome

I read with great interest the report of Kamiya and associates [1], looking into the impact of the number of simple sternal wires on the incidence of deep sternal wound infection (DSWI). The authors showed that the number of wires used has an association to DSWI, only in high-risk patients. Shaikhrezai [2] and colleagues reached the same conclusion, applied however, to every patient without identification of high-risk groups. In our practice, from February 2000 to October 2007, 120 out of 3896 cardiac surgical patients (3.02%; prospective data collection, sternal closure with 6 simple wires) developed sternal wound infections. Fifty-two patients (1.34%) developed DSWI. The incremental risk factors for development of DMWI were: insulin-dependent diabetes (OR= 3.62, CI= 1.2-10.98), preoperative Creatinine> µmol/L or 2.27 mg/dL (OR= 3.33, CI= 1.14-9.7) and prolonged ventilation (OR= 4.16, CI= 1.73-9.98). Overall mortality for the DMWI was high at 9.3% (11 patients). Wound microbiology revealed Staphylococcus aureus (32%), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (29.6%), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (2.3%), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) (3.8%), Gram negative bacteria (17.5%) and other [14.8% (Anaerobes 1.2%, Fungal 4%)]. We believe that a major factor for the development of DSWI is bony instability, which is directly related to surgical technique. Therefore, over the last 3 years, I have changed my practice by routinely using at least 8 simple wires for sternal closure. Out of 375 cases that received 8 or more sternal wires the incidence of DSWI was 0.8% (3 patients). Moreover, out of this cohort, 13 patients returned to intensive care unit with the sternum open due to haemodynamic instability and underwent delayed closure after 3 ± 4 days. Only one patient in this group developed DSWI and was treated successfully with a vacuum-assisted therapy (VAC) pump. Therefore, in conclusion, I fully agree with the above authors. I would also like to add the following technical points of great importance (together with optimal perioperative glycaemic control) in order to eliminate DSWI: Routine use of 8 simple wires or more: Loop wires may have a role in patients above 90 kg or a body mass index >38 kg/m2 and a non-osteoporotic sternum. If the bone is split in a paramedian oesteotomy, then I would suggest reinforcement of the thinner side with a Robicsek loop or the use of a modified technique by placing a line of continuous wire sutures on either side of the sternum and tying both lines cranially and caudally to avoid strangulation of the blood supply with the closed loop. Avoid fracturing or damaging the bone with sternal retractor: If the bone is friable and oesteoporotic, we use retractors with wider blades. We routinely repair fractures with simple wires prior to sternal wiring. We routinely “wash out” the high-risk cases with a Vancomycin-rifambicin solution. Finally, post-cardiac surgery sternal wound complications remain challenging. Efforts should focus on preventing sternal instability by taking into account all the aforementioned measures. Conflict of Interest: None declared

Videolaryngoscopy offers advantages over classic laryngoscopy in a patient with seriously limited lip opening

To the Editor: Inability to intubate the trachea is a leading cause of anesthesia-related injury [1]. Videolaryngoscopy offers advantages over direct laryngoscopy and is less traumatic [2, 3], as the miniature videocamera on the tip of the blade enables the intubator to provide an indirect view of the upper airway. We report a patient with limited lip opening in whom videolaryngoscopy proved to be helpful to provide a patent airway. A 73-year-old woman (160 cm; 75 kg; American Society of Anesthesiologists [ASA] physical status II), scheduled for lip reconstruction following lower lip cancer, underwent extensive lower lip resection with upper lip rotation (AbbeEstlander flap) to fill the lower lip defect [4]. Both lips were sewn together for 6 weeks, leaving an oral opening of 2.6 cm (intercommissural width). At the time of lip reconstruction (dividing the pedicle and releasing the lips), the patient showed asymmetric and limited mouth opening (interincisor distance 1.2 cm, oral width 2.6 cm; thyromental distance 6.8 cm; Mallampati grade IV), normal neck movement, and an adequate oral space. Precautions were taken to deal with a difficult airway: i.e., the provision of a difficult airway trolley, and personnel skilled in performing a surgical airway. After preoxygenation, anesthesia was induced with i.v. propofol 200 mg. Face mask ventilation was successful with capnographic tracing, and 100 mg succinylcholine was administered. The narrow mouth orifice prohibited any direct vision of the oral cavity during direct classic laryngoscopy (Cormack–Lehane grade IV), resulting in excessive tension on both lips. Channeled indirect videolaryngoscopes (Pentax-AWS , Tokyo, Japan; Airtraq , Prodol-Meditec, Vizcaya, Spain) were considered, but they were found to be too bulky to fit into the patient’s mouth, and failed to work, indicating that the wider blades of channeled videolaryngoscopes are a weak point. The insertion of a V-MAC videolaryngoscope (Karl Storz , Tutlingen, Germany), which consists of a less wide Macintosh-blade size three, into the mouth (Fig. 1) showed a Cormack–Lehane grade I on the monitor, and oral endotracheal intubation was successful at the first attempt, without the need to use a stylet. Normally a Macintosh-blade laryngoscope is introduced into the right side of the mouth, deflecting the tongue to the left, and the length of the blade is passed over the contour of the tongue. Subsequently the tongue is lifted upwards and forwards, so that enough room is created next to the blade to both visualize the glottic entrance and to insert the endotracheal tube in situ. In this patient no such maneuvers were an option. This case highlights the advantage of indirect videolaryngoscopy (Macintosh intubation blades incorporating optics in the tip for video-imaging) in patients with very limited mouth openings. The intubator does not need to see the vocal cords directly, as videolaryngoscopy offers both better laryngoscopic views and more successful intubations than classic laryngoscopy [2, 3, 5]. Management of difficult laryngoscopy in the patient with seriously reduced opening of the lips offers a unique and ongoing challenge for the anesthetist. With the present A. van Zundert (&) B. Pieters Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care and Pain Therapy, Catharina Hospital-Brabant Medical School, Michelangelolaan 2, NL-5623EJ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands e-mail: zundert@iae.nl

Morphological plasticity of Sagittaria lancifolia in response to phosphorus

Sagittaria lancifolia leaf morphology varies in the Everglades of southern Florida, USA, from plants with broadly ovate laminae to plants with linear laminae. To understand the morphological response of S. lancifolia to increased nutrients, we (1) grew S. lancifolia plants in solutions with either 1 mM or 10 μM P and measured morphological responses, as well as tissue N:P content and (2) grew field-collected plants that had a range of leaf morphologies in the greenhouse and measured morphological and tissue N:P responses. Plants in high P (HP), as compared to low P (LP), were larger (biomass 48.3 g HP versus 16.9 g LP), produced more leaves (16.9 HP versus 10.7 LP) and inflorescences (2.9 HP versus 0.3 LP), and branched more (shoots 3.8 HP versus1.1 LP). Biomass allocation to leaves and inflorescences was greater in HP as compared to LP plants (leaves 61% HP versus 37% LP; inflorescences 15% HP versus 2% LP), while plants in LP allocated relatively more biomass to roots and rhizomes than plants in HP (roots 8% HP versus 25% LP; rhizomes 15% HP versus 35% LP). Leaf morphology changed with P-addition, so that plants in high P produced leaves with longer leaf bases (352 mm HP versus 219 mm LP), longer and wider blades (290 mm × 49 mm HP versus 176 mm × 9 mm LP), and a larger leaf area (99 cm 2 HP versus 13 cm 2 LP) than plants in LP, whereas plants in LP produced leaves with longer petioles (277 mm HP versus 346 mm LP). Leaf N:P ratios decreased in HP relative to initial ratios (43 initial to 17 final) and increased in LP (45 initial to 86 final). The direction of change in lamina width of field-collected plants grown under greenhouse conditions depended on the original leaf morphology—plants with narrow blades in the field produced wider laminae in the greenhouse, while plants with wide blades in the field produced narrower laminae. These plastic changes in leaf morphology mimic the differences in leaf morphology between S. lancifolia subsp. media and S. lancifolia subsp. lancifolia. Our results show that S. lancifolia responds rapidly to changes in environmental nutrient status, especially in lamina morphology. Blade shape thus provides a field indicator of soil/pore water nutrient status: narrow blades indicate nutrient limitation, whereas broader blades indicate nutrient enrichment.

Productivity and light use efficiency of perennial ryegrass with contrasting water and nitrogen supplies

Light use efficiency (LUE) is one of the most useful parameters for estimating crop productivity. LUE relates dry matter (DM) productivity to solar radiation received on the canopy in a region. The aim of this research was to determine LUE and productivity of ryegrass ( Lolium perenne L.) cv. Liprenta under different water and nitrogen (N) levels. Two separate experiments, one in 1994 (Experiment I) and other in 1995 (Experiment II), were carried out at the Institute of Plant Production, University Bonn, Germany. Two water (low versus high) and two N (low versus high) levels were supplied to plants during the growth seasons. All observations were plotted against a thermal scale. Plant DM was significantly higher ( P<0.05) under both sufficient water and N supply but treatment interaction was found significant for DM production during the crop re-growth. Maximum DM was reached in about 700 growing degree days (GDDs). Sufficient water with higher N supply out yielded the other treatments for DM, tiller number per plant and leaf number per plant throughout sampling. Differences were more pronounced in the field (Experiment II) than in the pot trial (Experiment I). Higher DM production of the high water supply treatment was not only due to more tillers and leaves but also due to longer and wider blades that enlarged the leaf area as well as mass of the individual plant leaves. Insufficient water supply to ryegrass was found more critical than insufficient N supply. The adverse effect of insufficient water and N supply to plants decreased both the individual leaf area as well as the whole canopy leaf area index (LAI). The canopy light interception rose sharply with increasing LAI, reached the maximum at canopy closure and remained at plateau with further LAI development during the crop growth. Canopy extinction coefficient k was empirically determined as 0.86 for light interception efficiency of the ryegrass. LUE, calculated as the slope of the regression of total DM (roots+shoot) and accumulated PAR intercepted, was observed as 2.01 (N 1W 1), 2.82 (N 2W 1), 3.34 (N 1W 2) and 4.24 (N 2W 2) g DM MJ −1 PAR for Experiment I and 1.22 (N 1W 1), 2.01 (N 2W 1), 3.18 (N 1W 2) and 3.24 (N 2W 2) g DM MJ −1 PAR for Experiment II. The average LUE under sufficient water was almost double than that of the insufficient water treatment both under pot and field conditions. However, the effect of N treatments was far lower in intercepting light than the effect of water treatments both in pot and field conditions on ryegrass vegetative growth.

A New Species of Sorghastrum (Poaceae) from Isla Socorro, Colima, Mexico

A new species ofSorghastrum,S. pohlianum, from Mexico is described and illustrated. A numerical analysis comparing the new species to the closest species (S. nutans andS. nudipes) was undertaken. The first three principal components explain 84% of the variation of the taxa involved. In addition there is morphological evidence to distinguish the new species from its closest relatives. It differs fromS. nutans by showing smaller inflorescences, having sterile lemmas and anthers, and having somewhat smaller but wider blades and different flowering periods. In addition, it is distinguished fromS. nudipes due to the presence of auricles > 1 mm long and inflorescence branches bearing spikelets along their entire length.

Differences between twelve forage species in physical breakdown when eaten

SUMMARYThe effectiveness of chewing by sheep during eating in breaking a forage diet into particles was studied in twelve plant species over 2 years and related to the physical structure of the plants and their rate of intake. The twelve species were: Trifolium repens L., Medicago sativa L., Onobrychis viciifolia Scop., Desmodium intortum (Mill.) Urb., Brassica napus L., Spergula arvensis L., Lolium perenne L., Lolium multiflorum Lam., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Chloris gayana Kunth, Cenchrus ciliaris L. and Zea mays L. In each case early harvesting was compared with later harvesting. The plants were grown in a heated glasshouse.L. perenne and L. multiflorum were broken into a large number of particles per g dry matter; the particles were rather long and thin. F. arundinacea was broken into heavier, slightly shorter and slightly wider particles. C. gayana and C. ciliaris were broken into particles which were smaller, heavier and contained more vascular bundles than those of Lolium, reflecting the lower rate of intake, greater weight per unit area of leaf blade and greater proximity of bundles of the tropical grasses. Z. mays leaf blades broke into shorter, wider particles than the leaf blades of the other grasses, reflecting the much wider blades of Z. mays.The leaflets of the four leguminous species and the leaf blades of B. napus were broken into particles with an average length:width ratio of c. 2:1, compared with an average ratio of c. 7:1 for particles derived from grass leaf blades other than those of Z. mays. The legume leaf petioles were broken into particles with an average length: width ratio of c. 13:1; many of the legume petioles were not split longitudinally during chewing. The stems of M. saliva and D. intortum were broken into particles similar in length and width to those from the stems of the tropical grasses, although the rate of intake of the legume diets was at least twice that of the tropical grass diets. The average length: width ratio of particles from B. napus petioles and stems was 5:1. A high proportion of particles from the B. napus and D. intortum diets had a rough surface. 5. arvensis was broken into more particles per g dry matter than the legumes and B. napus, despite its very high rate of intake. Many pieces of stem of S. arvensis were not split longitudinally during chewing.

Comparisons of the effectiveness of pliers with narrow and wide blades in debonding ceramic brackets

The removal of most ceramic brackets is accomplished by specially designed pliers that apply some form of tensile or shear force to the tooth surface. While the shear and tensile bond strengths for ceramic brackets in vitro have been reported, a simulation of the actual force application when using sharp-edged debonding pliers to debond a bracket has not. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness and the force levels generated by the use of both the wide and the narrow blades in the debonding of ceramic brackets. The present findings indicate that the narrow blades effectively debonded ceramic brackets with a significantly lower mean debonding force (120 kg/cm2) than the wider blades (150 kg/cm2). The surface area of the blade in contact with the bracket-adhesive interface is less for the narrow blade (2.0 mm) than for the wide blade (3.2 mm). This relatively smaller contact area is sufficient to debond a bracket at a significantly lower debonding force.

A New Boiling Water Reactor Core Concept for a Next-Generation Light Water Reactor

In this paper a boiling water reactor (BWR) core concept that meets various requirements for a next-generation light water reactor is proposed. This BWR core can be operated as either a high-burnup core or a high-conversion core simply by replacing the fuel assemblies and control rods. The high-burnup core is suitable for a once-through nuclear fuel cycle and has a low fuel cycle cost due to the adoption of advanced spectral shift technology. The high-conversion core is suitable for nuclear fuel recycling and reaches a high-conversion ratio by adopting a tight-lattice arrangement of mixed-oxide fuel rods in the fuel assemblies and using control rods with a zirconium follower. The reactor structures are essentially identical, and they are designed to be as simple as the current BWR to achieve high reliability. The reactor core also has high operability due to the spectral shift water rods that are operated with all control rods withdrawn. At reactor shutdown, the core has a large reactivity control capability due to the cruciform control rods with wider blades and has an ample safety margin.

Shoot properties of nine species ofChionochloaZotov (Gramineae)

Abstract Mean leaf numbers, lengths, and weights of shoots from New Zealand-wide collections of Chionochloa spp. are presented. For shoot weight, taxa, and regional groups are in the order: C. flavescens (North and South Islands, 4.6 g and 5.1 g respectively) > C. rigida = C. rubra (South Island) > C. pallens (Souuth Island) = C. rubra (North Island) > C. pallens (North Island) = C. macra = C. crassiuscula = C. teretifolia = C. acicularis > C. juncea (0.32 g). Many South Island populations of C. pallens have heavier leaves per unit length, and probably wider blades, than C. pallens from the Tararua Range. C. pallens from Fiordland, north to about the Godley Valley in the east and Cook Valley in the west, has coriaceous sheaths, and blades that disarticulate at the ligule. These features are absent from C. pallens north of this line.

Improved wire-crimper for stapes work.

TO MINIMIZE trauma resulting from multiple attempts at wire crimping, a modified instrument (V. Mueller and Co.) was designed which converts the crimping phase into a one-squeeze operation (Figure). The instrument, basically, has wider blades with internal grooves which are wider and angled in such a manner that they tend to pick up the wire and maintain it in position. This instrument seems to minimize the tendency for the wire to turn sideways in the closing jaws of the usual crimper. Improved wire-crimper.