Magnetic properties of a fullerene-like X20 structure with embedded metal atom

Monte Carlo simulation has been used to study magnetic and thermodynamic properties of a ferrimagnetic mixed-spin (1, 3/2) Ising fullerene-like X20 structure with embedded metal atom. Under the influence of the anisotropy and the concentration of surface shell atom, the system tends to show the multiple stable saturation values of magnetization (M=0.91, 0.85, 0.77, 0.64, 0.50 and 0.023) and the values of intermediate metastable magnetization (M=0.88, 0.76 and 0.60) at zero temperature. The blocking temperature TB becomes higher by decreasing the anisotropies (|DC |, |DS |), or increasing the exchange coupling |JCS |, the magnetic field h and the concentration of surface shell atom PS . Some interesting phenomena have been found such as the double-loop hysteresis behavior for the relatively large values of |DS | (≥2.0), originating from the competition between different physical parameters.

Initial Validation of a Modified MRI Scoring System for Assessing Outcomes after Single-Surface Osteochondral Shell Allograft Transplantation in the Knee

The Osteochondral Allograft Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scoring System (OCAMRISS) provides a reproducible method for imaging-based grading for osteochondral allograft (OCA) transplants. However, the OCAMRISS does not account for larger whole-surface OCA shell grafts, and has not been validated for assessing outcomes after shell OCA transplantation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate a modified OCAMRISS for assessing single-surface shell OCAs in the knee based on strength of correlations for a modified OCAMRISS score with graft success and patient-reported outcomes for pain and function. With institutional review board approval and informed patient consent, patients who underwent large single-surface shell OCA transplantation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams at 1-year postsurgery were identified from a prospectively enrolled registry. All patients with a minimum of 2 years of clinical follow-up were included in the present study. A modified OCAMRISS, as well as assessment of the percentage of OCA bone incorporation, was used to score each knee. Two radiologists, blinded to patient demographics and outcomes, reviewed all MRIs together to determine a consensus score for each category and %-incorporation for each OCA. Thirteen patients (7 F, 6 M; mean age = 29.8 ± 9.4; mean body mass index = 27.1 ± 5.8); 8 medial femoral condyle, 4 patella, and 1 medial tibial plateau shell OCAs were evaluated. Mean modified OCAMRISS score was 5.2 ± 2.8, range (2–12) and %-integration was 72.7 ± 33.8, range (0–100). Moderate to strong correlations were noted for 1-year modified OCAMRISS total score with final follow-up (FFU) visual analog scale (VAS) pain (r = +0.58) and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE) function (r = −0.7) scores, and for 1-year %-incorporation with FFU VAS pain (r = −0.76) and SANE function (r = +0.83) scores. The modified OCAMRISS total score and %-incorporation assessments determined at 1 year following single-surface shell OCA transplantation correlate well with initial patient outcomes and have clinical applicability for monitoring patients after large-shell OCA transplants in the knee.

Paclitaxel-Loaded Magnetic Nanoparticles Based on Biotinylated N-Palmitoyl Chitosan: Synthesis, Characterization and Preliminary In Vitro Studies

A considerable interest in cancer research is represented by the development of magnetic nanoparticles based on biofunctionalized polymers for controlled-release systems of hydrophobic chemotherapeutic drugs targeted only to the tumor sites, without affecting normal cells. The objective of the paper is to present the synthesis and in vitro evaluation of the nanocomposites that include a magnetic core able to direct the systems to the target, a polymeric surface shell that provides stabilization and multi-functionality, a chemotherapeutic agent, Paclitaxel (PTX), and a biotin tumor recognition layer. To our best knowledge, there are no studies concerning development of magnetic nanoparticles obtained by partial oxidation, based on biotinylated N-palmitoyl chitosan loaded with PTX. The structure, external morphology, size distribution, colloidal and magnetic properties analyses confirmed the formation of well-defined crystalline magnetite conjugates, with broad distribution, relatively high saturation magnetization and irregular shape. Even if the ability of the nanoparticles to release the drug in 72 h was demonstrated, further complex in vitro and in vivo studies will be performed in order to validate the magnetic nanoparticles as PTX delivery system.

Structural Morphogenesis for RC Free-Form Surface Shell with Arbitrary Boundary Shape And Opening - Comparison of Optimal Solution and Application of Decent Solutions Search Method

In this paper, artificial bee colony (ABC) to obtain the decent solutions that the authors proposed is applied to the structural morphogenesis for RC (Reinforced-Concrete) free-form surface shell with arbitrary boundary shape. The 'decent solutions' have relatively high evaluation solutions that maintain the diversity of the design variable space, including the global optimal solution and local optimal solutions. In this paper, we focus on an opening of RC free form surface shell structures considering design and functionality, and the structural morphogenesis procedure that considers constraints of the excessive bending moment caused by the presence of an opening in the shell is proposed. Numerical results demonstrate the efficacy of a structural morphogenesis procedure that simultaneously considers shell shape, thickness, and opening as design variables. Furthermore, it is shown that proposed structural morphogenesis using decent solutions search method can support a designer's idea of architectural forms having a relationship between shape and mechanical behavior at the initial stage of design.

Influence of spatial structure on protein damage susceptibility – A bioinformatics approach

Aging research is a very popular field of research in which the gradual transformation of functional states into dysfunctional states are studied. Here we only consider the molecular level, which can also have effects on the macroscopic level. It is known that the proteinogenic amino acids differ in their modification susceptibilities and this can affect the function of proteins. For this it is important to know the distribution of amino acids between the protein surface/shell and the core. This was investigated in this study for all known structural data of peptides and proteins. As a result it is shown that the surface contains less susceptible amino acids than the core with the exception of thermophilic organisms. Furthermore, proteins could be classified according to their susceptibility. This can then be used in applications such as phylogeny, aging research, molecular medicine and synthetic biology.

A Novel Method for Pressure Mapping between Shell Meshes of Varying Geometries and Resolutions

This manuscript discusses a novel method to map pressure results from one 3D surface shell mesh onto another. This method works independently of the actual pressures, and only focuses on ensuring the surface areas consistently match. By utilizing this approach, the cumulative forces consistently match for all input pressures. This method is demonstrated to work for pressure profiles with precipitous changes in pressures, and with small quadrangular source elements being applied to a mix of large quadrangular and triangular target elements, and the forces at all pressure profiles match remarkably.

A Novel Method for Meshed CFD to FEA Pressure Mapping

This manuscript discusses a novel method to map pressure results from one 3D surface shell mesh onto another. This technique is especially important when transferring results from one numerical analysis to another. This method works independent of the actual pressures, and only focuses on ensuring the surface areas consistently match. By utilizing this approach, the cumulative forces consistently match for all input pressures. This method is demonstrated to work for pressure profiles with precipitous changes in pressures, and with small quadrangular source elements being applied to a mix of large quadrangular and triangular target elements, and the forces at all pressure profiles match remarkably.