A new species of the mud shrimp genus Axianassa Schmitt, 1924 (Decapoda: Gebiidea: Laomediidae) from Japan

The laomediid mud shrimp genus Axianassa Schmitt, 1924 is currently represented by 12 species worldwide. In this study, a new species of the genus, A. microlepis, is described and illustrated on the basis of two female specimens obtained from Awaji Island, eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea, Japan, at depth of 8 m. The type specimens were collected by means of an airlift suction sampler, which enables collection of infauna in subtidal soft sediments. The new species, representing the fourth species of the genus known from the western Pacific, is readily distinguished from other congeners by the unique structure of the antennal scaphocerite (short, non-dagger shaped, terminally rounded or having spine and blade), faintly crenulate rostral margins and the presence of a small lateral notch on the uropodal endopod. An amended identification key to the species of Axianassa and Heteroaxianassa Sakai, 2016 is provided.

Neonatal Lateral Epiglottic Defects

Introduction: Multiple congenital abnormalities of the epiglottis have been reported and iatrogenic injuries to the larynx and subglottis are well known. We present a new pattern of defect not previously reported in the literature. Methods: Epiglottic abnormalities at two institutions are reviewed. Cases of defects involving the lateral aspect of the epiglottis and aryepiglottic fold are identified. A literature review of known epiglottic defects is performed. Results: Two children possessing lateral notch injuries at the aryepiglottic attachment to the epiglottis are described. Both children have a history of multiple laryngeal instrumentation attempts and prolonged intubation. Both have swallowing difficulties and are gastrostomy dependent. Congenital epiglottic defects include aplasia and midline bifidity, however, no lateral congenital epiglottic defects have been reported. Conclusion: Epiglottic defects, while rare, should be part of the differential for children with aspiration and feeding difficulties. A new pattern of defect is described and iatrogenic etiology proposed.

Analysis of the Hydrogen Induced Cracking by Means of the Small Punch Test: Effect of the Specimen Geometry and the Hydrogen Pre-Charge Mode

This paper presents a simplified procedure to analyse the Hydrogen Induced Cracking (HIC) of structural steels by means of the Small Punch Test (SPT). Two types of notched specimens were used: one with through-thickness lateral notch and another with surface longitudinal notch. The results for conventional specimens were compared with those for hydrogen pre-charged specimens. For this purpose, two different methods to introduce hydrogen in the specimens were used: cathodic/electrochemical pre-charging and pressurized gaseous hydrogen pre-charging. The results obtained with both methods are also discussed.

Vertebral Lateral Notch as Optimal Entry Point for Lateral Mass Screwing Using Modified Roy-Camille Technique

<sec><title>Study Design</title><p>Retrospective study of 37 consecutive female patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who underwent reconstructed computed tomography (CT) scanning of the cervical spine.</p></sec><sec><title>Purpose</title><p>The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the vertebral lateral notch of the cervical spine is an effective landmark to determine the entry point for lateral mass screwing. A modified Roy-Camille technique was used to determine the entry point associated with the lateral notch of the cervical spine.</p></sec><sec><title>Overview of Literature</title><p>The Roy-Camille technique has been a popular technique for the posterior fixation of the cervical spine. A problem with this technique is determining the entry point on the lateral mass via visual inspection, such as in cases with degenerative or destructive cervical facet joints.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Thirty-three female patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy underwent reconstructed CT scanning of the cervical spine. Overall, 132 vertebrae from C3 to C6 were reviewed using reconstructed CT. The probable trajectory using a modified Roy-Camille technique was determined using reconstructed CT scans, and the optimal entry point was identified. Horizontal and vertical distances from the vertebral lateral notch were measured.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The entry point determined using the modified Roy-Camille technique was significantly superior and medial compared with that determined using the conventional Roy-Camille technique. At C3 and C4 levels, the entry point using the modified technique was 1.4 mm below and 4.4 mm medial to the lateral notch, and at C5 and C6 levels, it was 2.3 mm below and 4.9 mm medial to the lateral notch.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>The vertebral lateral notch of the cervical spine was an effective landmark to determine the entry point for lateral mass screwing. The modified Roy-Camille technique proposed here may prevent surgical complications and poor outcomes.</p></sec>

Studies on the Correlation Between Natural Magnetization and Mechanical Damages of an Austenitic Stainless Steel

Austenitic stainless steel has been extensively used in nuclear power plants (NPP). The nondestructive Testing (NDT) of its mechanical damage at pre-crack state is very important for the safety assessment of a NPP. Aiming at to develop a new NDT method for inspecting mechanical damage before the initiation of macro cracks, the correlation between the natural magnetization and the mechanical damage is experimentally investigated for a typical austenitic stainless steel - SUS304. In the experiments, simple tensile loads were applied to lateral notch specimens to generate states of different plastic damages, and the corresponding natural magnetic field and residual strain distribution were measured after each loading cycle. The distribution of natural magnetization was analyzed based on the measured magnetic field signals in view of the principle of the metal magnetic memory phenomenon, and the dependence of the magnetization on the mechanical damage was discussed. The experimental results reveal that there is a good possibility to detect mechanical damages by measuring the natural magnetic field.

Use of Small Punch Notched Specimens in the Determination of Fracture Toughness

In recent years an increasing interest has been shown in materials characterisation techniques based on the use of reduced dimension samples. One of these techniques, first developed in the early 80’s, is Small Punch testing, in which a punch acts over a plane small specimen deforming it until fracture. So far, this test has been used as a tool for the estimation of mechanical properties, for characterising ductilebrittle transition or for knowing the evolution of these properties with ageing phenomena as neutron irradiation. The Small Punch Test has even been used in the determination of fracture toughness by means of indirect correlations or complex methodologies based on damage models and Finite Element simulations. In this paper, a direct methodology for the determination of fracture toughness from Small Punch tests is proposed. The approach is based on the use of simply modified Small Punch specimens in which a lateral notch was machined. Attending to energy considerations, the J-Δa curve for a ship-building Grade A steel, as well as for a structural steel, E690, has been obtained using this type of samples and the results have been compared with the calculated results from conventional fracture tests.