Effect of Mo addition on microstructure, ordering, and room-temperature mechanical properties of Fe-50Al

The effects of Mo addition on microstructures,phase relationships,order–disorder phase-transition temperatures and room-temperature mechanical properties of Fe50Al50-nMon alloys(n=1,3,5,7,and 9,mole fraction,%)were investigated after solidification and heat treatment.Structural characterization of the samples was performed via X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and differential scanning calorimetry.Room-temperature mechanical properties were investigated by conducting compression and microhardness tests.Mo3Al particles precipitated in all alloys because of the limited solid solubility of Mo in the Fe-Al-based phases.The as-cast Fe50Al50-nMon alloys exhibited brittle behavior with high yield strength and limited fracture strain at room temperature.Compared with the as-cast alloys,all the heat-treated alloys except for the Fe50Al41Mo9 alloy exhibited enhanced mechanical properties at room temperature.The heat-treated Fe50Al43Mo7 alloy exhibited the highest fracture strain and compressive strength of 25.4%and 2.3 GPa,respectively.

Can fruit seeds and undigested plant residuals cause acute appendicitis

Objective:To investigate the relation between fruit seeds,plants residuals and appendicitis. Methods:Among cases that underwent appendectomy,the appendicitis cases having fruit seeds and undigested plant residuals in their etiology were examined retrospectively.Also, histopathological features,age,sex,and parameters of morbidity and mortality were used. Results:Fruit seed was found in one case(0.05%) with presence of pus in appendix lumen, undigested plant residuals in 7 cases(0.35%).It was determined that there were appendix inflammation in 2 of the plant residuals cases,while there were obstruction and lymphoid hyperplasia in the appendix lumen of 5 cases.No mortality was observed.Conclusions:The ratio of acute appendicitis caused by plants is minimal among all appendectomised patients, but avoidence of eating undigested fruit seeds and chewing plants well may help to prevent appendicitis.

Is every microorganism detected in the intensive care unit a nosocomial infection?Isn’t prevention more important than detection?

The present letter to the editor is related to the study entitled“Multidrug-resistant organisms in intensive care units and logistic analysis of risk factors.”Not every microorganism grown in samples taken from critically ill patients can be considered as an infectious agent.Accurate and adequate information about nosocomial infections is essential in introducing effective prevention programs in hospitals.Therefore,the development and implementation of care bundles for frequently used medical devices and invasive treatment devices(e.g.,intravenous catheters and invasive ventilation),adequate staffing not only for physicians,nurses,and other medical staff but also for housekeeping staff,and infection surveillance and motivational feedback are key points of infection prevention in the intensive care unit.

Endoscopic scoring of late gastrointestinal mucosal damage after adjuvant radiochemotherapy

AIM： To evaluate late effects of chemoradiation on gastrointestinal mucosa with an endoscopic scoring system and compare it to a clinical scoring system. METHODS： Twenty-four patients going to receive chemoradiation after gastric surgery underwent endoscopy four wk after surgery and one year after the chemoradiation finished. Upper gastrointestinal findings were recorded according to a system proposed by World Organisation for Digestive Endoscopy （OMED） and clinical scoring was done with RTOG-EORTC radiation morbidity scoring systems. RESULTS： There was no significant endoscopic difference in gastric and intestinal mucosa after chemoradiation （P 〉 0.05） and there was no association between endoscopic scores and clinical scores. Endoscopic changes were minimal. CONCLUSION： Late effects after chemoradiation in operated patients with gastric cancers can be evaluated with an endoscopic scoring system objectively and this system is superior to clinical scoring systems.