Background: A high ability to visualize the needle on the ultrasonic images is necessary to perform the ultrasound-guided nerve block safely. The Rafa Tuohy needle<sup>R</sup> (Vygon, Paris, France, Rafa) ...Background: A high ability to visualize the needle on the ultrasonic images is necessary to perform the ultrasound-guided nerve block safely. The Rafa Tuohy needle<sup>R</sup> (Vygon, Paris, France, Rafa) is a non-stimulating Tuohy needle with sand-blasted steel at the tip of the bevel. We examined the degree to which the Rafa enhanced the visibility of ultrasonic images compared with the non-coated Tuohy needle. Methods: We punctured the Blue Phantom. The dimensions of both the Rafa and the non-coated Tuohy needles were 18 G × 80 mm. The puncture angle is 30 degrees and 45 degrees from the Blue Phantom. We measured the intensity of the tip of the bevel at a depth of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 cm for the puncture angle of 30 degrees, and 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 cm for the puncture angle of 45 degrees. Six anesthesiologists with more than seven years of experience performed three punctures using each needle. Results: As an outcome, we concluded that at a puncture angle of both 30 degrees and 45 degrees, the intensity of the non-coated Tuohy needle decreased with the depth. On the other hand, at an angle of 30 degrees, the intensity of the Rafa needle did not decrease, and at an angle of 45 degrees the intensity only decreased very slightly as the depth increased. Conclusions: The Tuohy needle with sand-blasted steel at the tip of the bevel provided greater visualization than the non-coated Tuohy needle on the ultrasound images.展开更多
The deterioration of concrete by sulfuric acid attack in sewage environments has become a serious problem for many existing sewage structures. In this study, the properties of concrete using the blast furnace slag hav...The deterioration of concrete by sulfuric acid attack in sewage environments has become a serious problem for many existing sewage structures. In this study, the properties of concrete using the blast furnace slag have been examined. It was shown that by using the blast furnace slag fine aggregate and blast furnace slag fine powder, it is possible to enhance the resistance of mortar and concrete to sulfuric acid. The resistance to sulfuric acid of mortar and concrete can be improved by using a blast-furnace slag fine aggregate in the total amount of fine aggregate. When mortar or concrete reacts to sulfuric acid, dihydrated gypsum film is formed around the particulate of the fine aggregate. This dihydrated gypsum film could retard the penetration of sulfuric acid, thus, improving the resistance to sulfuric acid. Furthermore, it has been proved that the relationship between the erosion depth by sulfuric acid attack and the product of immersion period and concentration of sulfuric acid can be expressed linearly. However, this relationship is dependent on the type of materials of concrete.展开更多
文摘Background: A high ability to visualize the needle on the ultrasonic images is necessary to perform the ultrasound-guided nerve block safely. The Rafa Tuohy needle<sup>R</sup> (Vygon, Paris, France, Rafa) is a non-stimulating Tuohy needle with sand-blasted steel at the tip of the bevel. We examined the degree to which the Rafa enhanced the visibility of ultrasonic images compared with the non-coated Tuohy needle. Methods: We punctured the Blue Phantom. The dimensions of both the Rafa and the non-coated Tuohy needles were 18 G × 80 mm. The puncture angle is 30 degrees and 45 degrees from the Blue Phantom. We measured the intensity of the tip of the bevel at a depth of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 cm for the puncture angle of 30 degrees, and 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 cm for the puncture angle of 45 degrees. Six anesthesiologists with more than seven years of experience performed three punctures using each needle. Results: As an outcome, we concluded that at a puncture angle of both 30 degrees and 45 degrees, the intensity of the non-coated Tuohy needle decreased with the depth. On the other hand, at an angle of 30 degrees, the intensity of the Rafa needle did not decrease, and at an angle of 45 degrees the intensity only decreased very slightly as the depth increased. Conclusions: The Tuohy needle with sand-blasted steel at the tip of the bevel provided greater visualization than the non-coated Tuohy needle on the ultrasound images.
文摘The deterioration of concrete by sulfuric acid attack in sewage environments has become a serious problem for many existing sewage structures. In this study, the properties of concrete using the blast furnace slag have been examined. It was shown that by using the blast furnace slag fine aggregate and blast furnace slag fine powder, it is possible to enhance the resistance of mortar and concrete to sulfuric acid. The resistance to sulfuric acid of mortar and concrete can be improved by using a blast-furnace slag fine aggregate in the total amount of fine aggregate. When mortar or concrete reacts to sulfuric acid, dihydrated gypsum film is formed around the particulate of the fine aggregate. This dihydrated gypsum film could retard the penetration of sulfuric acid, thus, improving the resistance to sulfuric acid. Furthermore, it has been proved that the relationship between the erosion depth by sulfuric acid attack and the product of immersion period and concentration of sulfuric acid can be expressed linearly. However, this relationship is dependent on the type of materials of concrete.
