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Continuous measurement of porcine renal cortex microcirculation with enhanced thermal diffusion technology.

Continuous monitoring of renal cortical blood flow (RCBF) in the perioperative setting of aortic or renal vascular surgery could facilitate the early detection of vascular complications, possibly resulting in a reduction of postoperative renal failure. A new prototype system for measurement of parenchymous organ perfusion based on the principle of thermal diffusion ("TD"-Thermal Diffusion Electrode, Thermal Technologies Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA) was used for RCBF measurements in the outer cortex of the porcine kidney. We validated the sensitivity of the device to detect renal blood flow impairment, comparing TD flow data with renal artery blood flow values (RABF), measured by ultrasonic flow probes. The hypothesis was tested that acute disturbances of RCBF, induced by a variable degree of renal artery stenosis, can be immediately detected and continuously monitored by TD measurements in the porcine renal cortex. Mean baseline RCBF measured by TD electrodes was 68.1 +/- 25.0 ml/100 g/min. Mean baseline RABF was 102.1 +/- 26.6 ml/min. Controlled induction of a variable degree of renal arterial occlusion by implanted vascular balloon occluders was always followed by an immediate and proportional decline of RCBF, as measured by TD. Flow data obtained with both methods were significantly correlated by linear regression (r=.82, r2=.68; P < 0.0001). Dynamic changes of RABF in the time course of renal artery partial/total occlusion and arterial flow release could be continuously followed by detection of corresponding flow changes of RCBF. We conclude that the TD system investigated in the current study allows a continuous and sensitive determination of porcine renal cortex perfusion. A clinical evaluation of the method, e.g., in the perioperative setting of aortic or renal transplantation surgery, now appears to be justified.

Animals↗

Homogeneous nucleation rate measurements of 1-butanol in helium: a comparative study of a thermal diffusion cloud chamber and a laminar flow diffusion chamber.

Isothermal homogeneous nucleation rates of 1-butanol were measured both in a thermal diffusion cloud chamber and in a laminar flow diffusion chamber built recently at the Institute of Chemical Process Fundamentals, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic. The chosen system 1-butanol-helium can be studied reasonably well in both devices, in the overlapping range of temperatures. The results were compared with those found in the literature and those measured by Lihavainen in a laminar flow diffusion chamber of a similar design. The same isotherms measured with the thermal diffusion cloud chamber occur at highest saturation ratios of the three devices. Isotherms measured with the two laminar flow diffusion chambers are reasonably close together; the measurements by Lihavainen occur at lowest saturation ratios. The temperature dependences observed were similar in all three devices. The molecular content of critical clusters was calculated using the nucleation theorem and compared with the Kelvin equation. Both laminar flow diffusion chambers provided very similar sizes slightly above the Kelvin equation, whereas the thermal diffusion cloud chamber suggests critical cluster sizes significantly smaller. The results found elsewhere in the literature were in reasonable agreement with our results.

Journal Article↗

Thermal diffusivity and specific heat of dental casting alloys at room and elevated temperatures.

Thermal diffusivity and specific heat of four groups of dental casting alloys (Ag-based, Au-Pd, high karat and Ni-based alloys) were determined. Measurements were carried out from room temperature to 750 degrees C in an evacuated electric furnace with a laser flash thermal constant analyzer. There was no significant difference between the values of thermal diffusivity in the Ag-based and high karat alloys; 18-24 and 40-53 mm2/s, at room temperature and at 600 degrees C, respectively. For Au-Pd and Ni-based alloys, diffusivity was 8-12 and 3-4 mm2/s at room temperature, and 19-22 and 5-6 mm2/s at 600 degrees C, respectively. The thermal diffusivity of the alloys was significantly low compared to that of the pure-metals of which they were composed. Specific heat was determined as 0.14-0.16, 0.24-0.34, 0.17-0.19 and 0.45-0.51 kJ/(kg.K) for high karat, Ag-based, Au-Pd and Ni-based alloys, respectively, at room temperature. Oxidation of the Ni-based alloy at elevated temperature affected the value of specific heat measured.

Dental Alloys↗

Time evolution of reflective thermal lenses and measurement of thermal diffusivity in bulk solids.

A simple method for optically measuring the thermal diffusivity of solids is demonstrated. The thermal displacement created on a substrate by a focused laser beam is determined from the divergence that it induces in a weak probe beam. The dynamics of the surface lens and the amplitude of the probe beam's divergence are then used to determine the thermal diffusivity of the substrate. Several materials that span a wide range of thermal properties are studied.

Journal Article↗

Elementary kinematical model of thermal diffusion in liquids and gases.

An elementary hydrodynamic and Brownian motion model of the thermal diffusivity D(T) of a restricted class of binary liquid mixtures, previously proposed by the author, is given a more transparent derivation than originally, exposing thereby the strictly kinematic-hydrodynamic nature of an important class of thermodiffusion separation phenomena. Moreover, it is argued that the solvent's thermometric diffusivity alpha appearing in that theory as one of the two fundamental parameters governing D(T) should be replaced by the solvent's (isothermal) self-diffusivity D(S). In addition, a corrective multiplier of O(1) is inserted to reflect the general physicochemical noninertness of the solute relative to the solvent, thus enhancing the applicability of the resulting formula D(T)=lambdaD(S)beta to "nonideal" solutions. Here, beta is the solvent's thermal expansivity and lambda is a term of O(1), insensitive to the physicochemical nature of the solute (thus rendering D(T) primarily dependent upon only the properties of the solvent). This formula is, on the basis of its derivation, presumably valid only under certain idealized, albeit well-defined, circumstances. This occurs when the solute molecules are: (i) large compared with those of the solvent; and (ii) present only in small proportions relative to those of the solvent. When the solute is physicochemically inert, it is expected that lambda=1. When these conditions are met, the resulting thermal diffusivity of the mixture is, in theory, independent of any and all properties of the solute. Moreover, because beta is algebraically signed, the thermal diffusivity can either by positive or negative, according as the solvent expands or contracts upon being heated. This formula for D(T) is compared with available experimental data for selected binary liquid mixtures. Reasonable agreement is found in almost all circumstances with lambda near unity, the more so the higher the temperature, especially when the solute-solvent mixture properties closely approximate those where agreement would be expected and conversely. Finally, it is pointed out that for the restricted circumstances described, the formula D(T)=lambdaD(S)beta is equally credible for gases. Here, based on gas-kinetic theory, it is possible to furnish the theoretical value of lambda. Overall, while spanning a range of about five orders of magnitude, the D(T) values given by this elementary formula are shown to apply with reasonable accuracy to: (i) liquids (including circumstances for which D(T) is negative) as well as gases; (ii) all combinations of solvents and solutes tested (the latter including, for example, polymer molecules and metallic colloidal particles); and (iii) all sizes of solute molecules, from angstroms to submicron.

Journal Article↗

Thermal diffusion probe analysis of perfusion changes in vascular occlusions of rabbit pedicle flaps.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to show the efficacy of a novel tissue blood flow measuring device in an animal model. Thermal diffusion technology evaluates changes in perfusion in small volumes of tissue. METHODS: The thermal diffusion probe device is a long, 0.9-mm-diameter flexible catheter with two thermistors, which are placed directly into the tissue; it excites an active thermistor to a constant temperature slightly above the tissue baseline and collects data on the power dissipated in the active thermistor. It also continuously monitors the baseline tissue temperature using an additional passive thermistor placed outside the heated field. In this study, rabbit epigastric pedicle flaps were instrumented with two thermal diffusion probes (peripheral and deep) to continuously monitor flap perfusion. RESULTS: Twenty-five vascular occlusion studies were performed in 16 flaps. Blood vessel occlusions (arterial, venous, and arteriovenous) were easily detectable with this system. Waveforms for arterial and arteriovenous occlusions differed from those for venous occlusions. Probes in both peripheral and deep tissue locations were sensitive to changes in tissue perfusion. CONCLUSION: Thermal diffusion probes may provide a useful clinical method for monitoring flap perfusion.

Animals↗

Measurement of thermal diffusivity by magnetic resonance imaging.

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) may be used for monitoring temperature changes within samples based on measurements of relaxation times, the diffusion coefficient of liquids, proton resonance frequency or phase shifts. Such methods may be extended to the explicit measurement of the thermal diffusivity of materials by NMR imaging. A method based on measuring nuclear spin phase shifts or changes in the equilibrium nuclear magnetization has been developed for measuring transient thermal diffusion effects and thermal diffusivity with potential applications in NMR thermotherapy and materials science. In this method, a thermal pulse is applied to a medium, and the resultant temporal variations of the nuclear spin phase or of the magnitude of the nuclear magnetization produced by the thermal pulse are monitored at a spatial distance. The results obtained on common fluids agree well with the data from other methods.

Diffusion↗

Non-contact measurement of thermal diffusivity in tissue.

We demonstrate the application of an infrared (IR) imaging technique for non-contact determination of thermal diffusivity in biological materials. The proposed method utilizes pulsed laser excitation to produce an initial three-dimensional temperature distribution in tissue, and records IR images of subsequent heat diffusion. The theoretical model assumes that the time-dependent temperature increase following pulsed laser exposure is due to independent heat diffusion in longitudinal and lateral directions. A nonlinear least-squares algorithm is used to compute the lateral thermal point spread function from a pair of recorded IR images and to determine the thermal diffusivity of a test specimen. The recorded time-sequence of IR images is used to compute thermal diffusivity as a function of increasing time interval between two IR emission images. Experimental application of the method was demonstrated using tissue phantoms, ex vivo samples of hydrated cartilage and in vivo epidermis.

Adult↗

On measurement of molecular and thermal diffusion coefficients in multicomponent mixtures.

We have developed the theory for using the deflection of laser beams of various wavelengths to determine molecular and thermal diffusion coefficients in multicomponent mixtures. In the past, simultaneous determination of molecular and thermal diffusion coefficients have only been achieved for binaries. Our procedure is faster and more accurate than the current techniques to determine molecular diffusion coefficients. The analysis for an N-component mixture requires deflections from (N - 1) beams of different wavelengths. We show in an example that the molecular and thermal diffusion coefficients can be determined reliably in a ternary mixture.

Journal Article↗

[Evaluation of regional cortical blood flow by thermal diffusion using a Peltier stack].

The possibility of quantitative evaluation of cerebral blood flow (CBF) by thermal diffusion has been reported, when the thermal gradient was created by a Peltier stack. We already described the linear relationship between the CBF and the inverse of thermal gradient elsewhere when the CBF measured by hydrogen clearance (Hydrogen CBF) was compared to the values estimated by thermal diffusion. In this paper, the correlation of linear relationship between the thermal CBF and hydrogen CBF in each animal was first investigated. Secondary, the possibility of in vitro calibration for quantitative evaluation was discussed. Two kinds of probes were manufactured. One was treated not to leak the heat from the Peltier stack except the sensors for the experimental or intraoperative use, and the other was not treated to minimize the size of probe for the long-term use by implantation into the subdural space. When the thermal CBF was compared to hydrogen CBF in each of 3 cats, a linear relationship was obtained in each and the values showing gradient and constant of the regression line were similar in each cat. Moreover, a good linear relationship was also observed when all measurements in 3 cats were included. These results suggested that there is no difference between each animal in the relationship of thermal and hydrogen CBF when the same probe is employed. In addition, the probe can be characterized with two values, and these are gradient and constant of the linear relationship. The fact that the blood flow is proportional to the heat conductivity indicates that the heat conductivity of some material is equivalent to some CBF value in the brain tissue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Molecular and thermal diffusion coefficients of alkane-alkane and alkane-aromatic binary mixtures: effect of shape and size of molecules.

New molecular and thermal diffusion coefficients of binary mixtures of normal decane-normal alkanes and methylnaphthalene-normal alkanes are measured at atmospheric pressure and T = 25 degrees C. The normal alkanes used in this work include nC5-nC20. Thermal diffusion coefficients were measured in a thermogravitational column. Molecular diffusion coefficients were measured using an open-ended capillary tube technique. Results show a significant effect of molecular shape and size on thermal and molecular diffusion coefficients. Molecular diffusion coefficients show a monotonic behavior in both aromatic-normal alkane and normal decane-normal alkane mixtures. Thermal diffusion coefficients reveal a nonmonotonic trend with molecular size in the normal decane-normal alkane mixtures. This is the first report of the nonmonotonic behavior in the literature. The data presented in this paper provide an accurate self-molecular diffusion coefficient for nC10 from binary data.

Journal Article↗

Thermal diffusivity of nanofluids containing Au/Pd bimetallic nanoparticles of different compositions.

Colloidal suspensions of bimetallic Au/Pd nanoparticles were prepared by simultaneous reduction of the metal ions from their corresponding chloride salts with polymer (PVP) stabilizer. Thermal properties of water containing bimetallic nanoparticles with different nominal compositions (Au/Pd = 12/1, 5/1, 1/1, 1/5) were measured using the mode mismatched dual-beam thermal lens technique to determine the effect of particle composition on the thermal diffusivity of the nanofluids. The characteristic time constant of the transient thermal lens was estimated by fitting the experimental data to the theoretical expression for transient thermal lens. The thermal diffusivity of the nanofluids (water, containing Au/Pd bimetallic nanoparticles) is seen to be strongly dependent on the composition of the particles. The maximum diffusivity was achieved for the nanoparticles with highest Au/Pd molar ratio. A possible mechanism for such high thermal diffusivity of the nanofluids with bimetallic particles is given. UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM and high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) techniques were used to characterize the Au/Pd bimetallic nanoparticles.

Colloids↗

Impairment of CO2 reactivity in severe head injury patients: an investigation using thermal diffusion method.

For measurement of the cerebral blood flow (CBF) the thermal diffusion method is quite convenient and allows the chronological measurement of CBF and CO2 reactivity of cerebral vessels. We investigated the CO2 reactivity of fifteen head injury patients. The results showed that in head injury cases, the disturbance of the CO2 reactivity correlates well to poor outcome. Using thermal diffusion method, investigations of CO2 reactivity are useful for further understanding of the physiological state of head injury patients.

Adult↗

[A new thermal diffusion flow probe for continuous monitoring of cerebral blood flow in small animals].

The Peltier stack, which allows quantitative measurement of cerebral blood flow (CBF) by means of thermal diffusion, has a probe too large for use in small animals. However, it is difficult to measure CBF by a thermal diffusion method involving the use of a constantan heating wire, because of heat conduction between the two gold plates. The authors developed a new thermal diffusion flow probe, using a constantan wire as a heat source rather than the Peltier stack. With the new probe, separation of the gold plates and attachment of a pair of long thermocouples minimize heat conduction between the two plates. Moreover, the probe itself is considerably smaller than that of the Peltier stack. The new probe was inserted to the subdural space of rabbits and the voltage (V; mV) was measured with an amplifier by the circuit of constant current method. CBF (F; ml/100 g/min) was measured simultaneously by the hydrogen clearance method in the adjacent cortex. A regression equation of F = 29, 111 (1/V-1/226) was obtained between 35 pairs of F and V (r = 0.92, p less than 0.001), which verified that CBF can be accurately measured with the new probe.

Animals↗

Elastic constants of Si crystal determined by thermal diffuse electron scattering.

The method of determining elastic constants of crystals by measuring thermal diffuse X-ray scattering around some Bragg reflections, is extended to measuring thermal diffuse electron scattering for the first time, in a transmission electron microscope, equipped with a field-emission gun, an [Formula: see text] -type energy filter and a multi-scan charge-coupled device. Quantitative diffuse electron scattering in the vicinity of the [Formula: see text] Bragg reflection was measured on a Si crystal in order to obtain information about elastic constants. Values of the elastic constants ratios C(12)/C(11)=0.4246, C(44)/C(11)=0.4707 obtained by simplex fitting method are consistent with the values C(12)/C(11)=0.3856, C(44)/C(11)=0.4804 determined by other traditional methods. This method may be expected to open a new route to measuring elastic constants of polycrystalline, nanometer-scaled and composite materials.

Journal Article↗

Anisotropy of thermal diffusivity in the upper mantle.

Heat transfer in the mantle is a key process controlling the Earth's dynamics. Upper-mantle mineral phases, especially olivine, have been shown to display highly anisotropic thermal diffusivity at ambient conditions, and seismic anisotropy data show that preferred orientations of olivine induced by deformation are coherent at large scales (>50 km) in the upper mantle. Thus heat transport in the upper mantle should be anisotropic. But the thermal anisotropy of mantle minerals at high temperature and its relationship with deformation have not been well constrained. Here we present petrophysical modelling and laboratory measurements of thermal diffusivity in deformed mantle rocks between temperatures of 290 and 1,250 K that demonstrate that deformation may induce a significant anisotropy of thermal diffusivity in the uppermost mantle. We found that heat transport parallel to the flow direction is up to 30 per cent faster than that normal to the flow plane. Such a strain-induced thermal anisotropy implies that the upper-mantle temperature distribution, rheology and, consequently, its dynamics, will depend on deformation history. In oceans, resistive drag flow would result in lower vertical diffusivities in both the lithosphere and asthenosphere and hence in less effective heat transfer from the convective mantle. In continents, olivine orientations frozen in the lithosphere may induce anisotropic heating above mantle plumes, favouring the reactivation of pre-existing structures.

Journal Article↗

On measurement of thermal diffusion coefficients in multicomponent mixtures.

We investigate the steady-state separation of the individual components of an incompressible multicomponent liquid mixture in a narrow two-dimensional thermogravitational column. Analytic working equations for measuring thermal diffusion coefficients analogous to the existing equations for a binary mixture are derived. Similar to the binary results, we find that when compositional variation has negligible effect on fluid density and vertical diffusive flux can be ignored, molecular diffusion does not affect steady-state separation. However, when compositional effects on density are taken into account, molecular diffusion does affect the bulk convective flow and the steady-state separation of the components. There may be also two distinct trends in the velocity and separation profiles. With one or more negative thermal diffusion coefficients, there may be more than one convection cell resulting in oscillatory behavior of separation. The working equations presented can be used to measure thermal diffusion coefficients of multicomponent mixtures. Such measurements have not yet been reported in the literature.

Journal Article↗

Thermal diffusivity of composite restorative materials.

The substantial increases in the filler volume fraction of the current generation of composite resins, and the incorporation of radiopacifying heavy elements in many of these fillers, constitute significant changes which may affect thermal transport properties. Thermal diffusivity has been determined for 21 of these composite materials recommended for anterior and posterior applications. For radiopaque hybrid and for microfine composites, there was, however, only a gradual trend to increased thermal diffusivity with increasing volume fraction of inorganic filler. The diffusivity values were not greatly in excess of the level observed for dentin. Nevertheless, a small group of materials, incorporating substantial amounts of quartz or silicon nitride filler particles, exhibited high rates of thermal diffusion, up to three times the level exhibited by dentin.

Composite Resins↗