Manifestation of relativistic effects in the chemical properties of nihonium and moscovium revealed by gas chromatography studies.

Chemical reactivity of the superheavy elements nihonium (Nh, element 113) and moscovium (Mc, element 115) has been studied by the gas-solid chromatography method using a new combined chromatography and detection setup. The Mc isotope, 288Mc, was produced in the nuclear fusion reaction of 48Ca ions with 243Am targets at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum Darmstadt, Germany. After isolating 288Mc ions in the gas-filled separator TASCA, adsorption of 288Mc and its decay product 284Nh on silicon oxide and gold surfaces was investigated. As a result of this work, the values of the adsorption enthalpy of Nh and Mc on the silicon oxide surface were determined for the first time, - ∆ H ads SiO 2 Mc = 54 - 5 + 11 kJ/mol and - ∆ H ads SiO 2 Nh = 58 - 3 + 8 kJ/mol (68% c.i.). The obtained -ΔH ads values are in good agreement with results of advanced relativistic calculations. Both elements, Nh and Mc, were shown to interact more weakly with the silicon oxide surface than their lighter homologues Tl and Bi, respectively. However, Nh and Mc turned out to be more reactive than the neighbouring closed-shell and quasi-closed-shell elements copernicium (Cn, element 112) and flerovium (Fl, element 114), respectively. The established trend is explained by the influence of strong relativistic effects on the valence atomic orbitals of these elements.

Snowblower injuries to the hand.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 62 patients who sustained serious hand injuries caused by snowblowers between 1981 and 1990. Frequency of injuries to digits tended to correlate with length (i.e., middle, index, ring, or small finger or thumb). Damage to tendons did not seem to follow any particular pattern. The majority of victims sustained multiple digital involvement. Complete versus partial amputation followed the same length distribution as did injured digits. Most of the injuries occurred to the dominant hand. When patients were further questioned regarding the circumstances and events leading to their injury, a recurring pattern was found. Most patients described a wet, heavy snow having recently fallen. The majority of the patients who were injured by placing their hands into the exit chute admitted that they were aware the machine was running, but thought that they had a greater clearance to the rotating impeller blade.

Spontaneous pneumothorax after shoulder arthroscopy: a report of four cases.

This article reviews four cases of spontaneous pneumothorax that occurred after shoulder arthroscopy. Each of the patients had an underlying history of smoking or asthma. The cause was believed to be a rupture of an underlying bleb or bullae. No other complications were identified with the cases such as faulty equipment or anesthesia problems.