Malcolm L. H. Green

Bio: Malcolm L. H. Green is an academic researcher from University of Oxford. The author has contributed to research in topics: Carbon nanotube & Cyclopentadienyl complex. The author has an hindex of 82, co-authored 800 publications receiving 31121 citations. Previous affiliations of Malcolm L. H. Green include Gas Technology Institute & University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

Diaphragmatic Dysfunction in Neuralgic Amyotrophy: An Electrophysiologic Evaluation of 16 Patients Presenting with Dyspnea

Abstract: We report 16 adult men (age, 41 to 75 yr) with neuralgic amyotrophy (NA) who presented with dyspnea due to involvement of the diaphragm. All patients developed breathlessness after a prodrome of acute severe neck and shoulder pain. Bilateral diaphragm paralysis (BDP) was confirmed in 12 patients and unilateral diaphragm paralysis (UDP) in four by the absence of electrical and mechanical responses to percutaneous phrenic nerve stimulation. Global expiratory muscle strength was well preserved in all patients, but inspiratory muscle strength was reduced in proportion to the extent of diaphragmatic involvement. Lung function showed low lung volumes with preservation of carbon monoxide transfer coefficient in all patients. Two BDP patients were hypoxic (PaO2 = 67 and 54 mm Hg, respectively) on daytime arterial blood gas analysis; the latter patient with pre-existing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and marked obesity also had borderline hypercapnia (PaO2 = 49 mm Hg). Overnight sleep studies in three BDP and two UDP patients showed frequent intermittent arterial oxygen desaturations apparently caused by obstructive sleep apneas, but there was no evidence of alveolar hypoventilation. Follow-up muscle studies in five BDP and four UDP patients between 2 and 4 yr after initial referral showed complete recovery of diaphragmatic function in only two UDP patients, one of whom relapsed a year later. We postulate that NA may be an important but underrecognized cause of diaphragmatic paralysis in otherwise normal patients. Diaphragmatic strength returns very slowly, if at all.

Urea–organic matrix method: an alternative approach to prepare CoMoS2/γ-Al2O3 HDS catalyst

Abstract: An alternative method using urea as organic matrix to prepare CoMoS2/γ-Al2O3 HDS catalysts based on drying (urea-matrix drying, UMxD) or combustion (urea-matrix combustion, UMxC) processes have been developed and compared with the traditional wet methods (sequential, WSI, and co-impregnation, WCI) and chelating method (ChM) in order to determine their influence on the HDS catalytic process. The catalytic performance of the alumina-supported CoMo catalysts was evaluated in a continuous flow reactor using the hydrodesulfurization of thiophene as a model reaction. The oxidic precursors and the sulfurized catalysts were characterized using elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), laser Raman spectroscopy (LRS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR-H2) and BET surface area measurements. It has been found that the urea–organic matrix method facilitates well-dispersed Co- and Mo-oxo species (mono and polymolybdate) formation, whereas the conventional impregnation techniques lead to mixed-metal oxides formation. This was reflected in the sulfurized phase morphology and structural disorder degree of carbon material deposited on the catalyst surface upon the sulfurizing process using thiophene as sulfurizing agent. The preparation method notably affects the thiophene-HDS specific rates, showing the following activity order: UMxD>UMxC>WCI>WSI>ChM, while an opposite trend for relative rate of HYD to HDS reactions was observed. A carbon structural effect together with high stacking degree of the sulfurized phases seem to be mainly responsible for the high HDS activity of alumina-supported CoMo catalysts prepared by the urea–organic matrix method, which appears very promising for HDS catalysts development.

Phrenic nerve stimulation in normal subjects and in patients with diaphragmatic weakness.

Abstract: Phrenic nerve stimulation is often considered to be difficult and unreliable. The time taken for the phrenic nerves to be located and adequately stimulated was measured in 110 subjects, aged 21-89 years, 26 of whom had diaphragmatic weakness; and phrenic nerve conduction time was recorded in 76 of these individuals. Each phrenic nerve was stimulated transcutaneously in the neck with square wave impulses 0.1 ms in duration at 1 Hz and 80-160 volts while diaphragmatic muscle action potentials were recorded with surface electrodes. The time taken to locate either phrenic nerve ranged from two seconds to 22 minutes (median 10s). Both nerves were located in 83 of the 84 control subjects (99%) and in 21 of the 26 patients with diaphragmatic weakness (81%). Mean (SD) phrenic nerve conduction time in the control subjects was 6.94 (0.77) ms on the right and 6.61 (0.77) ms on the left. A weak relationship was found between conduction time and the subjects' age and height. Four out of 24 patients with diaphragmatic weakness had a prolonged phrenic nerve conduction time. Transcutaneous stimulation of the phrenic nerves was not a time consuming procedure, and it was well tolerated, reproducible, and successful in 95% of subjects.

Effect of carburising agent on the structure of molybdenum carbides

Abstract: Molybdenum carbides have been prepared by the temperature programmed reaction method using mixtures of hydrogen and methane, hydrogen and ethane, and hydrogen and butane, and characterised with X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, 13C solid state NMR and EXAFS spectroscopy. The results show that the choice of hydrocarbon used to synthesise molybdenum carbide significantly affects the structure and texture of the resultant materials. Increasing the chain length of the carburising agent reduces the particle size and the temperature for complete phase transformation from molybdenum oxide to carbide is lowered. Carburising with a mixture of hydrogen and methane gives rise to hexagonal closed packed (hcp) carbide, while when using butane as the carbon source, molybdenum oxide is mainly reduced to face centred cubic (fcc) carbide. However, using ethane as the carbon source, the resultant carbide has a mixed phase composition with the hcp phase predominant. The molybdenum carbide prepared with ethane as the carbon source has the roughest surface and highest hydrogen adsorption capacity, while that prepared with butane has a very condensed surface. There is a substantial difference in the molybdenum co-ordination environments present among the carbides prepared with different carburising agents.

Single-shell carbon nanotubes of 1-nm diameter

Abstract: CARBON nanotubes1 are expected to have a wide variety of interesting properties. Capillarity in open tubes has already been demonstrated2–5, while predictions regarding their electronic structure6–8 and mechanical strength9 remain to be tested. To examine the properties of these structures, one needs tubes with well defined morphologies, length, thickness and a number of concentric shells; but the normal carbon-arc synthesis10,11 yields a range of tube types. In particular, most calculations have been concerned with single-shell tubes, whereas the carbon-arc synthesis produces almost entirely multi-shell tubes. Here we report the synthesis of abundant single-shell tubes with diameters of about one nanometre. Whereas the multi-shell nanotubes are formed on the carbon cathode, these single-shell tubes grow in the gas phase. Electron diffraction from a single tube allows us to confirm the helical arrangement of carbon hexagons deduced previously for multi-shell tubes1.

Chemistry and properties of nanocrystals of different shapes.

Abstract: The interest in nanoscale materials stems from the fact that new properties are acquired at this length scale and, equally important, that these properties * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Phone, 404-8940292; fax, 404-894-0294; e-mail, mostafa.el-sayed@ chemistry.gatech.edu. † Case Western Reserve UniversitysMillis 2258. ‡ Phone, 216-368-5918; fax, 216-368-3006; e-mail, burda@case.edu. § Georgia Institute of Technology. 1025 Chem. Rev. 2005, 105, 1025−1102

Carbon Nanotubes: Present and Future Commercial Applications

Abstract: Worldwide commercial interest in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is reflected in a production capacity that presently exceeds several thousand tons per year. Currently, bulk CNT powders are incorporated in diverse commercial products ranging from rechargeable batteries, automotive parts, and sporting goods to boat hulls and water filters. Advances in CNT synthesis, purification, and chemical modification are enabling integration of CNTs in thin-film electronics and large-area coatings. Although not yet providing compelling mechanical strength or electrical or thermal conductivities for many applications, CNT yarns and sheets already have promising performance for applications including supercapacitors, actuators, and lightweight electromagnetic shields.

Nanoparticle therapeutics: an emerging treatment modality for cancer

Abstract: Nanoparticles — particles in the size range 1–100 nm — are emerging as a class of therapeutics for cancer. Early clinical results suggest that nanoparticle therapeutics can show enhanced efficacy, while simultaneously reducing side effects, owing to properties such as more targeted localization in tumours and active cellular uptake. Here, we highlight the features of nanoparticle therapeutics that distinguish them from previous anticancer therapies, and describe how these features provide the potential for therapeutic effects that are not achievable with other modalities. While large numbers of preclinical studies have been published, the emphasis here is placed on preclinical and clinical studies that are likely to affect clinical investigations and their implications for advancing the treatment of patients with cancer.

Chemistry of Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract: Department of Materials Science, University of Patras, 26504 Rio Patras, Greece, Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 48 Vass. Constantinou Avenue, 116 35 Athens, Greece, Institut de Biologie Moleculaire et Cellulaire, UPR9021 CNRS, Immunologie et Chimie Therapeutiques, 67084 Strasbourg, France, and Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Universita di Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy