Thesis about artificial bone

   I major in engineering sciences in college. Today, I read a thesis about artificial bone, which I was interested in. It was very difficult for me, but I have finished reading it! So, I wrote a summary of the thesis.

Summery
   Our body is supported by the bones from head to foot. But if once a bone is broken or does not engage smoothly ,because of a traffic accident or illness or aging, it will be difficult for us to live a daily life. So, we need “artificial bone” to make up for the fracture. And we also need “metallic material”, which display a small coefficient of friction and fuse itself with bones directly.
   For example, titanium and titanium alloys are capable metals. They don’t react easily on a water solution because their surfaces are covered by titanium oxide (TiO2). But titanium oxide reacts on sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and form hydration gel of sodium titanate. This hydration gel change into the amorphous layer of sodium titanate, which displays the high strength to the loading, with heated at 600℃ for 1 hour. The amorphous layer of this metal elutes sodium ions and draw oxonium ions in the body, and forms a lot of Ti-OH groups on its surface. These groups are combined to calcium ions and phosphate ions, and they form “apatite”, which is the crystal of hexagonal system. The layer of apatite fuse itself with the surrounding bones, and then work as an artificial bone. 

   The metallic materials,which display the high strength to the loading and fuse themselves into bones automatically like sodium titanate, are called “bioactive metal”. These bioactive metals expected to use as the artificial bones which locate in high loaded place in the body, like human knee, elbow, hip joint, wrist and other joints, or the root of a tooth. They will be a help for a lot of people, who suffer from physical injuries, to live a healthy and cultural life.




I will find a new and high-performance metallic material in the future!!

Reference
化成処理,高温処理/人工骨,人工関節
小久保正,金鉉敏(2000)

The last time, Saint Lucia. This time, Afghanistan.

I am interested in Afghanistan, and studied about Afghan food.
Afghan foods are all appetizing. After studying, I came to want to cook them at once. So, today, I wrote about “korma”, a popular stewed cooking in Afghanistan. I will be grad if you make this dish.
 

Ingredients(for four) 
・cumin 　　　　　　1 tsp
・coriander 　　　　1 tsp
・cinnamon 　　　　0.5 tsp
・turmeric 　　　　　1 tsp
・cardamom 　　　6 grains
・red pepper 　　　　1 
・garam masala 　　1 tsp
・salt and pepper 　a suitable amount
・garlic(paste) 　　　1 tsp
・ginger(paste) 　　1 tsp
・yogurt 　　　　　　4 tsps
・onion 　　　　　　　2
・chick pea 　　　　　1 cup
・potato　　　　　　　 1
・green bean 　　　　1 cup

Recipe
1. Measure cumin, coriander, cinnamon, turmeric, cardamom, red pepper, and mix them. 

2. Fry sliced onions in a pan for 5 minutes.

3. Add garlic and ginger to the pan, and fry for 2 minutes.

4. Add measured spices to the pan, and fry for 1 minute to make them give off the good smell.

5. Add cut potatoes, chick peas, and water to the pan. Once the water boils, cover the pan with a lid and stew on low heat for 15 minutes.

6. Add green beans, and stew for 5 minutes with the lid off.

7. Add yogurt and garam masala to the pan.

8. Season with salt and pepper, and stew for 5 minutes.

9. Place on the plate. done!

About korma
    Afghanistan is on the Silk Road, and is a multiracial nation bordered by six countries, Iran, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. So, Afghan food is very various.
    “korma” is one of the cooking which is from foreign countries around Afghanistan. And the word “korma” is derived from Urdo “kormah” which means “Braising”. The cuisine korma dates back to the sixteenth century, originated in Mughal Empire in North India. They ate korma as a palace cuisine, and very few people could eat it. When Babur, who was the originator of Mughal Empire, invaded what is now Pakistan and Bangladesh, korma spread over India and neighboring countries. And how to cook korma was greatly influenced by each countries’ culture, climate, landform, and so on. So, there are numberless recipes of korma around the world. 
    In particularly, in Afghanistan, they use some fruits, chick peas, or yogurt in addition to the ordinary ingredients like onions or spices or meat. Afghanistan is famous for its production of chick peas, and chick peas are often used in Afghan food. Yogurt is also used in Afghan food to make taste mild. When meat is used in korma, chicken and mutton are mostly used because Afghan people are followers of Islam. As there are quite a few vegetarians in Afghanistan, meatless korma is often cooked for them. Korma is eaten with nan bread or palaw (a kind of pilaf) by both vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
    Even in Afghanistan, there are also differences of the recipe. As Afghanistan is a mountain country, and tribes living in have weak ties to each other, their cultures (including how to cook) developed uniquely. there are various "korma"
    In the countless of recipes of korma, I chose this recipe because one of my English teacher, who certainly reads this blog, is a vegetarian. He must read other students’ blogs, and when he read other articles about cooking, he can’t make the dish on the blog if its main ingredient is meat. It’s a pity he can’t enjoy cooking. So, I chose this meatless recipe so that he can cook this.


    I want to cook korma, but I can’t, because of the number of spices. For a student, many spices cost too much. If you like cooking, try it!


References
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B3%E3%83%AB%E3%83%9E

http://jp.ndish.com/world/afghanistan/ 

http://e-food.jp/country/afghan/1/afgan.korma.htm 

http://cookpad.com/recipe/310436 

Trip to the Caribbean ~Saint lucia~

   I’m going to go to Saint Lucia in the West Indies. Saint Lucia is in the wet season from June to November, and sometimes hurricanes come. So, I’ll go to Saint Lucia in March.
   Today, I made the itinerary.

N.B.
・To go to Saint Lucia, we Japanese don’t have to possess visa, if we have an airline ticket to return to our homeland. So, I have to carry just a passport and the ticket.
 
・Reserve an airline seat and the hotels and change money into EC＄in Japan in advance.(1 dollar =2.7EC＄)
 
・Do not expose skin too much to avoid infectious diseases that are carried by mosquitoes.
 
・Do not drink tap water, drink mineral water.
 
・When taking taxis, ask a fare before getting into the car in case there is not a taximeter.(about 10 dollars per kilometer)
 
・Make arrangements for a taxi at hotels.
 
・When leaving Saint Lucia, it is necessary to pay a departure tax, 55.00 EC dollars. 

Schedule
3/6
Boarding the 19:15 flight at Narita Airport. Via Los Angeles International Airport and Miami Airport, arriving Hewanorra International Airport on 3/8

3/7
In the sky.

3/8
At 13:24, arriving Hewanorra International Airport. As I will be tired, I stay in the hotel near the airport.
Hotel: Villa Caribbean Dream (2km from the airport)

 3/9
Going to Maria Islands, the biggest solitary island in Saint Lucia. Seeing the animals and plants of the island with guides. I want to go there by all means because this area is famous for its marine clarity and its seascape.

Before getting dark, going to today’s hotel, tomorrow’s sightseeing spot.

3/10
Hotel: Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa
Taking a rest for my health here. There are restaurant, swimming pool, Water slide, sauna, hot spring, beach, tennis court and so on. And here, I can have a massage, play some sports, enjoy marine sports like sailboat, kayak, surfing. Exactly, “Resort”. I want to go to a resort area like this in my life. Spending a whole day here and feel relaxed.

3/11
In the afternoon, leaving the hotel. Going to Mamiku garden, the biggest garden in Saint Lucia. I want to go there because there are some plants which are endangered species or endemic species in the garden, and I want to see them. As a guide will accompany in the garden, I will get much information about the plants.

 
Before getting dark, going to today's hotel.
Hotel: Lodge Colibri

3/12
Going to Dennery beach. Enjoying sunbathing, snorkeling and other marine sports. And here, only Friday night, the event “Fri Fish” is held. Many fish dish are sold in the fishing village. Maybe, I can eat uncommon fish in Japan.

 

3/13
Going to Gros Islet, an area in north Saint Lucia because I want to ride horse. “Island Riders” gives us wonderful experience that we can go everywhere with horse, even in the sea! It must be very fun. I can enjoy beautiful sea and spots of this country by strange way in here.

Before getting dark, going to today’s hotel.

3/14
Hotel: Sandals Grande St. Lucian Spa & Beach Resort
Because of my inexperience in horse riding, maybe I am very tired and I can’t go sightseeing this day. So, I should stay in this hotel all day. It has a lot of things refresh and entertain me. I chose this hotel due to the view and great room.
 

3/15
Going to Castries, the capital city of Saint Lucia. Today’s biggest destination of mine is “Derek Walcott Square”. It was named after a Nobel Prize in Literature winner, Derek Walcott who was born in this country. There are his statue, big trees, a fountain, and so on. After visiting the square, I will go shopping if I am not so tired. Today’s hotel is near the square.
Hotel: Poinsettia Villa Apartments

 3/16
Moving into south area of Saint Lucia. I have two destinations today.
First, going to “Diamond Botanical Gardens”, which has many beautiful tropical flowers, mineral baths and Diamond waterfall. Although this country has many small waterfalls, most of them are in the mountains and difficult to go. But this one is easier to go, so I want to go there.

 
Second, I want to go where I can do something good for my skin. The place is called “Sulphur Springs”. It is a mud spring including sulphur, iron, deposits of copper, carbon and so on. People say “This spring makes your skin five years younger!” There are places where we can wash the mud away, but because of its component, my body must smell of sulphur after bathing. And we have to pay attention to its very hot water.

Hotel: Anse Chastanet

3/17
I want to see world heritage, so I go to “Tet Paul Nature Trail”. Although it is a short hiking trail, I can see “Pitons” during my hiking. “Pitons” are two mountains that is a world natural heritage in Saint Lucia. I can enjoy beautiful nature. And I think short trail is good for me because I may be tired from exercise until yesterday.

Before getting dark, going to today's hotel.

3/18 
Hotel: QR Quality Rooms Cedar Palm Villa
This hotel is the nearest to the airport I use. If I am very tired, I stay in this hotel.
 

 

But if I’m not tired, I can go to some colleges near here. There are International American University College of Medicine and Spartan Health Sciences University.
Boarding the 14:19 flight at Hewanorra International Airport. Via Miami Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, arriving Narita Airport on 3/20

3/19
In the sky.

3/20
At 12:35, arriving Narita Airport. Going home.
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This is my plan for my travel of Saint Lucia.
 
This plan costs me a lot.
Airline tickets: 580000 yen (for two)
Hotels, shopping, eating, and others: 380000 yen

I'm looking forward to visiting Saint Lucia!