TiO2 additions up to 10 mass% behaved as a basic oxide and lowered the viscosity in the CaO–SiO2–17 mass% Al2O3–10 mass% MgO‐based slags by depolymerizing the silicate network structure. Raman spectroscopy revealed the sum of NBO/Si 1 and 3 decreased while the sum of NBO/Si 2 and 4 increased with TiO2 content. Unlike the silicate structures, the aluminate structures seems to be relatively unaffected by TiO2 additions according to the FTIR results. 5 mass% TiO2 significantly decreased the viscosity compared to the TiO2 free slags, but beyond 5 mass% TiO2 meaningful changes in the viscosity was not observed. From the comparison of the viscosity at constant TiO2 of 5 and 10 mass% and varying CaO/SiO2 ratio, increasing the CaO/SiO2 ratio was more effective in decreasing the viscosity than TiO2 additions.

Background/AimsPortal-vein thrombosis (PVT) develops in 10-25% of cirrhotic patients and may aggravate portal hypertension. There are few data regarding the effects of anticoagulation on nonmalignant PVT in liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the safety, efficacy, and predictors of response to anticoagulation therapy in cirrhotic patients.MethodsPatients with liver cirrhosis and nonmalignant PVT were identified by a hospital electronic medical record system (called BESTCARE). Patients with malignant PVT, Budd-Chiari syndrome, underlying primary hematologic disorders, or preexisting extrahepatic thrombosis were excluded from the analysis. Patients were divided into two groups (treatment and nontreatment), and propensity score matching analysis was performed to identify control patients. The sizes of the thrombus and spleen were evaluated using multidetector computed tomography.ResultsTwenty-eight patients were enrolled in this study between 2003 and 2014: 14 patients who received warfarin for nonmalignant PVT and 14 patients who received no anticoagulation. After 112 days of treatment, 11 patients exhibited significantly higher response rates (complete in 6 and partial in 5) compared to the control patients, with decreases in thrombus size of >30%. Compared to nonresponders, the 11 responders were older, and had a thinner spleen and fewer episodes of previous endoscopic variceal ligations, whereas pretreatment liver function and changes in prothrombin time after anticoagulation did not differ significantly between the two groups. Two patients died after warfarin therapy, but the causes of death were not related to anticoagulation.ConclusionsWarfarin can be safely administered to cirrhotic patients with nonmalignant PVT. The presence of preexisting portal hypertension is a predictor of nonresponse to anticoagulation.

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The substitutional effect of SiO2 with Al2O3 content on the viscosity in the calcium-silicate melt-based system containing 12 mass% Na2O and 5 mass% Li2O was studied. Additions of Al2O3 increased the viscosity and higher Al2O3 concentrations modified the dominant silicate network into complex alumino-silicates with the aluminate structure becoming particularly prevalent at an Al2O3 content of 20 mass% and higher. FTIR (Fourier transform infra red) and Raman analysis showed increased amounts of symmetric Al-O 0 and Si-O-Al stretching vibrations with higher Al2O3. Compared to the effect of Al2O3, structural changes and the viscosity with higher CaO/(SiO2+Al2O3) were not as significant. However, the symmetric Al-O 0 stretching and the Si-O-Al in the [AlO4] 5--tetrahedral units seems to decrease with increased apparent basicity. The apparent activation energy for viscous flow increased with higher Al2O3 due to the increased polymerization of the melt and varied from 129 to 156 kJ/mol. KEY WORDS: Al2O3; CaO/(SiO2+Al2O3); viscosity; FTIR; Raman; alumino-silicate structures.