Aorticopulmonary fistula. A case of successful repair with review of literature since 1943

A case of aorticopulmonary fistula secondary to thoracic aortic aneurysm of syphilitic origin has been presented. Aneurysm involved the first portion of the ascending aorta and ruptured into the main pulmonary artery a few cm above the pulmonic valve. Two weeks after onset, the patient successfully operated upon under profound hypothermia with perfusion. Thirteen cases of this disease since 1943 were reviewed and we discussed briefly profound hypothermia as a useful technic for surgical correction of this condition.     

Development of thin film solar cell based on Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films

Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (hereafter CZTS) thin films were successfully formed by vapor-phase sulfurization of precursors on a soda lime glass substrate (hereafter SLG) and a Mo-coated one (hereafter Mo-SLG). From the optical properties, we estimate the band-gap energy of this thin film as 1.45–1.6 eV which is quite close to the optimum value for a solar cell. By using this thin film as an absorber layer, we could fabricate a new type of thin film solar cell, which was composed of Al/ZnO:Al/CdS/CZTS/Mo-SLG. The best conversion efficiency achieved in our study was 2.62% and the highest open-circuit voltage was 735 mV. These device results are the best reported so far for CZTS.     

Apatite Formation on Calcium Phosphate Invert Glasses in Simulated Body Fluid

Calcium phosphate invert glasses, which contain P₂O₇²⁻ and PO₄³⁻ ions, have been prepared via the addition of a small amount of TiO₂. The formation of bonelike calcium phosphate apatite on the surface of the phosphate invert glasses was examined in simulated body fluid (SBF) at a temperature of 37°C. Soaking for 20 d resulted in the deposition of leaflike apatite particles on 6CaO·3P₂O₅·TiO₂ invert glass (based on molar ratio). The glass had much-greater chemical durability against SBF, in comparison with a metaphosphate glass; P ions were not dissolved excessively from the 6CaO·3P₂O₅·TiO₂ glass, so the apatite formation was not suppressed.     

Growth of Magnetic Disk Drive Industry and Future

1. IntroductionThe growth of personal computers (PCs) and theexpansion of information networks, featured by theInternet, lead to information storage demand surprisingly. No data storage equipment other than magnetichard disk drives (known as HDD) is able to offer a costperformance that matches the requirements of growing digital network era.Areal recording density of the HDD has been improved more than 3 million times, since RAMAC firstshipped in 1957. During the periods, there were many…     

An Interactive Data Language software package to calculate ionospheric conductivity by using numerical models

The Inter-university Upper atmosphere Global Observation NETwork (IUGONET) project focuses on handling ground-based observational data of the upper atmosphere. To this end, the project members have been developing a data analysis software package which is based on Interactive Data Language (IDL). Filling the spatial gaps in observational data requires the use of numerical models. In this paper, we discuss an IDL software package for global ionospheric conductivity by integration of 3rd party numerical models. The model can be used to create further derived models.     

Intravenous Administration of Cilostazol Nanoparticles Ameliorates Acute Ischemic Stroke in a Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion-Induced Injury Model

It was reported that cilostazol (CLZ) suppressed disruption of the microvasculature in ischemic areas. In this study, we have designed novel injection formulations containing CLZ nanoparticles using 0.5% methylcellulose, 0.2% docusate sodium salt, and mill methods (CLZ_nano dispersion; particle size 81 ± 59 nm, mean ± S.D.), and investigated their toxicity and usefulness in a cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced injury model (MCAO/reperfusion mice). The pharmacokinetics of injections of CLZ_nano dispersions is similar to that of CLZ solutions prepared with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin, and no changes in the rate of hemolysis of rabbit red blood cells, a model of cell injury, were observed with CLZ_nano dispersions. In addition, the intravenous injection of 0.6 mg/kg CLZ_nano dispersions does not affect the blood pressure and blood flow, and the 0.6 mg/kg CLZ_nano dispersions ameliorate neurological deficits and ischemic stroke in MCAO/reperfusion mice. It is possible that the CLZ_nano dispersions will provide effective therapy for ischemic stroke patients, and that injection preparations of lipophilic drugs containing drug nanoparticles expand their therapeutic usage.     

Development of a suction device for stabilizing in vivo real-time imaging of murine tissues

In vivo real-time imaging of molecular or cellular dynamics in tissues in live animals is difficult due to their physiological movements. In this study, we propose a suction device for stabilizing live imaging, which was used to demonstrate fluorescence detection of circulating blood cells in vessels of mouse livers.     

Fabrication of Function‐Graded Proton Exchange Membranes for Direct Methanol Fuel Cells Using Electron Beam‐Grafting

Function‐graded proton exchange membranes (G‐PEMs) based on poly(tetrafluoroethylene‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) were fabricated for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) via electron beam‐grafting using the heterogeneous energy deposition technique. The G‐PEMs had a water uptake gradient in the proton transfer direction, originating from the sulfonic acid group gradient. The distribution of sulfonic acid groups in the various G‐PEMs was evaluated using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Four types of PEMs (flat‐type, strong‐gradient, meso‐gradient, and weak‐gradient types) were fabricated. By varying the direction of the G‐PEMs, the methanol permeation test and DMFC operation were performed with two orientations of the sulfonic acid group gradient, decreasing from the methanol injection (anode) side (decrease‐type) or the other (cathode) side (increase‐type). The methanol permeability of the strong‐gradient, meso‐gradient, and weak‐gradient G‐PEMs was lower than that of Nafion®117 and the flat‐type PEM. The “increase‐type” orientation of the strong‐gradient G‐PEM resulted in the lowest methanol permeability. The DMFC performance of the G‐PEMs was influenced by the thickness direction, such as “decrease‐type” and “increase‐type.” The performance of the “decrease‐type” assembly was higher than that of the “increase‐type.” The “decrease‐type” assembly with P‐200 k (weak‐gradient G‐PEM) exhibited the highest performance of the fabricated PEMs, comparable to that of Nafion®117.