Pulmonary vascular disease and operative indications in complete atrioventricular canal defect in early infancy

Pulmonary vascular disease was morphometrically analyzed in 67 patients (mean age, 19 months) with isolated complete atrioventricular canal defect. Complete obstruction of the small pulmonary arterial lumen resulting from acute fibrous proliferation and atrophy of the peripheral arterial media, which were considered absolute operative contraindications, were characteristic in six patients with Down's syndrome. Morphometric analysis of medial thickness revealed that thinning of the media of the small pulmonary arteries is generally observed at around 6 months of age in patients with complete atrioventricular canal defect and that the media in patients who have complete atrioventricular canal defect and Down's syndrome was thinner than that in such patients without Down's syndrome. These results suggest that thinning of the media as a result of two factors--Down's syndrome and aging--facilitates the rapid occurrence of fibrous intimal proliferation. Therefore intracardiac repair is desirable within 6 months of life, before medial thinning, in patients with complete atrioventricular canal defect and Down's syndrome. Excluding patients with absolute operative contraindications, the scores of the index of pulmonary vascular disease in operative survivors were below 2.0 and death occurred when scores were more than 2.2. The pulmonary vascular resistances measured in room air and by the oxygen inhalation and tolazoline tests in patients with operative contraindications were more than 7.3, 3.8, and 6.6 units.m2, respectively. We thus conclude that lung biopsy should be undertaken for patients in whom pulmonary vascular resistance is beyond these values to determine the appropriateness of surgical intervention.     

Structural explanation on natural draw ratio of metallocene-catalyzed high density polyethylene

The natural draw ratio of metallocen catalyzed high density polyethylenes was investigated with different crosshead speeds, molecular weights, and the cross-section shapes of sample specimens where the elastic components included in the conventional natural draw ratio such as residual strain and elastic aftereffect were eliminated. The perfect plastic deformation took place below a critical crosshead speed, whereas void formation occurred above the critical one. The natural draw ratio without elastic components and void formation was found to be dependent on the molecular weight of samples and the dimension of their specimens. On the basis of the SEM images, we proposed a simple structural model for explaining the necking formation in addition to the molecular weight and the cross-sectional shape dependences of the natural draw ratio.     

Investigation on the viscoelasticity of optical glass in ultraprecision lens molding process

Glass molding press is an efficient manufacturing technology for ultraprecision optical elements with complex shapes. In glass molding, viscoelastic property of glass is an essential aspect that determines the glass deformation behavior around the molding temperature. In this paper, viscoelasticity of glass has been measured experimentally by uniaxially compressing cylindrical glass preforms above the glass transition temperature using an ultraprecision glass molding machine. The elastic modulus and viscosity of glass were obtained by curve fitting techniques using the Burgers model and the Maxwell model for creep and stress relaxation, respectively. Based on the thermo mechanical and viscoelastic parameters obtained from experiments, finite element model simulations of the glass molding process were performed, which can be used to visualize the stress/strain distribution and to predict the residual stress in glass.     

Subtotal cor triatrium with left partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection--successful correction in an infant

This report concerns a 10-month-old infant with subtotal cor triatrium associated with left sided partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection to the innominate vein. In the operation, we found that the fossa ovalis existed between the right atrium and the accessory atrial chamber. We performed a radical operation which consisted of a resection of the intra-left-atrial diaphragma and a anastomosis of the vertical vein to the left atrium. His postoperative course was uneventful, and the result was satisfactory. We have presented and reviewed our case, and then discussed the embryogenesis and the hemodynamics. To our knowledge, our case represents the first successful surgical repair of this combination of defects in Japan.     

Investigation on shape transferability in ultraprecision glass molding press for microgrooves

Glass molding press (GMP) has been applied to produce the microgrooves on glass plates by using electroless-plated nickel phosphorus (Ni-P) molds. The GMP process for microgrooves was analyzed by finite element method (FEM) simulation. The effects of various pressing conditions, such as the molding temperature, the pressing velocity and the friction in glass deformation, were studied. Then, based on the simulation results, optimal pressing conditions were determined and used in the GMP experiments. By comparing the shape of the molded microgrooves with that of the corresponding microgrooves on the Ni-P mold, the shape transferability was evaluated and the reasons for form error were analyzed. The results show that the GMP process is an effective way to fabricate precision microgrooves on glass.     

Effects of addition of hindered phenol compounds to a segmented polyurethane with shape memory on mechanical yielding

The mechanical yielding behavior of the shape memory polyurethane (SMP) and its composite samples were investigated to verify the effect of addition of hindered phenol. The composite samples were prepared using SMP as matrix and hindered phenol (AO-80) as filler, and then tensile tests were carried out at a range of temperatures and with different fixed crosshead speeds. According to the tensile data at 25 °C, the yield stress was increased by adding AO-80. In terms of the Eyring theory, the activation volume of deformation units decreased with increase of the amount of AO-80 added. This is because the packing of the hard segments is enhanced by addition of AO-80. Consequently, it was suggested that the yield process is caused by the rotation of hard segment domains within the deformed plastic domains composed of glassy soft segments.     

Profile error compensation approaches for parallel nanogrinding of aspherical mould inserts

This paper reports a parallel nanogrinding protocol for fabricating aspherical mould inserts. In the protocol, a preliminary grinding cycle was first employed, which significantly reduced the effect of the initial wheel geometry error on the ground profile accuracy. A new compensation approach was developed. The compensation used the ground profile measured from a Talysurf profilometer to modify the NC tool path for the next grinding cycle. The tool path was modified by offsetting the residual profile error along the normal direction of a grinding point, rather than in the horizontal direction commonly used in the conventional method. The performance of the developed method was evaluated by fabricating aspherical mould inserts on cemented tungsten carbide. The result indicated that the residual profile error after two grinding cycles was reduced to approximately 0.4 μm in PV, with average surface roughness of below 10 nm, which is more efficient than the conventional compensation process.     

Surgical therapy in a case of congenital mitral valve insufficiency]

Using sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) as the antigen, two subpopulations of spleen antigen-binding lymphocytes could be distinguished by a marked difference in the susceptibility of their receptors to trypsin. In unimmunized animals, 30% of the antigen-binding cells were trypsin-resistant, whereas at 5 days after immunization, 80-90% were trypsin-resistant, indicating an increase of about 50-fold in trypsin-resistant antigen-binding cells per spleen. In contrast, trypsin-sensitive cells per spleen were only 4-fold higher on day 5 than before immunization. The rise in % trypsin sensitivity preceded the increase in rosettes per spleen, implying that immunization produced a preferential increase in trypsin-resistant antigen binding cells partly by converting sensitive cells to resistant cells. After the 5th day, the trypsin sensitivity of antigen-binding cells slowly returned toward the unimmunized level, but a booster injection of SRBC restored trypsin resistance. Trypsin resistance was not lost in the presence of sodium azide or protein synthesis inhibitors. But a slightly increased trypsin susceptibility was conferred by 2-deoxyglucose, implying that glycolysis or the glycosylation of protein may be involved in maintaining trypsin resistance.     

Fabricating microgrooves with varied cross-sections by electrodischarge machining

A two-step electrodischarge machining method was proposed for fabricating microgrooves with varied cross-sections on hard materials. Firstly, tungsten tool electrodes were shaped by wire electrodischarge grinding, and then the resulting tool electrodes were used to electrodischarge machine microgrooves on stainless steel. Preliminary experimental results showed that, in the first step, a sharp tool electrode with surface roughness of 0.3 µmRa could be achieved, and the surface roughness of the resulting groove was 0.16 µmRa in the second step. Voltage strongly affects the machining speed. A high voltage (>70 V) was preferable for improving the material removal rate. However, significant tool wear took place when using a high condenser capacitance at high voltages. To suppress tool wear, a high voltage and a small capacitance should be used. As test pieces, microgrooves having rectangular, triangular, circular and semi-closed cross-sections were fabricated.     

Optimization of cutting conditions for single pass turning operations using a deterministic approach

An optimization analysis, strategy and CAM software for the selection of economic cutting conditions in single pass turning operations are presented using a deterministic approach. The optimization is based on criteria typified by the maximum production rate and includes a host of practical constraints. It is shown that the deterministic optimization approach involving mathematical analyses of constrained economic trends and graphical representation on the feed-speed domain provides a clearly defined strategy that not only provides a unique global optimum solution, but also the software that is suitable for on-line CAM applications. A numerical study has verified the developed optimization strategies and software and has shown the economic benefits of using optimization.