The disappearing and forming behavior of B2 ordered phase in high Si steels with Si-levels between 5 and 6.5% (by weight, unless specified otherwise) was investigated by observing TEM and measuring ...electrical resistivity and micro- and nano-hardness. The critical cooling rate for suppressing the formation of B2 ordered phase increased exponentially with Si-content. The ordered phase coarsening was observed to occur actively above 800
°C, where atoms have enough mobility. The removal of solidification segregation is necessary in order to reduce the amount of B2 ordered phase in the as-cast or hot-rolled state, to lower the annealing temperature for the dissolution of B2 ordered phase, and to shorten the annealing time. Micro-Vickers hardness depended only on Si-content even under various heat treatment conditions, and the nano-hardness had a small difference between B2 and A2 phases. In the high Si steels, the short-range order in A2 disordered phase was likely to cause a comparable hardness as that of B2 ordered phase.
The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical, microbial, and radiographic effects of local minocycline combined with surgical treatment of peri-implantitis. Fifty patients with ...peri-implantitis were recruited, and surgical treatment with the local application of either minocycline or placebo ointment was performed. The application of minocycline was repeated with supragingival debridement at 1, 3, and 6 mo postoperatively. Plaque index, gingival index (GI), probing pocket depth (PPD), and bleeding/suppuration on probing were measured at baseline and 1-, 3-, and 6-mo evaluations. The change in supporting bone level (SBL) measured with cone beam computed tomography was analyzed between baseline and 6 mo. Microbial analysis was performed with real-time polymerase chain reaction. Both groups exhibited improvements in clinical and radiographic measurements after surgical treatment. There was a significant difference in the changes of mean PPD between the test and control groups (2.68 ± 1.73 and 1.55 ± 1.86 mm, respectively, P = 0.039). The changes of mean GI and SBL differed significantly between the groups (ΔGI: 0.83 ± 0.60 and 0.40 ± 0.68; ΔSBL: 0.72 ± 0.56 and 0.31 ± 0.49 mm, respectively, P = 0.026 and 0.014). Treatment success rates (defined as PPD <5 mm, absence of bleeding/suppuration on probing, and no further bone loss) were 66.7% and 36.3% in the test and control groups, respectively. The count of red complex bacteria tended to decrease in both groups until 6 mo; however, no significant intergroup difference was found. None of the patients in the test group carried Porphyromonas gingivalis or Tannerella forsythia at 6 mo. These findings indicate that the repeated local delivery of minocycline combined with surgical treatment provides significant benefits in terms of clinical parameters and radiographic bone fill, with a higher treatment success rate in the short healing period (cris.nih.go.kr KCT0002844).
Minimally invasive treatment has become a mainstay management strategy for early gastric cancer (EGC). Full-thickness incision of the gastric wall using natural orifice transluminal endoscopic ...surgery (NOTES) has been reported but is not easily applicable in clinical settings at present. The aim of the current study was to assess the feasibility of hybrid NOTES, which consists of endoscopic full-thickness gastric resection and a laparoscopic lymphadenectomy.
This was a prospective, pilot study at a single tertiary care referral center. A total of 14 patients with EGC located above the lower third of the stomach underwent hybrid NOTES. Clinically, the patients had contraindications to exclusive treatment using endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). The main outcome measure was technical success of hybrid NOTES.
All cases were resected en bloc with negative surgical margins. Histologically, four cases were mucosal cancers, and 10 cases were submucosal cancers. The median tumor size was 26 mm (range 12 - 90 mm). Lymphatic vessel invasion was found in four cases without lymph node metastasis (LNM). The median number of obtained lymph nodes was 18 (range 7 - 67). LNM was discovered in one case of undifferentiated submucosal cancer without lymphovascular invasion. Hybrid NOTES was conducted without intraoperative or postoperative adverse events in nine cases. The median operating time and estimated blood loss of successful cases were 143 minutes (range 110 - 253 minutes) and 16 mL (range 5 - 30 mL), respectively. The median hospital stay was 6 days (range 4 - 10 days). Five cases were converted to a subtotal gastrectomy for various reasons.
Hybrid NOTES could be a bridge between endoscopic resection and laparoscopic surgery and may prevent extensive gastrectomy in patients with EGC.
Focal myositis is a rare disease defined by an isolated inflammatory pseudotumour usually restricted to one skeletal muscle. Approximately, 250 cases of focal myositis have been described in the ...literature, and two recent large cohorts have been used to help in the diagnosis. Isolated gastrocnemius myositis, a rare immune-mediated condition, is a diagnostic entity used by internal medicine clinician in the gastrocnemius myalgia syndrome associated with Crohn's disease (CD). However, focal myositis and isolated gastrocnemius myositis with Crohn's disease share clinical, haematological, pathological, and radiological similarities. We present a case of unilateral focal myositis of the gastrocnemius muscle in a patient with no underlying diseases, including Crohn's disease. At clinical evaluation, we encountered a challenge in differentiating between focal myositis and the isolated gastrocnemius myositis of Crohn's due to similarities in clinical manifestation. We attempt to clarify focal myositis and isolated gastrocnemius myositis through our case report and a review of literature.
We present the Spitzer Extragalactic Representative Volume Survey (SERVS), an18 deg2
18
deg
2
medium-deep survey at 3.6 and 4.5 μm with the postcryogenicSpitzer Space Telescopeto≈2 μJy
≈
2
μ
...Jy
(AB = 23.1
AB
=
23.1
) depth of five highly observed astronomical fields (ELAIS-N1, ELAIS-S1, Lockman Hole, Chandra Deep Field South, and XMM-LSS). SERVS is designed to enable the study of galaxy evolution as a function of environment from
z ∼ 5
z
∼
5
to the present day and is the first extragalactic survey that is both large enough and deep enough to put rare objects such as luminous quasars and galaxy clusters at
z ≳ 1
z
≳
1
into their cosmological context. SERVS is designed to overlap with several key surveys at optical, near- through far-infrared, submillimeter, and radio wavelengths to provide an unprecedented view of the formation and evolution of massive galaxies. In this article, we discuss the SERVS survey design, the data processing flow from image reduction and mosaicking to catalogs, and coverage of ancillary data from other surveys in the SERVS fields. We also highlight a variety of early science results from the survey.
Abstract Introduction Screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) before kidney transplantation (KT) is an indispensable process, purposes of this study were to compare the QuantiFERON-TB Gold ...In-Tube test (QFT-GIT) with the tuberculin skin test (TST) for screening of LTBI in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Methods We compared prospectively the results of QFT-GIT with TST in 97 KTRs screened for LTBI between July 2008 and July 2012. Isoniazid (INH) prophylaxis was applied to KTRs with a positive TST or positive QFT-GIT or clinical risk factors for LTBI. Post-transplant tuberculosis (TB) was diagnosed by clinical evidence. Results The mean patients follow-up was 24.6 ± 14.4 months. Positive results on QFT-GIT and TST was obtained among 19 (20.4%) and 12 (12.9%) subjects, respectively, an overall agreement of 79.3% (κ = 0.27, 95% confidence interval CI −0.03–0.50; P < .014). The incidence of TB was 0.52 per 100 person-years (95% CI 0.02–3.68). None of the patients in the INH prophylaxis group developed TB, whereas 1 in the no prophylaxis group developed disease at 14 months after KT. Sensitivity of the 2 tests could not be compared because patients who showed positive results on QFT-GIT or TST did not develop TB. The difference of specificity between QFT-GIT (79.3%) and TST (86.9%) was not significant ( P = .l67). Abnormal chest radiographs (odds ratio OR 27.94, 95% CI 1.22–636.61, P = .037) and positive TST (OR 7.65, 95% CI 1.75–33.30, P = .007) showed significant associations with positive QFT-GIT results. Only positive QFT-GIT (OR 6.03, 95% CI 1.51–24.01, P = .011) showed an association with positive TST results. Conclusions QFT-GIT and TST for diagnosis of LTBI in KTRs showed reasonable concordance but no superiority of either test.
Abstract Background De novo malignancy is not uncommon after liver transplantation (LT). Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies in both the Korean general population and LT recipients, ...and colorectal cancer prevalence is gradually increasing. Methods Among 3690 adult recipients who underwent LT from January 1999 and December 2013, the screening patterns and prognosis of 26 cases of gastric cancer and 22 cases of colorectal cancer were analyzed. Results For gastric cancer, the mean patient age was 54.6 ± 6.2 years at LT and 59.5 ± 6.7 years at cancer diagnosis, with a post-transplant interval of 60.2 ± 29.8 months. Patients were divided into regular (n = 18) and non-regular (n = 8) screening groups, with early cancer found in 14 and 0 patients; their 2-year survival rates after cancer diagnosis were 93.1% and 33.3% ( P = .006), respectively. Endoscopic resection was successfully performed in 8 patients, all in the regular screening group. For colorectal cancer, the mean patient age was 53.3 ± 6.1 years at LT and 58.1 ± 6.7 years at cancer diagnosis, with a post-transplant interval of 54.3 ± 38.0 months. Patients were divided into regular (n = 19) and non-regular (n = 3) screening groups, with early cancer found in 12 and 0 patients; their 2-year survival rates after cancer diagnosis of 92.3% and 33.3% ( P = .003), respectively. Endoscopic resection was successfully performed in 6 patients, all in the regular screening group. Conclusions LT recipients are strongly advised to undergo regular screening studies for various de novo malignancies, especially cancers common in the general population. Regular endoscopic screening contributes to the timely detection of gastric and colorectal cancers, improving post-treatment survival outcomes.
Accurate and rapid analytical methods are essential for the detection and identification of biological warfare agents (BWA). Although various studies have investigated the use of MALDI‐TOF MS for ...bacterial classification, only a few studies have examined the applicability of method for the identification of BWAs. This study aimed to generate, collect and analyse Bacillus spore aerosol particles of 2–10 μm, the optimal size of a BWA. Bacillus spore aerosol particles of 2–10 μm were rapidly analysed using direct in situ MALDI‐TOF MS without pretreatment processes. A mass spectrum of Bacillus spore aerosol particles was successfully detected. For real‐time detection and identification, a mass spectral database of Bacillus spores was constructed, and an algorithm was developed and applied. Bacillus spore particles were rapidly detected and identified by MS, which can be used for the detection and inspection of BWAs.
Significance and Impact of the Study
Methods that permit accurate and fast detection and identification are essential in the case of pathogens such as Bacillus anthracis, which can be used as biological warfare agents or bioterrorism materials. Here, direct in situ MALDI‐TOF MS allowed the high‐throughput detection and identification of aerosolized Bacillus spore particles, and this method could be effectively applied for the detection and inspection of BWAs. In this context, we believe that this method may contribute to the realization of real‐time and on‐site identification of BWAs.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Methods that permit accurate and fast detection and identification are essential in the case of pathogens such as Bacillus anthracis, which can be used as biological warfare agents or bioterrorism materials. Here, direct in situ MALDI‐TOF MS allowed the high‐throughput detection and identification of aerosolized Bacillus spore particles, and this method could be effectively applied for the detection and inspection of BWAs. In this context, we believe that this method may contribute to the realization of real‐time and on‐site identification of BWAs.
Recent developments in the technology of van der Waals heterostructures made from two-dimensional atomic crystals have already led to the observation of new physical phenomena, such as the ...metal-insulator transition and Coulomb drag, and to the realization of functional devices, such as tunnel diodes, tunnel transistors and photovoltaic sensors. An unprecedented degree of control of the electronic properties is available not only by means of the selection of materials in the stack, but also through the additional fine-tuning achievable by adjusting the built-in strain and relative orientation of the component layers. Here we demonstrate how careful alignment of the crystallographic orientation of two graphene electrodes separated by a layer of hexagonal boron nitride in a transistor device can achieve resonant tunnelling with conservation of electron energy, momentum and, potentially, chirality. We show how the resonance peak and negative differential conductance in the device characteristics induce a tunable radiofrequency oscillatory current that has potential for future high-frequency technology.
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