Search

Refractory chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is rare but remains a difficulty for neurosurgeons, and no consensus on treatment procedures has been established. To discuss effective surgical procedures for refractory CSDH, we analyzed our surgical procedures and outcomes for refractory CSDH. We defined patients with refractory CSDH as those who presented with two or more recurrences. Fourteen patients with refractory CSDH were analyzed. Eight patients underwent burr-hole irrigation and closed-system drainage alone, four patients received embolization of the middle meningeal artery (MMA), and two patients with organized CSDH underwent large craniotomy with outer membranectomy as the third surgery. Two of the eight patients (25%) treated with burr-hole irrigation and drainage alone showed a third recurrence. No further recurrences were identified in patients treated with embolization of the MMA or craniotomy. However, statistical analysis showed no significant difference in cure rate between patients treated with burr-hole irrigation and drainage alone and patients treated with burr-hole irrigation and drainage with embolization of the MMA (P = .42). Similarly, no significant differences in cure rate were seen between patients treated with burr-hole irrigation and drainage alone and patients treated with craniotomy (P = .62). When selecting a surgical procedure, assessing whether the CSDH is organized is crucial. Embolization of the MMA may be considered as one of the optional treatments for refractory CSDH without organized hematoma. On the other hand, for refractory cases of organized CSDH, hematoma evacuation and outer membranectomy with large craniotomy or mini-craniotomy assisted by an endoscope may be suitable, as previous reports have recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the potential-induced degradation (PID) of n-type single-crystalline silicon (sc-Si) photovoltaic (PV) modules with a rear-side emitter. The n-type rear-emitter module configurations were fabricated using n-type bifacial sc-Si solar cells by module lamination with the p + emitter side down. After the PID tests applying −1000 V, the modules show a rapid decrease in the open-circuit voltage ( V oc ) , followed by relatively slower reductions in the fill factor and the short-circuit current density ( J sc ) . Their dark current density–voltage ( J – V ) data and external quantum efficiencies (EQEs) indicate that the drop in V oc is caused by an increase in the saturation current density due to the enhanced surface recombination of minority carriers. In contrast, the modules exhibit slight degradation under +1000 V, which is characterized by only slight decreases in V oc and J sc . The EQE measurement reveals that these decreases are also attributed to the enhanced surface recombination of minority carriers. This behavior is almost identical to that of the polarization effect in n-type interdigitated back contact PV modules reported in a previous study. By comparing the PID resistance with that of other types of modules, the n-type rear-emitter PV modules are relatively resistant to PID. This may become an advantage of the n-type rear-emitter PV modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endo-β- N -acetylglucosaminidase H (Endo H) catalyzes cleavage between the GlcNAc residues of the chitobiose core of N -linked glycans, leaving one GlcNAc residues attached to asparagine. Endo H cleaves high mannose and hybrid, but not complex, N -linked oligosaccharides on glycoproteins. Because of its unique specificity, Endo H is widely used for the structural and functional analyses of glycoproteins. In our previous study, the recombinant Endo H was produced as a secreted protein using silkworm–baculovirus expression system, but the yield was low (30 μg Endo H/10 ml larval hemolymph) compared to that of Escherichia coli . In this study, we purified active recombinant Endo H as an intracellular protein from fat body of silkworm infected with the recombinant baculovirus expressing Endo H without the exogenous signal peptide. Remarkably, the yield (9.3 mg from 20 silkworm larvae) was about 310-fold higher than that secreted into larval hemolymph as reported previously. In addition, we screened the silkworm strains maintained in Kyushu University and identified n17 as a high-level expression strain for Endo H. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Baculoviruses serve as efficient viral vectors for gene delivery into vertebrate and invertebrate cells. The identification and characterization of the functional promoters in different baculovirus-infected hosts are essential for the efficient gene expression. To establish a baculovirus-mediated gene transfer system in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, we investigated the activities of silkworm-derived TCTP, ACTIN3, and HSC70-4 promoters delivered by AcNPV or BmNPV in various tissues of silkworm. In many of the tested silkworm tissues, the BmHSC70-4 promoter exhibited a higher transcription activity than those of BmTCTP or BmACTIN3 promoters when delivered by AcNPV, which is reported to be incapable of replicating in silkworms. In contrast, the BmACTIN3 promoter was found to be the strongest promoters when delivered by BmNPV. The present results indicate that the BmHSC70-4 promoter is potentially useful for the stable gene expression by the non-replicating AcNPV vector for gene function analysis in the silkworm. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Moisture resistivity for silicon nitride (SiNx) films prepared by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (Cat-CVD) was examined. SiNx films prepared by Cat-CVD and those by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) were subjected to the pressure cooker test (PCT) in H2O vapor at 2 atm and 121°C for 96 h. It was confirmed after PCT that the intensity of the signal due to Si–O bonds in Fourier-transform infrared absorption spectra remarkably increases for PECVD films although little increase is observed for Cat-CVD films. Low stress of the order of 10 MPa was also obtained for SiNx films prepared by Cat-CVD. SiNx passivation by Cat-CVD brings about low leakage current and high mutual conductance for gallium arsenide self-align-gate field-effect transistors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Oxidative stress, the result of cellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), has been implicated in a number of diseases of the eye. Exposure of eye tissues (e.g. the cornea and retina) to oxidative stress over time has been hypothesized to underlie the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and maturity onset cataract formation. Light-induced free radicals can damage the eye, and alterations in the antioxidant defenses of the eye have been suggested to play a role in the etiology of glaucoma. Mitochondria are both a major endogenous source and target of ROS, and oxidative stress has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death by targeting the mitochondria directly. Mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis has been shown to require release of cytochrome c from mitochondria and subsequent activation of a specific class of cytoplasmic proteases known as caspases. Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic protein localized to mitochondria, has been shown to inhibit cytochrome c release and protect against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. Here we demonstrate that oxidative stress causes activation of mitochondrial matrix caspase-2 and -9 activity that is associated with Bcl-2-inhibitable acidification of mitochondrial pH (pHm). In conjunction with recent reports that caspase activation is maximal at acidic pH, these findings have led us to hypothesize that Bcl-2 may modulate cytochrome c release following oxidative stress by modifying the pH-dependent activation of mitochondrial caspase activity. These studies provide an increased understanding of the mechanism(s) by which oxidative stress damages tissues, and may have important therapeutic implications for treatment of opthamological diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Differences between catalytic chemical vapor deposition (Cat-CVD), often called hot-wire chemical vapor deposition, and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) are discussed from the viewpoints of gas-phase kinetics and film properties. Remarkable superiority of Cat-CVD over PECVD is high deposition rate due to high efficiency of gas use. One metre size large-area deposition is also realized using a newly developed gas showerhead equipped with the catalyzer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]