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Dai Shimizu,1 Chie Tanaka,1 Mitsuro Kanda,1 Koki Nakanishi,1 Seiji Ito,2 Yachiyo Kuwatsuka,3 Masahiko Ando,3 Kenta Murotani,4 Michitaka Fujiwara,5 Yasuhiro Kodera1 1Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan; 2Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Aichi Cancer Center, Nagoya, Japan; 3Department of Advanced Medicine, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; 4Biostatistics Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Kurume University, Kurume, Japan; 5Department of Medical Equipment and Supplies Management, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, JapanCorrespondence: Dai Shimizu, Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan, Tel +81-52-744-2249, Fax +81-52-744-2255, Email d-shimizu@med.nagoya-u.ac.jpAbstract: Pancreatic fistula after gastrectomy with lymph node dissection is associated with prolonged hospital stay and critical complications such as intra-abdominal bleeding and sepsis. Polyglycolic acid (PGA) sheets are absorbable suture reinforcement materials. A randomized Phase II trial has been planned to evaluate the effect of PGA sheets on preventing postoperative pancreatic fistula. A total of 320 patients will be recruited from thirteen institutions. Patients who are scheduled to undergo distal or total gastrectomy will be randomly allocated into the PGA group or control group, and the dissected area around the pancreas will be covered by the PGA sheet in the PGA group. The primary endpoint will be the maximum value of drain amylase concentration up to 5 days after surgery. The secondary endpoints will be as follows: transition of value of amylases of drain discharge, incidence of pancreatic fistula, incidence of intra-abdominal abscess, white blood cell count, value of C-reactive protein, incidence of postoperative complication, duration of antibiotic agents administration, duration of abdominal drainage, usage of octreotide, duration of hospital stay, incidence of bleeding in abdominal cavity, mortality, and incidence of reoperation.Keywords: gastric cancer, pancreatic fistula, polyglycolic acid sheet, protocol, randomized clinical trial

High temperature solids and liquids are becoming increasingly important in next-generation energy and manufacturing systems that seek higher efficiencies and lower emissions. Accurate measurements of thermal conductivity at high temperatures are required for the modeling and design of these systems, but commonly employed time-domain measurements can have errors from convection, corrosion, and ambient temperature fluctuations. Here, we describe the development of a frequency-domain hot-wire technique capable of accurately measuring the thermal conductivity of solid and molten compounds from room temperature up to 800 °C. By operating in the frequency-domain, we can lock into the harmonic thermal response of the material and reject the influence of ambient temperature fluctuations, and we can keep the probed volume below 1 µl to minimize convection. The design of the microfabricated hot-wire sensor, electrical systems, and insulating wire coating to protect against corrosion is covered in detail. Furthermore, we discuss the development of a full three-dimensional multilayer thermal model that accounts for both radial conduction into the sample and axial conduction along the wire and the effect of wire coatings. The 3D, multilayer model facilitates the measurement of small sample volumes important for material development. A sensitivity analysis and an error propagation calculation of the frequency-domain thermal model are performed to demonstrate what factors are most important for thermal conductivity measurements. Finally, we show thermal conductivity measurements including model data fitting on gas (argon), solid (sulfur), and molten substances over a range of temperatures.

Welding of ceramics is a key missing component in modern manufacturing. Current methods cannot join ceramics in proximity to temperature-sensitive materials like polymers and electronic components. We introduce an ultrafast pulsed laser welding approach that relies on focusing light on interfaces to ensure an optical interaction volume in ceramics to stimulate nonlinear absorption processes, causing localized melting rather than ablation. The key is the interplay between linear and nonlinear optical properties and laser energy-material coupling. The welded ceramic assemblies hold high vacuum and have shear strengths comparable to metal-to-ceramic diffusion bonds. Laser welding can make ceramics integral components in devices for harsh environments as well as in optoelectronic and/or electronic packages needing visible-radio frequency transparency.

Hiromichi Maeda,1,* Ken-ichi Okada,2,* Tsutomu Fujii,3 Mari S Oba,4 Manabu Kawai,2 Seiko Hirono,2 Yasuhiro Kodera,5 Masayuki Sho,6 Takahiro Akahori,6 Yasuhiro Shimizu,7 Yoshiyasu Ambo,8 Naru Kondo,9 Yoshiaki Murakami,9 Jiro Ohuchida,10 Hidetoshi Eguchi,11 Hiroaki Nagano,12 Junichi Sakamoto,13 Hiroki Yamaue2 1Department of Surgery, Kochi Medical School, Nankoku, Kochi 780-8505, Japan; 2Second Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama 641-8510, Japan; 3Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan; 4Department of Medical Statistics Faculty of Medicine, Toho University, Ota-ku, Tokyo 143-8540, Japan; 5Department of Gastroenterological Surgery (Surgery II), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8560, Japan; 6Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan; 7Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya 464-8681, Japan; 8Department of Surgery, Teine-Keijinkai Hospital, Sapporo, Hokkaido 006-8555, Japan; 9Department of Surgery, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan; 10Department of Surgery, Miyazaki Prefectural Miyazaki Hospital, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan; 11Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; 12Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan; 13Tokai Central Hospital, Kakamigahara, Gifu 504-8601, Japan*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hiroki YamaueSecond Department of Surgery, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-8510, JapanTel +81-73-441-0613Email yamaue-h@wakayama-med.ac.jpAim and Background: TJ-100 is a traditional Japanese medicine that affects inflammation and gastrointestinal motility, and is used as a preventive and treatment for paralytic ileus. This study aims at determining the effect of TJ-100 on the peritoneal levels of IFN-γ/IL-9, cytokines related to ileus, after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) in a clinical setting.Methods: This was a subsidiary study of the clinical trial investigating the effect of TJ-100 on postoperative bowel function. Ascites was collected from 180 patients using an abdominal drainage tube on postoperative day 1 and 3 after PD (POD 1 or POD 3) and used to measure 27 cytokines. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses using several perioperative variables and administration of TJ-100/placebo to determine the effect of TJ-100 on the levels of IFN-γ and IL-9.Results: Peritoneal levels of IL-9 and IFN-γ decreased between POD 1 and 3 (Wilcoxon signed-rank test p< 0.001). Multivariate analysis was performed after univariate analysis to select the variables and patients with a body mass index of ≥ 22 kg/m2, older age, use of epidural anesthesia, and longer surgery correlated with the levels of IL-9 and IFN-γ. However, we could not detect a correlation between the use of TJ-100 and cytokine levels in ascites either on POD 1 or 3.Conclusion: TJ-100 did not affect peritoneal IL-9 and IFN-γ levels after PD. This was in accordance with published clinical findings showing no improvement in bowel function after PD and TJ-100 treatment.Keywords: TNF, Kampo, Daikenchuto, herbal medicine, pancreatic cancer

We present a simple, scalable synthesis route for producing exchange coupled soft/hard magnetic composite powder that outperforms pure soft and hard phase constituents.

Boron carbide (B4C) was synthesized from the elements at temperatures ranging from 1300 degrees to 2100 degrees C using the spark plasma synthesis method. Significant densification commenced at about 1500 degrees C and was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in the defect structure of this carbide. Changes in the X-ray diffraction patterns were in agreement with predictions of simulation studies based on the presence of twins. Transmission electron microscopy observations were consistent with the experimental observations and the modeling predictions.

Heat generation and thermally induced failure has been a major challenge for high-power applications in solid state lasers. Improvements in the solid state laser ceramic fabrication process offer improved mechanical toughness and comparable thermal conductivity compared to single crystal counterparts. Equally enticing is the possibility of using materials with intrinsically superior thermal/mechanical properties that are not viable in the single crystal form. Here, we review the nano/microstructural effects on optical, thermal, and mechanical properties of polycrystalline ceramics, recent developments in a variety of commonly used crystalline laser materials, and potential future directions for more robust laser gain materials for high-power applications. It is argued that the engineering microstructure with both optical and thermal performances in mind might offer breakthrough improvements in laser gain media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As transparent polycrystalline materials become more important in optical applications, evaluation of their optical properties across a wide range of wavelengths (or frequencies) is crucial for device design. In-line transmission measurements are often used to assess the suitability of materials for a given optical application. We developed a model that describes reflection, scattering, and absorption losses that commonly affect transmission. The model demonstrates the effects that parameters such as absorption type (Lorentzian or Gaussian), scattering regime (Raleigh–Gans–Debye or Rayleigh), and optical path length have on transmission spectra. We also fit the model onto transmission data from three polycrystalline material systems: ruby, yttria stabilized zirconia, and terbia. Parameters extracted from these fits can be used to describe wavelength dependent transmission with one simple analytical expression. The fit can also be used to decouple absorption from scattering, allowing for the extraction of important properties such as absorption coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]