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Yuki Mawatari,1 Hirohiko Kakizaki,2 Yasuhiro Takahashi2 1Mawatari Oculoplastic Clinic, Kumamoto, Japan; 2Department of Oculoplastic, Orbital & Lacrimal Surgery, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Aichi, JapanCorrespondence: Yuki Mawatari, Mawatari Oculoplastic Clinic, 8-2 Suido-cho, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0844, Japan, Tel +81 96 273 7571, Fax +81 96 273 7572, Email mawatari@mawatari-clinic.jpPurpose: To investigate the usefulness of diathermy thermocoagulation in chalazion surgery.Methods: This prospective, observational study included 30 sides from 24 patients who underwent chalazion surgery using diathermy thermocoagulation. The eyelid was fixed with a chalazion clamp under local anesthesia. The skin or palpebral conjunctiva was incised, and the chalazion was partially curetted. The residual chalazion contents were coagulated with diathermy and detached from the surrounding tissues using forceps and scissors. Then, the residual chalazion contents were completely removed.Results: The chalazion was not palpable in all cases 1 week postoperatively. A small chalazion redeveloped close to the primary lesion 2 weeks postoperatively in one patient; however, it spontaneously improved. No other cases experienced recurrence or complication during the follow-up periods.Conclusion: Thermocoagulation of chalazion contents using diathermy facilitates grasp, dissection, and excision of chalazion contents.Keywords: chalazion, surgery, thermocoagulation, diathermy

Yuki Mawatari,1 Mikiko Fukushima2 1Igo Ophthalmic Clinic, Kagoshima, 2Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Life Science, Kumamoto University, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Japan Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of processed images to predict postoperative appearance following levator resection.Methods: Analysis involved 109 eyes from 65 patients with blepharoptosis who underwent advancement of levator aponeurosis and Müller’s muscle complex (levator resection). Predictive images were prepared from preoperative photographs using the image processing software (Adobe Photoshop®). Images of selected eyes were digitally enlarged in an appropriate manner and shown to patients prior to surgery.Results: Approximately 1 month postoperatively, we surveyed our patients using questionnaires. Fifty-six patients (89.2%) were satisfied with their postoperative appearances, and 55 patients (84.8%) positively responded to the usefulness of processed images to predict postoperative appearance.Conclusion: Showing processed images that predict postoperative appearance to patients prior to blepharoptosis surgery can be useful for those patients concerned with their postoperative appearance. This approach may serve as a useful tool to simulate blepharoptosis surgery. Keywords: levator resection, blepharoptosis, image processing, Adobe Photoshop®

The phenomenon of angular hysteresis in the critical current density of the laser-patterned RE[Ba.sub.2][Cu.sub.3][O.sub.y] films is discussed. The results show that the forms of the patterns of the bridge are very important for the hysteresis.

The automatic measurement of the distribution of critical current densities ([J.sub.c]) and n-values in large-area superconducting films are discussed using third-harmonic voltages. The technique involved also helps in easier detection of various degraded segments.

Research is presented describing the use of a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscope to study thin film trapped flux.

Studies of anisotropic resistivities that are attributed to both anisotropic viscosity of vortex motion and planar pinning centers have been conducted. The investigations, which considered the influence of Hall effects, revealed the dependence of the anisotropic resistivities on the angle between the pinning planes and transport current direction. The results indicate that both longitudinal and transverse resistivities are enhanced by the pinning effects.

A theoretical analysis was conducted on the electromagnetic properties of strip-array systems consisting of periodically arranged thin superconducting strip lines in perpendicular magnetic fields. The approach, which is based on the critical state model, utilizes simple transformations to obtain the strip-array systems' magnetic field and current density. Results show the alternating current susceptibility and magnetization expressions of the systems.

The vortex pinning caused by the Bean-Livingston surface barrier in superconducting slabs was studied based on London theory. Specifically, a formula was derived for the critical current density for the stability limit of vortices in external magnetic fields parallel to ths slab surface. It is inversely proportional to the slab thickness and dependent logarithmically on the applied magnetic field. It is also consistent with observations in niobium-titanium and yttrium-barium-copper-oxide films.

The voltage-current curves (V-I) and the critical current density (Jc) of silver-sheathed Bi-2223 tapes subjected to a magnetic field parallel to the c-axis were measured. The measurements verified the magnetic field dependence of Jc at low fields in accordance with the brickwall model. In addition, a critical scaling analysis was performed on the V-I curves based on the vortex-glass-liquid phase transition seen in epitaxial Bi-2223 films.

The c-axis current-voltage characteristics of epitaxial superconducting Bi2r2Ca2Cu3Ox thin films and Ag-clad tapes subjected to applied magnetic fields are studied via scaling analysis. The vortex-glass-liquid phase transition and critical current density of the films are measured. Results show that the thin films' vortex-liquid phase is characterized by finite linear resistivity. This resistivity vanishes in the vortex-glass phase.

Superconducting strip ion detectors (SSIDs) are promising for realization of ideal ion detection with 100% efficiency and nanosecond-scale time response in time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We have detected single biomolecular ions in the keV range using a 10-nm-thick and 250-nm-wide strip of a high temperature superconductor, magnesium diboride (MgB2), at temperatures of up to 13 K. The output pulse shape is explained remarkably well using circuit simulations and time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau simulations coupled with a heat diffusion equation. The simulations show that the hot spot model is applicable to the proposed MgB2-SSIDs and the normal region expansion is completed within 16 ps, which corresponds to a maximum length of 1010 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]