Search

Aim This study aimed to evaluate the surgical safety and clinical effectiveness of RH versus LH and laparotomy for cervical cancer. Methods We searched Ovid-Medline, Ovid-EMBASE, and the Cochrane library through May 2015, and checked references of relevant studies. We selected the comparative studies reported the surgical safety (overall; peri-operative; and post-operative complications; death within 30 days; and specific morbidities), and clinical effectiveness (survival; recurrence; length of stay [LOS]; estimated blood loss [EBL]; operative time [OT]) and patient-reported outcomes. Results Fifteen studies comparing RH with OH and 11 comparing RH with LH were identified. No significant differences were found in survival outcomes. The LOS was shorter and transfusion rate was lower with RH compared to OH or LH. EBL was significantly reduced with RH compared to OH. Compared to OH, overall complications, urinary infection, wound infection, and fever were significantly less frequent with RH. The overall, peri-operative, and post-operative complications were similar in other comparisons. Several patient-reported outcomes were improved with RH, though each outcome was reported in only one study. Conclusions RH appears to have a positive effect in reducing overall complications, individual adverse events including wound infection, fever, urinary tract infection, transfusion, LOS, EBL, and time to diet than OH for cervical cancer patients. Compared to LH, the current evidence is not enough to clearly determine its clinical safety and effectiveness. Further rigorous prospective studies with long-term follow-up that overcome the many limitations of the current evidence are needed.

A thick AlN epilayer is grown directly on a c-plane sapphire substrate by using the hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) method with a small quantity of Al. The new type (RF + hot-wall) flow HVPE reactor used in the AlN epilayer growth is custommade. The growth temperatures of the source and the growth zones are set at 950 °C and 1145 °C, respectively. The characteristics of the AlN layer grown on a sapphire substrate are investigated by using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The value of the full width at half maximum (FWHM) for the (002) peak from the AlN layer on the sapphire substrate is observed at 790 arcsec. From the small value of the FWHM, the AlN layer seems to be a well-arranged plane with a uniform (002) growth direction on a sapphire substrate.

The behavior of multiple quantum well GaAs/AlxGa1−xAs semiconductor superlattices with different dielectric interfaces are considered under magnetic and electric fields perpendicular and parallel to the superlattice axis, respectively. The parabolic confining potential well was varied with the compositional rate of the AlxGa1−xAs barrier. Taking into account intrasubband and intersubband transitions and using random phase approximation, the density-density correlation function is calculated as a function of the magnetic field strength, compositional rate, and averaged electric field strength over the quantum well. In this way, the dispersion of the surface and bulk state energies are obtained. The Raman intensities for these states are also obtained as a function of incoming light energy for various averaged electric field strengths over the quantum well.

Extending our previous theoretical framework, we study the heat capacity of a canonical ensemble, including the Zeeman effect, under an incident magnetic field at a specific angle with respect to the axis of the quantum-dot superlattices (QDSL’s) and confined by an isotropic parabolic potential for GaAs, InAs, and InSb, respectively. Furthermore, we numerically obtain the dependences of the heat capacity on the angle between the incident magnetic field’s direction and the superlattice axis for an isotropic, confining, parabolic potential as functions of the temperature, the effective g-factor value, and the confinement frequency in the QDSL’s of GaAs, InSb, and InAs, respectively. Particularly, the dependence of the heat capacity on the angle of the incident magnetic field is discussed in detail.

Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic drug known to have adverse effects on multiple organs. Most studies have reported the side effects of the drug, which may result from rapid administrations or from long-term, high dosage administrations. However, toxicity issues have also been reported from patients administered with low doses of the drug for a long period of time. Here we report a case of an 82-year-old female who had shown symptoms and signs of pulmonary, hepatic, and neurotoxicity after taking amiodarone for 14 months in order to treat her atrial fibrillation without regular outpatient follow-up. We highlight the importance of the recommended evaluations, including lung, liver, and thyroid functions, as well as the neurological examinations in patients treated with amiodarone for a long period of time during regular follow-up.

A finite type-I superlattice with different dielectric media on either side of the surfaces is considered under a perturbing electric fields parallel to the superlattice axis on the basis of an infinite square potential well. Using the random-phase approximation, the density–density correlation function including intra- and inter-level transitions in a multiple-quantum-well (MQW) is calculated. The dispersion relations for the surface and the bulk states are obtained as functions of the momentum wave vector and the averaged electric field strength over the quantum well. The Raman intensities due to the bulk and the surface plasmons for the intra- and the inter-level transitions are also obtained for incoming light energy.

We investigate the heat capacity using the previous theoretical framework for the electronic system in the quantum-dot superlattices (QDSL’s), including the Zeeman effect of GaAs, InAs, and InSb, respectively, by using an isotropic parabolic potential under a magnetic field on the basis of canonical ensemble statistics. We numerically study the dependences of the heat capacity on the confinement frequency of the isotropic parabolic potential and the electronic density as functions of the temperature and the magnetic field strength in the QDSL’s of GaAs, InSb, and InAs, respectively. Furthermore, we numerically obtain the dependences of the heat capacity on the effective g-factor value in the QDSL’s of GaAs, InSb, and InAs, respectively, as functions of the temperature and the magnetic field strength.

The angular dependence of the optically detected magnetophonon resonance (ODMPR) for the frequency-dependent magnetoconductivity in a Ge-based (nonpolar) semiconductor superlattice under a tilted magnetic field is investigated. The frequency-dependent magnetoconductivity, including the miniband width, the periodic potential, the photon frequency, and the tilt angle of a magnetic field tilted relative to the superlattice axis, is calculated using the nonpolar LO phonon modes as a function of the magnetic field strengths. In particular, the angular dependence of the ODMPR lineshape, such as the splitting and the shift of the ODMPR peaks for the photon frequency, is discussed. Furthermore, the angular dependences for the appearance of the plateau region between two neighboring ODMPR peaks and the change in the ODMPR amplitude as a function of the tilt angle of the tilted magnetic field for various miniband widths and photon frequencies are discussed in detail.

Aim This study aimed to evaluate the surgical safety and clinical effectiveness of RH compared to OH and LH for endometrial cancer. Methods We searched Ovid-Medline, Ovid-EMBASE, and the Cochrane library for studies published through May 2015. The outcomes of interest included safety (overall; peri-operative and post-operative complications; death within 30-days; and specific morbidities), effectiveness (survival, recurrence, length of stay [LOS], estimated blood loss [EBL], and operative time [OT]), and patient-reported outcomes (pain score, pain medication use, length of pain medication use, and time to return to work). Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. Results Twenty-four studies comparing RH to OH and 24 comparing RH to LH were identified. No significant differences were found in survival outcomes. The LOS was shorter, there was less EBL, and the rates of complications, readmission, and transfusion were lower with RH compared to OH. However, RH showed a longer OT and a higher incidence of vaginal cuff dehiscence compared to those for OH. Compared to LH, the LOS was shorter, there was less EBL, and the rates of conversion to laparotomy, intra-operative complications, urinary tract injuries, and cystotomy were lower in RH. Several patient-reported outcomes showed a significant benefit of RH, but each outcome was reported in only one study. Conclusions RH may be a generally safer and better option than OH and LH for patients with endometrial cancer. Further prospective studies with long-term follow-up are required.

We obtain the angular dependence of magnetophonon resonance (MPR) peaks from longitudinal magnetoconductivities of GaAs/AlAs semiconductor superlattices for longitudinal optical (LO) phonons in tilted magnetic field applied to the superlattice axis. The MPR peaks of both GaAs and AlAs LO phonon modes using the second derivative of the magnetoconductivities including a miniband width and a periodicity of the potential are shown. As the tilt angle of the applied magnetic fields is increased, the MPR peak positions are shifting to higher magnetic strength region whereas the peak amplitudes are decreasing to vanish at the same condition with experiments. Our results are in qualitative good agreement with the experimental results. We also get the resonance fields for the MPR peak numbers of the GaAs and AlAs LO phonon modes as a function of the tilt angles. Furthermore, we obtain the dispersion relations and the density of states (DOS) including a miniband width, a periodicity of the potential and tilt angles of the tilted magnetic fields to explain the appearance of plateau region between neighboring peak amplitudes. The plateau region can be explained by phenomena such as the shifts, the decreases, and the disappearances of the peak amplitudes of the magnetoconductivities and the second derivative of magnetoconductivities of GaAs/AlAs semiconductor superlattices for tilt angles of the applied magnetic fields.

Optical detected electrophonon resonance (ODEPR) effects in quantum wells of n-GaAs materials are investigated for square potential and parabolic potential, respectively. We also obtain the ODEPR conditions as functions of confinement frequency in parabolic potential and well-width in square potential for the various photon frequencies, respectively. In particular, anomalous behaviors of the ODEPR lineshape such as the splitting of ODEPR peaks for incident photon frequency are discussed. Furthermore, we obtain the selection rules for transition in quantum wells of two different potentials, respectively.

Using mixed-source hydride vapor-phase epitaxy (HVPE), an AlGaN layer with high Al content on GaN/Al2O3 substrate is obtained. The AlGaN layer grown by mixed-source HVPE is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectra. In the mixed-source HVPE technique, the AlGaN material is compounded from the chemical reaction between NH3 and an aluminum–gallium chloride formed using HCl that is flowed over metallic Ga mixed with Al. The XRD measurements indicate that single-crystal hexagonal AlGaN with high Al content had been grown. The CL spectra at 4 K show that the distribution of the Al on the AlGaN surface for very high Al content (x = 0.8 in AlxGa1–xN) is not uniform. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The hysteretic voltage gap ΔV(m) - the difference between the threshold voltages for single-charge-soliton tunnelling into and escape from a single-electron dual-junction-array trap (which consists of 2N gated small junctions with equal junction capacitances C, equal stray capacitances C0, equal input gate capacitances C1, and coupling capacitance CC) through an m-junction cotunnelling process - is investigated for various charge solitons including a single electron, an exciton, and a combined soliton. Our results show that ΔV(m) has a strong dependence on m, C0/C, C1/C, CC/C, and N, and that no hysteresis loop exists beyond a critical value ηc of C0/C. For finite stray capacitance and strong coupling capacitance, the exciton can be a candidate for use in constructing more stable single-electron circuits, as in the case of no stray capacitance and weak coupling capacitance previously discussed in the literature.

We study the magnetic susceptibility of a quasi-one-dimensional electronic system in tilted magnetic fields. Physical features of the susceptibility at finite temperature, according to the relative strength of the electrostatic potential parameters, are investigated for a specific strength of applied magnetic field. Our results show that the magnetic susceptibility of quantum wire for the specific strength of applied magnetic field is changing from paramagnetic to diamagnetic, depending on the relative strength of the confining potential parameters. In addition, the dependence of magnetic susceptibility on the tilt angle and the strength of applied magnetic field, the temperature, the electron concentration, and the anisotropy of the effective mass of electrons is explicitly shown.

We present an exact analytical solution to the electrostatic problem of the biased single-electron dual-junction-array trap, which consists of equal stray capacitances C0, equal junction capacitances C, equal input gate capacitances C1, and a coupling capacitance CC. The threshold voltages are investigated for various charge solitons including a single electron, an exciton, and a combined exciton and single electron. Our results show that their threshold voltages have strong dependences on the cotunnelling, C0/C, C1/C, CC/C, and the number of junctions, and that various types of charge soliton transport occur according to these parameters. Previous discussions in the literature have neglected the effect of the stray capacitance, but we find that the effect plays an important role in the charge soliton transport.

We investigate the influence of the intracollisional field effect in the hot-electron regime of the transverse magnetophonon resonances in $n$-type germanium. Our results show that double peaks take place according to the nonvertical transition due to the intracollisional field effect. One of the peaks is shifted to the lower-magnetic-field side and the other is shifted to the higher-magnetic-field side as electric fields are increased and as the possible phonon energy and the difference of Landau-level indices are decreased. It is also shown that the peaks depend on the magnetic-field direction giving rise to the difference in the effective mass between the initial and final states.

We developed a vertical-type light-emitting diode (LED) in which the substrate is removed using a hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE) apparatus consisting of a multi-graphite boat filled with a mixed source and a high-temperature (T ≈ 900 °C) RF heating coil outside the source zone. The new chip-growth process with a significant reduction in the number of production steps is completed in only four steps, namely, photolithography, epitaxial layer growth, sorting, and metallization. We analyze the emission mechanism of these lights from measurement results to validate the characteristics of the light emitted from these vertical-type blue LEDs and white LEDs (WLEDs) without substrates, and propose that this mixed-source HVPE method may be a promising production technique for LEDs.

We investigate the influence of the angular dependence of optically detected magnetophonon resonance (ODMPR) in n-type germanium in a tilted magnetic field. With the ODMPR conditions, qualitative features of the ODMPR effects are investigated according to the incident photon frequency, the strength of the magnetic field, the temperature, and the difference of Landau level indices as a function of the tilt angle to the applied magnetic field in the quantum limit condition, in which ∞ω c >>k B T is satisfied. In particular, anomalous behaviors of the ODMPR line shape, such as the splitting and the shift of ODMPR peaks, are discussed in detail.

We apply the frequency-dependent magnetoconductivity presented previously by one of the present authors not only to bulk nonpolar $(n\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Ge})$ and polar $(n$-GaAs) semiconductors but also to short-period $\mathrm{Ge}$-based (nonpolar) and $\mathrm{GaAs}$-based (polar) semiconductor superlattices. We also obtain the optically detected magnetophonon resonance (ODMPR) conditions and the energy range in which the relaxation rates are allowed. With the ODMPR conditions and the obtained energy range, qualitative features of the ODMPR effects are investigated according to the incident photon frequency and the strength of the applied magnetic field in the quantum limit condition, in which $\ensuremath{\Elzxh}{\ensuremath{\omega}}_{c}\ensuremath{\gg}{k}_{B}T$ are satisfied. In particular, anomalous behaviors of the ODMPR lineshape such as the splitting and the shift of ODMPR peaks are discussed. Furthermore, the appearance of the plateau between neighboring ODMPR peaks, the disappearance of ODMPR peaks, and changes in the ODMPR amplitude in the semiconductor superlattices are discussed in detail.

Congenital anomalies of the coronary artery are associated with various symptoms including syncope, myocardial ischemia, and sudden cardiac death. The abnormality depends on the adjacent structure and pathway of the coronary artery. Most patients with an anomalous left coronary artery that arises from a right coronary sinus of the valsalva have no symptoms and are usually diagnosed at autopsy. Therefore, their first symptom might present as sudden death, particularly when the left coronary arterial course is between the aorta and the pulmonary trunk. Symptomatic patients could be diagnosed early with an anomalous coronary artery, and the risk of fatal events could be decreased by surgical correction. Here, we report the case of 62-year-old male who experienced a first episode of syncope with an anomalous left coronary artery arising from the right sinus of the valsalva with a separate orifice from the right coronary artery. He is alive and in good health receiving medical treatment, and has had no medical events for over 2 years. (Korean J Med 2014;87:722-727)

Focal osteoporotic bone marrow defect (FOBMD) is a radiolucent area corresponding to the presence of hematopoietic tissue rarely found in the jaws. FOBMD is most commonly located in the mandibular edentulous posterior area of a middle-aged female. From November 2011 to November 2012, we experienced three cases involving removal of implants that had accidentally fallen into the FOBMD area. All patients happened to be female, with a mean age of 54 years (range: 51-60 years). One case involved hypoesthesia of the lower lip and chin, while two cases healed without any complication. Displacement of an implant into the FOBMD area is an unusual event, which occurs rarely during placement of a dental fixture. The purpose of this study was to report on three cases of FOBMD and to provide a review of related literature.

The conductivity formula derived by using the KC reduction identity and a state-dependent projection technique is applied to a two-dimensional system of electrons interacting with deformation potential acoustic phonons. The system is in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field and of the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (RSOI). The dc conductivity is shown to oscillate with the magnetic field above 0.6T near the Zeeman factor g=-0.8 and the RSOI strength α0=0.5×10-11eV·m. The pattern of oscillations is shown to be susceptible to change even by small change in g and α0, while the deformation potential constant, which characterizes the electron-phonon interaction, plays no role in changing the pattern at the temperature T=70 K.