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A 56-year-old man presented with fever, cough, and bloody sputum. He had undergone mitral valve replacement with mechanical prosthesis 14 months prior for mitral valve disease. Subsequently, the patient was taking warfarin and amiodarone. Chest imaging revealed dense, infiltrative shadows, and blood tests showed prolonged prothrombin time and eosinophilia. Warfarin was withdrawn, and antibiotics were started, but bloody sputum and respiratory failure persisted. Considering that eosinophilia was observed after the administration of amiodarone, the drug was discontinued, and bronchoalveolar lavage was performed. Cytology showed foam cells, eosinophils, and hemosiderin-laden macrophages; amiodarone-induced diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) and acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) were diagnosed, and the patient was treated with corticosteroids. This report describes the first documented case of amiodarone-induced DAH and AEP. When a patient taking amiodarone presents with antibiotic-refractory pneumonia with bloody sputum and eosinophilia, amiodarone-induced DAH and AEP should be considered. LEARNING OBJECTIVE: We report the first case of amiodarone-induced diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) and acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) diagnosed by foam cells, eosinophils, and hemosiderin-laden macrophages on bronchoalveolar lavage cytology. When a patient taking amiodarone presents with antibiotic-refractory pneumonia with bloody sputum and eosinophilia, amiodarone-induced DAH and AEP should be considered.

Thin (≤20 μm) and free-standing Li metal foils would enable precise prelithiation of anode materials and high-energy-density Li batteries. Existing Li metal foils are too thick (typically 50 to 750 μm) or too mechanically fragile for these applications. Here, we developed a facile and scalable process for the synthesis of an ultrathin (0.5 to 20 μm), free-standing and mechanically robust Li metal foil within a graphene oxide host. In addition to low areal capacities of ~0.1 to 3.7 mAh cm−2, this Li foil also has a much-improved mechanical strength over conventional pure Li metal foil. Our Li foil can improve the initial Coulombic efficiency of graphite (93%) and silicon (79.4%) anodes to around 100% without generating excessive Li residue, and increases the capacity of Li-ion full cells by 8%. The cycle life of Li metal full cells is prolonged by nine times using this thin Li composite anode. Thin Li foils are desirable for high-energy Li battery applications. Here, Cui and team devise a fabrication route for ultrathin (less than 20 μm) Li foils that show promise for improving existing anodes including silicon, graphite and metallic Li.

To describe severe fibrovascular proliferation that developed in the optic disk region in an atypical form of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).Retrospective observational case reports.Four patients (8 eyes) with ROP were included. Three patients were born very prematurely (24-25 weeks of gestational age; weight, 500-1,000 grams); 1 patient was born at 33 weeks of gestational age. Among all eight eyes of four patients who received prompt ROP screening and underwent laser photocoagulation, six eyes had atypical and severe fibrovascular proliferation mainly in the optic disk region; the other two eyes, including one eye with classic ROP and one eye with aggressive posterior ROP, did not have the atypical form. All eight eyes had a total to partial retinal detachment. Among the six eyes with the atypical form, early vitreous surgery with lensectomy was possible in three eyes; only late vitreous surgery with lensectomy was possible in two eyes; one eye was inoperable. Three eyes had a partial or complete reattachment, whereas three eyes had a total retinal detachment. Among the six eyes with atypical fibrovascular proliferation, only two eyes obtained light perception vision.An atypical and severe form of ROP, in which fibrovascular proliferation grew mainly from the optic disk region, needs further investigation for treatment in addition to laser photocoagulation and vitreous surgery.

To describe the outcome of scleral buckling to treat radial retinal folds (RFs) that caused a late-onset and sudden visual decrease with impairment of the fovea. This is an observational case report. Ophthalmic examinations were performed preoperatively and postoperatively and included measurement of the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, focal macular electroretinography (FM-ERG), and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT). A patient, whose case was reported previously, had a superonasal retinal detachment with a dislocated fovea and good BCVA in her right eye and a sustained BCVA of 40/50 by age 17 years and 3 months. The BCVA decreased suddenly to 20/200 at age 17 years and 11 months. Fundus examinations showed micro-dislocation of the fovea to the RFs and narrowing of the RFs compared with the previous report. FM-ERG showed an almost extinguished response, and OCT images showed abnormalities of the outer nuclear and photoreceptor layers. Encircling and radial scleral buckling was performed. Four months postoperatively, the BCVA improved to 30/50, which corresponded to the recovery of the FM-ERG response and findings on the OCT images. One year and 3 months postoperatively, the BCVA recovered to 35/50 with repositioning of the fovea. Simultaneous encircling and radial scleral buckling resulted in the recovery of both retinal function and structure in the current case and is a useful surgical option to treat late-onset progressive RFs due to intensification of traction.

Maculopathy associated with optic disc pits (ODP), which sometimes causes severe visual loss, usually appears in late childhood or early adulthood. However, it has long been unclear how the disease begins to develop at these ages. We evaluated the relationship between vitreous structure and maculopathy associated with ODP. Six patients (seven eyes) with ODP were diagnosed between July 1990 and May 2013. Fundus photographs and swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) images were evaluated retrospectively, and the vitreous at the vitreoretinal interface was visualized by reconstructing three-dimensional SS-OCT images. Vitrectomy was performed in the eyes with maculopathy. Among the six patients, five had ODP in one eye each and one patient had bilateral ODP. The pits were mainly located in the temporal quadrant, and maculopathy, including retinoschisis and retinal detachment, was detected in five eyes associated only with the temporal pits. A flat retinal detachment was observed in four eyes and identified within the vascular arcade except in one eye. A posterior precortical vitreous pocket (PPVP) was observed in all eyes except in one eye without maculopathy. Reconstructing images from SS-OCT showed the vitreoretinal interface abnormalities around the optic disc and the macular area in all eyes, which was completely different from the vitreoretinal interface in the normal pediatric eye. Vitrectomy was performed in four eyes with retinal detachment to resect the abnormal vitreous traction. Posterior vitreous detachment was created in two eyes. Retinal reattachment was achieved in three eyes, and subretinal fluid receded in one eye. The visual acuity improved in all four eyes. Abnormal traction of the vitreous due to an abnormality of the vitreoretinal interface, which may be strengthened by the development of a PPVP, generates the maculopathy associated with ODP.

Electrolyte is a key material for success in the research and development of next-generation rechargeable batteries. Aluminium rechargeable batteries that use aluminium (Al) metals as anode materials are attractive candidates for next-generation batteries, though they have not been developed yet due to the lack of practically useful electrolytes. Here we present, for the first time, non-corrosive reversible Al electrolytes working at room temperature. The electrolytes are composed of aluminium chlorides, dialkylsulfones, and dilutants, which are realized by the identification of electrochemically active Al species, the study of sulfone dependences, the effects of aluminium chloride concentrations, dilutions and their optimizations. The characteristic feature of these materials is the lower chloride concentrations in the solutions than those in the conventional Al electrolytes, which allows us to use the Al metal anodes without corrosions. We anticipate that the sulfone-based electrolytes will open the doors for the research and development of Al rechargeable batteries.

We investigated retinal structure and function in eyes with optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH). Twenty-nine eyes of 18 patients with ONH and 21 eyes of 21 control patients were analyzed. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), full-field electroretinography (FF-ERG), and focal macular ERG (FM-ERG) were performed. SD-OCT analysis of the macular region showed significant ganglion cells complex (GCC) thinning nasally and temporally (P P P P P

Inorganic nanowires have diameters substantially below the wavelength of visible light and have electronic and optical properties that make them ideal for subwavelength laser and imaging technology. In this report, it will be presented that an electrode-free, continuously tunable coherent visible light source compatible with physiological environments has been developed from individual potassium niobate (KNbO3) nanowires. These wires exhibit efficient second harmonic generation, and act as frequency converters, allowing the local synthesis of a wide range of colours via sum and difference frequency generation. We use this tunable nanometric light source to implement a novel form of subwavelength microscopy, in which an infrared laser is used to optically trap and scan a nanowire over a sample, suggesting a wide range of potential applications in physics, chemistry, materials science and biology.

Magnesium organohaloaluminate in tetrahydrofuran [0.25 mol/L Mg(AlCl 2 EtBu) 2 /THF, Et:C 2 H 5 ,Bu:C 4 H 9 ] is an electrolyte solution that is able to deposit and dissolve magnesium electrochemically and reversibly at room temperature. It has been reported that the electrochemical window is ruled by Lewis acidity of the aluminum compounds involved, and some complex species formed in the electrolyte have been suggested based on the analysis of nuclear magnetic resonances and Raman spectroscopy. Because in these analytical methods there are not enough controls to identify all the included compounds, neither the complete complex structures nor the mechanism of the reversible reaction has been revealed yet. Here, we show the complete complex structures in this electrolyte directly observed by the X-ray absorption fine structure measurements, which reveal the reversible equilibrium reaction as well as the other electrochemical properties of this electrolyte.

The cadmium (Cd) contents in hair of macaques (n = 45, Macaca fuscata) living on the Shimokita Peninsula were investigated. The mean Cd contents in the hair of Japanese (n = 34, 5.01 μg/g) and macaques (3.05 μg/g) tendency to be higher than those of animals living other areas. The Cd contents of hair of wild macaques were significantly (p < 0.01) lower than that of humans, although three were no significant difference between Cd contents of humans and that of the macaque in captivity. The hair of the macaque was suggested as a useful sample for measurement of Cd contamination in the environment.

Purpose To evaluate various surgeries for treating retinal detachment (RD) associated with familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR). Design Retrospective, interventional case series. Methods The charts of 22 patients who underwent surgery were reviewed. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed including wide-field fundus images with fluorescein angiography. The primary and secondary outcomes were fundus features (vascular activity of the fibrovascular proliferation and extent of tractional RD) and visual acuity (VA), respectively. Results Thirty-one eyes were included (12 eyes underwent scleral buckling, 1 scleral buckling and vitrectomy, 7 vitrectomy alone, and 11 lensectomy and vitrectomy). Twenty-six eyes were reattached during 1 surgery. Scleral buckling resulted in cessation of fibrovascular proliferation and retinal reattachment; only 1 of these eyes required vitrectomy. Lens-sparing vitrectomy resulted in stabilized fibrovascular proliferation and retinal reattachment. Vitrectomy with lensectomy did not achieve retinal reattachment in 4 eyes. Fibrovascular proliferation has a rich vascular component in patients younger than 3 years, and collagen fibers were present mainly with more advanced age. The postoperative VA improved in 5 of 8 eyes examined, was unchanged in 1 eye, and decreased in 2 eyes with macular involvement. Conclusions FEVR-induced RDs are highly variable and require careful preoperative evaluation to determine the best surgical procedure. Vitrectomy with release of posterior traction is essential in younger patients with vascularly active fibrovascular proliferation, whereas scleral buckling may be important for cases with peripheral traction anterior to the equator. In all cases, peripheral thermal treatment applied to all ischemic areas contributed to reduced peripheral neovascularization.

Japanese monkeys, Macaca fuscata, living in a cool temperate forest experienced energy crises in winter. We measured feeding times and feeding rates (mass of foods eaten per unit time of feeding) in six different-sized, age–sex classes (1.2–12.6 kg body mass) in autumn and winter. One-, 2- and 3~4-year-olds spent 34–35% and 44–46% of the day feeding in autumn and winter, respectively. Monkeys less than 0 years old spent less time feeding (16–28%) than average in winter and autumn; adult females spent less (41%) in winter; and adult males spent less (25%) in autumn. All age–sex classes ate mainly fruits in autumn and the heavier classes fed more on tree bark than buds in winter. The feeding rate for fruits (2.3–53.5 g min−1) was nine to 12 times faster than those for buds (1.0– 4.8 g min−1) and bark (0.5–4.4 g min−1), and energy content did not differ among fruits (22.1 kJ g−1 dry mass), buds (19.9 kJ g−1 dry mass) and bark (23.2 kJ g−1 dry mass). Energy base feeding rates increased with body mass where the body mass exponent for buds (0.29) was smaller than those for bark (0.64) and fruits (0.63), which might be attributable to the unit size of food items and mass dependency of masticatory apparatus. Our monkeys obtained two to five times more energy in autumn (1567–1150 kJ day−1) than in winter (604–3020 kJ day−1). Adult females obtained 60% of expected energy expenditure and other classes obtained 77–88% of that in winter.

Force-displacement characteristics of flux lines were measured using the Campbell method in the vicinity of the peak effect for an overdoped Bi-2212 single crystal. It was revealed that there are two quasi-stable states with different critical current densities, suggesting a phase transition of the first order. It was also found that the interaction distance increased discontinuously around the peak field, while the Labusch parameter showed no anomaly. This shows that the flux-pinning mechanism does not change across the peak field and that the peak effect is caused by the change in the property of flux lines. It is considered that the dimensional crossover of flux lines brings about the first-order transition and such characteristics. The elastic correlation length of flux lines along the c-axis was of the order of and agreed with the theoretical prediction. This shows that the flux lines are not in the complete two-dimensional state even above the peak field.

We report that the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate divided by temperature, ${1/T}_{1}T,$ has a broad maximum around ${T}^{*}\ensuremath{\sim}210\mathrm{K}$ and \ensuremath{\sim}100 K in underdoped and overdoped single crystals of ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}{\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{8+\ensuremath{\delta}}$ (Bi2212) with ${T}_{c}=79$ and 77.3 K, respectively, showing the normal-state spin-gap behavior. One result is that the steep decrease in the ${}^{63}$Cu Knight shift, $K(T),$ has been observed below ${T}_{K}^{*}\ensuremath{\sim}200\mathrm{K}$ and \ensuremath{\sim}100 K, suggesting the normal-state pseudogap behavior in quasiparticle density of states (DOS), which is consistent with the pseudogap behavior below ${T}_{\mathrm{ARPES}}^{*}\ensuremath{\sim}170\mathrm{K}$ revealed on underdoped Bi2212 from studies of angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We propose that the spin-gap behavior in ${1/T}_{1}T$ has the same origin as the pseudogap in the quasiparticle DOS.

Josephson vortices trapped in cross-sectional edge surfaces of Pb0.6Bi1.4Sr2CaCu2Oy has been directly observed by using a scanning superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) microscope. The magnetic field distribution Bz around each vortex is substantially anisotropic, compared with the usual vortex in the ab-plane, and is extended over 100 µm toward the in-plane direction. By fitting a theoretical Bz function to experimental ones, c-axis penetration depth λc was estimated to be 11.2 ±0.7 µm, which is in good agreement with the literature value, 12.6 µm, obtained from the Josephson plasma edge frequency.

In order to correlate anatomical changes with visual function in shaken baby syndrome, we performed electroretinography and spectral domain optical coherence tomography on a 2-month-old girl and a 9-month-old girl after the retinal hemorrhages absorbed. Both patients had significant abnormalities in spectral domain optical coherence tomography images of the macular area. The amplitudes of the focal macular electroretinograms were more severely decreased than those of the full-field electroretinograms. Combining spectral domain coherence tomography with focal macular electroretinograms might better estimate the functional damage to the macula in patients with shaken baby syndrome.

The Japanese monkey (Macaca fuscata) winter range utilization and the effects of foraging on mulberry trees (Morus bombycis) were studied in the Shimokita Peninsula during four winter seasons. The monkeys ate mainly winter dormancy buds when they visited the mulberry tree clumps for the first time within the winter, but they ate mainly bark when they visited for the second or third times. In the areas utilized by the monkeys over the recent three years, the mulberry trees compensated for the decrease in their number of shoots by producing longer shoots with more buds against the monkey foraging. In the areas used every year for more than four years, however, the mulberry trees were unable to compensate for the foraging pressure. Thus, although the monkeys had apparently operated prudent herbivory within three years, they did not do so on a longer time-scale. They shifted their utilization ranges after having over-exploited the mulberry trees.

Air temperature, snow depth, and diet composition were found to affect the activity budgets of 1 ∼ 2-year-old, 3 ∼ 4-year-old and adult female (>5 years old) Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) in the Shimokita Peninsula. They spent more time resting as the air temperature decreased. They spent less time moving on the ground, so that they moved shorter distances, where the snow was deep. However, they spent more time moving on the ground as they fed more on fruits and seeds. Adult females moved mainly on the ground, while 1 ∼ 2-year-olds moved on the tree branches as well as on the ground. Adult females increased their time moving on the tree branches where the snow was deep but 1 ∼ 2- and 3 ∼ 4-year-olds did not. The 1 ∼ 2- and 3 ∼ 4-year-olds but not adult females increased their feeding time as they fed more on buds and barks containing abundant fiber. We hypothesize that the large body size of adult females may constrain them to move mainly on the ground, and might enable them to choose energy saving tactics more easily.

Contributions to the irreversibility from the bulk and the surface are investigated in detail for an underdoped Bi-2212 single crystal using the Campbell method. The measured flux profile showed a linear flux distribution suggesting a uniform bulk shielding current as the Bean model predicts in the field-temperature region far below the irreversibility line. Getting close to the irreversibility line, the ac penetration depth became larger and would probably exceed the specimen size because the critical current density approached zero. Hence, the obtained profile was different from the exact one. However, no sign of the surface irreversibility was discovered in this specimen.

One crucial challenge for subwavelength optics has been the development of a tunable source of coherent laser radiation for use in the physical, information, and biological sciences that is stable at room temperature and physiological conditions. Current advanced near-field imaging techniques using fiber-optic scattering probes1,2 have already achieved spatial resolution down to the 20-nm range. Recently reported far-field approaches for optical microscopy, including stimulated emission depletion (STED)3, structured illumination4, and photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM)5, have also enabled impressive, theoretically-unlimited spatial resolution of fluorescent biomolecular complexes. Previous work with laser tweezers6-8 has suggested the promise of using optical traps to create novel spatial probes and sensors. Inorganic nanowires have diameters substantially below the wavelength of visible light and have unique electronic and optical properties9,10 that make them prime candidates for subwavelength laser and imaging technology. Here we report the development of an electrode-free, continuously-tunable coherent visible light source compatible with physiological environments, from individual potassium niobate (KNbO3) nanowires. These wires exhibit efficient second harmonic generation (SHG), and act as frequency converters, allowing the local synthesis of a wide range of colors via sum and difference frequency generation (SFG, DFG). We use this tunable nanometric light source to implement a novel form of subwavelength microscopy, in which an infrared (IR) laser is used to optically trap and scan a nanowire over a sample, suggesting a wide range of potential applications in physics, chemistry, materials science, and biology.

Magnetization curves of single crystals (La1−xSrx)2CuO4 with various Sr contents were measured. A distinct increase of magnetization with increasing applied field was observed in Sr overdoped compositions, when the magnetic field was applied perpendicular to the CuO2 plane. The field, Bpk , where magnetization showed a maximum value, was strongly dependent on temperature. Its dependence was expressed by a universal relation √Bpk = c(x)[1−T/Tc(x)] over a wide temperature range; between 4.2 K and Tc. Possible mechanisms which give rise to the observed distinct secondary peak effect are discussed.

Magnesium (Mg) is an attractive candidate for the anode material of a novel high-performance rechargeable battery because of its high energy density, moderate electrochemical activity, chemical stability, as well as the natural abundance. One of the most important issues to realize the Mg rechargeable battery is the development of electrolytes. Aurbach et al. have developed electrolyte solutions in which Mg is deposited and dissolved reversibly, that are formed by reacting R2Mg or RMgCl Lewis base with XR3-nCln Lewis acid (n=0-3, X=Al, B) in ether solvent. Here the transmetalation between Lewis base and acid is a key step in the formation of the electrochemically active products, and the Lewis acid is the essential factor in improving the electrochemical properties such as reversibility, conductivity, as well as electrochemical windows. As a result, a magnesium organohaloaluminate in tetrahydrofran (THF) with a formula of 0.25 mol/L Mg(AlCl2EtBu)2/THF shows nearly 100% columbic efficiency, 2.5V electrochemical window, and room-temperature conductivity in the range of several millisiemens, which are much better than those of conventional Grignard reagents. After the breakthrough by Aurbach described above, various approaches have been tried for further improvements. Kim et al. enhanced the electrochemical performance of hexamethyldisilazide magnesium chloride (HMDSMgCl) in THF through the addition of aluminum chloride (AlCl3) together with the crystallization of electrochemical active species [Mg2(μ-Cl)3·6THF]+. Mohtadi et al. reported the reversible Mg electrolytes of magnesium borohydride Mg(BH4)2 in both THF and dimethoxyethane (DME). And recently, Abe et al. have found that magnesium deposition and dissolution can take place in some electrolyte solutions, such as magnesium bromide together with magnesium ethoxide in 2-methyltetrahydrofuran( (Mg(OEt)2 + MgBr2)/2-MeTHF), and MgBr2 in n-butyl methyl ether (MgBr2/n-BME). The same group has also found that Glymes and magnesium chloride (MgCl2) with AlCl3enabled the magnesium deposition and dissolution on platinum electrode with high coulombic efficiency. Despite the improvements in the electrochemical properties, at least two more breakthroughs are required for the commercialization regarding Mg electrolytes; one is the reduction of chemical reactivity, and the other one is suppression of solvent evaporation. Here we report the development of a novel Mg electrolyte using sulfone as solvents. Although it does not include highly reactive materials such as organic magnesium compounds as well as Lewis acids, the electrolyte shows reversible Mg deposition and dissolution at room temperature. The electrochemical window is larger than 3.0V vs Mg without any corrosion on stainless steel electrodes. As the boiling point of the sulfone is high, we don’t need to care about the solvent evaporation at the operating condition. In addition to the details of our Mg electrolyte, the performance of Mg rechargeable battery whose energy density would be higher than the present Li-ion batteries, will be presented at the conference.

Superconductors can be used as dissipation-free electrical conductors as long as vortices are pinned. Vortices in high-temperature superconductors, however, behave anomalously, reflecting the anisotropic layered structure, and can move readily, thus preventing their practical use. Specifically, in a magnetic field tilted toward the layer plane, a special vortex arrangement (chain-lattice state) is formed. Real-time observation of vortices using high-resolution Lorentz microscopy revealed that the images of chain vortices begin to disappear at a much lower temperature, T d , than the superconducting transition temperature, T c . We attribute this image disappearance to the longitudinal oscillation of vortices along the chains.

The irreversibility field and the apparent pinning potential associated with the magnetic relaxation rate are observed for a Bi-2212 single crystal in the three-dimensional state of flux lines. It is tried to explain these irreversible properties by the flux creep theory using the same pinning potential. Fairly good agreements are obtained between theory and experiment. It is concluded that the flux creep theory correctly describes the irreversible properties of high-temperature superconductors.

Magnetization properties of Ta ion irradiated Bi2212 and Bi(Pb)2212 single crystals having various electromagnetic anisotropy, γ 2, have been investigated. Flux pinning properties of the irradiated crystals were systematically improved up to higher temperature region with a decrease of γ 2, suggesting that the identical pinning sites act more effective in the materials with smaller γ 2.

Anisotropic resistivity measurements were carried out on Bi2.1-x PbxSr1.8CaCu2O y single crystals with various Pb-content, 0≤x≤0.6. The magnitude of ρ c systematically decreased with increasing Pb-content, whereas no appreciable change was observed in ρ a and ρ b by Pb-doping. A large decrease seen only in the ρ c -value led to the reduction of the electromagnetic anisotropy with increasing Pb-content. Numerical fits for ρ c -T curves revealed that Pb-doping changes the temperature dependence of ρ c , suggesting a modification of the electronic structure in the Bi-O double layers. The resistivity broadening under magnetic fields (B//c) was drastically suppressed by Pb-doping. This suppression can be attributed to the Pb-doping effects due to which the electromagnetic anisotropy has been reduced.

Force-displacement characteristic of flux lines in a superconducting Bi-2212 single crystal was measured using the Campbell method at low temperatures and low magnetic fields where the peak effect of the critical current density was observed. It was found that the interaction distance, d i, had a peak around the peak field, while the Labusch parameter, α L, increased monotonously with increasing magnetic field. The peak of d i means an increment of the reversible limit of motion of pinned flux lines. This seems to be caused by an introduction of some disorder in the flux line lattice at the so-called 3-dimensional to 2-dimensional transition field. However, the characteristic length of the deformation along the c-axis is considered to be much longer than the distance between the CuO2 planes.

Importance Aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (AP-ROP) rapidly progresses to retinal detachment despite application of photocoagulation. Early vitreous surgery might achieve prompt regression of neovascular activity and a high incidence of retinal reattachment. Objective To evaluate visual outcomes in eyes with AP-ROP after early vitreous surgery. Design Retrospective nonrandomized study of patients who underwent early vitreous surgery with lensectomy when retinal detachment developed despite photocoagulation. Aphakic correction with spectacles or contact lenses and the use of orthoptics were continued postoperatively. The best-corrected visual acuity (VA) was measured in eyes with a total retinal reattachment using the preferential looking technique in patients ranging in age from 8 months to no more than 3 years and a VA chart with Landolt rings or pictures for older children. The VA findings were converted to Snellen lines. Setting Institutional ophthalmology practice. Participants Of the 103 eyes (57 patients) that underwent early vitreous surgery for AP-ROP, the VA was measured in 58 (32 patients) at a corrected age ranging from 8 months to 4 years. Interventions Early vitreous surgery and VA measurement using the preferential looking technique and a VA chart. Main Outcomes and Measures Postoperative VA, ROP stage, extent of fibrovascular tissue (FT) growth, and laterality of the eyes that underwent surgery. Results The VAs ranged from 20/2000 to 20/40. The VA may not be related to the preoperative ROP stage 4A or 4B but may depend on the preoperative extent of FT growth. In 39 of 58 eyes (67.2%), the FT had not reached the vitreous base preoperatively, and foveal formation occurred postoperatively with nearly age-appropriate VA (range, 20/250 to 20/40). In 17 of 58 eyes (29.3%), the FT had reached the vitreous base, and no fovea formed (VA range, 20/2000 to 20/250). Two of 58 eyes (3.4%) had deprivation amblyopia with a VA worse than 20/1600. The difference in VA between both eyes of patients who underwent bilateral vitreous surgery depended on ROP progression; patients who underwent a unilateral procedure in which the fellow eyes with ROP stabilized after photocoagulation tended to have poor vision because of deprivation amblyopia. Conclusions and Relevance Early vitreous surgery may be beneficial for AP-ROP and should be performed before the FT reaches the vitreous base to facilitate foveal formation and good VA outcomes. The roles of photocoagulation, vitreous surgery, and anti–vascular endothelial growth factor therapy in the treatment of AP-ROP should be investigated in randomized trials regarding efficacy, safety, convenience, and cost.

We have performed cryogenic scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) of heavily Pb-doped Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O y single crystals to investigate local electronic structures in the overdoped regime. The obtained STM/STS results at 4.3 K clearly showed local inhomogeneity of gap structure Δ ( Δ =20–60 meV) in a scale of several nm, suggesting the coexistence of sperconducting and pseudogap-like regions, even in the overdoped regime.

We have performed scanning SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) microscopy (SSM) on the ac -surfaces of heavily Pb-doped Bi2212, Bi 1.6 Pb 0.6 Sr 1.8 CaCu 2 O y , single crystals at low temperatures. The observed images demonstrated interlayer Josephson vortices below T c . The value of c -axis penetration depth, λ c , evaluated from the SSM images was 11.2±0.7 μm, which is approximately one order of magnitude smaller than that of pure Bi2212 in the optimal doping regime. This clearly indicates that Pb doping substantially reduces the anisotropy of Bi2212.

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tert-2-Butyl alcohol can be synthesized efficiently on SiO 2 –TiO 2 or Pd–C catalyst if air is directly introduced to the supercritical-phase isobutane.

The electron dynamics inBi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8+δ are investigated with interferometric 2-photon time-resolved photoemission. By decomposing the interferometric 2-pulse correlation into oscillating and non-oscillating components energy relaxation times can be obtained for excited electrons above the Fermi level, T 1 , and dephasing times of electron-hole pairs, T 2 . The procedure to determine T 1 and T 2 is discussed and first results on the electron energy relaxation time in a high temperature superconductor are presented.