An On-/Off-Time Sensing-Based Load-Adaptive Mode Control of Triple Mode Buck Converter for Implantable Medical Devices.

Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology applied to implantable medical devices (IMDs) significantly reduces the need for battery replacement surgery health conditions. This paper presents an on-/off-time sensing-based load-adaptive mode control of triple mode buck converter for implantable medical devices; the converter can adjust the control mode for low power consumption and achieve high power conversion efficiency (PCE) under a small active area. The three modes in the proposed system are the pulse width modulation (PWM), pulse frequency modulation (PFM), and ultra-low power (ULP) modes.

Reinforced Nafion Membrane with Ultrathin MWCNTs/Ceria Layers for Durable Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells.

For further commercializing proton-exchange membrane fuel cells, it is crucial to attain long-term durability while achieving high performance. In this study, a strategy for modifying commercial Nafion membranes by introducing ultrathin multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/CeO layers on both sides of the membrane was developed to construct a mechanically and chemically reinforced membrane electrode assembly. The dispersion properties of the MWCNTs were greatly improved through chemical modification with acid treatment, and the mixed solution of MWCNTs/CeO was uniformly prepared through a high-energy ball-milling process.

Perioperative Safety of Combined Augmentation-Mastopexy: An Evaluation of National Database.

Introduction: The safety of combined augmentation-mastopexy is controversial. This study evaluates a national database to analyze the perioperative safety of combined augmentation-mastopexy to either augmentation or mastopexy alone.

Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was queried to identify patients undergoing augmentation mammaplasty and mastopexy from 2005 to 2018.

Uncovering the encapsulation effect of reduced graphene oxide sheets on the hydrogen storage properties of palladium nanocubes.

Decades of research on solute-induced phase transformation of metal hydride systems have shown the possibility to enhance hydrogen storage properties through novel material design such as nanoconfinement engineering. Nevertheless, the fundamentals of mechanical stress effect on confined Pd nanoparticles remain yet to be elucidated due to the difficulty in linking with hydrogen sorption thermodynamics. Here, a thermodynamic tuning of Pd nanocubes associated with hydrogen sorption as a result of encapsulation by reduced graphene oxide (rGO) layers is demonstrated.

Risk Factors for 30-Day Mortality After Head and Neck Microsurgical Reconstruction for Cancer: NSQIP Analysis.

Objective: To identify the incidence and risk factors for 30-day postoperative mortality after microsurgical head and neck reconstruction following oncological resection.

Study Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Setting: American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database.

Modified Frailty Index (mFI) predicts 30-day complications after microsurgical breast reconstruction.

Frailty lacks a universal definition. The modified Frailty Index (mFI) using patient comorbidities can be used to measure frailty. We hypothesized that mFI predicts 30-day complications after microsurgical breast reconstruction.

A 6.78 MHz, 95.0% Peak Efficiency Monolithic Two-Dimensional Calibrated Active Rectifier for Wirelessly Powered Implantable Biomedical Devices.

In this paper, a fully integrated active rectifier with triple feedback loops is proposed to enhance power conversion efficiency (PCE) over a wide loading range by calibrating both the gate transition timing and power switch size. The on- and off-transitions of the power switches are calibrated using a hybrid delay-based gate control circuit (HDGCC) with hybrid feedback loops. Conventional active rectifiers that only focused on calibrating the gate transition timing of a NMOS power switch with a fixed power switch size exhibit a low PCE when the loading condition deviates from the predetermined range.

Surface Area Graphic Evaluation (SAGE) Diagram Documentation in Burn Patients: Room for Quality Improvement.

Background The first step in the management of burn patients is an accurate estimation of the total body surface area (TBSA) involvement. Depending on which, burns are categorized as major (>20%) and minor (<20%). This then dictates fluid resuscitation and level of care.

Inpatient Versus Outpatient Operative Management of Isolated Facial Fractures.

Background: Patients with isolated facial fractures requiring operative fixation can be managed on an inpatient or outpatient basis. The goal of this study was to compare the safety of each approach using a large multi-institutional database.

Methods: The American College of Surgeons' National Surgical Quality Improvement Project was reviewed for facial fractures between 2005 and 2018.

Development of Magnesium-Based Material with Hydrogen-Storage Capacity of 7 wt.

TiCl₃ was chosen as an additive to increase hydriding and dehydriding rates of Mg. In our previous works, we found that the optimum percentage of additives that improved the hydriding and dehydriding features of Mg was approximately ten. Specimens consisting of 90 wt% Mg and 10 wt% TiCl₃ (named Mg-10TiCl₃) were prepared by high-energy ball milling in hydrogen.

Lung aspergilloma with pituitary invasive aspergillosis presenting as headache and hyponatraemia.

Fungal infections involving the pituitary gland are rare and can be life threatening. A 75-year-old man with hypertension and diabetes mellitus presented with headache and hyponatraemia. Imaging study showed right upper lung mass, and mass resection showed aspergilloma without tissue invasion on histology.

Morbidity Associated With Structural Graft Use in Paramedian Forehead Flap.

Introduction: Paramedian forehead flap for nasal reconstruction may involve the use of a structural graft. The authors hypothesized that the use of structural grafts with paramedian forehead flap is associated with an increased risk of 30-day complications.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of the American College of Surgeon (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP).

Rate-Controlling Steps for the Hydriding Reaction of the Intermetallic Compound Mg₂Ni.

Mg₂Ni samples were prepared by sintering a pelletized mixture under an argon atmosphere in a stainless steel crucible at 823 K. The XRD pattern of the prepared Mg₂Ni sample showed a well crystallized Mg₂Ni phase. The hydriding and dehydriding properties of the prepared samples were examined at 518-593 K under relatively low hydrogen pressures of 3-7 bar H₂.

Increasing the Hydrogenation and Dehydrogenation Rates of Magnesium by Incorporating CMC(Na) (Carboxymethylcellulose-Sodium Salt) and Nickel.

Samples with compositions of 95 wt% Mg + 5 wt% CMC(Na) [carboxymethylcellulose, sodium salt, {CHO₂(OH)(C₂H₂O₃Na)}] [named Mg-5CMC(Na)] and 90 wt% Mg + 10 wt% CMC(Na) [named Mg-10CMC(Na)] were prepared via milling in hydrogen (hydride-forming milling). Mg-5CMC(Na) and Mg-10CMC(Na) had very high hydrogenation rates but low dehydrogenation rates. Adding Ni to Mg is known to increase the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation rates of Mg.

Enhancement of light-extraction efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes using silica nanoparticles embedded in TiO₂ matrices.

We investigate two types of internal light-extraction layer structures for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) that consist of silica nanoparticles (NPs) embedded in high-refractive-index TiO₂ matrices. The composite of silica NPs and TiO₂ matrices was coated on the glass substrate and fabricated with and without a SiO₂ planarization layer. An increase in the optical out-coupling efficiency by a factor of 2.

Identification of a functional vitamin D response element in the murine Insig-2 promoter and its potential role in the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Insulin-induced gene-1 (Insig-1) and its homolog Insig-2 encode closely related proteins of the endoplasmic reticulum that block proteolytic activation of sterol regulatory element binding proteins, membrane-bound transcription factors that activate synthesis of cholesterol and fatty acids in animal cells. These proteins also restrict lipogenesis in mature adipocytes and block differentiation of preadipocytes. Herein, we identified a novel 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3] response element in the promoter region of Insig-2 gene, which specifically binds to the heterodimer of retinoid X receptor and vitamin D receptor (VDR) and directs VDR-mediated transcriptional activation in a 1,25-(OH)2D3-dependent manner.

Activating signal cointegrator 2 required for liver lipid metabolism mediated by liver X receptors in mice.

Activating signal cointegrator 2 (ASC-2), a cancer-amplified transcriptional coactivator of nuclear receptors and many other transcription factors, contains two LXXLL-type nuclear receptor interaction domains. Interestingly, the second LXXLL motif is highly specific to the liver X receptors (LXRs). In cotransfection, DN2, an ASC-2 fragment encompassing this motif, exerts a potent dominant-negative effect on transactivation by LXRs, which is rescued by ectopic coexpression of the full-length ASC-2 but not by other LXXLL-type coactivators, such as SRC-1 and TRAP220.