Humidity-tolerant porous polymer coating for passive daytime radiative cooling.

Coating building envelopes with a passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) material has attracted enormous attention as an alternative cooling technique with minimal energy consumption and carbon footprint. Despite the exceptional performance and scalability of porous polymer coating (PPC), achieving consistent performance over a wide range of drying environments remains a major challenge for its commercialization as a radiative cooling paint. Herein, we demonstrate the humidity vulnerability of PPC during the drying process and propose a simple strategy to greatly mitigate the issue.

High refractive index metamaterials using corrugated metallic slots.

We report on a method for realizing high refractive index metamaterials using corrugated metallic slot structures at terahertz frequencies. The effective refractive index and peak index frequency can be controlled by varying the width of the air gap in the corrugated slot arrays. The phenomenon occurs because of the secondary resonance effect due to the fundamental inductive-capacitive resonance, which generates a red-shift of the fundamental resonance determined by twice the length of the corrugated metallic slots.

Effect of physiological posterolateral rotatory laxity on early results of posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with posterolateral corner reconstruction.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of physiological posterolateral rotatory laxity on posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction in terms of posterior stability and clinical outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of sixty-five patients who had undergone arthroscopic PCL reconstruction with simultaneous reconstruction of the posterolateral corner from March 2004 to April 2009. Patients were categorized into three groups according to the amount of tibial external rotation at 90° of knee flexion on the uninjured side: Group 1 (<40°; n = 26), Group 2 (between 40° and 50°; n = 21), and Group 3 (>50°; n = 18).

Arthroscopic repair of concomitant type II SLAP lesions in large to massive rotator cuff tears: comparison with biceps tenotomy.

Background: There are no studies examining superior labrum anterior and posterior (SLAP) repair combined with repair of large to massive rotator cuff tears, and it is unclear whether a combined SLAP repair would lead to better outcomes than biceps tenotomy.

Hypothesis: Tenotomy and rotator cuff repair would lead to better outcomes compared with those of combined SLAP and rotator cuff repair.

Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Anatomical Reconstruction for Chronic Posterolateral Instability Combined with Posterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Surgical Technique.

Introduction: We present surgical techniques for the anatomical reconstruction of the popliteus tendon and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL) with use of a tibialis posterior allograft for posterolateral corner insufficiency combined with anterolateral transtibial single-bundle posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction with use of an Achilles tendon-bone allograft with a one-incision technique.

Step 1 Create The Portals: Use a parapatellar high anteromedial portal, a far anterolateral portal, and a high posteromedial portal.

Step 2 Prepare The Tibial Tunnel And Femoral Socket For The Pcl Reconstruction: To reduce the graft/socket divergence, (1) flex the knee >100°, (2) push the proximal part of the tibia backward as much as possible, and (3) introduce the cannulated headed reamer through the far anterolateral portal with a smooth plastic sheath and push up posteriorly to make contact with the lateral femoral condyle.

Arthroscopic partial repair of irreparable large to massive rotator cuff tears.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of arthroscopic partial repair and margin convergence of irreparable large to massive rotator cuff tears.

Methods: Between January 2003 and July 2008, 27 patients who met the inclusion criteria underwent arthroscopic partial repair and margin convergence of irreparable large to massive rotator cuff tears. An irreparable tear was defined as a tear with a minimum anterior-to-posterior width of 3 cm or larger, where it was not feasible to completely cover the humeral head with the cuff at the time of surgery.

Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum: a novel morphology-tailored, patient-specific approach.

Objective: Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum, introduced by Nuss in 1998, has undergone a serious learning curve because of a lack of understanding on morphologies and repair techniques. To summarize the current status of minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum, we reviewed and appraised our 10-year experience with a novel approach, a morphology-tailored technique, including diverse bar shaping, bar fixation, and techniques for adults.

Methods: We analyzed the data of 1170 consecutive patients with pectus excavatum who underwent minimally invasive repair between August 1999 and September 2008.

Formation of nanosized organic molecular crystals on engineered surfaces.

The pharmaceutical industry has great interest in organic molecular nanosized crystals because their enhanced solubility and dissolution rate can potentially enhance drug bioavailability. In this work, patterned engineered surfaces were used to crystallize glycine with a lateral dimension below 200 nm in a confined volume while controlling supersaturation. Bifunctional patterned surfaces with hydrophilic islands, as small as 500 nm, surrounded by hydrophobic regions were prepared using lithography and self assembled monolayers.

Needlescopic lung biopsy for interstitial lung disease and indeterminate pulmonary nodules: a report on 65 cases.

Background: We evaluated the feasibility and accuracy of a needlescopic procedure for lung biopsies in patients with interstitial lung disease or indeterminate pulmonary nodules.

Methods: Sixty-five patients (36 women; mean age, 51.3 +/- 15.

Extreme eccentric canal type pectus excavatum: morphological study and repair techniques.

Objective: Extreme eccentric canal type pectus excavatum (Grand Canyon type, GC, Type 2A3), is a distinct morphological variation, characterized by an eccentric longitudinal canal. Due to the extent of depression and asymmetry, repair is often challenging with the minimally invasive technique. Following, we present its morphologic characteristics and evaluate repair techniques according to morphology type.

Mechanism of bar displacement and corresponding bar fixation techniques in minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum.

Purpose: Bar displacement is a major complication in repair of pectus excavatum with the Nuss technique. Mechanisms of bar displacement have been elucidated by case-by-case analysis, and specific bar fixation techniques have been developed to deal with each mechanism. The efficacy of our bar fixation techniques is appraised.

Concomitant polymorphism in confined environment.

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that multiple crystal forms can be generated on patterned self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) substrates in single experiments in a given solvent system.

Methods: Functionalized metallic islands are fabricated and utilized as individual templates for crystal formation. Taking advantage of the different wetting properties that patterned surfaces offered, arrays of small solution droplets on the nano- and pico- liter scale were produced on the substrates.

Fibromuscular dysplasia of bilateral brachial arteries treated with surgery and consecutive thrombolytic therapy.

A 61-year-old female was admitted to our hospital complaining of paresthesia, pain, and intermittent weakness in the right hand. A pulsating mass with bruits had developed on the patient's upper arm. We also noted an absence of radial artery pulsation.

Mid-term outcomes of side-to-side stapled anastomosis in cervical esophagogastrostomy.

This study was conducted to evaluate the mid-term results of cervical esophagogastric anastomosis using a side-to-side stapled anastomosis method for treatment of patients with malignant esophageal disease. A total of 13 patients were reviewed retrospectively from January 2001 to November 2005 who underwent total esophagectomy through a right thoracotomy, gastric tube formation through a midline laparotomy and finally a cervical esophagogastric anastomosis. Average patient age was 62.

Supradiaphragmatic bronchogenic cyst extending into the retroperitoneum.

We experienced a case of bronchogenic cyst located on the left lower pleural space extending into the retroperitoneum in a 33-year-old man with left chest pain. Preoperative imaging studies and operative findings showed a broad-based cystic mass on the left lower posterior pleura and diaphragmatic pleura extending into the retroperitoneal region across the diaphragm. Histologic studies proved this mass to be a bronchogenic cyst.

Crystallization on confined engineered surfaces: a method to control crystal size and generate different polymorphs.

Patterned glycine crystals nucleated on functionalized metallic square islands. This approach can be used to fabricate particles with micron dimensions and screen solid forms under different conditions. The size of the glycine crystals is controlled by the dimensions of the islands.

A simple technique for the thoracoscopic plication of the diaphragm.

We describe a simple technique for video-assisted thoracoscopic plication in patients with diaphragmatic eventration. During the plication, which is performed with a continuous running suture, a surgical assistant maintains the continuous suture traction using a homemade hook through the port. The technique can be performed easily, without any kind of thoracotomy.

Giant cell tumor originating from the anterior arc of the rib.

We report a case of giant cell tumor originating from the anterior arc of the rib. The tumor and the surrounding chest wall were completely resected, and the chest wall defect was covered with Marlex mesh. Giant cell tumor of the bone usually originates from the epiphysis of long bones.