Enhancing the Responsiveness of Thermoelectric Gas Sensors with Boron-Doped and Thermally Annealed SiGe Thin Films via Low-Pressure Chemical Vapor Deposition.

Thermoelectric gas sensor (THGS) devices with catalysts and SiGe thin films of different boron doping levels of 10, 10, and 10 cm were fabricated, and their transport properties are investigated. SiGe films were deposited on SiN/SiO multilayers on Si substrates using low-pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) and thermally annealed at 1050 °C. The Seebeck coefficients of the SiGe films were increased after thermal annealing, ranging from 191 to 275 μV/K at temperatures of 74 to 468 °C in air, and reaching the highest power factor of 6.

Examination of VOC Concentration of Aroma Essential Oils and Their Major VOCs Diffused in Room Air.

This study analyzed temporal variation of the composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at different diffusion time of gaseous phase of aroma compounds of four essential oils, lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, and melissa. GC/MS methodology with the trace gas sampling by a thermal desorption tube is used to quantitatively determine the concentration of the corresponding 14 kinds of major and original VOCs in four essential oils. This study revealed for the first time that the concentration level of gaseous phase composition is varied, with a diffusion time from that of the liquid phase at equilibrium with it and the VOCs in the essential oils are classified into two groups, depending on whether their concentration with the time.

A Novel Mainstream Capnometer System for Non-invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation.

Capnometry is a method to measure carbon dioxide (CO) in exhaled gas and it has been used to monitor patient respiratory status. CO monitoring is also used for patients receiving non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) therapy during mechanical ventilation. Ventilators actively dilute exhaled gas during non-invasive ventilation.

Using Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography-Derived Parameters to Discriminate between Eyes with and without Glaucoma: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Study.

Introduction: New technologies have been developed in order to decrease interpersonal influence and subjectivity during the glaucoma diagnosis process. Enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain OCT (EDI OCT) has turned up as a favorable tool for deep optic nerve head (ONH) structures assessment.

Objective: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted to compare the diagnostic performance of different EDI OCT-derived parameters to discriminate between eyes with and without glaucoma.

Structure-function relationships in glaucoma using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography-derived parameters: a cross-sectional observational study.

Background: To investigate structural and functional correlations in glaucoma patients using enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI OCT)-derived parameters.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled healthy participants and glaucomatous patients with a wide range of disease stages. All participants underwent visual field (VF) testing (SITA - Standard 24-2; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA) and EDI OCT imaging (Spectralis; Heidelberg Engineering Co.

Mismatch between TOF MR Angiography and CT Angiography of the Middle Cerebral Artery may be a Critical Sign in Cerebrovascular Dynamics.

Purpose: Although time-of-flight (TOF)-magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) can clearly depict intracranial arteries, the arterial flow of middle cerebral artery (MCA) is occasionally not detected. We evaluated this phenomenon with reference to cerebrovascular dynamics.

Materials And Methods: Seventeen patients with suspected occlusion of MCA or internal carotid artery on TOF-MRA were enrolled.

In vivo analysis of glaucoma-related features within the optic nerve head using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography.

Structural differences between optic nerve head (ONH) parameters in glaucomatous and non-glaucomatous eyes has been documented, however the association between such parameters in patients with different disease stages is yet to be elucidated. We investigated the relationship between different laminar and prelaminar ONH structures using enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI OCT) in a population with and without glaucoma. In this observational case-control study, we prospectively enrolled healthy individuals and glaucomatous patients with different disease stages.

Utility of 3-dimensional ultrasound imaging to evaluate carotid artery stenosis: comparison with magnetic resonance angiography.

Background: We evaluated the utility of 3-dimensional (3-D) ultrasound imaging for assessment of carotid artery stenosis, as compared with similar assessment via magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Methods: Subjects comprised 58 patients with carotid stenosis who underwent both 3-D ultrasound imaging and MRA. We studied whether abnormal findings detected by ultrasound imaging could be diagnosed using MRA.

[Age at the time of gastrostomy placement as a prognostic factor in long-term hospitalized patients].

Objective: To evaluate the influence of age at the time of gastrostomy placement as a prognostic factor and examine the survival rate in long-term hospitalized patients with gastrostomy.

Methods: The subjects were 408 inpatients with gastrostomy admitted to our hospital between December 2005 and March 2012. All inpatients, including the present subjects, received oral care in the form of attendant care by nurses or caregivers.

Effect of Core-Shell Ceria/Poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) Nanoparticles Incorporated in Polymer Films and Their Optical Properties.

We fabricated hybrid films of pentaerythritol triacrylate (PETA) with core-shell ceria/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) nanoparticles, which consist of cerium oxide as the core and PVP as the shell, and investigated the film optical properties. In this study, we used ceria/PVP nanoparticles with average diameters of 37, 49 and 91 nm. We obtained translucent films consisting of PETA with core-shell ceria/PVP nanoparticles.

CO responses of sensors based on cerium oxide thick films prepared from clustered spherical nanoparticles.

Various types of CO sensors based on cerium oxide (ceria) have been reported recently. It has also been reported that the response speed of CO sensors fabricated from porous ceria thick films comprising nanoparticles is extremely high. However, the response value of such sensors is not suitably high.

Initial experience in evaluating the prevalence of unruptured intracranial aneurysms detected on 3-tesla MRI.

Background: Given the very poor outcome of ruptured intracranial aneurysms, detection and treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms by a less invasive examination have become important. For this purpose, 3-tesla (3T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most suitable candidate, owing to its high signal/noise ratio and frequency resolution. However, few reports have investigated the prevalence of intracranial aneurysms with high-tesla MRI.

Resistive oxygen gas sensors for harsh environments.

Resistive oxygen sensors are an inexpensive alternative to the classical potentiometric zirconia oxygen sensor, especially for use in harsh environments and at temperatures of several hundred °C or even higher. This device-oriented paper gives a historical overview on the development of these sensor materials. It focuses especially on approaches to obtain a temperature independent behavior.

Square-wave retarder for polarization computer-generated holography.

An etched calcite square-wave retarder is designed, fabricated, and demonstrated as an illuminator for an interlaced polarization computer-generated hologram (PCGH). The calcite square-wave retarder enables alternating columns of orthogonal linear polarizations to illuminate the interlaced PCGH. Together, these components produce a speckled, tangentially polarized PCGH diffraction pattern with a measured ratio of polarization of 84% and a degree of linear polarization of 0.

Polarization synthesis by computer-generated holography using orthogonally polarized and correlated speckle patterns.

An interlaced polarization computer-generated hologram (PCGH) is designed to produce specific irradiance and polarization states in the image plane. The PCGH produces a tangentially polarized annular pattern with correlated speckle, which is achieved by a novel application of the diffuser optimization method. Alternating columns of orthogonal linear polarizations illuminate an interlaced PCGH, producing a ratio of polarization of 88% measured on a fabricated sample.

Effects of high-humidity aging on platinum, palladium, and gold loaded tin oxide--volatile organic compound sensors.

This study is an investigation of high-humidity aging effects on the total volatile organic compound (T-VOC) gas-sensing properties of platinum, palladium, and gold-loaded tin oxide (Pt,Pd,Au/SnO(2)) thick films. The sensor responses of the high-humidity aged Pt,Pd,Au/SnO(2), a non-aged Pt,Pd,Au/SnO(2), and a high-humidity aged Pt/SnO(2) to T-VOC test gas have been measured. The high-humidity aging is an effective treatment for resistance to humidity change for the Pt,Pd,Au/SnO(2) but not effective for the Pt/SnO(2).

Flow-through versus sidestream capnometry for detection of end tidal carbon dioxide in the sedated patient.

Background: End tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO(2)) in non-intubated patients can be monitored using either sidestream or flow-through capnometry [Yamamori et al., J Clin Monit Comput 22(3):209-220, 2008]. The hypothesis of this validation study is that, flow-through capnometry will yield a more accurate estimate of ETCO(2) than sidestream capnometry when evaluated in a bench study during low tidal volumes and high oxygen administration via nasal cannula.

Resistive oxygen sensor using ceria-zirconia sensor material and ceria-yttria temperature compensating material for lean-burn engine.

Temperature compensating materials were investigated for a resistive oxygen sensor using Ce(0.9)Zr(0.1)O(2) as a sensor material for lean-burn engines.

Diagnosis of unruptured intracranial aneurysms: 3T MR angiography versus 64-channel multi-detector row CT angiography.

Background And Purpose: We compared 3-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography (3D TOF MRA) using a 3-tesla (T) MR unit with 64-channel multi-detector row computed tomographic angiography (64-MDCTA) for detection and characterization of angiographically proven unruptured intracranial aneurysms.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with 47 aneurysms and 8 patients without aneurysms underwent 3T, 3D TOF MRA; 64-MDCTA; and intra-arterial angiography. As a first study, 3 radiologists blinded to pertinent clinical information independently reviewed MRA and CTA images.

Simple and rapid determination of trace amounts of gold(III), palladium(II), and platinum(IV) in industrial waste solutions after recovery of noble metals by combined use of GFAAS and anion-exchange separation.

A simple and rapid method for the analysis of trace amounts of gold(III), palladium(II), and platinum(IV) by the combined use of graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry and anion-exchange separation was proposed, and successfully applied to the rapid determination of metals in industrial waste solutions obtained from the final process of noble-metal recovery factories, because noble metals can be selectively and quantitatively separated to a high degree by using a small column containing only a 0.7 g-portion of a common anion-exchange resin and a dilute thiourea solution.

[Evaluation by statistical brain perfusion SPECT analysis on MRI findings, kana pick-out test and Mini-Mental State Examination results in patients with forgetfulness].

The aim of this single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT) study was to determine the abnormality of the regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF) using a three-dimensional stereotactic surface projection (3 D-SSP) in 18 patients who were referred to the hospital because of forgetfulness. Two intergroup comparison by 3 D-SSP analysis was conducted based on MRI, kana pick-out test and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) results. Of the MRI findings, in the brain atrophy group, rCBF was decreased in the posterior cingulate gyrus, medial temporal structure and parieto-temporal association cortex; these rCBF-decreased areas are similar to the Alzheimer disease pattern.

[Diploic epidermoid cyst: case report].

We report the case of a diploic epidermoid cyst in the left front-parietal bone of a 70-year-old woman. A skull x-ray showed an osteolytic lesion with a sclerotic border, and CT scan revealed a low/iso-density mass and the destruction of both inner and outer tables. MRI showed hypo-intensity on T1-weighted image, hyper-intensity on T2-weighted imaging and remarkably-strong intensity on the diffusion-weighted imaging.

An outcome study of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using the Utstein template--a Japanese experience.

Publication of the Utstein style template has made it possible to evaluate and compare national, regional, and hospital based Emergency Medical Services. This research was a national investigation to present outcome data for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in Japan. 3029 OHCA patients who were transported to 10 Emergency and Critical Care Medical Center from November 1997 to April 1999 were recorded according to the Utstein style and the outcome evaluated by logistic regression analysis.