The Study of Copper Powder Sintering for Porous Wick Structures with High Capillary Force.

The porosity, permeability, and capillary force of porous sintered copper were examined in relation to the effects of copper powder size, pore-forming agent, and sintering conditions. Cu powder with particle sizes of 100 and 200 μm was mixed with pore-forming agents ranging from 15 to 45 weight percent, and the mixture was sintered in a vacuum tube furnace. Copper powder necks were formed at sintering temperatures higher than 900 °C.

Controlled self-assembly of block copolymers in printed sub-20 nm cross-bar structures.

Directed self-assembly (DSA) of block copolymers (BCPs) has garnered much attention due to its excellent pattern resolution, simple process, and good compatibility with many other lithography methods for useful nanodevice applications. Here, we present a BCP-based multiple nanopatterning process to achieve three-dimensional (3D) pattern formation of metal/oxide hybrid nanostructures. We employed a self-assembled sub-20 nm SiO line pattern as a master mold for nanotransfer printing (nTP) to generate a cross-bar array.

Topographically designed hybrid nanostructures via nanotransfer printing and block copolymer self-assembly.

Nanotransfer printing (nTP) has attracted much attention due to its high pattern resolution, simple process, and low processing cost for useful nanofabrication. Here, we introduce a thermally assisted nTP (T-nTP) process for the effective fabrication of various periodic three-dimensional (3D) nanosheets, such as concavo-convex lines, spine lines, square domes, and complex multi-line patterns. The T-nTP method allows continuous nanoscale 3D patterns with functionality to be transferred onto both rigid and flexible substrates by heat without any collapse of uniform convex nanostructures with nanochannels.

Effects of Cooling Rate during Quenching and Tempering Conditions on Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Carbon Steel Flange.

This study investigated the mechanical properties of steel in flanges, with the goal of obtaining high strength and high toughness. Quenching was applied alone or in combination with tempering at one of nine combinations of three temperatures and durations . Cooling rates at various flange locations during quenching were first estimated using finite element method simulation, and the three locations were selected for mechanical testing in terms of cooling rate.

Sensory characteristics and consumer acceptance of frozen cooked rice by a rapid freezing process compared to homemade and aseptic packaged cooked rice.

Descriptive analysis and consumer acceptance tests were conducted with frozen (FCR), homemade (HCR), and aseptic-packaged (ACR) cooked rice products from two cultivars-IM and SD. FCR was prepared using a rapid freezing process, which may provide consumers with a quality similar to that of HCR. The intensity of the flavors of roasted, glutinous rice, rice cake, and rice starch and the textures of glutinousness, moistness, chunkiness, adhesiveness, and squishiness were all greater in the FCR as compared to the HCR and ACR (p<0.

Magnetic levitating polymeric nano/microparticular substrates for three-dimensional tumor cell culture.

Herein, we describe magnetic cell levitation models using conventional polymeric microparticles or nanoparticles as a substrate for the three-dimensional tumor cell culture. When the magnetic force originating from the ring-shaped magnets overcame the gravitational force, the magnetic field-levitated KB tumor cells adhered to the surface area of magnetic iron oxide (Fe(3)O(4))-encapsulated nano/microparticles and concentrated clusters of levitated cells, ultimately developing tumor cells to tumor spheroids. These simple cell culture models may prove useful for the screening of anticancer drugs and their formulations.

pH-sensitive properties of surface charge-switched multifunctional polymeric micelle.

A surface charge-switched polymeric micelle with a pH signal was developed as a drug-carrying nanovehicle for tumor targeting. The micelles (particle size: approximately 85 nm), constructed from poly(L-lactic acid)-b-poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lysine-N(epsilon)-(2,3-dimethyl maleic acid)) (PLA-b-PEG-b-PLys-DMA) and formed by self-assembly in an aqueous pH 7.4 solution, consisted of a hydrophobic core (PLA core) and two hydrophilic shells (PEG shell and PLys-DMA shell).

Multivariate analysis of the predictors of survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization: focusing on superselective chemoembolization.

Objective: While the prognostic factors of survival for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) are well known, the clinical significance of performing selective TACE for HCC patients has not been clearly documented. We tried to analyze the potential factors of disease-free survival for these patients, including the performance of selective TACE.

Materials And Methods: A total of 151 patients with HCC who underwent TACE were retrospectively analyzed for their disease-free survival (a median follow-up of 23 months, range: 1-88 months).

Comparison of 7 staging systems for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization.

Background: Many liver staging systems have been proposed for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after locoregional therapy; however, controversies persist regarding which system is the best. In this study, the authors compared the performance of 7 staging systems in a cohort of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial chemoembolization.

Methods: In total, 131 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent transarterial chemoembolization between August 1998 and February 2005 were included in the study.

Local recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after segmental transarterial chemoembolization: risk estimates based on multiple prognostic factors.

Objective: To determine the prognostic factors for local recurrence of nodular hepatocellular carcinoma after segmental transarterial chemoembolization.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-four nodular hepatocellular carcinoma tumors < or = 5 cm were retrospectively analyzed for local recurrence after segmental transarterial chemoembolization using follow-up CT images (median follow-up of 17 months, 4-77 months in range). The tumors were divided into four groups (IA, IB, IIA, and IIB) according to whether the one-month follow-up CT imaging, after segmental transarterial chemoembolization, showed homogeneous (Group I) or inhomogeneous (Group II) iodized oil accumulation, or whether the tumors were located within the liver segment (Group A) or in a segmental border zone (Group B).

Sub-micrometer patterning of proteins by electric lithography.

We report in this paper an electric lithographic (EL) technique to generate protein patterns with sub-micrometer resolution on a poly(N-tBOC-2-aminoethyl methacrylate) surface. In the EL process, an electric potential is applied between metal patterns on a mask and the poly(N-tBOC-2-aminoethyl methacrylate) layer to electrochemically induce the dissociation of the tBOC from the amine functional groups. Proteins are then selectively attached to the amine functional groups in the modified polymer surface areas to form protein patterns.

Risk factors for local tumor recurrence after segmental transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma: the importance of tumor located in the segmental border zone.

Objective: We wanted to evaluate whether tumors located in a segmental border zone are predisposed to local recurrence after performing segmental transarterial chemoembolization for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: Seventy-three hepatocellular carcinoma nodules were retrospectively analyzed for local tumor recurrence after performing segmental transarterial chemoembolization by using follow-up CT studies (median follow-up period: 20 months, range: 4-77 months). The tumors were divided into two groups according to whether the lesions were located at the segmental border zone (Group I) or not (Group II).

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma using multitined expandable electrodes: comparison of subcapsular and nonsubcapsular tumors.

Objective: Our objective was to compare the prognosis of subcapsular and nonsubcapsular hepatocellular carcinoma after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation using multitined expandable electrodes.

Materials And Methods: Some controversies exist about the clinical usefulness of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of subcapsular hepatocellular carcinoma. Twenty-eight patients underwent percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of 43 hepatocellular carcinomas using multitined expandable electrodes.