[en] To compare the neutral, internal, and external rotation positions of the glenohumeral joint during magnetic resonance (MR) arthrography performed to assess changes in the shape of the labroligamentous complex (LLC) and in the labral tear. MR arthrography of the shoulder was retrospectively evaluated in 36 patients aged 14-66 (mean, 40) years. Fourteen cases were confirmed by arthroscopic surgery (7 SLAP lesions, 2 Bankart lesions, 1 both SLAP and Bankart lesions). Axial fat-suppressed T1-weighted spin-echo images were acquired with each shoulder in the neutral position, and with internal and external rotations. In each position, we measured the angle of rotation between the perpendicular line on the glenoid fossa and the long axis of the humeral head, analyzing the relationship between the rotational angle and changes in the shape of the LLC at each internal and external rotation, relative to the neutral position. In addition, labral tears in 14 arthroscopically confirmed joints were evaluated in each position. Mean angles of rotation relative to the neutral position were 44.1 and 45.3 degrees in internal and external rotation, respectively. Changes in the anterior LLC occurred in 25 and 24 cases of internal and external rotation, respectively. There was a significantly meaningful relationship between rotational angle and changes in the shape of the anterior LLC during external rotation, and when this changes was noticed, the rotational angle was wider (p<0.05). The posterior LLC changed in shape in 13 and 16 cases of internal and external rotation, respectively, but changes according to the angle of rotation were not statistically significant. In arthroscopically confirmed joints, diagnosis of the eight SLAP lesions at external rotation tended to become more accurate, but no statistically significant differences were noted (p=0.07). Two Bankart lesions were interpreted as a tear in all three positions, and one other such lesion was interpreted as a tear in the neutral position and at external rotation, and a possible tear at internal rotation. In shoulder MR arthrography, changes in the shape of the anterior LLC were statistically prominent according to the angle of external rotation, and accuracy of diagnosis in SLAP lesions tended to be significantly higher at external rotation. If a SLAP lesion causes clinical concern, additional axial MR arthrography with the shoulder externally rotated is suggested

[en] Six bare stents and six covered stents were inserted in the trachea of 12 dogs under general anesthesia. After 1-10 weeks of observation, the dogs were killed, and the trachea and lung were examined grossly and histologically. Pneumonia and stent migration were observed more frequently at covered stent group. Inflammatory change of the trachea was more severe at covered stent group. In conclusion, we believe that it is inadequate to insert silicone covered stent in the tracheobronchial tree. (Author)

[en] In this study, an organic Rankine-cycle system using HFC-134a, which is a power cycle corresponding to a low temperature heat source, such as that for geothermal power generation, was investigated from the view point of power optimization. In contrast to conventional approaches, the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of the working fluid within the heat exchangers were taken into account by using a discretized heat exchanger model. The inlet flow rates and temperatures of both the heat source and the heat sink were fixed. The total heat transfer area was fixed, whereas the heat-exchanger areas of the evaporator and the condenser were allocated to maximize the power output. The power was optimized on the basis of three design parameters. The optimal combination of parameters that can maximize power output was determined on the basis of the results of the study. The results also indicate that the evaporation process has to be optimized to increase the power output

[en] The utilization of unused energy is important because it can afford to offer a chance to increase energy efficiency of a heat pump system. One of the promising unused energy sources is river water. It can be used as a heat source in both heating and cooling effectively with its superior features as a secondary working fluids. In this study, the performance of a 5HP heat pump system using river water as a heat source is investigated by both experiment and simulation. According to system simulation results, performance improvement of condenser seems more effective than that of evaporator for better COPH. The serial connection is also preferred among several methods to improve plate type heat exchanger performance. The experimental results show that the hot water of 50∼60 .deg. C can be acquired from water heat source of 5∼9 .deg. C with COPH of 2.7∼3.5

[en] In this study, a low-grade heat source power generation system using the Kalina cycle was investigated by the simulation method. The Kalina cycle system can be used for the utilization of a low-temperature heat sources such as geothermal and industrial waste heat that are not hot enough to produce steam. The sea/river water can be considered as a cooling media. A steady-state simulation model was developed to analyze and optimize its performance. The model contains a turbine, a pump, an expansion valve and heat exchangers. The turbine and pump were modelled by an isentropic efficiency, while a condenser, an evaporator and a regenerative heat exchanger were modeled by UA-LMTD method with a counter-flow assumption. The effect of the temperature glide in the evaporator on the cycle performance is investigated in detail

[en] The myocardial bridge (MB) is an intramural segment of coronary artery that is covered with myocardial tissue. The current diagnostic methods are coronary angiography, intravascular ultrasound and intracoronary Doppler, which are all invasive modalities. In this study, multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) was used to detect and evaluate the anatomical properties of the MB. The 607 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease underwent 64-slice MDCT. MB was diagnosed when an intramural segment of coronary artery was visualized on axial and multiplanar reconstruction images. The prevalence, length, myocardial thickness, and location were evaluated. Of the 607 patients, 39 (6.42%) had a MB. In 20 patients (52.6%), the MB was located in the mid left anterior descending artery. The length of tunneled artery was a mean 16.3 mm, from 6.9 mm to 30 mm, and the maximum thickness of the myocardial tissue was between 0.5 mm and 3.9 mm, with a mean of 1.8 mm. The length of the MB correlated significantly with thickness (P=0.049). The incidence of MB and its anatomical properties can be evaluated with MDCT, which might be a useful and noninvasive method of detecting this variant. (author)

[en] In this study, the potential performance enhancement in a dual heat pump system through series operation was investigated by a comparison between the performance for parallel and series operation for a heating supply temperature of 60 .deg. C. To compare the performance of each configuration fairly, the heat transfer surface area of the heat exchangers was fixed. The inlet temperatures and the flow rates of the heat source and the load were also fixed. In addition, the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of the working fluids were considered to achieve a more realistic comparison. The results show that the heating coefficient of performance (COP) of the series configuration is approximately 5% higher than that of the parallel configuration under the simulation conditions considered in the present study

[en] To assess the usefulness of three-dimensional Fourier transformation constructive interference in steady state (CISS) for the evaluation of chondromalacia. In 110 knee joints which underwent both MR imaging and arthroscopy, the findings were retrospectively reviewed. MR imaging sequences included two-dimensional dual-echo turbo spin-echo imaging along the sagittal and coronal planes, two-dimensional fast low-angle shot (FLASH) with magnetization transfer along the axial plane, and three-dimensional CISS along the sagittal plane. After the cartilage surfaces of each joint were divided into eight areas (each medial and lateral area of patellar facets, trochlear surfaces, femoral condyles, and tibial plateaux), a total of 880 areas were assessed. Using both combined two-dimensional (2-D turbo spin-echo and FLASH) and CISS imaging during different sessions, each chondromalacia case was assigned one of five grades. Arthroscopy revealed the presence of chondromalacia in 162 areas. This was first grade in 77 areas, second grade in 38, third grade in 21, and fourth grade in 26. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 2-D and CISS imaging were 48.1%, 93.7% and 85.3%, and 45.7%, 95.3% and 86.1%, respectively. Agreement between MR and arthroscopic staging occurred in 81.48% of 2-D imaging procedures and 82.16% of CISS procedures. If a difference of one grade was accepted, these proportions rose to 84.32% and 85.22%, respectively, though this increase was statistically insignificant. Though CISS imaging was less sensitive than 2-D imaging in the grading of chondromalacia, additional CISS imaging can help improve the accuracy of this grading

[en] Polycrystalline ZnO/La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (LSMO) heterostructures were fabricated onto Si(100) substrates by magnetron sputtering. A rectifying behavior, as well as an enhanced magnetoresistance (MR) ratio (∝12%), was obtained in the heterostructure with respect to the LSMO single layer (a MR ratio ∝6%). The degradation of the rectifying behavior for the LSMO layer thinner than 20 nm is mainly due to the change in hole concentration. We suggest a possibility that the magneto-transport and the magneto-optical properties of manganites can be modified by the formation of this kind of heterostructure. (copyright 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH and Co. KGaA, Weinheim) (orig.)

[en] The uniformity of Cu growth on Pd nanocatalysts was controlled by using organic additives in the formation of electroless Cu seed layers. Polyethylene glycol (PEG, Mw. 8000) not only reduced the deposition rate but also improved the uniformity of Cu growth on each Pd nanocatalyst during the seed layer formation. The stronger suppression effect of PEG on Cu than on Pd reduced the difference in the deposition rate between the two surfaces, resulting in the uniform deposition. Meanwhile, bis(3-sulfopropyl) disulfide degraded the uniformity by strong and nonselective suppression. The sheet resistance measurement and atomic force microscopy imaging revealed that the uniform Cu growth by PEG was more advantageous for the formation of a thin and smooth Cu seed layer than the non-uniform growth. The uniform Cu growth also had a positive influence on the subsequent Cu electrodeposition: the 60-nm-thick electrodeposited Cu film on the Cu seed layer showed low resistivity (2.70 μΩ·cm), low surface roughness (6.98 nm), and good adhesion strength. - Highlights: • Uniform Cu growth on Pd was achieved in formation of electroless Cu seed layer. • PEG addition to electroless bath improved the uniformity of Cu growth on Pd. • A thin, smooth and continuous Cu seed layer was obtained with PEG. • Adhesion strength of the Cu seed layer was also improved with PEG. • The uniformity improvement positively affected subsequent Cu electrodeposition