Aging Characteristics and Weld-solidified Structure in Al-Zn-Mg Alloy Welds

The aging characteristics and the weld-solidified structure of weld Al-Zn-Mg alloys, and the effects of grain and dendrite cell sizes on the aging characteristics of rapidly solidified Al-Zn-Mg alloys were examined by hardness measurements, the X-ray small-angle scattering and by optical- and transmission electron microscopies. Differences in macrostructures in weld Al-Zn-Mg alloys have no effect on their aging characteristics. Differences between microstructures of weld alloys and those of heat-affected zones in the alloy welds affect their aging characteristics. Sub-grains in the weld metals of Al-Zn-Mg alloy welds decrease their age-hardening capacities at 80°C, but increase them at 150°C. These results are discussed in terms of solute segregations and preferred precipitation η′ phases at sub-grain boundaries or on dislocations in the weld metals of Al-Zn-Mg alloy welds

The Viscosity of the Fused Salts Mixtures : KCl-LiCl and KCl-NaCl Systems

Isotherms of viscosity against molar compositions have been investigated over extended temperature ranges for the systems KCl-LiCl and KCl-NaCl and the activation energy for viscous flow are calculated with Eyring's theory. The activation energy showed negative deviation from additivity in KCl-LiCl system, but in KCl-NaCl system the activation energy showed positive deviation from additivity in the range of 0〜40 mol % NaCl and showed negative deviation in the range of 40〜100 mol % NaCl. These deviations are caused by the interaction between different types of molecules or ion pairs in the liquid mixture

The Electrical Conductivity and Activation Energy for Ionic Conductance of the Fused Salts Mixtures

The electrical conductivity of the fused salt systems KCl-LiCl, KCl-NaCl, KCl-KBr and NaCl-NaBr have been determined as functions of both temperature and molar fractions, and the activation energy for ionic conductance is calculated with Frenkel's theory. The isotherms of equivalent conductivity against molar fractions for system KCl-LiCl showed negative deviation from additivity and a minimum value was found at 20 mol % LiCl. The activation energy showed positive deviation from additivity and a maximum value was found at 40 mol % LiCl. In the KCl-NaCl, KCl-KBr and NaCl-NaBr systems, the isotherms of equivalent conductivity showed negative deviation from additivity and the activation energy showed positive deviation. The deviation of the activation energy from additivity are caused by the interactions between different types of cation and cation hole or anion and anion hole in the liquid mixture

Laparoscopic total colectomy with lymph node dissection for familial adenomatous polyposis with multiple colorectal cancers

　A 49-year-old Japanese man visited our hospital with chief complaints of difficulty with and bleeding during defecation. After a detailed examination, he was diagnosed with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) with multiple (five) colorectal cancers. The tumors were located in the right-sided, left-sided, and sigmoid colon, and the lower rectum. Regional lymph node involvement was observed, but no metastasis to other organs was detected. We, therefore, performed a laparoscopic total colectomy with superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) lymph node dissection. We were able to perform minimally invasive and cosmetically acceptable surgery using laparoscopy instead of highly-invasive open abdominal surgery. Our search of the literature revealed no reported cases of laparoscopic total colectomy with lymph node dissection for FAP with multiple colorectal cancers, making the present case the first to be reported in the literature

Association between perceived exertion and executive functions with serve accuracy among male university tennis players: A pilot study

Serve in tennis is a very important strokes and is positively correlated with the rankings of the Association of Tennis Professionals ranking. This study investigated the associations between time-course changes in the ratings for perceived exertion, executive function, and second serve accuracy during 30-min tennis exercise sessions. Eleven Japanese male tennis players participated in the study, and their executive function and second serve performance were evaluated using the paper version of the Stroop Color and Word Test, followed by a serve performance test. The participants took part in a 30-min tennis exercise program and performed the Stroop Color and Word Test, heart rate (HR) check, and second serve accuracy test before and after the tennis exercise. Pearson correlation was used to determine the relationships between the ratings for perceived exertion, interference scores on Stroop Color and Word Test performance, and second serve performance. Post exercise, the rating of perceived exertion tended to correlate with serve accuracy (r = −0.57, p = 0.07) and interference score (r = 0.65, p = 0.03). The pre-to-post changes in second serve accuracy were negatively associated with the changes in interference score (r = −0.54, p = 0.08) and interference score in the posttest (r = −0.73, p = 0.01). The results suggest that time-course changes in executive function when playing tennis are positively associated with the accuracy of the second serve. These findings expand the previous knowledge regarding the positive association between time-course changes in executive functions and percentage of points won when playing tennis by including more specific skills (i.e., second serve accuracy)

Two Types of Polyp Shape Observed in the Stomach of Patients with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome

The characteristics of gastric polyps in patients with Peutz-Jeghers (PJ) syndrome (PJS) have not been fully investigated. The objective of this study was to reveal the endoscopic and pathologic findings of gastric polyps in patients with PJS. We reviewed 11 patients with PJS treated at 6 institutions, and summarized the endo-scopic and pathologic features of their gastric polyps. The polyps were mainly classified into 2 types: (i) soli-tary or sporadic polyps > 5 mm, reddish in color with a sessile or semi-pedunculated morphology (n = 9); and (ii) multiple sessile polyps ≤ 5 mm with the same color tone as the peripheral mucosa (n = 9). Patients who underwent endoscopic mucosal resection for polyps > 5 mm were diagnosed with PJ polyps (n = 2), whereas those who underwent biopsy were diagnosed with hyperplastic polyps. Polyps ≤ 5 mm were pathologically diagnosed as fundic gland polyps or hyperplastic polyps. This study revealed that patients with PJS present with 2 types of polyps in the stomach. Endoscopic mucosal resection of polyps > 5 mm seems necessary for the pathologic diagnosis of PJ polyps

Event-Related Desynchronization and Corticomuscular Coherence Observed During Volitional Swallow by Electroencephalography Recordings in Humans

Swallowing in humans involves many cortical areas although it is partly mediated by a series of brainstem reflexes. Cortical motor commands are sent to muscles during swallow. Previous works using magnetoencephalography showed event-related desynchronization (ERD) during swallow and corticomuscular coherence (CMC) during tongue movements in the bilateral sensorimotor and motor-related areas. However, there have been few analogous works that use electroencephalography (EEG). We investigated the ERD and CMC in the bilateral sensorimotor, premotor, and inferior prefrontal areas during volitional swallow by EEG recordings in 18 healthy human subjects. As a result, we found a significant ERD in the beta frequency band and CMC in the theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands during swallow in those cortical areas. These results suggest that EEG can detect the desynchronized activity and oscillatory interaction between the cortex and pharyngeal muscles in the bilateral sensorimotor, premotor, and inferior prefrontal areas during volitional swallow in humans