Anion dependence of camel-shape capacitance at the interface between mercury and ionic liquids studied using pendant drop method

The electrocapillarity and zero-frequency differential capacitance, Cd, have been studied using pendant drop method, at the Hg interface of an ionic liquid (IL), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide, [C2mim+][TFSA−], and have been compared with those of [C2mim+]BF, an IL with the common cation and a different anion, to focus on the anion dependence of zero-frequency Cd. The Hg interface of [C2mim+][TFSA−], the IL of the larger anion in the present study, exhibits greater zero-frequency Cd than that of [C2mim+]BF, the IL of the smaller anion. This behavior contradicts a simple expectation in which larger ion leads to smaller Cd. This apparent contradiction is explained by proximity of the charged moiety of TFSA− to the electrode surface compared with that of BF. The potential dependence of zero-frequency Cd for the two ILs both exhibits one-hump camel shape around the potential of zero charge (Epzc), which has been predicted to be specific behavior of the electrical double layer of ILs by theory and simulation. The humps are located at potentials more negative than Epzc. From a mean-field lattice-gas theory for the EDL in ILs, this negative shift can be interpreted that the charged moiety for C2mim+ is more easily condensed in the EDL than those for BF and TFSA−

Efficient generation of single domain antibodies with high affinities and enhanced thermal stabilities

Shinozaki, N., Hashimoto, R., Fukui, K. et al. Efficient generation of single domain antibodies with high affinities and enhanced thermal stabilities. Sci Rep 7, 5794 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-06277-x

WeaveNet for Approximating Two-sided Matching Problems

Matching, a task to optimally assign limited resources under constraints, is a fundamental technology for society. The task potentially has various objectives, conditions, and constraints; however, the efficient neural network architecture for matching is underexplored. This paper proposes a novel graph neural network (GNN), \textit{WeaveNet}, designed for bipartite graphs. Since a bipartite graph is generally dense, general GNN architectures lose node-wise information by over-smoothing when deeply stacked. Such a phenomenon is undesirable for solving matching problems. WeaveNet avoids it by preserving edge-wise information while passing messages densely to reach a better solution. To evaluate the model, we approximated one of the \textit{strongly NP-hard} problems, \textit{fair stable matching}. Despite its inherent difficulties and the network's general purpose design, our model reached a comparative performance with state-of-the-art algorithms specially designed for stable matching for small numbers of agents

3D Point Cloud Registration with Learning-based Matching Algorithm

We present a novel differential matching algorithm for 3D point cloud registration. Instead of only optimizing the feature extractor for a matching algorithm, we propose a learning-based matching module optimized to the jointly-trained feature extractor. We focused on edge-wise feature-forwarding architectures, which are memory-consuming but can avoid the over-smoothing effect that GNNs suffer. We improve its memory efficiency to scale it for point cloud registration while investigating the best way of connecting it to the feature extractor. Experimental results show our matching module's significant impact on performance improvement in rigid/non-rigid and whole/partial point cloud registration datasets with multiple contemporary feature extractors. For example, our module boosted the current SOTA method, RoITr, by +5.4%, and +7.2% in the NFMR metric and +6.1% and +8.5% in the IR metric on the 4DMatch and 4DLoMatch datasets, respectively

Successful lung-protective ventilatory management during the VV-ECMO in a severe COVID-19 pneumonia patient with extensive pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema: a case report

BACKGROUND: Ventilatory management of respiratory failure with pneumomediastinum/subcutaneous emphysema is not established. Herein, we report a case of severe COVID-19 pneumonia with extensive pneumomediastinum/subcutaneous emphysema, rescued by thorough lung-protective ventilatory management after applying the VV-ECMO. CASE PRESENTATION: A 68-year-old male with no medical history was admitted to a local hospital and diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia. His pulmonary parameters worsened during invasive ventilation due to the development of pneumomediastinum/subcutaneous emphysema, and then he was transferred to our hospital. On arrival, we immediately decided to apply VV-ECMO and switch to ultraprotective ventilation. After maintaining the initial ventilation with a neuromuscular blocking agent for 2 days, we gradually increased PEEP while limiting PIP to 25 cmH2O. The patient was weaned off VV-ECMO on day 10; he was transferred to the medical ward after extubation. CONCLUSIONS: Lung-protective ventilatory management should be performed thoroughly during VV-ECMO in severe COVID-19 pneumonia with pneumomediastinum/subcutaneous emphysema

Bifunctionality of Rh3+ Modifier on TiO2 and Working Mechanism of Rh3+/TiO2 Photocatalyst under Irradiation of Visible Light

A rhodium(III) ion (Rh3+)-modified TiO2 (Rh3+/TiO2) photocatalyst, prepared by a simple adsorption method and exhibiting high levels of photocatalytic activity in degradation of organic compounds, was investigated by using X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements, (photo)electrochemical measurements, double-beam photoacoustic (DB-PA) spectroscopic measurements, and photoluminescence measurements. Based on the results, the features of the Rh3+ modifier and the working mechanism of the Rh3+/TiO2 photocatalyst are discussed. XAFS measurements revealed that the Rh3+ species were highly dispersed and almost atomically isolated on TiO2. The (photo)electrochemical measurements, DB-PA spectroscopic measurements, and photoluminescence showed a unique bifunction of the Rh3+ modifier as a promoter for O2 reductions and an electron injector to the conduction band of TiO2 for response to visible light. The reasons for the Rh3+/TiO2 photocatalyst exhibiting higher levels of photocatalytic activity than those of TiO2 photocatalysts modified with other metal ions are also discussed on the basis of obtained results

Mirizzi Syndrome with a Biliobiliary Fistula : a case report

Mirizzi syndrome is a rare complication of cholelithiasis, which is defined as a common bile duct obstruction due to stones impacted in Hartman’s pouch or the cystic duct of the gallbladder. The impacted stones and surrounding inflammation can lead to a biliobiliary fistula. We herein present the case of a 73-year-old Japanese man with a biliobiliary fistula that was diagnosed peroral cholangiography (POCS). We performed partial cholecystectomy and choledochoplasty as the stone had eroded almost the entire circumference of the bile duct. Postoperative complications included a minor bile leak from the repaired common bile duct apparent on postoperative day 1, which was managed conservatively. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 9. Based on this experience, POCS is useful for detecting the existence of a biliobiliary fistula in cases of Mirizzi syndrome. Once a biliobiliary fistula is confirmed, it is important to select an appropriate surgical procedure based on the extent of common bile duct involvement in the inflammatory process

Research and development of a laparoscopic surgical device for ligating endless organs based on a flexible structure

While laparoscopic surgery has become increasingly widely used, many laparoscopic procedures are time-consuming and difficult to accomplish compared to open surgery. One such procedure is the ligation of endless organs. In this paper, the development and prototyping of a laparoscopic instrument that could significantly increase the efficiency of laparoscopic ligation is outlined. The mechanism is based on a snake-like flexible structure which is actuated by control wires. A simple simulation was carried out by both experienced surgical staff as well as non-surgical persons to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed mechanism