Midterm results of extensive primary repair of the thoracic aorta by means of total arch replacement with open stent graft placement for an acute type A aortic dissection

ObjectivesWe sought to describe the midterm results of extensive primary repair of the thoracic aorta by means of the modified elephant trunk technique with a stent graft for acute type A aortic dissection, particularly the changes of the false lumen shown by enhanced computed tomographic scanning.MethodsThe subjects were 35 consecutive patients who received arch replacement with open stent grafting for type A acute aortic dissection between December 1997 and April 2002. The mean follow-up period was 55 months (range, 30-83 months). Computed tomographic scanning was performed at 1, 3, 12, and 36 months postoperatively to detect thrombosis and obliteration of the false lumen after its exclusion by the stent graft. The diameter of the aorta was measured at 3 levels: the distal edge of the stent graft, the diaphragm, and the origin of the superior mesenteric artery.ResultsTwo patients died in the initial operation, but no patients required additional surgical treatment of the thoracic aorta. The mean diameter of the stent grafts was 26.2 mm, and the mean length was 8.9 cm. Thrombus formation in the false lumen was recognized at the distal edge of the graft in all patients, at the diaphragmatic level in 26 patients, and at the superior mesenteric artery level in 15 patients. Obliteration of the false lumen was recognized at the distal edge of the graft in all patients, at the diaphragmatic level in 20 patients, and at the superior mesenteric artery level in 15 patients. The aorta distal to the stent graft showed minimal changes.ConclusionsIn patients with acute type A aortic dissections, it is possible to perform extensive primary repair of the thoracic aorta with relative safety by using a synthetic graft with a self-expanding stent, and this method might reduce the necessity of further operations not only for the distal descending aorta but also for the thoracoabdominal aorta

源氏物語篝火巻 : 源氏と玉鬘の贈答歌 「空と煙」

源氏物語篝火巻には源氏から玉鬘への贈った歌がある。 源氏は、 自分の心情を庭園の篝火の煙に喩える。 玉鬘も、 玉鬘自身の状況についての考えを空と煙の和歌で返歌する。 紫式部は、 この表現によって玉鬘の人物造型を巧みに描写している。 この表現の調査によって、 贈答歌の新解釈を行った。In the "Kagaribi" Chapter of The Tale of Genji Hikaru-Genji presents his waka poem to Tamakazura. In the poem he compares his affection for her to the smoke of a bonfire in the garden. In reply she too makes a poem in which she compares the relation between them to the sky and the smoke. In this paper I will make it clear how skillfully Murasaki-Shikibu portrays the character of Tamakazura in this poetical exchange which also gives an important clue to a new interpretation of the exchange of waka poems

蜻蛉日記上巻 長歌後の 「駒」 の贈答歌

『蜻蛉日記』上巻の道綱母の長歌のあとに、兼家の長歌が返されている。この兼家の長歌では、道綱母を朝廷所管の「御牧」の「馬」に喩えている。　長歌後の贈答歌四首全てに「駒」「馬」が詠み込まれ、駒に関連した和歌表現で贈答歌が作られている。蜻蛉日記の「馬」「駒」の表現の特質は、長く培われてきた伝統的な表現である。「駒」「馬」の表現の調査によって、贈答歌の新解釈を行った。In the first volume of KAGERO NIKKI, Kaneie returned his choka to Michitsuna-no-haha after her choka. Kaneie compared Michitsuna-no-haha to a horse at Mimaki under the control of the Imperial Court. After the choka, they include "koma" and "muma" in all four wakas that are exchanged. Expressions like "koma" or "muma" in the KAGERO NIKKI can be considered as long-established and traditional expressions. This research offers a new interpretation of "koma" and "muma"

Mg2Ge/Si Composite Electrodes Prepared by Gas-Deposition as Anodes for Lithium Rechargeable Battery

Mg2Ge/Si composite electrodes were prepared by a gas-deposition (GD) method and evaluated their electrochemical properties of anodes for Li rechargeable battery. The discharge capacity of the Mg2Ge/Si composite electrodes increased in comparison with that of Mg2Ge GD-film electrode. Among them, the Mg2Ge/Si composite electrode with 30 wt% Si content exhibited good cycle stability, which is 603 mAh g-1 after 200 cycles. At this composition of composite, each Si particle was surrounded with Mg2Ge layer, and the Mg2Ge layer appears to be easy to release the stress generated in the Si particle at Li insertion-extraction because Mg2Ge is more ductile than Si. Thus, we succeeded to develop the electrode which can take advantage of both high capacity of Si and good cyclability of Mg2Ge

Anode Properties of LaSi2/Si Composite Thick-Film Electrodes for Lithium Secondary Batteries

LaSi2 and LaSi2/Si composite as active materials for the negative electrode of lithium-ion battery were synthesized by mechanical alloying. Furthermore, thick-film electrodes prepared with a gas-deposition method by using these material powders, and their electrode performances were investigated. The LaSi2 GD-film electrode exhibited superb cycle stability, where more than 70 % of the initial capacity was maintained for a period of 1000 cycles, though the initial capacity was only about 40 mA h g-1. As for the LaSi2/Si composite electrodes, the original high discharge capacity of Si was retained even after several hundred cycles. The capacity after 300 cycles was 500 mA h g-1, which is larger than the theoretical capacity of graphite electrode practically used. Thus, we succeeded in developing the new composite electrode with both high discharge capacity of Si and good cyclability of LaSi2

北海道童謡史

There is a clear distinction between the nursery rhymes appearing in the 1920s and the songs traditionally sung among the people (known as warabeuta), and "original nursery rhymes"appeared in the children\u27s magazine "Akaitori"(The Red Bird) that was published in July, 1918. The editor of the contributors\u27 column for nursery rhymes was Hakushu Kitahara, and the songs chosen were "artistic songs written with simple lyrics based on the climate and traditions of Japan, "and they spread throughout Japan from the 1920s. Even in Hokkaido, those influenced by "The Red Bird"published one nursery rhyme after another, and Hokkaido\u27s first book of nurseryrhymes, "Ari no O-Shiro"(The Ants\u27 Castle) was published in 1928 by Chinmoku Hasebe. This study follows the footsteps of the Hokkaido poets who composed those nursery rhymes, and provides a summary of their achievements