Three-dimensional crystalline carbon: Stable polymers of C20 fullerene

We report on a first-principles total-energy calculation that provides the energetics and electronic structure of stable polymerized fullerites consisting of the smallest fullerene C20. We find that the C20 fullerene has periodic three-dimensional covalent networks with orthorhombic and tetragonal symmetries. Both are found to be energetically stable and to be elemental semiconductors with a moderate energy gap of about 1.5 eV. Substantially high peaks of the density of states are found to appear below the top of the valence band, suggesting that these materials under hole-doped conditions are candidates for superconductors

Characterizing the neurocognitive profiles of children with moyamoya disease using the Das Naglieri cognitive assessment system

Although cognitive impairment is well-documented in children with moyamoya disease (MMD), selective decline in specific neurocognitive domains remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to characterize the neurocognitive profile of children with MMD using the Das Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System (CAS) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC-IV). We analyzed the neurocognitive data of 30 children (median age, 7 years) with MMD who were assessed with the CAS and the WISC-IV before surgery. We focused on the comparison of standard scores and intraindividual differences across domains. The CAS scores significantly varied across four measures (standard scores, p < 0.001; intraindividual differences, p < 0.001). Post-hoc analyses revealed that the standard scores and intraindividual differences for successive processing were significantly lower than those for planning and attention. The WISC-IV scores did not significantly vary among the four measures, although the working memory index was the lowest among the four measures. The within-individual weakness in successive processing, a form of working memory function, may be a distinct characteristic of children with MMD. The CAS may be more sensitive than the WISC-IV for detecting this selective neurocognitive weakness in children with MMD

RESULTS OF EATON AND LITTLER'S LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION FOR INSTABILITY OF THE FIRST CARPOMETACARPAL JOINT

This study presents the cases of Eaton and Littler's ligament reconstruction for the treatment of instability of lst CM joint resulting from early stage osteoarthritis (Group OA), trauma (Group T), and a part of generalized joint laxity (Group GJL) in 21 joints of 20 cases. Omitting six cases with less than one year follow-up, 15 joints in 14 cases were analyzed. Clinically, hypermobility pain was improved in all joints. However, eight out of 14 patients felt their joints stretched, but still had the normal range of motion. Grip power and pinch power was significantly improved (P＜0.01, P＜0.05). Comparing each group, only Group T revealed a significant difference between preoperative and postoper- ative grip power (P＜0.01). In increase of grip power, Group T were more significantly improved than Group OA (P＜0.01) and Group GJL (P＜0.05). Radiographically, postoper- ative stages of 4 joints in 4 cases out of 8 cases which felt stretched progressed from their preoperative stages. We assumed that the newly reconstructed ligament may be strong enough to maintain the stability of 1st CM joint and ligament reconstruction is most effective in treating post-traumatic instability

RESULTS OF EATON AND LITTLER'S LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION FOR INSTABILITY OF THE FIRST CARPOMETACARPAL JOINT

This study presents the cases of Eaton and Littler's ligament reconstruction for the treatment of instability of lst CM joint resulting from early stage osteoarthritis (Group OA), trauma (Group T), and a part of generalized joint laxity (Group GJL) in 21 joints of 20 cases. Omitting six cases with less than one year follow-up, 15 joints in 14 cases were analyzed. Clinically, hypermobility pain was improved in all joints. However, eight out of 14 patients felt their joints stretched, but still had the normal range of motion. Grip power and pinch power was significantly improved (P＜0.01, P＜0.05). Comparing each group, only Group T revealed a significant difference between preoperative and postoper- ative grip power (P＜0.01). In increase of grip power, Group T were more significantly improved than Group OA (P＜0.01) and Group GJL (P＜0.05). Radiographically, postoper- ative stages of 4 joints in 4 cases out of 8 cases which felt stretched progressed from their preoperative stages. We assumed that the newly reconstructed ligament may be strong enough to maintain the stability of 1st CM joint and ligament reconstruction is most effective in treating post-traumatic instability

Voxel‐based clustered imaging by multiparameter diffusion tensor images for predicting the grade and proliferative activity of meningioma

[Introduction] Meningiomas are the most common primary central nervous system tumors. Predicting the grade and proliferative activity of meningiomas would influence therapeutic strategies. We aimed to apply the multiple parameters from preoperative diffusion tensor images for predicting meningioma grade and proliferative activity. [Methods] Nineteen patients with low-grade meningiomas and eight with high-grade meningiomas were included. For the prediction of proliferative activity, the patients were divided into two groups: Ki-67 monoclonal antibody labeling index (MIB-1 LI) < 5% (lower MIB-1 LI group; n = 18) and MIB-1 LI ≥ 5% (higher MIB-1 LI group; n = 9). Six features, diffusion-weighted imaging, fractional anisotropy, mean, axial, and radial diffusivities, and raw T2 signal with no diffusion weighting, were extracted as multiple parameters from diffusion tensor imaging. The two-level clustering approach for a self-organizing map followed by the K-means algorithm was applied to cluster a large number of input vectors with the six features. We also validated whether the diffusion tensor-based clustered image (DTcI) was helpful for predicting preoperative meningioma grade or proliferative activity. [Results] The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic curves from the 16-class DTcIs for differentiating high- and low-grade meningiomas were 0.870, 0.901, 0.891, and 0.959, and those from the 10-class DTcIs for differentiating higher and lower MIB-1 LIs were 0.508, 0.770, 0.683, and 0.694, respectively. The log-ratio values of class numbers 13, 14, 15, and 16 were significantly higher in high-grade meningiomas than in low-grade meningiomas (p < .001). With regard to MIB-1 LIs, the log-ratio values of class numbers 8, 9, and 10 were higher in meningiomas with higher MIB-1 groups (p < .05). [Conclusion] The multiple diffusion tensor imaging-based parameters from the voxel-based DTcIs can help differentiate between low- and high-grade meningiomas and between lower and higher proliferative activities