Clinical Influence of Cervical Spinal Canal Stenosis on Neurological Outcome after Traumatic Cervical Spinal Cord Injury without Major Fracture or Dislocation

Study DesignRetrospective case series.PurposeTo clarify the influence of cervical spinal canal stenosis (CSCS) on neurological functional recovery after traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) without major fracture or dislocation.Overview of LiteratureThe biomechanical etiology of traumatic CSCI remains under discussion and its relationship with CSCS is one of the most controversial issues in the clinical management of traumatic CSCI.MethodsTo obtain a relatively uniform background, patients non-surgically treated for an acute C3–4 level CSCI without major fracture or dislocation were selected. We analyzed 58 subjects with traumatic CSCI using T2-weighted mid-sagittal magnetic resonance imaging. The sagittal diameter of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) column, degree of canal stenosis, and neurologic outcomes in motor function, including improvement rate, were assessed.ResultsThere were no significant relationships between sagittal diameter of the CSF column at the C3–4 segment and their American Spinal Injury Association motor scores at both admission and discharge. Moreover, no significant relationships were observed between the sagittal diameter of the CSF column at the C3–4 segment and their neurological recovery during the following period.ConclusionsNo relationships between pre-existing CSCS and neurological outcomes were evident after traumatic CSCI. These results suggest that decompression surgery might not be recommended for traumatic CSCI without major fracture or dislocation despite pre-existing CSCS

Studies on the Small Mammal Fauna of Sabah, East Malaysia I. Order Chiroptera and Genus Tupaia (Primates)

Tree-shrews, Tupaia montana, T. tana and twenty-four species of Chiroptera are studied in this paper. Among twenty-four bat species, Cynopterus horsfieldi is new to Sabah, while two bats, Myotis siligorensis and Miniopterus magnater are the first to be reported from Borneo Island. The last species, Miniopterus magnater was formerly treated as a subspecies of M. schreibersi, but the authors have come to the conclusion by the present re-examination that this animal is not schreibersi but a different form which has never been described as a species. As they show good specific characters, the present authors have shifted its taxon to the species rank. Some ecological data for these species which were recorded in three major caves on the east coast are also given. Some statistical analyses are tried for the population of Tupaia montana, and the results are compared with the ecological data

Bat Myobiidae from Sabah, Borneo

Twenty three species, inclusive of 8 new species and 1 new subspecies, of bat Myobiidae from Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia, were recorded. The plesiotypes of Binuncus (Probinuncus) cynopterus Fain (male) and Acanthophthirius (Myotimyobia) adversus Fain (female) were designated. Some comments on host systematics and on availability of myobiids as indicators for phylogeny of hosts were annexed, showing several examples

Assembled Structures of Anion-Responsive π‑Systems Tunable by Alkyl/Perfluoroalkyl Segments in Peripheral Side Chains

Anion-responsive π-conjugated molecules carrying semifluoroalkyl chains were newly synthesized to examine the self-assembling features and resulting electronic properties of these molecules and of ion-pairing complexes formed when combined with a planar cation salt. Although these compounds self-organize into columnar mesophases similar to that of their hydrocarbon analog, in both the charge-free and charge-based states, the fluorous moieties appended to the π-conjugated units change the detailed phase-transition profiles and improve the thermal stability of the ion-pairing complexes. The length of the fluoroalkyl chains at the termini strongly affects the charge carrier mobility through the one-dimensionally arranged π-conjugated motifs, giving highly mobile charge carriers with extremely high intrinsic mobility of 1.1 cm² V^–1 s^–1 as a maximum value

A Comparative Study of Urban Air Quality in Megacities in Mexico and Japan: Based on Japan-Mexico Joint Research Project on Formation Mechanism of Ozone, VOCs and PM2.5, and Proposal of Countermeasure Scenario

Photochemical ozone and black carbon are key substances both for regional air pollution and global climate change. These two pollutants are so-called SLCPs (Short-Lived Climate Pollutants). International comparison studies among megacities with widely different conditions are effective in clarifying the formation mechanisms of SLCPs. A comparison study in megacity areas of Japan and Mexico mainly focusing on ozone, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and PM2.5 was conducted based on air pollution trend analysis and field measurements including vertical soundings of ozone and meteorological parameters. In this study, co-beneficial countermeasure scenarios based upon the obtained scientific data has been proposed. Photochemical ozone, EC (elemental carbon; a major SLCP), and NOx (nitrogen oxides) and VOCs (NOx and VOCs are implicit SLCPs) need to be controlled to improve the regional and global atmospher ic environment. In Japan, countermeasures including the whole Asian area will be necessary because there is considerable contribution from trans-boundary air pollution. In Mexico, regulation of VOCs including energy shift and diesel exhaust gas control will be effective. These findings will be utilized to formulate and/or evaluate ProAire (Program for Air Quality Improvement) for the three studied megacity areas of Mexico

Assembled Structures of Anion-Responsive π‑Systems Tunable by Alkyl/Perfluoroalkyl Segments in Peripheral Side Chains

Anion-responsive π-conjugated molecules carrying semifluoroalkyl chains were newly synthesized to examine the self-assembling features and resulting electronic properties of these molecules and of ion-pairing complexes formed when combined with a planar cation salt. Although these compounds self-organize into columnar mesophases similar to that of their hydrocarbon analog, in both the charge-free and charge-based states, the fluorous moieties appended to the π-conjugated units change the detailed phase-transition profiles and improve the thermal stability of the ion-pairing complexes. The length of the fluoroalkyl chains at the termini strongly affects the charge carrier mobility through the one-dimensionally arranged π-conjugated motifs, giving highly mobile charge carriers with extremely high intrinsic mobility of 1.1 cm² V^–1 s^–1 as a maximum value