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

Low-J Transitions in A˜2Π(0,0,0)−X˜2Σ+(0,0,0) Band of Buffer-gas-cooled CaOH

Calcium monohydroxide radical (CaOH) is receiving an increasing amount of attention from the astrophysics community as it is expected to be present in the atmospheres of hot rocky super-Earth exoplanets as well as interstellar and circumstellar environments. Here, we report the high-resolution laboratory absorption spectroscopy on low-J transitions in A ˜ 2 Π ( 0 , 0 , 0 ) − X ˜ 2 Σ + ( 0 , 0 , 0 ) band of buffer-gas-cooled CaOH. In total, 40 transitions out of the low-J states were assigned, including 27 transitions that have not been reported in previous literature. The determined rotational constants for both ground and excited states are in excellent agreement with previous literature, and the measurement uncertainty for the absolute transition frequencies was improved by more than a factor of 3. This will aid future interstellar, circumstellar, and atmospheric identifications of CaOH. The buffer-gas-cooling method employed here is a particularly powerful method to probe low-J transitions and is easily applicable to other astrophysical molecules.</jats:p