Sphyraena stellata, a new barracuda from the Indo-Pacific, with redescriptions of S. helleri Jenkins, 1901 and S. novaehollandiae Günther, 1860 (Perciformes: Sphyraenidae).

A new barracuda, Sphyraena stellata, is described on the basis of 41 specimens [98.0-587.0 mm standard length (SL)] collected from the Indo-Pacific. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners in having the following combination of characters: one gill raker on first gill arch; pelvic-fin insertion located slightly before vertical through first dorsal-fin origin; pored lateral-line scales 134-141 (modally 137), total lateral-line scales 139-148 (146); scales above and below lateral line 15-17 (15) and 14-16 (15), respectively; snout comparatively short, its length 13.6-15.8 (mean 14.4) % SL; upper jaw short, its posterior tip not reaching to below anterior nostril, its length 10.0-12.2 (10.8) % SL; eye small, orbit diameter and depth 4.3-7.0 (4.9) and 3.9-5.6 (4.5) % SL, respectively; anal-fin base shortish, its length 6.9-8.1 (7.5) % SL; last dorsal- and anal-fin ray lengths 4.0-5.6 (4.7) and 3.6-5.6 (4.6) % SL, respectively; anus not close to anal-fin origin, anterior and posterior margins of former to anal-fin origin 7.5-11.9 (9.9) and 5.2-8.3 (6.8) % of head length, respectively; head sensory canal pores on suborbital area simple or slightly branched, their lowermost parts not close to margin of lacrimal bone, large smooth area lacking canal pores on mid-margin of lacrimal bone; two yellow stripes on lateral surface of body (remaining as black stripes in preserved specimens); and caudal fin gray. In addition, S. helleri Jenkins, 1901 and S. novaehollandiae Günther, 1860, both being closely related to the new species, are redescribed on the basis of 4 (243.3-545.8 mm SL) and 15 (270.8-598.0 mm SL) specimens, including holotypes, respectively, with new diagnostic characters proposed for both species.

Thermophysical Properties of Thermosoftening Nasotracheal Tubes.

Thermosoftening treatment of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) nasotracheal tubes (NTTs) can reduce the incidence and amount of epistaxis during nasotracheal intubation. The optimal thermal setting for thermosoftening treatment of NTTs without burn injury was investigated. Two composite types of PVC NTTs were used. Following withdrawal of the PVC NTTs from a bottle of water at 45 or 60°C, the changes in the surface temperature of the NTTs were measured by infrared thermography. Hardness of the NTTs at 25, 30, 35, and 40°C was measured. The incidence of epistaxis during nasotracheal intubation using thermosoftened NTTs was evaluated retrospectively. The surface temperature of both PVC NTTs dipped in 45 and 60°C water decreased to below body temperature 30 seconds after withdrawing them from the bottles. Although thermosoftening treatment proportionally decreased the hardness of both types of NTTs, the degrees differed according to their composition. When avoiding impingement of the NTT on the posterior wall of the nasopharynx, the incidence of mild and moderate epistaxis was 2.3%. Flexibility of PVC NTTs could be obtained by thermosoftening treatment at 60°C without burn injury. Thermosoftening treatment of PVC NTTs may be useful to avoid epistaxis during nasotracheal intubation.

Role of tube size and intranasal compression of the nasotracheal tube in respiratory pressure loss during nasotracheal intubation: a laboratory study.

BACKGROUND: Small nasotracheal tubes (NTTs) and intranasal compression of the NTT in the nasal cavity may contribute to increasing airway resistance. Since the effects of size, shape, and partial compression of the NTT on airway resistance have not been investigated, values of airway resistance with partial compression of preformed NTTs of various sizes were determined. METHODS: To determine the factors affecting the respiratory pressure loss during the nasotracheal intubation, physical and fluid dynamics simulations were used. The internal minor axes of NTTs in the nasal cavity of intubated patients were measured using dial calipers. In physical and fluid dynamics simulations, pressure losses through the tubular parts, compressed parts, and slip joints of NTTs with internal diameters (IDs) of 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, and 8.0 mm were estimated under partial compression. RESULTS: The median internal minor axes of the 7.0- and 7.5-mm ID NTTs in the nasal cavity were 5.2 (4.3-5.6) mm and 6.0 (4.2-7.0) mm, respectively. With a volumetric air flow rate of 30 L/min, pressure losses through uncompressed NTTs with IDs of 6.0-, 6.5-, 7.0-, 7.5- and 8.0-mm were 651.6 ± 5.7 (6.64 ± 0.06), 453.4 ± 3.9 (4.62 ± 0.04), 336.5 ± 2.2 (3.43 ± 0.02), 225.2 ± 0.2 (2.30 ± 0.00), and 179.0 ± 1.1 Pa (1.82 ± 0.01 cmH2O), respectively; the pressure losses through the slip joints were 220.3 (2.25), 131.1 (1.33), 86.8 (0.88), 57.1 (0.58), and 36.1 Pa (0.37 cmH2O), respectively; and the pressure losses through the curvature of the NTT were 71.6 (0.73), 69.0 (0.70), 64.8 (0.66), 32.5 (0.33), and 41.6 Pa (0.42 cmH2O), respectively. A maximum compression force of 34.1 N increased the pressure losses by 82.0 (0.84), 38.0 (0.39), 23.5 (0.24), 16.6 (0.17), and 9.3 Pa (0.09 cmH2O), respectively. CONCLUSION: Pressure losses through NTTs are in inverse proportion to the tubes' IDs; greater pressure losses due to slip joints, acute bending, and partial compression of the NTT were obvious in small NTTs. Pressure losses through NTTs, especially in small NTTs, could increase the work of breathing to a greater extent than that through standard tubes; intranasal compression further increases the pressure loss.

Roles of endotracheal tubes and slip joints in respiratory pressure loss: a laboratory study.

PURPOSE: The endotracheal tube (ETT) constitutes a significant component of total airway resistance. However, a discrepancy between measured and theoretical values has been reported in airway resistance through ETTs. The causes of the discrepancy were estimated by physical and rheological simulations. METHODS: The pressure losses through total lengths of ETTs and slip joints under a volumetric flow rate of 30 L/min were measured, and the pressure losses through the tubular parts of ETTs with internal diameters (IDs) of 6.0-, 6.5-, 7.0-, 7.5-, and 8.0 mm were measured. The Reynolds number of each setting was calculated, and the pressure losses through the total length of the ETT, the tubular part, and the slip joint of each size of tube were estimated. RESULTS: The Reynolds numbers were >5000 in all sizes of ETTs. Measured pressure losses were larger in small sized ETTs than in large sized ETTs-520.9 Pascals (Pa) in 6.0-mm ID and 136.4 Pa in 8.0-mm ID tubes. The measured pressure losses through the tubular part were comparable to the predicted values. The measured pressure losses through the slip joints were larger than the predicted values, and they accounted for approximately 25-40% of total pressure losses of the ETTs. CONCLUSION: Especially in small sized tubes, the pressure loss through the slip joint accounts for a large percentage of the total pressure loss through the ETT. The pressure loss through the slip joint may play a role in the discrepancy between measured and theoretical pressure losses through ETTs.

Tuning the threshold voltage of carbon nanotube transistors by n-type molecular doping for robust and flexible complementary circuits.

Tuning the threshold voltage of a transistor is crucial for realizing robust digital circuits. For silicon transistors, the threshold voltage can be accurately controlled by doping. However, it remains challenging to tune the threshold voltage of single-wall nanotube (SWNT) thin-film transistors. Here, we report a facile method to controllably n-dope SWNTs using 1H-benzoimidazole derivatives processed via either solution coating or vacuum deposition. The threshold voltages of our polythiophene-sorted SWNT thin-film transistors can be tuned accurately and continuously over a wide range. Photoelectron spectroscopy measurements confirmed that the SWNT Fermi level shifted to the conduction band edge with increasing doping concentration. Using this doping approach, we proceeded to fabricate SWNT complementary inverters by inkjet printing of the dopants. We observed an unprecedented noise margin of 28 V at V(DD) = 80 V (70% of 1/2V(DD)) and a gain of 85. Additionally, robust SWNT complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor inverter (noise margin 72% of 1/2VDD) and logic gates with rail-to-rail output voltage swing and subnanowatt power consumption were fabricated onto a highly flexible substrate.

Selective dispersion of high purity semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes with regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophene)s.

Conjugated polymers, such as polyfluorene and poly(phenylene vinylene), have been used to selectively disperse semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (sc-SWNTs), but these polymers have limited applications in transistors and solar cells. Regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophene)s (rr-P3ATs) are the most widely used materials for organic electronics and have been observed to wrap around SWNTs. However, no sorting of sc-SWNTs has been achieved before. Here we report the application of rr-P3ATs to sort sc-SWNTs. Through rational selection of polymers, solvent and temperature, we achieved highly selective dispersion of sc-SWNTs. Our approach enables direct film preparation after a simple centrifugation step. Using the sorted sc-SWNTs, we fabricate high-performance SWNT network transistors with observed charge-carrier mobility as high as 12 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) and on/off ratio of >10(6). Our method offers a facile and a scalable route for separating sc-SWNTs and fabrication of electronic devices.

Preoperative assessment of vascular anatomy of inferior mesenteric artery by volume-rendered 3D-CT for laparoscopic lymph node dissection with left colic artery preservation in lower sigmoid and rectal cancer.

AIM: To determine the distance between the branching point of the left colic artery (LCA) and the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) by computed tomography (CT) scanning, for preoperative evaluation before laparoscopic colorectal operation. METHODS: From February 2004 to May 2005, 100 patients (63 men, 37 women) underwent angiography performed with a 16-scanner multi-detector row CT unit (Toshiba, Aquilion 16). All images were analyzed on a workstation (AZE Ltd, Virtual Place Advance 300). The distance from the root of the IMA to the bifurcation of the LCA was measured by curved multi-planar reconstruction on a workstation. RESULTS: The IMA could be visualized in all the cases, but the LCA was missing in two patients. The mean distance from the root of the IMA to the root of the LCA was 42.0 mm (range, 23.2-75.0 mm). There were no differences in gender, arterial branching types, body weight, height, and body mass index. CONCLUSION: Volume-rendered 3D-CT is helpful to assess the vascular branching anatomy for laparoscopic surgery.

Confirmation of the posterior gastric artery using multi-detector row computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: The blood supply of the stomach is well characterized. Although the posterior gastric artery (PGA) is the second most important artery supplying the upper third of the stomach, the main features and clinical importance of the PGA have not been established. The aim of this study was to use multi-detector row computed tomography (MD-CT) to investigate the features of the PGA with respect to its incidence, location and size, and to correlate the findings with clinical practice. METHODS: In August 2004, 50 preoperative patients (33 men and 17 women) were evaluated prospectively by MD-CT. Informed consent for the present study was accepted at Kochi Medical School. The length of the PGA, from the root of the splenic artery, and the internal diameter of the PGA were examined. Correlations between body mass index (BMI) and the observed features of the PGA were investigated. RESULTS: The PGA was recognized in all patients. In 49 (98%) patients, the PGA branched from the splenic artery. In 1 (2%) patient, the PGA originated from the root of the celiac trunk. The PGA was discernible for a length of 4.2-14.3 cm (mean, 9.1 cm) from the root of the splenic artery, and the internal diameter of the PGA was 0.5-2.1 mm (mean, 1.0 mm). BMI did not correlate with PGA length or internal diameter. CONCLUSION: Our current study suggested that the anatomical and clinical features of the PGA can be shown by clinical methods, and that these features are useful in planning surgical treatment.