Metal nanocluster light-emitting devices with suppressed parasitic emission and improved efficiency: exploring the impact of photophysical properties

Here we investigate the photophysical properties of Au(0)@Au(i)-thiolate nanoclusters by controlling the degree of aggregation, and measure electrochemical energy levels to design a metal nanocluster-based thin film LED (MNC-LED) structure. These efforts allow us to implement MNC-LEDs with luminance exceeding 40 cd m(-2) and external quantum efficiency exceeding 0.1% with clearly visible orange emission. It is also demonstrated that by varying the sizes of nanoclusters, the electroluminescence spectrum of the device can be tuned to the infrared emission, indicating the possibility of exploiting metal nanocluster emitters for use over a wide spectral range.

Effect of antegrade graft cardioplegia combined with passive graft perfusion in on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

Patients undergoing on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with proximal graft anastomosis were randomly divided into groups that received antegrade cardioplegic infusion only via the aortic root (group A) or antegrade cardioplegic infusion via the aortic root and additional cardioplegia via vein or free arterial grafts after completion of each distal anastomosis (group B). The group B patients also received bypass graft perfusion with warm arterial blood just after removal of the cross-clamp until the proximal graft anastomosis was completed. The need for defibrillation and inotropic support during separation from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and total CPB time were significantly lower in group B than in group A. Group B also had significantly lower peak cardiac troponin I levels 12 h after operation compared with group A and this was more pronounced in subgroups with severe right coronary artery stenosis and poor left ventricular ejection fraction than in the whole population. It is concluded that antegrade graft cardioplegia and graft perfusion with warm blood during proximal graft anastomosis may improve myocardial protection.

Note: On the deconvolution of Kelvin probe force microscopy data

In Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) proper interpretation of the data is often difficult because the measured surface potential is affected by the interaction of the cantilever with the sample. In this work, the tip's interaction with a modeled surface potential distribution was simulated, leading to a calculated KPFM image. Although simplified, the calculation is capable of showing the influence of the cantilever in the correct qualitative manner, proven by a comparison with experimental data. Additionally, a deconvolution was performed on the simulated image, showing that for simple geometries revealing the "real" surface potential data is possible in principle.

Recurrent multiple cardiac myxomas

BACKGROUND

The recurrence of cardiac myxoma after a surgical excision is a rare condition. The mechanism responsible for the recurrence remains unclear. Multifocal growth of a benign myxoma or malignant transformation, inadequate resection, intraoperative implantation or embolization, familial disposition, and the abnormal DNA ploidy pattern play an important role in development of recurrent myxoma.

CASE

We report the case of a 24-year-old female with recurrent multiple cardiac myxomas. She had an abortus 2 months ago. The patient had undergone a resection of left atrial and right ventricular myxoma with extension to the right pulmonary artery 8 years ago. The preoperative echocardiographic examinations revealed recurrent left atrial and right and left ventricular myxomas. The patient underwent a redo-surgery and, in addition to a large myxoma in the right ventricle with involvement of the tricuspid valve and anterior papillary muscle, three myxomas including both myxomas originating at the top and the base of the posterior papillary muscle, respectively, the other myxoma between both papillary muscles in the posterior wall of the left ventricle, and 2 more small myxomas including 1 in the interatrial septum and the other on atrial surface of anterior mitral annulus were found in the left ventricle and atrium. The myxomas were successfully excised through a transmitral approach with a combined bi-atrial incision. The tricuspid valve and mitral valve were repaired with annuloplasty. She had an uneventful postoperative course and no residual myxoma was found by echocardiography.

CONCLUSION

We think that a long-term follow-up by echocardiography in all patients after the resection of myxoma is advised for an early detection of any recurrence (Fig. 5, Ref. 9).