The thermoelectric properties of the p-type (Bi0.25Sb0.75)2Te3 doped with 8 wt. % excess Te and the n-type Bi2(Te0.94Se0.06)3 doped substantially with 0.07 wt. % I, 0.02 wt. % Te, and 0.03 wt. % CuBr which were grown by the Bridgman method at a rate of 6 cm/h were measured before and after annealing, where annealing was done in the temperature range from 473 up to 673 K for 2–5 h in a vacuum and a hydrogen stream. No annealing effect on the power factor was observed for the p-type specimen, but the as-grown p-type specimen exhibited a large power factor of 5.53×10−3 W/mK2 at 308 K and a low thermal conductivity of 1.21 W/mK. When the n-type specimen was annealed at 473 K for 2 h in a hydrogen stream, however, the power factor at 308 K increased significantly from 3.26×10−3 to 4.73×10−3 K−1 but its thermal conductivity then increased by about 3% from 1.26 to 1.30 W/mK. As a result, the maximum thermoelectric figure of merits Z at 308 K for the as-grown p- and annealed n-type specimens reached surprisingly great values of 4.57×10−3 K−1 and 3.67×10−3 K−1, respectively, with corresponding ZT values of 1.41 and 1.13. The present materials are sure to belong to the highest class in the Z and ZT values as bismuth telluride bulk compounds.

&petaanee of the-uinfoitunate victims of vitilikoiis striking, nd scid"y failsto evoke a etelig bf hrr aid pitY-At th6 afflikttd, W 9e; condit"on, isdeemed incurable. The pict1uie of af ot1i1s4 a!e, reoved frj9r typical sooty negro's skin, marked with spots perfectly. white, and, from the CQ^1, trast, appearin!1'fireri-than the skiii of the fairest European, must, to evineyn fi rhiarisd'to the siht, appeart iepugnant. These spots vasw9'from a i;Sre (spe:k'to several inches in size, ahd, in advanted ca.ses, tl;ie bqdy heing~niesrly4 eolo41ess. To the best of my recol, lectidn,J they first appear aboutt the Ripe; nose, eyelids,sole,, palms, andi forbhead,i ov pelhappbkse conspicuous situation challenges 'attene tion fir t.i GsGradlially they enlerge iperipherally, and by the coales-cence of several smaller .oes. In the instance of a beggar,. this, or a similar change, had progressed t.o such an extent that the appear4nce he presented was that of one in whom the conditions were revetsed, namely, of a white mai undergoing nelasmatic transformation. To be strictly accurate, it must be stated that this unfortunate patient had the appearance of the leprous physiognomy, while the other cases I am adducing presented quite a healthy skin, but for the characteristic absence of pigment. In a young lady of my acquaintance (between the ages of 20 and 25) the visible parts of the body had become so perfectly leucodermic that one could scarcely say whether he had before him an individual of a fair skinned race or not. In a third, that of a gentleman, there was a large colourless area, implicating the greater part of the nose, cheek, lips, and part of the brow. On the dorsal and palmar surfaces of the hand, I noticed smaller but similar patches. The decolorised part'assumes an oval or rouncdish appearance; is not raised above the level of the healthy skin ; in short, differs in no way from it except in colour. It is distinctly circumscribed, so that it is quite an easy matter to see Where the white skin ends and the dark begins. These areas are not confined to one side of 'the body, but freely spread beyond the mesial line. To the best of my knowledge , there seeme(d no disturbance of the vascularity of the part, for I noticed, especially about the lips, distinct indications of blood-supply; in fact, from the greater transparency, the mucous membrane was rosier even than in health. The sweat-glands were also unaffected , for I noticed these parts bedewed with perspiration. The sensation of the part is probably intact. Age.-This disease cannot be assigned to any special period of life, buit I have seen examples oftener in adults than in childhood. Wheni it manifests itselr early in life it does not seem in any way to affect the general health. Several c.ildren, thus afflicte4, have been seen to grow up to manhood otherwise healthy. 'As the child grows, the spots also enlarge, but their growth is subject 't'o great variation; for, in some, the blanching is rapid, while, in others, indolent. In a patient in whom the disease manifes...

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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) embolization during endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) in patients at high risk of type II endoleak (T2EL) in randomized controlled trial (RCT). Summary Background Data: Several studies have demonstrated a reduction of T2EL by IMA embolization before EVAR. However, there have been no RCT confirming the efficacy of IMA embolization. Methods: Patients scheduled for elective EVAR between April 2014 and March 2018 were eligible. Patients at high risk of T2EL (IMA patency with IMA ≥3 mm, LAs ≥2 mm, or an aortoiliac-type aneurysm) were prospectively randomized to receive EVAR with or without IMA embolization. The primary endpoint was occurrence of T2EL during follow-up. Secondary endpoints included aneurysmal sac changes, adverse events from IMA embolization, and reintervention rate due to T2EL. This trial is registered with the University Hospital Medical Information Network, number UMIN000022147. Results: One hundred thirteen patients had high risk and 106 were randomized. In the intention-to-treat analysis, the incidence of T2EL was significantly lower in the embolization group [24.5% vs 49.1%; P = 0.009, absolute risk reduction = 24.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 6.2–40.5, number needed to treat = 4.1; 95% CI, 2.5–16.1]. The aneurysmal sac shrunk significantly more in the embolization group (−5.7 ± 7.3 mm vs −2.8 ± 6.6 mm; P = 0.037), and the incidence of aneurysmal sac growth related to T2EL was significantly lower in the embolization group (3.8% vs 17.0%; P = 0.030). There were no complications related to IMA embolization or reinterventions associated with T2EL. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated the effectiveness of IMA embolization during EVAR in high-risk patients for the prevention of T2EL, which is suggested for avoiding aneurysmal sac enlargement related to T2EL.

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