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The fine channel mist (FCM) method has been developed, as a safe and economical growth technology of zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films. This technique utilized aqueous solution of zinc acetate, which is a safe material, as a zinc source, and this solution is supplied to the growth as a form of micro-sized mist by applying ultrasonic-power with the carrier gas of nitrogen. ZnO thin films were grown in an open system, where the mist of zinc acetate reacted with oxygen or water on a glass substrate at the temperature of 270 to 500. One of the key technologies was to flow the reactant gases in a micro-channel on the substrate. This allowed effective growth of ZnO by "condensing" the flow to the substrate neighborhood and by rapidly improving collision probability of the source gases, resulting in the high efficiency (as high as 10%) for the zinc source to form ZnO. The ZnO thin film hence grown was transparent with the naked eyes, that is, the optical transmission was higher than 90% in the visible light region. Photoluminescence spectra exhibited near-band edge emission around 3.3eV (375nm) at room temperature, with weak deep level emissions. The surface morphology changed in terms of the growth conditions, reflecting different crystallographic properties. The thickness, the electrical conductivity, and the growth rate were 50−5000nm, 1−5Ωcm, and 1−200nm/min respectively. The overall properties of ZnO thin films grown here suggested the potential of this novel growth technology being utilized to fabricate transparent conducting films, ultraviolet absorbers, and so on.

Background: Although the antiemetic effect of olanzapine on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting has been characterized, the prophylactic role of olanzapine on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has not been fully elucidated. This clinical trial aims to examine the effectiveness of olanzapine for preventing PONV. Methods: Patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery at 5 university hospitals in Japan will be randomly assigned to receive either 5 mg of oral olanzapine or placebo 2 hours before the induction of anesthesia. All patients will receive intravenous dexamethasone at the induction of anesthesia. The primary outcome will be the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting within 24 hours after surgery. Secondary endpoints will include longitudinal changes in the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and overall patient satisfaction. Discussion: This trial will provide a high quality evidence whether olanzapine prevents PONV in gynecological laparoscopy patients at a high risk for PONV. Ethics and dissemination: The trial was approved by the institutional review board of the each participating study site. Study findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and in conference presentations. Trial registration: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) ID: 000022634, Registered on October 1, 2016 https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000026031

Nitric oxide reductases (NORs) reduce nitric oxide to nitrous oxide in the denitrification pathway of the global nitrogen cycle. NORs contain four iron cofactors and the NO reduction occurs at the heme b/nonheme Fe binuclear active site. The determination of reduction potentials of the iron cofactors will help us elucidate the enzymatic reaction mechanism. However, previous reports on these potentials remain controversial. Herein, we performed electrochemical and surface-enhanced infrared absorption (SEIRA) spectroscopic measurements of Pseudomonas aeruginosa NOR immobilized on gold electrodes. Cyclic voltammograms exhibited two reduction peaks at -0.11 and -0.44 V vs SHE, and a SEIRA spectrum using a vibrational probe of CO showed a characteristic band at 1972 cm at -0.4 V vs SHE, which was assigned to νCO of heme b-CO. Our results suggest that the reduction of heme b initiates the enzymatic NO reduction.