Search

Metal evaporated (ME) tape is regarded as the recording medium for next-generation VTRs with the greatest potential. Details of the recording mechanism of ME tape are, however, not yet clear. In particular, the re-recording effect in overwrite recording is as yet unclear, and no persuasive explanation is at hand. In this paper, the maximum output frequency response for different orientations, as well as the overwrite recording characteristics, are measured and discussed. The differences in frequency response for different orientations are explained by a recording model. The overwrite characteristics are similar to those of conventional videotape. In consideration of the squareness of ME tape, the contact printing model is employed to explain the re-recording phenomena.

A numerical model, based on the heat balance method, was developed to simulate snowpack evolution at a given location, as a function of meteorological conditions: air-temperature, wind speed, precipitation and incident short-wave radiation.The model takes into account three major processes, (1) the increase in the amount of snowpack by precipitation, (2) melting of the surface snow layer as a result of energy balance and (3) drainage of water from the snowpack. The model was tested with data collected at TAKADA and NAGAOKA, JAPAN. The results show the ability of the model to simulate the day-to-day changes of the snow mass with reasonable accuracy. Emphasis was placed on the characteristics unique to this and other warmer climatic regions.

Highly reliable TaOx ReRAM has been successfully demonstrated. The memory cell shows stable pulse switching with endurance over 109 cycles, sufficient retention exceeding 10 years at 85degC. TaOx exhibits stable high and low resistance states based on the redox reaction mechanism, confirmed by HX-PES directly for the first time. An 8 kbit 1T1R memory array with a good operating window has been fabricated using the standard 0.18 mum CMOS process.

A human case of creeping eruption due to Gnathostoma nipponicum was confirmed indirectly by finding infective advanced third-stage larvae in leftover largemouth bass meat. This is the first report indicating that the largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) serves as a source of G. nipponicum infection in humans.

Five hundred fifty patients hospitalized to our hospital during 1990 to 1999 were studied. Subjects consisted of 413 males and 102 females and mean age was 62.1 years. Association with HBV infection, HCV infection and both infection was 11.1%, 78.4% and 2.5% respectively. According to the criteria based in Liver Cancer Study of Japan, 5 year survival rate in clinical stage I, II, III was 42.3%, 38.8% and 17.5%. Tumor morphology was nodular type in 78.9%, massive type in 9.1% and diffuse type in 10.5% of cases. Portal tumor thrombus and distal metastasis were observed in 19.9% and 6.3% of all cases. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate in patients received any therapy was 80.8%, 44.6% and 28.7%, respectively. Analysis by the proportional hazard model showed that HBV infection, advanced clinical stage, multiple tumors, a tumor diameter in excess of 5 cm and AFP positivity were shown as significant factors on poor prognosis.

A localized current source is well estimated using a single current dipole model. In contrast, it is difficult to estimate distributed current sources using multi-dipole model without any constraints. In the MCG study, a single current dipole model is applied to the localization of small activated region; for example, localizing the ventricular pre-excitation site in a Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome. While, at the beginning of QRS complex the cardiac depolarization wave-front propagates spreading in the ventricle. Various multi-dipole models have been studied to estimate the excited area. Several localization methods using multi-dipole model with anatomical constraints using MRI information were reported [1]. We propose a localization method of distributed current sources using physiological information with constraints of the Solution area. In this paper, to obtain solutions of wave-front which proceeds more smoothly in spatio-temporal space, the information of the direction and the velocity of excitation is utilized.

To elucidate a role of TTV infection in patients with acute liver injury, TTV-DNA in the sera from 97 patients with acute liver injury of various etiology were determined according to Okamoto's method. Out of 77 patients with acute liver injury of determined etiology, 31 patients(40.3%) showed TTV-DNA positive, and out of 15 patients with acute liver injury of undetermined etiology, 8 patients(53.3%) showed TTV-DNA positive. These results suggested no evident role of TTV in patients with acute liver injury was shown. Further study including genotype and quantitative determination of TTV-DNA and antibody assay is needed.

A technique using VHS high-fidelity equipment to record two different distinguishable signals on the same track is described. The first signal has to be recorded by a longer-gap-length head in order to obtain higher residual output after overwrite erasing by the second signal for coating-type materials. When the wavelength of the first signal is relatively short, the shorter the second signal wavelength, the greater is the erasure of the first signal. The azimuth angle should be chosen in such a way as to minimize the crosstalk between the first and second recorded signal. This phenomenon can be used for rotary erasing and overwrite erasing. >

Eosinophils are a numerically dominant cell population within the schistosome granuloma. These granuloma eosinophils can produce a variety of cytokines, including IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma. Therefore, eosinophils may play a key role in the determination of the unique cytokine microenvironment within the granuloma milieu. These studies investigated the potential role of eosinophils in the regulation of granuloma immunopathology. We have characterized spleen- and granuloma-derived eosinophils based on cellular activation and cytokine production during the development of murine schistosomiasis. Based on the criteria of hypodensity and CD69 expression, granuloma eosinophils were highly activated and very homogeneous at 7 and 11 wk postinfection. Splenic eosinophils were also activated at 7 wk postinfection, but were much more heterogeneous than their granuloma counterparts. By 11 wk postinfection, few hypodense splenic eosinophils were observed. Eosinophils represented the majority of cytokine-producing cells in the granuloma and were a dominant source of IL-4. Eosinophils also produced IL-2, IL-5, and IFN-gamma, using the criteria of mRNA in situ hybridization and intracellular cytokine staining by FACS. Granuloma eosinophil activation and cytokine production were greatest at the time of maximum granuloma formation, i.e., 10-12 wk after initial cercarial exposure. Therefore, locally activated eosinophils, not Th2 lymphocytes, produce the majority of Th2 cytokines in the granuloma milieu and may be important determinators of immunopathology in schistosomiasis.

Granuloma formation and its regulation are dependent on lymphocytes. Therefore, we compared the characteristics of lymphocytes derived from the spleens and granulomas of Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice during the course of their disease. We examined lymphocyte cell cycle kinetics, migration, expression of activation Ags (CD69 and IL-2R), cytokine production (IL-2, IL-4, IFN-gamma), and apoptosis. Lymphocytes in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and high levels of lymphocyte intracellular IL-2 were found in the spleen but not in the granuloma. Cell trafficking experiments showed Ag-specific recruitment of schistosomal egg Ag (SEA)-reactive lymphoblasts into granulomas in vivo, as well as recruitment to, residence within, and egress from granulomas in vitro. Granuloma-derived lymphocytes were more highly activated than splenic lymphocytes based on higher levels of CD69 and IL-2R expression. While the granuloma microenvironment was rich in Th2 cytokines, during peak granuloma formation, the lymphocytes per se from the spleen and granuloma did not exhibit a dominant Th1 or Th2 cytokine profile, producing low but similar levels of IL-4 and IFN-gamma. The discrepancy between high IL-2R expression and low levels of IL-2 protein production by granuloma lymphocytes was associated with increased apoptosis in the granuloma compared with the spleen. These findings support the hypothesis that granulomas may play a role in the regulation of systemic pathology in schistosomiasis by adversely affecting the survival of SEA-reactive, immunopathogenic T lymphocytes.

A 63-year-old woman who had received hemodialysis therapy since she fell acute on chronic renal failure 4 years ago presented with multiple joint pain. Nephrocalcinosis was not detected by abdominal X-ray when hemodialysis therapy was initiated. Laboratory testing showed azotemia, anemia, hypoproteinemia and mild liver dysfunction but no liver cirrhosis. Biopsied bone tissue demonstrated numerous calcium oxalate crystal depositions. Laparoscopy revealed black liver in macroscopic view. Histological studies showed numerous lipofuscin-like dark brown granules were deposited in hepatocytes. The activity of alanine : glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT) was less than 0.1 U/g in biopsied patient's liver tissue. Generally, clinical symptoms demonstrated by Japanese primary hyperoxaluria type I (PH-I) patients are milder than those of European patients. Some PH-I patients may successfully avoid urinary tract calcification unless they fall into oliguria by some other causes. The lipofuscin granules are most likely the source of the dark color. Massive deposition of the lipofuscin granules indicated that the duration of the liver metabolic abnormality had lasted for long time. Thus, black liver may be related to a mild form of PH-I.

We studied the effect of percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEI) on glucose tolerance in liver cirrhosis patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. All of 10 patients underwent PEI and aspiration biopsy of the tumor on separate day. Two-time oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), before and after PEI, were performed in all patients. There were no significant changes in blood glucose and insulin chronologically measured on aspiration biopsy and PEI. To detect changes in glucose tolerance, we compared the results of OGTT before PEI with those of OGTT after PEI. On the basis of results of OGTT before PEI, patients were classified to impaired glucose tolerance group (4) and diabetes mellitus group (6). Blood glucose at 180 minutes on OGTT after PEI showed significantly higher value than that of OGTT before PEI, but insulin response was not suppressed. From these experiments we speculate that exaggerated insulin resistance due to injected ethanol may be one of the factors influencing glucose tolerance after PEI.

We have demonstrated the determining factor of effective work function in TiN/HfO2/Al2O3/SiO2 gate stack structures by photoemission spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation. Difference in depth profiles indicate that the Si layer inserted at the HfO2/Al2O3 interface suppresses diffusion of Al atoms into the HfO2 layer after annealing, resulting in keeping magnitude of the high-k/SiO2 interface dipole. However, it is found that the increase of the effective work function cannot be explained only by the interface dipole model. We suggest that oxidation of the TiN metal electrode due to oxygen diffusion from the HfO2 layer is one of the most important factors.

A repetitive administration of recombinant interleukin-3 (rIL-3), which can induce the expulsion of Strongyloides ratti in athymic nude mice, did not affect the expulsion of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Nude mice infected with N. brasiliensis were injected i.p. with a total of 6.8 x 10(5) U rIL-3 or medium twice a day from Day 5 to Day 11 post-infection. The kinetics of expulsion estimated by egg excretion in faeces up to Day 20 post-infection and adult worm burden on Day 21 was not affected by the IL-3 administration. A similar administration with a higher dose (total 10.6 x 10(5) U) of rIL-3 did not alter the adult worm burden on Day 13. The number of intestinal mucosal mast cells on Day 13 was markedly increased by the treatment, although the number of intestinal goblet cells was comparable between the treated and control mice. When nude mice were infected concurrently with N. brasiliensis and S. ratti and then injected repeatedly with rIL-3 (total 2.2 x 10(5) U) from Day 5 to Day 11, adult worms of S. ratti were expelled from the small intestine by Day 13; however adult worms of N. brasiliensis were retained. Again in the concurrent infection, the number of intestinal mucosal mast cells was significantly increased but that of intestinal goblet cells was not altered by the rIL-3 administration. These results indicate that the expulsion of S. ratti is dependent on IL-3 whereas that of N. brasiliensis is less dependent on IL-3.

A 85-year-old man was admitted to our unit on November 17, 1989 with bloody sputum and abnormal shadow on chest X-ray film. Chest X-ray and CT on admission showed a large tumor mass approximately 9 cm in diameter in the right middle and lower lung field. Microscopic examination of the needle biopsy specimen from the tumor revealed biphasic malignant pleural mesothelioma. After admission, thoracentesis was performed, because of rapidly increasing right-sided pleural effusion. One of the two trochar catheter was inadvertently inserted in the tumor. Tumor tissue obtained through the catheter showed malignant mesothelioma with osseous and cartilaginous formation. Only isolated reports by Goldstein and Yousem have reported osseous and catilaginous differentiation in malignant mesothelioma. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case in Japan.

We report on the controlled multiphase thin film growth in the Bi–Fe–O system. By varying the deposition oxygen pressure, the dominant phase formed in the film continuously changes from ferroelectric BiFeO3 to a mixture of α-Fe2O3 and ferromagnetic γ-Fe2O3. X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy have revealed that epitaxial multiferroic nanocomposites consisting of BiFeO3 and Fe2O3 are formed when the deposition pressure is ≈5mTorr. In order to investigate the previously reported anomalous enhancement in magnetization in BiFeO3, we have fabricated a thickness gradient pure BiFeO3 film. The out-of-plane lattice constant was found to increase continuously as the thickness is decreased from 300 to 5nm, but no significant enhancement in magnetization was observed.

XS-0 is a low-cost interactive system that serves as a self-explanatory school computer. Particular attention has been devoted to making the man-machine dialog easy to follow for the inexperienced user. The system includes a course on computer programming, a programming system for writing, editing, executing, and debugging programs interactively, and a filing system containing private and public libraries. The language offered to the user is a version of Pascal. The system is realized on a small stand-alone computer which supports a small number of graphic terminals. This hardware consists of the most cost effective components currently on the market.

The XS-2 system that integrates specification, rapid prototyping, and the actual use of application dialogs is described. The XS-2 command language grammar, a nonprocedural description language based on regular expressions, is used to specify commands for any application program. The syntax of the command specification is visible to the user: command names and their activation rules are displayed as a command tree. Since a small set of tools is provided for the development of the command specification and its automatic translation into a prototype application module in Modula-2, no programming work is necessary to design and evaluate the commands. Experience shows that an advanced end user can develop his or her own prototype application without a programmer's assistance. >

Reviews the marketing strategy of Japanese electronic manufacturers which is based on pleasing consumers. Emphasis is on producing a high proportion of technological successes rather than spectacular but economically unsound firsts.

Since the first commercially successful video tape recorder (VTR) was developed in 1956, the rotating-head-type VTR has been the mainstream of video recording. In the rotating-head-type VTR, the shorter recording wavelength makes possible a smaller and better cost-performance VTR for institutional and home use. The reduction in the recording wavelength on the recording media has been mainly accomplished by the improved developments of video head and tape. Depending upon international communications and business activities, a global VTR system for NTSC, PAL and SECAM is expected, and the VHS format VTR is the only system to meet with simple modification, this requirement at present. The video software business will become more active when the VTR population increases to a certain number, such as a million. Contact duplication technology will become very important to meet this market demand. The Bifilar winding method is presumed to be a commercially successful way for mass duplication of video tapes in the near future. The historical background of these subjects and future forecasts are discussed in this paper.

We compared laparoscopy with other diagnostic methods (abdominal angiography, CT, US, etc.) for the diagnosis of focal hepatic lesions. The rate of correct diagnosis by laparoscopy combined with needle biopsy was 81 % (30 of 37 cases). Although the area of liver surface which is visible through laparoscopy is limited, this procedure is considered useful in the following situations: (a) to confirm the diagnosis in combination with needle biopsy of the observed lesion, (b) to perform needle biopsy with safety and accuracy under laparoscopic guidance, (c) to detect minute lesions not detected by other methods, when the lesion is identified by observation during laparoscopy. Finally, laparoscopic examination provided substantial information guiding surgical treatment.

A magnetoresistive (MR) head produces high output. A stripe type MR head, however, has poor wave-length response due to its stripe width loss and has limitation in reducing track width due to its configuration. A new MR head, therefore, is proposed here to obtain extremely narrow track width. This head can achieve very high areal density and has no wear problems, since having flux guide cores.