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This paper proposes a novel fabrication technique of TiNi shape memory alloy (SMA) film and verifies the validity by showing the actual fabrication process and the final results. Special attention is paid to the characterization of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). An essential part of the fabrication process is the co-sputtering from separate pure Ti and Ni targets. Co-sputtering is carried out using a multi-target sputtering system where RF power for each target can be controlled independently. As-sputtered film is vacuum-annealed. The phase transformation behavior of the fabricated film is investigated by DSC and temperature-controlled X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Finally, shape recovery behavior is observed. The proposed novel fabrication technique is validated by these results.

To study the inflammatory responses of small-airway epithelium in smokers, we harvested enough living epithelial cells (1.97 × 106± 0.74 × 106) with a new ultrathin fiberscope from the very peripheral airways of 22 current smokers and 17 subjects who never smoked after informed consent was obtained. The cells were keratin positive and composed mainly of nonciliated cells. The expression levels of inflammatory markers [interleukin (IL)-8 and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1] were evaluated with RT-PCR. The magnitude of the mRNA levels corrected by β-actin transcripts of IL-8 and ICAM-1 was significantly higher in the smokers than in the nonsmokers ( P < 0.001). Furthermore, among current smokers, IL-8 mRNA levels correlated positively with the extent of smoking history [in pack ⋅ years (packs/day × no. of years of smoking); r = 0.754, P < 0.001]. Spontaneously released IL-8 and soluble ICAM-1 levels ( n = 12) from cultured epithelial cells were elevated in subjects with a smoking history than in those without it (IL-8, 1,580 ± 29.6 vs. 354 ± 39.4 pg ⋅ 106cells−1⋅ 24 h−1; P < 0.001; soluble ICAM-1, 356.0 ± 45.9 vs. 112.9 ± 12.9 pg ⋅ 106cells−1⋅ 24 h−1; P < 0.01 by Student's t-test ). In contrast, the epithelial cells from the main bronchi did not show such differences between smokers and nonsmokers. Our study highlighted a close link between smoking and the expression of inflammatory mediators such as IL-8 and ICAM-1 in small airways. Our results also suggested that this new ultrathin bronchofiberscope promised a good approach for the evaluation of cellular changes in the small airways.

Cu-plated Fe powder by the use of the etching waste solution is produced. Since the amount of plated Cu can be regulated, the composition of plated powder in this study is controlled Fe-50wt%Cu. As the result, there is the excellent compactibity of plated powder and it is possible to sinter at low temperature. For instance, the rattler value of 0.25% was obtained by the compacting pressure of 294MPa and the radial crushing strength was 171MPa at the sintering temperature of 973K for 3.6ks. The sintered compacts of the plated powder in comparison with mixedpowder have the low dimensional change, the uniform in the pore distribution and reasonable mechanical strength. Conseqently this Cu-plated Fe powder appears to be very suitable oil-impregnated bearing. Furthermore, this sintered compact is very superior in roundness and cylindricity which are important from the standpoint of the precision of bearing.

Dynamic response of foil strain gages is investigated in the ranges of up to approximately 300 kHz in frequency, 2000 μe in strain and 750 s−1 in strain rate. Impulsive input is applied to the gages using elastic wave pulses in a circular bar. The input is determined by measuring the velocity of the bar end with a laser interferometer. It was confirmed that deviations from the static gage factors do not exceed−5 percent within the frequency range up to 45 kHz, 110 kHz and more than 290 kHz for 20-mm, 10-mm and 3-mm gages, respectively, and that the gage length is the dominant factor in the gages' frequency characteristics. This paper also mentions self-generated voltages.

5-Methoxycarbonylmetyl-2′-deoxyuridine residue was incorporated into oligoDNAs containing either an exclusive thymidine residue (dT) or all four natural deoxynucleoside residues (dA, dG, dC, dT) via a phosphoramidite method. The treatment of the fully protected oligomer bound to controlled pore glass (CPG), with a variety of polyamine resulted in the release of the oligomer from CPG and the incorporation of the polyamine at the 5-position of the uracil component, simultaneously and in good yields.

Smoking cessation decreases oxidative stress and restores vascular endothelial function. However, a recent meta-analysis suggests that the use of varenicline, a α4β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist, increases the risk of cardiovascular events. This study was designed to determine the effect of varenicline-assisted smoking cessation on vascular endothelial function. Study subjects were 11 healthy Japanese males (mean age, 54.4 years) without evidence of cardiovascular disease who were eager to quit smoking. Each subject was treated with varenicline titrated up to 1.0 mg twice daily. We evaluated serum derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) as a marker of oxidative stress, and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery as a marker of vascular endothelial function. Both measurements were performed before and 3 months after completing smoking cessation. All subjects gained weight (average, 1.7 kg) after smoking cessation. However, there were no significant differences in the following parameters before and after smoking cessation: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, glucose and hemoglobin A1c. Serum d-ROM levels significantly decreased from 340.7±70.4 to 300.0±43.2 U.CARR (P=0.012), and FMD significantly increased from 3.36±1.26 to 5.25±1.33% (P=0.00067) after smoking cessation. There was an inverse correlation between FMD and serum d-ROM levels (R=-0.377; P=0.043). Our observations suggest that varenicline-assisted smoking cessation restores vascular endothelial function, and this is associated with decreased oxidative stress, despite an increase in body weight. As varenicline-assisted smoking cessation possibly has beneficial effects on vascular endothelial function, it might also reduce cardiovascular risk.

Objectives: A meta-analysis suggested that the use of varenicline, which is a partial agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and is effective in smoking cessation, increases the risk of cardiovascular events within 52 weeks of starting treatment. Defining these events as occurring during drug treatment (usually for 12 weeks) or within 30 days of discontinuation, another meta-analysis showed that the risk was statistically insignificant. In the present study, we aimed to clarify the effect of varenicline-assisted smoking cessation on vascular endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). Design: Before–after and time-series. Setting: Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Participants: Data of 85 participants who visited nicotine-dependent outpatient services were reviewed. FMD was repeatedly measured in 33 of the 85 participants. Inclusion criteria: 20 years and older, Brinkman index ≥200, Tobacco Dependence Screener ≥5 and stated motivation to quit smoking. Interventions: Each participant was treated with varenicline titrated up to 1.0 mg twice daily (for 12 weeks in total). Primary and secondary outcome measures: Participants were evaluated by FMD prior to, and 3 months after, complete smoking cessation. Follow-up FMD measurements were carried out every 3 months if possible. Changes in FMD during varenicline use were also evaluated. Results: FMD was significantly increased from 4.0±1.8% to 5.5±2.2% (p

This report presents a novel method for characterizing accelerometers under medium and high accelerations ranging from 2 × 10 2 to 1 × 10 6 m s −2 . The reflection of longitudinal elastic waves in a thin circular bar is used for the excitation of a test accelerometer that is attached to the end of the bar. A newly designed laser interferometer can determine the input acceleration accurately. By improving the resolution of the interferometer, the lower acceleration limit of this method can be extended from 2000 m s −2 , the previous limit, to 200 m s −2 . The effectiveness of the method is confirmed through an experiment in which a piezoelectric-type accelerometer is characterized.

In this paper, we propose a novel method for evaluating the frequency response of shock accelerometers using Davies bar and interferometry. The method adopts elastic wave pulses propagating in a thin circular bar for the generation of high accelerations. The accelerometer to be examined is attached to one end of the bar and experiences high accelerations of the order of 103∼105 m/s2. A laser interferometer system is newly designed for the absolute measurement of the bar end motion. It can measure the motion of a diffuse surface specimen at a speed of 10−3 ∼100 m/s. Uncertainty of the velocity measurement is estimated to be±6×10−4 m/s, proving a high potential for use in the primary calibration of shock accelerometers. Frequency characteristics of the accelerometer are determined by comparing the accelerometer's output with velocity data of the interferometry in the frequency domain. Two piezoelectric-type accelerometers are tested in the experiment, and their frequency characteristics are obtained over a wide frequency range up to several ten kilohertz. It is also shown that the results obtained using strain gages are consistent with those by this new method.

胸部X線所見分類で孤立結節性陰影1例, 多発粟粒状結節性陰影1例, 肺炎様陰影3例の細気管支肺胞上皮癌5例を胸部単純X線写真, X線CTと細気管支鏡所見を対比し検討した. 内視鏡所見は肺炎様陰影を呈した症例では細気管支は漿液性の分泌物が多く肺胞の方から湧き出てくる像がみられ, また, 細気管支に粘膜下主体型の腫瘍および閉塞像が認められた. 散在するポリープ様変化も認められ本症の進展形式を示唆した. 孤立結節性陰影の症例では結節隆起型の腫瘍がみられた. 多発粟粒状結節性陰影の症例では細気管支は全般的に狭窄を起こし粘膜面が蒼白に認められた. 初めて本症を内視鏡で観察することが出来た.

Six cases of gastric antral ulcer with an unknown cause encountered at our hospital and related facilities during the last 5 years were evaluated. The frequency of the disease was 1.3% of all gastric ulcers. The lesions were multiple in 3 and solitary in 3. All these lesions were ellipsoidal and small ulcers 1 cm or less in long diameter with mucosal elevations around them, located primarily in the greater curvature, and accompanied by reddened erosions in other areas of the antrum. The patients were middle-aged or older, 5 of them were females, half of them had a history of bleeding, and 4 showed resistance to treatment with proton pump inhibitors. The 6 patients had common clinical features, suggesting that they had the same disease. From the presence of reddened erosion, mutual friction of the antral mucosa was suspected to be a cause of the disease. Similar ulcers are found in the literature, but they have not been described or evaluated in detail. The further accumulation of cases and clarification of details of the disease are desired.

With the rising demand for LNG in recent years, expansion of existing LNG terminals and construction of new ones are planned in many places around the world, and some of such projects are already in progress. Sites selected for these projects may not necessarily have favorable soil conditions from the viewpoint of seismic protection. Seismic demand tends to be higher for LNG storage tanks to be built on such sites. Severe seismic deign conditions require precise estimation of the uplift at the annular part during the earthquake. Depending on the estimation results, either of the following measures needs to be taken: increase of the plate thickness; installation of anchors or seismic isolators; and, occasionally, modification of the tank proportion. Uplift estimation is usually based on conventional design methods in which seismic load is converted into static load, because dynamic behavior of uplift is hardly taken into account in the design process due to its complexity. Some previous fundamental studies revealed that tank uplift and other dynamically induced responses would tend to be smaller than those simulated by static loads. This indicates a possibility of optimizing tank structure based on these research results. As a step toward introducing the uplift response in tank design properly, a time-history FEM analysis with fluid-structure coupling was carried out to understand the tank uplift behavior. This paper reports the findings from the analysis, including comparison with conventional analysis and previous fundamental studies. Since the rocking response may reduce overturning moment and base shear of tanks, structural design may have benefits if such mechanisms are properly taken into account.Copyright © 2011 by ASME

This paper proposes a novel method for evaluating the dynamic characteristics of shock accelerometers under high acceleration levels and a wide frequency bandwidth. High accelerations of 103∼105m/s2 can be generated by the reflection of an elastic wave pulse propagating in a metal bar known as the Davies bar. The elastic wave pulse is produced by the collision of a projectile against one end of the bar, and is detected by straingages. The accelerometer to be characterized is attached to the other end of the bar. The one-dimensional theory of elastic waves enables the derivation of an input acceleration to the accelerometer from the measured strain. The dispersion of the elastic waves caused by the lateral inertia of the bar is compensated for by using a two-dimensional analytical solution. This method was validated by an experiment characterizing a piezoelectric-type accelerometer within the frequency band approximately 1 kHz∼70 kHz.

Microplasma technology was used in the last years for various applications such as NOx removal, sterilization of bacteria or surface treatment. The advantages of microplasma consist in reduced size of the reactor and low discharge voltage. Phenomena of microplasma could be analyzed using emission spectroscopy method. Our microplasma is atmospheric pressure nonthermal plasma. It is a dielectric barrier discharge generated between perforated metallic electrodes covered by a dielectric layer at small discharge gaps between 0 -100 μm. Thus the discharge voltage is around 1 kV Nitrogen, oxygen and argon were used as discharge gases. The emission spectra were measured by an ICCD camera, a spectrometer and a photomultiplier tube. Microplasma was pulsed powered by a Marx Generator and a high voltage amplifier.

This paper presents a new method of estimating the dynamic characteristics of a shock accelerometer using elastic wave propagation in a metal bar. The output from the accelerometer attached to a Davis bar is compared with the theoretical acceleration calculated using the relationship derived from the one-dimensional wave equation of motion in elastic media. The experiment was carried out using the 2 m long stainless steel bar, a solenoid valve air gun, a transient recorder, and a personal computer for signal processing. Details are given of the experimental equipment, the comparison of the accelerometer output with the differentiation of the strain gauge signal, the comparison of the integration of the acceleration signal with the strain gauge signal, and the response curve of the accelerometer calculated using the fast Fourier transform.

A 65-year-old man developed severe septic shock during thrombolytic treatment with urokinase for pulmonary thromboembolism associated with deep venous thrombosis of the right lower limb. Blood cultures were positive forKlebsiella pneumoniae and treatment was successful only when the antibiotics were infused via the same route as the urokinase.

The high cost of digital echocardiographs and the large size of data files hinder the adoption of remote diagnosis of digitized echocardiography data. We have developed a low-cost digital filing system for echocardiography data. In this system, data from a conventional analog echocardiograph are captured using a personal computer (PC) equipped with an analog-to-digital converter board. Motion picture data are promptly compressed using a moving pictures expert group (MPEG) 4 codec. The digitized data with preliminary reports obtained in a rural hospital are then sent to cardiologists at distant urban general hospitals via the internet. The cardiologists can evaluate the data using widely available movie-viewing software (Windows Media Player). The diagnostic accuracy of this double-check system was confirmed by comparison with ordinary super-VHS videotapes. We have demonstrated that digitization of echocardiography data from a conventional analog echocardiograph and MPEG 4 compression can be performed using an ordinary PC-based system, and that this system enables highly efficient digital storage and remote diagnosis at low cost.

A 52-year-old man with chronic granulomatous interstitial pneumonitis suffered from invasive group A streptococcal infection. His chest x-ray showed bilateral interstitial shadows in the lower lung fields since childhood. He was admitted to Keio University Hospital because of fever, productive cough, and necrosis of the distal extremity. The chest radiographic appearance worsened and he developed low blood pressure, liver dysfunction, thrombocytopenia, and lymphocytopenia. Blood culture yielded T-11 strainStreptococcus pyogenes, which generated type B and C pyrogenic exotoxins. This may be the first report to confirm T-11Streptococcus pyogenes as the causative organism for invasive group A streptococcal infection in Japan. The patient's condition improved after treatment with panipenem and subsequent combination therapy with high-dose penicillin G and gentamicin. An immunodeficiency state associated with the chronic granulomatous lung disease was strongly suspected.

A separate-target sputtering process has been applied to fabrication of TiNi shape memory alloy (SMA) for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). This process employs separate Ti and Ni sputtering targets and independently controllable RF power source for each target. Since RF power ratio can change the composition of the films as required, the shape memory properties can be better controlled. This process would enable efficient batch production of MEMS devices and components similarly to the LSI batch process. This process is expected to be a more appropriate method for mass production than other techniques such as machining from bulk SMA sheets or wires and deposition of SMA films from a single TiNi alloy target. The TiNi SMA films in the present study were fabricated by co-sputtering from two separate targets and vacuum-annealing for crystallization. The phase transformation behavior of the crystallized films was observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and x-ray diffractometry (XRD). DSC showed exothermic/endothermic peaks corresponding to phase transformations: martensitic transformation around at 345 K and reverse martensitic transformation around at 365 K. The transformations of crystal structure were also examined by temperature-controlled XRD analysis. The formed films were confirmed to show shape memory effect (SME) by these results.

Preembedding immunogold electron microscopy was performed to evaluate the position of outer arm dynein heavy chains in normal human respiratory cilia. Anti-dynein antibody (AD2), which is specific for sea urchin sperm flagellar dynein heavy chains, was used as primary antibody. Direct cross-sections of cilia were selected, and the distance between the center of a cilium and the center of a colloidal gold particle attached to the cilium (X) was measured. The distance between the center of a cilium and the farthest edge of an outer dynein arm of the cilium was measured by ordinary electron microscopy (Yo) and by immunoelectron microscopy (Yi). X was significantly longer than Yo and Yi. If it is assumed that the structure of respiratory cilia is dense and that antibodies are located at the outer side of the actual position of the heavy chains, then the average distance difference of approximately 90-120 A may represent the length of two conjugated antibodies. This length should be kept in mind when performing immunoelectron microscopy. The data suggest that AD2 recognizes the outer arm dynein heavy chains of normal human respiratory cilia.

The mass production of silicon accelerometers has clarified that the current acceleration standard is not perfect. The acceleration standard is usually transferred by a reference accelerometer with the so-called back-to-back connection technique. Manufacturers, however do not explain what sort of calibration technique is applied to the reference accelerometer in the impact acceleration range. This paper proposes a novel impact technique for accelerometers calibration. The input acceleration to an accelerometer to be tested is generated by the reflection of an elastic pulse at one end surface of a bar. The bar is called Davies Bar, after Prof. Davies, who measured the dynamic displacement of the end surface of a metal bar by electrodes. The experiment was the comparison between the calibration of RION PV-44A accelerometer by ENDEVCO 2270 and that by NRLM method. The paper concludes that Davies' Bar should be used as the reference for the impact acceleration, ranging from roughly 200 [m/s 2 ] to 1000,000 [m/s 2 ] for mainly following reasons: (1) NRLM method is based on laser interferometer measurement with the reliable accuracy. (2) The frequency bandwidth of the impact acceleration generated using Davies bar is much wider than that of reference accelerometers. (3) Back to back connection does not always enable the comparison between the measurement of the connecting surface motion and the accelerometers' outputs.

In the beginning stage of MITI micromachine project, the committee on the standardization established in Micromachine Center recognized the importance of measurement technique for the promotion and the systemization of the micromachine technology. Micromachine Center is the organizing body for private sectors working in the MITI micromachine project which started in 1991. MITI stands for Ministry of International Trade and Industry in Japan. In order to known the requirements on the measurement technologies, the questionnaire was organized by the measurement working group in the committee. This talk covers the questionnaire and its results, and some research results obtained at National Research Laboratory of Metrology working as a member in the project.

We developed a new type of bronchoscope (BF-2.7T) and cytology brush (BC-0.7T) that permit collection of pulmonary cells during direct observation of the small airways. This kind of cell collection has been previously impossible. With our cytology brush, 3.58 +/- 2.76 x 10(4) cells were collected from small airways. The rate of living cells was 33.13 +/- 3.61 percent from the small airways. Analysis of endoscopic findings and investigation of pulmonary cells are very important for elucidating the pathophysiologic state of the small airways. The use of the BF-2.7T allowed collection of cancer cells under direct endoscopic vision in all five patients with peripheral lung cancer. They also contribute to our understanding of the relationship between exogenous factors and cells that compose the lung, and will provide means for treatment and prevention of diseases.

In order to assess the physiological abnormalities and the pathogenesis of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), especially that associated with pulmonary fat embolism, acute lung injury caused by monounsaturated nonsterified fat oleic acid (cis-9-octadecenoic acid) has been widely used in animal experiments. This lung injury results in an extensive, multifocal, and heterogeneously distributed lung damage with alveolar flooding, interstitial edema and microatelectasis. The ability to reduce the perfusion entering into damaged and edematous areas is essentially important in preserving blood oxygenation in ARDS.

Hypoxie pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) is of importance in egulating the distribution of blood flow in the lung, thus allowing the lung to maintain a pertinent matching between ventilation and blood flow. Recently, several authors (cf. Archer et al, 1989b) have reported that endogenous products of reactive O2 species (ROS) in the lung are the important factor for initiating HPV.

In order to assess the physiological abnormalities and the pathogenesis of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), especially that associated with pulmonary fat embolism, acute lung injury caused by monounsaturated nonsterified fat oleic acid (cis-9-octadecenoic acid) has been widely used in animal experiments. This lung injury results in an extensive, multifocal, and heterogeneously distributed lung damage with alveolar flooding, interstitial edema and microatelectasis. These morphological changes have generally been considered to develop significant shunt flow causing severe hypoxemia and loss of lung compliance. Based on the microscopic examinations, however, Schoene et al. (1984) have failed to demonstrate a quantitative relationship between the morphological alterations and the amount of shunt in dogs with lung damage induced by oleic acid administration. Further, Brigham et al. (1983) have shown that gas exchange abnormality in patients with ARDS does not correlate with extent of pulmonary edema estimated from extravascular lung water but significantly with vascular permeability-surface area. They have inferred from their experimental findings that the ability of the lung circulation to reduce perfusion of damaged and edematous areas is essentially important in preserving blood oxygenation in ARDS.

We developed a method for estimating the distribution of ventilation V A ) and of diffusing capacity (G) to perfusion (Q) in the lungs. We used O 2 , CO 2 and CO together with six inert gases of widely differing solubility and assumed that mass transfer efficiency of each gas in a gas exchange unit is limited by both V A /Q and G/Q ratios. The underlying lung model comprised 20 units along both the V A Q and G/Q axes. Using numerical analysis, we transformed the data into a virtually continuous distribution of Q in the V A /Q-G/Q field. We tested the precision of the numerical procedure by examining the recovery of various artificial distributions, and found that distributions with up to two modes could be recovered with reasonable accuracy. Analytical results from 15 patients with interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology (IPF) revealed the following features. (1) In an early disease stage, most of the lung was operating in the range of normal V A /Q, without a significant contribution of diffusion limitation. (2) An advanced stage of the disease exhibited a widening of V A /Q distribution and either broad unimodal or bimodal distribution of G/Q, extending to G/Q below 10 −3 ml (STPD)/(ml·Torr) with diffusion-limited O 2 exchange. (3) Severe diffusion limitation causing disequilibrium of inert gas across the blood-gas barrier was observed in three (far advanced fibrosis; active interstitial inflammation) out of 15 patients. These findings suggest that inhomogeneity of G/Q does exist and may play an appreciable role in causing impairment of gas exchange in patients with interstitial pneumonia.

A potential effect of saturation of hemoglobin with O2 (SO2) as well as of pH in the blood on blood-gas partition coefficients (λ = blood/gas concentration ratio in equilibrium) for certain inert gases has been postulated by several authors (Steen, 1963; Robertson et al., 1986). Since such variation in X might affect inert gas exchange in the lung, the present study systematically reinvestigated SO2 and pH dependence of λ using human blood.

The piezoelectric constant of a zinc oxide thin film on a silicon fixed beam was evaluated by a new method using a metal bar (Davies' bar) and a laser interferometer. The beam was fabricated by silicon micromachining techniques, and the ZnO film was deposited on it by rf sputtering. The film attached to the end of the Davies' bar was accelerated by striking the other end of the bar with a projectile, and the piezoelectric constant of the film was calculated from the strain and the electric charge. A reasonable value of e 31=0.43 C/m2 was obtained for the test specimen.

Oxidation of 3,6-dihydro-2H-selenopyrans with an electron-withdrawing group at the 2 position proceeded via an unprecedented ring-contraction to afford selenophenes.

A method for measuring the dynamic response characteristics of a shock accelerometer comprises the steps of attaching an accelerometer to be tested and a strain gage to one end of a rod supported to be axially slidable, imparting an impact to the other end of the rod, inputting the acceleration arising when the elastic wave reflect from the end surface of the rod to the accelerometer and the strain gage, subjecting the outputs of the accelerometer and the strain gage to data processing and error compensation to obtain the gain and phase characteristics of the accelerometer.

Since the noise level of textile machinery has become more important factor to evaluate the mechanical performance, it is necessary to provide an uniform basis for both machinery producers and textile manufacturers to measure and communicate the noise information.From this necessity, I.R.I.I.P.has made a semi-anechoic room aiming mainly the acoustic investigation of textile machinery.The present investigation was planned to examine the acoustic property of this facility.To carry out the investigation planned, the free field property and noise reduction factor of the facility were examind.From the results obtained, it was found that the semi-anechoic room of I.R.I.I.P. would be effective for the noise measurement and analysis of the textile machinery proposed.