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Methods to manipulate single Si atoms on the Si(111)7 × 7 surface at room temperature, using a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) operated in ultrahigh vacuum, are reported. The extraction and redeposition of single Si atoms and the displacement of the redeposited Si atoms can be done with a W tip, if the tip is carefully cleaned, by applying a voltage pulse between tip and sample with its polarity, magnitude and duration being selected appropriately.

To assess the screening method for detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus recommended by Thornsberry and McDougal J. Clin Microbiol 1983; 18 : 1084–1901, the growth of S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains on Mueller Hinton agar containing 4% NaCl and 6 mg 1 −1 oxacillin, after 24 h incubation at 35 °C, was investigated. The strains used for this study were characterized for possession of the mec A gene by the polymerase chain reaction. All 39 strains of S. aureus with the mec A gene grew on this agar, and all 12 strains of S. aureus without the mec A gene did not grow. On the other hand, three of 12 strains of S. epidermidis did not grow on this agar, although all these strains possessed the mec A gene. These results suggest that Thornsberry and McDougal's screening method is suitable for detecting S. aureus strains with mec A gene. Introduction of this method, to detect methicillin-resistant S. aureus more precisely, is simple and cheap for any laboratory in any part of the world.

The effect of surface roughness of Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ films on time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) characteristics of SiO/sub 2//Si/sub 3/N/sub 4//SiO/sub 2/ (ONO) stacked films was investigated. The surface roughness of Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ films-was found to become higher with increasing deposition temperature and to cause the degradation of TDDB characteristics of ONO films in DRAMs. A local thinning of ONO films, evaluated from the TDDB characteristics, agreed with the surface roughness measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (XTEM). Dependence of time to breakdown of ONO films on the deposition conditions was interpreted by electric field intensification due to the surface roughness of Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ films. >

The degradation of time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) characteristics at LOCOS isolation edges has been studied using MOS capacitors with and without field oxide edges under gate electrodes. The wear-out mode was shifted toward shorter breakdown time by field oxide etching right after the conventional LOCOS process. An increase in leakage current was observed at the isolation edge, so that the current enhancement is regarded as one of the main causes of the degradation. The current was reduced by constant current stress, suggesting the neutralization of positive charges due to electron trapping. The authors attribute the current enhancement causing the degradation to the buildup of positive charges at the isolation edges. Carrier injection before TDDB tests was found to improve the degradation of the wear-out mode. >

Variable-energy (0–30 keV) positrons were used to study the depth distribution of heavy-ion induced vacancy type defects in the following specimens, SUS304 and SUS316 austenitic stainless steels, a SUS444 ferritic stainless steel and nickel metal, which were irradiated by 0.5 MeV He+, 2.0 MeV C+, 3.5 MeV Si2+ and 4.0 MeV Ni2+ ions up to 0.01 dpa at peak. Vacancy type effective residual defects (ERD) were evaluated from the line shape parameterS of Doppler broadened positron annihilation photon spectra. With increasing primary knockon atom (PKA) energy, a decrease of the vacancy type ERD was observed. The ERD differences among the specimens are discussed in comparison with theoretical predictions.

Direct oxidation-type fuel cells (DOFCs) have attracted great interest as a primary power source for portable electronic devices, wheelchairs, vehicles, and robots because of their simple system (no additional equipment such as a fuel reformer) and ease of maintenance. The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is a typical example of DOFC. Development of highly active anode catalysts for them is one of the most important issues in achieving high-energy conversion efficiency in DOFCs. To design such new electrocatalysts, we discuss the mechanism of methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) as well as CO oxidation reaction at several electrodes, based on in situ FTIR spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy combined with an electrochemical cell (EC-XPS). We also show changes in the MOR activities at various Pt alloy electrodes over the wide temperature range from 20 to 120 °C, obtained by using a thin-layer flow cell under pressurized operation. The electrooxidation of methoxy fuels is briefly discussed. Keywords: electrocatalyst; electrooxidation; methanol; carbon monoxide; DMFC

An X-band 50 W GaN power amplifier (PA) is presented, mainly focusing on its impedance-matching networks to realize a specified operating bandwidth of 18 %. Bandpass impedance-matching networks (IMNs) with Chebyshev response are adopted in the PA, where a FET and a pre-matching transmission line can be approximately seen as a shunt parallel-resonant circuit. Mismatch-loss ripple of the Chebyshev IMN can be theoretically optimized in terms of Q-factor of the FET and a specified operational bandwidth. The designed PA has achieved an output power of 50 W and a power-added efficiency (PAE) of more than 30 % in the 18 % relative bandwidth.

A hydrogen concentration cell was constructed by using a high-temperature, proton-conducting oxide ceramic based on BaCeO 3 . This Nernstian hydrogen sensor gave rise to a stable electromotive force in correspondence to a hydrogen partial pressure, and the response speed was fast. Because of its high protonic conductivity, the working temperature range of the sensor was very wide, from 200° to 900°C. At 200°C, this sensor had a good selectivity to hydrogen

The need to improve the exercise testing accuracy, pushed the development of scores, whose applicability was already broadly recognized.Prognostic evaluation of stable coronary disease through a new simplified score.A new score was applied in 372 multivessel coronary patients with preserved ventricular function, 71.8% male, age: 59.5 (± 9.07) years old, randomized to medical treatment, surgery (CABG) or angioplasty (PTCA), with 5 years of follow-up. Cardiovascular death was considered the primary endpoint. Non-fatal myocardial infarction, death and re-intervention were considered for a combined secondary endpoint. The score was based on an equation previously validated, resulting from a sum of one point for: male gender, infarction history, angina, diabetes, insulin use and one point for each decade of life after 40 years old. Positive exercise testing summed one additional point.Thirty six deaths was observed (10 in group PTCA, 15 in CABG and 11 in the clinical group), p = 0.61. We observed 93 combined events: 37 in PTCA group, 23 in CABG and 33 in the clinical group (p = 0.058). 247 patients presented clinical score ≥ 5 points and 216 ≥ 6 points. The cutoff point ≥ 5 or ≥ 6 points identified higher risk, p = 0.015 and p = 0.012, respectively. The survival curve showed a different death incidence after the randomization when score reached 06 points or more (p = 0.07), and a distinct incidence of combined events between the patients with score6 and ≥ 6 points (p = 0.02).The new score was consistent for multiarterial stable coronary disease risk stratification.

Although laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair (TEP) has been reported to have a low recurrence rate and relatively little postoperative pain, there have been few studies reported regarding contralateral occurrence after TEP. Although a high incidence of occult contralateral hernias has been reported in the literature, it is unknown whether occult hernias have any significance in clinical settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of contralateral occurrence after TEP for unilateral inguinal hernia. We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 157 TEPs between April 2003 and May 2009. No patients had undergone contralateral exploration during TEP for unilateral inguinal hernias. Five (3.2%) of 157 unilateral TEPs developed a hernia on the contralateral side. In three patients, the initial hernia was on the right side, and in two it was on the left side. In four patients the initial hernia was indirect, and in one it was direct. The mean duration to contralateral occurrence was 12.2 months. Three patients had contralateral occurrence within 6 months after the primary TEP, while in two over a year passed before contralateral occurrence. All five patients had undergone TEP for contralateral occurrence. The mean operation time was 87.2 min, and there was little intraoperative blood loss. There were no complications during and after the second TEP. The incidence of contralateral occurrence after TEP was found to be low. TEP is a valuable procedure with a low contralateral occurrence rate, and repeated TEP for contralateral occurrence can be performed easily.

Precise measurements of the energy spectrum of bremsstrahlung from an Al single crystal have been performed by using a 1.2 GeV electron beam. The results are compared with the theoretical calculation of coherent bremsstrahlung and found to be sensitive to the choice of the atomic form factor at the 111 and 200 reflection points. The present result supports the form factor determined by X-ray diffraction; the form factor deviates at the 111 point by as much as 3.6% from the Hartree-Fock calculation.

We have measured the angular distribution of high energy tagged photons emitted from 1.2 GeV electrons in an aligned Si crystal. The angular distribution is appreciably broader when the electron beam is parallel to the crystal axis [110] than in the case of random orientation. Moreover, for slightly oblique entrance, the angular distribution is asymmetric around the beam direction. Similar behaviors have been observed also in the angular distribution of the electron beam which passed through the Si crystal. The relation between these angular anomalies and the previous reported intensity anomaly is discussed.

Plastid nucleoids (pt nucleoids) were observed during pollen formation, or in generative cells of mature pollen grains using fluorescence microscopy after staining with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Nuclease C activity was surveyed using SDS-PAGE and agarose gel nuclease assay methods. InMirabilis jalapa, pt nucleoids were observed both in pollen mother cells and the monocellular pollen grains after meiosis, followed by the complete disappearance both in the generative and vegetative cells at the bicellular pollen grain stage. This observation is a direct evidence of maternal plastid inheritance. By contrast, in the generative cells of mature pollen grains fromRhododendron kaempferi, Zygocactus truncatus, Oenothera laciniata, andO. speciosa, pt nucleoids were clearly observed. Thus cytological evidence convinces the mode of biparental plastid inheritance. Nuclease C activity was clearly detected both in the stamen and pistil ofM. jalapa. InR. kaempferi low nuclease C activity was detected in both organs, but the activity in the stamen was much less than in the pistil. InZ. truncatus, O. laciniata, andO. speciosa, the activities were difficult to detect in both organs. These results suggest a significant role of nuclease C for the digestion of pt nucleoids in the generative cells.

Thin films of giant magnetostrictive materials were formed by dc magnetron sputtering and ion beam sputtering processes. A systematic investigation was made to examine the effect of these deposition processes on the magnetic properties and magnetostriction of TbFe2 and (Tb, Dy)Fe2 thin films. The magnetostriction of the films formed by dc sputtering was in the range from 200 to 400 ppm at a magnetic field H=15 kOe, whereas the films formed by the ion beam sputtering exhibited a slightly higher magnetostriction. For both processes, the increase in Ar partial pressure in the deposition processes strongly changed magnetic anisotropy from perpendicular to in plane, and increased magnetostriction and magnetostrictive response at low magnetic fields. However, the mixture of Xe gas into Ar gas in the dc sputtering lowered magnetization and gave almost no effect on magnetic anisotropy.

MgO thin films were prepared by ion plating systems and by an ion beam sputtering system with a plasma filament type ion source. Triode-type and rf ion plating processes were employed. MgO films were prepared with various oxygen partial pressures ranging from 10−3 to 10−2 Pa. In the triode-type ion plating process, the MgO(200) was the preferred growth orientation of film. In the rf ion plating process, MgO(111) and (220) reflection peaks appeared in the x-ray diffraction patterns of films. The films were transparent, and those values of transmittance of ultraviolet region were increased as increasing oxygen partial pressure. In the ion beam sputtering process, the film showed amorphous structure and low transmittance.

Contents / p1 1 Introduction / p4 2 Coherent Bremsstrahlung / p7 2.1 Theoretical foundation / p7 2.2 Dip-bump structures / p12 2.3 Effect of the atomic form factor / p14 3 Experimental Set-up / p15 3.1 General consideration / p15 3.2 Electron synchrotron / p17 3.3 Tagging system and electron monitor / p17 3.4 Target and goniometer / p20 3.5 Data acquisition methods / p22 4 Experimental Procedure / p22 4.1 Check runs / p22 4.2 Silicon runs / p25 4.3 Aluminum runs / p26 5 Results and discussion / p28 5.1 Theoretical calculation / p28 5.2 Atomic form factor of silicon crystal / p30 5.3 Effect of the imperfection of silicon crystal / p36 5.4 Atomic form factor of aluminum crystal / p38 5.5 Possible improvement of experimental methods / p42 6 Conclusion / p43

Catalytic behavior of K2Cr2O7 supported on SiO2 has been tested in the liquid phase oxidation of benzene to phenol. A small amount of phenol is detected in the presence of air. The yield of phenol is almost 100 times larger than on air oxidation when H2O2aq is used as an oxidant.

The authors describe a 256-kb BiCMOS transistor-transistor logic (TTL)-compatible static RAM (SRAM) with typical address access time of 6 ns (5.0 V, 25 degrees C). The fast access time is due to the combination of new circuits and double-metal, double-polysilicon 0.8- mu m Hi-BiCMOS process technology. The high performance of the SRAM is due to the new BiCMOS circuit technologies. These include: (1) a low-input-capacitance BiCMOS gate, which reduced the gate loads in a decoder; (2) a reduced-load multiplexer-line sense amplifier; and (3) the two-level-presetting architecture of the TTL output buffer, which reduced the output-drive-current change rate to 20 mA/ns for a *8-b configured chip with a propagation delay time of 1.5 ns. The current change rate is about half that of the conventional-type output buffer. The fabricated SRAM is 4.25 mm*10 mm. >

A hydrogen concentration cell was constructed by using a high-temperature, proton-conducting oxide ceramic based on BaCeO 3 . This Nernstian hydrogen sensor gave rise to a stable electromotive force in correspondence to a hydrogen partial pressure, and the response speed was fast. Because of its high protonic conductivity, the working temperature range of the sensor was very wide, from 200° to 900°C. At 200°C, this sensor had a good selectivity to hydrogen

A 4-Mb pseudo static RAM (PSRAM) suitable for universal battery usage is described. The wide voltage range, 2.6+or-1 V, is set to target the power supply voltage of the PSRAM considering various voltage levels and charging-discharging characteristics of batteries. A double-to-single automatically switchable booster is developed to provide the wide voltage range operation. To reduce the power dissipation of data retention for battery usage a low-power back-bias generator with a new substrate-level sensor and a temperature-dependent self-refresh timer with a unique internal refresh control scheme are demonstrated. A PSRAM operation ranging from 1 V to more than 5 V was obtained and a 3- mu A data retention current was realized at room temperature in contrast with 7 mu A at 70 degrees C and V/sub cc/ of 2.6 V. This PSRAM allows a 20-Mbyte RAM disk to retain data for two months with a single lithium battery. >

Fluctuating CPAP(F-CPAP) is a combination of spontaneous ventilation and fluctuating PEEP, in which end-expiratory pressure (EEP) is periodically changed within a certain range. In a dog model with localized lung injury induced by the aspiration of non-heparinized blood (2 ml·kg−1 body weight), we carried out a comparative study of the effects of F-CPAP in which the EEP was cyclically changed from 4 to 12 CmH2O with periods of 10 min and those of conventional CPAP with a fixed EEP of 8 CmH2O (C-CPAP), on hemodynamics and pulmonary oxygenation. The blood aspiration produced significant increases in the intrapulmonary shunt ( $$\dot Qsp/\dot Qt$$ ), the alveolar-arterial difference of partial pressure of oxygen (A-aDO2), and the respiratory rate (RR). Although both F-CPAP and C-CPAP reduced $$\dot Qsp/\dot Qt$$ and A-aDo2 and RR, 7 dogs treated with F-CPAP showed a significantly greater recovery of $$\dot Qsp/\dot Qt$$ and A-aDo2 than 7 dogs treated with C-CPAP. There were no significant differences in hemodynamic variables between the two groups. These results suggest that F-CPAP is more useful in the treatment of some kinds of hypoxic respiratory failure due to uneven distribution of lung injury.

This paper deals with a two-dimensional stress analysis of butt adhesive joints, with a circular hole defect in the adhesive, subjected to external bending moments. The analysis was done using the two-dimensional theory of elasticity in order to examine the strength of the joints. It was assumed that the adherends were rigid and the adhesive was replaced with a finite strip including a hole defect. The effects of the location and size of a hole defect on the stress distributions around the hole and at the interfaces were obtained by numerical calculations. In addition, the singular stress near the edge of the interface was obtained. For verification, photoelastic experiments were performed. The analytical results were fairly consistent with the experimental results. It was seen that the principal stress around a hole becomes larger with a certain shift toward the free boundary. It was also seen that the stress concentration became larger with an increase of the size of the hole.

To determine the degree of knowledge that cardiologists from São Paulo, Brazil, have regarding a low-prevalent entity associated with a high rate of sudden death-Brugada syndrome.Two hundred forty-four cardiologists were interviewed by an instrument divided in two parts: in the first, we recorded gender, age, and data related to academic profile. The second--answered only by the professionals that manifested having some degree of knowledge on the syndrome--had 28 questions that evaluated their knowledge. The answers were spontaneous and they did not have a chance to consult. We used uni- and multivariate analysis on the average percentage of right and wrong answers, and the influence of the academic profile.The predominant gender was the male gender (61.1%), the average age was 44.32 +/- 10.83 years, 40% with more than 20 years after obtaining their degree, 44% were educated in public institutions, 69% had a residency in cardiology, 20% had overseas practice, 12% had postdegree, 41% were linked to an educational institution, 24% with publication(s) in an indexed journal, 17.2% were authors of chapters in books, 2.5% had edited books, and 10% were linked to the Brazilian Society of Cardiac Arrhythmias. The average percentage of right answers was 45.7%.The sample studied revealed a little knowledge on the entity. A residency in cardiology was the factor of greater significance in the percentage of right answers. Other significant factors were the link of the interviewed person to an educational institution, or the Brazilian Society of Cardiac Arrhythmias, and having a specialist degree.

A new low profile waveguide band-rejection filter (BRF) is proposed. In the waveguide BRF, substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavities are employed as resonators, and they are simply inserted in a hollow waveguide. For this simple configuration, this waveguide BRF is low-profile and easy to fabricate compared with a conventional waveguide BRF, which employs resonant waveguide cavities outside the waveguide and needs costly machining processes to fabricate. A Q-band prototype waveguide BRF is fabricated using alumina substrates and the measured results showed high attenuation more than 50 dB at 47 GHz in 2% fractional bandwidth.

We describe the generation and detection of coherent broadband terahertz waves using ultrashort-pulse fiber laser, and its application to terahertz tomography. A pulse compression technique using nonlinear and dispersion effects of optical fibers leads to the development of high-peak-power 17- fs ultrashort- pulse fiber laser. With the optical rectification in an organic crystal, 4-dimethylamino-N-methyl-4-stilbazolium tosylate (DAST), ultra-broad terahertz pulses are successfully generated. The spectrum ranges widely from 0.1 to 25 THz. By applying these broadband THz pulses to THz tomography, the thickness of 5- mum thin Teflon film is measured correctly.

A 64-year-old male admitted for dry cough and fever was diagnosed with apical invading squamous cell carcinoma of left lung, and underwent operation. Anterior transcervical incision and removal of the sternoclavicular joint ensured vast and safe exposure of the thoracic inlet, and removal of the chest wall including the involved anterior 1st and 2nd ribs was underwent in safe by additional assisted thoracoscopic procedure in the supine position. After converting position, en bloc resection of the left upper lobe and chest wall, and lymph node dissection was performed under posterolateral thoracotomy. Anterior transcervical approach was useful to exposure of the thoracic inlet and the structures.

In high-speed data link systems of over 40Gb/s, the data decision point in the CDR circuit is not often the optimum position of the eye diagram. The CDR circuit is fabricated using a 0.18 mum SiGe BiCMOS process. The ft and fmax are 200 GHz and 180 GHz, respectively. To overcome a severe degradation of BER performance due to this misalignment, a 40 Gb/s CDR circuit integrated with an adaptive decision-point control scheme by using an eye-opening monitor feedback is developed. The key approaches are 40 Gb/s high-precision eye-opening monitor (EOM) circuit to detect an optimum decision point, an adaptive decision-point control (ADPC) scheme by using the EOM feedback, a decision- point adjustable self-aligned phase detector to achieve the ADPC operation. The combination of these approaches improves both the BER performance and the stability of CDR operation.

We propose an adaptive electrical dispersion compensation using newly developed high-speed eye monitoring LSI, and demonstrated experimentally the effective enlargement of PMD tolerance in 43 Gbit/s RZ-DPSK signal.

We propose a high-speed and simple estimation algorithm of waveform distortions using a 43-Gb/s SiGe-based eye-monitoring LSI, and experimentally demonstrate precise estimations of PMD and chromatic dispersion.

A search was made for DNA in both the basal bodies (BBs) in situ and BBs isolated from cells ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii by high-resolution epifluorescence microscopy after staining with 4′-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), by fluorimetry using a video-intensified microscope photon-counting system (VIMPICS) and by immunofluorescence microscopy after staining with a monoclonal tubulin-specific antibody. The flagella and intracellular microtubules radiate from the BBs. The BBs in young vegetative cells, gametes and young zygotes do not emit fluorescence after staining with DAPI but the spherical cell nucleus, the ovoid chloroplast nuclei and the tiny mitochondrial nuclei emit bright, blue-white fluorescence. Thus, it appears that BBs do not contain larger amounts of DNA than do the other organelles. To avoid the halation effects of fluorescence from the cell debris and cytoplasm and to measure carefully any extremely low levels of DNA that might be present in the organelles, a complex, composed of two flagella, a pair of BBs and the cell nucleus, was isolated from the gametes by treatment with autolysin and 0.1% Triton X-100. After staining with DAPI, the BBs of such complexes exhibit faint fluorescence while the cell nucleus emits strong fluorescence. The point and total intensities of the fluorescence emitted from each portion of the complex were measured with the VIMPICS. When the fluorescence intensity “T” of T 4 phage is taken as a standard, the fluorescence intensities of the flagella, the pair of BBs, the cell nucleus and the nucleus ofEscherichia coli are respectively 0.2 T, 0.40 T, 1452.2 T and 20.4 T. The slight fluorescence emitted from the BB seems to be due to the halation of the fluorescence emitted from the cell nucleus. The intensity of the fluorescence from the BBs is reduced to the intensity of the fluorescence of the flagella when the cell nucleus is removed from the complex. From these results, we conclude that the BBs do not contain DNA. Discrepancies related to the reported presence of DNA in the BBs are discussed.

We have measured the crystal orientation dependence of the intensity of hard photons from Si crystal impinged upon by a 1.2 GeV electron beam. The data are mostly consistent with the theory of coherent radiation except in the close vicinity of the crystal axis, where the data has a sharp peak. The height and width of the anomalous peak are almost constant over the photon energies covered; between 0.2 and 1.1 GeV. In contrast to the similar measurements at Tomsk, no evidence has been found for the suppression of high energy photons around the crystal axis.

Using a SrCeO3-based proton conducting ceramic as a solid electrolyte, a high temperature hydrogen pump was constructed and the performance was examined at 650–800° C. The limiting diffusion current was measured as a function of hydrogen partial pressure at the anode by a potential sweep method with an automatic iR-compensation system. The limiting current density was a good measure of stable operating conditions for the hydrogen pump.

A high-resolution positron emission tomograph (PET) for brain studies has been developed. It consists of five detector rings (240 BGOs/ring). New multisegment photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) were adopted for the system with 5-mm-wide BGOs. The system is designed to examine a patient sitting or lying down on a chair/bed couch. The functions of PMT auto gain control and real-time image display are implemented in the system. The physical performance of the system was evaluated: the spatial resolution is 3.5 mm in the transaxial plane and 5.7 mm in the axial direction, and the total system sensitivity is 109 kcps/ mu Ci/ml for a uniform phantom 20 cm in diameter with a pulse height threshold of 350 keV. >

A new exclusion process for CO and CO2 from ammonia synthesis gas has been proposed: this takes place at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The process is based on the electrochemical reduction of CO and CO2 to methanol proceeding at a mediated electrode via homogeneous catalysis. The maximum percentages of CO and CO2 excluded from the initial gas were about 1.5 and 4.1%, respectively, with a mediated electrode of 82.8 cm2 area in a reaction time of 5 h. The amount of excluded CO and CO2 was equivalent to the sum of moles of methanol formed and gases dissolved into the solution alone. The electroreduction of CO and CO2 was more efficient at three-phase (electrode/solution/gas) and at two-phase (electrode/solution) interfaces, respectively.

Using perovskite‐type oxide based on as a solid electrolyte, small‐size high‐temperature fuel cells were constructed and cell performances were examined. The Nd‐doped ceramic electrolyte exhibited a mixed conduction of proton and oxide ion. Mixtures of water vapor and some gases such as methanol vapor or methane were used as a fuel by internal reforming to liberate hydrogen in the anode compartment. These fuel cells worked stably above 900°C. At 1000°C, the overvoltage at both electrodes was very small and the performances of the cells were limited mainly by ohmic resistance of the solid electrolyte. Besides platinum, porous nickel was a promising anode material for this electrolyte.

The case of a 49-year-old man with Sweet’s syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis) is described, who had coincidently gastric cancer. The therapeutic effectiveness of colchicine is also presented as one treatment for Sweet’s syndrome, because rapid regression of the lesions was noticed.

We herein present a case who underwent vacuum-assisted wound closure (VAC) therapy for post-sternotomy mediastinitis. A 71-year-old female with chronic renal failure on dialysis underwent a graft replacement of the ascending aortic aorta for the treatment of an acute aortic dissection. After she was discharged from the hospital, a purulent discharge was noted to occur from the median sternal wound. The wound was therefore reopened and all sternal wires were removed. Thereafter, polyurethane foam which was shaped to fit the defect was placed within the cavity. The area was covered with adhesive drape and suction drainage was carried out at -100 mmHg. The polyurethane foam was replaced every few days. The wound was finally closed using a muscle flap at 49 days after surgery. VAC therapy is therefore considered to be a useful treatment modality for deep sternal wound infections.

A new elliptic-function bandpass filter (BPF) is proposed, which utilizes an inter-digital coupled line (IDCPL) as a left-handed transmission line. The IDCPL is employed in order to realize a negative coupling between non-adjacent resonators in a wideband BPF. As the authors' knowledge, the left-handed operations of the IDCPL has rarely utilized before, although the IDCPL itself has been widely used in many microwave circuits without being paid attention to the left-handed operations. Measured results of a 3-5GHz BPF for ultra wideband communication systems (UWB) are also presented in this paper.

We demonstrated an ultra-low jitter clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit that covers an ultra wide frequency range from 35 Gb/s to 46 Gb/s. Our CDR has a newly developed dual input LC-VCO with a fine/coarse tuning scheme and a dual-loop architecture, which consists of a phase tracking loop and a frequency tracking loop. The CDR chip, which was made using an InP-HBT process, shows an extremely clear eye opening with an ultra-low jitter (< 9 mUI-rms) and an error-free operation (

To report the usefulness of antipsychotic dose-reduction for avoiding paralytic ileus in a patient with chronic schizophrenia and comorbid dementia.A 65-year-old in-patient developed severe paralytic ileus warranting a transfer to the general hospital. Constipation was very troublesome and he often needed enema to prevent intestinal obstruction. He had originally been treated with 24 mg of bromperidol, which was reduced to 4 mg, and other psychotropic treatments were simultaneously simplified. As a result, bowel habits improved and enema is now only rarely necessary. Constipation is a frequent adverse effect of antipsychotics and adjunctive psychotropics, which can be severe and may lead to life-threatening paralytic ileus. Dose-reduction obviated a necessity of enema against persistent constipation, while the patient's mental status remained under control. Assessment using the Naranjo probability scale revealed a definite causal relationship.With an increasing number of elderly patients with schizophrenia, more cases of severe gastrointestinal motility problems from antipsychotic medication are to be expected. In this patient population dose-reduction of antipsychotics and simplification of concomitant psychotropics should be seriously considered.