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In this paper, we propose the matching method using the edge image with the rigid assumption. We introduce the virtual intensity added to the edge image and regard it as energy function. It is assumed that the objects to match each other is rigid. The edges are repeatedly moved to the direction which the energy function are reduced by parallel translation and rotation. The corresponding point between two images can be found when the function is minimum. Real images include the area which have no or extreme intensity change. The proposed method is available in those cases since it uses features of the image that is the edges. We showed this advantage by the experiments of motion estimation.

There are several research projects ongoing to apply cloud computing to industrial systems. The main focus of them is real-time performance of virtual machines (VMs) since it is important to guarantee a time-critical feature of industrial systems. However, there is another important issue that how much computing resource (CPU, memory, etc.) should be allocated to each VM which runs processes of an industrial system. In this paper, we propose a resource management method which manages VM resources with millisecond precision. In the proposed method, resource usage is measured and predicted, considering several microseconds allocation delay of Xen. Our experimental results show that the proposed method can guarantee 99% operation timing with higher CPU utilization in comparison with conventional resource management methods.

Systolic and Diastolic Potentials in LV Septum. Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the electrophysiologic characteristics of the normal left interventricular septum (LIVS). Methods and Results: We exploredthe LIVS in search of endocardial potentials following ventricular electrograms during sinus rhythm in 28 patients without structural heart disease. In all patients, low-frequency (mean amplitude: 0.81 ′ 0.33 mV) systolic potentials (LA1) were detected in a basal-to-apical activation sequence (earliest to latest QRS-LA1 interval: 93.3 ′ 10.8 ms to 127.1 ′ 16.6 ms). Programmed stimulation demonstrated decremental conduction properties, and the effective refractory period of the tissue between the ventricular electrogram and LA1 at baseline (376.7 ′ 48.8 ms) was significantly prolonged by disopyramide (421.3 ′ 54.1 ms, P < 0.05 vs baseline). In 21 patients (75%), diastolic potentials (LA2) morphologically similar to LA1 (mean amplitude: 0.52 ′ 0.17 mV) were detected in an apical-to-basal activation sequence (earliest to latest QRS-LA2 interval: 368.9 ′ 32.4 ms to 440.7 ′ 45.8 ms). Para-Hisian pacing with capture of the His bundle showed shorter S-LA1 and S-LA2 intervals compared to the beats without His-bundle capture but with ventricular capture (156.3 ′ 11.2 ms vs 183.2 ′ 12.3 ms, and 385.7 ′ 21.6 ms vs 397.4 ′ 23.4 ms, respectively, P < 0.0001). At the same rate, the LA1-LA2 interval was significantly shorter during right ventricular apical than atrial overdrive pacing (220.4 ′ 23.1 ms vs 261.4 ′ 30.7 ms, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Unique myocardial bundles with slow conduction properties and various electrical connections with the specialized conduction system may exist in the LIVS of normal human hearts.

It is important to estimate the road model and vehicle state for Lane Departure Warning Systems and Lane Keeping Systems. One of the conventional methods is to estimate these parameters using the Kalman filter. Recently, the H∞ filter has been derived based on H∞-theory. The H∞ filter is formulated as the robust state-estimation filter to the modeling errors and disturbances (the initial state and noises). In this paper, a estimation method of the road model and vehicle state using H∞ filter is proposed. In addition, we develop a simple method to check an existence condition of the H∞ filter per time step and a fast algorithm in case that the size of the observation vector is larger than the size of the state vector. The efficiency of the proposed methods is demonstrated by simulations.

IFAC Automatic Control in Aerospace(2004), Saint-Petersburg, Russia, 資料番号: ARDS03124000

Oxidative stress induces cellular responses such as cell death, gene activation and cell proliferation, in the liver. Vitamin E (Vit. E) has been found to protect the liver against oxidative stress in animal experiments. Thioredoxin (TRX) is a stress inducible, multifunctional protein, secreted during oxidative stress. This study evaluated effects of Vit. E on serum TRX and aminotransferase levels in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients, partly non-responsive to initial interferon (IFN), with higher than average level of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) after receiving anti-inflammatory drug treatment.Seventeen HCV patients (male = 3; female = 14) of age 62 +/- 7.65 years receiving anti-inflammatory drug therapy, at least 6 months prior to Vit. E administration, were given d-alpha-tocopherol 500 mg/day, orally, for a period of 3 months. ALT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), TRX and Vit. E were measured at 0, 1, 2 and 3 months and 1 month after end of treatment. As controls, the same patients biochemical data, 3 months from the start of therapy were used. Patients were divided into three categories: total patients "T", low ALT group "L" (ALT70 IU/l) and high ALT group "H" (ALT70 IU/l), respectively.The ALT level was lowered, significantly in group H, in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 1-month post therapy, compared to the initial value. But group L showed little or no change in ALT. Post Vit. E therapy, in groups T and H, the TRX level was elevated but remained below initial levels, whereas in group L, TRX level remained significantly lower than the pretreatment value. Groups T and L, showed significant reduction (p0.05) in serum TRX levels in the 2nd and 3rd month. Group H showed a tendency towards TRX reduction, but not significantly. Serum Vit. E levels increased significantly (p0.0001) from the 1st to 3rd month in all three T, H and L groups.Oxidative stress induced liver damage is reduced by Vit. E in patients with viral hepatitis C, particularly those with initial ALT levels70 IU/l. Vit. E treatment causes reduction of oxidative stress markers as TRX and ALT in sera. Therefore, Vit. E can act as a supportive therapy to combat liver damage caused by oxidative stress, in such patients with continuously high levels of ALT even after anti-viral and anti-inflammatory drug therapy.

Single Comb White Leghorn laying hens (Hyline) were fed ad libitum in order to estimate energy expenditure of behavioral activities (BA) such as standing, eating or body movements et cetera under artificial day-night cyclic ambient temperatures (Ta) 33-25°C, 25-33°C and constant Ta 29-29°C. The light (12h)-dark (12h) periods synchronized with the Ta, commencing at 09 : 00. Body movement of the hens was detected by the Actigraph as activity count (ACT), while standing time (STN) et cetera were measured by the infra-red beam switches. Heat production (HP) was measured by the indirect calorimetry. HP, ACT and STN of each hen were measured continuously for 48h. The daily food intake (FI) of the hens were in a decreasing order at 29-29°C, 25-33°C and 33-25°C, respectively. On the other hand, the daily HP were in a reverse order of FI at 29-29°C, 25-33°C and 33-25°C, respectively. As the ACT and STN increased significantly during the dark periods under higher Ta, this may have induced higher HP. Energy expenditure of BA when expressed by the ACT were 19%, 22% and 30% of the daily HP at 33-25°C, 29-29°C and 25-33°C, respectively.

Background/AIM: Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is known as a chemotactic and angiogenetic cytokine and is a potential mediator of host response to injury or inflammation. In order to identify the role of IL-8 in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C (CHC), we assessed semiquantitatively the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of IL-8 and other cytokines in liver biopsy specimens of CHC patients. METHOD: Liver biopsy specimens were obtained under peritoneoscopy from 35 patients with CHC. The mRNA expression of IL-8 and other cytokines in the liver were determined by real-time PCR and the correlation between the mRNA expression and histological classification of liver were studied. Liver histology was classified by both staging of fibrosis (F0-F4) and grading of activity (A1, mild; A2, moderate and A3, severe). RESULTS: Patients were classified into F1, 8; F2, 9; F3, 9 and F4, 9 and A1, 6; A2, 14 and A3, 15, by staging of fibrosis and grading of activity, respectively. Expression of IL-8 mRNA increased with staging of fibrosis (F1, 0.402+/-0.65; F2, 0.413+/-0.246; F3, 1.388+/-2.166; F4, 1.991+/-1.879) and grading of activity (A1, 0.560+/-0.808; A2, 0.780+/-1.268; A3, 1.548+/-1.957). The mRNA expressions of IL-2, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-15 and TNF-alpha were found to be closely correlated with IL-8 mRNA (R=0.638; 0.522; 0.487; 0.465 and 0.495, respectively, in all P0.05). CONCLUSION: In CHC, intra-hepatic expression of both IL-8 and IL-2 increased with fibrosis and inflammatory activity. Positive correlations were found between IL-8 and other cytokines and between cytokines themselves. These findings suggest that these interacting cytokines play an active role in the pathogenesis of CHC, and maybe involved in the upregulation or induction of one and other.

BACKGROUND: A relationship between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in a group of hepatectomized patients has been reported. Another study suggested the development of HCC is more rapid in a high ALT group of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated cirrhotic patients. To find a relationship between ALT and HCC occurrence, we observed changes in ALT over a period of 6 years, in a group of non-cirrhotic, chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with anti-inflammatory drugs post interferon (IFN) therapy. METHOD: Eighty three CHC patients, with fibrosis stage 1, 2, 3 (F1, F2, F3) who had a partial (PR) or non-response (NR) to initial IFN therapy, were treated with anti-inflammatory drugs for 6 years. Over a period of 6 years HCC developed in nine patients. Of them, one belonged to F2 and eight to F3. Within the first 2 years HCC developed among two patients in F3. Multivariate analysis revealed that in F3, the 6 year average ALT activity (odds ratio 5.59; P0.05) was the only significant variable associated with HCC occurrence. All other variables remained insignificant. Among the six F3 patients in whom HCC developed, the likelihood of HCC occurrence was found to be significantly higher (odds ratio 1.89; P0.001) in patients who showed elevated ALT activity (80 IU) two or more times during the 6 year period, compared to those with ALT (80 IU) for less than 2 years. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that continuous elevation of ALT seems to be important for HCC diagnosis. Patients with ALT==80 IU for 2 years or more are at a greater risk of HCC development. It is necessary to continue treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs, following initial IFN therapy to suppress ALT below 80 IU, to prevent HCC occurrence or delay the time of HCC occurrence in order to prolong life.

Aim: TT virus (TTV) is a single stranded DNA virus found in serum of patients with post-transfusion non-A to -G hepatitis. TTV-DNA has been investigated in sera of patients with various liver diseases. This study aimed at finding whether co-infection with TTV in HCV patients, may influence the effect of interferon (IFN) in complete elimination of HCV, and analysed the correlation between HCV and TTV by semi-quantification of both HCV RNAs and TTV DNA. Methods: In 28 chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) patients with TTV co-infection, the presence of TTV DNA was checked in sera six months before and after the end of IFN therapy. Result: Five out of 28 patients became negative for both HCV-RNA and TTV-DNA following IFN therapy. But 10 out of 28 patients persistently remained positive for both. Among the remaining 13 patients, 5 tested negative for HCV-RNA but positive for TTV-DNA. Post IFN therapy changes in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels did not appear to be influenced by the presence of TTV co-infection. HCV-RNA was found to be the most important predictor of IFN response in CH-C patients with TTV co-infection. TTV DNA level in sera had no correlation with IFN response. In addition, there was no relationship between HCV RNA and TTV DNA. Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be concluded that the effectiveness of IFN in eliminating HCV does not seem to be influenced by co-infection.

A parallel-amplifier structure (PAS) is proposed for filter-free wavelength conversion based on the cross-gain-modulation of a semiconductor optical amplifier. The PAS is a symmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer having a polarization insensitive semiconductor optical amplifier in each arm, and was fabricated monolithically by butt-coupling of high-mesa and buried waveguides. Filter-free wavelength conversion in the co-propagative mode is demonstrated at a bit rate of 10 Gbit/s using the fabricated PAS. Clear eye opening and a power penalty as low as 0.9 dB were achieved.

We present a case with two forms of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) that revealed similar H — A – V sequences, but could be differentiated only by their retrograde atrial activation sequences. Both tachycardias were induced following anterograde slow pathway conduction, suggesting the slow pathway as the anterograde limb of the reentry circuit. The earliest atrial activation site of one form was in the same region of the bundle of His as that of the common type of AVNRT, while that of the other form was the ostium of the coronary sinus. Properly timed extra-stimuli delivered from the atrium or ventricle during the latter tachycardia penetrated through the fast pathway without resetting the tachycardia cycle length. These rare phenomena suggest the existence of two functionally discrete fast pathways, of which the alternative pathway alters to become the more predominant retrograde limb according to time and circumstances.

ブタにおける体温レベル変動の意義および体温調節反応の日リズムの特徴について, 16.8～18.6kgの子豚を4頭用いて, 異なる環境温度に感作したブタの各生理反応間の相互関係を調べることにより検討した. 実験では, 環境温度 (Te) 25, 29, 33および37℃の下で, 直腸温 (Tr), 呼吸数 (RR), 平均体表温 (mTs), 熱産生量 (HP), 潜熱放散量 (eHL) および顕熱放散量 (sHL) を測定した. その結果, Teに対するTr, RR, mTsおよびeHLの上昇・増加が認められ, 25と29℃におけるTrとmTsの1 : 00～5 : 00 (夜-朝) と13 : 00～17 : 00 (昼-夕) の変化は明らかに異なった. Teの上昇にともなうmTs1℃上昇あたりのsHLの減少率は, -0.80 (kJ/kg0.75h℃) であり, RRの増加に対するeHLの増加率は, +0.04 (kJ/kg0.75h回) で, それぞれの変化率は夜昼とも同じであったが, 切片は有意に異なる値となった. Tr39.5℃以上では, Tr0.1℃の上昇にともなうRRとmTsの変化率はそれぞれ14.1 (回/分℃) と0.43 (℃/℃) であった. また, Trに対するmTsの変化率が大きくなり始めた時のTrの値は, 夜間では39℃で, 昼間では39.5℃であった. 以上のことから, 子豚におけるTr39.5℃はsHLと関係するmTsの変曲点でありsHLの減少にともない, それを補完するためのeHLの増加が生ずる臨界体温であると考えられ, 夜昼での体温調節の反応差が明らかに観察されたことから, ブタの環境管理について特徴的な体温の日リズムが活用できるものと考えられた.

ブタの体温調節における日リズムの特徴について, ブタの姿勢と関連した行動量と熱放散面積および体温との関係から調査・検討を行った. 実験では, 体重7～18kgの子豚を用いて設定環境温度 (Te) 18, 25, 32および38℃の下で, 行動量 (ACT), 腟温 (Tv) および横臥と伏臥時における平均体表温 (mTs) と露出体表面積 (As) を測定した.1. ACT値のレンジは, 横臥0～80, 伏臥0～260, 起立時0～325counts/minであり, その最頻値は, 横臥では0counts/min, 伏臥50counts/min, 起立時260counts/minであったことから, 従来よりなされて来たブタにおける姿勢観察や行動記録が, 動きの量 (行動量) と深く関わることを示し, 観察された行動時間などからエネルギー消費量等を推定する場合に有効であることを裏づけている.2. Teの上昇にともないTv値が上昇し, この時ACT値は減少していた. 逆に, Teが低い時でのACT値は増加していた. また, 12 : 00～18 : 00でのACT値とTv値は0:00～6:00の場合より高く, Tv値が低下へ向かう時には, Tvレベルの低下時と同様にACTの増加が誘導された. これは, ACTが体温の日リズムの形成に関係していないことを明白に示すものであった.3. mTsとAsの値についてはブタの休息姿勢により変化し (横臥＞伏臥), また, 0 : 00～6 : 00での値は12 : 00～18 : 00の値より高い, あるいは大きかった. これらの顕熱放散の促進反応は, 0 : 00～6 : 00における深部体温の低下にともなう熱放散量の減少を補完し, 体熱収支を維持するための反応と推察された.

This study numerically and experimentally examines the effects of applying curvilinear element blades to fully-shrouded centrifugal impellers on the performance of the centrifugal compressor stages. The design suction coefficient of the target impellers was 0.073. Our previous study confirmed that the application of curvilinear element blades could improve the stage efficiency of similar types of centrifugal compressors. However, a detailed explanation of the relation between the stall margin and the application of the curvilinear element blades remains to be given. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of using these blades on the impeller flow field and the stall margin in further detail. The curvilinear element blades we developed for centrifugal turbomachinery were defined by the coordinate transformations between a revolutionary flow-coordinate system and a cylindrical coordinate system. All the blade sections in the transferred cylindrical coordinate system were moved and stacked spanwise in accordance with the given “lean profile,” which meant the spanwise distribution profile of movement of the blade sections, to form a new leaned blade surface. The effects of the curvilinear element blades on the impeller flowfield were investigated by conducting numerical simulations using this method. We next considered the optimum design guidelines for impellers with curvilinear element blades. Then we designed a new impeller using these design guidelines and evaluated the performance improvement of a new compressor stage by conducting numerical simulations. As mentioned in several papers, we numerically confirmed that curvilinear element blades with a negative tangential lean profile improved the velocity distribution and stage efficiency because they help to suppress the secondary flows in the impeller. The negative tangential lean mentioned in this paper represents the lean profile in which the blade hub end leans forward in the direction of the impeller rotation compared to the blade shroud end. At the same time, we also found that the stall margin of these impellers deteriorated due to the increase in relative velocity deceleration near the suction surface of the shroud in the forward part of the impeller. Therefore, we propose new design guidelines for impellers with the curvilinear element blades by applying a negative tangential lean to line element blades in which the blade loading of the shroud side in the forward part of the impeller is reduced. We confirmed from the numerical simulation results that the performance of the new compressor stage improved compared to that in the corresponding conventional one. The new design guidelines for the curvilinear element blades were experimentally verified by comparing the performance of the new compressor stage with the corresponding conventional one. The measured efficiency of the new compressor stage was 2.4 % higher than that of the conventional stage with the stall margin kept comparable. A comparison of the measured velocity distributions at the impeller exit showed that the velocity distribution of the new impeller was much more uniform than that of the conventional one.

Interferon (IFN) response depends upon pretreatment viral loads and viral genotype/serotype. This study investigated the difference in response to IFN in different viral load groups of 96 chronic hepatitis C patients and compared version 1 (bDNA1.0) and version 2 (bDNA2.0) of the branched DNA assay, according to serotype. On univariate analysis, viral load (P=0.0001, by bDNA 1.0; P=0.0020, by bDNA 2.0,), serotype (P=0.0053) and age (P=0.0073) were significant predictors of IFN response. On multivariate analysis, serotype (odds ratio, 5.44; 95% confidence interval, 1.94-15.24; P0.01) was a stronger predictor of IFN response than age or viral load (by bDNA2.0). In very high (6.7 log eq/ml), high (6.0 approximately 6.69 log eq/ml) and low (6 log eq/ml) viral load groups (by bDNA2.0), complete response was 25, 55 and 92.6% in serotype 2 (sero-2), and 10, 20 and 71.4% in serotype 1 (sero-1), respectively. In sero-2, bDNA2.0 can detect high viral loads underestimated by bDNA1.0. In a low viral load group (by bDNA2.0), IFN response is dependent upon serotype; sero-2 responded better than sero-1. However, in high and very high viral load groups, sensitivities of bDNA1.0 and bDNA2.0 are not effective in clinically distinguishing CR from non-response, and aid in patient selection for IFN therapy.

Enforcement of the new Good Clinical Practices enacted in response to introduction of the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines has brought about dramatic changes in clinical trials in Japan. The participation of private clinics is not yet permitted because of difficulty in handling adverse events, but it is expected that private clinics will eventually participate in clinical trials. This article describes a clinical trial system established at Togane Hospital. The system includes a clinical trial network that assists physicians who participate in clinical trials. To improve trial quality, we plan to introduce clinical research coordinators into private clinics, and to create an electronic case report form. Because we use the Internet for a variety of processes, including data collection and transmission, this system was designed as a virtual private network to ensure the consistency and security of data. The regional core public hospital functions as a site management organization in this network and supports the private clinics. The network aims to contribute to the improvement of regional medical care, and may be extended to clinical epidemiology to help develop evidence-based medicine in Japan.

ブロイラーにおける行動と熱産生量(HP)に及ぼす歩行運動付加の影響にっいてトレッドミルを用いて実験した。贈化直後のブロイラー雄32羽を47日齢まで供試した。通常飼育の対照区と運動付加区(運動区:長,中,短距離区)を設定し,歩行運動は3日齢から46日齢までトレッドミルで行い,1回の運動時間は5分とし,長距離区では1日3回(102m～264m),中距離区では2回(68m～176m),短距離区では1回(34m～88m),強制的に運動させた。歩行速度は日齢に合わせて6.8～17.6m/分とした。立位姿勢と採食行動は明期に集中した。HPは日齢の増加に伴い減少し,暗期は明期より有意に(p

ブロイラーの成長に伴う行動と熱産生量(HP)の変化を2日齢から54日齢にわたって,自由給餌,50%給餌および絶食区を設け各区雌雄それぞれ4羽を計24羽使用して調べた。立位姿勢の分布は明期に集中し,2日齢での採食を含む総立位時間は約700分/日と多く,その後,日齢の経過に伴い少なくなる傾向であった。50%給餌区と絶食区でも,日齢の進行に伴い,雌雄ともに立位姿勢時間が減少する傾向であった。1日の採食時間は16日齢までは日齢の進行に伴い増加し,その後,日齢の経過と共に短くなる傾向であった。雄のHPは28日齢以降,雌より高くなった。24日齢以降,雄の採食量と平均採食速度は,雌より有意に高く,摂取エネルギーの利用性も雄で良好で,これらが雄の増体量に差をもたらしているものと考えられた。

Eight commercial Single Comb White Leghorn hens were used to study the effects of high ambient temperature on behavioral activities and to select a better parameter for the estimation of heat production between activity count and standing time. The hens were kept at ambient temperatures of 25, 29, and 33°C and fed ad libitum. Daily feed intake and heat production decreased with the increase of temperature. Daily total standing time increased significantly with the increase of temperature, specially the increase occurred in the dark periods at 29 and 33°C, and were 247% (P

本研究では,子豚を用いて行動量(ACT)と熱産生量(HP)との関係を調べ,ブタの行動性体温調節の特徴について検討した,実験では,体重10-17kgの雌子豚4頭を用いて,環境温度(Te) 18～38°Cの下で,HPとACTを測定した.ACTには, Te 25°Cに比べ,Te 18°Cでの有意な増加とTe 32°Cでの有意な減少が認められた. Te 18, 25, 32および38°Cでは,ACT250(counts/min)以上の頻度は,それぞれ74, 44, 26および16%であり,ACT25(counts/min)以下の頻度は,それぞれ0.4, 7.3, 18.7および9.0%であった.HPは,18.4～20.6kJ/kg0.75hと安定していた.各TeにおけるACTとHPの関係の回帰分析結果から,高温域においてブタがACTを低くし安静状態をとることによって,HPの上昇を抑える効果があるものと考えられた.

ミニブタの体温調節と環境作用の特徴について,環境温度と飼料摂取条件による横臥•伏臥姿勢の変化から検討した.体重17～19kgのミニブタ雄3頭を,環境温度(Te)25, 29, 33°Cにそれぞれ4日間感作し,2日間可消化養分総量(TDN)60g/kg0.75日摂食させた後,2日間絶食を行い,その間の横臥,伏臥,起立姿勢と体表温度を72時間測定した.Te29と33°Cでは,横臥時間は明期の66%,暗期の92%を占め,Te25°Cにおいては,伏臥姿勢が増え,とくに,絶食24時間後,伏臥時間は,明期の70%,暗期の60%を占めた.各処理ともに,暗期では横臥を多く,明期では伏臥を多く行う特徴が認められた.平均体表温度は,Teにともない上昇し,絶食により0.9°C低下し,また,伏臥姿勢に比べ横臥姿勢では0.3°C高かった。これらのことから,ブタの休息姿勢の違いは,温熱環境の作用に対応しており,横臥•伏臥姿勢の増減は熱放散の調節に大きく関与する反応の一つとして環境管理に利用できる指標になりうるものと考えられた.

Time-delay of flight, control systems has great influence on stability and manuverbility of flying vehicles, and it is of practical importance to design a control law with consideration of the estimated time-delay. In this paper, H ∞ optimal controller considering time-delay is solved explicitly for roll angle control using aileron control surface. “Explicit” means that the time-delay is treated as it is without using approximation in frequency domain. A robust stabilization problem for multiplicative uncertainties is chosen as a formulation and an explicit H ∞ optimal controller for this problem is solved analytically. Stability and performance of the controller are examined for parameter variations.

Memory retention characteristics of metal–ferroelectric–metal–insulator–semiconductor (MFMIS) field effect transistors (FETs) were investigated in detail using a simple structure, referred to as quasi-MFMIS, in which one electrode of the metal–ferroelectric–metal (MFM) capacitor is connected to a gate electrode of a conventional metal–oxide–semiconductors (MOS) FET using an external interconnection cable. It was found that the memory window of the MFMIS FET was quickly lost (after about 1000 s) and from a comparison with simulations, this was attributed mainly to a decrease in ferroelectric polarization due to a depolarization field inevitably remaining in the ferroelectric film during memory retention.

Laparoscopic microwave coagulation (LMC) has recently been indicated for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). LMC was performed in 14 patients with a total of 22 HCCs in the 18-month period from November 1996 to April 1998. The size of HCCs ranged from 10 mm to 100 mm, with an average diameter of 29.3 mm. The duration of microwave emission ranged from 8 min to 54 min; average 26.4 mm. Sufficient microwave emission was possible even in cases of multiple HCC large HCC, and HCC located deep within the liver, with the aid of laparoscopy and intraperitoneal ultrasound. Recurrence was observed in 4 out of 22 HCCs, and was treated by transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) or percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). LMC facilitates local control of HCC, and is a promising new therapeutic modality for HCC. (Dig Endosc 1999; 11: 137–143)

This paper describes the preceding vehicle recognition and road-lane recognition methods for the rear-end collision avoidance system (RCAS) which we are developing. These methods are using an edge histogram method based on modelbased vision. The edge histogram method can detect line elements of the objects stably with low calculation cost. When the region of interests for the preceding vehicle and road lanes in the image are established and their projected edge histograms are observed in time series order, we can recognize the positions of the vehicle and the lane. Furthermore, we apply Kalman Filter to their motions and predict their locations for time series detection. Using this stable recognition, we derive a collision time to control the on-board brake system. We show the performance of these methods by experimental results

This paper proposes an extraction method of the motion of edges using the virtual gradient which is assumed to be around the edges. This method produces linear virtual intensity without any noise along the edges, and it introduces a constraint equation of gradient method to the edges of the time varying images. The optical flow can be extracted fastly by this method. We examined the accuracy of the virtual gradient method by use of simulation images. And we show the validity of this method through experimentations by use of the actual time varying images.

To reduce the time and patient discomfort associated with laparoscopy, intravenous administration of a hypnotic sedative and photographic monitoring were used. The time needed to complete laparoscopy was reduced from 39 ±7 to 35 ±6 min with use of the monitoring equipment. Questionnaires completed by 66 patients revealed 64 (97.0%) to have virtually no memory of pain caused by the intravenous anesthesia during laparoscopy, and 54 (81.8%) requested intravenous anesthesia for the next laparoscopy. The photographs taken were of excellent quality. Intravenous anesthesia and the use of photographic monitoring were found to be useful means of reducing patient discomfort and facilitating performance of the procedure.

We have developed a traveling-wave Mach-Zehnder modulator using an n-i-n heterostructure fabricated on an InP substrate. We obtained an extremely small /spl pi/ voltage (V/spl pi/) of 2.2 V, even for a short signal-electrode length of 3 mm. We confirmed that the device has an impedance-matched electrode and operates at 40 Gb/s with a single-ended drive voltage of 2.3 V.

Recent results are reported for a 1.3-μm InGaAlAs directly modulated laser (DML) with a ridge waveguide structure. We realized a 3-dB-down electrical-to-optical (E/O) response of 34 GHz for a 150-μm DML. Clear eye openings were obtained at 43 Gb/s up to 60°C and at 50 Gb/s at 25°C.

We developed a 100GbE transmitter optical sub-assembly using electro-absorption modulator integrated distributed feedback laser diode arrays and a polarization beam combiner for wavelength multiplexing. It provides sufficient optical modulation amplitude for 100GbE of over 10 km.

So far, treatment with anti-cancer agents has failed to achieve satisfactory results in hepatocellular carcinoma. In the process of hepatocarcinogenesis, ras has been shown to play a role, ras requires a farnesyl moiety for activation. It has been found that UCFI-C (manumycin), an antibiotic, inhibits farnesyl protein transferase, an enzyme that catalyzes farnesylation. Therefore, we investigated the effects of UCFI-C on cell growth, prenylation of cellular proteins including ras and Rap I, MAP kinase activity, activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, and synthesis of cholesterol in a ras-activated human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2. Treatment with varying concentrations of UCFI-C (10–30 μM) for 24 and 72 hr resulted in a time· and dose-dependent inhibition of cell numbers. 3H-Thymidine incorporation was also inhibited in a dose-dependent manner, with 50% inhibition after 44 hr being observed at a concentration of 17 μM. UCFI-C dose-dependently inhibited ras farnesylation and MAP kinase activity, but did not decrease Rap I geranylgeranylation or prenylation of 21- to 26-kDa proteins. Neither the activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase nor cholesterol synthesis were inhibited. These results suggest that UCFI-C antagonizes the growth of Hep G2 via the suppression of ras farnesylation and could be a lead for the development of new anti-cancer agents blocking the function of oncogenic ras associated with human cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The experiment was conducted to determine the effects of acclimation to heat on thermoregulatory responses of laying hens when exposed to a new higher ambient temperature. The birds were subjected to non-exposure or exposure to 32°C from 1 to 3 days, and then all to 36°C ambient for 8 hours. Abdominal temperature, back skin temperature, shank skin temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, standing time and standing counts were measured during exposure period. When birds were exposed to 32°C, their abdominal temperature, back skin temperature, shank skin temperature and heart rate were greater on the 1st day than the 3rd day, and decreased obviously after lighting off, whereas respiration rate was lower on 1st day than 3rd day before lighting off and increased further for a short while after lighting off. At 36°C, abdominal temperature, back skin temperature, shank skin temperature and heart rate decreased with days of exposure to 32°C. Respiration rate of the birds unexperienced to 32°C did not increase further after lighting off. The unexperienced birds had markedly lower standing time and more standing counts than those of the experienced birds. These results showed that the effects of acclimation to heat on thermoregulation and standing-lying behavior are recognized when the birds were exposed to a high ambient temperature only for 3 days, and the standing behavior of chickens is clearly associated with thermoregulation at the high ambient temperature.

The purpose of this study is to report a case of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) keratitis in a dog. A 7-year-old intact male American cocker spaniel that had undergone removal of a nictitating gland was referred for severe ulcerative keratitis. Slit-lamp examination showed swelling of the eyelid, mucopurulent discharge, conjunctival injection and chemosis, diffuse corneal edema and opacity, and a deep ulcer in central cornea. Gram staining of discharge from the eye demonstrated Gram-positive cocci. Despite topical ofloxacin, oxytetracycline and polymyxin B ophthalmic solution and intravenous cefazolin, there was no improvement. Cultures revealed MRSA that was sensitive only to chloramphenicol, vancomycin, lincomycin, and clindamycin. The antibiotic regimen was changed to topical and systemic chloramphenicol. After 9 days of treatment, although inflammation started to be resolved, the dog developed nonregenerative anemia. The antimicrobial regimen was changed again to topical and systemic vancomycin. Inflammation continued to improve over the next week. MRSA should be considered a potential organism in infectious keratitis, especially when general antibiotics are not effective. Although topical and systemic chloramphenicol and/or vancomycin are effective for treating MRSA keratitis, vancomycin should only be used when culture and susceptibility results indicate it is appropriate and no other options are available. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed case report of MRSA keratitis in a dog.

Liver biopsies were carried out using three different needles, a Vim-Silverman needle 2.5 mm in outer caliber, an 18-Gauge (18G) Majima needle, and a 17-Gauge (17G) Majima needle. The biopsies were obtained from nearby locations on the liver surface under laparoscopic observation, to ascertain differences in histological diagnosis according to the size of the biopsy specimen. The biopsy specimens obtained with the Vim-Silverman needle were wider than those obtained with the other two needles. The agreement in histological diagnoses of the liver, obtained with the Vim-Silverman needle versus the 18G Majima needle, was 26.0%, while that between the Vim-Silverman needle and the 17G Majima needle was 40.0%. Histological diagnosis tended to be underestimated in small biopsy specimens in advanced chronic liver diseases. A questionnaire survey, conducted in 92 hospitals affiliated with Okayama University Medical School, revealed US-guided liver biopsy to be the practice of choice in 57 of 92 (62.0%) hospitals, and 18G needles were used in US-guided liver biopsy in 35 of 78 (45.2%) hospitals.

The thermal stability of Cu interconnects fabricated by dry etching with simultaneous formation of a self-aligned passivation film has been investigated. The passivation film on the sidewall of the interconnects is composed of SiON free from impurities such as Cl. This film acts as a barrier layer to prevent Cu from corroding and oxidizing during any subsequent process, such as formation of a dielectric overcoating. Using this etching process, the Cu interconnect of a TiN/Cu/TiN multilayered structure is formed. The resistivity of the Cu interconnects is about 1.7–2.2 μΩ cm in the width range 0.2–10μm and remains unchanged on annealing up to 700 °C. Diffusion of Cu into the substrate is not observed up to 800 °C annealing. These results demonstrate that the sidewall film prevents diffusion of Cu. Therefore the Cu interconnect covered with TiN and the thick sidewall film is suitable for the ultralarge-scale integration process.

This paper presents a method for the analysis of bilinear neural networks (BNNs) with time delay. A BNN system was proposed to analyze a weak nonlinear model. To analyze this system, we need to solve the equations for the system. In this paper, we propose a method that determines whether it is possible to solve the equations analytically. If this is possible, we propose a concrete method for solving them. This paper also presents new optimum curve fitting for data sampled at discrete times, such as data outputted from a sensor in a mobile phone, and a new BNN system for curve fitting. Moreover, this paper presents one example where the BNN system for curve fitting and other BNN systems are applied to the analysis of human motion.

We offer an isolator-free EA-DFB module by employing forward error correction. We analyze the behavior of a laser under optical feedback and the error occurrence mechanism. We obtain error-free operation at the receiver sensitivity of −31 dBm.