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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) was identified as a major causative agent of non-A, non-B hepatitis (1). Numerous complete or partial nucleotide sequences of HCV isolates have been reported worldwide, and comparison of these sequences revealed their marked genetic heterogeneity nature, suggesting the existence of HCV genotypes.

Most RNA viruses exists as a heterogeneous mixture of closely related viral genome in the host, which is the result of high error rates in RNA replication and selected by various viral and host factors. The spectrum of this spectrum of related genomes within a host is referred as quasispecies (1). This important biological characteristics of RNA virus is believed to contribute to viral persistence in the presence of host immune system and during treatment with antiviral agents. Hepatitis C virus (HCV), being a single-strand RNA virus, is no exception. In HCV genome, the most heterogeneous regions he within the envelope 2 region, which are referred to as hypervariable regions (HVRs). The HVRs in HCV are believed to be the result of high nucleotide variation and immune selection pressure (2). Because of its heterogeneity, this is a good region for the study of HCV quasispecies.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has become a promising diagnostic method in many medical fields. Non-invasive real-time optical biopsy of internal organs is one of the most attractive applications of OCT enabling in-situ diagnostic of cancer in its early stage, i.e. optical biopsy. For the application, faster OCT methods are required to reduce the inspection time and motion artifacts in images. A criterion to satisfy the purpose is an endoscopic-OCT method capable to display volumetric tomography continuously in real-time at a rate of video movie like conventional endoscopes. In our previous work, we demonstrated ultra-high speed OCT at an A-scan rate of 60 MHz. However, movies were rendered after the data acquisition. In this work, we have developed an ultra-fast data processing system, installed it in the ultra-high speed OCT system, and enabled real time display of various 3D tomography images without limitation of diagnostic time, i.e. 4D OCT imaging, at an A-scan rate, B-scan rate and volume rate of 10 MHz, 4 kHz and 12 volumes/sec, respectively. Various image presentations in real-time are demonstrated such as continuous rendered 3D imaging and continuous 2D-slice scanning 3D imaging.

The existence of an IgM receptor on human T cells has been suggested by T cell rosetting with IgM-coated erythrocytes. In this study we used immunofluorocytometry to demonstrate that 1) after short-term culture, a majority of the T cells can bind IgM at easily detectable levels, 2) human and mouse IgM preparations bind to human T cells but other Ig isotypes do not, 3) the IgM binding is saturable and inhibitable only by Ig of IgM isotype and 4) the Fc portion of IgM is involved in the binding to a protease-sensitive cell surface protein. Biochemical analysis of the T cell receptor for IgM reveals a cell surface protein of 60 kDa in comparison with the 58 kDa Fc mu receptors (Fc mu R) on B-lineage cells. Although Fc mu R expression is up-regulated after B cell activation, the reverse is true after T cell activation. In addition, the T cell Fc mu R is relatively resistant to phospholipase C treatment. These results indicate that T- and B-lineage cells express Fc mu R with different biologic characteristics.

A device structure for an intelligent power LSI composed of a vertical power MOSFET and a control CMOS LSI on a single chip is discussed. The distinctive feature of the device structure is that double buried-oxide layers formed by SIMOX technology are utilized to electrically protect the CMOS LSI from the high voltage applied to the power MOSFET. An evaluation of the electrical characteristics of an intelligent power IC and its components fabricated on a trial basis for automotive applications verifies the usefulness of the device structure. >

Effects of carperitide (alpha-human atrial natriuretic peptide) on hemodynamics and renal function in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) produced by volume expansion and ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery were compared with those of various anti-heart failure agents (cardiotonic, vasodilator and diuretic). Carperitide (0.1-1 microgram/kg/min) dose-dependently decreased the elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). No significant changes in cardiac contractility (LV dP/dtmax) and heart rate (HR) were noted, although cardiac output (CO) tended to reduce during the infusion of carperitide. Nitroglycerin (NG; 3 micrograms/kg/min) and furosemide (1 mg/kg) also decreased LVEDP, but the potency was less than that of carperitide. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 10 micrograms/kg/min) and dobutamine (10 micrograms/kg/min) caused a reduction in LVEDP and increased CO with an increase in HR. Hydralazine (H; 100 micrograms/kg/min) increased CO without reduction in LVEDP and induced a pronounced increase in HR. Double product (systolic blood pressure x HR), an index of myocardial oxygen consumption, was significantly reduced by carperitide, but significantly increased by DB and H. Carperitide, unlike NG, SNP, H and DB, increased urine volume and urinary electrolyte excretion. These results suggest that carperitide will be an useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of CHF.

We report the detection of 22q11.2 deletions using TaqManTMPCR-based gene dosage analysis of patients previously diagnosed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). We performed quantitative PCR of the UFD1L gene from this region and showed a 99·7% statistical correlation between the two methods. The advantages of this method over FISH include: (i) rapidity; (ii) ease; (iii) relatively low cost and; (iv) the small quantities of DNA needed.

In October 1992, the Japanese Society of Alternatives to Animal Experiments (JSAAE) organized a first-step inter-laboratory validation study on five Cytotoxicity assays: crystal-violet staining assay, neutral red uptake, MTT assay, colony formation, and lactate dehydrogenase release assay. This study is to clarify problems in organizing system of validation, protocols and intra- and inter-laboratory variation of ED(50) values on six representative chemicals determined with five cell lines in 45 laboratories, and thereby to evaluate practicability of the Cytotoxicity assays for further validation targetting to the Draize test. Two samples of one of the six chemicals were used to test intra-laboratory variation, so seven chemical preparations were sent to each laboratory after double-blind coding. More than 2300 data files were submitted to the organizing committee in 1993 and now they are under data cleaning and comprehensive analysis. Preliminary results calculated from hand-plotted figures were presented on a typical severe irritant, cetylpyridium chloride monohydrate.

The recently discovered high temperature superconductor F-doped LaFeAsO and related compounds represent a new class of superconductors with the highest transition temperature (Tc) apart from the cuprates. The studies ongoing worldwide are revealing that these Fe-based superconductors are forming a unique class of materials that are interesting from the viewpoint of applications. To exploit the high potential of the Fe-based superconductors for device applications, it is indispensable to establish a process that enables the growth of high quality thin films. Efforts of thin film preparation started soon after the discovery of Fe-based superconductors, but none of the earlier attempts had succeeded in an in-situ growth of a superconducting film of LnFeAs(O,F) (Ln=lanthanide), which exhibits the highest Tc to date among the Fe-based superconductors. Here, we report on the successful growth of NdFeAs(O,F) thin films on GaAs substrates, which showed well-defined superconducting transitions up to 48 K without the need of an ex-situ heat treatment.

We have compared the physico-chemical behaviors alone and in the presence of a synthetic bilayer membrane, in aqueaous solution and the bioavailability after intraduodenal administration to rabbits, of the two heparin diamien salts ITF-300 and ITF-331 with those of the heparin-amine salt ITF-1175. The thress salts have similar structures but different characteristics of absorption. The diamine salts are well absorbed intraduodenally, the monoamine salt is only slightly absorbed. All the compounds tend to form aggregates in solution, but at different critical concentrations. The compounds induce fusion of single-walled vesicles of a synthetic peptide lipid into multi-walled lamellae. The minimal concentrations of the compounds required for the formation of such lamellae differ. This behavior in solution explains the differences in absorption in the animal model. this makes it possible to correlate enhanced heparin bioavailability with the structural nature of the diamine counter-ions used to prepare heparin salts

A simple assay protocol has been developed for measuring release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity into the medium from cultured human cells after detergent treatment. This method allows highly sensitive determination of lysed cells with simultaneous measurement of residual unlysed cells. The effective doses of 10 detergents for 50% cell lysis (ED(50)) and for 1% cell lysis (ED(1)) were determined in 96-well culture plates on their addition to five human cell lines for 20 min. The ED(50) values of these detergents correlated with their reported concentrations, giving Draize scores of 20 (DS(20)). However, the ratios of the ED(50) to the ED(1) for each detergent on the various cell lines showed scatters of 1.44 (for polyoxyethylene(10)nonyl phenyl ether with human carcinoma SQ-5 cells) to 21.43 (for stearyl trimethyl ammonium chloride with human gastric cancer KATO-III cells). These results suggest that some commonly used detergents may show relatively higher cytotoxicities than those deduced from their ED(50) values at lower concentrations. ED(1) values and the ratio of ED(50) to ED(1) are suggested as simple markers of low-dose cytotoxicity of detergents.

The interfacial chemical bonding has been investigated for GaF3 and CaF2 deposited on S passivated GaAs(111)A, 100, and (111)B surfaces. Synchrotron radiation excited photoelectron spectroscopy S 2p measurements indicate greater S surface segregation for the Ga terminated (111) A and (100) surfaces relative to the As terminated (111)B surface. This S surface segregation correlates well with the Ga—S bond strength as well as the S—Ga coordination number for the three different GaAs surfaces. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements indicate S may act as a catalyst in the reduction of Ca2+ to metallic Ca at the CaF2–S/GaAs(111)A interface. In contrast to island growth observed for the CaF2/S/GaAs system, more uniform growth is observed for the GaF3/S/GaAs system. In addition, in contrast to the CaF2/S/GaAs system, band bending is considerably reduced for all surfaces upon deposition and annealing for the GaF3/S/GaAs system.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the role of corpus luteum function in the implantation process of cryopreserved embryos. Six patients with tubal infertility were studied, with a total of 27 fresh embryos being replaced following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and in vitro fertilization. These embryo transfers failed to produce pregnancy. From the patients, 22 supernumerary embryos were cryopreserved and 10 viable frozen-thawed embryos were transferred in a subsequent natural cycle, resulting in 2 pregnancies. In 1 of the pregnancies, the serum concentrations of estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) in the midluteal phase were 29 pg/ml and 5.6 ng/ml, respectively. These values were considered to be below the physiological range. These data suggest that a pregnancy can be achieved in spite of low circulating E2 and P4 levels during the luteal phase, which are generally indicative of the luteal phase defect.

Surgery for infective endocarditis (IE) is technically demanding, especially the one for active IE.Operations were performed in 21 patients with a mean age of 52.2 +/- 18.8 years. Fifteen patients were male, and 6 were female. There were 15 patients with active IE and 6 patients with healed IE. Isolated pathogens were Streptococcus in 8 cases, Staphylococcus in 3, and Enterococcus in 2. Two patients had prosthetic valve endocarditis. When the lesions affected the aortic valve, aortic valve replacement (AVR) was performed. When the lesions affected the mitral or tricuspid valves, valve repair was the treatment of choice.Six patients underwent AVR and 15 patients underwent a mitral valve operation (mitral valve repair in 13, replacement in 2). In 2 patients, mitral valve repair was changed to replacement, judged by intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram. One patient underwent isolated tricuspid valve repair. Total survival and survival free of reoperation at 45 months was 95.2%. The grade of mitral regurgitation (MR) decreased from 3.7 +/- 0.1 to 0.2 +/- 0.1, and that of tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR) recovered from 3.5 +/- 0.5 to 1.0 +/- 1.0 at 21 +/- 15 months after the operation.Valve repair operations were useful in the mitral and tricuspid valve positions, even in the presence of active IE. Both mechanical valve and bioprosthesis showed good results after AVR for IE.

The advantages of the SiOCH low-k films with hydrocarbon cross-links (hydrocarbon bridges) Si-C n -Si have been reported recently. However, hydrocarbon cross-links are not produced so selectively by the PECVD method, since the hydrocarbon components tend to form terminal atom groups such as Si-CH 3 . For producing hydrocarbon cross-links effectively by the PECVD method, the polymerization reactions of SiOCH precursors in the PECVD process should be understood well. We have theoretically examined the bonding reactions of the atom groups of SiOCH compounds. By examining the reactions involving radicals and ions, it has been found that the radical species Si·, C·, and O· produce Si-O, C-Si, and O-Si bonds, respectively, while the ionic species produce Si-O bonds. These results suggest that the precursors should produce Si-C n · radicals preferably for the effective production of the hydrocarbon cross-links.

First principles nonlinear optical spectroscopy, which is a theoretical alternative of the conventional nonlinear optical spectroscopy, has been realized by our new software calculating the linear and nonlinear optical spectra of materials on the basis of the density functional pseudopotential method. The new software can calculate secondand third-order nonlinear optical susceptibilities of insulating solids, accurately, taking into account the frequency dependence of the susceptibilities. The software is assumed to be a promising theoretical tool of design of new nonlinear optical materials, which is needed in opto-electronics and laser optics.

Local channel stress behaviors induced by the combination of top-cut tensile SiN stress liner and damascene-gate (gate-last) process on the channel width for nFETs are investigated by using 3D stress simulations and demonstrations. It is found that the dummy-gate removal enhances high tensile channel stress along the gate length, especially at the edge of the channel beside the STI. Therefore, drivability enhancement is performed for damascene-gate nFETs with narrow channel width. High-drive current of 1430 uA/um at Ioff = 100 nA/um, Vdd = 1.0 V and the channel width of 0.3 um is achieved by the stress enhancement effects of the damascene-gate technology.

Epitaxial films of NdFeAsO were grown on GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). All elements including oxygen were supplied from solid sources using Knudsen cells. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the film prepared with the optimum growth condition showed no indication of impurity phases. Only (00l) peaks were observed, indicating that NdFeAsO was grown with the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate. The window of optimum growth condition was very narrow, but the NdFeAsO phase was grown with a very good reproducibility. Despite the absence of any appreciable secondary phase, the resistivity showed an increase with decreasing temperature.

We show our recent theoretical studies using our linear‐scaling DFT code CONQUEST. The code is efficient on massively parallel computers and has an ability to treat the systems containing more than ten thousands of atoms. We overview our recent studies on DNA systems and nano‐structured Ge 3D islands on Si(001). For the latter system, we have succeeded in employing DFT structure optimization on the systems containing more than 20,000 atoms.

The crystal structure and habit of small particles of iron-cobalt alloys prepared by a gas-evaporation technique have been investigated by means of electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Most of the particles consist of the single phase of ferrite or austenite, though the nominal composition of starting materials is around 87 at% Co in which the two phases exist at room temperature. This result suggests that the two-phase region in the phase diagram is narrower for the small particles than for the bulk system. The morphology of the ferrite or the austenite particles is similar to that of the pure-iron or the pure-cobalt ones, respectively, but considerably modified due to the impurity effect. On rare occasions, the particles consisting of the two phases are observed with the crystal relation of (110)fer|(200)aus. They show the external shape in which the two halves of a football are stuck together. It is inferred that they grow through the coalescence process between the ferrite and the austenite particles.

Correlation between the mean number of nucleolar organizer region-associated argyrophilic proteins (AgNORs) per cell and BrdU labeling index (LI), the percentage of S-phase cells, was investigated in vitro using rat C6 glioma cells under several different conditions such as increased concentration of fetal calf serum (FCS) in a stepwise manner in medium. In addition, the effect of dibutyryladenosine cyclic monophosphate (d-cAMP) on the mean number of AgNORs and the BrdU LI was examined. C6 glioma cells cultured with no FCS showed 5.1% BrdU LI and 3.46 AgNOR score. BrdU LI and AgNOR score of the cells cultured with 1% FCS were 26.5% and 6.25, respectively. Those with 5% FCS were 44.7% and 8.41, with 10% FCS; 49.8% and 10.85, and with 20% FCS; 48.4% and 10.64. Treatment of d-cAMP with 10% FCS induced morphological differentiation and reduced BrdU LI (9.4%) and AgNORs score (4.90), compared with C6 cells cultured in medium containing 10% FCS without d-cAMP. Thus, the BrdU LI and AgNOR score of the C6 cells cultured under several different concentration of FCS were shown to be well linearly related (r = 0.97) and both values were decreased with morphological alteration of C6 glioma cells in the presence of 1 mM d-cAMP.

NG-Monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 0.1-10 mg/kg, i.v.), a selective inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis derived from L-arginine, elicited a greater increase in blood pressure in urethane/alpha-chloralose- and pentobarbital-anesthetized rats than in conscious Wistar rats. The pressor response to phenylephrine was almost equivalent in both conscious and anesthetized rats. These findings suggest that the experimental conditions (anesthetized or conscious) modify the spontaneously released NO's contribution to blood pressure regulation in vivo.

Normal human skin (NB1-RGB) cells were cultured in the presenceof polyinosinic and polycytidylic acids, diethylaminoethyldextran, cycloheximide and actinomycin D, which induced humaninterferon-beta. The simplest induction method, that requiredonly polyinosinic and polycytidylic acids and diethylaminoethyldextran was found to give the highest production ofinterferon-beta by the cells. The cell growth and productionof interferon-beta were investigated for NB1-RGB cellscultured on silk fibroin, poly(gamma-methyl-L-glutamate),poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) and collagen films prepared bythe Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) and casting methods. The cell densityof NB1-RGB cells cultured on the LB films was found to be higherthan that on the cast films made of the same polymer. Thisindicates that not only the chemical structure of the polymersused for the preparation of the films but the preparationmethods of the films, i.e., casting and LB methods, are also astrong factor affecting the cell growth. The production ofinterferon-beta per unit number of cells was found to behigher on the cast films than that on the LB films made of thesame polymer. This is explained by the fact that the optimalsuppressed growth of NB1-RGB cells on the cast films leads tothe enhanced production of interferon-beta on the cast filmscompared to those on the LB films prepared by the same polymer.

Adoptive immunotherapy with human cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) is a promising cancer treatment. Previously we showed that human CTLs against various types of tumors can be efficiently produced by coculturing peripheral blood cells with target cells. The aims of this study were to simulate the interaction of CTLs and micrometer-size tumor tissues in vitro and to assess the required number of CTLs at local tumor sites for degradation of a tumor. Allogeneic CTLs against a human transitional cell carcinoma cell line and autologous CTLs against a renal cell carcinoma cell derived from a surgical specimen were generated. The cytotoxic activities of CTLs against tumor cells in monolayer culture and tumor spheroids formed in U-bottom 96-well culture plates were assessed. Both allogeneic and autologous CTLs showed greater destructive activity than lymphokine activated killer (LAK) cells against target tumor spheroids. CTLs inoculated at E/T ratios of 0.1 to 1 coexisted with the tumor spheroid for 5 to 6 days and then increased in number with apparently lethal activity against the tumor spheroid. In contrast to CTLs, the increase in LAK cell numbers was scarcely observed, and the proliferated LAK cells did not show cytotoxicity against the tumor spheroid. These observations suggest that, when a small number of CTLs reach a local tumor site, they can destroy micrometer-size tumors after considerable local proliferation.

In this study, we report on multimode surface plasmon excitation on metallic diffraction gratings where the grating pitch is much larger than standard grating coupling surface plasmon excitation technique. With the gratings, multimode surface plasmons can be excited at the same time in the wavelength region using a white light source irradiation on the gratings. The grating coupling surface plasmon excitation was also studied by comparing with the theoretical surface plasmon dispersion curves.

The stress effect at the channel region of pFETs with compressive stress liner (c-SL) and eSiGe using replacement gate technology is firstly investigated in detail based on the combination of UV-Raman spectroscopy and 3D stress simulation. The gate length effect for the channel stress is confirmed by measurement and simulation. Moreover, the Ion dependence on the channel width is also investigated. It is found that the lateral stress along the channel is enhanced at the edge beside STI, resulting in high Ion at narrow gate width region.

Efforts to effectively utilize field data over a wider area continue in the field of manufacturing systems. As part of these efforts, we focused on the computing environment for field devices, in which functionality can be expanded in a flexible manner for effective utilization of data. However, several issues remain to be resolved when new functionality is added to programs on various devices and multiple users operate the system concurrently. To resolve these issues, we introduce a computing environment for field devices called field overlay architecture (FOA) and describe the realization approach of the computing resource management of FOA.

TEPCO has been operating the islanding protection system based on synchronized phasor measurements since 1984. In its long operational history, the system detected the system islanding without fail in 1999 and 2006. Through the two operational experiences, TEPCO has learned effectiveness of the islanding detection based on phase angle difference obtained from synchronized phasor measurements.

Damascene gate process enhances the drivability in shorter gate length region, as compared to conventional gate 1st process for pFETs with compressive stress SiN liner and embedded SiGe. The origin of the gate length effect is investigated for the first time by using the UV-Raman spectroscopy. Moreover, the relationship between channel strain and gate width for damascene gate pFETs is analyzed and the effect is also demonstrated. It is found that channel strain is considerably enhanced in shorter gate length and narrower gate width by the combination of damascene gate process and stress enhancement techniques.

We have performed NMR measurements at the Y site on a c-axis-oriented powder sample of the cuprate superconductor Y2Ba4Cu7O15-delta to search for the possible orbital-current phase. The temperature dependence of the Y linewidth and relaxation behavior in the normal-conducting phase were studied down to 100 K. These measurements give upper limits for a static magnetic field and the amplitude of a fluctuating magnetic field at the Y site ofor approximately 0.15 andor approximately 0.7 mT, respectively. These values provide significant constraints on possible static or quasistatic orbital currents.

Distribution of FcR II, FcRIII, and FcR alpha on murine splenic B cells was examined by using FITC-labeled heat-aggregated IgG of each subclass and IgA. Almost 60 to 80% of B cells expressed both FcRII and FcRIII. However, FcR alpha was expressed on only a small proportion (6%) of B cells that co-expressed FcRII. By inhibition assays with the use of cold IgG of each subclass and IgA in addition to anti-FcRII mAb (2.4G2), it was found that IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG2b utilized the same receptor (FcRII), whereas IgG3 and IgA bound only to their unique receptors, FcRIII and FcR alpha, respectively. Immune complexes IC prepared by IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgA anti-TNP mAb with TNP-coupled SRBC inhibited the polyclonal Ig secretion and proliferative responses of B cells stimulated with either IL-4 or LPS. The inhibition of B cell activation was associated with the blockade of the membrane depolarization. Moreover, IC prepared by these antibodies caused production of suppressive B cell factor (SBF) as is the case with rabbit IgG antibody to SRBC, and SBF thus prepared regulated antibody responses in an isotype-nonspecific manner. In contrast, no inhibition for these responses or production of SBF was attained by the IC of IgG3 antibody. We concluded that FcRII and FcR alpha mediates a suppressive signal for B cells by acting on the initial step of activation, whereas FcRIII lacks this activity.

The sensitivity of northern red oak (Quercusrubra L.) to soil solution Al was experimentally examined on germinants grown for 10 weeks in a soil sample from the B2/C horizons of a Typic Fragiorthod. Adding AlCl3 raised the solution Al in the saturated paste extract from about 50 to 825 μM in study I and to 392 μM in study II. Phosphorus (KH2PO4) was added in study II. Forty percent of the variation in root growth was related to solution Al, even in study I where severe P deficiency dampened the expression of Al toxicity. Shoot growth was less sensitive to Al. In study II, total root weight was significantly reduced (36%) at 115 μM Al. This is the lowest concentration of Al reported to significantly reduce seedling growth of oak. The Ca and Mg concentrations in leaves and roots were first reduced at 115 μM Al. Higher solution Al further reduced these to levels associated with deficiency in other dicotyledonous trees. Tissue Al concentrations were not closely correlated with growth.

For increasing sperm fertilizability in artificial insemination, it is effective to concentrate progressively motile sperm from whole ejaculate. We developed the continuous-step density gradient for the selective concentration of progressively motile sperm. The present procedure was applied to intrauterine artificial insemination. Infertile couples (n = 152) whose diagnoses involved oligoasthenospermia, cervical factor, and unexplained infertility were selected for artificial insemination with washed and concentrated sperm. Successful pregnancies (47) were obtained, with an overall pregnancy rate of 31% in the program. Sperm processing by this procedure improved pregnancy rates in couples with the sole diagnosis of oligoasthenospermia or cervical factor. In the patients in whom other fertility problems coexisted, however, it was essential to treat female fertility problems. Continuous-step density gradient centrifugation is effective in increasing the pregnancy rate in artificial insemination.

We report a 78-year-old woman who presented with repeated tarry stools, and having lower duodenal variceal bleeding caused by portal hypertension. Endoscopic therapy had been attempted, but was impossible because the endoscope could not be inserted into the lower duodenum. Thus, the lower duodenal variceal bleeding was treated with balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration in combination with embolization using microcoils. Complete hemostasis was achieved without complications, and neither the recurrence of varices nor rebleeding has occurred for the last 3 years. A review of the English-language literature reveals only 11 such cases. The world literature is reviewed.

Efforts to effectively utilize field data in a wider area continue in the field of manufacturing systems today. As part of these efforts, we focus on a computing environment for field devices, in which functionality can be flexibly expanded to effectively utilize data. However, there are several issues to be solved when new functionality is added to programs on various devices and multiple users operate the system concurrently. To solve these issues, we introduce a computing environment for field devices called field overlay architecture (FOA) and describe an implementation of the FOA on controllers.

Novel channel-stress enhancement technology on damascene gate process with eSiGe S/D for pFET is demonstrated. It is found for the first time that the damascene gate process featured by the dummy gate removal is more effective in increasing channel strain than the gate-1st process as an embedded SiGe stressor technique is used. Furthermore, an additional channel recess related to the damascene process is shown to enhance channel strain, resulting in a 14% Ion improvement at Ioff = 100 nA/um. We propose combining these strain techniques with high-k/metal gate stacks for low-power and high-performance pFETs.

Summary form only given. Cyanobacteria blooms (or water blooms) occurs on the surface of water bodies frequently and extensively due to eutrophia of the water. Those have caused more and more serious environmental problems world-wide. Here, we report the effects of pulsed streamer-like discharges on M. aeruginosa cells, which are one genus of cyanobacteria and form water blooms easily. The point to cylinder electrode, having a stainless needle with 30 mum in tip diameter and a stainless cylinder with 30 cm in diameter, is used as a discharge reactor, where 2mus-160kV pulsed voltage is applied. A pulsed streamer-like discharges are obtained in the water filled with cyanobacteria cells. After applying single discharge, the colonies of the cells sink to the bottom of the discharge chamber. From the TEM observation of cells, it can be found that the discharge mainly collapses the intracellular structure - gas vesicles without the damage of the other part of structure. It is concluded that the gas vesicles of the cells collapse and cells sink to the bottom of the water bodies by applying pulsed streamer-like discharges to water bodies with cyanobacteria cells before the water bloom occurs. Therefore the cells multiplication and the water bloom formation can be prevented.

Push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) is considered as one of important applications in next generation networks (NGN). The main objective of this study is to investigate the performance of our PoC system evaluated over three operational 3G networks in the US. Measurements are conducted in two stages. First, several generic measurements such as round trip time (RTT), UDP, TCP, and dormant mode are made to understand the fundamental characteristics of 3G packet switched (PS) networks for the voice and data transmissions of the PoC service. Next, various parameters and features in our PoC software are tested to evaluate the performance of startup latency, voice latency, and voice quality. In conclusion, through empirical study we have shown that PoC applications can achieve high quality in current 3G PS networks. Furthermore from these results we study the network requirements to be solved in NGN for the voice and data communications.

In order to establish a rational impact resistant design procedure for prototype reinforced concrete (RC) structures, not only experimental study but also numerical analysis study should be conducted. However, numerical analysis method on impact response analysis for those structures has not been established yet. Here, in order to establish a rational numerical analysis method for prototype RC structures under impact loading, a falling-weight impact test was conducted for prototype RC girder with 8 m clear span. Referring to the experimental response waves, numerical accuracy was investigated varying major parameters. From this study, following results were obtained as: (1) fine mesh should be used near supporting gigues; (2) Drucker-Prager yield criterion should be applied which gives better results than von Mises one; and (3) appropriate system damping constant should be set to h = 0.015.

Efforts to effectively utilize field data in a wider area continue in the Held of manufacturing systems today. As part of these efforts, we focus on a computing environment for field devices, in which functionality can be flexibly expanded to effectively utilize data. However, there are several issues to be solved when new functionality is added to programs on various devices and multiple users operate the system concurrently. To solve these issues, we propose a computing environment for field devices called Field Overlay Architecture (FOA). The FOA provides a Common Computing Environment to be embedded on every device and an Overlay Management Framework for application environments. By the FOA, multiple users can operate their own applications on devices concurrently and independently. This paper describes the concept and mechanism of the FOA and a prototyped system based on the FOA.

Shallower junctions must be formed to make transistors work for the 32-nm node. Many kinds of technologies, such as co-implantation, Laser Spike Annealing (LSA), and flash lamp annealing, have been energetically studied to form ultra-shallow junctions. We focused on in-situ doped selective Si epitaxy, with which the short channel effect and the parasitic resistance can be made compatible. Using this epitaxy, ultra-shallow junctions (with effective junction depths (Xj, eff) under 9 nm@5E18) were formed, and 20-nm or shorter PMOS gate transistors were fabricated using the epitaxy.

In this paper, we propose an OVSF code allocation at a base station and a two-stage combining method at a receiver to reduce inter-code interference in OFCDM system. In the proposed OVSF code allocation, OVSF codes which have different ancestor codes are allocated to users. If allocated codes are divided into chips shorter than spreading factor, chips which are produced by each allocated codes are orthogonal. In the two-stage combining method, the allocated code is divided into chips and received symbols are despread using chips. Demodulated symbols are produced from the despreading, multiplied by weights, and combined. The combining method of the proposed scheme has two stages. The first stage is the despreading, and the second stage is the weight combining. The proposed scheme uses few sub-carriers among which a difference of amplitude levels is small at the despreading, and combines demodulated symbols at the weight combining using suitable weights. Thus, the proposed scheme can reduce inter-code interference. We show that the proposed scheme achieves better BER performance than the conventional scheme by computer simulations