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High-power and high-temperature operation of 40 mW at 100/spl deg/C has been realized in 655-nm band multiple-quantum-well (MQW) laser diodes. Both low threshold current density and low optical power density have been achieved by optimizing InGaP-InGaAlP strained MQW separate-confinement heterostructure, high doping for acceptors in p-cladding layer and adopting low-optical-loss high-reflectivity-coating at the rear facet. Fundamental-transverse-mode operation, up to 70 mW, was obtained. High-frequency and large-intensity modulation characteristics above 1 GHz were demonstrated. The relative intensity noise values were as low as -135 dB/Hz under an optical feedback with high-frequency modulation. Stable operation of 30 mW at 70/spl deg/C over 1000 h was accomplished.

660-nm-band InGaAlP Zn-diffused window structure lasers have been fabricated using highly Zn-doped GaAs layers grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition as a Zn diffusion source. A multiquantum-well active region was disordered by Zn diffusion, resulting in band-gap expansion and photoluminescence-wavelength shortening. In this Zn diffusion method, the Zn diffusion length from the active region into the n-cladding layer and the PL-wavelength shortening were easily controlled by controlling the Zn-dopant amount and the Zn-doped GaAs layer thickness. This method is very suitable for mass production. Window lasers fabricated by this method operate at up to 188 mW at 25/spl deg/C, and as high as 50 mW at 85/spl deg/C, and 30 mW at 95/spl deg/C with no COD. The lasers have been operating stably for more than 1200 h at 70/spl deg/C temperature and 50-mW output power. The mean time to failure was predicted as being more than 37000 h.

A new optical Faraday rotator using a fibrous Ce-substituted yttrium-iron-garnet (Ce:YIG) single crystal was developed. The fibrous Ce:YIG single crystal was successfully grown by the floating-zone method with infrared-assisted YAG laser heating at a fast growth rate. This crystal has a good quality and shows a better figure-of-merit for an optical Faraday rotator at wavelength /spl lambda/=1.55 /spl mu/m compared with commonly used Bi-substituted YIG films. Ce:YIG single crystals grown by our method are expected to reduce the cost of optical isolators.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between a new activity index and the endoscopic severity assessed by sigmoidoscopy in patients with ulcerative colitis.We evaluated the sigmoidoscopic severity and Activity Index (AI) in 37 patients with distal colitis, 23 with left-sided colitis, and 36 with total colitis, in which the severity was divided into three categories: grade 1 = mildly active, grade 2 = moderately active, and grade 3 = severely active. We examined the relationship between the AI or clinical parameters and the endoscopic severity in all 96 cases.The AI was found to be significantly correlated with the degree of sigmoidoscopic activity in all cases, as well as in those with distal colitis, left-sided colitis, or total colitis. When patients with both grade 1 sigmoidoscopic activity and AI values of less than 150 were regarded to have mild colitis and patients with either grade 2 or grade 3 sigmoidoscopic activity and AI values of more than 150 were regarded to have moderate or severe colitis, 10 of 37 (27%) in the distal colitis, one of 23 (4.3%) in the left-sided colitis, and four of 36 (11.1%) in the total colitis groups were thus misclassified regarding the distinction between mild colitis and moderate or severe colitis. Three of four patients with severity of grade 1, indicating AI values of more than 150, had total colitis, whereas the remaining one had left-sided colitis. On the other hand, 10 of 11 patients with severity of grades 2 or 3 with AI values of less than 150 had distal colonic involvement. When the endoscopic activity was equivalent, the highest mean AI values occurred in total colitis whereas the lowest mean AI values were found in distal colitis.The AI well reflects the sigmoidoscopic activity. High AI values with a low sigmoidoscopic severity are thus considered to reflect extensive involvement, whereas a high sigmoidoscopic severity with low AI values is thought to indicate the involvement of the distal colon.

Fibrous yttrium iron garnet (YIG : Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 ) single crystals (0.3–1.0 mm in diameter) were successfully grown from a stoichiometric feed rod by a simple floating zone method with YAG laser heating, despite of an incongruently melting substance. This growth mechanism has been confirmed to be due to a self-adjusting reaction in which a solvent with proper ingredient builds up within the molten zone itself immediately after the seed touch, by analyzing compositions of a seed touch portion and quenched molten zone. Based on this growth mechanism we have developed a new growth technique, named as the self-adjusting solvent floating zone (SSFZ) method, by which we can grow high-quality fibrous YIG single crystals along the [1 0 0], [1 1 0] and [1 1 1] crystallographic directions of the seed crystals. A ferromagnetic resonance linewidth of the fibrous YIG single crystal was about 96 A/m (1.2 Oe).

The effects of adsorbed H on the Mo1−xRex(110), x=0, 0.05, 0.15, and 0.25, surfaces have been investigated using low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). For the x=0.15 alloy only, a c(2×2) LEED pattern is observed at a coverage Θ∼0.25 ML. A (2×2) pattern is observed for H coverages around Θ∼0.5 ML from surfaces with x=0, 0.05, and 0.15. Both c(2×2) and (2×2) patterns are attributed to reconstruction of the substrate. At higher coverages, a (1×1) pattern is observed. For the alloy surface with x=0.25, only a (1×1) pattern is obtained for all H coverages. Two H vibrations are observed in HREELS spectra for all Re concentrations, which shift to higher energies at intermediate coverages. Both peaks exhibit an isotopic shift, confirming their assignment to hydrogen. For Re concentrations of x=0.15 and higher, a third HREELS peak appears at 50 meV as H (D) coverage approaches saturation. This peak does not shift in energy with isotopic substitution, yet cannot be explained by contamination. The intrinsic width of the loss peaks depends on the Re concentration in the surface region and becomes broader with increasing x. This broadening can be attributed to surface inhomogeneity, but may also reflect increased delocalization of the adsorbed hydrogen atom.

We have studied the influence of atomic hydrogen (H) on the nucleation and growth of Ge films on Si(1 1 1) surfaces grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The substrate temperature dependence of two-dimensional (2D) nucleus density has two different activation energies, which depend on the surface structure change by H irradiation. In addition, the 2D nucleus density is proportional to the square root of the amount of atomic H flux density. We have discussed and proposed a model on the influence of H adsorption on the surface migration of Ge atoms. Moreover, the activation energy of nucleation is also increased by the H atoms, which arises from the addition of the activation energy of H desorption, indicated by a simple migration model. The model can also explain the H-flux dependence of the nucleus density.

This paper deals with the effect of anisotropy on fracture processes of a directionally solidified superalloy, Mar-M247, under a push–pull creep-fatigue condition at high-temperature. Three kinds of specimen were cut from a cast plate such that their axes possess angles of 0°, 45° and 90° with respect to the 〈001〉 orientation that is aligned parallel to the solidification direction (also to the grain boundaries and primary dendrite axis); these specimens being denoted the 0° specimen, the 45° specimen, and the 90° specimen, respectively. The tests were conducted at 1273 K (1000 °C) in air under equal magnitudes of the range of a ΔJ-related parameter, ΔWc , which represents the driving force for crack growth in creep-fatigue. Although the grain boundaries are macroscopically parallel to the solidification direction, they are wavy or serrated microscopically. Small cracks nucleate along parts of the grain boundaries perpendicular to the stress axis in all specimens. The 90° specimen has the shortest crack initiation life and the 0° specimen has the longest. In the 90° and 45° specimens, intergranular cracks continue to nucleate and a main crack is formed along the grain boundary due to the frequent coalescence of small cracks. In the 0° specimen, cracks grow into the grain, and transgranular cracks coalesce along the primary dendrite or grain boundary. The 0° specimen exhibits the slowest crack growth rate and the 90° specimen the fastest. These differences in the initiation and growth behaviour of small cracks cause the longest failure life in the 0° specimen and the shortest in the 90° specimen.

Optical properties of the irradiation-induced-defects in neutron-irradiated Csl single crystals have been investigated. The nominally pure CsI crystals are irradiated by reactor fast neutrons ( E >0.1 MeV) with a fluence of 1.4 x 10 15 n/cm 2 at 200 K and by γ-rays from 60 Co source to a dose of 1.5 x 10 4 Gy at liquid nitrogen temperature (LNT). After the irradiations, isochronal annealings are performed to investigate the thermal behavior of the defects, The glow peaks of the thermoluminescence (TL) in each sample irradiated with neutrons at 20 K and with γ-rays at LNT are observed at about 100, 160 and 220K. In the neutron-irradiated samples at 20 K. the emission band at 338 rim is observed at LNT. It is supposed that this emission band occurs by an excitation of γ-rays from 134 Cs, which is radieractivated by thermal neutrons among the reactor radiations. It is confirmed that the temperature dependence of the 338 nm hand is similar with that of the emission hand due to the self-trapped exciton which is introduced into the non-irradiated samples illuminated by higher energy photons.

Two kinds of compact superconducting magnet with 30 mm inner bore have been fabricated in a wind and react process by using Bi-2212/Ag multifilamentary tapes. One is a double pancake type coil of 78 mm outer diameter and 11 mm height. The other is composed of three double pancake coils of 88 mm outer diameter. As for a reinforcement against large magnetoelectric force, the combination of Ag–Mg alloy tape co-winding and epoxy impregnation is employed in both samples. High field performance of these magnets is examined in backup fields up to 20 T at 4.2 K. The critical current density of double pancake coil at 20 T is 480 A mm −2 and 98 A mm −2 with the criteria of 1×10 −13 Ω m for the oxide part and whole cross-section of the conductor, respectively. The stacked double pancake coil magnet carries 112 A mm −2 with the criterion for conductor and generates 0.95 T in the backup field of 20 T at 4.2 K. The results indicate that the reinforcement is effective against the hoop stress of 120 MPa.

Electroluminescence from a surface layer of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) has been investigated using a photomultiplier tube and an intensified charge-coupled device (ICCD) camera under ac or half rectified ac (HRAC) electric fields tangential to the polymer surface. The electroluminescence (EL) characteristics from the polymer surface layer showed a similarity to those from PTFE and other polymer films subjected to ac or HRAC electric fields in the normal direction to the surface. ICCD imaging of EL indicated a large area of EL activity where the EL intensity was maximum at the electrode edge and EL was still observable 2 mm from the electrode. The injection and transport of electrons and holes via surface states in the surface layer and the subsequent electron-hole recombination give rise to EL, strongly depending on the spatial distribution of the surface states. The injection length of charges can be estimated to be at least 2 mm from the electrode in the tangential direction to the surface.

A novel lateral power device, termed a p-channel dual-action device (p-ch DAD), is proposed and experimentally demonstrated in action. This device is based on a new dual-action mechanism. The new device has successfully increased on-state current without lowering the device breakdown voltage. The 600-V level-shifting action of the p-ch DAD has been confirmed by a circuit experiment. A newly designed p-ch DAD on the silicon on insulator can be made by adding four additional masks and trench technology to a 0.8-/spl mu/m CMOS process. Moreover, the process we have developed is completely compatible with an existing 5-V 0.8-/spl mu/m CMOS process.

Light emission from polyethylene with a needle-like microvoid has been investigated under the application of a negative impulse voltage in order to examine the temporal behavior of discharge in the microvoid at the metal-polymer interface. The light emission was observed distinctly during the voltage rise and fall phases with a period of no light emission between the two light emitting phases. The emitted light consisted of sequential light pulses which appeared regularly, according to the temporal variation rate of the voltage. The sequential light pulses corresponded to the sequential discharge in the microvoid which occurred to keep the voltage across the microvoid below the discharge inception voltage. The characteristics of light emission revealed the occurrence of intermittent discharges in the microvoid during the voltage variation phase of the impulse voltage, caused by charge deposition on the polymer surface of the microvoid.

In fusion reactors, a membrane of some metals, such as nickel, may be employed to enhance the pumping efficiency for helium ash because of its capacity to retain helium. In the present study, retention behavior of helium and hydrogen isotopes including tritium in nickel was investigated by means of thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), using a new beam irradiation system which is capable of handling tritium. In the thermal desorption spectra of helium (He), at least two helium desorption peaks were observed at 490–555 K and 715–740 K, where hydrogen isotope irradiations after helium irradiations were found to enhance the helium release and shift the desorption peak temperature to lower temperatures. However, the peak temperatures of helium desorption in helium irradiations after hydrogen isotope irradiation showed little difference from that without hydrogen isotopes irradiations. In the tritium experiments, tritium was supplied either directly from an ampoule or from a sorption pump to the vacuum chamber pumped by a cryopump. An ion beam of hydrogen isotopes containing tritium was irradiated to nickel at room temperature and the TDS spectra for DT and T 2 were obtained. It was revealed that both DT and T 2 have at least two desorption peaks, appearing at 410–425 K and 600–650 K for the former and at 500–520 K and 650–670 K for the latter.

A pair of current leads consisting of spirally assembled AgAu sheathed Bi-2223 superconducting wires was fabricated. The heat leak into liquid helium (LHe) was measured in a vapour cooler under a self-cooling condition. The heat cycle of the fabricated superconducting current lead had no influence on the characteristics of both superconducting and joint parts. The measured heat leaks were 0.06 W per lead at 0A and 0.13 W per lead at 1000 A; these are about one-tenth those of conventional copper lead. About half of the heat leak at 1000 A involved resistive heat load caused by the joint resistance of the terminal connected to the short lead for short-circuit use when immersed in LHe.

Neuropathic arthropathy of both knees after paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy developed in a 64-year-old woman. The patient was found to have small cell lung cancer 2 months after the onset of a sensory neuropathy that was diagnosed as paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy, a nonmetastatic neurologic complication in patients with malignancy. The onset of paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy was followed by the gradual onset of neuropathic arthropathy. This is the first well documented report on neuropathic arthropathy in a patient with paraneoplastic sensory neuropathy.

We have fabricated small magnets using Bi-2212/Ag tapes prepared by the combination of a powder-in-tube method or a dip-coating method and a wind-and-react method. The magnets were inserted in a 21 T superconducting magnet and tested under various bias fields at 4.2 K. All of the magnets could sustain large electromagnetic force under high magnetic fields, and no damage was introduced during the test. Critical current density of a magnet consisting of 4 double pancake coils was 9.5/spl times/10/sup 4/ A/cm/sup 2/ in 21 T which corresponded to the central generated field of 1.76 T. Thus the total field of 22.76 T was attained in a full superconducting state. No degradation of superconducting properties was produced by a thermal cycle and moisture in air.

Transport properties under a large electromagnetic stress state of up to 190 MPa were investigated at 4.2 K for high-T/sub c/ Bi-based superconductors. A double pancake test coil employing Ag-sheathed multifilamentary Bi/sub 2/Sr/sub 2/CaCu/sub 2/O/sub 8/ (Bi2212) tapes was fabricated by a react and wind method reinforced with a Cu-50Ag tape. It is shown that the use of a parallel co-wound Cu-50Ag tape leads to improvement of mechanical properties. A quite stable behavior for the Ag-sheathed multifilamentary Bi2212 coil is observed with appearance of large normal zone voltages.

A 25.5 MHz split coaxial RFQ with modulated vanes has been constructed at INS. The RFQ will accelerate radioactive nuclei with a charge-to-mass ratio greater than 1 30 from 2 to 172 keV/u. The cavity, 0.9 m in inner diameter and 8.6 m in length, comprises four unit cavities, each of which comprises three module cavities further. The modulated vanes have been made by using both of a three-dimensional cutting technique and a two-dimensional one, the former for the first unit cavity, and the latter for the other ones. The transverse radius of curvature of the vane-tip is variable along the beam axis in a low-energy part, and constant in a high-energy part (the boundary at 1.1 m down from the RFQ entrance). The vanes have been aligned with an error less than ± 40 μm before installation in the unit cavities. After completion of the four unit cavities, they have been aligned with an error less than ± 50 μm on the floor of an accelerator room. Low-power tests after cavity-tuning show that the longitudinal voltage flatness and the azimuthal field balance are better than ± 1%, the resonant frequency is 25.46 MHz, and the unloaded Q-value is 5800, corresponding to a resonant resistance of 22 kΩ. We have achieved so far the goal intervane voltage of 109 kV at a duty factor of 15%. Through acceleration tests with N+ ions, we have obtained the following results: the output-beam emittances are well in the design ellipses of 0.06π cm mrad normalized; the data of transmission efficiency versus intervane voltage agree well with PARMTEQ results and the transmission at the nominal voltage is measured to be 90%.

The influence of additional atomic hydrogen (H) on the monolayer growth of Ge on Si(100) surfaces has been studied using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The Ge monolayer films have been grown on Si(100) with an without the additional H by solid-source molecular beam epitaxy (SSMBE). Up to the Ge coverage of 3 ML, the addition of H atoms during Ge growth causes an increase in the density of the two-dimensional (2D) growth nuclei and in a promotion of the multiple nucleation and layer growth. The anisotropic 2D island shape is also changed to the isotropic one by the H addition. Above 3 ML, the formation of 3D islands is suppressed with an increase in the additional H flux. These phenomena can be explained by reducing the diffusion length of Ge adatoms and the step energy by terminating dangling bonds with H atoms.

An ISOL-based radioactive nuclear beam facility is just about to come into operation at INS. The present status of the INS radioactive nuclear beam project is reported. The capability of the facility and possible experiments are also discussed, including research programs of nuclear physics and nuclear astrophysics.

The adsorption of hydrogen on the Mo(110) surface has been investigated by both low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS). Results fall into three regimes. For low coverages, the LEED pattern observed remains (1 × 1), similar to the clean surface. At hydrogen coverages near 0.5 ML, a substrate reconstruction alters the observed pattern to (2 × 2). For higher coverages, fractional-order diffraction beams are extinguished, leaving a (1 × 1) pattern. Two vibrational peaks are observed in HREELS spectra for both low- and high-coverage regimes at loss energies of 88 and 136 meV, and at 99 and 152 meV, respectively. A quasi-trigonal adsorption site is consistent with the vibrational energies and diffraction patterns observed at low and saturation coverages. At intermediate coverages, a vibrational peak with differing symmetry indicates the occupation of a long bridge-site during the transition from (2 × 2) to the hydrogen-saturated (1 × 1). No evidence is found for the hydrogen “liquid” phase reported by Balden et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 73 (1994) 854] for H W (110) ; consequently this phase is not responsible for the giant phonon anomalies observed in both systems. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

To determine the utility of high-resolution MR imaging for hepatocellular carcinoma.High-resolution MR images with a 512 matrix in a right to left frequency encoding direction were obtained in 20 consecutive patients with known or suspected hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Six series of breath-hold images of the entire liver [T1- and T2-weighted fast spin echo sequences, T1-weighted fast low-angle shot gradient echo sequence and three-phased contrast-enhanced dynamic study using the latter) were obtained using a phased-array multicoil.HCC was depicted in 15 patients on the MR images, and the diagnosis was confirmed at pathology in 13 and at imaging in the other two. In the remaining five patients, HCC was correctly ruled out with MR imaging.High-resolution MR imaging is a promising method in the evaluation of HCC.

In a transcutaneous energy transmission system for a totally implantable artificial heart, it is necessary that the efficiency of the implantable devices be improved and the temperature rise be minimized. In this paper, we first discuss the properties of Li-ion and Ni-MH batteries for driving an artificial heart, and then consider driving methods for a vibrating flow pump that is used in some electromagnetic artificial hearts. A pump using asymmetrical-wave voltage is 1-4% more efficient than one driven by square-wave voltage.

腹腔鏡補助下結腸切除術は,一般的には,大腸内視鏡によって摘除できないような腺腫や早期癌に対して施行されている.しかし,結腸進行癌に対しても症例を選択して施行すれば通常の開腹手術と同じ範囲のリンパ節郭清を施行することができ,根治的な手術となりうると思われる,広範囲な癒着が予想されるような開腹手術の既往がないこと,肥満体でなく腸間膜の脂肪が少ないことが予測されること,病変の部位が盲腸,盲腸に近い上行結腸,S状結腸中ほどの病変であること,などの条件がそろえば,腹腔鏡補助下手術で第2群,第3群までのリンパ節郭清が可能であり,根治的な手術となりえると考えられる.われわれは,29例の大腸進行癌に対して本術式を施行した結果,適切に症例を選択して行えば,開腹手術と同様のリンパ節郭清が可能で,根治的な手術となると考えられた.しかし,欧米においてportsiterecurrenceの報告もあるので,今後の遠隔成績の結果を検討する必要がある.

This paper presents the results of computer modeling studies of the effects of a volume current with multi-sources on 3-D magnetoencephalogram (MEG) measurement. An inner-surface model (homogeneous medium: 0.5 Sm-1) of the skull consisting of 1979 triangular elements was used. In calculation of 3-D magnetic field components (Br, Bθ, Bφ) in a spherical coordinate system, multi-sources were set to the pariental, temporal, and occipital lobes of the brain. A 3-D second-order gradiometer developed by the authors, with an orthogonally wound Ni-Ti wire on a rectangular 3×3×6 cm solid, was also used. The base line of the detection coil for Br was 2.8 cm and those of the coils for Bθ and Bφ were 1.4 cm. The effects of the volume current on the tangential components (Bθ, Bφ) were not observed in the pariental, occipital, and upper parts of the temporal lobe. However, in the lower parts of the temporal lobe to the boundary, the directions of the multi-sources had some effects.

This paper reports on the relaxation of a trapped magnetic field in a MgB2 solenoid coil in persistent current (PC) mode operation. For the PC mode test, we fabricated a closed-loop circuit with a small MgB2 test coil, a persistent current switch (PCS) and some superconducting joints. The MgB2 test coil was fabricated using a wind-and-react method employing a 96 m long powder-in-tube processed MgB2 wire. The critical current Ic of the coil reached 88 A at 4.2 K without an external field. The resistance of the fabricated joints between the MgB2 and NbTi conductors (MgB2–NbTi) was estimated to be less than 1.0 × 10−13 Ω. In PC mode with a closed-loop circuit, a magnetic field of 0.68 T was trapped for more than 8 h. These results demonstrate the possible use of the MgB2 conductor for applications in fields such as MRI and NMR superconducting magnets.

Patients with pediatric rheumatic disease rarely develop pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and the expected prognosis had been very poor. With the advancement of oral medicine for PAH in recent years, we can expect better prognosis of these patients. For this purpose, early diagnosis and interventions are essential.

Accurate phase equilibrium data can be used for the design and operation for separation processes based on phase behavior. An azeotrope is the mixture consists of two or more substances, the equilibrium vapor composition is equivalent to the liquid composition, and the equilibrium temperature (or pressure) indicates extreme value. If the mixture to be separated is an azeotropic system, no separation into pure components can be achieved by simple distillation. Knowledge of the acurate azeotropic data is necessity for chemical process synthesis. According to the Dortmund Data Bank [1], approximately 47% of the stored vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data show azeotropic behavior. There are two types of azeotrope for binary systems, which are positive and negative azeotropes, generally. The binary system of diethylamine + methanol is known for the polyazeotropy at given temperature or pressure. The system forms a homogeneous maximum boiling azeotrope at 101.3 kPa. The second minimum boiling azeotropic point appears in the VLE at the condition of elevated pressure, around 300 kPa. Aucejo et al. [2] has measured the VLE at 101.3 and 300 kPa and discussed the detail of these phenomena thermodynamically. The purpose of this work is describing the trajectory of two different of azeotropic points on elevated pressure from experimental data.

Objective To characterise the natural history of Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy (UCMD). Patients and methods Questionnaire-based nationwide survey to all 5442 certified paediatric and adult neurologists in Japan was conducted from October 2010 to February 2011. We enrolled the 33 patients (age at assessment, 11±6.6 years) who were reported to have collagen VI deficiency on immunohistochemistry in muscle biopsies. We analysed the development, clinical manifestations, Cobb angle and %vital capacity (%VC) in spirogram. Results Cobb angle over 30° was noted at age 9.9±5.3 years (n=17). The maximum progression rate was 16.2±10°/year (n=13). %VC was decreased exponentially with age, resulting in severe respiratory dysfunction before pubescence. Scoliosis surgery was performed in 3 patients at ages 5 years, 9 years and 10 years. Postoperative %VC was relatively well maintained in the youngest patient. Non-invasive ventilation was initiated at age 11.2±3.6 years (n=13). Twenty-five (81%) of 31 patients walked independently by age 1.7±0.5 years but lost this ability by age 8.8±2.9 years (n=11). Six patients never walked independently. Conclusions The natural history of scoliosis, respiratory function and walking ability in UCMD patients were characterised. Although the age of onset varied, scoliosis, as well as restrictive respiratory dysfunction, progressed rapidly within years, once they appeared.

An automatic width control system using interstand tension in the finishing mill at Mizushima Works has been developed. Experiments show that the tension between the F1 and F2 stands can effectively control the strip width. A feedback loop is incorporated, using a width meter newly installed between the F2 and F3 stands. The average reduction of width margin for ultra-low carbon steel is 2.3 mm.

Silicon isotope separation from hexafluorodisilane (Si 2 F 6 ) was examined using CO 2 pulse laser. Si 2 F 6 containing specific isotopes was preferentially decomposed to SiF 4 depending on the wavenumber of the laser. 29 Si and 30 Si were concentrated in the SiF 4 produced at 945–955 cm −1 and in the residual Si 2 F 6 at 970–980 cm −1 . The SiF 4 containing 30 Si of about 43% and 29 Si of 12% at maximum was continuously obtained with a yield efficiency of 4–10% at 951.203 cm −1 and 956.205 cm −1 , respectively. 30 Si concentration higher than 90% was estimated to be achievable by repeating the irradiation to the residual Si 2 F 6 at around 975 cm −1 and finally decomposing the Si 2 F 6 to SiF 4 at 951.203 cm −1 . SiC enriched with 29 Si and 30 Si was predicted to show an excellent low activation behavior in fusion neutron environments.

Heat-stable antigen (HSA) is a murine differentiating antigen that is expressed on both CD4-CD8- double-negative and CD4+CD8+ double-positive thymocytes but not CD4+ or CD8+ single-positive thymocytes. Effects of anti-HSA monoclonal antibody, R13, on thymocyte apoptosis induced by various stimulations were investigated by a single-cell suspension culture system. Immobilized R13 enhanced the CD3-mediated DNA fragmentation and killing of thymocytes but not the dexamethasone-induced or phorbol myristate acetate-induced killing of thymocytes. Immobilized R13 by itself could not induce thymocyte apoptosis. Soluble R13 enhanced CD3-mediated apoptosis when HSA and T-cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 were co-cross-linked by a cross-reactive secondary antibody. Even without the cross-reactive secondary antibody, soluble R13 enhanced CD3-mediated apoptosis, although a greater than 100-fold increase in the amount of R13 was needed to give a similar enhancement compared with immobilized R13. Neither R13 by itself nor R13 plus secondary antibody induced cytosolic calcium influx, whereas R13 enhanced CD3-mediated cytosolic calcium increase. These results suggest a functional role of HSA in promoting the activation-induced apoptosis of thymocytes and the involvement of HSA in negative selection.

Electronic structure of monoanionic corannulene, C20H- 10, has been studied comparing with those of C20H10 and C20H4- 10 based on the ab initio molecular orbital calculation at the HF/3-21G level. The difference in geometries and electronic structures among these three corannulene systems and the strength of Jahn-Teller distortion appearing in C20H- 10 are discussed.

The effect of adsorbed H on the Mo 0.95 Re 0.05 (110) surface has been investigated. Results obtained from low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS) and angle-resolved ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (ARUPS) are presented. A (2 × 2) LEED pattern is observed for H coverages around Θ ∼ 0.5 ML and is attributed to reconstruction of the substrate. At higher coverages, a (1 × 1) pattern is observed. Two peaks are observed at loss energies of 99 and 153 meV in the HREELS spectra for the H-saturated Mo 0.95 Re 0.05 (110) surface consistent with a quasi-trigonal adsorption site. Both peaks show an isotopic shift, confirming that they are due to hydrogen vibrational modes. A two-dimensional Fermi surface was determined using ARUPS for the H-saturated Mo 0.95 Re 0.05 (110) surface. Fermi-surface nesting vectors were observed at the momentum predicted by theoretical calculations for H-saturated Mo(110) where a phonon anomaly is observed.

Background: To clarify the radiographic characteristics of intractable gastric ulcers with H2-receptor antagonists. Methods: The radiographic findings at the time of starting treatment were compared between 42 patients with gastric ulcers that did not heal within eight weeks of starting treatment with H2-receptor antagonists (the intractable group) and 58 patients whose ulcers healed within the eight-week period (the tractable group). Results: The following radiographic findings in the intractable group were observed at a significantly higher incidence than those in the tractable group and included: an ulcer located on the angle, linear ulcers, a greater depth, an uneven mound surrounding an ulcer, prominent folds' convergence, an overhanging gastric mucosa, an irregular ulcer base, a shortening of the lesser curvature and a U-shaped deformity of the angle. A multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the following three factors had a significant and independent delaying effect on healing: a U-shaped deformity of the angle, an uneven mound surrounding an ulcer and prominent folds' convergence. The relative risk of these factors were 12.7, 14.4 and 12.5, respectively. Conclusions: Intractable gastric ulcer with H2-receptor antagonists can be predicted based on the characteristic radiographic findings at the start of treatment.

Hepatic sensory systems are thought to play an important role in the response of renal nerve activity and natriuresis to oral NaCl load. In this study, responses of renal nerve activity and urinary Na+ and Cl- excretions to a high-NaCl food intake (20 g/kg boiled rice containing 0.4 g/kg NaCl) were examined in sham-operated dogs (n = 12) and dogs with chronic bile duct ligation (CBDL; n = 10). In sham-operated dogs, renal nerve activity gradually decreased and reached minimal value (50% +/- 7% of the control value) at 100 minutes after the high-NaCl food intake and remained depressed until 4 hours after the food intake. Of the orally administered sodium and chloride, 27% +/- 5% and 23% +/- 6% were excreted over the following 4 hours, respectively. In CBDL dogs, the decrease in renal nerve activity induced by the high-NaCl food was completely abolished and only 4% +/- 1% of the loaded Na+ and 3% +/- 2% of the loaded Cl- were excreted. Furthermore, liver tissue norepinephrine concentration in CBDL dogs decreased to 21% of that of sham-operated dogs. These results suggest that (1) In CBDL dogs, the decrease in renal nerve activity induced by a high-NaCl food is completely abolished, probably because of the impairment of hepatic neural regulation. (2) The lack of renal nerve response may contribute, at least in part, to the abnormalities in body fluid homeostasis in cirrhosis.

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is related to arterial wall elasticity, which in part is regulated by sympathetic nervous system activity. The present study investigated the potential for the simultaneous use of PWV and heart rate variability using noninvasive recordings in order to provide a quantitative evaluation of the sympathovagal interaction modulating cardiovascular functions. We obtained 10 indices from the PWV and heart rate (HR) time series of 92 healthy subjects (control group) and compared the results with those of 135 patients with diabetes mellitus or vertigo. Five indices were obtained from a PWV series, that is, the mean, the coefficient of variation (CV) during supine rest, those immediately after standing up unaided, and the change of the mean PWVs before and after standing. The rest of the indices were also obtained from the instantaneous HR series. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences in the change of the mean PWVs after standing, the mean and CV of resting HR, the mean and CV of standing HR, and the change of mean HRs in patients with diabetic neuropathy as compared with healthy subjects (p < 0.01). The change of the mean PWV immediately after standing allows for the assessment of peripheral vascular sympathetic functions, provided one uses HR variability indices simultaneously.

Dependences of the polarization-bistable condition on the coefficients of linear and nonlinear gains of a laser diode are analyzed, including S-shaped and pitchfork types of bistability, in the optical output versus injection current characteristics. Moreover, the steady-state and dynamic characteristics of the optical output for optical input are investigated, taking account of a detuning of incident optical beam from the cavity resonant frequency of a polarization-bistable laser diode, TE-TM polarization switching is shown to be attained in the optical output of the polarization-bistable laser diode in a very fast switching time less than a nanosecond by the application of TE and TM optical input pulses.

100-m long MgB/sub 2/ multifilament wires with stainless steel (SUS316)/Cu double sheath were successfully fabricated using a PIT method. No heat treatment was carried out during the processing. The J/sub c/ of the MgB/sub 2//(SUS316/Cu) multifilament wires reached 3700 A/mm/sup 2/ at 4.2 K and 0 T, and up to 1000 A/mm/sup 2/ at 1 T, an increase of 40% over conventional mono-core MgB/sub 2//(SUS316/Cu) tapes. The relationship between transport J/sub c/ and Vickers hardness (HV) for MgB/sub 2//(SUS316/Cu) wires with various wire diameters was investigated. The results suggest that a high-density superconductor core was possible for small filament size. The multifilament structure and densification of MgB/sub 2/ core were found to be effective in improving the transport properties of MgB/sub 2/ wires.

Ohmic property for AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistor was investigated by insetting a highly Al-doped ZnO between the metal and AlGaN/GaN structure. The Al-doped ZnO was deposited by dc magnetron sputtering method and Ti/Al/Ni/Au was deposited on the ZnO by evaporation. Prior to the ZnO deposition, the surface of the samples was treated by O2 plasma, HCl and NH4OH, respectively. Good ohmic performance was obtained with contact resistance of 2.7 Ω mm even without annealing. The lowest contact resistance was 2.0 Ω mm after being annealed at 300 °C for the sample with HCl treatment before ZnO deposition.

Poly(oxytrimethylene) (POT) has been found to form inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins to give crystalline compounds in high yields. The yields of the complexes of POT with α-cyclodextrin increased with increase in the molecular weight of POT, reached a maximum at a molecular weight of about 1000, and then decreased with the molecular weight. The stoichiometries are 1 :1.5-2 (CD :monomer unit) when the molecular weight of POT is less than 2000. β-Cyclodextrin gave complexes with POT in a 1 :2-2.5 ratio when the average molecular weights were less than 2000. When the molecular weight of the polymer was higher than 3000, the ratio of the monomer unit to cyclodextrin increased with increase in the molecular weight. The binding modes are discussed.

We study an electromagnetic environment around a spacecraft in the solar wind plasma, where the Debye length λ D is much larger than the scale size of the spacecraft R 0 . We perform computer experiments using a two-dimensional electromagnetic particle code (KEMPO) with a half open boundary model whose internal boundary corresponds to the spacecraft. We show formation of an ion acoustic shock around the spacecraft and clarify its parametric dependence on the background plasma parameters. Scale size of the shock is about 3∼4λ D . The shock formation is observed when the solar wind proton temperature is lower than the electron temperature (T i /T e