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A 41-year-old patient underwent surgery for the partial removal of a posterior falx meningioma, which invaded deeply into both occipital lobes. After surgery, the patient complained of marked metamorphopsia, colored photopsia, afterimage and loss of stereopsia. The relationships between these symptoms and features of the VEP and EEG power spectra (both under resting and photic driving conditions) were investigated. Marked photopsia on the 4th postoperative day was accompanied by EEG features indicating asynchronous excitation of injured cortical cells, while the presence of a strong afterimage on days 17 through 24 coincided with indications of an apparent refractoriness in cortical activation.

Design considerations and performance characteristics of a 150-MW pulsed klystron amplifier at S band are described. One of the main problems encountered in generating such high power at microwave frequencies is the extremely high-voltage gradients developed across the output gap of the klystron which may cause RF breakdown. A double-gap 2?-mode output cavity is used successfully in the present case to generate a peak output power of 150 MW at a frequency of 2870 MHz with an efficiency of 51 percent, saturation gain of 59.3 dB, and a pulsewidth of 1 ?s. A reduction in gap voltage of at least 25 percent as compared to a similar klystron with a conventional single-gap output cavity at the same voltage and at their respective maximum efficiency points is theoretically predicted. Examination of the gaps after an extended period of operation shows that they are smooth and without signs of erosion, indicating that the fields were uniform and not excessive. Extrapolating from the gradient which exists in this present tube, it appears feasible to generate still higher powers (of the order of 700 MW) efficiently with a single klystron at S band with a pulsewidth of 1 ?s, if the need arises.

Clinical experiences of the transcutaneous afferent electrical stimulation therapy for various types of intractable pain are reported. A total of 29 pain patients included 9 residual or recurrent chronic pain patients who had had various destructive pain treatment, 15 non-malignant chronic pain patients and 5 patients with pain due to malignant tumors. In 93% of the patients complete or partial relief of pain was observed. After the subsequent successive stimulation therapy from a week to two years and ten months 86% of the 22 patients who could use the stimulator by themselves in free of charge got pain relief in more or less degree. Only 42% of these patients, however, wished to continue this therapy for their pain relief. All the malignant tumor patients and many posttraumatic chronic headache patients with Barre-Lieou syndrome discontinued electrical stimulation. Good benefits are to be expected from this non-destructive treatment for chronic pain in combination with medication and/or destructive treatment.

Forty-two cases of large pituitary adenomas (including 19 non-functioning adenoma cases, 8 PRL-secreting adenoma cases and 15 GH-secreting adenoma cases) were examined for pituitary insufficiency prior to treatment by operation and/or irradiation and more than 2 years thereafter. PRL-secreting cases exhibited the highest degree of pre-treatment pituitary insufficiency, while non-functioning adenomas a medium degree, and GH-secreting adenomas a minor degree. These were in proportion to the dimensions of tumors. The incidence of disturbance in secretion of hormones were 100% in GH, about 50% in LH and TSH, and a mere 20% in ACTH, FSH and PRL. In GH secreting adenomas, however, TSH secretion was disturbed in about 70%. A 2-year follow-up study after treatment revealed increased disturbances in LH, FSH and PRL compared to those before treatment, though no remarkable change was observed in ACTH and TSH. Irradiations were responsible for aggravation of disturbances and its influence was most dramatic in LH, FSH and PRL. PRL levels in PRL-secreting cases decreased gradually for 2 years after treatment at rates of 19 to 49% (25.5% average) of the pre-treatment levels. In 2 of these cases, PRL levels showed a 10% decrease of the pre-treatment levels 4 years after treatment. In 3 out of 7 GH-secreting cases, which did not respond to surgery in terms of decrease in levels of GH and were further treated by irradiation, GH levels decreased below 10 ng/ml after a 2-year period. In addition, in 3 out of 4 GH-secreting cases treated by irradiation only, GH levels decreased below 10 ng/ml after a 2-year period. Irradiation seemed effective in GH-secreting adenomas.

A new method for the preparation of γ-butyrolactones is described in which the key step is the highly stereoselective radical cyclization of bromoacetals to 2-alkoxytetrahydrofurans in the presence of polymeric or low-molecular weight organotin species. 2-Alkoxytetrahydrofurans can be easily converted into γ-butyrolactones by Jones oxidation.

Clinical and biochemical findings in two siblings (24-year-old sister and 20-year-old brother), born to consanguineous parents, are described. Both showed progressive generalized myoclonus, macular cherry-red spots, moderate cerebellar ataxia, coarse facies, vertebral deformities, vacuolation of peripheral lymphocytes, bone marrow cells and epithelial cells of conjunctiva, but had normal intelligence. The excretion of sialyloligosaccharides in the urine of both was 3-5 times larger than in the controls. The activities of alpha-neuraminidase and beta-galactosidase in leukocytes and cultured skin fibroblasts were reduced. The clinical and biochemical findings were those of the newly described condition, sialidosis type 2. Review of all Japanese cases considered as sialidosis type 2 showed that the most characteristic clinical features as distinct from type 1, were coarse facies and bone deformities, especially of vertebral bodies.

A 16-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital complaining of severe epigastric pain following toluene inhalation by means of the classic paint thinner inhalation technique. Amylase in the serum and urine was very high. A celiotomy was carried out because there were marked signs of peritonitis. There was about 100ml of bloody ascites in the abdominal cavity and there were many foci of fatty necrosis in both the greater and lesser omentum. The pancreas was swollen, edematous and black, so abdominal drainage was undertaken. Her postoperative course was uneventful. Postoperative examinations showed no abnormalities in the biliary tract and no dilation of the pancreatic duct. We should think of acute pancreatitis when a patient comlains of epigastric pain following toluene inhalation, because nowadays classic paint thinner inhalation is increasing. The mechanism of acute intoxication by toluene is mainly an anesthetic action. There are no reports of acute pancreatitis as a complication of toluene intoxication in Japan.

The lateral projections of pneumoencephalograms were studied in controls and sellar and suprasellar tumor cases, with the reference points at the tuberculum sellae, foramen Monroi, dorsum sellae, the entrance of the aqueduct and tips of the third ventricle. In the 20 control cases, the anterior part of the third ventricle always stayed within the angle made by tuberculum sellae-foramen Monroi and tuberculum sellaeaqueduct. In chromophobe adenomas with suprasellar extension, craniopharyngiomas and pinealomas in the chiasmal region, was the anterior part of the third ventricle was indented superiorly and also anteriorly. In tuberculum sellae meningiomas was the anterior part of the third ventricle showed characteristic change of posterior displacement like pendulum. Chromophobe adenoma cases with abnormally high blood levels of prolactin showed larger deformity of sella turcica and the third ventricle than non-functioning chromophobe adenoma. After treatment of chromophobe adenoma with suprasellar extension the third ventricle with significant deformity tended to normalize on pneumoencephalogram.

The following results were obtained on the physical development of pupils residing in mountain villages in the Aizu district, Fukushima Prefecture as compared with that Of those in cities and agricultural villages of the same district.1. The height development of pupils in mountain villages was inferior to those in cities and agricultural villages, the tendency being conspicuous among female pupils at the lower grades. Although the pupils at the 3rd grade of junior high schools exceptionally surpassed again in height of the female pupils, no such a tendency was seen in the weight of the body and the girth of the chest. No remarkable difference was observed in the weight of the body. As regards the girth of the chest, pupils in the mountain villages was superior contrarily, the tendency being conspicuous among female pupils at the higher grades.2. As regards the height, the weight of the body and the girth of the chest, the male pupils were superior to the female pupils in case of the lower grades, whereas the female pupils preceded the male pupils in case of the higher grades. The age at which the female pupils surpassed in height and weight the male pupils was belated in the mountain villages than in cities and agricultural villages. However, with regard to the girth of the chest, the age at which the female pupils surpassed the male pupils showed no difference by geographical distribution.3. The Rohrer's index was the highest in the mountain villages, being followed in the order of agriculturcal villages, and cities. The index decreased both in male and femals pupils in proportion to the increase of age. However, the increase of the index on the part of the female pupils in the junior high schools seemed attributable to earlier maturing age of physical development in the female pupils as compared with the male pupils.4. The results of the investigation on the weight at 'the time of birth was carried out to clarify the reason for tne inferiority of physical development of the pupils in the mountain villages. It was found that the average values in the mountain villages were rather superior to the standard values. When the investigation was made on the weight of the body of sucklings and infants in the mountain villages, the increase of the weight was decreased gradually since 4 months after the birth, attaining the maximum around the 12 months the birth. Lastly, it was also found that the commencement of ablactation was exceedingly delayed in the mountain villages. In view of the abovementioned facts, the geographical difference of physical development seems to be initiated from the weaning period

In order to determine the ultimate molecular resolution attainable with a conventional electron microscope, the direct observation of hexadecachloro‐Cu‐phthalocyanine molecules was attempted. Since phthalocyanine derivatives are known to form crystalline films with columns of parallel stacks of planar molecules, the specimens were prepared by epitaxial growth on KCl cleavage face through vacuum evaporation so that the column axis was directed almost normal to the thin‐film surface holding an orientation suitable for the observation. The molecular orientation was determined by Patterson synthesis based on the laser optical transform of the electron diffraction pattern obtained from the individual crystallites placed on the microgrid mesh. The direct observation was carried out with the 100‐kV electron beam incident on the specimen along the column axis. The crosslike images arrayed in a centered rectangular net were clearly resolved, well representing the molecular shape of phthalocyanine with the configur...

Submicroscopic topographies of oxidized stibnite and of etched zincblende were examined by electron microscopes. Crystallites of antimony oxide formed on stibnite have a roof-like shape bounded by two well-developed and four less developed {111} faces. This is in agreement with the conclusion drawn previously from electron diffraction study (Miyake, Sc. Pap. I. P. C. R. 34 (1938), 565). The direct observation by electron microscope gives some further information on the growth of the oxide. Zincblende surfaces etched by hydrochloric acid has a shape which is slightly different from the negative triakis tetrahedron inferred from electron diffraction study (Uyeda et al., Proc. Phys. -Math. Soc. Japan 24 (1941) 1049). In the diffraction patterns from this surface, structures of reflexion spots finer than those previously reported were observed and analysed by the theory of the dynamical refraction effect.

Intracellular Mg2+ concentration ([Mg2+]i) was measured in rat ventricular myocytes with the fluorescent indicator furaptra (25 degrees C). After the myocytes were loaded with Mg2+, the initial rate of decrease in [Mg2+]i (initial Delta[Mg2+]i/Deltat) was estimated upon introduction of extracellular Na+, as an index of the rate of Na+-dependent Mg2+ efflux. The initial Delta[Mg2+]i/Deltat values with 140 mM [Na+]o were essentially unchanged by the addition of extracellular Ca2+ up to 1 mM (107.3+/-8.7% of the control value measured at 0 mM [Ca2+]o in the presence of 0.1 mM EGTA, n=5). Intracellular loading of a Ca2+ chelator, either BAPTA or dimethyl BAPTA, by incubation with its acetoxymethyl ester form (5 microM for 3.5 h) did not significantly change the initial Delta[Mg2+]i/Deltat: 115.2+/-7.5% (seven BAPTA-loaded cells) and 109.5+/-10.9% (four dimethyl BAPTA loaded cells) of the control values measured in the absence of an intracellular chelator. Extracellular and/or intracellular concentrations of K+ and Cl- were modified under constant [Na+]o (70 mM), [Ca2+]o (0 mM with 0.1 mM EGTA), and membrane potential (-13 mV with the amphotericin-B-perforated patch-clamp technique). None of the following conditions significantly changed the initial Delta[Mg2+]i/Deltat: 1), changes in [K+]o between 0 mM and 75 mM (65.6+/-5.0% (n=11) and 79.0+/-6.0% (n=8), respectively, of the control values measured at 140 mM [Na+]o without any modification of extracellular and intracellular K+ and Cl-); 2), intracellular perfusion with K+-free (Cs+-substituted) solution from the patch pipette in combination with removal of extracellular K+ (77.7+/-8.2%, n=8); and 3), extracellular and intracellular perfusion with K+-free and Cl--free solutions (71.6+/-5.1%, n=5). These results suggest that Mg2+ is transported in exchange with Na+, but not with Ca2+, K+, or Cl-, in cardiac myocytes.

Examination of Cellulose Fibre by the Low-Temperature Specimen Method of Electron Diffraction and Electron Microscopy

The effect of prolonged administration of synthetic LH-RH (400 mug daily im for 5 days) on gonadotropin response to LH-RH (100 mug single injection iv) was compared in 13 patients with pituitary tumors or suprasellar tumors. No patients with pituitary tumors exhibited an augmented response on serum FSH and LH after prolonged LH-RH administration. A paradoxical fall in response to LH-RH test occurred in 3 patients with pituitary tumors and in a patient with hypothalamic tumor in whom gonadotropin responses were normal on the first LH-RH test. On the other hand, 2 patients with suprasellar tumors with a low response to the initial LH-RH test showed significant increase on a second LH-RHtest after consecutive LH-RH administration. Consecutive administration of LH-RH may help to distinguish between the hypogonadism of pituitary origin and that of hypothalamic origin when the initial LH response to a single dose of LH-RH is subnormal.

Acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) is one of the acute renal infections, its entity can be distinguished from other renal infections by the findings of sonography and computed tomography. There is no evidence of liquefaction in focal masses of AFBN in contrast to renal abscess. We present two cases with AFBN. The first case was a 52-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and benign prostatic hypertrophy. The second case was a 24-year-old woman with bilateral vesico-ureteral refluxes. Although their initial symptoms mimicked those of acute pyelonephritis, the findings of sonography and computed tomography revealed renal masses. They were treated with anti-microbial agents, and showed rapid improvement on both clinical symptoms and renal masses.

International audience; Black liquor is an alkaline liquid residue of paper industry, containing ~80wt% of water and ~20wt% of organic matter and minerals. Our global project explores black liquor conversion by using properties of supercritical water. Exploratory conversion experiments have been made previously without catalyst and revealed the formation of three phases; especially an interesting gaseous phase with a high proportion of H 2 (~80% at 600°C). A solid residue is also observed and results from the polymerisation of phenolic compounds together with aldehyde crosslinks. Based on these results, this study is devoted to the catalytic conversion using CeO 2 nanocatalysts to improve gasification and H 2 production as well as to block coke formation. In sub-/supercritical conditions, water splitting occurs by CeO 2 catalysts, to produce active hydrogen and oxygen species. Thus these actives species react with molecules of the medium. Experiments are performed in sub-/supercritical conditions in batch reactor, during 15-60 min reaction time with and without catalyst. As expected, nanocatalyst of CeO 2 improved the conversion of black liquor at sub and supercritical conditions. Hydrogen production was not significantly affected by the catalyst while amounts of CO and CO 2 are reduced at short reaction time. The high basic pH of raw feedstock and remaining solutions impacts the CO 2 dissolution into carbonates. Supercritical water media and catalyst clearly affects the fragmentation of dissolved lignin compared to subcritical conditions.

Recently, a new copper oxide superconductor with an onset tem-perature of 28 K was found in the Nd–Ce–Sr–Cu–O system1. The superconducting phase was identified by X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy2, and the metal-atom positions are identical with those in the K2NiF4 or Nd2CuO4 structure3, except for the order of the cations Nd(Ce) and Sr. Here we report the refinement of the crystal structure using neutron powder diffraction. We find that it comprises alternating slabs of the K2NiF4 and Nd2CuO4 structures, and that all the copper atoms are crystallographically identical, with oxygen in fivefold (square-pyramidal) coordination. In having only one kind of copper site, this new compound is structurally simpler than the other CuO5-bearing superconductors such as YBa2Cu3O7, and may therefore be particularly helpful in the effort to understand the origins of high-temperature superconductivity.

A new high-T c superconductor Nd-Sr-Ce-Cu-O system has been found by the resistivity and magnetization measurements. The highest onset transition temperature is about 28 K. The superconducting phase may be described as (Nd1-x Sr x-y Ce y )2CuO4-δ.

The diaphragm of a speaker is supported by a viscous supporting member placed in an annular gap defined between the periphery of the diaphragm and the inner surface of a frame structure and by a conventional damper. Grooves may be made in the periphery of the diaphragm and in the inner surface of the frame structure for receiving some portions of the viscous supporting member. In another embodiment, a film made of a resin is welded to the front surface of a diaphragm body which is made of a foam resin. In other embodiments, one or more reinforcing members are fixedly adhered to both the voice coil bobbin and the flat rear surface of the diaphragm.