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Background No easy-to-use fall risk assessment tools have been devised to assess occupational fall risk in older workers. Aims To develop an Occupational Fall Risk Assessment Tool (OFRAT) and report its predictive validity and reliability in older workers. Methods The baseline fall risk assessment was completed by 1113 participants aged ≥60 years who worked ≥4 days/month in Saitama, Japan. Participants were followed up for falls during occupational activities for 1 year, and 30 participants were assessed twice for test–retest reliability. The following assessment measures were summed to form the OFRAT risk score: older age, male sex, history of falls, physical work participation, diabetes, use of medications increasing fall risk, reduced vision, poor hearing, executive dysfunction and slow stepping. The scores were then classified into four grades (0–2 points: very low, 3 points: low, 4 points: moderate and ≥5 points: high). Results During follow-up, 112 participants fell 214 times during work. The negative binomial regression model showed that participants with higher grades had a higher incidence rate ratio [95% confidence interval] for falls than those with very low grades (low: 1.64 [1.08–2.47], moderate: 4.23 [2.82–6.34] and high: 6.12 [3.83–9.76]). The intraclass correlation coefficient for risk score was 0.86 [0.72–0.93], and the weighted kappa coefficient for grade assessment was 0.74 [0.52–0.95]. Conclusions The OFRAT is a valid and reliable tool for estimating the occupational fall risk in older workers. It may assist occupational physicians implement strategies to prevent falls in this group.

We clarify the transmission performance of our proposed multichannel wireless local area network (WLAN) system based on radio-over-fiber techniques. We developed a practical and effective method for the analysis of multichannel performances from the measurement of single-channel performances by incorporating the spectral distribution of a modulation signal into a calculation of the composite triple beats. Furthermore, using our developed method, we can clarify the maximum capacity of the multichannel WLAN system and its system parameters with a focus on the performance of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing with 64-quadrature amplitude modulation channel. For example, the cell diameter for realizing the bidirectional transmission of seven-channel WLAN signals becomes 10 m.

The Wacker-type reaction promoted by a Pd(II) catalyst constitutes an efficient strategy for functionalization of alkenes or alkynes with C–O bond formation. The Wacker-type reaction offers new methods for the synthesis of a wide range of densely functionalized oxygen-containing compounds. The intramolecular variant provides a highly valuable method for the synthesis of various oxygen heterocycles. These reactions proceed under relatively mild reaction conditions and tolerate a wide variety of functional groups, thus avoiding protecting group chemistry. The results described in this chapter demonstrate that the role of the catalytic species is critically important: profound alterations of the reaction course and product yields are observed by changing a catalyst, a solvent, or an oxidizing agent. The mechanistic investigation concerning the stereochemical course of the key oxypalladation step, successful examples of enantioselective Wacker-type reactions, and new Wacker chemistry exploiting the Pd(II)/Pd(IV) catalytic system are also discussed.

The La-Li-(R)-BINOL complex prepared from either lanthanum(III) chloride [LaCl 2 .7H 2 O] or [La(O-i-Pr) 3 ] has made possible effective catalytic asymmetric syntheses of therapeutically important β-blockers such as propranolol and metoprolol. The possible stereochemical course of asymmetric nitroaldol reactions has been also clarified

A glycosidation of glycosyl fluorides with trimethylsilyl ethers has been found to be promoted more effectively by catalytic La(ClO4)3 than by stoichiometric amounts of rare earth salts. A mechanism for the present glycosidation is proposed.

The development of a high frequency electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer with a wide frequency range using a gyrotron as the radiation power source is described. GYROTRON FU-E, optimized for use in an ESR spectrometer in the millimeter wave range, was developed in Fukui University. In order to test the normal operation of the spectrometer, the ESR of two standard samples, single crystal and polycrystalline DPPH, has been measured, in the pulsed mode over the frequency range from 65 GHz to 135 GHz.

Nitroalkanes react with either carbonyl compounds (Henry reaction) or imines (aza-Henry reaction) to produce β -hydroxy-nitro compounds or β -amino-nitro compounds, respectively, under mild conditions. The first catalytic enantioselective Henry reaction was reported in1992, promoted by a rare earth–lithium–BINOL complex (LnLB, where Ln=lanthanoid, L=lithium, and B=BINOL derivative). In this catalysis, the dual activation of both of the substrates is responsible to achieve high catalytic efficiency. Namely, the rare earth metal in the LnLB complex acts as Lewis acid, and the lithium binaphtholate moiety acts as Bronsted base. Other chiral metal catalysts containing zinc, copper, etc. and chiral organocatalysts having thiourea and guanidine moiety are also reported. In these enantioselective catalysts, the dual activation mechanism seems to be indispensable to obtain the nitroaldol adducts in high enantiocontrol. Syn - and anti -selective asymmetric Henry reactions are also realized and applied to the synthesis of pharmaceutically important compounds and natural products.

We have developed a more cost-effective and powerful glycosylation reaction using glycosyl fluorides. This method uses rare earth metal salts, glycosyl fluorides, and clycosyl acceptors with or without the usual Lewis acids, ZnCl{sub 2} and Ba(ClO{sub 4}){sub 2}. The basic idea evolved from the realization that the rare earth metal-fluorine bond has a large bond dissociation energy. 1 fig., 1 tab.

A glycosidation of glycosyl fluorides with trimethylsilyl ethers has been found to be promoted more effectively by catalytic La(ClO4)3 than by stoichiometric amounts of rare earth salts. A mechanism for the present glycosidation is proposed.

The La-Li-(R)-BINOL complex prepared from either lanthanum(III) chloride [LaCl 2 .7H 2 O] or [La(O-i-Pr) 3 ] has made possible effective catalytic asymmetric syntheses of therapeutically important β-blockers such as propranolol and metoprolol. The possible stereochemical course of asymmetric nitroaldol reactions has been also clarified

Heartworm disease is described in a 14-month-old neutered female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) which had a three-week history of sneezing, anorexia and dyspnoea. Echocardiography revealed the presence of heartworms as hyperechoic densities within the right atrial and ventricular cavities. At necropsy, four Dirofilaria immitis parasites (three females, one male) were found in the right heart, the cranial vena cava and the caudal vena cava. Histopathological findings were similar to those reported in canine heartworm disease. Echocardiography may be a useful method of diagnosis of heartworm disease in the ferret.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of compression induced by complete dentures on the function of the nerves underlying the dentures. The influence of compression induced by complete dentures on nerve function was analysed using current perception threshold (CPT) in 33 complete denture wearers aged 50-80 at Nihon University School of Dentistry (Matsudo, Japan). Based on the age range of the complete denture group, dentate subjects were selected as a control. Because the group characteristics (such as subject age, gender, body mass index) and oral mucosal thickness were not matched, a multiple regression analysis was used to adjust for the influence of heterogeneous characteristics on the CPT. Statistically significant differences were found between subject groups for the nasopalatine and the greater palatine nerve. The results of the study were that complete denture wearers experience asymptomatic hypoesthesia mainly affecting the nasopalatine and greater palatine nerves, but not the infraorbital nerve.

A coarse-fine combined positioning table consisting of a ball screw and a cylindrical piezo actuator was developed. An optimum system was designed through precise computer simulation on the model covering mechanics and controls. Simulation results indicated that the PD control method was the best for the coarse motion control, on which torque feed-forward was added to compensate for torque losses caused by various frictions. The table performed positioning accuracy of ±3.3nm (standard deviation) with positioning time of 0.20sec for a 15mm step motion.

In this paper, we propose a novel radio-over-fiber multiband wireless LAN distributed antenna system and also describe a noise canceling technique applied to counteract the problem of received RF signal degradation caused by the noise generated by the O/E in a remote antenna unit.

We propose the dual-band wireless LAN system based on radio-over-fiber technique. A demonstration of optical transmission of 5-GHz OFDM signal specified in IEEE802.11a and a feasibility of 2.4/5-GHz dual-band transmission will be reported.

This paper proposes a new method to generate intra prediction images in intra coding, tree structured hybrid intra prediction. When generating intra prediction images, the proposed method selects the most suitable one from intra prediction images generated using two methods, pixel-based and block-based intra prediction. This selection is performed on macroblock or sub macroblock level based on a rate distortion optimization scheme. In addition, information indicating which prediction method is selected is described in the bitstream using a tree structure. The proposed method is initially described, and then the results of evaluation experiments are shown by comparison to conventional methods. Evaluation is carried out by implementing the proposed method in an H.264-based intra picture codec. The results of evaluation confirm that the proposed method improves PSNR by up to nearly 0.7 dB compared to conventional methods over a wide range of bit rates.

This paper proposes a new motion compensation method using "sliced blocks" in hybrid video coding. In H.264, a brand-new international video coding standard, motion compensation can be performed by splitting macroblocks into multiple square or rectangular regions. In the proposed method, on the other hand, macroblocks or sub-macroblocks are divided into two regions (sliced blocks) by an arbitrary line segment. The result is that the shapes of the segmented regions are not limited to squares or rectangles, allowing the shapes of the segmented regions to better match the boundaries between moving objects. Thus, the proposed method can improve the performance of the motion compensation. In addition, adaptive prediction of the shape according to the region shape of the surrounding macroblocks can reduce overheads to describe shape information in the bitstream. The proposed method also has the advantage that conventional coding techniques such as mode decision using rate-distortion optimization can be utilized, since coding processes such as frequency transform and quantization are performed on a macroblock basis, similar to the conventional coding methods. The proposed method is implemented in an H.264-based P-picture codec and an improvement in bit rate of 5% is confirmed in comparison with H.264.

The effects of several kinds of interference on multi-channel wireless LAN optical transmission systems are appreciated. It is shown that amplitude distributions of these interferences have large impact on the PER and EVM characteristics.

We introduce the multi-channel WLAN system based on RoF techniques that realize efficient and flexible network operations. Single-channel optical transmission characteristics of an IEEE802.11a or 11b signal are clarified, and multi-channel transmission performances are discussed.

26GHz optical single-sideband (SSB) modulation by use of guided-wave electrooptic SSB modulators with periodically polarization-reversed structures was experimentally demonstrated and their applications to the radio-on-fiber systems are reported for the first time. The power penalty of the transmitted 26GHz microwave signal caused by the chromatic dispersion of a silica optical fiber was drastically reduced by use of the fabricated optical SSB modulators compared to a double-sideband modulator. The proposed SSB modulators should lead to useful microwave-lightwave converters in the radio-on-fiber systems for mobile communication networks.

We propose a new frame-rate up-conversion algorithm using a vector reliable analysis scheme that reduces artifacts caused by the use of inaccurately transmitted motion vectors (MVs). In conventional up-conversion algorithms using motion estimation (ME), ME is performed between two adjacent decoded frames to construct MVs that allow the frame to be interpolated, irrespective of the amount of calculation for ME required. On the other hand, in conventional up-conversion algorithms using transmitted MVs, the quality of the interpolated frame depends largely on the MV that is derived by the encoder. In our proposed scheme, transmitted MVs are first analyzed to decide whether or not they are usable for constructing interpolation frames. The interpolation method is then adaptively selected from three methods: local motion-compensated interpolation, global motion-compensated interpolation and frame-repeated interpolation. The proposed method provides high quality interpolated frames and decreases the volume of calculation needed, making it especially well suited to multimedia mobile devices that depend on low-power processing.

Novel guided-wave electrooptic single-sideband modulators using periodically domain-inverted structure were designed for a long wavelength operation and experimentally demonstrated for the first time. It should lead to the applications in the radio on fiber systems.

A method for configuring a new CAI system, which has been under development, is described. This system is aimed at the effective education of trainees to master knowledge and skill for diagnosing nuclear power plant (NPP) anomalies. The authors aim at configuring this system based on virtual reality technology and bio-informatic sensing methodology, in order to promote intuitive learning of the user as well as to endow flexible adaptation to the user's mental and physical state. There are two special features for realizing the target CAI system: (i) the utilization of a head-mounted display (HMD) provides the user with a training environment, by presenting 3D images of plant layout, and (ii) application of various bio-informatic sensing techniques would be effective to infer various human internal states. Elemental studies needed for realizing the adaptation mechanism of this CAI system are described.

Uncooled Fabry-Perot laser diodes (FP-LDs) without isolators realize cost-effective optical access links for microwave transmission. The optical spectrum broadening using low-frequency intensity-modulation can effectively suppress optical beat interference in the up link and make FP-LD performance stable.

We have developed a tunable optical filter (TOF) with 0.05 nm wavelength accuracy and an erbium doped fibre amplifier (EDFA) with a relative intensity noise (RIN) of -136 dB/Hz to realize 32ch-WDM/310ch-SCM systems, taking into account the effect of FM/AM conversion on carrier to noise ratio (CNR) in TOFs and the optimum optical input power into the EDFAs.

Potassium (K+) channels are critical for a variety of cell functions, including modulation of action potentials, determination of the testing membrane potential, and development of memory and learning. Eleven mouse cDNA clones homologous to the new human putative K+ channel (designated HNSPC, which we recently reported) were isolated from the brain cDNA libraries. All these proteins coded by the isolated cDNAs were identical from the N-terminal to the sixth transmembrane domain, but exhibited differences in the sequence and length of the C-terminal cytoplasmic region. Analyses of the mouse genomic DNAs showed that these clones originated from a single gene located on mouse chromosome 2H3-4, which proved that these clones were generated by alternative RNA splicing. Since all isoforms showed significant structural identity with KVLQT1 (64% identity in the transmembrane domains), which is known to associate with IsK, they were designated mKQT2.1-mKQT2.11. Northern blot analysis indicated that the mRNAs of the mKQT2 isoforms were exclusively expressed in the brain. In the mouse cerebellum region, the localized expression of these clones in the Purkinje cell layer and Golgi cells was shown by in situ hybridization analysis. These transcripts were also detected in the mouse embryonic developmental stage (11th, 15th and 17th day); and in particular, the mRNAs for shorter forms (mKQT2.9, mKQT2.10 or mKQT2.11) were abundantly found on the 11th day after gestation. Although these mKQT2 isoforms had the characteristic structure of voltage-gated K+ channels, functional expression of K+ currents were not detected in Xenopus oocytes.

We describe a strategy for producing human monoclonal antibodies in mice by introducing large segments of the human heavy and kappa light chain loci contained on yeast artificial chromosomes into the mouse germline. Such mice produce a diverse repertoire of human heavy and light chains, and upon immunization with tetanus toxin have been used to derive antigen-specific, fully human monoclonal antibodies. Breeding such animals with mice engineered by gene targeting to be deficient in mouse immunoglobulin (Ig) production has led to a mouse strain in which high levels of antibodies are produced, mostly comprised of both human heavy and light chains. These strains should provide insight into the adoptive human antibody response and permit the development of fully human monoclonal antibodies with therapeutic potential.

An activated c-mos oncogene was detected by DNA transfection assay of hamster SHOK cells with DNAs from X-ray-induced mouse osteosarcoma. It was molecularly cloned by the cosmid rescue method and found to form transformed foci of SHOK cells. Genomic DNA sequencing revealed that in this oncogene the N-terminal coding region of the mouse proto-mos gene was deleted and replaced by a hamster-derived sequence in the primary transformant, suggesting that activation was due to the rearrangement during transfection. The gene product was about 37 kDa and was immunoprecipitated with anti-mos antibody from a lysate of a SHOK cell transfectant. This truncated mos (t-mos) gene transformed SHOK cells more effectively than v-mos. A chimeric gene construct of this hamster-derived upstream sequence and normal mouse c-mos also transformed SHOK cells at a lower level, whereas neither t-mos nor the chimeric c-mos gene transformed NIH3T3 cells appreciably. The high transforming efficiency of t-mos in SHOK cells was due not only to truncation of the coding region but also to its integration under a putative promoter sequence derived from the hamster genome. This is the first report of detection of an activated c-mos gene by DNA transfection assay.

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a persistent infection of the central nervous system by the measles virus. Patients in the initial stages of SSPE show behavioral symptoms and usually normal cranial MR imaging findings. We aimed to investigate the gray matter volume changes in patients with early SSPE.Seventeen patients with SSPE with normal cranial MR imaging findings and 30 sex- and age-matched control subjects were included in the study. Clinical parameters of the patients were quantified by using a neurologic disability index (NDI) as defined previously. We obtained T1-weighted magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition gradient echo images from the patients and control subjects, and we applied an optimized method of voxel-based morphometry. We performed a cross-sectional analysis to search the gray matter volume differences between the patients and control subjects. The correlation between the gray matter distribution and the duration of symptoms, immunoglobulin G index, and NDI scores was tested.We found that the cortical gray matter volume of patients was reduced in the frontotemporal regions including the bilateral cingulate cortex and amygdala. There was no correlation between the gray matter distribution of patients and the duration of symptoms or the NDI scores.The current study demonstrated gray matter volume reduction in the frontotemporal cortex of patients with SSPE without any apparent lesions on conventional MR imaging. Because the cingulate cortex and amygdala are involved in emotion processing, gray matter loss in these regions may contribute to the development of early behavioral symptoms of SSPE.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Fast Fourie Transform (FFT) analysis of the occlusal sounds generated by tooth tapping which may apply in assisting in the functional diagnosis of occlusion in children. The fifteen subjects examined were divided into three groups: the first group with deciduous dentition, the second with mixed dentition and the third with permanent dentition. Occlusal sounds generated by tooth tapping at the rate of 76 times per minute were obtained with a micro-electronic condenser microphone placed on the infra-orbital region. For the time wave, the wave pattern of the occlusal sound was classified into two groups: 1) Impact sound, 2) Slide sound, and the ratio of appearance was examined. For the spectrum, three parameters were chosen for the measuring points such as 1) frequency range, 2) peak frequency, 3) strength of the peak frequency. The results obtained in the present study were summarized as follows: 1) Occlusal sounds in the deciduous dentition, the appearance of sliding sound was noticed in over 50% of the cases while on the permanent dentition, the sliding sound was dominant. 2) The power spectrum of the occlusal sound showed generally two or three peaks. 3) The range of frequency was recognized to be extended on the sliding sound when compared with the impact sound.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of the maximum velocity of the mouth closing phase on the occlusal sound. Six subjects examined were divided into two groups (children and young adults). Occlusal sounds generated by the tooth tapping were obtained with in microelectronic condenser microphone placed on infra-orbital and external auditory canal. Three parameters were used for the measuring points such as 1) maximum velocity of the closing phase, 2) maximum amplitude of the occlusal sound, 3) duration of the occlusal sound. The results obtained in the present study were as follows: 1) The waveform of occlusal sounds obtained from infra-orbital showed more clearly than that obtained from the external auditory canal. 2) With increasing velocity, both the values of maximum amplitude and duration showed a tendency to increase in both groups. 3) The prolonging of the duration was apparent in the children. The results obtained in the study suggest that the analysis of the occlusal sounds generated by tooth tapping can apply to aid in the functional diagnosis of occlusion in children.

We have developed a more cost-effective and powerful glycosylation reaction using glycosyl fluorides. This method uses rare earth metal salts, glycosyl fluorides, and clycosyl acceptors with or without the usual Lewis acids, ZnCl{sub 2} and Ba(ClO{sub 4}){sub 2}. The basic idea evolved from the realization that the rare earth metal-fluorine bond has a large bond dissociation energy. 1 fig., 1 tab.

The Aperture Grille AG of a Diamondtron CRT is fixed on an AG frame with some tension in a specific direction and supported on a panel by four springs welded to the edge of the AG frame. When the panel vibrates, the vibration is transmitted to the AG frame and the AG. This causes a disturbance in the image on the panel. It is therefore necessary to restrain AG vibration in order to make the CRT high-resolution. This paper describes the vibration measurement system developed to analyze the vibration of the AG and its frame, the vibration model based on experimental results, and the method utilized to restrain the AG vibration.

びまん浸潤型大腸癌8例を報告するとともに本邦報告例を合せ40例を病理学的に検討した.その結果病理学的特徴から次のタイプに分類することができた.1)lymphangiosis type:高分化型腺癌の周囲へ広範にlymphangiosis carcinomatosaがみられるもの.間質の線維化は強くない.2)muconodular type: lymphangiosisや間質の線維化を伴わず,粘液癌が広範囲に浸潤するもの.3)mixed type: lymphangiosis typeとmuconodular typeの両方の性格を持つもの.4)scirrhous type:胃のスキルスに類似し,低分化型腺癌,印鑑細胞癌が強い間質の線維化を伴いながら浸潤するもの.胃のびまん浸潤癌に比し,びまん浸潤型大腸癌にはいろいろなタイプがあり,その中でscirrhous typeは少いが,他の3つのタイプとは全く異った病理学的特徴を持っており,発生のメカニズムや浸潤形式も独特なものと考えられた.

Secretory and purulent otitis media developed after the surgical obstruction of the eustachian tube in dogs. On 3 days after the obstruction, secretory otitis media alone was induced without regard of presence of aerobes in middle ear fluid. On 10 and 15–20 days, two types of otitis media were induced; in the secretory type aerobes were hardly detected, and in the purulent type a considerable number of various species of aerobes were detected. The present results suggest that the eustachian tube obstruction readily generates secretory otitis media and, when aerobes are present in the middle ear, the otitic condition may develop to purulent otitis media.

A new clinical trial on immunochemotherapy as an adjuvant therapy of surgery for colorectal cancers was studied. Results were retrospectively evaluated against previous controls treated by chemotherapy alone. As an immunotherapeutic agent, a streptococcal preparation, OK-432 was used. The maintenance dosage of OK-432, was 5 KE once a week and was continued for at least 2 years after surgical resection. As chemotherapeutic agents, mitomycin C for 2 weeks postoperatively and tegafur for 1 year were administered. Delayed skin reactivity to SU-polysaccharide (SU-PS) extracted from Streptococcus pyogenes SU-strain and lymphoproliferative response to phytohemagglutinins (PHA) were significantly enhanced in the OK-432, immunochemotherapy group. Disease-free interval in the immunochemotherapy group (n = 49) was prolonged compared to that in the control group (n = 129), especially in the curative resection cases of Duke's C stage. There was statistical significance between the two groups (p less than 0.05). These results suggested that long-term administration of OK-432 after surgical resection of colorectal cancer was effective on growth inhibition of micrometastasis and could increase the postoperative survival rate.

A mass survey program for the early detection of colorectal carcinoma was tested on asymptomatic persons who visited the AMHTS (Ningen-Dokku). During a 10-month period, 4574 of 8216 persons over the age of 45 years participated in this program. They were screened by the 3-day fecal occult blood test using guiac method. Barium enema examination was performed in 50 of 84 persons who were selected by the screening tests. Tow cases of advanced carcinoma and 10 adenomas were detected.

Complete response (CR) has been achieved in a case of advanced mediastinal seminoma using PVB therapy (CDDP, VBL, BLM). A 21-year-old man visited our department with the complaint of superior vena cava syndrome. Chest X-ray film, ultrasonography and CT scan revealed a large anterior mediastinal mass. Histological proof of mediastinal seminoma was obtained by needle biopsy. The patient was treated with a combination chemotherapy, consisting of CDDP, VBL and BLM according to Einhorn's PVB regimen. After three courses of this regimen, complete disappearance of the tumor was obtained. The patient underwent further radiation treatment (Linac: 4,000 rad), as a salvage therapy, at the anterior mediastinum, and has since been doing well without any sign of recurrence for a follow-up period of nine months.