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Radiation detection characteristics of a device combining a YAP:Ce (cerium-doped yttrium aluminum perovskite) scintillator and a ZnO UV sensor were studied using X-ray radiation. Both ZnO and YAP have high resistance to radiation. A photoconductive-type UV sensor with comb-shaped Al electrodes with a gap of 50 μm was fabricated on the Zn-face of a nitrogen-doped ZnO single crystal. A photocurrent spectrum of the ZnO UV sensor showed a peak at wavelength of about 370 nm, and the sensor did not show a response in wavelengths of the visible light region. Scintillation characteristics of YAP:Ce were investigated under the condition of X-ray radiation. Scintillation luminescence of YAP:Ce showed a spectrum with a peak at a wavelength of about 360 nm, which almost corresponds to the peak wavelength of a photocurrent spectrum of the ZnO UV sensor. A device having a structure in which the YAP:Ce scintillator is placed above the ZnO UV sensor was fabricated. When the YAP:Ce scintillator was irradiated by X-rays, the photocurrent of the ZnO UV sensor was proportional to the X-ray intensity. The sensitivity of the device was improved by deposition of a reflective Al film on the YAP:Ce scintillator. The device using the combination of a YAP:Ce scintillator and a ZnO UV sensor can be used as a radiation detector with high radiation resistance.

Preparation of non-polar ZnO ( $$ 11\overline{2} 0 $$ ) films on single-crystal NdGaO3 (NGO) (001) substrates was successfully achieved by the radio frequency (RF) sputtering method. Orientation, deposition rate, and surface roughness of ZnO films strongly depend on the working pressure. Characteristics of ZnO films deposited on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates were compared with those of ZnO films deposited on single-crystal sapphire ( $$ 01\overline{1} 2 $$ ) substrates. An x-ray diffraction peak of the ZnO ( $$ 11\overline{2} 0 $$ ) plane was observed on ZnO films deposited on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates under working pressure of less than 0.5 Pa. On the other hand, uniaxially oriented ZnO ( $$ 11\overline{2} 0 $$ ) films on single-crystal sapphire ( $$ 01\overline{1} 2 $$ ) substrates were observed under working pressure of 0.1 Pa. The mechanism by which the diffraction angle of the ZnO ( $$ 11\overline{2} 0 $$ ) plane on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates was shifted is discussed on the basis of anisotropic stress of lattice mismatch. The deposition rate of ZnO films decreased with an increase in working pressure, and the deposition rate on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates was larger than that on single-crystal sapphire ( $$ 01\overline{1} 2 $$ ) substrates. Root mean square (RMS) roughness of ZnO films increased with an increase in working pressure, and RMS roughness of ZnO films on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates was smaller than that of ZnO films on single-crystal sapphire ( $$ 01\overline{1} 2 $$ ) substrates even though the film thickness on single-crystal NGO (001) substrates was greater than that on sapphire substrates. It is thought that a single-crystal NGO (001) substrate is useful for deposition of non-polar ZnO ( $$ 11\overline{2} 0 $$ ) films.

The photoconductive characteristics of undoped ZnO single crystals grown by the hydrothermal method were improved by annealing in oxygen gas. The photocurrent in the visible light region decreased with annealing and became about 1/105 and about 1/104 of the value of the as-grown single crystal with annealing at 500°C and 600°C, respectively. The peak value of the photocurrent also decreased with annealing. The decay time of the photocurrent of annealed samples at 600°C was less than 1/104 of the value of the as-grown sample. Photosensitivity, visible rejection ratio and photoresponsivity of the sample annealed at 600°C were 4 × 104 (under illumination of 10 μW/cm2 at a wavelength of 360 nm), 3 × 103 and 2 × 103 A/W, respectively. These values are comparable to the values for a sample using a nitrogen-doped ZnO (ZnO:N) single crystal. Annealing of undoped ZnO single crystals at a relatively low temperature (500°C or 600°C) is effective for obtaining ZnO single crystals for an ultraviolet (UV) sensor with high performance. It is thought that the defects originating in oxygen vacancies of undoped ZnO single crystals were decreased by annealing in oxygen gas.

The worldwide accumulation of non-degradable plastic materials, such as plastic bags, is one of the most important environmental concerns nowadays. The use of degradable materials is an option to mitigate the environmental impact generated by the consumption of plastics. One of the technologies used for the manufacture and use of degradable plastics is the use of pro-degradant additives that are incorporated in conventional plastics to promote their degradation under certain conditions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the process of oxidation, biodegradation and potential ecotoxicity of polyethylene films containing an oxo-degradable additive, according to the standard ASTM D-6954. This method establishes a procedure in which the samples are subjected to consecutive steps of accelerated oxidation, biodegradation by composting and ecotoxicity assessment. Furthermore, the effect of the presence of printing ink in the polyethylene samples with oxo-degradable additive was evaluated, and the results were compared with those obtained for samples of conventional polyethylene and polylactic acid. After 180 days of laboratory controlled composting, the samples reached the following percentages of biodegradation: polylactic acid, 41 %; printed oxo-degradable polyethylene, 32.24 %; oxo-degradable polyethylene, 25.84 %; printed polyethylene, 18.23 % and polyethylene, 13.48 %. The cellulose sample used as a control was mineralized in 58.45 %. Ecotoxicity assessment showed that the products of biodegradation of the samples tested, did not generate a negative effect on germination or development of the vegetal species studied. Under proper waste management conditions, these plastics can be used as an option to decrease the environmental impact of plastic films.

The combination of high boosting and high exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is a practical and effective strategy to achieve simultaneous reductions of fuel consumption and exhaust emissions in diesel engines. To obtain further improvements of fuel efficiency and emissions, the effects of engine parameters including compression ratio, peak cylinder pressure, and the timing of the start of combustion are investigated using a single-cylinder diesel engine under conditions of high boost pressure of 400 kPa and fuel injection pressure of 200 MPa, focusing particularly on the peak cylinder pressure. The experiments show that when the peak cylinder pressure is raised to 28 MPa by adjusting the timing of the start of combustion at −3° after top dead centre (ATDC) at a compression ratio of 18, the lowest specific fuel consumption rate of 185.6 g/kW h, which corresponds to the brake thermal efficiency of 45.2 per cent, is obtained. When the effective compression ratio is lowered by using a variable valve timing system while maintaining the peak cylinder pressure at 28 MPa, the minimum specific fuel consumption of 181.2 g/kW h, which corresponds to a brake thermal efficiency of 46.3 per cent, is obtained.

The treatment for severe adenomyosis has usually been hysterectomy, because there is no line of demarcation between diseased and normal tissue. Yet many such women wish to retain their uterus and some even wish to bear children. This report evaluates the efficacy of a new method of adenomyomectomy, where adenomyotic tissues are radically excised and the uterine wall is reconstructed by a triple-flap method, without overlapping suture lines, to prevent uterine rupture in subsequent pregnancies. This is a prospective case series followed for 10 years from June 1998 to August 2008 of 104 women with severe adenomyosis verified histologically and with magnetic resonance imaging. There was a dramatic reduction in both dysmenorrhoea and hypermenorrhoea and all patients returned to having normal menstrual cycles. Of 26 women who wished to conceive, 16 became pregnant, 14 (53.8%)went to term and delivered a healthy baby and there were no cases of uterine rupture. Adenomyosis symptoms recurred in only four out of 104 cases. The procedure thus resulted in a dramatic reduction in symptoms and allowed over half of women who wished to conceive to go to term without uterine rupture.

We managed a rare case of bladder endometriosis in a 42-year-old woman that was successfully treated by laparoscopic surgery.Approximately 2 years previously she sought evaluation in the Urology Department at another hospital with painful urination during menstruation. Cystoscopy revealed a sessile polypoid lesion on the posterior bladder wall, and thus a transurethral biopsy of the mass was performed. The pathologic evaluation confirmed endometriosis of the bladder. She was referred to our hospital for treatment of bladder endometriosis. Partial resection of the bladder was performed by laparoscopic surgery. She was symptom-free 8 months after resection of the bladder endometriosis.Partial resection of the bladder containing all of the bladder endometrial implants during laparoscopic surgery is considered to be an effective method of management for this condition.

An autonomous tractor guidance system for vehicle navigation on sloping ground was developed by extending a previous study in which navigation was limited to a specific gradient. A previously developed neural network vehicle model was trained along the contour lines of 0, 5, 11 and 15° sloping terrain. Using the trained models and a cost function, optimal steering angles for different ranges of deviations were sought by genetic algorithm and the optimal values were arranged in separate matrix-form reference table for each slope. The optimal steering values of the four reference tables were expressed by a third-order polynomial equation so that the equation can provide an optimal steering value for any inclination. The coefficients of the equations were tabulated in a matrix form, which is designated as a ‘general reference table’. If the slope inclination and vehicle attitude can be determined, real-time navigation of the tractor is possible using this table. An autonomous travel test was conducted on inclined surface. It was found that the developed guidance system could precisely navigate the tractor along a rectilinear contour path on 20° sloping terrain, where the mean offset was 0·05 m and its standard deviation was 0·044 m.

To detect mental distress in Japanese nurses who had experienced sexual harassment victims, an original questionnaire including The General Health Questionnaire 30-item version (GHQ-30) was sent to 800 randomly selected nurses. One hundred nurses (mean age = 29.5 years; SD = 3.8; range = 22–37) responded who had experienced sexual harassment. They reported their mental health status on GHQ-30 while they were experiencing severest harassment. Using a GHQ-30 cutoff over 7, 41 (41%) were judged as having mental health problems during their severest harassment. Characteristics of sexual harassment relating to high risk for mental health problems were: content, duration over one month or over, and adversely alteration the victim's workstatus. A large study on Japanese female workers in other professions is urgently required.

Objective: To compare selective salpingography and balloon tuboplasty for the treatment of tubal obstruction. Design: A retrospective evaluation of results of women treated for tubal obstruction by outpatient methods at a single center. Setting: Tertiary-care, university-affiliated hospital. Patient(s): A total of 3,424 infertile women, of whom 418 had bilateral tubal obstruction by hysterosalpingography, treated at Nihon Medical Center from 1982 to 1997. Intervention(s): Women with tubal obstructions who had visual evidence of an intact uterine tubal ostium at hysteroscopy were treated by selective salpingography. If selective salpingography could not establish patency, then transcervical balloon tuboplasty was performed with one of three catheter systems. Patients were followed expectantly for 1 year after treatment. Main Outcome Measure(s): Postoperative tubal patency and overall pregnancy rates (PRs) at 1-year of follow-up. Result(s): The overall patency rate was 67.5%, with 30% of these patients conceiving (20.2% of all subjects). Selective salpingography was associated with a 35.7% patency rate, and 27.3% of these patients conceived. Of the subjects who failed selective salpingography and underwent balloon tuboplasty, 66.2% achieved patency, of whom 33% spontaneously conceived. Balloon tuboplasty was effective in restoring patency in many cases after selective salpingography had failed. Statistically significant differences were found between selective salpingography and balloon tuboplasty and for the different balloon tuboplasty catheters in terms of patency rates, while a trend was seen for PRs. Conclusion(s): Many women diagnosed as having tubal obstruction can be treated by outpatient methods that do not require general anesthesia. Achieving patency by these methods is associated with high PRs and avoids the need for assisted reproductive technologies in some cases. Balloon tuboplasty is a more effective treatment than selective salpingography. The choice of balloon tuboplasty catheter system may affect success rates.

Objective In order to examine whether treatment with a GnRH agonist alone can maintain estrogen levels within the "estrogen window" that inhibits endometriosis without influencing bone-mineral density, we studied the effects of GnRH agonist therapy and changes in bone-mineral density. Methods Buserelin acetate nasal spray was administered 3 times a day for 8 weeks (daily dose, 900 micrograms) to 21 women with endometriosis. The drug was then given twice a day for 16 weeks (daily dose, 600 micrograms). The total duration of treatment was 24 weeks. The bone-mineral density of the lumbar vertebrae was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry before treatment (baseline), at the end of treatment, and 24 weeks after the end of treatment. Results The bone-mineral density of the lumbar vertebrae at the end of treatment was 2.44% +/- 0.46% (mean +/- standard error) lower than the baseline value. The value at 24 weeks after the end of treatment was 1.10% +/- 0.64% lower than the baseline value. More than 80% of the patients had serum-estradiol levels of 45 pg/ml or less. During treatment, more than 90% of the patients had serum-estradiol levels of 60 pg/ml or less. Genital bleeding was inhibited in 90% of the patients. After 8 weeks of treatment, the clinical symptoms improved in 75% of the patients; such improvement persisted for the duration of the treatment. Conclusion Decreasing the dose of GnRH agonist during treatment can minimize the loss of bone-mineral density without lessening the beneficial effects on endometriosis. This technique might be useful in the management of endometriosis.

TachoComb® consists of equine collagen in a sponge-like form coated on one side with human fibrinogen and bovine thrombin. This product functions as a haemostatic and physical barrier to inhibit post-surgical adhesion. In this study, we investigated TachoComb® to control oozing in 16 patients who required haemostasis. Evaluation of post-surgical adhesion by second-look laparoscopy was performed at 3 months and 7 months after initial surgery. Observation via laparotomy during Caesarean section was also performed at 13 months, 3 years and 4 years after initial surgery. In all but one patient, no macroscopic evidence of TachoComb® persistence was found. Furthermore, no de novo adhesions were detected at the TachoComb® application site. We have thus demonstrated that TachoComb® can be used to control oozing haemorrhage effectively from surgical sites and can prevent adhesion formation at the application site, and may thus be an effective method of preventing adhesion-induced infertility.

Following surgery on fallopian tubes, the development of adhesions is a natural consequence of wound healing and may result in infertility. Using a rabbit model, we evaluated the anti-adhesive properties of a sponge-like equine collagen sheet (TachoComb®), which is coated on one side with human fibrinogen and bovine thrombin. TachoComb® is applied by affixing the sheet over the area of perforation or bleeding and acts as a haemostatic agent, capable of sealing perforations to prevent leakage. In our rabbit model, adhesions were induced by mechanical and chemical irritants during laparotomy. After a 1-month recovery period, adhesions were lysed using microsurgical techniques and TachoComb®, or physiological saline applied. Evaluation of adhesion reformation was determined after a minimum of 10 days. TachoComb® significantly reduced the area of adhesion reformation compared with rabbits treated using physiological saline only. Our study demonstrated that TachoComb® is effective not only as a haemostatic agent, but is also capable of reducing adhesion reformation.

Ova are captured by the oviductal fimbria and rapidly transported to the ampullary-isthmic junction of the fallopian tube. Fertilized ova and oviductal fluids are then carried medially in the fallopian tube, while undergoing maturation in preparation for entering the uterine cavity, where nidation and further development take place. This movement of oviductal fluids was visualized in a rabbit model with human chorionic gonadotropin-induced ovulation, by injection of a contrast medium into the ampulla region of the oviduct. In the ampulla, the opaque medium was observed to oscillate at 0 − 85.4 mm/s. This medial transport of the fluid towards the uterus decreased to 0 − 9.6 mm/s in the isthmic portion of the tube. This decrease substantiates previous findings that the transport of material in the isthmic portion of the oviduct is more strongly under the control of ciliary action than under peristaltic activity.

The paper summarizes the data on proliferation and gravity-related gene expression of osteoblasts that were obtained from an experiment conducted under simulated and real microgravity conditions. Simulated microgravity conditions obtained in a clinostat depress proliferation of both osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 and HeLa carcinoma cells. This depression of proliferation occurs in a collagen gel culture in which the flow of culture medium by rotation may be reduced. Interestingly, MC3T3-E1 cells which are probably one of target cells to microgravity are more sensitive than the HeLa cells. Simulated microgravity inhibited the epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced c- fos gene expression in the MC3T3-E1 cells. To examine in detail the effect of real microgravity on the EGF signal transduction cascade in osteoblasts, MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in the Cell Culture Experiment Module of the sounding rocket TR-1A6. The EGF-induced c- fos expression in cells was depressed under short-term microgravity conditions in the sounding rocket, while the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was not affected compared with the controls grown on the ground. These results suggest that an action site of microgravity in the signal transduction pathway may be downstream of MAPK.

Purpose:Our purpose was to elucidate the roles of the ampullar and isthmic portions of the oviduct and the effects of drugs on oviductal contractility.

The minimum dose of human chorionic gonadotrophin needed to induce ovulation was determined in hamsters, in which the luteinizing hormone surge was blocked by administration of phenobarbitone. Doses of 1.0, 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin were injected subcutaneously, and 5.0 IU was found to be the minimum dose needed to induce ovulation in all of a group of seven hamsters. When this minimum dose was used to induce ovulation repeatedly, one, two or three times, in groups of seven hamsters the percentages of abnormal eggs seen were 5.3%, 5.6% and 6.4%, respectively. These results indicate that the marked increases in the proportions of abnormal eggs produced when ovulation is repeatedly induced, which have been observed in previous studies, can be prevented by using the minimum effective dose of human chorionic gonadotrophin.

The physiologic roles of the tubal endothelium and tubal secretions are as yet poorly understood. In this study, we examined the tubal surfactant-like materials (SF-phospholipids) found in the tubal endothelium and lumen in order to elucidate their roles in the maintenance and development of the zygote. Evaluation of tubal infertility based on the presence or absence of SF-phospholipids in human tubal endothelium and tubal secretions was carried out in order to determine the degree to which tubal function was intact. By using fluorescing phosphin E, we found fluorescence in both the endothelium and the tubal secretions throughout the entire length of the tubes. In electron microscopic observations of the tubal endothelium, we were able to identify high electron density, lamellar inclusion bodies, either scattered or clustered in the areas close to the tubal lumen, in both ciliated and secretory endothelial cells. These lamellar granules in the tubal secretions appear to be secreted by a merocrine process and are observed in the secretions as a dispersion. Tubes from the proliferatory phase and the secretory phase were evaluated with the following results. The constituents of the tubal secretions were found to be phospholipids and proteins. The phospholipids were most abundant at or around the time of ovulation. This material caused capacitation of sperm by inducing an acrosomal reaction in the hamster sperm penetration test.

Purpose: Our purpose was to determine the efficacy of Surfacten, a bovine pulmonary surfactant, on the maturation of in vitro bovine ova. Methods: We used Surfacten as a supplement to the coculture media both at the onset of coculture and after cleavage in bovine ova had been determined. The controls received no Surfacten. Results: The maturation rate in bovine embryos to the blastocyst stage statistically improved (P < 0.05) in the series in which Surfacten was added to the media at the onset of coculture, compared with the controls and the series in which Surfacten was added after cleavage had been determined. Conclusions: Surfacten, a commercially available surfactant which is a naturally occurring phospholipid that dramatically increases in the cervical mucus and the ampullaris of the oviduct at or near the time of ovulation, improves the maturation of bovine embryos in vitro by making the coculture medium approach the conditions found in the oviducts.

The proportions of unfertilized eggs in the oviducts, showing abnormal cleavage, were examined in hamsters given single or repeated doses of 30 IU human gonadotrophic hormone for the induction of ovulation. In control animals ( n = 7), 1.7% of the total ovulated eggs were morphologically abnormal unfertilized eggs showing cleavage. The proportions of unfertilized eggs that were abnormal in the groups of seven hamsters treated with one, two or three doses of the gonadotrophin were 20.4%, 19.4%, and 30.4%, respectively. The proportion of unfertilized eggs showing abnormal cleavage thus appeared to increase with repeated administrations of gonadotrophin.

The murine cytokine inducible SH2-containing (Cis) protein gene (Cish) was recently cloned and shown to have a growth inhibitory function. We have isolated cDNAs coding for its human homologue (CISH) and assigned the gene to 3p21.3 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Northern blot analysis showed CISH expression in various epithelial tissues including lung and kidney, in which tumors frequently exhibit 3p21.3 deletions.

It has been suggested that the mechanical interference involved in inserting a tube into the oviduct before ovulation, during tubal insemination, may impair the capacity of the tubal fimbriae to pick up ovulated eggs. When fresh sperm cells are used, the semen has to be injected into the oviduct before ovulation to allow time for sperm capacitation. In the present study in rabbits, sperm cells capacitated by pre-incubation in vitro were injected into the oviducts through the tubal fimbriae after ovulation. Two of the six rabbits inseminated became pregnant and gave birth to one and three offspring, respectively. Injecting capacitated sperm cells after ovulation may avoid the potential problems posed by mechanical damage of the tubal fimbriae.

Non-doped ZnO films and nitrogen-doped ZnO films (ZnO:N films) were grown epitaxially on non-polar single crystal ZnO (110) substrates by using the plasma-assisted reactive evaporation (PARE) method. The value of FWHM of the ω-scan rocking curve of non-doped ZnO (110) films were 26 to 62 arcseconds. Crystallinity of ZnO (110) films deteriorated with increase in N2 gas flow rate, but crystallinity of the films was better than that of ZnO (110) films grown on sapphire (110) substrates by the PARE method. Independently of N2 gas flow rate, AFM images of non-polar ZnO films showed a smooth surface with about 1 nm of root mean square roughness. In near band-edge PL spectra from these non-doped ZnO films measured at 5 K, free-exciton emission (FE) at about 3.378 eV, ionized-donor-bound excitons (D+X) at about 3.368 eV and neutral-donor-bound excitons (D0X) at about 3.362 eV were clearly observed. PL intensity of D+X of non-polar ZnO:N films was decreased but that of donor-acceptor pairs (DAP) emission at around 3.308 eV of the films increased with an increase in N2 gas flow rate. It is thought that N atoms occupied oxygen sites and surface state density were decreased with increase in N2 gas flow rate and that N atoms act as acceptors in ZnO. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The effect of ozone addition to the intake air on combustion in compression ignition engines was examined using a Diesel CFR engine. The experimental results show that ozone addition improves the combustion characteristics. Addition of 500 ppm ozone, for example, increases cetane number by 2 to 4 and lowers the compression ratio of the ignition limit by 1 to 2, depending upon the kind of fuel used and the operating conditions. Regarding exhaust emissions, a small decrease in CO, hydrocarbons, and particulates and a small increase in NO x have been observed with ozone addition under the fixed operation condition.

Object The supraorbital keyhole approach via an eyebrow skin incision provides a method for the minimally invasive clipping of aneurysms located in the circle of Willis, but has disadvantages for aneurysms located in the lateral Sylvian fissure. The pterional keyhole minicraniotomy via an outer canthal skin incision is proposed for the clipping of unruptured aneurysms of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). Methods The procedure consists of a 35-mm outer canthal skin incision, partial temporal muscle dissection restricted in the pterion, a 20-25-mm keyhole minicraniotomy, and a 15-20-mm dural incision to expose the lateral Sylvian fissure. Twenty keyhole clipping procedures were performed in 20 patients with unruptured MCA aneurysms. Results Only one patient showed a temporary mild hemiparesis (reversible ischemic neurological deficit) due to lacunar infarction. No shaving of scalp hair, drain placement, or anticonvulsant drug administration were required. Most patients were discharged on the 2nd or 3rd postoperative day. One patient showed a weakness of the frontalis muscle, but this complication was eliminated by the definition of a safety zone to avoid damage to the frontal branch of the facial nerve. Conclusions The pterional keyhole approach via outer an canthal skin incision is another treatment option for relatively small, unruptured MCA aneurysms.

This paper presents a modified grid array antenna whose radiation elements are loops, which are designed to radiate a circularly polarized wave. The array antenna has a low profile, that is, the distance from the loops to the ground plane, H, is extremely small: H = 3.5 mm (= 0.08 wavelength at 7 GHz). Analysis reveals that a modified grid array composed of nine loops has a 2.3% frequency bandwidth for a 3-dB axial ratio criterion, with a maximum gain of approximately 15 dBi.

We propose a contactless power transmission system using a new meander type coil. Effectiveness for stabilizing the amount of the transmitted power against a load displacement and suppressing electromagnetic noise emission is the features of meander type coils. Maximum power is transmitted when the pitch of the transmitter coil corresponds to the receiver shape. An Active Excitation System was realized using circuit in which the relative position between transmitter and receiver coils are always assured. Furthermore the system result is an optimal distribution of flux. Therefore, the receiver position is cleared and transmitter-pitch is set up optimally.

As the diversification of the electromagnetic (EM) environment is spreading, it is essential to estimate the EM exposure in the mother?s body and her fetus for pregnant women under various situations. This paper presents the development of the numerical model of a 7-month pregnant woman (composed of 56 organs, which includes inherent organs of pregnant woman) based on the high-resolution whole-body voxel model of a Japanese adult woman. Moreover, an EM dosimetry by the mobile radio terminals is performed using the developed model.

A strip-type grid array antenna is analyzed using the finite-difference time-domain method. The space between the grid array and the ground plane, designated as the rear space, is filled with a dielectric layer and an air layer (two-layer rear-space structure). A VSWR bandwidth of approximately 13% is obtained with a maximum directivity of approximately 18 dB. The grid array exhibits a narrow beam with low side lobes. The cross-polarization component is small (?25 dB), as desired.

Objectives To study the efficacy and safety of monthly intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide (IVCYC) therapy for progressive interstitial pneumonia in polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM). Methods Seventeen patients with PM/DM/amyopathic DM (mean age 51.4 +/- 10.4, mean follow-up 32 months) who received IVCYC for progressive interstitial pneumonia between August 1993 and October 2002 were studied. Nine patients had failed to respond to previous treatment with high-dose steroid and/or immunosuppressant. Cyclophosphamide (300-800 mg/m2) was given at least six times every 4 weeks. Oral prednisolone (0.5-1 mg/kg/day) was administered for the first 2 weeks and was gradually tapered. Response to treatment was evaluated based on the degree of exertional dyspnea, pulmonary function test and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Results Eleven of 17 patients showed improvement in their dyspnea; six out of seven patients who had required oxygen treatment before IVCYC no longer did so after IVCYC. Eight of 17 patients had >or=10% improvement of vital capacity (VC)% and 9/17 had >or=10 point reduction in their HRCT score. Twelve patients had exhibited at least one result. Two patients with anti-Jo-1 antibodies showed a flare-up of interstitial pneumonia or myositis. After the IVCYC therapy, mean VC% improved by 15% (from 68 to 83%, P = 0.0034). The extent of abnormal lesions in HRCT was reduced from 24 to 13% (P = 0.0055). There was neither death nor severe toxicities observed. Conclusions In this open-label study, IVCYC improved symptoms, pulmonary function tests and HRCT findings in patients with PM/DM. Longitudinal controlled studies are required to further confirm the efficacy of IVCYC.

Purpose: To describe the efficacy and safety of managing ectopic pregnancies (EP) with ultrasound-guided local injections of absolute ethanol (AE). Methods: 69 cases of EP following IVF performed in our clinic were treated with a local injection of 0.3 ml AE with a 23-gauge needle under transvaginal ultrasonic guidance. The efficacy was evaluated comparing serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels before and after the injection. Results: In the 60 successful cases (87%), the serum β-hCG level decreased by 10–30% in two hours postinjection. Of these, 46 were effective with a single injection and the half-life of β-hCG was achieved within 4 days in 45 cases. In 56 cases (including repetitive administration) serum β-hCG levels decreased to 20 mIU/mL within 20 days. The treatment showed no side effects and could be given on an outpatient basis without anesthesia. Conclusions: This method was shown to be a safe, effective new approach to treating EP.

In this paper, we suggest an evaluation method for a voice recognition system modeled with discrete Markov chain. Our evaluations are mainly dependent on two characteristics of a system: 1) correctness of recognition for input data and 2) number of utterances. The main frame of the voice recognition system is composed of: 1) a voice input unit, 2) a voice recognition unit and 3) an output unit. Generally, a voice recognition system has its own list of words to recognize a word correctly. It means that the words which the system can recognize are restricted. A simple system can be expressed as a state transition diagram. Then we can make a transition probability matrix and calculate the state probability for each state. This means that we can evaluate the system numerically. Moreover we extend the simple model to the more general one and get numerical results to evaluate the two characteristics for the system.

We retrospectively reviewed treatment and clinical outcome of thymic epithelial tumors of 64 patients over a 20-year period. Clinical staging of the tumor was done by according to Masaoka classification. Histological diagnosis of the tumors was done by according to the second edition of the WHO histologic classification system for thymic epithelial tumors. Survival rate was calculated after Kaplan-Meire method.Median age of patients was 53.7 years (ranged from 16 to 81). There were 30 men and 34 women. Eighteen patients had auto-immuno diseases. Sixty-two patients underwent surgery. In 57 patients resection was complete (extended thymo-thymectomy), but in the other five incomplete. The operative approach was median sternotomy in 51 patients and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery in 6. Stage II to IV patients had postoperative mediastinal irradiation. Stage III to IV patients had postoperative cisplatin (CDDP) based chemotherapy. Inoperable patients were treated by chemo-radiotherapy. There were 42 stage I, 7 stage II, 11 stage III, 3 stage IV a, 1 stage IV b. The 5-year/10-year survival rates were 93%/89%, 71%/71%, 68.5%/--in patients with stage I, II and III. There were 5 type A tumors, 8 type AB tumors, 11 type B1 tumors, 11 type B2 tumors, 9 type B3 tumors, 11 type C tumors, the respect 5-year survival rates were 100%, 100%, 87.5%, 60%, 85.7% and 90%. Masaoka stage II to IV patients classified in B2, B3 and C type except one case.Histologic type B2, B3 and C tumors may reflect the invasive nature. Masaoka staging system and the WHO histologic classification may help the assessment and treatment of patients with thymic epithelial tumor.