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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES:Osteopontin (OPN) is one of the most important components in calcium stone matrix. However, the mechanism by which OPN glycosylation affects stone formation processes is...

A Ni–Cr–Si–B alloy coating was produced on a type 304 stainless steel plate by laser cladding. A diode laser with a flat-top beam profile was used in this experiment. The effects of focused laser spot overlap on surface roughness (Ra) and Vickers hardness were investigated. Ra and the Vickers hardness of the cladding layers decreased as the overlap ratio increased. Cladding layers that maintained a hardness comparable to that of the source powder material were produced at overlap ratios of

This paper describes a method to estimate the measure of human energy expenditure referred to as metabolic equivalents (METs). The measure is defined by an index of the amount of energy a person expends through normal daily activities. The average MET values are defined by the type of activity; for example, brisk walking corresponds to 4 METs. The index lists 107 activities and the corresponding MET values. However, to determine the energy consumed in a day, each type of activity and its duration must be noted, which is inconvenient and time consuming. Here, we consider a quantitative method to estimate the METs from the acceleration of waist motion in our activities. We consider a simple physical model of a moving human body, define the power output for an activity, and then relate the maximum oxygen intake rate per minute, which is proportional to the energy expenditure per minute with the power output. Based on these factors, we developed an automatic MET estimator using a 3-D accelerometer. The system was examined during various selected activities, and the validity of the MET estimation method was tested in activities, excluding very intense activities. The exercise intensity for walking at various speeds was estimated with an average error of -0.6 METs.

OBJETIVO: Verificar a concordância inter e intraexaminador, validade construtiva e consistência interna da versão brasileira do instrumento Nottingham Sensory Assessment para hemiparéticos após acidente vascular encefálico (AVE). MÉTODOS: O instrumento foi traduzido para língua portuguesa com base na sua versão original em Inglês por um tradutor bilíngue e, posteriormente, revertido para a língua inglesa. Vinte e um hemiparéticos foram avaliados por dois examinadores pela Avaliação Sensorial de Nottingham para pacientes pós-AVE (ASN) e pelo Protocolo de Desempenho Físico de Fugl-Meyer (FM). RESULTADOS: Foi encontrada correlação entre os instrumentos FM e ASN (0,752); excelente consistência interna da ASN (0,86); excelentes coeficientes de concordância interexaminador e intraexaminador para todos os itens da ASN, exceto temperatura e efeito teto significativo para ASN e FM. CONCLUSÃO: A versão brasileira da Nottingham Sensory Assessment cumpriu os critérios de concordância, consistência interna e validade concorrente, sendo um instrumento de rápida e fácil aplicação, podendo ser utilizada nos ambulatórios de neuroreabilitação para avaliar a função sensorial pós-AVE. O efeito teto significativo da ASN não limita seu uso, tendo em vista que, para os mesmos pacientes, o Protocolo de Fugl-Meyer também revelou efeito teto.OBJECTIVES: To investigate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability, construct validity and internal consistency of the Brazilian version of the Nottingham Sensory Assessment for Stroke Patients (NSA). METHODS: The instrument was translated into Portuguese from its original in English by a bilingual translator and was then back-translated into English. Twenty-one hemiparetics were evaluated by two examiners using the NSA and the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of physical performance. RESULTS: Significant correlation were found between the FMA and the NSA (r=0.752). The NSA showed excellent internal consistency (0.86), and there were acceptable inter- and intra-rater reliability for all items of the NSA, except temperature. Significant ceiling effects were found for the NSA and the FMA. CONCLUSIONS: The Brazilian version of the NSA met the criteria for agreement, internal consistency and concurrent validity. It was quick and easy to apply, and it could be used within clinical practice in neuro-rehabilitation outpatient clinics to assess sensory functions following stroke. The significant ceiling effect for the NSA did not limit its use, given that for the same patients, the FMA also showed ceiling effects.

SWIRM is a conserved domain found in several chromatin-associated proteins. Based on their sequences, the SWIRM family members can be classified into three subfamilies, which are represented by Swi3, LSD1, and Ada2. Here we report the SWIRM structure of human MYb-like, Swirm and Mpn domain-containing protein-1 (MYSM1). The MYSM1 SWIRM structure forms a compact HTH-related fold comprising five α-helices, which best resembles the Swi3 SWIRM structure, among the known SWIRM structures. The MYSM1 and Swi3 SWIRM structures are more similar to the LSD1 structure than the Ada2α structure. The SWIRM domains of MYSM1 and LSD1 lacked DNA binding activity, while those of Ada2α and the human Swi3 counterpart, SMARCC2, bound DNA. The dissimilarity in the DNA-binding ability of the MYSM1 and SMARCC2 SWIRM domains might be due to a couple of amino acid differences in the last helix. These results indicate that the SWIRM family has indeed diverged into three structural subfamilies (Swi3/MYSM1, LSD1, and Ada2 types), and that the Swi3/MYSM1-type subfamily has further diverged into two functionally distinct groups. We also solved the structure of the SANT domain of MYSM1, and demonstrated that it bound DNA with a similar mode to that of the c -Myb DNA-binding domain.

To determine the reversibility of hematological and pathological changes in spleen induced by sub-chronic administration of chlorpropham (CIPC), male F344 rats were given CIPC in the diet at 0, 600, 3000 or 15,000 ppm for 13 weeks (administration period) and then were given standard (0 ppm) diet for 10 weeks (recovery period). At 0, 1, 2, 4 or 10 weeks in the recovery period, 5 rats in each groups were examined for hematology and pathology. At the end of CIPC administration, dose-dependent and significant methemoglobinemia, anemia, splenomegaly and pathological lesions indicating hemolytic anemia were observed in all the treated groups. The hematological changes, congestion of red pulp, lymphoid atrophy, increased extramedullary hematopoiesis in spleen and hematopoietic cell hyperplasia in bone marrow were diminished during the 10 weeks recovery period. However, increased hemosiderin deposition and capsular fibrosis in spleen of the treated groups remained at the end of recovery period. The results indicated that hematological changes induced by sub-chronic administration of CIPC were reversible but hemosiderin deposition and fibrosis in spleen were not reversible in the recovery period examined, suggesting the significance of splenic lesion in CIPC-toxicity.

We describe a 40-Gbit/s-class clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit with an extremely wide pull-in range. A Darlington-type voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is newly designed to cover the STM-256/OC-768 full-rate-clock frequencies with a wide frequency margin. We also describe a new lock detector using an exclusive-NOR gate. The CDR IC was fabricated using InP/InGaAs HBTs. Error-free operation and wide eye opening were confirmed for 40-, 43-, and 45-Gbit/s PRBS with a word length of 2/sup 31/ - 1. We attached a frequency search and phase control (FSPC) circuit to the chip as a new frequency acquisition aid, and this allows the CDR circuit to pull in throughout a 39-45-Gbit/s range. The peak-to-peak and rms jitter of the recovered clock were 3.6 and 0.48 ps, respectively.

Thanks to rapid progress in microelectronics technology, a new, nomadic lifestyle has become widespread these days. People, regardless of location, enjoy greater connectivity through communication networks and intelligent electronic terminals. This nomadic lifestyle will become even more common as technology frees people from the constraints of time and location. The cool chip, characterized by high performance and low power consumption, will play a key role in inaugurating the Nomadic Age. Rather than describe its technical details, we take a broader, more historic view of the cool chip's impact. More than a necessary innovation, cool chips' increased portability and reduced power consumption will play a key role in building a better future society.

Male and female ICR mice were given 0, 1875, 7500 or 30,000 ppm of chlorpropham (CIPC) in the diet for 13 weeks. Methemoglobin levels of male and female mice in the 7500 and 30,000 ppm groups were significantly elevated. Hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and white blood cell count of male and female mice in the 30,000 ppm group were significantly increased. Dose-dependent splenomegaly was observed in male and female mice in the 7500 and 30,000 ppm group. Congestion, increased hemosiderin deposition and increased extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen, hematopoietic cell hyperplasia and hemosiderin deposition in bone marrow was observed dose dependently in male and female mice in the 7500 or 30,000 ppm group. Eosinophilic granular cytoplasm of hepatocytes, sinusoidal dilatation, hemosiderin deposition, extramedullary hematopoiesis and necrosis of hepatocytes were observed in the liver of male and female mice in the 30,000 ppm group. Hemosiderin deposition was increased in the kidney of male and female mice in the 30,000 ppm group. Administration of CIPC in diet for 13 weeks caused methemoglobinemia and splenomegaly in ICR mice.

This paper presents 40-Gbit/s time division multiplexing (TDM) transmission technologies based on 0.1-/spl mu/m-gate-length InP high electron mobility transistor IC's and a scheme for upgrading toward a terabit-per-second capacity system. A 40-Gbit/s, 300-km, in-line transmission experiment and a dispersion-tolerant 40-Gbit/s duobinary transmission experiment are described as 40-Gbit/s single carrier system applications on dispersion-shifted fiber. An ultra-high-speed receiver configuration using a high-output-power photodiode is introduced to realize fully electrical receiver operation beyond 40 Gbit/s. The high-sensitivity operation of the optical receiver (-27.6 dBm@BER=10/sup -9/) is demonstrated at a data bit rate of 50 Gbit/s for the first time using a unitraveling carrier photodiode. A dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system operating up to terabits per second can be easily realized on a zero-dispersion flattened transmission line using ultra-high speed TDM channels of 40 Gbit/s and beyond. An experiment demonstrates 1.04-Tbit/s DWDM transmission based on 40-Gbit/s TDM channels with high optical spectrum density (0.4 bit/s/Hz) without dispersion compensation.

This paper describes an analysis of bit error rate (BER) degradation due to a dip in the frequency response of an equalizing amplifier. An equivalent circuit simulation clarifies the BER degradation factors: (1) the output amplitude decrease of a specific binary sequence that has a repetition frequency equal to the dip frequency and (2) the oscillation in output voltage after rise and fall of signal level. A simple model shows that the center frequency and bandwidth of the dip as well as the depth of the dip strongly affect BER. A circuit simulation and experiment show that a dip at around one tenth the data rate causes the worst BER. The dip tolerance of a dc-suppressed transmission code is also discussed.

This paper describes a novel dynamic flip-flop (FF) circuit that can operate 30% faster than conventional clocked inverter-type FFs. A new wideband clock buffer is introduced to cover the FF operation range. An 8- to 24-Gb/s decision circuit and a 9- to 26-GHz 1/2 frequency divider were developed utilizing production-level 0.2-/spl mu/m GaAs MESFET technology.

We fabricated monolithically integrated pin/HBT photoreceivers using FPIGA (full-potential InGaAs) DHBT's with various collector thicknesses. An HBT figure-of-merit was deduced from the relationship between measured bandwidths of the preamplifiers and the f/sub T/'s and f/sub max/'s of the DHBT's. A phenomenological device model of the DHBT's is proposed to find the optimum collector thickness that gives the highest bandwidth of the photoreceivers. Finally, we discuss the feasibility of monolithically integrating a pin-PD, preamplifier, buffer amplifier, and D-type flip-flop with an operating speed of 40 Gbit/s.

A periodic fall of platelet number characterizes an acquired pathological condition named cyclic thrombocytopenia. We describe an unusual case of polycythemia vera in which the episodes of thrombocytopenia were followed regularly by thrombocytosis. The period of platelet count fluctuation was about 50 days, with the counts ranging from 34 to 820 x 10(9)/l. Bone marrow megakaryocytes were decreased in number during platelet nadir. Circulating thrombopoietin levels fluctuated out of phase with the platelet count. We suggest that at least some cases of polycythemia vera may have an unstable hematopoietic stem cell pool in nature, which could contribute to the development of unprovoked cyclic thrombocytopenia.

We propose an optical quaternary minimum shift keying technology with direct modulation for the first time. Error-free operation is obtained by using a digital coherent demodulator employing 1-bit delay detection and an adaptive FIR filter.

Complexes of the type (n-CnH2n+1NH3)2SnX6 (0≤n≤ 4 and X=Cl or Br) have been investigated with a variety of physico-chemical techniques. The structural phase transitions were found in some of these complexes. The temperature dependence of the Mossbauer spectral absorption area for (C2H5NH3)2SnCl6 and (C2H5NH3)2SnBr6 changed sharply at phase transition temperatures. The temperature dependences for (n-C4H9NH3)2SnCl6 and (n-C4H9NH3)2SnBr6 decreased gradually with an increase in temperature. The correlation between the temperature dependence of the spectral absorption area and the motion of n-CnH2n+1NH3+ ions is discussed.

We demonstrate, for the first time, the characteristics of an InP/InGaAs HBT-compatible pin-PD and a monolithically integrated pin/HBT photoreceiver. The pin-PD can produce a short pulse with an FWHM of 80.8 ps followed by an elongated tail, when illuminated by optical pulses with an FWHM of 40 ps and a wavelength of 1.3 /spl mu/m. The fall time of the output is determined by the transit time of holes generated in the n/sup +/-InGaAs layer. The monolithically integrated photoreceiver, consisting of the pin-PD and a transimpedance preamplifier, can operate at 2.5 Gb/s with a sensitivity of -9.8 dBm. This performance was mainly limited by the characteristics of the pin-PD. >

Chronic Toxicity Studies of Piperonyl Butoxide in F344 Rats: Induction of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Takahashi, O., Oishi, S., Fujitani, T., Tanaka, T., and Yoneyama, M. (1994). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 22, 293-303. Male and female F344 rats (30-33 rats/group) were administered piperonyl butoxide (α-[2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]-4,5-methylenedioxy-2-propyltoluene) in the diet at levels of 0 (control), 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4% for nearly 2 years. Beginning at about 40 weeks, 10 rats in the 1.2% treated male group died due to cecal hemorrhages. Piperonyl butoxide induced hepatocellular carcinoma in both sexes in a dose-dependent manner. Hepatocellular carcinoma was found even in the 1.2% treated male group (incidence, 26.7%), and incidences in the 2.4% groups of males and females were 80.0 and 57.7% respectively of all those surviving. Piperonyl butoxide also caused essential thrombocythemia with a dose-response relationship. Hemorrhages in stomach and cecum, anemia, degenerative lesions of alveoli, and nephrotoxicity were also observed related to exposure. These results indicate that piperonyl butoxide is a hepatocarcinogen to the rat.

家族性大腸ポリポーシスにて,全結腸切除・直腸粘膜釖除・回腸肛門吻合術を施行後,下痢,便通異常を訴える28歳女性に対し,難消化性糖質ラクトスクロース(Lactosucrose: LS)を経口投与した.その結果,LS投与により糞便水分は92%から86%とやや低下し,糞便pHも低下した.LS投与前では大量のコノハク酸が検出されたが,LS投与によりコハク酸は検出限界以下に消失し,著量の乳酸が検出された.腸内細菌叢は,LS投与前はBacteroidaceae優勢であったが,LS投与後bifidobacterium, streptococcus, peptococcaceaeの顕著な増加が観察された.大腸切除後,下痢など便通異常を来たしている症例に対し,bifidobacteriumに選択的に利用される難消化性糖質LSの経口投与は,異常な腸内環境を改善することが明かとなり,臨床応用が期待される.

A novel sample and hold (S/H) system that uses an optical intensity modulator as a sampling head is proposed. Experiments as well as the theoretical studies are carried out to evaluate the system performance. At least a 1-GHz bandwidth and up to a 250-Msps operation of the S/H is verified experimentally. The potential of this new system for broadband and high-speed operation is discussed in comparison with conventional diode-bridge-type S/H circuitry. >

By combining ultrasonic imaging with neural networks, the authors have developed a 3-D object recognition system for use in robotic vision. Ultrasonic imaging is used to calculate the initial 3-D images of the objects. These images are then passed to neural networks that identify object categories, estimate object locations, and improve 3-D images. The authors explain the 3-D ultrasonic imaging method, propose three neural network structures for 3-D image analysis, and demonstrate the practicability of the system through experimental results, which show that quick and accurate recognition can be achieved using only a small set of transducers. >

A nonlinear emphasis system using time-axis reversal processing is discussed. The advantages of this system for improving the signal-to-noise ratio without causing deterioration of image quality over the conventional CR-type nonlinear emphasis are experimentally confirmed by application of this system to a VCR using an analog recording system. >

To investigate the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability, construct validity and internal consistency of the Brazilian version of the Nottingham Sensory Assessment for Stroke Patients (NSA).The instrument was translated into Portuguese from its original in English by a bilingual translator and was then back-translated into English. Twenty-one hemiparetics were evaluated by two examiners using the NSA and the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) of physical performance.Significant correlation were found between the FMA and the NSA (r=0.752). The NSA showed excellent internal consistency (0.86), and there were acceptable inter- and intra-rater reliability for all items of the NSA, except temperature. Significant ceiling effects were found for the NSA and the FMA.The Brazilian version of the NSA met the criteria for agreement, internal consistency and concurrent validity. It was quick and easy to apply, and it could be used within clinical practice in neuro-rehabilitation outpatient clinics to assess sensory functions following stroke. The significant ceiling effect for the NSA did not limit its use, given that for the same patients, the FMA also showed ceiling effects.

Thiabendazole [2-(4′-thiazolyl)benzimidazole; TBZ], a teratogen in ICR mice, is known to be mainly metabolized to 5-hydroxy-TBZ (5-OH-TBZ) and its conjugates in domestic and laboratory animals. Besides the known metabolites of TBZ, 4-hydroxy-TBZ and 2-acetylbenzimidazole (ABI) were identified as new metabolites of TBZ in the urine of F344 rats and ICR mice. 5-OH-TBZ and ABI, as well as TBZ, were found in the embryos of ICR mice given TBZ orally on day 10 of gestation. In the whole-embryo culture system, 5-OH-TBZ and ABI in the medium, and TBZ, 5-OH-TBZ and ABI in the embryo were detected after 24 hr of culture in 25 or 50 mug TBZ/ml. However, the amount of metabolites in the embryo in vitro was very small compared with that detected in vivo , whereas the amount of TBZ was comparable. Furthermore, the mouse embryo homogenate, at organogenesis, metabolized TBZ to 5-OH-TBZ or ABI. The specific activity required by this homogenate to form 5-OH-TBZ or ABI was less than 1 1000 of that of the liver microsomal fraction. The results suggested that mouse embryos at organogenesis could metabolize TBZ, although most of the metabolites in the embryo in vivo came from the dam.

難消化性糖質であるラクトスクロース(Lactosucrose; LS-98)を健常成人および大腸疾患術後患者に投与し,光岡の方法に準じて腸内細菌叢の変化を検討した.その結果,ラクトスクロースは健常成人に対してビフィズス菌増殖因子として作用し,また大腸疾患術後患者に対しては,ビフィズス菌パランスが低下している腸内環境を早期に改善する傾向が明らかとなった.難消化性糖質であるラクトスクロース投与は,術後の腸内環境を改善し,手術侵襲からの早期回復をはかることが示唆された.

We propose a method for improving the highly-degraded images obtained by ultrasonic imaging system. To reconstruct 3-dimensional images from highly-degraded acoustic images, strongly typed genetic programming including constructive solid geometry which is an expression method of 3-dimensional object is used as post processor. In the tree structure of genetic programming, the temporally node is established in order to enable the individual change of type and position information of the primitive. By the experimental results, it is possible to specify type and position of the primitive from the 2-dimensional ultrasonic wave image

In order to construct a robot eye using ultrasonic waves in air, a system that combines existing acoustical holography with neural networks is devised. In this system, neural networks are used to reduce the vagueness of reconstruction from the acoustical holography. The system is able to identify objects and to reconstruct the acoustical images of objects using an array of only a small number of receivers. Some experimental results on identification and reconstruction using several kinds of metal plate objects are reported. >

The recognition of viral nucleic acids with pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) is the first step in inducing the innate immune system. Type I interferons (IFNs), central mediators in antiviral innate immunity, along with other cytokines and chemokines, disrupt virus replication. Recent studies indicated at least two distinct pathways for the induction of type I IFN by viral infection. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are extracellular or endosomal PRRs for microbial pathogens, whereas retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I) and melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) are novel intracellular PRRs for the viral dsRNA. In this review, we describe the distinct mechanisms inducing type I IFNs through TLRs and RIG-I/MDA5 pathways.

The voice sound quality spoken by the esophageal speech is usually very low grade. Due to using the esophagus instead of the glottis in the case of the esophageal speech, the voice sound quality of the vowels is generally much inferior than that of consonants. In order to improve the voice sound quality spoken by the esophageal speech, it is important to improve the voice sound quality of the vowels. This paper describes the method to extract the vowels in the continuous speech signal spoken by the esophageal speech.

A simplified pin-PD/decision circuit (PD-DEC) has been monolithically integrated with double-heterojunction bipolar transistors. A 13-Gb/s operation is successfully achieved. The PD-DEC has a sensitivity of -9.9 dBm for a data rate of 10 Gb/s at a bit-error rate of 1/spl times/10/sup -9/. These are the highest operating speed and sensitivity ever achieved by a monolithically integrated pin-PD/decision circuit for a 1.55 /spl mu/m wavelength.

GCN2 is the alpha-subunit of the only translation initiation factor (eIF2alpha) kinase that appears in all eukaryotes. Its function requires an interaction with GCN1 via the domain at its N-terminus, which is termed the RWD domain after three major RWD-containing proteins: RING finger-containing proteins, WD-repeat-containing proteins, and yeast DEAD (DEXD)-like helicases. In this study, we determined the solution structure of the mouse GCN2 RWD domain using NMR spectroscopy. The structure forms an alpha + beta sandwich fold consisting of two layers: a four-stranded antiparallel beta-sheet, and three side-by-side alpha-helices, with an alphabetabetabetabetaalphaalpha topology. A characteristic YPXXXP motif, which always occurs in RWD domains, forms a stable loop including three consecutive beta-turns that overlap with each other by two residues (triple beta-turn). As putative binding sites with GCN1, a structure-based alignment allowed the identification of several surface residues in alpha-helix 3 that are characteristic of the GCN2 RWD domains. Despite the apparent absence of sequence similarity, the RWD structure significantly resembles that of ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s), with most of the structural differences in the region connecting beta-strand 4 and alpha-helix 3. The structural architecture, including the triple beta-turn, is fundamentally common among various RWD domains and E2s, but most of the surface residues on the structure vary. Thus, it appears that the RWD domain is a novel structural domain for protein-binding that plays specific roles in individual RWD-containing proteins.

This work is concerned with the improvement method for the very degraded image obtained by the ultrasonic imaging system. In order to reconstruct 3-dimensional images from very degraded acoustic image, an auto-correlative Boltzmann Machines reformed on the visible layer is used as a post processor. The height information of the 3-dimensional image obtained from the ultrasonic imaging system consists of 12 levels. To input this type of 3-dimensional images into the Boltzmann Machines, the visible layer was reformed. The visible layer was divided into 4 divisions so that each division corresponds to input/output layer for the information of different height of 4 levels. The original 3-dimensional image consists of 16/spl times/16/spl times/12 pixels, but it is deformed to 16/spl times/16/spl times/4 pixels after the post processing by the Boltzmann Machines, because of reduction of network structure. As the result of the experiments, good recall rate of correct reconstruction can be obtained compared with that of Hopfield neural networks.

The stock markets are well known for wide variations in prices over short and long terms. These fluctuations are due to a large number of deals produced by agents and act independently from each other. However, even in the middle of the apparently chaotic world, there are opportunities for making good predictions. In this paper the Nikkei stock prices over 1500 days from July to Oct. 2002 are analyzed and predicted using a Hurst exponent (H), a fractal dimension (D), and an autocorrelation coefficient (C). They are H=0.6699 D=2-H=1.3301 and C=0.26558 over three days. This obtained knowledge is embedded into the structure of our developed time delayed neural network. It is confirmed that the obtained prediction accuracy is much higher than that by a back propagation-type forward neural network for the short-term. Although this predictor works for the short term, it is embedded into our developed fuzzy neural network to construct multi-blended local nonlinear models. It is applied to general long term prediction whose more accurate prediction is expected than that by the method proposed.

We have been developing a hybrid fitness assignment strategy to realize a natural interaction in IGA. The strategy allows a user to select some individuals and evaluate a grade that shows how the selected individual resembles a target image. In this paper, we will show a method to compose fitness when a user selects two individuals in the hybrid fitness assignment strategy. It is known that better performance is obtained when two individuals are selected in the generations limited with a condition. The condition is equivalent to the actual situation in which it is difficult for a user to select only one individual. The hybrid strategy is useful to realize a more natural interaction in the actual situation.

This paper presents a 40-Gbit/s time-division multiplexing (TDM) system prototype based on InP HEMT digital IC technologies. High-output power photodiode directly drives the digital IC and achieves high-receiver sensitivity. Four-channel 40-Gbit/s wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) transmission is successfully performed.

To construct an ultrasonic robot eye, a new system which combines acoustical imaging with a neural network was developed. In this system, by measuring sound pressures of scattered waves by a receiver array, 3-D object categories are identified, their locations estimated, and their images improved. The structure of the system is described, and some experimental results are reported. >

A parallel inference machine (PIM) prototype modelled on loosely coupled clusters was simulated on a hardware simulator. Performance of the PIM prototype is limited by suspension/resumption overhead in the fine granularity region and by low utilization, due to load distribution imbalance, in the coarse granularity region. It is shown that the load dispatch strategy in which loads are dispatched to the cluster with minimum loads at an AND-fork time is effective on the loosely-coupled cluster level, resulting in 20% higher performance than in the random dispatch strategy, and that the load status modification delay should be less than half of the reduction time to limit the degradation to within 5%. >