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In this study, the authors comprehensively evaluated the traveling performance of a flexible pipe inspection robot (PI-RO) that can actively output both propulsion and traction forces. Household pipes must be frequently inspected for cracks and corrosion to ensure continuous provision of water and gas. As these pipes are essential for our everyday life, it is difficult to suspend their usage for long periods; hence, inspection should be conducted for short durations. In addition, inspecting entire pipelines using existing methods is challenging because the pipes are constructed over long distances and have complex structures. Therefore, we developed a flexible robot that can actively output propulsion and traction forces to inspect long-distance complex pipelines, such as household pipelines. Herein, we describe the flexible structural design of a PI-RO that inspects thin one-inch pipes (inner diameter of approximately 28 mm) typically present in household piping. We also evaluated the characteristics of each PI-RO unit. Finally, we confirmed that the PI-RO is not significantly affected by the traveling environment, such as long distances and complex small-diameter pipes, by conducting traveling experiments on small pipes (inner diameter 28 mm) and long-distance (up to approximately 11.7 m) complex pipes composed of horizontal, vertical, and 90° bend pipes.

The cleaning of residential ventilation ducts is necessary to prevent damage to health. However, since residential ventilation ducts are usually thin and curved, cleaning them is difficult. It is also difficult to obtain thrust within the duct using a wheel or a snake type robot because it is hard to obtain an appropriate reaction force in a deformed pipe. Therefore, the pipe must be gripped stably even if it is flexible so that thrust can be generated to run the cleaning robot through the pipe. In this paper, we modeled a cleaning robot that uses peristaltic motion running through a flexible duct with an inner diameter of 50 mm. Then, the validity of the model was verified by experiment. Finally, a cleaning experiment was conducted and the cleaning rate was 98.7 %.

If pipes with narrow diameters are not well inspected, preventing accidents become difficult. Therefore, we developed a pneumatically powered earthworm-type robot for Half-inch pipes (each having an inner diameter of approximately 16 mm); these pipes are extremely difficult to inspect. When the robot travels for a long distance, its speed significantly decreases. When the movement distance of one cycle is small and the inter-operation period is short, the influence of the response delay of the pneumatic actuator increases and the speed decreases. Therefore, we developed a robot whose response delay is less likely to influence the driving speed and that has a large amount of movement per cycle. To create the proposed robot, we developed an extension unit and a grip unit as pneumatic actuators and experimented on pneumatic response characteristics. Also, the driving speed was measured using running tests. This confirmed that the robot's speed increased, and the speed decay owing to the long air tube decreased. The proposed robot will help reduce accidents arising from the corrosion of pipelines.

In recent years, ventilation equipment has been installed in various structures to draw in outdoor air and circulate indoor air. These ventilation installations have pipes (ducts) through which air flows. If dust accumulates in a duct, it will be carried indoors by the airflow. Dust adversely affects human health, and so these ducts must be cleaned regularly. However, the existing cleaning methods are inadequate for the Ducts having small diameter and many curved points, that are used in houses. Thus, to clean such ducts, we have developed a robot that moves imitating peristaltic crawling. This motion is suitable for moving in ducts because it is stable in curved and narrow pipes. In addition, the robot can move and clean the duct at the same time because it moves forward by holding the pipe walls. In this paper, we outline the development of such a robot. From the results of using the robot to clean the inside of duct, we find a cleaning performance of it.

The reported effects of Bionator treatment in patients with mandibular retrognathism are conflicting. This study evaluated the changes in craniofacial morphology resulting from treatment with a Bionator, based on measurement percentiles previously reported, to clarify the mechanism of the effect of this commonly used functional device.Study Design: Retrospective.A private orthodontic clinic.Forty-two children (mean age, 10.13 years) requiring treatment with a Bionator for Class II malocclusion (mandibular retrognathism). Children were randomly assigned to a Bionator group with or without an expansion screw. Measurements on lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken before and upon completion of Bionator treatment. All parameters measured were characterised according to the measurement percentiles previously reported. Each parameter was compared before and after treatment for all patients and for each treatment group using Wilcoxon's test.No significant differences in cranial length or mandibular body length were seen in any of the 3 groups, but anterior cranial base length and maxillary length were significantly decreased while mandibular ramus height and mandibular length were significantly increased after treatment in the Bionator with expansion screw group and in the all-patient group.The findings suggest that treatment with a Bionator with expansion screw during the growth and development stage results in increased mandible length and ramus height and inhibits the growth of the maxilla and anterior cranial base bone.

The magnetic properties of Fe nanoparticle-based bulk material, which was fabricated with a through post-annealing process under vacuum conditions, were investigated to develop a new Fe-based soft magnetic material. Fe nanoparticles (NPs) retained uniform-size and narrow-size distributions at a post annealing temperature (Ta) of 473K. Their assembly was self organized, which is referred to as nano size periodicity. Soft magnetic properties were obtained at 1.7±0.2 Oe of coercivity at room temperature, and 179 emu/gnet of saturation magnetization was obtained at 5K by using Ta=473 K . Above Ta= 573 K, saturation magnetization decreased and coercivity was increased. High temperature post-annealing above 523 K caused NP growth and the transformation α-Fe to Fe3C, which originated from carbon impurities in the surfactant. Thus, the low-temperature post-annealing process plays an important role in achieving high performance soft magnetic properties using Fe NP-based bulk material by desorbing of surfactants without the formation of iron carbide.

While the use of oral beta (2)-agonists by athletes is prohibited because of their anabolic effects, some inhaled beta (2)-agonists can be used in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency regulations. We examined the dose disparity between the bronchodilating effect and anabolic effect of inhaled procaterol, a selective beta (2)-agonist, to determine if the drug might be effective for athletes with asthma. Intact rats were given nebulized procaterol at 0.001, 0.01, 0.1 and 1 mg/mL by inhalation, and its inhibitory effect on carbachol-induced bronchoconstriction was evaluated. Castrated rats were given nebulized procaterol at 0.03, 0.1, 0.3 and 1 mg/mL by inhalation 3 times a day for 14 days, and anabolic markers (body weight gain, weight of the levator ani muscle and gastrocnemius muscle) were measured. At 0.01 mg/mL and higher, procaterol dose-dependently inhibited carbachol-induced bronchoconstriction with a significant effect. At doses of up to 0.3 mg/mL, there were no signs indicating an anabolic effect of procaterol. At 1 mg/mL, however, a slight but statistically significant increase in the weight of the levator ani muscle was observed with no significant changes in other anabolic markers. It was suggested that inhaled procaterol might be useful for athletes with asthma because of the big dose disparity between its bronchodilating effect and anabolic effect in rats.

We have developed a pulsed Yb:YAG thin disk green laser for pumping a 100 kHz and 10 W femtosecond laser. We optimized numerically and experimentally the open duration of the acousto-optic (AO) Q-switcher and the internal SHG method, generating stable output energy at a 100 kHz repetition rate. We demonstrated a 515 nm output power of over 80 W with a pulse-to-pulse stability of less than 1% RMS with an LD power to green power conversion efficiency of 24%. With the developed green laser, we obtained 16 W of a Ti:sapphire laser in a cavity dumped mode.

To identify predictive factors for the development of pericardial effusion (PCE) in patients with oesophageal cancer treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT).From March 2006 to November 2012, patients with oesophageal cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) using the following criteria were evaluated: radiation dose50 Gy; heart included in the radiation field; dose-volume histogram (DVH) data available for analysis; no previous thoracic surgery; and no PCE before treatment. The diagnosis of PCE was independently determined by two radiologists. Clinical factors, the percentage of heart volume receiving5-60 Gy in increments of 5 Gy (V5-60, respectively), maximum heart dose and mean heart dose were analysed.A total of 143 patients with oesophageal cancer were reviewed retrospectively. The median follow-up by CT was 15 months (range, 2.1-72.6 months) after RT. PCE developed in 55 patients (38.5%) after RT, and the median time to develop PCE was 3.5 months (range, 0.2-9.9 months). On univariate analysis, DVH parameters except for V60 were significantly associated with the development of PCE (p 0.001). No clinical factor was significantly related to the development of PCE. Recursive partitioning analysis including all DVH parameters as variables showed a V10 cut-off value of 72.8% to be the most influential factor.The present results showed that DVH parameters are strong independent predictive factors for the development of PCE in patients with oesophageal cancer treated with CRT.A heart dosage was associated with the development of PCE with radiation and without prophylactic nodal irradiation.

Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted attention for their potential use in electronic devices and nano-bioengineering applications. Fe NPs made by thermal decomposition from an Fe(CO)x-Oleylamine (OlAm) reacted precursor show high saturation magnetization (Ms) (~ 140 emu/gnet at 300 K). However, the Ms never reaches to the bulk value (218 emu/g at 300 K) of iron due to the unique crystalline structure of the Fe NPs. Fe NPs coated with OlAm (OlAm-Fe NP) have an expanded α (b.c.c.) structure and ultra-fine grains. In this paper, we focus on the adsorption ability of the surfactant to improve Ms via control of phase and grain size. Fe NPs with high saturation magnetization were synthesized by thermal decomposition of Fe(CO)5 with some surfactants that had weak absorption ability, such as tribenzylamine, trioctylamine, and their mixture. Slow decomposition rate of Fe(CO)5 and large grain size were obtained by applying surfactants with weak adsorption ability. Especially, Fe NPs that were synthesized by mixed surfactants (mixed surfactant-Fe NPs) have polygonal shape with 6.7 nm in diameter. HRTEM and XRD results suggest that mixed surfactant-Fe NPs are single crystallines of α -Fe. Ms of mixed surfactant-Fe NPs is 194 and 183 emu/gnet at 5 K and 300 K, respectively. These results strongly indicate that single crystallization of α-Fe enhances the Ms of Fe NPs and also suggest that optimization of the surfactant adsorption ability is indispensable to promote the single crystallization of Fe NPs.

Retinoic acid (RA) resistance is a serious problem for patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) who are receiving all-transRA. However, the mechanisms and strategies to overcome RA resistance by APL cells are still unclear. The biologic effects of RA are mediated by two distinct families of transcriptional factors: RA receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). RXRs heterodimerize with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[1,25(OH)2D3] receptor (VDR), enabling their efficient transcriptional activation. The cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 has a vitamin D3–responsive element (VDRE) in its promoter, and 1,25(OH)2D3 enhances the expression of p21WAF1/CIP1 and induces differentiation of selected myeloid leukemic cell lines. We have recently established a novel APL cell line (UF-1) with features of RA resistance. 1,25(OH)2D3 can induce growth inhibition and G1 arrest of UF-1 cells, resulting in differentiation of these cells toward granulocytes. This 1,25(OH)2D3-induced G1 arrest is enhanced by all-trans RA. Also, 1,25(OH)2D3 (10−10 to 10−7 mol/L) in combination with RA markedly inhibits cellular proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Associated with these findings, the levels of p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27KIP1 mRNA and protein increased in these cells. Northern blot analysis showed that p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27KIP1 mRNA and protein increased in these cells. Northern blot analysis showed that p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27KIP1 transcripts were induced after 6 hours’ exposure to 1,25(OH)2D3 and then decreased to basal levels over 48 hours. Western blot experiments showed that p21WAF1/CIP1 protein levels increased and became detectable after 12 hours of 1,25(OH)2D3treatment and induction of p27KIP1 protein was much more gradual and sustained in UF-1 cells. Interestingly, the combination of 1,25(OH)2D3 and RA markedly enhanced the levels of p27KIP1 transcript and protein as compared with levels induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 alone. In addition, exogenous p27KIP1 expression can enhance the level of CD11b antigen in myeloid leukemic cells. In contrast, RA alone can induce G1 arrest of UF-1 cells; however, it did not result in an increase of p21WAF1/CIP1 and p27KIP1transcript and protein expression in RA-resistant cells. Taken together, we conclude that 1,25(OH)2D3 induces increased expression of cdk inhibitors, which mediates a G1 arrest, and this may be associated with differentiation of RA-resistant UF-1 cells toward mature granulocytes.

The surface structure of GaP(001) has been studied using X-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), synchrotron radiation photoemission spectroscopy (SRPES), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). It is confirmed that the clean GaP(001) surface prepared by Ar-ion sputtering and annealing (ISA) exhibits a (2×4) reconstruction terminated by gallium. STM images indicate that about 20% of the gallium dimers at the surface are not regularly arranged in the [1 1 0] direction. The surface core-level shifts of Ga 3d and P 2p for the (2×4) surface, as measured by SRPES, suggest that the surface components S1 and S2 correspond to Ga dimers at the surface and Ga atoms with three-fold coordination in the surface region, respectively. The component S3 is also suggested to be due to P atoms with three-fold coordination. Upon adsorption of t-butylphosphine on the (2×4) surface at 350°C, a (2×1) structure is observed by LEED and STM. Based on the above results, models of the GaP(001)-(2×4) and -(2×1) surface structures are proposed.

The electrochemical reduction of nitric oxide (NO) in an aqueous electrolyte was studied using different metal electrodes and gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs). The reduction product selectivity for NO reduction depends strongly on the type of electrode metal. NH3 was produced as the predominant reduction product on Ti, Ni, Cu, and Ag electrodes and N2 was produced predominantly on a glassy-carbon electrode. The current–potential curve in the NO atmosphere depended on the nature of the metal electrode. Product selectivity did not depend on the metal in electrolysis using GDEs. The predominant product was N2O and N2 on GDEs containing Ni, Pt, and Cu electrocatalysts.

The anisotropy of the activation energy of the flux pinning in a La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 single crystal was investigated by ultrasonic measurements in various directions of wave vector κ, polarization vector u and magnetic fields H . The large activation energy of U(0 K, 14 T) = 972 K and small field dependence αH−0.3 were obtained for H || c- plane , when the flux motion is parallel to the c-axis where the intrinsic pinning mechanism due to the layered structure is effective. The elastic modulus of the flux-line lattice which moves parallel to the c-axis is proportional to H 2 cos 2 θ , and the value of U rapidly decreases with increasing tilt angle θ between H and the c-plane (U(θ = 10°) ∼ 300 K, U(θ = 30°) ∼ 75 K). These angular dependences of the elastic modulus and the activation energy can be explained on the basis of the intrinsic pinning mechanism and the three-dimensional stepwise flux-line structure.

During attempted oesophageal stent placement in a patient with cervical oesophageal cancer in whom swallowing of even saliva was impossible, transoral access to the cervical oesophagus was unsuccessful. Under ultrasound and fluoroscopy guidance, percutaneous gastric puncture was performed, and using an angiographic catheter and guidewire, access to the oesophagus by a retrograde transgastric route was successfully achieved. The obstructed segment of the oesophagus was traversed. It was then possible to pull the guidewire through the mouth and place an oesophageal stent via an antegrade approach.

The Hypotensive Activity Of Pernettya Insana (Ericaceae) Fractions Was Investigated In Male, Spontaneous Hypertensive Rats (Shr) Through Single Intravenous and Successive Oral Administration Of Pernettya Hexane and Ethanol Extracts Of The Whole Plant. The Extracts Were Administered Orally At Two Doses, 3 Mg/Kg Or 30 Mg/Kg, For 20 Days, In Shr. Ethanol Extract Showed Less Effect On Hypertension Than Hexane Extract. Neither An Increase In Heart Rate Nor A Decrease In Growth Were Observed, Suggesting That The Extracts Are Not Likely To Cause Toxicity. Heart Rate Showed Fluctuation According To The Increase Of The Dose Extract. Body Weight In Rats 4-8 Weeks Of Age Treated With Pernettya Extract Did Not Show Significant Changes. It Was Concluded That The Hypotensive Properties Might Be Due To The High Content Of Tannin In The Crude Extract Of Pernettya.

CD26 is a multifunctional type II transmembrane glycoprotein, which also exists as a secreted isoform, soluble CD26 (sCD26). The CD26 expression on circulating T cells is decreased in some skin diseases such as cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and psoriasis. It remains to be determined whether sCD26 can be used as a marker of skin diseases or not.To investigate utility of sCD26 as a diagnostic marker of skin diseases in combination with thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC).Serum sCD26 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 130 participants including 32 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD); 45 patients with CTCL; 26 patients with psoriasis; and 27 healthy controls.Serum sCD26 levels in patients with CTCL and psoriasis (162.1 ± 80.2 ng/mL and 125.4 ± 82.1 ng/mL respectively) were significantly lower than those of healthy controls (392.6 ± 198.7 ng/mL; P0.01 and 0.01 respectively). In patients with CTCL, serum sCD26 levels of patients with advanced stage were 135.0 ± 51.5 ng/mL and they were significantly lower than those with early stage (193.1 ± 96.0 ng/mL; P0.05). When we used serum sCD26 and TARC levels for diagnostic criteria, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for AD, CTCL and psoriasis were 65.2-73.7%, 81.4-97.6%, 65.2-94.4%, and 81.4-88.9% respectively.Serum sCD26 levels, combined with serum TARC levels, are helpful in diagnosis of AD, CTCL and psoriasis.

Photoneutron cross sections for 90Zr near neutron threshold were examined with a photon difference technique using laser Compton scattering γ‐ray beams. The cross section decreasing in the vicinity of neutron threshold exhibited a steep rise within 150 keV above the threshold. We draw attention to a possible relation of this striking behavior to the 3P valence neutron resonance known in neutron capture in the mass region A≈90.

Photoneutron cross sections were measured for Au in the entire energy range of the (γ,n) channel based on a direct neutron‐counting technique with quasimonochromatic γ rays produced in inverse Compton‐scattering of laser photons with relativistic electrons. We present results of the measurement in comparison with the past data.

Photoneutron cross sections were measured for 108Pd, 106Pd, and 105Pd with laser‐Compton scattering γ‐ray beams in an application of the γSF method to a radioactive nucleus 107Pd. We present radiative neutron cross sections for 107Pd[6.5×106 y] obtained with the γSF method.

M1 and E1 transition cross sections in the D(y→, n) reaction were separately determined by measuring the analyzing power for emitted neutrons with linearly‐polarized γ rays at four energies between 2.26 MeV and 3.70 MeV near reaction threshold at 2.224 MeV. We compared the experimental result with the JENDL evaluated data.

Photoneutron cross sections were measured for 117Sn and 116Sn near neutron thresholds with quasi‐monochromatic laser Compton scattering γ‐rays. The measured cross sections for 117Sn and 116Sn are strongly enhanced from the threshold behavior expected for L = 1 neutron emissions after E1 photoexcitation. This suggests the presence of extra γ‐ray strength in the low‐energy tail of the giant dipole resonance. The present cross sections were analyzed together with radiative neutron capture cross sections for 116Sn within the framework of the statistical model calculation. It is shown that the extra γ‐ray strength can be interpreted as pygmy E1 resonance which was previously reported in the nuclear resonance fluorescence experiment for 116Sn and 124Sn.

We measured photoneutron cross sections for 197Au with quasi‐monochromatic laser inverse‐Compton scattering gamma rays. We present results of the measurement in comparison with the existing data.We measured photoneutron cross sections for 197Au with quasi‐monochromatic laser inverse‐Compton scattering gamma rays. We present results of the measurement in comparison with the existing data.

Photoneutron cross sections for three Pb isotopes (206Pb, 207Pb, 208Pb) near neutron threshold were measured with the laser inverse‐Compton scattering gamma rays at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. The cross section data are presented.

Geyser-1, a prototype MIPS R3000 CPU with fine grain runtime PG for major computational components in the execution stage is available. Function units such as CLU, shifter, multiplier and divider are power-gated and controlled at runtime such that only the function unit to be used is powered-on to minimize the leakage power. The evaluation results on the real chip reveals that the fine grain runtime PG mechanism works without electric problems. It reduces the leakage power 7% at 25 °C and 24% at 80°C. The evaluation results using benchmark programs show that the power consumption can be reduced from 3% at 25 °C and 30% at 80°C.

The γ‐ray strength function is a key statistical nuclear ingredient to the s‐, r‐ and p‐process nucleosynthesis of heavy elements. It has recently become apparent that extra γ‐ray strengths that appear near neutron threshold on top of the low‐energy tail of GDR play an important role in neutron capture and photodisintegration. We discuss extra γ‐ray strengths of pigmy E1 and giant M1 nature based on the latest experimental photoneutron cross sections measured with laser Compton scattering γ‐rays.

The aim of this study was to evaluate spinal cord injury and mortality resulting from repair of extent I and II thoracoabdominal aneurysm. The authors compared patients operated under mild hypothermia with or without epidural perfusion cooling (EPC) and cerebrospinal fluid drainage (CSFD).From 1988 to 2007, 116 patients underwent replacement of the thoracoabdominal aorta; the procedure was performed in 38 patients with the aid of mild hypothermia alone (group A), and in 78 patients with the aid of EPC, mild hypothermia and CSFD (group B). Two catheters for epidural perfusion cooling were inserted in group B, in which one catheter was inserted into the epidural space to infuse chilled saline, and the other was inserted into the subdural space to drain the cerebrospinal fluid and to measure temperature and pressure. There were no significant differences in mean age, etiology of aortic disease, and aneurysm extent between the two groups.There were no significant differences in cardiopulmonary bypass time, the lowest nasopharyngeal temperature and operation time between the two study groups. The incidence of spinal cord injury in group A (16.2%) was significantly higher than in group B (3.8%, P=0.03). Hospital mortality in groups A and B was 10.5% and 2.6%, respectively (P=0.08). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the two study groups.The combination of EPC and CSFD was effective in lowering the incidence of postoperative spinal cord injury in the repair of extent I and II thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm.

The design of the boundary curb between pavement and roadway constructed in the crosswalk is requested to secure safety and smooth traffic for all passing people. It is preferable to set the step of curb to be about 2 cm for the visually handicapped persons to ascertain the boundary. However, this step is a barrier for the wheelchair user. This research aims the quantitative evaluation of the typical existing curbs from wheelchair userpsilas viewpoint, and the final proposal of the universal design of an easy-to-use curb for all. The wheelchair userpsilas body vibration and body load were examined by using the three directional accelerometers and the torque meter equipped wheelchair. It was shown to be able to evaluate the curb objectively by assuming the body vibration and the wheelchair driving torque as a measure.

Distance learning systems have gained attention with the development of the Internet. The Web browser Web-com provides a multi-layer drawable canvas on which users can draw annotations over Web pages. However, the use of Web-com is limited to personal computers at home or office. If learners could study learning content using their mobile phones anytime and anywhere, that would be wonderful. For this reason, we implemented a learning system for mobile phones, mobile Web-com. This paper describes the results of implementation and execution of mobile Web-com on a simulator and a mobile phone system

The radio quasar 3C 454.3 underwent an exceptional optical outburst lasting more than 1 year and culminating in spring 2005. The maximum brightness detected was R = 12.0, which represents the most luminous quasar state thus far observed (M_B ~ -31.4). In order to follow the emission behaviour of the source in detail, a large multiwavelength campaign was organized by the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT). Continuous optical, near-IR and radio monitoring was performed in several bands. ToO pointings by the Chandra and INTEGRAL satellites provided additional information at high energies in May 2005. The historical radio and optical light curves show different behaviours. Until about 2001.0 only moderate variability was present in the optical regime, while prominent and long-lasting radio outbursts were visible at the various radio frequencies, with higher-frequency variations preceding the lower-frequency ones. After that date, the optical activity increased and the radio flux is less variable. This suggests that the optical and radio emissions come from two separate and misaligned jet regions, with the inner optical one acquiring a smaller viewing angle during the 2004-2005 outburst. Moreover, the colour-index behaviour (generally redder-when-brighter) during the outburst suggests the presence of a luminous accretion disc. A huge mm outburst followed the optical one, peaking in June-July 2005. The high-frequency (37-43 GHz) radio flux started to increase in early 2005 and reached a maximum at the end of our observing period (end of September 2005). VLBA observations at 43 GHz during the summer confirm the, 7 pages, 4 figures, to be published in A&A

A novel process technology has been developed to fabricate an EEPROM embedded CMOS VLSI. The new technique utilizing a single poly-Si EEPROM cell reduces process steps by 25% as compared with the conventional double poly-Si EEPROM cell. The EEPROM-embedded CMOS LOGIC LSI can be shrunk over future technology generations by introducing three kinds of gate oxide thickness. A widely operating voltage ranging from 1.5 V to 6.0 V and a standby current below 100 nA have been achieved.

With the objective of developing high thermal conductive laminates capable of being used as high current-carrying wiring boards for automotive and industrial applications, we identified the optimum fillers for biphenyl-type epoxy resin that possesses high thermal conductivity, and studied laminating conditions. As a result, we found fillers capable of achieving a maximum thermal conductivity of 10 W/m/spl middot/K and thereby enhanced both thermal conductivity and insulation resistance. In addition, we were able to determine molding conditions such as press temperature. Although copper-foil peel strength was reduced, we increased its strength by means of the roughening of rolled copper.

The flux line lattice (FLL) elasticity and its anisotropic pinning have been investigated in a single crystalline La 1.85 Sr 0.15 CuO 4 by ultrasonic measurements under high magnetic fields. The depinning activation energies are deduced from measurements under various settings of the directions of wave vector k, polarization vector u and magnetic fields H as U ac (0 K, 14 T) = 972 K for H⊥ c, uc. U ab (0 K, 14 T) = 201 K for H⊥ c, uc × H) and U ca (0 K, 14T) = 25K for Hc, u⊥c. The magnetic field dependence of U are also deduced as U ac ∝ H −0.3 and U ca ∝ H −1.5 . The angular dependence of U ac is discussed on the basis of the intrinsic pinning mechanism.

When a picture is compressed in MPEG video, the image quality of important regions is maintained without changing the total amount of information; this is done by assigning a high information priority to the important regions. Therefore, the present paper proposes a method to modify a quantizer scale according to importance estimated by a depth of focus quantity. Image quality of an important region does not deteriorate much even if the total amount of information is decreased. Moreover, in television broadcasting, subtitles are usually in focus, so the proposed method can extract subtitle regions and give more priority to them.