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Background With regards to short-term outcome in atrial fibrillation (AF), the benefit of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) by pressing a balloon against the earliest pulmonary vein (PV) potential site during pulmonary vein isolation, (earliest potential [EP]-guided CBA) has been previously demonstrated. Objective The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcome of the EP-guided CBA. Methods This study included 136 patients from two randomized studies, who underwent CBA for paroxysmal AF for the first time. Patients were randomly assigned to the EP-guided and conventional CBA groups in each study. In the EP-guided CBA group, we pressed a balloon against the EP site when the time to isolation (TTI) after cryoapplication exceeded 60 s and 45 s in the first and second studies, respectively. The patients were followed up for 1 year after procedure. We compared the clinical outcomes between the EP-guided CBA group (68 patients) and the conventional CBA group (68 patients). Results No significant differences in baseline characteristics were observed between the two groups. Compared with the conventional CBA group, the EP-guided CBA group had a significantly higher success rate at TTI ≤90 s (98.5% vs. 90.0%, P Conclusions The EP-guided CBA approach can facilitate the ablation procedure and achieve low recurrence at 1-year after ablation. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Earliest potential [EP]-guided CBAThe recurrence at 1-year after ablation

Recently, MLS (Mobile Laser Scanning) has been successfully used in a road maintenance. In this paper, we present the application of MLS for the inspection of clearance along railway tracks of West Japan Railway Company. Point clouds around the track are captured by MLS mounted on a bogie and rail position can be determined by matching the shape of the ideal rail head with respect to the point cloud by ICP algorithm. A clearance check is executed automatically with virtual clearance model laid along the extracted rail. As a result of evaluation, the accuracy of extracting rail positions is less than 3 mm. With respect to the automatic clearance check, the objects inside the clearance and the ones related to a contact line is successfully detected by visual confirmation.

Fast microtomography combined with local crack driving force analysis has been employed to analyze crack-tip stress/strain singularities in an aluminum alloy. The application of fast microtomography has made it possible to observe real crack initiation and propagation behaviors without intermediate unloading. The details of a crack and its local propagation behaviors are readily observed with this technique along with evidence of microstructure/crack interactions. After a preliminary investigation of the achieved spatial resolution, we show that conventional stationary and growing crack singularities can be quantitatively validated by deriving the local crack opening displacement. This is to our knowledge the first three-dimensional validation of conventional fracture mechanics during a real time continuous experiment that has been mainly developed via surface observations so far. We also reveal that there is a spatial transition from a stationary crack singularity to a growing crack singularity in addition to the well-known temporal transition that occurs with the onset of crack propagation. Local crack propagation behaviors are also discussed on the basis of this validation. To separate the effects of complex crack geometry from those of microstructure, we also perform an image-based numerical simulation.

This paper presents a new method to machine flexible plates with high accuracy and high productivity. Precision steel plates are finished conventionally by face milling with electro-magnetic chucks. It is difficult to correct flatness of the flexible plates, because they deform to fit the chuck surfaces when chucked. To solve this problem, the authors have tried simultaneous double-sided milling, but this causes the regenerative chatter vibration. Thus, the new method is proposed and verified to suppress this chatter vibration, in which the regenerative effects on both sides are cancelled out by rotating the two milling cutters at different speeds.

In this contribution, we will define an l-dimensional Lee distance which is a generalization of the Lee distance defined only over a prime field, and we will construct 2-error correcting codes for this distance. Our l-dimensional Lee distance can be defined not only over a prime field but also over any finite field. The ordinary Lee distance is just the one-dimensional Lee distance. Also the Mannheim or modular distances introduced by Huber are special cases of our distance.

We report the world's smallest field effect transistors (FETs) with channel lengths of 32 nm including c-axis aligned crystalline (CAAC) In-Ga-Zn-O as their active layers, which achieve low off-state leakage currents. Furthermore, these FETs exhibit excellent subthreshold swing values despite having thick gate insulating film. The FET operation has been achieved owing to the 3D gate structure with a thin active layer, due to the FETs being accumulation-type FETs with intrinsic channels, and due to the dielectric anisotropy of the CAAC crystal structure.

Ammonia radicals are produced by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) in a chamber, called radical injector, which is separate from the chamber that NO gas flows. The radicals are injected into the mixing zone in NO gas flow field to decompose NO gas. The power source for generating the DBD is a one cycle sinusoidal (OCS) waveform so as to easily control the electrical power consumed in the DBD plasma. The fundamental frequency of the OCS power source is 150 kHz. Based on the molar ratio of ammonia particles to NO particles in a unit time, NO removal characteristics were discussed. By increasing the DBD consumed energy, the molar ratio approaches 1 showing the stoichiometric DeNO/sub x/ by NH/sub 2/ radicals. A high energy efficiency is found by reducing the consumed energy in the radical injector, where the molar ratio is higher than 1. In this case, the excess ammonia gas without converting into ammonia radicals in the radical injector is directly injected into the reaction zone, and contributes to decompose the NO gas. Oxygen gases with a concentration from 5% to 15% included in the NO gas significantly contribute to decompose NO gases, which brings a decomposition of NO with a low molar ratio.

BaTiO 3 dielectric ceramics, which have no core–shell structure, were prepared. High-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM) and the newly developed chemical etching analysis revealed the composition of the grain boundary. The grain boundary has an important role in stabilizing temperature dependence of a dielectric constant. The grain boundary causes a large stress against grains, resulting in a change of the domain structure. So, the stress from the grain boundary is considered to depress the dielectric abnormality at the Curie temperature.

A new concept of electrocatalytic reactor for ultimate NO x decomposition by nanostructural and compositional control of a NiO–YSZ electrocatalytic electrode has been proposed. Here, we present the electrochemically induced formation of nanosize Ni grains surrounded by nanopores in the NiO/YSZ interface of an electrocatalytic electrode under the reactor operation. In such an electrochemically assembled nanostructure, the reversibly produced 10–50 nm Ni grains are an effective place for selective NO x decomposition. Oxygen ionic current passed through the network of YSZ particles surrounding the Ni grains removed the produced oxygen species and permitted the reaction to reoccur. In such reactors, the electrical power required for NO decomposition in the presence of 10% of oxygen is at least 60 times lower than for traditional cells. The reactors' efficiency should lead to them replacing catalytic systems for exhaust gas purification.

A multi-pellet injector system has been developed as a fundamental fueling tool for the Large Helical Device (LHD). Since a primary goal of the LHD project is demonstration of steady-state high-temperature plasmas, highly reliable and reproducible performance is prerequisite for the LHD pellet injector. The helium Gifford-McMahon (GM) cycle cryogenic refrigerator and conventional pipe-gun mechanism have been employed along with these requirements. Since the triple point temperature of hydrogen is lower than those of isotopes; deuterium and tritium, a careful and steady temperature control is necessary in pellet formation. The amount of propellant gas has been minimized by small reservoir to reduce heat load and inflow into the plasma vacuum chamber. Both robustness and flexibility have been realized by using the programmable logic controller combined with GUI on WindowsNT. The pellet injector has demonstrated continuous hundreds of injection without any fail and has been applied for the LHD experiment successfully.

In bronchial asthma, eosinophils are upregulated and their survival is suggested to be prolonged by the action of some cytokines such as Interleukin (IL)-3, IL-5 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). We find here that the survival of eosinophils in the peripheral blood of patients with asthma is correlated with the serum levels of IL-3 but not of IL-5 and GM-CSF. Interestingly, theophylline is revealed to induce apoptosis of the prolonged survival eosinophils by IL-3, as judged by morphological changes and nucleosomal DNA fragmentation. During the apoptosis, caspase-3 in eosinophils stimulated by IL-3 is activated by theophylline. The substrate of caspase-3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), is cleaved in the eosinophils after theophylline treatment. These results suggest that theophylline is able to induce apoptosis of the IL-3 activated eosinophils in patients with bronchial asthma, and that its clinical effectiveness may be due to the reduction of inflammatory cells in the airway.

A solid oxide fuel cell type reactor was tested for producing ethane and ethene as well as electric power by direct oxidation of methane. The design strategy of an anode catalyst was proposed. In order to evaluate the activity of surface oxygen species, Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) technique and pulse reaction technique were applied. The designed anode catalyst was La 1.8 Al 0.2 O 3 with Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) as a solid electrolyte and La 0.85 Sr 0.15 MnO 3 as a cathode. The designed fuel cell type reaction system (air/La 0.85 Sr 0.15 MnO 3 /YSZ/La 1.8 Al 0.2 O 3 /methane) produced both ethene and ethane and electric power effectively. From the viewpoint of energy conversion, this can be regarded as CO 2 free combustion of methane. The nebulizer method, one of the direct preparation methods of fine powders from a mist of solution of raw materials, was proposed for the efficient preparation of the electrode structure.

Differential game theory is used to develop controllers for an uncertain nonlinear Euler-Lagrange system. A closed-loop Stackelberg strategy based on hierarchical characteristics of the system is employed. A Robust Integral Sign of the Error (RISE) controller is used to partially cancel uncertain nonlinearities in the system first, and the residual system is modeled as an infinite-horizon two-person Stackelberg differential game. Although the game is linear-quadratic (LQ) not all the nonlinearities are lost since the residual system is linear in errors but not in the original states. To alleviate time inconsistency a closed-loop strategy is sought such that the controller assumes the potential perturbation to the system and computes its strategy accordingly. An analytical solution is presented to allow of a real-time controller implementation. A Lyapunov analysis is provided to examine the stability of the developed controller.

Montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 antagonist, is safe and efficacious in patients with asthma. The mechanisms underlying the significant interpatient variability in response to montelukast are not clear but are believed to be, in part, because of genetic variability.To examine the associations between polymorphisms in candidate genes in the leukotriene pathway and outcomes in patients with asthma on montelukast for 4-8 weeks, we evaluated the changes in peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1·0) ) and patients' subjective symptom before and after montelukast treatment. DNA was collected from 252 Japanese participants.Two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ALOX5 (rs2115819) and LTA4H (rs2660845) genes were successfully typed. There was no difference between members of the general population (n = 200) and patients (n = 52) in each genotype frequency. Significant associations were found between SNP genotypes in the LTA4H gene and changes in PEF and FEV(1·0) . The PEF and FEV(1·0) responses to montelukast in the A/A genotypes (n = 4) for the LTA4H SNP were significantly higher than those in the G allele carriers (A/G+G/G) (n = 17).Despite the small sample size, our results suggest that genetic variation in leukotriene pathway candidate genes contributes to variability in clinical responses to montelukast in Japanese patients with asthma.

Game theory methods have advanced various disciplines from social science, notably economics and biology, and engineering. Game theory establishes an optimal strategy for multiple players in either a cooperative or noncooperative manner where the objective is to reach an equilibrium state among the players. A Stackelberg game strategy involves a leader and a follower that follow a hierarchy relationship where the leader enforces its strategy on the follower. In this paper, a general framework is developed for feedback control of an Euler Lagrange system using an open-loop Stackelberg differential game. A Robust Integral Sign of the Error (RISE) controller is used to cancel uncertain nonlinearities in the system and a Stackelberg optimal controller is used for stabilization in the presence of uncertainty. A Lyapunov analysis is provided to examine the stability of the developed controller.

The present study examines the effects of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) on various hemodynamic parameters and interorgan fluxes of amino acids, glucose, and lactate in chronically catheterized awake dogs. The dogs received 5 micrograms.kg-1.h-1 of either human recombinant IL-1 beta or TNF intravenously for 2 h. Hemodynamic parameters and substrate fluxes across the gut and liver were determined during and 2 h after discontinuation of the cytokine infusions. Substrate fluxes were calculated by blood flows and arteriovenous differences. Both IL-1 and TNF enhanced the uptake of alanine, uptake of lactate, and output of glucose by the liver. These changes were associated with elevated arterial levels of alanine and lactate while arterial levels of glucose decreased. Uptake of glutamine by the liver was reduced by either IL-1 or TNF infusions. The effects of IL-1 and TNF on the hemodynamic parameters and on gut amino acid metabolism varied with the cytokine infused. IL-1 produced hyperdynamic state, increased splanchnic blood flow, and enhanced glutamine uptake by the gut. TNF infusion did not cause a hyperdynamic state, nor did it alter the gut handling of amino acids. We conclude that IL-1 and TNF exert distinct different effects on the systemic and hemodynamic parameters and on interorgan balances of amino acids, glucose, and lactate across the gut and the liver.

The PR-80A has been developed form its original model PR-80, featuring a fully automated beam shaping system for the reduction of charging on wafers. The beam shaping control has been realized by sophisticated integration of such improved components as an ion source, an extraction electrode system, a mass analyzing system, and a machine controller. The ion source and extraction electrode system has been designed to ensure the precise and reproducible settings. The mass analyzing system has a mechanism which automatically adjusts the exit pole-face angle according to an implant recipe. The machine controller sets the beam shape by varying the extraction gap and the arc current, adjusting the normalized perveance of the ion source. The beam shape is monitored by the beam profile monitor. The system is interlocked when a beam has an unacceptable width, peak density, or offset in position. The performance of the PR-80A's endstation is also described.

It is described in this document how to compute zeta functions counting unscaled pseudo-codewords of general binary linear codes. This zeta functions are introduced in [2] for cycle codes and extended in [3] for general linear codes. Especially, we show that the zeta functions of codes are computed by using a 1/2 size determinants compared to those of [3] for non-cycle codes.

著者人数：135名, 資料番号: SA1001878000

Spread spectrum communication has been used in many fields. In this paper, we propose novel SNR (signal to noise ratio) estimation of SS (spread specyrum) communication for fading channels. In DS(direct sequence)/SS communication, a signal is spread by using a spreading code. In the method, we use sequences (a sequence) that are (is) orthogonal to the spreading code. If we use plural sequences, these sequences must be orthogonal each other. We calculate correlations (correlation) between the received signal and the sequences (sequence). Thus, we can estimate a noise power independently. Using the estimated noise power, we can estimate SNR regardless of kinds of fading. Moreover we donpsilat need to use known pilot symbol. We compare the new method with a conventional method by simulation. In this simulation, we also studied the two cases; one orthogonal sequence case and two orthogonal sequences case. As a result, we show the new method can estimate SNR more precisely than the conventional method. Moreover, two orthogonal sequences case could estimate more precisely than one orthogonal sequence case.

Code tracking loop for M-ary/SS systems using outputs gating of correlators(GCL) method is proposed for the code tracking of a communication system based on M-ary/SS scheme in which one of several sequences prepared on the tranmitter side depending on several bits of data. In the correlator outputs gating method, a certain threshold level is assumed and all correlatorspsila outputs are blocked when all correlatorspsila outputs are smaller than the threshold level. In the code tracking system using the decision feedback loop(DFL) method that is the conventional method, a deterioration in the characteristic happens when decoding error occurs, that is noise level is high or low SNR. In the correlator outputs gating method, however, all correlatorspsila outputs arenpsilat fed into the synchronous system in a situation with low SNR and a high error rate. So that we can expect the improvement of code tracking characteristic that is often reprented by code tracking error. In this paper, numerical calculation is conducted by means of induced formula. In the numerical calculation, it was found that the code tracking characteristic is improved from conventional DFL system. As a result, we can get stable code tracking. The M-ary/SS scheme is expected mass data transfer for audio-visual(AV) systems. By using the GCL system, we can realize stable mass data transfer for AV systems.

We experienced 2 infants in whom octreotide acetate was effective on intractable chylothorax after surgery for congenital heart diseases. They were 8- and 5-month-old. They were diagnosed as having corrected transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and tetralogy of Fallot respectively, and underwent bidirectional Glenn anastomosis and right modified Blalock Taussig shunt. Chylothorax was revealed on the 11th and the 1st postoperative day, and was not improved by any conventional therapy in either case. Then octreotide acetate was infused continuously with 0.1-0.6 micorg/kg/hour for 24 and 7 days. Chylothorax disappeared completely without any complications such as disturbance of blood sugar level or growth retardation. Octreotide acetate was effective and safe even in infants in intractable chylothorax after surgery for congenital heart diseases, as long as used for short period.

Thirteen cases of functional single ventricle who had undergone bidirectional Glenn procedure were divided into 2 groups according to presence (5) or absence (8) of additional pulmonary blood flow. Additional flow was preserved in cases with relatively small pulmonary artery index (PA index), and their sources were antegrade pulmonary blood flow (2), and Blalock-Taussig (BT) shunt (3). In the control group, PA index was reduced to about 70% of the preoperative value, while in the additional group, pulmonary artery growth was recognized without significant elevation of mean pulmonary artery pressure. However, atrioventricular valve regurgitation progressed and systemic ventricular volume did not decrease after Glenn in the additional group. Therefore special consideration for the timing of Fontan procedure is mandatory.

We study quantum neural networks on a 3D lattice, which contain neuron variable S/sub x/ on each site and synaptic variables J/sub x/spl mu//(/spl mu/ = 1,2,3) on each link. The networks have a local gauge symmetry, where J/sub x/spl mu// are regarded as gauge variables connecting nearest-neighbor sites. We simulate processes of learning a pattern of S/sub x/ and recalling it. The rate of recalling the pattern is calculated and compared for three cases, (I) classical (Hopfield-type) Z(2) model, (II) quantum U(1) Higgs model, (III) quantum CP1 + U(1) spin(qubit) model. The quantum effects are found to reduce the performance.

A 2.8 kg-female newborn diagnosed as hypoplastic left heart syndrome was transferred to our hospital after resuscitation against systemic circulatory failure due to closure of the ductus arteriosus. Her systemic circulation was stabilized after alprostadil (lipo-PGE1) and inotorpic agent infusion along with mechanical ventilation support. On admission, signs of a pulmonary high-flow and low systemic perfusion were evident. Impaired coagulation aspect was gradually noted. Because a surgical palliation with cardiopulmonary bypass was considered to be at high-risk, a bilateral pulmonary artery banding was indicated. Through a median sternotomy, the right and left pulmonary arteries were individually banded. The patient was continued on the same ventilation strategy. Cardiac, hepatic and renal dysfunctions were improved over next few days and the patient weaned from ventilatory support. She underwent combined Norwood stage I and II repair at 4 months of age with weight of 4.8 kg. Postoperative course has been uneventful and the patient is now followed up in preparation for Fontan operation.

Total of 41 patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) who underwent intracardiac repair from 1993 to 1998 were divided into 2 groups: preservation (n = 14) or enlargement (n = 27) of the pulmonary valve annulus. The procedure was decided on the Z value of the annular size: above or under -2 SD of the standard value. Although postoperative right ventricular (RV) diastolic volume (RVEDV) and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) were larger than the preservation group and pulmonary regurgitation (PR) existed in the enlargement group, RV pressure was decreased and central venous pressure (CVP) was low and RV contraction was preserved. The exercise capacity was also good and no significant arrhythmia was recognized. Our mid-term results showed that appropriate enlargement of the pulmonary valve annulus preserved good RV function in patients with TOF.

A 7-month-old girl was referred to us for further examination of absence of the right pulmonary artery. She had no symptom at that time. Diagnosis was made by chest computed tomography (CT) and cardiac catheterization. Though the size of the right pulmonary artery was not apparent, right pulmonary vein wedge angiography revealed the distal portion of right pulmonary artery sufficient for surgical repair. But the distance between the pulmonary trunk and right pulmonary artery was too far to perform direct anastomosis, and some systemic collaterals had already been recognized. Pulmonary vasculature was also not inadequate. Therefore we planned a palliative procedure. At the age of 7 months, right modified Blalock-Tausig shunt using 5mm expand-polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) tube and angioplasty of the distal portion of right pulmonary artery using autologous pericardium roll with Dacron mesh was performed. Postoperative course was uneventful. She has been followed up for 6 months after the palliation. In the near future the completion of the definitive repair will be considered.

Summary form only given. Nitric oxide (NO) gases have been decomposed by an ammonia radical injection system. The ammonia radicals were produced in an intermittent dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma in a separated chamber, and were injected in the NO gas flow-field to reduce NO molecules. The intermittent power source with a one cycle sinusoidal output power easily controls the energy consumed in the ammonia/argon plasma so as to obtain a high energy efficiency of DeNOx. As a result, the energy efficiency of approximately 250 g/kWh with assistance of the thermal heating of the NO gas was obtained. It was found in evaluating the DeNOx characteristics that the energy efficiency was correlated by the residence energy density (RED) for a variety of plasma generation parameters such as ammonia concentration and flow rate, gap length of the DBD reactor, applied voltage and consumed power. In order to realize higher energy efficiency, there are more parameters to be discussed for the plasma generation. One is a molar ratio, which is defined as the number of ammonia particles divided by the number of NO particles in a unit time, and the other is the electrode configuration. In our case, the energy efficiency increases with increasing the molar ratio from 0.2 to approximately 1.0, and tends to saturate. This is closely related to the gas kinetics of NO decomposition. The opening ratio of a mesh type grounded electrode also affects the plasma initiation voltage, which causes the change of the energy consumed in the plasma. Under the experimental conditions, larger area of the electrode shows low initiation voltage to reduce the consumed power to bring a high energy efficiency.

Dynamic reconfigurable processor based on ALU array architecture for consumer appliances is described. To implement reconfigurable system on portable or mobile products, we have tried to develop smaller and powerful reconfigurable processor. We have proposed the ALU array architecture with the limitation on the interconnection for area reduction. By the proposed architecture, we could reduce gate size by 63% on interconnections. Also, we have shown that the performance of proposed architecture is almost the same as one without limitations. The proposed processor is a parallel processing processor that consists of a sequencer and an ALU array, adopted multi threading technology. We have developed compilation tools from source codes written in C language for the proposed processor. We demonstrate the software model of the processor using MPEG-4 video decoding application.

We report our experience using a sutureless technique for oozing type postinfarction left ventricular free wall rupture. Several materials such as fibrin seat, autologous or heterologous pericardial patch, fibrin glue, and geratin-resorcin-formaldehyde (GRF) glue have been used. Nine patients, who developed postinfarction left ventricular free wall rupture, underwent surgical repair using a sutureless technique between 1999 and 2004. All patients survived and discharged our hospital without any postoperative complications. And all are alive an exellent condition in 5 to 44 months. A sutureless technique for the treatment of oozing type postinfarction left ventricular free wall rupture is simple, effective, and associated with a favorable outcome.

We experienced a successful surgical case of extended aortoplasty by means of Doty's method (two sinus reconstruction) for congenital supravalvular aortic stenosis (SAS). Case was 12-year-old boy, who had no complaint except heart murmur. The retrograde aortography demonstrated localized stenosis just above the aortic valve, and it was an hour-glass type. The preoperative peak systolic pressure gradient between the left ventricle and ascending aorta was 56 mmHg, which was improved postoperatively. This case showed excellent results. Doty's aortoplasty was favorable method for SAS without deformity of aortic valve and coronary obstruction.

In bronchial asthma, eosinophils are upregulated and their survival is suggested to be prolonged by the action of some cytokines such as Interleukin (IL)-3, IL-5 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). We find here that the survival of eosinophils in the peripheral blood of patients with asthma is correlated with the serum levels of IL-3 but not of IL-5 and GM-CSF. Interestingly, theophylline is revealed to induce apoptosis of the prolonged survival eosinophils by IL-3, as judged by morphological changes and nucleosomal DNA fragmentation. During the apoptosis, caspase-3 in eosinophils stimulated by IL-3 is activated by theophylline. The substrate of caspase-3, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), is cleaved in the eosinophils after theophylline treatment. These results suggest that theophylline is able to induce apoptosis of the IL-3 activated eosinophils in patients with bronchial asthma, and that its clinical effectiveness may be due to the reduction of inflammatory cells in the airway.

A 13-year-old boy with [SLL] single left ventricle first underwent ventricular septation using a dacron patch at 3 years of age. Eight years after the first surgery, he presented with general fatigue on exertion as the chief complaint. Right-sided atrioventricular valve regurgitation, and dilatation of the right heart were diagnosed. Eleven years after surgery, right heart failure was uncontrollable by medicine, and 2nd surgery was performed. At operation, the right-sided heart valve leaflet was tightly adherent to the dacron septation patch, and valve plasty was judged impossible. We repaired the right-sided atrioventricular valve using an autologous pericardial valve leaflet and sub-valvular tissue. The postoperative course was uneventful, and he has been free from any complication for 33 months.

We will define an l-dimensional Lee distance, and construct 2-error correcting codes for this distance. The ordinary Lee distance is just the 1-dimensional Lee distance.

A bimorph type of the optical piezoelectric actuator (PLZT) which has relatively large displacement is discussed. This optical actuator works under the on-off control of the UV beam irradiation. The response characteristics of the actuator for the UV beam irradiation is shown. The response time of this actuator is improved compared with the previous one. An optical actuator-servosystem is proposed. Based on the mathematical model of the optical actuator, the transfer function of the optical servo control system is identified, and experiments are conducted. The experimental results agree with simulation results based on the mathematical model. Two application examples of this actuator are given. One is an optical gripper, while the other is an optical mobile robot. >

The weight distribution of the Kloosterman code, the dual of the Melas code has been discussed for many years. In this article, the Hyperkloosterman code, a generalization of the Kloosterman code is defined, and the uniform distribution property is deduced using the Hyperkloosterman sums.

We report a case of 2-year-old girl with asplenia syndrome who successfully underwent modified Fontan procedure and concomitant repair of supracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC). The preoperative diagnosis included a common atrioventricular canal (type C), a double outlet right ventricle, a common atrium, common atrioventricular valve regurgitation, pulmonary stenosis, and a bilateral superior vena cava (SVC). Cardiac catheterization revealed a Qp/Qs of 1.3, mean PA pressure of 16 mmHg and an Rp of 1.3. The TAPVC drained to left SVC (LSVC) at a position proximal to the hemiazygos vein with an ostium of 5 mm in diameter. The LSVC was divided distal to its connection to the common pulmonary vein (CPV). The TAPVC ostium was cut back into the CPV, then it was anastmosed with posterior aspect of the atrial wall in an effort to provide a wide anastomosis. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged from hospital on the 35th postoperative day.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) producing alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a rare condition with only 11 cases reported in Japan to our knowledge. A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for further examination of an incidental right renal tumor. Laboratory tests showed markedly increased serum level of AFP whereas both HBs antigen and anti-HCV antibody were negative. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging imagings showed a right renal tumor but no tumor in liver, testis or lymph node. We performed right radical nephrectomy. Serum level of AFP declined within the normal range 7 weeks after nephrectomy according to its half-life curve. The tumor specimen was composed mainly of granular cells. Immunohistochemical examination of the tumor cells proved the presence of AFP in the cytoplasm. The possibility of AFP as a tumor marker of renal cell carcinoma in this case was presented.

From April to August of 2000, Bacillus spp. were detected in the blood culture of 29 patients in a hospital in Japan. Of these patients, 19 had clinical signs of septicemia; positive culture in the remaining 10 patients was attributed to contamination with skin flora at the site of puncture. Of the 18 strains evaluated, 15 were Bacillus cereus, 2 were Bacillus subtilis, and one was Bacillus licheniformis. The only hospital death observed was that of a patient who had no clinical signs of septicemia at the time of blood sampling. That death is now considered attributable to the underlying neoplasm. The hospital committee for prevention of nosocomial infection concluded after a critical review of the patient records that the cause of septicemia in most cases had been contaminated intravenous lines. To control the situation, the committee recommended the use of a new skin disinfectant, and medical personnel were advised to avoid infusion pauses with interruption of intravenous lines and to replace the caps for the stopcocks with new ones each time the caps were removed. These measures were rigorously observed in addition to the conventional measures for preventing catheter sepsis, and the incidence of septicemia due to the Bacillus spp. declined dramatically thereafter.