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The oxygen flux density of Ce0.8Gd0.2O1.9–x vol% MnFe2O4 (CGO-xMFO) composite-type ceramics membranes has been investigated. The samples and reforming catalysts were prepared by the Pechini process. For the CGO-xMFO composites, oxygen permeation was observed even at x = 3 vol%, presumably due to the presence of grain boundary phases. For CGO-15MFO, the n-type electronic conductivity was found to be dominant at 900∘C or higher. The thickness dependence of jO2 revealed that surface exchange kinetics was significantly involved in the case of the membrane thickness of L < 0.5 mm. The highest oxygen flux density of 10 μ mol⋅cm−2⋅s−1 was achieved for CGO-15MFO with the 10 mass% Ni-Pr:CeO2 catalyst (L = 0.25 mm) at 1000∘C and a flow rate of 270 sccm.

Evidence-based psychopharmacological algorithms for the treatment of patients with schizophrenia have been developed in many countries in the last decade. While it would be of interest to consider a common algorithm based on international consensus, algorithms and information on antipsychotics available in each country are limited. Inspired by the algorithm generated by the International Psychopharmacology Algorithm (IPA) Project, this algorithm for the treatment of schizophrenia has been developed by the Japan Psychophamacology Algorithm (JPA) Project. New antipsychotics, such as clozapine, olanzapine and quetiapine, are excluded from this algorithm, being currently unavailable in Japan. In the end there was no essential difference between the algorithms for the treatment of acute schizophrenic episodes. However, combined use of antipsychotics appears to be more common in Japan and the adjunctive use of L-DOPS or thyrotropin-releasing hormone is included in the JPA algorithm for the treatment of drug-refractory schizophrenia.

Serial proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) studies were performed from immediately after the appearance of sequelae in a patient with the interval form of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The volume of interest was set over the frontal lobe white matter. In the early period a persistent increase in choline was found, which was thought to reflect the course of progressive demyelination. The appearance of lactate and decrease in N-acetylaspartate reflected the point at which neuron injury became irreversible. These were followed later by the finding of irreversible changes on MRI and single photon emission computed tomography. The findings suggest that 1H-MRS may be a useful modality to determine neuron viability and prognosis early in the course of the interval form of CO poisoning.

A field test and an accelerated aging test with composite hollow insulators were conducted to evaluate long-term reliability and predict longevity. An 84 kV gas circuit breaker with composite hollow insulators was subjected to field test at Chita substation, Chubu Electric Power Company in 1996. This field test is scheduled for completion in 2004. An accelerated aging test with a small composite hollow insulators was conducted for up to 5,000 hours with the conditions specified in IEC 61109 Annex-C. Appearances, hydrophobicity, and surface deterioration were periodically analyzed. It was found that green algae deposited on the surface of some portions of the housing rubber of field test specimens, but was not associated with significant deterioration. Erosion developed on the housing of the specimens subjected to the accelerated aging test for 4,000 hours, and 5,000 hours. The number of eroded traces increased with time. Slight deterioration was found even on the areas without erosion analyzed by Fourier Transform Infra-red Ray spectroscopy.

Partial discharge activities such as charge, number of pulses, and soon of non-treated and artificially deteriorated silicone rubber samples were investigated in the clean/salt fog. It was proved that charge and number of pulses depended on the condition of silicone rubber surface and fog conductivity.

Silicon direct bonding and deep trench techniques are a good combination for high density and high voltage ICs such as display drivers. High voltage devices in these ICs are perfectly isolated by thick SOI oxide and isolation trenches. The SOI oxide thickness increases the blocking voltage of full depletion devices. On the other hand, it increases the warpage of SOI wafers and makes troubles in handling them. The new trench drain structure solves these problems and provides high voltage, low ON resistance LDMOS-FET. Its drain-source blocking voltage is 290 V, and the ON resistance is 0.37 /spl Omega/cm/sup 2/ including the isolation area.

The effect on the electrical properties of adding CaCO/sub 3/ filler to silicone rubbers for outdoor insulation was investigated. Silicone rubber specimens were prepared by adding CaCO/sub 3/ and ATH as fillers in specified ratio to silicone base gum. The blend ratio of ATH and CaCO/sub 3/ in silicone rubber specimens was changed from 100:0 to 63:37. Dry arc, tracking and erosion resistance performances, and the water absorption-dielectric properties relation were mainly studied. The results of increasing the amount of CaCO/sub 3/ were an increase in the rate of water absorption, reduction of dry arc, tracking, erosion resistance performances and dielectric strength after water immersion.

In the design of an optical fiber link radio expansion system, which enables subscribers to use cellular phones in weak reception areas, we have to consider two important points. One is the dynamic range defined by the carrier-to-noise ratio and intermodulation distortion. The other is the cost of a laser diode. To cope with these problems, we use a frequency conversion technique, because we can select one of the many analog laser diodes developed mainly for CATV use. Besides, the total system in the future will becomes flexible since it will allow us to transmit several different band services simultaneously with low frequency LDs by rearranging their frequency bands.

For pt.I see ibid., pp.624-627 (2001). This paper focuses on vibration of water droplets on silicone rubber sheets and leakage current flowing on silicone rubber under AC voltage application. Observation of vibration frequency of water droplet using Laser and photo-sensors showed that applied voltage affected vibration frequency. Results of leakage current measurement of rod-shaped silicone rubber samples during the salt fog test were also reported, where three components of leakage current were measured separately and simultaneously.

Weathershed materials for polymer insulators are organic, and so aging deterioration is unavoidable. We made fundamental investigations of the aging of silicone rubber sheets by accelerated aging tests in the laboratory. The evaluation method of surface hydrophobicity by contact angle was examined. The effect of time duration after placing a water droplet on the specimen surface until taking a photograph of the contact angle was clarified. We also clarified that the water droplet for accurate receding contact angle measurement should be prepared by sucking back water until confirming the shrinkage of the periphery of the water droplet. Based on such preliminary investigation we made aging tests introducing the recovery time of hydrophobicity in the cyclic sequence. Test results are presented in the paper.

This algorithm for the treatment-refractory schizophrenia consists of nine lines. It starts from the revaluation of the diagnosis and checking the compliance. 'Apparent' non efficacy due to poor compliance must be distinguished from 'authentic' non efficacy. Patients with good compliance and non efficacy go on to the next line. Line 3 includes addition of another neurolepic, a neuroleptic in a decanoate form, addition of an anti-parkinsonian drug and reduction of the neuroleptic dose. Line 5 is the neuroleptic augmentation strategy. The options of line 7 are electroconvulsive treatment, very high-dose neuroleptics, an investigational protocol drug, and a drug-free period. Finally, line 9 includes an investigational protocol drug and a drug-free period.

We present a patient with early-onset Pick's disease in which selective nigral degeneration, KP1 expression of ghost Pick bodies and amyloid P-positive astrocytes were found. We also review the literature on early-onset Pick's disease. A 34-year-old man showed personality change including stereotypical behavior. Muscle rigidity and spasticity developed later, and he died twelve years after the onset of his illness. The brain showed lobar cerebral atrophy prominent in the temporal lobe, and to a lesser degree in the prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortex. The substantia nigra displayed profound degeneration whereas the head of the caudate nucleus and the putamen were not so seriously affected because the neurons were preserved and only slight astrocytic proliferation was seen. Many Pick bodies were found in the hippocampal formation, and ballooned neurons (Pick cells) were dispersed throughout the cerebral cortex, subcortical grey matter and hippocampal formation. The affected white matter exhibited severe fibrillary gliosis, and numerous astrocytes positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein and microglial cells positive for CR3/43 were found in the atrophied cortical lesions. The intraneuronal Pick bodies expressed ubiquitin, neurofilament and tau, and KP1 distinctly stained ghost Pick bodies. Tau-positive astrocytes were found in the striatum, hippocampal formation, pontine tegmentum, substantia nigra and affected frontotemporal cortices. These astrocytes were also positive for amyloid P. Extensive search of the literature on early-onset Pick's disease disclosed only a few cases with selective nigral degeneration, and we failed to find any differences in duration, progression of the illness and the extent of subcortical gray matter involvement between cases of early-onset and presenile onset of Pick' s disease. We conclude that the striatopallidal and nigral system can be affected independently in Pick's disease and report new immunohistochemical findings.

The dipole tracing method is a technique whereby an electric source generator is estimated as an equivalent current dipole (ECD) based on potential distribution on the scalp. To estimate the electric source generator of low amplitude spikes, a manual zero potential shifting (MZPS) method was introduced in which a zero potential is set manually in dipole analysis. The subjects were three patients with localization-related epilepsy with temporal spikes. When low-amplitude spikes (50 microV) were analyzed by the conventional mean zero potential method, the dipolarity, an indicator of ECD reliability, had a low value and its locations were scattered. In contrast, when these low-amplitude spikes were analyzed by the MZPS method, ECD showed a high dipolarity value comparable to that obtained when high-amplitude spikes (or = 50 microV) were analyzed by the mean zero potential method. Furthermore, the locations of the former ECD tended to converge and were almost identical to those of the latter ECD. These findings suggest the usefulness of the MZPS method in dipole analysis in terms of the dipolarity and ECD locations of low-amplitude spikes.

Accelerated aging tests under combined stress conditions were conducted on housing materials for polymer insulators. The paper presents the effects of test parameters on aging deterioration and some consideration into evaluation methods of aging performance.

In Hegura Island, Japan, we have recently found female divers who suffer from a disorder called 'Chiyamai'. From interviews, questionnaires and temporarily proposed diagnostic criteria for Chiyamai, nine cases from 44 female divers interviewed, were diagnosed as having Chiyamai. Clinically, Chiyamai is characterized by a panic-like attack. Ten symptoms were observed during a panic-like attack, compared with 13 symptoms in a panic attack described in the DSM-IV. The average age at onset was 30 years and the average duration of illness was approximately 26 years. Several cases were so severe that the patients were unable to continue diving. Additionally, we report a typical case of Chiyamai, and discussed the similarities and differences between Chiyamai and anxiety disorders in the DSM-IV. We suggest that Chiyamai is a panic-like disorder specific to female divers from Hegura Island and that it is a result of heavy diving.

A 36-year-old Japanese woman presented with progressive cerebellar signs and mental deterioration of subacute course after her return from the USA. Her serum antibody to spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi was significantly elevated. A necropsy 4 years after her initial neurological signs revealed multifocal inflammatory change in the cerebral cortex, thalamus, superior colliculus, dentate nucleus, inferior olivary nucleus and spinal cord. The lesions showed spongiform change, neuronal cell loss, astrocytosis and proliferation of activated microglial cells. The internal capsule was partially vacuolated and the spinal cord, notably at the thoracic level, was demyelinated and cavitated in the lateral funiculus. Microglial cells aggregated within and around the spongiform lesions and microglial nodules were present in the medulla oblongata. Use of Warthin-Starry stain demonstrated silver-impregnated organisms strongly suggesting B. burgdorferi in the central nervous tissues. The dentate nucleus and inferior olivary nucleus showed the most advanced lesions with profound fibrillary gliosis. Occlusive vascular change was relatively mild, and fibrous thickening of the leptomeninges with lymphocyte infiltrates was localized in the basal midbrain. The ataxic symptoms were due to the dentate and olivary nucleus lesions and mental deterioration was attributable to the cortical and thalamic lesions. Spongiform change, neuronal cell loss, and microglial activation are characteristic pathological features in the present case. The cerebellar ataxia and subsequent mental deterioration are unusual clinical features of Lyme neuroborreliosis. Spirochete B. burgdorferi can cause focal inflammatory parenchymal change in the central nervous tissues and the present case may be an encephalitic form of Lyme neuroborreliosis.

SPECT imaging brain perfusion using 99mTc-HMPAO was performed on a 38-yr-old women with Lyme neuroborreliosis confirmed by autopsy. The patient had been suspected of spinocerebellar degeneration. Cerebral blood flow was diffusely decreased throughout cerebral cortices but cerebellar blood flow was not impaired, which indicated that the diagnosis was unlikely spinocerebellar degeneration. These findings suggested that brain perfusion SPECT provides useful information in diagnosing the patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis, especially when spinocerebellar degeneration is included in the differential diagnosis.

A 36-year-old woman who had been in complete remission after bone marrow transplantation against her leukemia presented with visual disturbance and cerebellar signs. She showed unusual involuntary movement as if she rolled a ball of string, and died two months after the onset of illness. Necropsy revealed hemorrhagic and necrotic lesions in the thalamus, basal ganglia, cerebellar dentate nucleus, superior colliculus, midbrain pretectum and red nucleus, and mucor mycelia were numerously found. HSV-2 immunoreactivity was found in both astroglial and oligodendroglial perikaraya. These hemorrhagic-necrotic lesions were partly associated with HSV-2 infection, but it was difficult to discriminate those from mucormycotic lesions. The unusual involuntary movement was considered to be due to basal ganglia lesions. This case was double infection by mucor mycelia and HSV 2, and clinicopathological consideration was described.

Topographic analysis of the resting EEG was performed in nine patients with presenile Alzheimer's disease(AD) and nine sex- and age-matched normal subjects. We also analyzed EEG activity recorded during photic stimulation(5, 10 and 15 Hz) to evaluate photic driving responses. The square root of absolute power was determined for each frequency band using a Fast Fourier Transform. Compared with the controls, the AD patients had increased delta and theta in the resting EEG mainly over the frontal regions. The patients also had reduced alpha and beta, and did not show posterior predominance of alpha activity. EEG analysis during photic stimulation showed that the patients had a reduction in photic driving responses, and significant topographic differences were found over the parieto-occipital regions. These findings provide further evidence that AD patients have background EEG slowing with a reduction in alpha and fast activity. They also suggest an impairment of visual functioning in AD.

EEG coherence is a noninvasive technique for studying functional relationships between brain regions. Although EEG coherence would be a useful method to explore the differences in cerebral functional organization between the sexes, sex differences in coherence have not been well documented. The present study was conducted therefore to examine sex differences in interhemispheric EEG coherence during rest and photic stimulation (PS) in 15 male and 15 female healthy young adults. Interhemispheric coherence of the resting EEG revealed no significant sex differences for any frequency band. In contrast, coherence during PS revealed significant sex differences, and the females had a significantly higher coherence than the males in the frequency band (4.5-5.5Hz) corresponding to 5Hz PS. In addition, the changes in interhemispheric coherence from rest to the stimulus condition (i.e., coherence reactivity) showed sex differences at the brain region primarily involved in visual functioning; the females had significantly greater coherence reactivity for O1-O2 in EEG during PS at 5 and 15Hz. These findings indicate sex differences in interhemispheric EEG coherence during PS, and provide further evidence that sex-related differences exist in the degree of lateralization of hemispheric function.

In Down's syndrome (DS) mental retardation accompanying chromosomal abnormalities is seen, and the incidence of associated congenital heart abnormalities is also known to recent years, the accelerated aging and premature senility associated with DS have attracted attention. In the present study, we examined cardiac lesions using echocardiography in a group of asymptomatic adult DS subjects discussed the relation between these lesions and premature aging. The subjects comprised 28 adult DS patients ranging in age from 20 to 46 years (mean +/- SD, 30.8 +/- 8.9 years) residing in 8 institutions in Fukui prefecture. The presence of DS was confirmed in all cases by chromosomal examination, which revealed 21-trisomy in 25 and mosaic type in three. Of indices of left heart function, the end diastolic volume index (EDVI) and end systolic volume index (ESVI) showed significantly reduced values, whereas indices of systolic function such as the ejection fraction (EF) and mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mean Vcf) showed significantly elevated values. The results of early diastolic left ventricular function, which has been noted to be related to aging, did not show any significant difference as determined by observation of mitral valve dynamics. On the other hand, morphologically, mitral valve prolapse (MVP) was found significantly more frequently in the DS group (17.9%) as compared to a normal control group. Also, valvular calcification (14.3%) and aortic valve regurgitation (AR, 11%) were both frequently noted. Whether signs such as valvular calcification are findings related to accelerated aging will require further study.

A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with leukopenia. On admission, leukocyte count in the peripheral blood was 1,600/microliters, containing 24.5% blasts of lymphoid appearance, which were negative for myeloperoxidase. A bone marrow aspiration showed hypoplasia with increased blasts (31.6%). The blasts were ultrastructurally positive for platelet peroxidase (PPO) and positive for platelet membrane glycoprotein IIb/IIIa complex. A diagnosis of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia was made. Chemotherapy with behenoyl-ara C (BH-AC) (150 mg/day) was transiently effective. However, after three months, numerous nodules without itching appeared over the entire body, particularly on the anterior chest. A biopsy of the skin lesion revealed a diffuse fibrosis with infiltrations of the blasts. Bone marrow aspirations were dry tap, and a bone marrow biopsy showed marked myelofibrosis. Then, severe headache, vomiting, and loss of consciousness developed, and a lumbar puncture revealed infiltrations of blasts. Although methotrexate was intrathecally injected, he died due to the respiratory failure. As far as we know, a case of acute megakaryoblastic leukemia with leukemia cutis and meningeal leukemia is quite rare. In addition, it is interesting that megakaryoblastic leukemia was accompanied with both the fibrosis of skin and the myelofibrosis.

To assess whether a certain somatic disease is involved in the etiology of anxiety disorder, we examined the relationship between anxiety disorder and mitral valve prolapse syndrome (MVP). Patients with anxiety disorder were diagnosed according to the criteria of the American Psychiatric Association (Quick Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-III). Two-dimensional echocardiography was carried out on 36 normal controls (15 males and 21 females) and 39 patients with anxiety disorder (19 males and 20 females); including 21 patients with panic disorder, 12 with generalized anxiety disorder, and 6 with atypical anxiety disorder. The echocardiograms were evaluated by a cardiologist unaware of clinical background about these patients. The presence of MVP was diagnosed according to the criteria by Yoshikawa, et al. or Nagata, et al. Findings of MVP were seen in 18 (46.1%) of the patients and 5 (13.9%) of the controls indicating a significantly higher incidence (chi 2 = 7.711, p less than 0.01) in the patients. In the patient subgroups, 14 patients with panic disorder (66.6%) and 4 with generalized anxiety disorder (33.3%) had MVP, showing a significantly higher incidence in the former (chi 2 = 14.335, p less than 0.01) than in the normal controls, but no statistical significance in the latter. No MVP was found in the patients with atypical anxiety disorder. These results suggest that some somatic diseases such as MVP may play a role in the etiology of anxiety disorder, especially panic disorder.

To obtain more informations from routine EEG recording, we studied changes in alpha rhythm after eye opening that had been almost disregarded hitherto. The study was carried out on 26 normal controls and 137 patients with four categories of diseases including 52 patients with psychiatric diseases, 8 with trifling neurological symptoms, 68 with defined organic brain diseases, and 9 with headache without defined organic cause. Following routine EEG recording, each subject was asked to keep their eyes opened for three minutes. The major changes in alpha rhythm after eye opening were composed of two patterns; "reappearance" and "recovery". The reappearance was defined as appearance of 5 or more alpha waves in series; and the recovery, as the amount and amplitude of the alpha rhythm became equal to those of the back ground alpha-rhythm which was seen while their eyes were kept closed. The reappearance was noticed in 84.6% of normal controls and in 89.1% of all patients. In patients with organic brain diseases, the reappearance was seen in 88.2%, while it was in 68.6% of the patients without organic brain disease. The recovery was noticed in 34.3% of all patients (p less than 0.01), while it was only in 15.4% of normal controls. The incidence of the recovery in the patients with organic brain diseases was 41.2%, the value of which was significantly higher than that of the rest of patients (28.8%, 15 out of 52 patients, p less than 0.05). These patients with the recovery tended to show slower frequency and higher amplitude in the back ground alpha-rhythm than the patients without recovery.

The chelating adsorbents, heterocyclic azo dyes supported on silica gel, were prepared and their adsorption behaviors of metal ions were investigated. The 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol(PAN)-SG and 2-(2-thiazolylazo)-p-cresol(TAC)-SG show greater affinity for UO2(II) and ZrO(II), compared with the other metal ions like Cu, Cd, Fe and alkaline earths. Trace uranyl can be quantitatively retained on the column of the gels at neutral pH region and flow-rate 3–4 ml/min. The uranyl retained is easily eluted from the column bed with a mixture of acetone and nitric acid(9:1 v/v) and determined by spectrophotometry using Arsenazo-III. Matrix components in seawater do not interfere and the spiked recovery of uranyl in artificial seawater was found to be average 98.6 %, with the relative standard deviation of 1.08 %. Both gels were applied to the determination of uranium in seawater with satisfactory results.

A prospective study of EEG changes following metrizamide myelography was made on 34 patients aged 17–79 years. EEGs were recorded just before and 22–26 hours after myelography. Usually 8–10 ml of metrizamide was injected by either lumbar or lateral cervical puncture. The concentration of metrizamide was relatively high. EEGs were abnormal in 15 out of the 20 patients whose baseline EEGs were normal. EEGs deteriorated in 10 of the 14 patients whose control tracings were abnormal. High voltage delta activity and/or a great deal of theta activity were common abnormalities. Three patients showed triphasic waves. No relationships were found between the EEG changes and clinical variables. But central nervous system involvements by metrizamide tended to be accompanied by a severe EEG slowing.

The cytochemical localization and intensity of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity in the spermatozoa from fertile and infertile human ejaculate were observed by an electron microscope. Sperm from fertile and infertile human ejaculate were fixed in 1% glutaraldehyde and treated histochemically to demonstrate calcium- and magnesium-dependent ATPase (Ca++- and Mg++-dependent). Furthermore, as substrates, ADP, AMP, and beta-glycerophosphate were used. The localization of Ca++-activated ATPase was not different from that of Mg++-activated ATPase. In the fertile human ejaculated sperm, ATPase activity was found on the surface of the acrosome and mitochondria consisting of the mitochondrial sheath, around the outer coarse fibers and in the axial filament complex. Compared with the result with fertile specimens, in the infertile human ejaculated sperm, ATPase activity on the motile structures, the outer coarse fibers, and the axial filament complex were considerably weaker and occasionally not recognized. From this study, it may be considered that ATPase around the outer coarse fibers and in the axial filament complex of sperm may serve to mediate contraction of the axonemal elements during motility. (Author's Modified)

A 36-year-old woman was treated with tamoxifen for lung metastasis of breast cancer and had marked hyperlipoproteinemia with giant fatty liver, high plasma triglyceride levels (3673 mg/dl), and increased levels of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and intermediate density lipoprotein (UDL). A low level of activity of both plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) was also noted. Our observations support the concept that, in some patients, the weak estrogen-like activity of tamoxifen is amplified and, in severe lipemia, reduction of the activities of LPL and HTGL might impede the conversion of VLDL to LDL, thus causing the amplification of the effect.