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Transient left ventricular dysfunction in patients under emotional stress, also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, has been recognized as a distinct clinical entity. Recent studies have supported the concept notion that the cardiovascular system is regulated by cortical modulation. A network consisting of the insular cortex (Ic), anterior cingulate gyrus, and amygdala plays a crucial role in the regulation of the central autonomic nervous system in relation to emotional stress such as anxiety, fear and sadness. Because the Ic is located in the region of the middle cerebral arteries, its structure tends to be exposed to a higher risk of cerebrovascular disease. Ic damage has been associated with myocardial injury, increased brain natriuretic peptide, and the incidence of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Because Ic damage has been associated with increased sympathetic nervous system activity, Ic damage is suggested to have a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. In this review, we focus on the role of the Ic as a mediator for the cardiovascular system in relation to emotional stress, and we summarizes the current knowledge on the relationships between the Ic and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

While hypertension has been shown to be a risk factor for vascular dementia, several studies have also demonstrated that hypertension also increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the relationship between visit-to-visit blood pressure variability (VVV) and cognitive impairment, including AD, have been provided, the mechanisms remain poorly understood. This review paper focuses on the relationship of VVV with AD and summarizes the pathophysiology underlying that relationship, which appears to be mediated by arterial stiffness.

We prepared the sequence-controlled block copolymers including poly(1-adamantyl acrylate) (PAdA) and poly(n-butyl acrylate) sequences as the hard and soft segments, respectively, by the organotellurium-mediated living radical polymerization. The thermal, optical, and mechanical properties of the adamantane-containing block copolymers with polar 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and acrylic acid (AA) repeating units were investigated. The microphase-separated structures of the block copolymers were confirmed by the differential scanning calorimetry and atomic force microscopy observations as well as dynamic mechanical measurements. The α- and β-dispersions due to the main-chain and side group molecular motions, respectively, of the hard and soft segments were observed. Their transition temperatures and activation energies increased due to the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding by the introduction of the HEA and AA repeating units. The effects of the hydrogen bonding on their tensile elasticity, strength, and strain were also evaluated. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 2899–2910

This study aimed to evaluate the taste and mouth feel of newly designed orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) of pioglitazone, which is a typical type 2 diabetes medicine with an unpleasant taste, using a visual analog scale (VAS) analysis. The ODTs were subjected to either of these 2 taste-masking procedures: a physical masking procedure that included coating the inactive core granules with mixture of pioglitazone and Eudragit(®) E PO, followed by mixing the granules with aspartame and other excipients to form the tablet (physical masking ODT); or a gustatory masking procedure that involved blending pioglitazone with both sodium chloride and aspartame, followed by mixing the blend with other excipients to form the tablet (gustatory masking ODT). From the results of the VAS analysis, physical masking could suppress the bitterness but not the astringent; therefore, the overall palatability of the ODT was considered not improved. In contrast, gustatory masking significantly suppressed both the bitterness and astringent, and offered a slight sweetness; therefore, the overall palatability of the ODT was considered improved. In conclusion, VAS is a useful tool to evaluate the taste of ODTs and that gustatory masking can effectively mask the unpleasant taste of pioglitazone ODT.

Although napkin-ring sign (NRS) plaques assessed by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is identified as a high-risk feature, the detailed morphological features are still unknown. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the morphological features of the MDCT-assessed NRS using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).We evaluated 204 plaques in 193 patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome who were diagnosed using 128-slice MDCT and were assessed using IVUS prior to coronary intervention. Morphology was compared between plaques with and without MDCT-assessed NRS. Severe IVUS-assessed attenuation was defined as an attenuation angle180°.NRS was detected in 49 lesions. MDCT-assessed plaque attenuation was lower (p0.0001), and cross-sectional plaque areas at lesion sites, remodeling index, and the prevalence of positive remodeling were greater, in lesions with NRS (p0.005, p0.0001, and p0.0001, respectively). Furthermore, the IVUS-assessed remodeling index and prevalence of severe attenuation and speckled echo appearance were significantly greater in lesions with NRS (p0.01, p0.0001, and p0.0001, respectively). Using multivariate analysis, IVUS-assessed speckled echo appearance was identified as an independent predictor of MDCT-assessed NRS (odds ratio, 3.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-8.66; p0.005).MDCT assessment of NRS may be associated with larger heterogeneous necrotic cores and greater positive remodeling.

北海道では野生化したアライグマが増加しているが，アライグマにおけるレプトスピラ症の浸潤状況は十分に知られていない。今回，北海道中央部で捕獲されたアライグマについてレプトスピラの浸潤調査を行った。捕獲されたアライグマ259頭中10頭（3.9%）からレプトスピラが分離された。肝臓2例（0.8%），腎臓9例（3.5%），尿1例（0.4%）からレプトスピラが分離された。PCR法により60頭（23.2%）からレプトスピラDNAが検出された。肝臓26例（10%），腎臓33例（12.7%），尿28例（10.8%）からレプトスピラDNAが検出された。11種の血清型のレプトスピラを用いて顕微鏡学的凝集反応（MAT）を行った。255頭中63頭（24.5%）でいずれかの血清型に対しての抗体が確認された。その中でもAutumnalisに対して高く，10%以上の陽性率を示した。PCRおよび抗体調査の結果，幼獣よりも成獣のほうが，また地域的には胆振地方の陽性率が高かった。以上の結果から，今回捕獲した北海道のアライグマにはレプトスピラが広く浸潤していることが明らかになった。アライグマは急増し，人，犬，家畜などとの接触の機会も増えてきている。したがって，アライグマからの人，犬，家畜へのレプトスピラ感染の可能性が危惧された。

RuH 2 (PPh 3 ) 4 -catalyzed reaction of nitriles with terminal alkynes proceeds highly efficiently under neutral conditions to give the corresponding Michael adducts. Furthermore, 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds react with terminal alkynes at the α-position to afford the exo-methylene compounds with high regioselectivity under neutral conditions. The regioselectivity depends upon the change of substrates. The precise mechanism is presented.

Background Previous study has demonstrated that metabolic syndrome (MetS) can predict cardiovascular mortality in men, but the prediction was weak for women. In the present study predictors for multiple complex coronary lesions were investigated to clarify the impact of MetS in Japanese women with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods and Results Subjects were Japanese women with ACS (n=81) who underwent emergency coronary angiography and B-mode carotid ultrasonography. They were divided into 2 groups based on the number of complex plaques. Although the MetS prevalence identified using the Japanese criteria was similar between the 2 groups, using the modified ATP III criteria it was more in patients with multiple coronary lesions than in those with a single coronary lesion (p

Background The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical implication of metabolic syndrome and carotid artery morphologies on coronary plaque vulnerability in Japanese men with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods and Results Consecutive ACS Japanese men (n=225) underwent emergent coronary angiography and B-mode ultrasonography within 1 week of the acute coronary event. With a 11.3-MHz linear array transducer, the morphologies of common carotid artery were examined. Common carotid arteries with an intima-media thickness >1.1 mm and interadventitial diameter >8.0 mm were considered to be undergoing carotid artery remodeling. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the number of complex plaques identified by coronary angiography. Abdominal obesity, low level of high-density lipoprotein and carotid artery remodeling were more often observed in patients with multiple, complex coronary plaques than in patients with a single, complex plaque (p

Background Optimal protocols for targeted temperature management are still unclear. This study investigated whether lower target temperatures and/or prolonged cooling could provide improved outcomes in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest. Methods and Results This observational study was conducted using the prospectively collected targeted temperature management database in Hiroshima, Japan. Between September 2003 and September 2014, 237 patients treated with TTM after cardiac arrest were enrolled in this study. The target temperatures and durations were assigned by the treating physicians regardless of the patients’ conditions. Favorable outcomes were defined as a cerebral performance category scale of 1 or 2 at the 90‐day follow‐up time point. The rate of favorable outcomes were similar between the patients whose protocols of target temperature were P =0.41), cooling durations were P =0.11), and rewarming durations were P =0.39). However, in patients treated with extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, target temperatures P =0.01). The cooling and rewarming durations >28 hours and target temperatures Conclusions Prolonged durations of cooling and rewarming ≥28 hours may not improve outcomes and may increase complications. Further studies are necessary to assess the hypothesis that target temperatures

Recent studies have shown that visit-to-visit blood pressure (BP) variability was emerging as an independent risk factor for stroke. Although the mechanism is not fully understood, artery remodeling would be closely associated with the relationship between visit-to-visit BP variability and stroke. In addition, the class of antihypertensive agents is suggested to be an important determinant of visit-to-visit BP variability. This review article summarizes the recent literature on these topics. In the elderly hypertensives, strict BP control using calcium channel blockade would play a crucial role to prevent stroke via reducing the visit-to-visit BP variability.

Lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablet (LFDT) is a new patient-friendly formulation of lansoprazole. Since lansoprazole is an antiulcer agent and is unstable under acidic conditions, we have developed LFDT as an orally disintegrating tablet containing enteric-coated microgranules. The effect of compression on dissolution behavior was investigated, as compression affected cleavage and crushing of the enteric layer. To decrease cleavage and crushing of the enteric layer, the effects of the combined ratio of methacrylic acid copolymer dispersion to ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer dispersion and the concentration of triethyl citrate on the dissolution in the acid stage and the dissolution in the buffer stage were evaluated. By adjusting the ratio of methacrylic acid copolymer dispersion to ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer dispersion to 9 : 1 and adding a 20% triethyl citrate concentration, sufficient flexibility of the enteric layer and sufficient stability against compression forces were achieved. Agglomeration of enteric-coated microgranules during the coating process was decreased at the optimized concentration of triethyl citrate and glyceryl monostearate. We compared the absorption properties of LFDT and lansoprazole capsules in dogs. The absorption profiles of LFDT were similar to those of lansoprazole capsules.

Lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablets (LFDT) are a patient-friendly formulation that rapidly disintegrates in the mouth. LFDT consist of enteric-coated microgranules (mean particle size, approximately 300 microm) and inactive granules. In the design of the inactive granules, mannitol was used as a basic excipient. Microcrystalline cellulose, low-substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose (L-HPC), and crospovidone were used as binders and disintegrants. A new grade of L-HPC (L-HPC-33), with a hydroxypropoxy group content of 5.0-6.9%, was developed and it has no rough texture due to a decrease in water absorption. It was clarified that L-HPC-33 could be useful as a binder and disintegrant in rapidly disintegrating tablets. LFDT contain enteric-coated microgranules in tablet form. The enteric-coated microgranule content in LFDT affect qualities such as tensile strength, disintegration time in the mouth, and dissolution behavior in the acid stage and in the buffer stage of LFDT. The 47.4% content of the enteric-coated microgranules was selected to give sufficient tensile strength (not less than 30 N/cm(2)), rapid disintegration time in the mouth (not more than 30 s), and dissolution behavior in the acid stage and buffer stage similar to current lansoprazole capsules. Compression force affected the tensile strength and the disintegration time in the mouth, but did not affect the dissolution behavior in the acid and buffer stages.

The fourth order central finite difference scheme is applied to the convection terms in three-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations to simulate directly the flow fields in a medium Reynolds number baffled stirred tank. The rotational cylindrical coordinates with angular velocities are used to express boundary conditions on impellers. On the other hand the stationary cylindrical coordinates are adopted for baffles. When the fluid is water, the phenomena during 60 seconds, which are the sufficient time for obtaining various flow mechanisms and time averaged flow characteristics in a stirred tank, are simulated using this calculation method. The calculated results are in good agreement with the measured data. Then, this study makes a way for direct numerical simulations of various type stirred tank with various type impellers and baffles.

Background: Previous studies have reported plaque rupture and erosion were the most common causes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and spotty calcifications was identified as a marker of plaque rupture. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers a high-resolution imaging to assess the plaque morphology and coronary calcification. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the distribution of coronary calcification and the culprit lesion morphology in patients with ACS. Methods: We enrolled consecutive 183 patients with ACS (mean age: 68 ± 11 years, 148 males). Culprit lesion was assessed by OCT and patients were divided into the rupture and non-rupture group according to the OCT findings. Maximum radial thickness, cross-sectional area of calcification and radial depth from the lumen and longitudinal length of calcification were compared between 2 groups. Results: Plaque rupture was detected at culprit site in 105 patients and coronary calcification was identified in 58 patients. There were no significant differences in age and gender between 2 groups. Maximum thickness, area and longitudinal length of calcification were smaller in rupture group (457.4 ± 284.9 μm vs. 722.1 ± 384.1 μm, p < 0.01, 0.7 ± 0.4 mm 2 vs. 1.8 ± 1.4 mm 2 , p < 0.01, 2.2 ± 1.1 mm vs. 5.6 ± 5.3 mm, p[[Unsupported Character - Codename ­]] < 0.01, respectively). Radial depth of calcification from the lumen was significantly geater in rupture group (150.0 ± 65.3 μm vs. 83.1 ± 63.3 μm, p Conclusions: Distribution of coronary calcification could be associated with morphological etiology of ACS.

The slow flow (SF) phenomenon is more prevalent in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), who frequently exhibit vulnerable plaques in remote coronary arteries. We aimed to clarify the impact of nonculprit plaque characteristics on the occurrence of SF using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).The study population comprised 180 consecutive patients with non-ST-segment elevation ACS (NSTE-ACS) who underwent MDCT before intervention. The characteristics of culprit and nonculprit lesions were compared between patients with and without SF.SF was observed in 43 (23.8%) of the 180 patients. The prevalence of positive remodeling (PR), low-attenuation plaque (LAP), and napkin-ring sign (NRS) in culprit lesion was significantly higher in the SF group than in the non-SF group (86.1% vs. 39.4%; p0.001, 81.4% vs. 18.3%; p0.001, and 65.1% vs. 16.1%; p0.001, respectively). The same result was observed for nonculprit lesions (58.1% vs. 14.6%; p0.001, 45.2% vs. 6.6%; p0.001, and 14.3% vs. 4.9%; p0.04, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed LAP [odds ratio (OR), 12.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.7-54.7; p0.001], and NRS (OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.3-25.3; p=0.03) in culprit lesions and PR (OR, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.1-22.2; p=0.04) in nonculprit lesions were independently associated with SF.The plaque characteristics of nonculprit lesions are associated with the occurrence of SF during percutaneous coronary intervention. Assessment of plaque characteristics of both culprit and nonculprit lesions using MDCT may be useful for the prediction of SF.

Re=4,500で，多数の渦が形成され変動流が支配的な邪魔板なし撹拌槽の瞬時の流れを3次元ナビエ・ストークス式を直接数値計算することにより求めた．本計算では慣性項の差分には4次の中央差分，それ以外の空間微分項には2次の中央差分を用い，時間発展項には2次のルンゲ・クッタ法を用いた．計算にはマルチブロック法を用い，一定角速度で回転する複雑形状の翼，翼を支える円板を含む領域を回転円筒座標系で表わし，その他の領域は静止円筒座標系で計算した．流体の静止状態から撹拌翼が回転を開始して12回転程度，実時間に換算して約64秒（流体が水の場合）間の現象を明らかにした．計算結果の可視化によって渦の生成，干渉，合一のおおよそのメカニズムを明らかにすることが出来た．時間平均速度分布や乱流強度分布の計算結果は実験結果と良く一致し，本計算方法及び結果によって実際の邪魔板なし撹拌槽の流れ場を表現できることがわかった．

Local surface modifications of a diamond like carbon (DLC) film are carried out by applying voltages to conductive (Au coated) AFM probes in the contact mode. The DLC is deposited on a silicon substrate by ECR sputtering. When DC voltages are applied as the probe is scanned, two types of modifications such as hollows and mounds are formed in negative bias (-3--5V). When negative voltage pulses (-15V) are applied to the probe contacting with a point on the DLC, small pits are formed. Diameters of the pits decreases with decrease of the pulse width in the range from 1000ms to 10ms. The pit formed by the voltage pulse with 10ms width has 20nm diameter.

Background— Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) may be useful in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. However, little is known about the combination of ECMO and intra-arrest PCI. This study investigated the efficacy of rapid-response ECMO and intra-arrest PCI in patients with cardiac arrest complicated by acute coronary syndrome who were unresponsive to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Methods and Results— This multicenter cohort study was conducted with the use of the database of ECMO in Hiroshima City, Japan. Between January 2004 and May 2011, rapid-response ECMO was performed in 86 patients with acute coronary syndrome who were unresponsive to conventional CPR. The median age of the study patients was 63 years, and 81% were male. Emergency coronary angiography was performed in 81 patients (94%), and intra-arrest PCI was performed in 61 patients (71%). The rates of return of spontaneous heartbeat, 30-day survival, and favorable neurological outcomes were 88%, 29%, and 24%, respectively. All of the patients who received intra-arrest PCI achieved return of spontaneous heartbeat. In patients who survived up to day 30, the rate of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest was lower (58% versus 28%; P =0.01), the intra-arrest PCI was higher (88% versus 70%; P =0.04), and the time interval from collapse to the initiation of ECMO was shorter (40 [25–51] versus 54 minutes [34–74 minutes]; P =0.002). Conclusions— Rapid-response ECMO plus intra-arrest PCI is feasible and associated with improved outcomes in patients who are unresponsive to conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation. On the basis of these findings, randomized studies of intra-arrest PCI are needed.

Pathologically, the lesions responsible for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are ruptures of vulnerable plaques (and occasionally fibrous-cap erosions or calcified nodules) with a superimposed thrombosis. We aimed to clarify the clinical presentations related to the morphologies of coronary lesions of ACS using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and optical coherence tomography (OCT).Seventy-five culprit lesions of ACS patients were clearly assessed with IVUS and OCT. Patients were classified into two groups based on the presence or absence of a rupture of a culprit plaque as identified by OCT. Clinical characteristics and lesion morphologies were compared between the two groups. Waist circumference was significantly greater (p0.02) and prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) higher (p=0.0011) in the rupture group. The prevalence of prodromal angina was higher in patients without plaque ruptures (p0.0001). Using multivariate analysis, the MS and prodromal angina were independent predictors of rupture of a culprit coronary plaque (odds ratio (OR): 27.30, p0.003 and OR: 0.04, p=0.0004, respectively). Among the components of the MS, the prevalence of abdominal obesity was a significant independent predictor of rupture of a culprit plaque (OR: 4.24, p0.02).There are two presentations related to the coronary lesion morphologies of ACS: we should understand these aspects of ACS.

The influence of grain-boundary sliding on the evaluation of the apparent Young's modulus and plastic-deformation (flow) stress was investigated by bending tests for two types of silicon nitrides sintered with Y2O3-based additives The apparent Young's moduli measured at high temperatures are consistent with those predicated from a theory based on polycrystalline anelasticity due to grain-boundary sliding. The temperature dependence of the critical bending stress for the onset of plastic deformation shows viscoplastic properties of the interglanular glass. The ductile-to-brittle transition of fracture is discussed by the bending strengths normalized by the measured Young's modulus.

We present a digital free-space photonic switch structure that uses exciton absorption reflection switch (EARS) arrays. The network topology of the switch is a banyan network. This switch structure uses microbeam interconnections to realize a compact switch fabric. The low-loss interconnection that is necessary for high-speed operation can be achieved by the use of an optical system based on birefringent plates. A prototype switch (based on an 8 × 8 EARS array) with fiber array pigtails is fabricated and used to demonstrate two-input, two-output switching of 8-Mbits/s signals. This digital switch may be applicable to large-scale, multistage switching networks for optical interconnections and broadband telecommunication switching systems.

We report that 3H-pyrazoles bearing and electron-withdrawing or conjugated group at C-3 undergo ring opening to diazoalkenes

The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical implication of metabolic syndrome and carotid artery morphologies on coronary plaque vulnerability in Japanese men with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Consecutive ACS Japanese men (n=225) underwent emergent coronary angiography and B-mode ultrasonography within 1 week of the acute coronary event. With a 11.3-MHz linear array transducer, the morphologies of common carotid artery were examined. Common carotid arteries with an intima-media thickness1.1 mm and interadventitial diameter8.0 mm were considered to be undergoing carotid artery remodeling. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the number of complex plaques identified by coronary angiography. Abdominal obesity, low level of high-density lipoprotein and carotid artery remodeling were more often observed in patients with multiple, complex coronary plaques than in patients with a single, complex plaque (p0.03, p0.03 and p=0.0001, respectively). Metabolic syndrome and carotid artery remodeling were independent predictors of multiple, complex coronary plaques (odds ratio 1.86, p0.05; odds ratio 5.96, p0.0001).Metabolic syndrome and carotid artery remodeling might be useful indicators to assess the efficacy of aggressive treatments for secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in ACS Japanese men.

Background Coronary microcirculatory damage is an important factor for the prognosis for acute myocardial infarction (MI) after revascularization. The myocardial enhancement area with contrast media infused during coronary revascularization therapy, detected by computed tomography (CT) just after revascularization, has been reported to correspond to the area of hemorrhagic infarction. The relationship between myocardial contrast enhancement and coronary microcirculatory damage was investigated in the present study. Methods and Results Thirteen patients with acute anterior MI underwent successful coronary revascularization within 6 h of symptom onset were enrolled. The coronary flow velocity pattern was measured using a Doppler guidewire and chest CT assessments were performed immediately after coronary revascularization. The ratio of mean CT number of the highest-enhanced myocardial area and the lumen of the left ventricle was defined as a relative CT number. The relative CT number significantly correlated with coronary diastolic deceleration time (r=-0.78, p

This paper describes the multiview camera system to obtain the ray data of real 3D objects for arbitrary viewpoint 3D display system. This camera system consists of 9 CMOS cameras, and their pixels are randomly accessible. Thus, the ray data to reconstruct 3D images of captured real 3D objects can be synthesized from 9 CMOS cameras directly. Each ray data to reconstruct captured real 3D objects is calculated by the FPGA board, and the pixel corresponds to each ray data, which is given by the FPGA board to the PC. Therefore, arbitrary viewpoint 3D display with proposed camera system can display real-time captured 3D objects. As the experimental results, the 3D image of real object is reconstructed.

Cross-protection between Haemophilus parasuis serovars 2 and 5 was examined in pigs using a bacterin based vaccine, and subsequently the safety and efficacy of a bivalent vaccine were evaluated. Upon intratracheal challenge of a serovar 2 or 5 strain, pigs immunized with a monovalent vaccine were protected against challenge with a homologous serovar strain, but not with a heterologous serovar strain. Immunization with a bivalent vaccine containing both serovars 2 and 5 bacterins conferred protection in pigs against lethal challenge with each of the serovar strains. A total of 86 pigs from two SPF herds were injected with the bivalent vaccine intramuscularly twice at a four-week interval. No adverse reactions following the vaccination were observed. On day 7 after the second vaccination, vaccinated and non-vaccinated control pigs from herd A were transferred to herd B, where Glasser's disease had broken out. Pigs in the control group developed clinical signs of the disease, and 6 of 8 (75%) pigs died until slaughter, in contrast with only 4 of 46 (9%) pigs in the vaccinated group. In herd C, where there was no outbreak of Glasser's disease, complement fixation antibody titer was raised only in the vaccinated group. A challenge experiment on days 20 and 79 after the second vaccination showed that only the vaccinated pigs were protected. From these findings, the safety and efficacy of the bivalent vaccine were confirmed under laboratory and field conditions.

A novel internal light‐coupled optical device (ILCOD) array is proposed, where the element consists of a pnpn digital optoelectronic switch and an npn phototransistor. The ILCOD with seven point‐symmetric elements was fabricated. Quenching the light emission of the center element due to light coupling between the peripheral elements is observed. This quenching is achieved with an input optical power of 2.5 μW.

An attempt was made to analyze the electrophoretic mobility data of human erythrocytes in media of different pH values and ionic strengths through cell surface models in which the surface charge layer consists of several ion-penetrable sublayers with a uniform charge distribution in each sublayer. As a result, the three-sublayer model was found to explain the mobility data much better than the two-sublayer model in a wide range of ionic strength at all pH values studied.

Case Report: The patient was a 73-year-old male with dilated phase of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He was frequently hospitalized for fluid overload and implantated cardiac resynchronization therapy plus defibrillation (Consulta, Medtronic, Inc.) and Carelink (remote monitoring system) in June 2010. He was hospitalized for congestive heart failure (CHF) exacerbation in October 2010. OptiVol Fluid Index (OFI) which calculated from a intrathoracic impedance was 40, and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) was 1236 pg/ml by blood sample. We confirmed alert of OptiVol by Carelink in December 2010 and January 2011, which had similar data on OFI and BNP to the last hospitalization. In each event, OFI and BNP were around 35 and 800 pg/ml right after the alert and then they decreased to 0 and 400 pg/ml after the diuretic remedy which result to avoid hospitalization. Conclusion: We could reduce hospitalization rates from increment of CHF by OptiVol and Carelink system. It has possibility to cause false alert depending on the programmed threshold and reference impedance which may be able to prevent by using the data of first hospitalization.

A novel configuration of an optical lateral inhibitory neural network using a two-dimensional internal-light-coupled optical device (ILCOD) array is proposed. It is experimentally certified with a test ILCOD structured with seven units in a two-dimensional hexagonal arrangement that the optical coupling between the units causes turn-off of the light emission of the unit in a specific position, which results in lateral inhibitory action of a neural network.

Japan does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with North VietNam (The Viet-Namese Democratic Republic), nor have any trade agrdements been negotiated to datd, either on a government or private level. The only trade between the two countries is restricted to private commercial transactions which arnount to about U.S. $ 15 million annually. For these reasons, perhaps, there is little information on the actual conditions in that country. The following article is an attempt to clarify the economic and trade position of North Viet-Nam on the basis of recent foreign dispatches and other informative material and reports of Japanese who have reqently visited that country. It is well known that the ofB:cial government publications of Cohlmunist countries are extremely limited in number, and even when statistics are published they lack concrete form and generally are expressed in ratios compared with pr~evious years. Such being the case, it is extremely dif~icult to assess the true economic state of these countries correctly. We are unavoidably compelled for the time being to base our research work on such materials. Present inadequacies will have to be supplemented as new materials or data become available in the future. It must be rioted here that the views and opinions that may be expressed in this paper are solely those of the present writer.

Optical demultiplexing characteristics are studied using a multielectrode distributed feedback laser amplifier. The gain maximum frequency is tunable over 20.6 GHz with a constant insertion gain (9.7±1.2 dB) and a constant gain bandwidth (2.9 GHz), without any mode jump, by changing the driving current of the divided two electrodes. A single optical signal can be selected from two optical inputs separated by 15.4 GHz with an extinction ratio of better than −20 dB.

The 1.5 µm InGaAsP/InP lasers on p-type InP substrates have been realized by a simple fabrication process. By utilizing buried-heterostructure, a low threshold current of 40 mA under cw operation and a large operating current range, 1 A, were achieved

Optical multiplexing/demultiplexing with a narrow channel spectrum selectivity is an indispensable function in optical frequency division multiplication (FDM).1,2This paper reports the first verification of a narrowband active filtering using a DFB-type LD amplifier. The amplifying center frequency is selected by varying the bias current of the LD amplifier based on the carrier- dependent refractive index.

A novel noncontact, nondestructive method for measuring the active layer thickness of InP/InGaAsP double heterostructure laser materials has been developed. This method is principally based on the evaluation of the net absorption through the active layer by measuring the transmission light power. It is proposed that troublesome effects such as reflection, scattering, and unnecessary absorption through the other layers can be canceled out by using a pair of light sources with wavelengths slightly longer and shorter than the peak wavelength in photoluminescence. A prototype system including a personal computer and an auto-moving X-Y stage can evaluate the distribution of the active layer thickness over the entire wafer with an accuracy of better than 10 nm.

Recently, there has been much interest in light sources for a frequency division multiplication (FDM) transmission system. The multielectrode DFB laser 1 Is one of the most promising devices for this use, because it is superior In terms of wavelength tunability, 1 narrow spectral linewidth,2 and FM response flatness.3 Furthermore, increasing the number of electrodes potentially improves the single-mode operationability. On the basis of the above aspects, we tried doubling the top electrode of each DFB laser arrayed on a chip. We report experiments of a four-channel multielectrode DFB laser array in the 1.5-µm wavelength region. This is the first demonstration of a wavelength-tunable single-frequency-laser array.

Optical frequency‐selective amplification of an injected optical signal in a distributed feedback type semiconductor laser amplifier is studied. Based on this mechanism an optical demultiplexer with optical gain for optical frequency‐division multiplexing is developed. A 9 GHz spectrum selectivity and a 11 dB extinction ratio are observed.