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Thin films of cathode and anode electrode were prepared by pulsed laser deposition. High porosity and good conductivity cathode film (Gd0.5Sr0.5CoO3) was grown at 1023 K on YSZ(100) single crystal. The electric conductivity was 640 S/cm at 1123 K in air. High porosity and good crystalline anode thin film (Ni-YSZ cermets) was grown at over 1023 K.

Background: Acute pancreatitis can develop after either ERCP or endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES). The pathogenesis of this complication remains poorly understood. Methods: The frequency and severity of acute pancreatitis were retrospectively evaluated after 17,602 ERCP procedures and 3003 ES procedures. Pancreatitis was diagnosed and evaluated according to the scoring system of Ranson and criteria developed in Japan. Results: Pancreatitis developed after 15 (0.09%) of 17,602 ERCP procedures and 13 (0.43%) of 3003 ES procedures (p = 0.0001, chi-square). The severity of pancreatitis (Ranson score) was less than 3 in 10 cases of ERCP-induced pancreatitis and from 3 to 5 in 5 cases. One (7%) of the 15 patients with ERCP-related pancreatitis died. All 13 patients with ES-induced pancreatitis had a Ranson score of less than 3; none died (p = 0.04, Fisher exact test). The ERCP pancreatitis score (Japanese criteria) beyond 48 hours after the onset of pancreatitis increased in 5 (33%) of the 15 patients with ERCP-induced pancreatitis; the score did not increase in any of the 13 patients with ES-induced pancreatitis (p = 0.04, Fisher exact test). Conclusions: Although the frequency of ES-induced pancreatitis is significantly higher than that of post-ERCP pancreatitis, the frequency of severe pancreatitis within 48 hours and worsening of pancreatitis after 48 hours is significantly lower with ES-induced pancreatitis. Our hypothesis is that the lowering of pancreatic intraductal pressure after ES mitigates the severity of postprocedure pancreatitis. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;55:50-4.)

Lipiodol accumulation patterns were correlated with local recurrences after subsegmental or conventional arterial chemoembolization therapy using iodized oil (Lipiodol-TAE). Thirty-six patients with solitary small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) less than 3 cm in diameter were included in this retrospective study. Superselective subsegmental catheterization was performed in 14 patients (subsegmental Lipiodol-TAE). In the remaining 22 cases, embolization was performed from the proximal portion of the hepatic artery (conventional Lipiodol-TAE). Patterns of Lipiodol accumulations within the tumors were classified in 2 groups: complete and incomplete accumulation. Complete accumulation was observed in 71% of subsegmental Lipiodol-TAE and in 32% of conventional Lipiodol-TAE. The rate of local recurrences within 12 months was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in incomplete accumulation (100%) than in complete accumulation (13%). We suggest that when small HCCs are to be treated with TAE, subsegmental Lipiodol-TAE should be performed because of its superior capability for achieving complete Lipiodol accumulation.

Lipiodol accumulation patterns were correlated with local recurrences after subsegmental or conventional arterial chemoembolization therapy using iodized oil (Lipiodol-TAE). Thirty-six patients with solitary small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) less than 3 cm in diameter were included in this retrospective study. Superselective subsegmental catheterization was performed in 14 patients (subsegmental Lipiodol-TAE). In the remaining 22 cases, embolization was performed from the proximal portion of the hepatic artery (conventional Lipiodol-TAE). Patterns of Lipiodol accumulations within the tumors were classified in 2 groups: complete and incomplete accumulation. Complete accumulation was observed in 71 of subsegmental Lipiodol-TAE and in 32 of conventional Lipiodol-TAE. The rate of local recurrences within 12 months was significantly higher (p < 0.01) in incomplete accumulation (100) than in complete accumulation (13). We suggest that when small HCCs are to be treated with TAE, subsegmental Lipiodol-TAE should be performed because of its superior capability for achieving complete Lipiodol accumulation.

A theoretical and experimental study has been made on the dynamic characteristics of a centrifugal pump subject to sinusoidal changes in rotational speed. Time-dependent rotational speed, flow-rate, and total pressure rise are measured for a variety of amplitude and frequency of the fluctuating rotational speed. Measured flow-rate as well as total pressure rise is compared with the quasi-steady ones. Unsteady flow analysis is made for a two-dimensional circular cascade by use of the singularity method. The calculated frequency characteristics are compared with the corresponding experimental ones. The deviation of unsteady characteristics from quasi-steady ones is evident, and the numerical results agree qualitatively with the measured ones. It was found that with the increased frequency of rotational speed fluctuations the dynamic characteristics deviate remarkably from quasi-steady ones. Moreover, a criterion for the assumption of quasi-steady change is presented.

256-Mb DRAM circuit technologies characterized by low power and high fabrication yield for file applications are described. The newly proposed and developed circuits are a self-reverse-biasing circuit for word drivers and decoders to suppress the subthreshold current to 3% of the conventional scheme, and a subarray-replacement redundancy technique that doubles chip yield and consequently reduces manufacturing costs. An experimental 256-Mb DRAM has been designed and fabricated by combining the proposed circuit techniques and a 0.25- mu m phase-shift optical lithography, and its basic operations are verified. A 0.72- mu m/sup 2/ double-cylindrical recessed stacked-capacitor (RSTC) cell is used to ensure a storage capacitance of 25 fF/cell. A typical access time under a 2-V power supply voltage was 70 ns. With the proper device characteristics, the simulated performances of the 256-Mb DRAM operating with a 1.5-V power supply voltage are a data-retention current of 53 mu A and an access time of 48 ns.<>

The pharmacokinetics of the H2-receptor antagonist famotidine, after oral administration of a 20 mg tablet, has been studied in 10 elderly patients with normal renal function (CLCR?59 ml·min-1, Mean=80 ml·min-1), 5 elderly patients with renal insufficiency (CLCR?38 ml·min-1, Mean=15 ml·min-1), and 6 healthy young volunteers.

A new-type windowless gas target has been developed to realize a dense target with a low gas flow rate. The target is similar to the conventional differentially pumped windowless gas target except that the target gas is blown into the target region from both the side holes of the beam entrance and exit. Due to the gas-confining action caused by the blown-in gas, the target thickness is about twice increased and the target density sharply falls in the holes. Most of the target gas is at rest and the density is uniform. The gas flow rate is the same as that of the conventional target and is about an order of magnitude lower than that of the dense gas-jet target.

A theoretical and experimental study has been made on the dynamic characteristics of a centrifugal pump subject to sinusoidal changes in rotational speed. Time-dependent rotational speed, flow-rate, and total pressure rise are measured for a variety of amplitude and frequency of the fluctuating rotational speed. Measured flow-rate as well as total pressure rise is compared with the quasi-steady ones. Unsteady flow analysis is made for a two-dimensional circular cascade by use of the singularity method. The calculated frequency characteristics are compared with the corresponding experimental ones. The deviation of unsteady characteristics from quasi-steady ones is evident, and the numerical results agree qualitatively with the measured ones. It was found that with the increased frequency of rotational speed fluctuations the dynamic characteristics deviate remarkably from quasi-steady ones. Moreover, a criterion for the assumption of quasi-steady change is presented.

The effect of haemodialysis on the pharmacokinetics of oral famotidine has been studied in five elderly anuric patients. Famotidine 20 mg was administered in a cross-over design to patients on and not on haemodialysis.

The pitot pump is composed of the rotating casing with the impeller channel and the pitot tube type collector as the discharge line. The radial impeller feeds water to the rotating casing. The water rotating together with the casing is caught by the stationary pitot tube type collector, and then discharges to the outside. This type pump, as the extra high head pump, is provided mainly for boiler feed systems, and has been designed by trial and error. To optimize the pump profiles, it is desirable to investigate not only performances but also internal flow conditions. This paper discusses experimentally and numerically the relation between the pump performances and the flow conditions in the rotating casing. The moderately larger dimensions of the collector make the pump head and the discharge high with the higher hydraulic efficiency. The flow in the casing is almost the forced vortex type whose velocity is in proportion to the radius but the core velocity is affected with the drag force of the stationary collector. Based upon the above results, the profile of the pitot tube type collector was optimized with the numerical simulation.

Thin films of cathode and anode electrode were prepared by pulsed laser deposition. High porosity and good conductivity cathode film (Gd0.5Sr0.5CoO3) was grown at 1023 K on YSZ(100) single crystal. The electric conductivity was 640 S/cm at 1123 K in air. High porosity and good crystalline anode thin film (Ni-YSZ cermets) was grown at over 1023 K.