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This study describes the Ku -band 70- and 30-W-class internally matched gallium nitride (GaN) power amplifiers (PAs) for multi-carrier satellite communications (SatComs). The GaN PAs maintain low third-order intermodulation distortion (IMD3) over a wide offset frequency range of up to 400 MHz, whereas in the Ku -band, one PA can deliver a high peak output power of approximately 70 W and the other PA, a peak output power of higher than 30 W. To realize a wide offset frequency operation, our proposed output-matching circuit includes three different types of difference-frequency short circuits, two of which are embedded into a tournament-shaped output-matching circuit inside the PA package and the rest is embedded into the drain bias feed placed outside the package. To verify the short-circuit design and its effectiveness, two different power classes (70 and 30 W), Ku -band GaN PAs, were designed and fabricated, and then, their output transfer characteristics focusing on IMD3 were measured. The measurements show that the 70-W-class GaN PA achieves a peak output power of 48.6 dBm while maintaining a linear output power of over 40 dBm and an IMD3 of less than −26 dBc over wide offset frequencies ranging from 1 to 400 MHz. The 30-W-class GaN PA maintains a linear output power of over 36.3 dBm and an IMD3 of less than −27 dBc over wide offset frequencies of up to approximately 600 MHz. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, these PAs have a record output power level over a wide frequency range of 1–400 MHz or higher under the condition of a low IMD3 of less than −25 dBc, compared to previously reported Ku -band GaN PAs used for multi-carrier SatComs.

Background: The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) is specified in the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Act as a designated public corporation for dealing with nuclear disasters. Materials and Methods: The Nuclear Emergency Assistance and Training Center (NEAT) was established in 2002 as the activity base providing technical assistance to both national and local governments during nuclear emergencies. The NEAT has a robust structure and utilities and special installations, and it organizes training and exercises. Results and Discussion: Due to an offshore earthquake that caused a devastating tsunami in March 2011, a nuclear accident occurred at the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. The NEAT responded by conducting off-site environmental radiation monitoring and contamination screening, dispatching special vehicles, offering telephone consultations, and calculating the dispersion of radioactive materials. An examination of the emergency response activities revealed that the organization was prepared for these types of disasters and was able to plan long-term response. Conclusion: As a designated public corporation, the JAEA technically supports the national government, the Fukushima prefectural government, and the Ibaraki prefectural government, all of which responded to the off-site emergencies resulting from the March 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident

This study aimed to elucidate the predictors of improvements in exercise capacity during cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in the recovery phase after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) versus acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We studied 152 patients (91 after AMI and 61 after CABG) who participated in a 3-month CR program. All patients underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test, blood tests, maximal quadriceps isometric strength (QIS) measurement, and bioelectrical impedance body composition measurement at the beginning and end of the 3-month CR program. At baseline, the percentage of predicted peak oxygen uptake (%pred-PVO2), maximal QIS, and hemoglobin (Hb) were significantly lower, while C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly higher, in the CABG than the AMI group. After the 3-month CR, %change in PVO2 (%ΔPVO2) was significantly greater in the CABG than the AMI group (18 ± 15% vs 11 ± 12%, P

A novel proof of concept was developed targeted at the detection of Materials Other than Grain (MOGs) in soybean harvesting. Front lit and back lit images were acquired, and image processing algorithms were applied to detect various forms of MOG, also known as dockage fractions, such as split beans, contaminated beans, defect beans, and stem/pods. The HSI (hue, saturation and intensity) colour model was used to segment the image background and subsequently, dockage fractions were detected using median blurring, morphological operators, watershed transformation, and component labelling based on projected area and circularity. The algorithms successfully identified the dockage fractions with an accuracy of 96% for split beans, 75% for contaminated beans, and 98% for both defect beans and stem/pods.

A machine vision system with double lighting and an image processing algorithm were developed to detect undesirable objects in the paddy as it is being harvested to provide information for adjustment of parameter settings by the operator and automate combine harvester procedures. The system consisted of a web camera, a double lighting system (frontlight and backlight), an image acquisition, and image analysis algorithm. Images captured by this system were used for detection of undesirable objects (long rachis branches, grass and leaves, straw and stalks) and damaged grain (brown rice and cracked rice). Evaluation of the results demonstrate the proposed detection algorithm had a detection correlation of determination, R 2 greater than 0.70 for detection of each of the undesirable objects. Future application of this system in the field could help the operator of the combine harvester to improve the efficiency and adjustment of automated harvesting procedures, as well as the quality of the harvested paddy.

We have been creating artworks called “liquid art” utilizing liquid dynamics phenomena. One of the liquid artworks is “Sound of Ikebana” which is created by giving sound vibration to color paints and shooting the phenomenon by a high-speed camera, which has been evaluated as “the artwork includes Japanese beauty.” To investigate further why it is evaluated in such a way and also to seek the possibility of its application in society, we tried to materialize it into 3D objects. As the phenomenon occurs in a very short time of less than one second, we have developed a specific experimental environment consisting of multiple high-speed cameras surrounding a speaker where the phenomenon occurs. Among various technologies to reconstruct the 3D model from multiple 2D images, we have chosen a method called Phase-Only Correlation and developed a 3D mesh model of a snapshot of “Sound of Ikebana.” Also using a 3D printer we have successfully obtained 3D materialized “Sound of Ikebana.”

Background: GLORIA-AF (Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, global registry program describing antithrombotic t...

This paper proposes a simple but relatively accurate, receive (Rx)-band-noise estimation method for wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) handset heterojunction bipolar transistor MMIC power amplifier module (PAM) design. The method is based on small-signal and two-tone large-signal simulations, calculating Rx-band noise and helping circuit designers comprehend noise contributions under a large output power operation. Its effectiveness is verified through the simulations and measurements of a WCDMA band 11/21 MMIC PAM featuring an LC trap circuit placed at the base terminal of the first stage. This trap is designed to resonate at the difference frequency between the transmit- and Rx-bands. The PAM accommodating switchable-amplifier chains for triple-power modes—high power mode (HPM), mid-power mode (MPM), and low-power mode (LPM)—is fabricated using our in-house GaAs BiFET process. Measurements conducted under 3.4 V and 1450-MHz-band WCDMA (Third Generation Partnership Project Release 99, 3GPP R99) modulated signals show an Rx-band noise level of less than −136 dBm/Hz and power gain as high as 30 dB at a high output power ( $P_{\mathrm {{out}}}$ ) of 29 dBm. The measured noise level is in good agreement with that of the proposed estimation. The measurements also show that the PAM achieves power-added efficiency (PAE) as high as 41% at the $P_{\mathrm {{out}}}$ of 29 dBm while maintaining the ±5-MHz-offset adjacent channel power ratio (ACLR1) below −40 dBc in the HPM. The PAE values of 22% at $P_{\mathrm {{out}}}$ of 18 dBm and 17% at 7 dBm are obtained in the MPM and LPM, respectively, with the same ACLR1 levels.

Case series Patients: Female, 41-year-old • Female, 42-year-old Final Diagnosis: Breast cancer Symptoms: Breast mass Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Chemotherapy • hyperthermia • radiotherapy • surgery Specialty: Oncology Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: Breast cancer has a long-term prognosis with various multimodality treatments. This report introduces the effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) hyperthermia in the long-term treatment for recurrent/metastatic breast cancer. Case Reports: In the first case, the patient had bone and liver metastases during the course of chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiotherapy for 27 years after curative resection of breast cancer. Finally, she received RF hyper-thermia alone for liver metastasis and showed a decrease in tumor markers and reduction in liver metastasis on computed tomography (CT). In the second case, the patient underwent curative resection for multiple occurrences on the left side of the breast. She received postoperative chemotherapy combined with hormone therapy but had metachronous local recurrences. She continued hormone therapy after 2 local recurrence resections; unfortunately, she had bone, liver, and lung metastases and pleural dissemination. Eventually, the patient received RF hyperthermia combined with oral chemotherapy. Her tumor markers decreased, and CT showed disappearance of lung metastasis and improved pleural dissemination. Furthermore, the reduction of chemotherapy adverse events due to hyperthermia allowed the patient to continue chemotherapy and improved her quality of life. Conclusions: We present 2 cases in which RF hyperthermia had a positive effect despite the presence of a recurrent tumor after various types of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. This report suggests that the addition of RF hyperthermia to conventional multidisciplinary therapies may enhance the therapeutic effect of these treatments and improve the quality of life in patients with recurrent breast cancer.

Background Breast milk (BM) is the best nutrition for very preterm infants (VPI), except when provided by human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-seropositive mothers. Given that VPI are at high risk of developing a sepsis-like syndrome or cholestasis, methods for prevention of HCMV infection via BM have been investigated. Although Holder pasteurization (HP) is the gold standard, HP needs special instruments. Microwave (MW) is available anywhere, therefore, we performed this study to determine whether MW can be used for HCMV prevention. Methods Human cytomegalovirus Towne strain was added to formula, followed by heating procedure using HP or MW (at 500 W for 20, 30, 40, or 60 s). HFL-III cells were seeded in culture dishes. Aliquots of HCMV-milk samples after heating were inoculated onto susceptible cell monolayers. The number of plaques was counted to determine the viral titer. The determination of HCMV-DNA copies was also performed. Results Addition of HCMV for a viral load of 5.0 × 103 plaque-forming units (p.f.u.)/mL achieved 772 p.f.u./mL at baseline, with a decrease to 257 p.f.u./mL after MW radiation for 20 s. No plaque was detected after HP or MW for 30, 40, and 60 s. The temperature of the breast milk reached 60°C after MW radiation for 40 s. The number of HCMV-DNA copies did not change with MW. Conclusions Microwave at 500 W for 40 s can be used as a prevention strategy for HCMV transmission. Further research including the loss of bioactive properties in BM is required prior to clinical application.

Advances have been made recently in neonatal nutrition in Japan, including a new donor human milk bank. However, little is known about the knowledge level of neonatal nutrition, donor human milk banks, and human milk fortifiers among Neonatal ICU (NICU) nurses. An anonymous survey was administered during an educational program to assess general knowledge. The overall response rate was 87.6% (219/250). About 60% reported working in the NICU for 1–5 years, and 42% reported that their NICU admitted more than 30 very low birth weight infants per year. Two-thirds (66.4%) acknowledged the existence of the new donor human milk bank. About half (46%) of NICU nurses incorrectly believed that the human milk fortifier available in Japan was derived from human milk rather than cow's milk. It would be beneficial to provide more education to NICU nurses on neonatal nutrition, donor human milk, milk banks, and the use of human milk fortifiers, both cow's milk-based and human milk-based.

This paper describes a newly developed Si/GaAs hybrid multiband power amplifier module (MB-PAM) that supports major quad wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) bands (Bands 5, 8, 2, and 1) for handset applications. With four dies (two GaAs-HBT dies, one GaAs-HEMT die, and one CMOS die) and several surface-mount devices, the hybrid MB-PAM accommodates two amplifier chains and two single-pole double-throw HEMT band-select switches on a 5 mm $\,\times\, $ 5.5 mm laminate, covering 824–915 and 1850–1980 MHz. Each amplifier chain has two switchable signal paths corresponding to dual (high and low) power modes [high-power mode (HPM) and low-power mode (LPM)] for saving battery current in practical handset use. One of the main features of this MB-PAM is the integration of driver stages, RF switches, and their bias control circuits on the CMOS die for pursuing cost reduction. Only the two output power stages are fabricated in a GaA-HBT process. Measurements conducted under the condition of a 3.4-V supply voltage and a WCDMA (Third Generation Partnership Project Release 99) modulated signal are as follows. Owing to optimized linear design and broadband output matching design, the hybrid MB-PAM achieves a power-added efficiency (PAE) as high as 39%–40% at 28 dBm of output power ( ${ P}_{\rm out}$ ) over 824–915 MHz in the HPM while maintaining a $\pm {\hbox{5-MHz-offset}}$ adjacent channel leakage power ratio (ACLR1) to less than $-{\hbox{39 dBc}}$ . In the LPM, PAE of 15% at a ${ P}_{\rm out}$ of 17 dBm is obtained while ACLR1 of less than $-{\hbox{40 dBc}}$ is maintained. For 1850–1980 MHz, the MB-PAM delivers 35% of PAE with ACLR1 of less than $-{\hbox{40 dBc}}$ at 28 dBm of ${ P}_{\rm out}$ in the HPM and 15% PAE at 17.5 dBm of ${ P}_{\rm out}$ in the LPM.

A machine vision system to evaluate harvested paddy grain quality during harvesting using double lighting was developed. The prototype consisted of a low-cost web camera and two lighting systems: a ring white LED for front lighting, and a flat dome white LED light for backlighting. Both lighting systems were arranged in a coaxial axis, making the system simple, compact and easy to handle. The aim of the system is to analyse the captured images and determine the amount of unwanted materials (rachis branch, grass and leaves, and stems) and damaged grain (brown and crack rice) present in the paddy as it is being harvested. In this paper, we introduce the first step in the development of the system: the design and selection of components to optimize the performance of the system to monitor harvested paddy grain quality. The idea would be to mount the system on top of the inlet channel of the grain tank of a combine harvester to provide real-time assessment of harvesting operational parameters.

PURPOSE Although cardiac rehabilitation is recommended for patients early after heart transplantation (HTx), adequate exercise effect cannot always be obtained, partly because in patients with chronic heart failure, exercise capacity is reduced due to malnutrition while waiting for HTx. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between exercise capacity and clinical variables, including nutritional indicators, early after HTx. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-three HTx recipients were studied. The mean age at HTx was 38 ± 14 years, and 86% were male. We assessed the relationships between peak oxygen uptake (VO2 ) and clinical variables, including plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), isometric knee extensor muscle strength (KEMS), and nutritional indicators within 1 week of their respective discharges. RESULTS Peak VO2 correlated positively with isometric KEMS (r = .63, P

Organic photovoltaic is one of the solar cell consists of fullerene derivative which is an n-type semiconductor and the conductive polymer as p-type semiconductor. In my research, silicon quantum dots was introduced to the active layer consisting of fullerene derivative (PCBM) and a conductive polymer (PCPDTBT), to prepare the hybrid photovoltaic. The prepared hybrid solar cell with Si quantum dots achieved better cell performance compared with controlled solar cell without quantum dots. The hybrid solar cell showed larger value of Incident photon-to-current conversion efficiencies and lower photoluminescence intensity. This indicated that domain size among phase separation in active layer was made smaller than the active layer of controlled solar cell, by introducing Si quantum dots. This change of aggregation structure by quantum dots was contributed to the improvement of cell characteristics.

A hole formed in photo-excited dye molecule under illumination is transferred to cathode with iodine ion in electrolyte solution in the dye-sensitized solar cell developed by M. Gratzel and the conductivity of the iodine ion affects conversion efficiency of the cell. In this work, effect of the polymeric p-type semiconductor on the hole transferability is investigated. PEDOT:PSS and P3HT were used as the p-type semiconductors. Dye-sensitized solar cells were composed of aluminium plate, Nb-doped TiO2 layer adsorbed with TCNQ, the electrolyte solution containing iodine ions, and ITO glass plate. In a solid-type cell substituted the electrolyte solution with the p-type semiconductor, photocurrent was not generated. The photocurrent was generated in the solar cell by introducing the electrolyte solution containing iodine ions between the ITO glass and the p-type semiconductor formed on the dye-adsorbed Nb-doped-TiO2 layer or between the dye-adsorbed Nb-doped-TiO2 layer and the p-type semiconductor formed on ...

To improve the light-to-electric energy conversion efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell, a p-type semiconductor electrode was introduced to the cell so that n/p tandem-type solar cell was comp...

Acute hypotension during maintenance hemodialysis (HD) is not only a critical complication, but also an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). This study was designed to clarify the mechanisms underlying excessive fall of blood pressure during HD. Fifty-six CRF patients with HD thrice a week were divided into two groups according to the intradialytic hypotension episodes after 4 weeks of the observation period; the hypotension group, showing four or more episodes of intradialytic hypotension, and the non-hypotension group, showing three episodes of intradialytic hypotension or less. The intradialytic hypotension was defined as a fall of ≥30 mm Hg in the systolic blood pressure during HD. The brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV), serum high-sensitivity (hs)-CRP, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and serum malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL) were measured before HD. The high- frequency (HF) and low-frequency components (LF) of the heart rate variability and entropy were analyzed by the maximal entropy method. The ba-PWV, hs-CRP, ROS generation, and MDA-LDL were significantly higher in the hypotension group than in the non-hypotension group. HF, LF/HF, and entropy during HD increased significantly in the non-hypotension group, while entropy during HD decreased significantly in the hypotension group as compared with the baseline. LF/HF and entropy during HD were significantly lower in the hypotension group than in the non-hypotension group. These findings suggest that the major factors causing excessive fall of blood pressure during HD in patients with CRF might be vascular malfunction and imbalance of autonomic nervous activity.

This study was designed to clarify the effects of breathing with prolonged expiration on cardiopulmonary responses and autonomic nervous activity during incremental exercise. Eleven healthy men were randomly assigned to breathing mode: a prolonged expiration breathing with a 2-s inspired time and 4-s expired time and a spontaneous breathing without any constraints. Oxygen uptake (V(O2)), ventilation efficiency (V(E)/V(CO2)) and rate pressure product were measured. Low- (LF) and high-frequency (HF) components of blood pressure and heart rate variability were analyzed to assess sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous activities, respectively. V(E)/V(CO2), rate pressure product and LF were significantly lower, and [Formula: see text] and HF were significantly higher during exercise with prolonged expiration than with spontaneous breathing. Striking effects of prolonged expiration breathing included the improvement of ventilation efficiency, the suppression of sympathetic nervous activity and the activation of parasympathetic one during incremental exercise. Furthermore, prolonged expiration breathing may have suppressed the exercise-induced increase in myocardial V(O2).

The aim of the present study was to develop a novel questionnaire evaluating disability in the activities of daily living in the upper extremities of hemodialysis (HD) patients (QDUE-HD). We recruited 83 patients (40 males and 43 females) aged 66 ± 8 years, and measured their muscle strength and range of motion in the upper extremities. Moreover, 14 patients performed a six-week exercise training regimen (the exercise group) and were compared with 15 patients not performing such training (the control group). In an initial questionnaire consisting of 37 items, 30 were taken from the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire and the Activities of Daily Living Test, and the remaining seven were selected from activities that HD patients perceived as impossible or extremely difficult to perform. The principal factor analysis focused on 11 items, as 26 showing floor and ceiling effects were excluded. These 11 items were divided into two categories consisting of six items termed "light work" and five termed "holding activities". The scores for light work and holding activities correlated significantly and positively with both muscle strength and range of motion in the upper extremities. These scores increased significantly after the six-week exercise training as compared with those before training in the exercise group. We conclude that the QDUE-HD is clinically useful for evaluating disability in activities of daily living in the upper extremities of HD patients because of its high reliability, validity and responsiveness.

There are many types of citrus fruit grading machine with machine vision capability. While most of them sort fruit by size, shape and color, detection of fruit rot remains challenging because their colors are similar with normal parts. Objectives of this research were to investigate if fluorescence would be a good indicator of the fruit rot, and to develop an economical solution to add the rot inspection capability to an existing machine vision fruit inspection station. A machine vision system consisting of a pair of white and UV LED lighting devices and a color CCD camera was proposed for the orange fruit grading task. Since the time lag between the color and fluorescence image captures was short (14 ms), it was possible to inspect color, shape, size, and rot of a fruit on the move before it leaves an existing industrial inspection chamber.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of nifedipine coat-core (once daily formulation) and amlodipine on systemic arterial stiffness in patients with hypertension. Study drugs were assigned by the randomized open-label crossover method. After the blood pressure was maintained below 130/85 mm Hg for 8 months by treatment with either drug in 48 hypertensive patients (aged 63.2+/-6.9 years; 64.5% men), they were switched to the other drug for another 8 months. The blood pressure, heart rate, plasma catecholamine level and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were measured before and after a bicycle ergometer testing. Heart rate recovery was calculated from the change of the heart rate after treadmill exercise testing. The high-frequency and low-frequency components of the heart rate variability spectrum were analyzed from 24-h Holter electrocardiograms. The change of blood pressure after exercise testing showed no significant difference between the two medications. However, the increases of heart rate, noradrenalin and branchial-ankle pulse wave velocity after exercise were significantly smaller with nifedipine treatment than with amlodipine (P=0.0472, P=0.006 and P=0.0472, respectively). Heart rate recovery was significantly faster with nifedipine treatment (P=0.0280). The nighttime high-frequency component of heart rate variability was significantly larger after nifedipine treatment than after amlodipine (P=0.0259), while the nighttime low/high-frequency ratio was significantly smaller with nifedipine (P=0.0429). Nifedipine reduced functional arterial stiffness and improved heart rate recovery by altering the autonomic activity balance in hypertensive patients.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR) on job stress and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after return to work in middle-aged patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). A total of 109 middle-aged outpatients (57 +/- 7 years) who completed a phase I CR program after AMI were enrolled, 72 of whom participated in a phase II CR program for 5 months after hospital discharge (CR group) and 37 who discontinued the phase II CR program after the discharge (non-CR group). Job stress was assessed at 6 months after the AMI using a brief job stress questionnaire containing questions related to job stressors, worksite support, level of satisfaction with work or daily life, and psychological distress. HRQOL was assessed using the short-form 36-item health survey (SF-36) at hospital discharge and at 3 and 6 months after the AMI. There were no significant differences in clinical and occupational characteristics between the CR and non-CR groups. The CR group patients exhibited significantly better results for job stressors and psychological distress and higher SF-36 scores at 6 months after the AMI, as compared with those in the non-CR group. These findings suggest that discontinuing a phase II CR program induced chronic psychosocial stress after return to work in these middle-aged post-AMI patients.

We have proposed a vertical comb-drive MEMS mirror which can be applied for a spectrometer with a phase-shifting method, and fabricated the mirror device using the micro fabrication technology. The configuration of the MEMS mirror was designed with three vertical electrostatic comb-drive actuators and hinges at the periphery of the mirror. In the proposed spectrometer, the phase of the light which is reflected at the movable mirror is changed, and the interferogram is obtained by the movable mirror which is driven precisely. We evaluated the moving characteristics of the fabricated MEMS mirror and confirmed that the MEMS mirror could be driven vertically to about 23μm and also could be tilted. Using this MEMS mirror, we configured the spectrometer with a source of monochromatic light (λ= 405 nm), and evaluated the spectroscopic characteristic in principle. Then, we have confirmed that the fabricated MEMS mirror can be applied to the spectrometer with the phase-shifting method.

A two dimensional sinusoid diffraction grating is developed for a moire-reducing low-pass filter. Typical display units have image pixels arranged systematically in two dimensions, with non-illuminating regions between the image pixels. Using a conventional lens to view this display, the image pixels and the region between the pixels are both magnified, and the resulting image is unpleasant to the human eye, especially with color displays, called the screen door effect. This pixel problem is typically solved with a low-pass filter using a diffraction grating. However, depending on the period of the diffraction grating compared to the period of the image pixels, moire can be seen. In recent years, organic electroluminescence displays with a small fill factor are growing popular, but such displays are usually more prone to the screen door effect and moire. With conventional optical low-pass filters, only the pixel pitch in the vertical and horizontal directions are taken into account, but this is insufficient with small fill-factor pixels, and consideration for various diagonal periods is needed. A two dimensional sinusoid structure diffraction grating is developed for a moire-reducing low-pass filter. The angle of the grating with the image pixel arrangement, the distance between the display and the grating, the grating depth, and the grating period are all chosen appropriately, and take into account multiple non-adjacent diagonal image pixel periods for all colors, consequently reducing moire and the screen door effect. We present the calculations and evaluation results from plastic samples made by lithography tooled molds.

In general, thin-film coating process is widely applied on optical lens surface as anti-reflection function. In normal production process, at first lens is manufactured by molding, then anti-reflection is added by thin-film coating. In recent years, instead of thin-film coating, sub-wavelength structures adding on surface of molding die are widely studied and development to keep anti-reflection performance. As merits, applying sub-wavelength structure, coating process becomes unnecessary and it is possible to reduce man-hour costs. In addition to cost merit, these are some technical advantages on this study. Adhesion of coating depends on material of plastic, and it is impossible to apply anti-reflection function on arbitrary surface. Sub-wavelength structure can solve both problems. Manufacturing method of anti-reflection structure can be divided into two types mainly. One method is with the resist patterning, and the other is mask-less method that does not require patterning. What we have developed is new mask-less method which is no need for resist patterning and possible to impart an anti-reflection structure to large area and curved lens surface, and can be expected to apply to various market segments. We report developed technique and characteristics of production lens.

The paper describes a time- and angle-resolved photoemission apparatus consisting of a hemispherical analyzer and a pulsed laser source. We demonstrate 1.48-eV pump and 5.90-eV probe measurements at the >10.5-meV and >240-fs resolutions by use of fairly monochromatic 170-fs pulses delivered from a regeneratively amplified Ti:sapphire laser system operating typically at 250 kHz. The apparatus is capable to resolve the optically filled superconducting peak in the unoccupied states of a cuprate superconductor, Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d. A dataset recorded on Bi(111) surface is also presented. Technical descriptions include the followings: A simple procedure to fine-tune the spatio-temporal overlap of the pump-and-probe beams and their diameters; achieving a long-term stability of the system that enables a normalization-free dataset acquisition; changing the repetition rate by utilizing acoustic optical modulator and frequency-division circuit.

This paper describes two different types of GaAs-HBT compatible, base-collector diode 0/20-dB step attenuators-diode-linearizer type and harmonics-trap type-for 3.5-GHz-band wireless applications. The two attenuators use an AC-coupled, stacked type diode switch topology featuring high power handling capability with low bias current operation. Compared to a conventional diode switch topology, this topology can improve the capability of more than 6 dB with the same bias current. In addition, successful incorporation of a shunt diode linearizer and second- and third-harmonic traps into the attenuators gives the IM3 distortion improvement of more than 7 dB in the high power ranging from 16 dBm to 18 dBm even in the 20-dB attenuation mode when IM3 distortion levels are basically easy to degrade. Measurement results show that both the attenuators are capable of delivering power handling capability (P 0.2dB ) of more than 18 dBm with IM3 levels of less than -35 dBc at an 18-dBm input power while drawing low bias currents of 3.8 mA and 6.8 mA in the thru and attenuation modes from 0/5-V complementary supplies. Measured insertion losses of the linearizer-type and harmonics-trap type attenuators in the thru mode are as low as 1.4 dB and 2.5 dB, respectively.

維持透析を受ける血液透析 (HD) 患者は身体機能が低下しているため, 習慣的な運動を続けることが困難な場合が多い. HD患者の身体機能を維持・向上するためには, HD患者の特徴を考慮した効果的な運動療法の介入方法を構築する必要がある. 本研究は, 維持HD患者の運動継続に影響を及ぼすセルフ・エフィカシー (SE) を評価し, 身体機能とSEとの関係からHD患者に対する運動療法の効果について検討した. 維持HD患者122例を運動群と非運動群に分類して, 運動群には運動療法としてelastic resistance training (ERT) を2か月間施行し4か月間の観察期間を設けた. 6か月の研究期間を終了した運動群24例と非運動群20例を対象に, 患者背景因子としてHD期間, dry weight, body mass index, ヘマトクリット, 血清アルブミン, 症状得点, 身体機能 (PF) 偏差得点を, 身体機能の指標として握力と等尺性膝伸展筋力を測定した. 日常身体活動に対するSEの評価として身体活動SE尺度を用い, 上肢の運動に対するSE (上肢SE), 下肢の運動に対するSE (下肢SE) を算出した. 上肢SEを規定する因子として握力とPF偏差得点 (p

維持血液透析 (HD) 中に生じる血圧低下の原因として, 自律神経障害による血管収縮能の低下が関与することが知られているが, HD中の血圧低下の発生機序を詳細に検討し自律神経障害との関係について言及した報告は極めて少ない. 本研究は, 最大エントロピー法を用いてHD中の心拍変動を解析し, HD患者における透析時低血圧の発生機序について検討した. 日中にHD治療を受けている慢性腎不全患者56例を対象とし, HD中の血圧変化によって2群に分類した. すなわち, HD開始時の収縮期血圧と比較して, HD中の収縮期血圧の低下が30mmHg未満の患者を血圧不変群, 収縮期血圧が30mmHg以上低下した患者を血圧低下群とした. HD中は30分毎に血圧と心拍数を測定し, 患者背景因子として年齢, 性別, BMI, 糖尿病合併の有無, dry weight, 左室駆出率, BNPを調査した. 除水量はHD前後の体重変化をHD後の体重で除した除水率で評価した. 動脈硬化度の指標として, HD開始前に動脈波伝播速度 (PWV) を測定し, 身体活動量は国際標準化身体活動量質問表 (IPAQ) を使用して1週間の消費エネルギーを推定した. 自律神経活動の評価は, HD開始前にHolter24時間心電図を装着し最大エントロピー法にて心電図RR間隔の心拍変動解析を行い, 高周波成分 (HF) を副交感神経活動, 低周波成分 (LF) とHFとの比 (LF/HF) を自律神経活動のバランス, エントロピーを心拍変動の乱雑性の指標とした. 患者背景因子は両群間で有意差を認めず, 血圧低下群は, 血圧不変群と比較してPWVが有意に高値を (p

This paper describes a 3.5V operation InGaP HBT MMIC power amplifier module for use in GSM/EDGE dual-mode, 900/1800/1900 MHz triple band handset applications. Conventional GSM amplifiers have a high linear gain of 40 dB or more to realize efficiency operation in large gain compression state exceeding at least 5 dB. On the other hand, an EDGE amplifier needs a linear operation to prevent signal distortion. This means that a high linear gain amplifier cannot be applied to the EDGE amplifier, because the high gain leads to the high noise power in the receive band (Rx-noise). In order to solve this problem, we have changed the linear gain of the amplifier between GSM and EDGE mode. In EDGE mode, the stage number of the amplifier changes from three to two. To reduce a high gain, the first stage transistors in the amplifier is bypassed through the diode switches. This newly proposed bypass circuit enables a high gain in GSM mode and a low gain in EDGE, thus allowing the amplifier to operate with high efficiency in both modes while satisfying the Rx-noise specification. In conclusion, with diode switches and a band select switch built on the MMIC, the module delivers a P out of 35.5 dBm and a PAE of about 50% for GSM900, a 33.4 dBm P out and a 45% PAE for GSM1800/1900. While satisfying an error vector magnitude (EVM) of less than 4% and a receive-band noise power of less than -85dBm/100kHz, the module also delivers a 29.5 dBm P out and a PAE of over 25% for EDGE900, a 28.5 dBm P our and a PAE of over 25% for EDGE 1800/1900.

We summarized the Therapeutic Guidelines for Atopic Dermatitis 2002, and outlined important points with reference to medical care and management of atopic dermatitis.

This paper describes a proximity correction for fabricating a chirped diffraction grating by direct-writing electron-beam lithography. The electron dose distribution is optimized by calculation with an electron-scatter simulator and a resist development simulator. These simulators are based on the Monte Carlo method and a cell removal model, respectively. To avoid an excessive increase in calculation time, the calculation was performed with 100 nm×100 nm square cells at an accuracy larger than that desired. Also, the resist profile was estimated accurately by adopting the interpolation with the resultant cell profile. In the case of a chirped period grating of 5 mm in width, it took 24 h to calculate the optimum electron dose profile. Moreover to investigate the validity of this correction method a chirped period grating of 0.1 mm in width was fabricated with the calculated dose profile.

This paper describes a single-chip RF transceiver LSI for 2.4-GHz-band Gaussian frequency shift-keying applications, such as Bluetooth. This chip uses a 0.18-/spl mu/m bulk CMOS process for lower current consumption. The LSI consists of almost all the required RF and IF building blocks: a transmit/receive antenna switch, a power amplifier, a low noise amplifier, an image rejection mixer, channel-selection filters, a limiter, a received signal strength indicator, a frequency discriminator, a voltage controlled oscillator, and a phase-locked loop synthesizer. The bandpass filter for channel selection was difficult to achieve since it operates at a low supply voltage. However, because large interference is roughly rejected at the output of the image rejection mixer and a wide-input-range bandpass filter with an optimized input bias is realized, the transceiver can operate at a supply voltage of 1.8 V. In the IF section, we adopted a circuit design using the minimum number of passive elements, resistors and capacitors, for a lower chip area of 10.2 mm/sup 2/.

Rigorous coupled-wave analysis (RCWA) has been used for determining periodic grating structures of diffractive optical elements (DOE) such as rectangular surface-relief gratings. When we observed a cross-sectional image of a manufactured rectangular grating by the scanning transmission electron spectroscopy (STEM), we found that the rectangular structure was deformed to a trapezoidal shape with non-zero corner radii. Therefore, we assumed that we could derive more accurate diffraction efficiencies by RCWA using parameters of the trapezoid such as the height, base angles, and the corner radii as well as the grating pitch. However, each parameter varies in distribution, resulting in a variation in diffraction efficiencies. Tolerance analysis in the design stage is effective in quantitatively predicting that the diffraction efficiencies are in the allowable ranges. Therefore, we have developed a Monte Carlo simulation program by applying RCWA, which can handle distributions of these trapezoid parameters. The program can also handle the distributions of the thickness and refractive indices of the thin films deposited on the grating. The distributions of the trapezoid parameters were obtained through multiple measurements of the substrates without thin films using atomic force microscopy. The distribution of the thickness and refractive indices of the thin films were obtained from analyzed data measured in the vacuum deposition equipment. According to our measurements of the diffraction efficiencies of the manufactured gratings, the diffraction efficiencies have been in the allowable range, and have also been consistent with the Monte Carlo simulations for the tolerance analysis.

Signalling via the CD43 and CDw60 epitopes has been reported as providing two novel pathways of T-lymphocyte activation. In Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, which has atopic eczema-like skin symptoms, there is a defective expression of CD43, while CDw60 is strongly expressed on T cells from rheumatoid arthritis synovial fluid and from psoriatic skin lesions, and on blood mononuclear cells from patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. We therefore studied the expression and function of these phenotypes on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and on CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets from patients with atopic dermatitis. We observed a significant increase in the percentage of CD43+ cells among the blood mononuclear cells in patients with atopic dermatitis and an enhanced proliferation of CD4+ T cells following stimulation with anti-CD43 antibody. There were no changes in the CDw60 expression or function after stimulation with anti-CDw60 antibody. Thus, CD43 expression was not decreased but rather increased in blood mononuclear cells from patients with atopic dermatitis, whereas CDw60 expression did not differ from healthy controls.

The three-dimensional finite element (3D FE) methods have been used increasingly to evaluate the bearing capacity of pavement structures. In this evaluation, layer moduli are backcalculated from measured surface deflections of the pavement structure. However, backcalculation requires repetitive computation to improve the parameter values in an iterative manner, and thus it is time consuming when 3D finite elements are used for the analysis. In this article, an effective method is developed to estimate layer moduli and damping coefficients in the time domain. The pavement is modeled using 3D finite elements. Gauss—Newton and singular value decomposition methods are employed to backcalculate the unknown parameters. Ritz vectors are used to reduce the size of the matrices required for the analysis. Numerical simulations verify the effectiveness and accuracy of the Ritz vector method. Acknowledgements and Notes. All correspondence should be addressed to Q. Dong. Postdoctoral Fellowships for Foreign R...

Four patients had the clinical features of 'ampulla cardiomyopathy', consisting of acute-onset transient left ventricular apical akinesis with basal normokinesis, normal coronary angiogram, ST-segment elevation and subsequent giant T wave inversion, which mimicked acute coronary syndrome, the onset of which occurred shortly after extreme mental stress. Myocardial necrosis was minimal, although 2 patients showed elevated serum catecholamine levels in the acute phase. Each patient underwent serial cardiac radionuclide single-photon emission computed tomography of myocardial functional sympathetic innervation, fatty acid metabolism and perfusion using I-123-metaiodobenzyl-guanidine (MIBG), I-123-beta-metyl-iodophenyl pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) and thallium-201 (201Tl), respectively. In the acute phase, MIBG and BMIPP imaging showed an uptake defect in the apical region, whereas 201Tl uptake was mildly decreased. When assessed semi-quantitatively, the MIBG images had higher defect scores from the acute phase throughout the year of observation compared with BMIPP, and 201Tl. These observations suggest that the primary cause of ampulla cardiomyopathy is related to a disturbance of the cardiac sympathetic innervation.

An axisymmetric model to represent pavement is employed in the most backcalculation software currently available. However FWD test is sometimes required at a location where the axial symmetry is not applicable. It is investigated in this paper how the distance between FWD test location and pavement edge affect surface deflections using 3-dimensional finite element analysis and what backcalculated layer moduli will be if a current software is used on them. Furthermore the relation between a speed of surface wave propagation and FWD location is also examined. It is found that when as the test location gets closer to pavement edge; 1) surface deflections abruptly increase, 2) the estimated base modulus is greatly affected, and 3) the velocity of surface wave propagation is little affected.