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Neutron double-differential cross sections from carbon ion incident on carbon, nitrogen and oxygen targets have been measured for neutron energies down to 0.6 MeV in wide directions from 15 ∘ to 90 ∘ with 100- and 290-MeV/A incident energies at the Heavy Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC), National Institute of Radiological Sciences. Two sizes of NE213 scintillators were used as neutron detectors in order to enable neutron energy from below one to several hundred MeV. The neutron energy was measured by the time-of-flight technique between the beam pickup detector and an NE213 scintillator. By using the experimental data, the validity of the calculation results by the PHITS code was examined.

Microwave irradiation was performed using compacted Ti powder in three types of atmosphere, namely, Ar gas, N2 gas and air. The temperature increased slightly in the early stage of microwave irradiation and then remained almost unchanged. Thereafter, abrupt temperature rise and drop occurred. The temperature then remained almost unchanged in the late stage of microwave irradiation. The time from which the abrupt temperature rise and drop occurred was varied by the atmosphere. The maximum temperature in microwave irradiation in Ar gas was near the melting point of Ti, while those in N2 gas and air were beyond this melting point. Although a TiO2 layer was formed near the upper surface of the compacted powder after microwave irradiation, α-TiN and TiN were produced in its interior. The microwave heating behaviour and microstructure of the compacted powder after microwave irradiation depended on the atmosphere and the amount of air contamination in it.

We have developed a thin, reliable, low-thermal-resistance LSI packaging technology by embedding a high-pin-count LSI chip into thin build-up layers supported by Cu plate. The embedded LSI chip is a microprocessor with approximately 1500 pads and a thickness of 50 μm, and it is completely laminated by the first build-up epoxy resin. The total package thickness is only 0.71 mm including a 0.5-mm-thick Cu plate for cooling, which is much thinner than the conventional flip chip ball grid array (FCBGA) package with a heat sink. Our package shows excellent warpage characteristics of only 34 μm at room temperature for 27 × 27 mm2 in size. It is also possible to reduce the total package thickness to 0.46 mm by etching the Cu plate to half thickness, with keeping the warpage increase up to 117 μm. Low thermal resistance of 10.8°C/W is achieved for the packages with 0.5-mm-thick Cu plate at a wind velocity of 0 m/s, which is almost comparable to that of an FCBGA with a large heat sink. We have successfully demonstrated the functions of our packages using an LSI tester and personal-computer-like system board. They have also passed a 1000-cycle package-level thermal cycle test.

Electroabsorption spectra of Parylene-C films are found to exhibit several peaks whose wavelengths depend on the thickness of the film. The spectral feature is well correlated to the first derivative of the transmission spectrum of the Parylene-C film sandwiched between two reflective metal layers, and the peak intensities are in proportion to the square of the magnitude of a modulation voltage. The electroabsorption spectra observed in a transparent region of the electrically insulating films are accounted for in terms of the interference effect coupled with the electro-optical Kerr effect of the Parylene-C films.

We developed a single-chip receiver antenna combined with coplanar waveguide (CPW) impedance matching circuits and multi-bandpass filters (multiplex receiver). Firstly, we designed a HTS slot antenna with 10.5 GHz center frequency. Next, in order to compensate the reactance of the antenna at different center frequencies of the BPFs, we attached the reactance compensation transmission lines behind the -junctions. Finally, we design the channel #1 BPF and channel #2 BPF matched to the input impedance of the antenna and reactance compensation line. The channel #1 BPF has center and channel #2 BPF has center . The prototype YBCO 2-channel BPFs was fabricated and verified the design theory.

This paper describes a novel method to separate the leakage current, obtained in polymeric materials during a salt fog aging test, into three components of conductive current, corona discharge current and dry band arc discharge current. First, we investigated that the relationship between optical emissions due to discharges and a leakage current. Based on experimentally defined discharge types, the separation of the leakage current was carried out. Finally, the polymer surface was analyzed using an electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), and the change in the polymeric constituents was evaluated. The results showed that the cumulative charges due to the dry band arc discharge and the corona discharge to the total charge were about 20 and 10%, respectively. It was also found that a high temperature vulcanized (HTV) silicone rubber could retain its insulation performance better than a room temperature vulcanized (RTV).

Nonlinear cubic theory is developed to obtain a frequency response of shock-free, forced oscillations of an air column in a closed tube with an array of Helmholtz resonators connected axially. The column is assumed to be driven by a plane piston sinusoidally at a frequency close or equal to the lowest resonance frequency with its maximum displacement fixed. By applying the method of multiple scales, the equation for temporal modulation of a complex pressure amplitude of the lowest mode is derived in a case that a typical acoustic Mach number is comparable with the one-third power of the piston Mach number, while the relative detuning of a frequency is comparable with the quadratic order of the acoustic Mach number. The steady-state solution gives the asymmetric frequency response curve with bending (skew) due to nonlinear frequency upshift in addition to the linear downshift. Validity of the theory is checked against the frequency response obtained experimentally. For high amplitude of oscillations, an effect of jet loss at the throat of the resonator is taken into account, which introduces the quadratic loss to suppress the peak amplitude. It is revealed that as far as the present check is concerned, the weakly nonlinear theory can give quantitatively adequate description up to the pressure amplitude of about 3% to the equilibrium pressure.

To determine if there are common genes that contribute to the susceptibility for schizophrenia, first-stage genome-wide scan was carried out by genotyping 417 short-tandem repeat (STR) markers in 338 individuals from 130 families with 148 affected sib-pairs identified at 16 sites nationwide in Japan. Data was from the Japanese Schizophrenia Sib-pair Linkage Group (JSSLG), which is a multi-site collaborative study group established to create a national resource for genetic studies of schizophrenia in Japan. All subjects were Japanese, and the probands and their siblings had schizophrenia. Multipoint non-parametric linkage analysis and exclusion mapping were performed with GENEHUNTER software. Simulation studies suggested that in the absence of linkage we could expect one multipoint maximum LOD score (MLS) of 1.9 per genome scan. An MLS of 3.7 would be expected only once in every 20 genome scans and thus corresponds to a genome-wide significance of 0.05. No loci in the initial screen fulfilled the criteria for significant or suggestive evidence for linkage. Ten chromosomes (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 14, 17, and 20) had at least one region with a nominal P value

Aiming at better accuracy of secondary dose estimation in particle radiotherapy, we measured energy-angle double-differential cross sections of ion production reactions at small angles with a 40-MeV proton beam. The target used was natural abundant carbon, and it was placed in a special vacuum chamber, which allowed small angle measurements. Obtained data were compared with data measured previously and theoretical calculations based on the exciton model. It is the first time to determine the data of ion productions at angles smaller than 15°.

A planar dielectric waveguide filter with coplanar waveguide (CPW) I/O ports suitable for flip-chip bonding is proposed and is demonstrated for 60-GHz-band applications. The filter is formed incorporating metallized through holes in an alumina substrate. In order to improve stopband rejection, short-circuited CPW resonators with a half-wavelength are added to waveguide-to-CPW transitions. A fabricated four-resonator filter exhibits an insertion loss of 3.2 dB with a 3-dB bandwidth of 3.0 GHz and rejection of 35 dB at 3-GHz lower separation from a center frequency of 59.5 GHz. The filter is mounted by using flip-chip bonding in a multilayer ceramic package with structures to suppress parasitically propagating electromagnetic waves. No degradation of the stopband rejection is observed from 50 to 80 GHz.

1. The present study was conducted to compare body weight, daily weight gain, relative growth rate, food intake, food conversion efficiency, abdominal fat weight, thyroid weight, plasma T4 concentration, body temperature, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and heat production among three Japanese-quail lines selected for body weight: a random bred line (RR) and lines for large (LL) or small (SS) body weight. 2. T4 concentration increased in the order SS, RR, LL in both sexes and did not vary significantly between sexes; the SS line had a significantly higher value than that of the LL line. 3. The body temperatures of SS, RR and LL lines were 42.45, 42.03 and 41.25 degrees C in males, and 42.7, 42.03 and 41.63 degrees C in females. 4. The oxygen consumptions of SS, RR and LL lines were 63.4, 46.0 and 43.8 ml/kgW0.75 min. in males, and 61.4, 44.8 and 37.2 in females. The value for SS was significantly higher than those of RR and LL lines in both sexes (P < 0.01). The carbon dioxide productions of SS, RR and LL lines were 31.8, 33.8 and 27.3 ml/kgW0.75 min. in males, and 31.2, 31.9 and 27.3 in females. In both sexes, that of the LL line was significantly lower than those of the SS and RR lines (P < 0.01). 6. The heat productions of SS, RR and LL lines were 1.178, 0.994 and 0.842 kJ/kgW0.75 min. in males, and 1.142, 0.879 and 0.736 in females. In both sexes, the heat production of the SS line was higher than those of the RR and LL lines (P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Measles virus (MV) has two envelope glycoproteins, the hemagglutinin (H) and fusion protein, which are responsible for attachment and membrane fusion, respectively. Signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM, also called CD150), a membrane glycoprotein expressed on immune cells, acts as the principal cellular receptor for MV, accounting for its lymphotropism and immunosuppressive nature. MV also infects polarized epithelial cells via an as yet unknown receptor molecule, thereby presumably facilitating transmission via aerosol droplets. Vaccine and laboratory-adapted strains of MV use ubiquitously expressed CD46 as an alternate receptor through amino acid substitutions in the H protein. The crystal structure of the H protein indicates that the putative binding sites for SLAM, CD46, and the epithelial cell receptor are strategically located in different positions of the H protein. Other molecules have also been implicated in MV infection, although their relevance remains to be determined. The identification of MV receptors has advanced our understanding of MV tropism and pathogenesis.

We selected the target stars for the Subaru Strategic Exploration of Exoplanets and Disks (SEEDS) with the High‐contrast Coronagraphic Imager for Adaptive Optics (HiCIAO/AO188) observations from the members of open clusters and moving groups. For this selection, we defined the criteria for open clusters and moving groups. Using those selection criteria, we made a target list for open clusters and moving groups. The number of target stars selected is 50 from each category. As a result, the target stars for the open cluster category were selected only from the Pleiades, and those for the moving groups were from six different moving groups. We calculated the expected number of exoplanet detections by HiCIAO and AO188 (to be used on Subaru) by assuming the exoplanet formation probability. The expected number of the direct exoplanet detection is 28 in this category.

This paper presents the design method of the CPW-fed slot dipole antenna for one-sided directional ultra wide band (UWB) high band application. By using and controlling the three resonances from the slot and antenna substrate, we can realize the wide band radiation. The tested antenna size is 16 mm times 29 mm.

In order to easily monitor the wide-area power system information covering many power producers, suppliers, and power companies, authors have been developed a PMU (phasor measurement unit) based WAMS (wide area measurement system). This WAMS momentarily gather information about the power oscillation affecting the stability of Japanese longitudinal power systems by signal processing of the power outlet phasor. This paper introduces the features of the PMU based WAMS, and an availability of the power outlet phasor is validated by comparing the measurements with actual power station. And as one of the applications, an estimation method of interconnected power system parameters from the monitored power oscillation information is proposed.

Summary. Background: Sepsis is a life-threatening disorder resulting from systemic inflammatory and coagulatory responses to infection. High-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), an abundant intranuclear protein, was recently identified as a potent lethal mediator of sepsis. However, the precise mechanisms by which HMGB1 exerts its lethal effects in sepsis have yet to be confirmed. We recently reported that plasma HMGB1 levels correlated with disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) score, indicating that HMGB1 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of DIC. Objectives: To investigate the mechanisms responsible for the lethal effects of HMGB1, and more specifically, to explore the effects of HMGB1 on the coagulation system. Methods: Rats were exposed to thrombin with or without HMGB1, and a survival analysis, pathologic analyses and blood tests were conducted. The effects of HMGB1 on the coagulation cascade, anticoagulant pathways and surface expression of procoagulant or anticoagulant molecules were examined in vitro. Results: Compared to thrombin alone, combined administration of thrombin and HMGB1 resulted in excessive fibrin deposition in glomeruli, prolonged plasma clotting times, and increased mortality. In vitro, HMGB1 did not affect clotting times, but inhibited the anticoagulant protein C pathway mediated by the thrombin–thrombomodulin complex, and stimulated tissue factor expression on monocytes. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate the procoagulant role of HMGB1 in vivo and in vitro. During sepsis, massive accumulation of HMGB1 in the systemic circulation would promote the development of DIC.

This paper presents a 30 GHz-band oscillator with a temperature stable dielectric resonator (DR). The DR is formed incorporating metalized through holes in a dielectric substrate. An oscillator MMIC is stacked on the DR using flip-chip bonding. A fabricated dielectric resonator oscillator (DRO) shows an output power of larger than +10 dBm and a phase noise of less than -90 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz-offset with an oscillation frequency of around 31.7 GHz. The frequency change is /spl plusmn/315 ppm over a temperature range from -25 to +100 /spl deg/C. The size of the DRO is 4.3 mm /spl times/ 3.8 mm /spl times/ 0.4 mm.

To search the new magnetic regenerator materials in the temperature range near 4 K, specific heat behavior of pseudobinary compounds ErxDy1−xSb(x=0, 0.2, 0.6, 0.8, and 1) was studied at temperatures from 2 to 40 K. The ordering temperature shifts from 3.5 to 9.5 K with increasing the concentration of the Dy+3 ion. The compounds of 1≳x≳0 show the gradual magnetic phase transition. The change of entropy associated with the magnetic phase transition is close to R ln 2 for all compounds. The change of magnetic entropy up to 40 K increases rapidly with decreasing the concentration of the Dy+3 ion, which implies that more excited states exist. The compounds of lower concentration of the Dy+3 ion have properties well suited for magnetic regenerative material around the temperature range of 4 K.

A 1.25 Gbps 60 GHz-band full duplex wireless Gigabit Ethernet link has been developed. Direct ASK modulation and demodulation scheme is adopted for the 60 GHz-band transceiver. CPW MMIC's and planar filters are flip-chip mounted in TX and RX LTCC MCM's. The wireless Gigabit Ethernet link has the function of converting an optical fiber link to a wireless link seamlessly combining a 60 GHz-band transceiver with a 1000Base-SX optical in/out module. The size is 159/spl times/97/spl times/44 mm/sup 3/.

Thrombin, a serine protease generated by the activation of the blood coagulation cascade following vessel injury, induces vascular endothelial growth factor-(VEGF) release. However, the molecular mechanism of thrombin-induced VEGF release is largely unknown. Anagonist of protease-activated receptor-i (PARI), SFLL-RNPNDKYEPF, mimicked thrombin-induced VEGF release in human vascular smooth muscle (HVSM) cells, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and Northern blotting. In contrast, the agonist of PAR3, TFR- GAP, did not affect VEGF release or expression. SFLL-RNPNDKYEPF, but not TFRGAP, up-regulated [Ca2-]i.Moreover, the calcium ionophone A23187 was found to trigger VEGF release in HVSM cells. Thrombin-inducedVEGF release was blocked by anti-thrombin, heparin, a synthetic thrombin receptor inhibitor E5510, the calcium chelator BAPTA, the protein kinase C inhibitor calphostin C, and the MEK1/2 inhibitor U0126. Thus, our data show that thrombin caused VEGF release via PARI activation in a manner dependent on [Ca2+]i and p44/42 downstream from the receptor activation.

A 1.25 Gb/s 60 GHz-band compact transceiver module uses ASK modulation. CPW MMICs and planar filters are flip-chip mounted in TX and RX LTCC MCMs. The transmitter exhibits 9.6 dBm output power. The receiver shows -50 dBm minimum received power for 1.25 Gb/s error-free transmission. The transceiver module is 82/spl times/53/spl times/7 mm/sup 3/ (30 cc).

Small-size planar dielectric waveguide filters are presented for 60-GHz-band flip-chip modules. The filters have cross-coupling to introduce an attenuation pole for higher stop-band rejection. We develop two types of three-resonator filters: one has a medium bandwidth and the other has a narrow bandwidth. The former filter shows 1.1-dB insertion loss at a center frequency of 58.3 GHz and 33-dB suppression at a 3-GHz-higher separation. The latter filter shows 3.1-dB insertion loss at a center frequency of 58.4 GHz and a 10-dB-bandwidth of 2.7 GHz. The size of each filter Is 3.4 mm/spl times/3.5 mm.

Requirements for a Si wafer cleaning and drying technology with better performance and better cost efficiency, as well as less environmental pollution are on the increase, as the wafer diameter becomes larger and the pattern design rule becomes as small as 0.25 /spl mu/m and below. The conventional IPA vapor dryers are widely used for wafer drying today, however, this method requires a large amount of IPA. Here, we report a new drying method (Stacked Dual Chamber Dry) using a small amount of IPA vapor in inert gas. It was found that the new drying method consumes one-fourth of the IPA with conventional drying and processing time is significantly shortened.

This paper describes the change in polymer materials in a multi aging test. In order to examine the factors that are related with deterioration, three types of aging test (UV, salt fog, UV+salt fog) were conducted. After the aging tests, each sample used was analyzed by ESCA (Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis) and FT-IR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy). Consequently, it was found that the changes in the polymer material were remarkable in the salt fog and UV+salt fog test. On the other hand, the changes in the polymer material were less in the UV only aging test.

A deterioration diagnostic method using salt fog aging test particularly on silicone rubber that possesses hydrophobic recovery properties has now been developed. Two kinds of discharges occurring in the salt fog aging test adversely affected the silicone rubber material. Using a spectroscope and still camera, the discharge characteristics of spectral distribution and optical observation were observed. High-speed camera images of the corona and dry band arc discharges in the, salt-fog aging test were studied. The results, confirmed the corona discharge emission spectra is mainly ultravioliet and that of dry band arc discharge includes the yellow-red range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

A planar dielectric waveguide filter with CPW I/O ports suitable for flip-chip bonding is proposed and demonstrated for 60 GHz-band applications. The filter is formed incorporating via holes in an alumina substrate. In order to improve a stop-band rejection, short-circuited CPW resonators with half wavelength are added to waveguide-to-CPW transitions. A fabricated 4-resonator filter exhibits an insertion loss of 2.8 dB with a 3 dB-bandwidth of 3.0 GHz and a rejection of 35 dB at a 3 GHz-lower-separation from a center frequency of 58.5 GHz. The filter is successfully mounted in a multi-layer ceramic package using flip-chip bonding.

To simulate behavior of water droplet under high humid condition, a droplet introduced onto the polymer surface was investigated at the experiment level; this including its characteristics under an applied electric field. A high-speed camera was used to observe the droplet movement on the polymer surface before and after the discharge. The surface potential distribution on and around the droplet was also investigated using an electrostatic voltmeter. Before discharge, the potential on the droplet surface became negative; after the discharge, fine droplets were ejected from the droplet surface leaving the surface with a net positive charge. The droplet was elongated in the direction of the electrodes with the increase of applied voltage finally resulting in a flashover.

This paper describes the weight change of alumina trihydrate filled silicone rubbers during a water absorption process and the surface changes involved. The weight changes for some samples were particularly examined after being dipped in warm water (20/spl sim/80/spl deg/C). Worthwhile results are obtained as follows. For the individual samples, it was found that the rates of weight change increased with increasing temperature. It is understood that silicone oil in the samples soaked in hot water of 80/spl deg/C for 500 hours begins to be dissolved from basic silicone polymers. Thus the rate of the change in weight decreases in comparison with the virgin sample with time. Because the binding energy of Si-C (4.5 eV) is lower than that of Si-O (8.3 eV), Si-C is broken more easily due to heating, and a remarkable decrease of Si-CH/sub 3/ was observed after being dipped in warm water.

To clarify the influence of water droplet size on aging of silicone rubber samples in the salt fog aging test, three types of fogs which were made by different equipment and had different sizes were conducted for accelerated aging. Consequently, the fog with large droplets resulted in remarkable change (degradation) on the polymer surface. On the other hand, the effect of smaller droplets was insignificant.

In nerve root infiltration (NRI) consisting of neural blockage and radiculography, response to the nerve root block has usually been thought to be diagnostically significant. However radiculography has not been statistically evaluated. The purpose of this paper is to assess the value of selective radiculography of patients with group 1 response (typical pain reproduced by needle placement and then relieved by nerve root block) according to Dooley's criteria. We studied selective radiculography in a consecutive series of 88 patients with lumbo-sacral radicular pain who showed group 1 response in NRI. The accuracy of the preoperative nerve root block and radiculography in 88 nerve roots (L5,S1) were correlated with the intraoperative findings. Selective radiculograms were classified into three groups; normal (absence of block), partial block, and complete block. The tilting angle of all nerve roots was measured. We found the symptomatic root at the same level of the nerve root block in all 88 patients. Selective radiculograms showed five normal roots, 15 roots with incomplete block and 63 roots with complete block. Fifteen radiculograms had abnormal tilting angles. The accuracy of radiculography was 84% in the canal zone and 100% in the intra and extraforaminal zones. If the L5 nerve root angle was more than 60(o), an intra or extraforaminal lesion was strongly suggested (P0.01). Radiculography of patients with group 1 response is useful for detecting compressed sites in the symptomatic nerve root, particularly for detecting lesions in the intra and extraforaminal zones.

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is highly elevated in patients with Crow-Fukase syndrome (CFS) and is well correlated with the clinical manifestations of CFS. In circulating blood, VEGF is specifically stored in platelets and released during platelet aggregation. To clarify the role of VEGF in the pathomechanism of CFS, we transplanted VEGF secretion tumors in nude mice and studied the pathological findings in these mice. Prominent edema with elevated serum VEGF were found. Organomegaly was also found in liver, spleen and kidney. Pathological findings in these organs were similar to those found in autopsies of CFS patients. In peripheral nerve, mild intraneural edema was seen, however, neuropathy was not prominent. These findings suggest that elevated VEGF may be closely correlated with generalized edema (anasarca). However, it is also important to consider factors such as cytokines and other T cell functions that, in association with VEGF, may be the cause of neuropathy in CFS.

Effects of a periodic array of Helmholtz resonators on forced longitudinal oscillations of an air column in a closed tube are examined experimentally. The column is driven sinusoidally at a frequency near the lowest resonance frequency by oscillating bellows mounted on one end of the tube. Frequency responses are obtained for small and large amplitudes of the excitations. While the array lowers the resonance frequency and the peak value, its dispersive effect, i.e., the dependence of the sound speed on a frequency, can annihilate the shock effectively.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are a risk factor for diabetic complications. We have developed an assay method for N-(carboxymethyl)valine (CMV) of the hemoglobin (CMV-Hb), which is an AGE generated from HbA1c. Herein we describe the clinical utility of CMV-Hb measurement for the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathyBALB/c mice were immunized with carboxy-methylated Hb and monoclonal antibody raised against CMV-Hb. This antibody was characterized by a surface plasmon resonance. We developed a latex immunoassay using the antibody and measured CMV-Hb from erythrocytes in type 2 diabetic patients and healthy control subjects (age 64.6 +/- 12.0 vs. 61.1 +/- 13.2 years, NS: HbA1c 69 +/- 1.5 vs. 5.2 +/- 0.4%, P0.0001).A monoclonal antibody against CMV-Hb beta-chain NH2-terminal and an assay method for measurement for CNMV-Hb were both developed in our laboratory. CMV-Hb levels were significantly greater in the diabetic patients than in the control subjects (18.2 +/- 6.9 vs. 12.7 +/- 0.9 pmol CMV/mg Hb, P0.0001). No correlation was found between CMV-Hb and HbA1c or CMV-Hb and glycated albumin. Levels of CMV-Hb increased as the diabetic nephropathy progressed.We established an assay method for CMV-Hb and confirmed the presence of CMV-Hb in circulating erythrocytes. CMV-Hb was more prevalent in diabetic patients than in healthy subjects. Furthermore, it was significantly higher in patients with diabetic nephropathy, suggesting that the presence of CMV-Hb may be a valuable marker for the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

60GHz-band 500-Mpbs transmitter and receiver multi-chip modules (MCMs) are presented, in which MMICs and a filter are mounted using flip-chip bonding technique. A multi-layer Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramic (LTCC) substrate is adopted for a package. The MCMs are directly bonded with printed wiring boards using ball grid array technique, achieving connections for signals and biasing. A developed 500-Mbps ASK transceiver exhibits an average output power of 10dBm and a minimum received power of – 55dBm. The transceiver is applied to the IEEE1394 wireless adapter which demonstrates 17-m communication distance in line of sight.

To examine the effects of the affinity of antifungal imidazole agents to cell membranes on the in vitro antifungal activity, the correlation between antifungal activity and hydrophobicity of these drugs was investigated. The capacity factor (k') in HPLC was used as a parameter of hydrophobicity, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) as a parameter of antifungal activity. Consequently, a significant portion correlation was noted in the case of Candida albicans. However, no obvious correlation was noted for Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trichophyton rubrum. Therefore, the mechanism of action of imidazole derivatives for Candida albicans was considered to mainly consist in the membrane action.

The present study was conducted to analyze biochemical marker genes and to clarify genetic variation in 4 Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) strains (MGS/Sea, MON/Jms Gbs, Kwl: Mongolian Gerbil and Hos: Mongolian gerbil) maintained in Japan. Cellulose acetate, starch gel or agar gel electrophoresis was used. Of the 23 kinds of proteins detected, variation was found only in liver acid phosphatase (Acp2); no variation in other proteins was found within or among strains. The results suggest that these 4 Mongolian gerbil strains are genetically similar. A strain difference was found in the Acp2 locus of liver acid phosphatase. The Kwl: Mongolian Gerbil strain had a band of Acp2 locus, whereas MGS/Sea, MON/Jms and Hos: Mongolian gerbil strains did not.

After blockade of the voltage-dependent potassium conductances by intracellular application of 4-aminopyridine and tetraethylammonium in frog myelinated axons, a set of brief (0.1 ms) intracellular depolarizing pulses or a long (200 ms) depolarizing pulse evoked a train of action potentials. Under both experimental conditions a hyperpolarizing afterpotential appeared (duration 367 ms +/- 34, mean +/- S.E., n = 15). The purpose of this study was to investigate the properties of this hyperpolarizing afterpotential. It was found that the hyperpolarizing afterpotential increases in amplitude with: (1) the number of sodium-dependent action potentials; (2) action potential broadening (following potassium channels blockade); and (3) the level of depolarization during a current step. Application of tetrodotoxin prevented the activation of the hyperpolarizing afterpotential by any of the above stimuli. The hyperpolarizing afterpotential was unaffected by: (1) 8-acetyl-strophanthidin, an agent that poisons the electrogenic pumping in the axon; (2) blocking calcium influx with extracellular 10 mM magnesium or 2 mM manganese; and (3) buffering of the intracellular calcium, using EGTA in the recording microelectrode. Extracellular application of tetraethylammonium, but not 4-aminopyridine, reduced the hyperpolarizing afterpotential. The hyperpolarizing afterpotential reversed at >> -92 mV. Increasing the external potassium concentration from 2 to 10 mM shifted the reversal potential +14.5 mV, indicating that the hyperpolarizing afterpotential is a potassium mediated conductance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In order to evaluate peripheral nerve impairments in vibration syndrome, sensory nerve conduction velocity (SCV) in the digital segment of the median nerve was measured by applying electrical stimulation to the wrist and recording from two pairs of electrodes attached to the middle finger. Fractionated SCVs were also measured in the palm-to-finger, wrist-to-palm, and elbow-to-wrist segments of the median nerve. Subjects were 65 patients with vibration syndrome and 48 healthy controls of similar age. SCVs in the digital nerve segment were significantly slower in the patients than in the controls. Significant slowing was also found in the wrist-to-palm segment. SCVs in the palm-to-finger and elbow-to-wrist segments did not differ between the two groups. Slowed SCVs were most frequently encountered in the digital segment (38% of the patients). The slowing in the wrist-to-palm segment was found in 20% of the patients. Present findings indicate that the digital segment is most frequently affected in vibration-induced neuropathy, and measurement of SCVs in the digital segment would serve to evaluate the peripheral neuropathy in vibration syndrome.

In order to clarify the effect of vibration syndrome (VS) on the peripheral nervous system (PNS) in the lower extremities, 59 patients with VS (age 58.5 +/- 5.1 years) and 49 age-matched controls (age 57.0 +/- 5.1 years) were examined for sensory nerve conduction velocities (SCV) in the sural nerve (SSCV) and the medial plantar nerve (PSCV) in the summer of 1993 and 1994. They had not been suffering from diseases and injuries which might have affected the SCV in the lower extremities. These patients were divided into two subgroups, one with past vibration exposure to chainsaw (N = 22) and the other with past vibration exposure to rock drills and other tools (N = 37). SCVs corrected by skin temperature were subjected to statistical analysis. In PSCV a significant reduction among all patients (40.8 +/- 4.24 m/s, p0.01) including two subgroups (chainsaw, 39.7 +/- 4.7 m/s, p0.01; rock drill and others, 41.0 +/- 4.6 m/s, p0.01) was observed compared with those of the controls (43.2 +/- 4.31 m/s), but there was no significant reduction in SSCV. Significantly more subjects with PSCV below the standard of PSCV (ten percentile value of those of the controls) were observed among all patients (17/59, 28.8%, p0.05) including two subgroups (chainsaw, 7/22, 31.8%, p0.05; rock drill and others, 10/37, 27.0%, p0.05) than in the controls (4/49, 8.2%). These findings suggested that VS affected the PNS function in the lower extremities and that its mechanism was considered to mediate a circulatory disturbance, and to differ from SCV reduction in the finger.

In order to clarify the involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) in vibration syndrome (VS), patients with VS and age-matched controls were given a questionnaire and neurophysiological tests on auditory brainstem response (ABR), event-related potential (P300), short-latency somatosensory evoked potentials (SLSEP), and blink reflex (BR). Twenty-eight patients with a mean age of 56.3 (SD = 3.01, range 48-65) years from western Japan were examined. They had been on sick leave for an average of 6.13 (SD = 3.2, range 1-13) years at the time of the testing. Almost all were experiencing Raynaud's phenomenon in the winter of 1990-1991. They were not suffering from diseases or injuries which might have affected the CNS function. These patients were divided into two subgroups, one with more symptoms related to the CNS, especially memory and judgment (n = 13, group A), and the other with fewer symptoms (n = 15, group B). Normal controls with an average age of 55.8 (SD = 4.8, 48-65) years were people from the same area who met similar criteria. The ABR parameters of the patients were slightly, but not significantly, delayed compared with those of the controls. The SLSEP and BR parameters of the patients were not delayed. The latencies of P300 in group A were significantly delayed compared with those in the controls. The findings suggest that VS involves the cognitive and attention functions of the cerebral higher function, but not the conduction function in the auditory and somatosensory ascending tract and facial nerve reflex tract in the brainstem.

Pathological findings of the fingers and toes were studied in finger and toe skin specimens from 21 male patients with vibration syndrome and 13 referent male cadavers. Thickening of the medial muscle layer of small arteries or arterioles, and increase of collagen fibers in the connective tissues, especially in perivascular regions, were noted in not only the finger but also the toe in patients with vibration syndrome. The ratio of the media/external diameter in the finger and toe was significantly greater in the patients than in the referents, even in the patients who had operated chain saws, bush cutters or grinders and had not been exposed to vibration of the foot directly. And the ratio in the finger was approximately parallel with that in the toe in the same subject. The present findings pathohistologically confirmed the existence of circulatory disturbances in the feet as well as the hands. The medial thickening of arteries and perivascular fibrosis in the toe can result from not only direct vibration exposure of the foot, but also long-term repeated vasoconstriction and circulatory disturbances in the foot through the activation of the sympathetic nerve system caused by hand-arm vibration.