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Electrical and physical failure analyses have played a key role in the yield enhancement of large-scale integrated circuits. However, the growing cost of product wafers has progressively hindered their use for analysis, depending on the shrinkage of device dimensions. To overcome these difficulties, we propose a new analytical style that uses the remaining dies on a sawn wafer after all the good dies have been picked and taken for assembly. We call the resulting structure a “skeleton-wafer”. In the present study, we have developed a testing system that can handle a skeleton-wafer in the same manner as a conventional wafer. Basically, skeleton-wafer testing is performed at room temperature, given that commonly used dicing tapes have low heat-resistance. We have also developed a sophisticated method that enables analytical testing on the remaining dies at high temperature. A case example achieves high throughput and good contact characteristics, enabling the developed system to be of practical use in high-volume electrical failure analysis. We illustrate how our analytical testing system has improved cost-effectiveness and time-efficiency in yield enhancement activity.

The 11th Symposium on Polar Science/Ordinary sessions: [OS] Space and upper-atmosphere sciences, Wed. 2 Dec.

Test quality is critical to eliminate test escapes and to achieve high-reliability large-scale integrated (LSI) devices. This paper proposes a new concept called “physical test coverage” to verify test coverage based on the physical layout of LSI circuits. The physical test coverage is calculated as the ratio between the critical area of all wires in a device and that of wires undetected by LSI tests. From the critical area of undetected wires and the defect density of a manufacturing line, the risk of test escapes can be predicted. To effectively develop LSI tests that can minimize the number of test patterns, undetected wires are prioritized by the critical area related to each wire. Even when the conventional “logical” test coverage is high enough to satisfy the coverage criterion, some LSI devices investigated in this paper showed low physical test coverage depending on the physical layout of the LSI circuit. The concept of physical coverage was applied in the test development of some LSI products, and the test quality was substantially improved, such that 90% of test escapes of a device were eliminated.

Background This study aimed to clarify the effects of underlying diseases on clinical outcomes of patients aboard a world cruise ship. Methods This prospective cohort study included patients who sought physician consultations at an onboard clinic on a 105-day world cruise (September–December 201X) on a ship chartered by a Japanese travel agency. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to ascertain whether any concurrent disease, such as hypertension, was associated with additional onboard treatment by the primary physician or serious events, including unexpected final disembarkation, temporary disembarkation for hospitalization ashore, shore-side referral, and onboard clinic admission. Results Of 313 patients, 182 (58%) had at least one underlying disease. Sixty-eight (22%) required additional treatment, and 24 (8%) experienced serious events. After adjusting for age, sex, and underlying diseases, the 60–69- and 70–74-year age groups had a lower risk of serious events than the ≤59-year age group (odds ratio [OR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24, 0.069–0.81; p = 0.022 and 0.045, 0.0051–0.47; p = 0.0055). Underlying disease was associated with serious events (OR, 95% CI: 3.2, 1.1–9.5; p = 0.036). Conclusions Unexpected events can occur in patients on world cruises regardless of age. Preexisting diseases may confer higher risk of serious events.

This paper proposes a highly cost-efficient failure analysis method for yield enhancement. A fully automatic “skeleton wafer” testing system has been developed. This system has performed high-throughput accurate probing on each bare die on a sawn wafer from which many chips have been taken away and has enabled high success rate of diagnosis. Extended application for high-temperature measurement was also demonstrated.

This is the first paper to reveal the formation mechanism of the abnormal growth of nickel silicide that causes leakage-current failure in complementary metal-oxide- semiconductor (CMOS) devices by using advanced transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques: electron tomography and spatially-resolved electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). We reveal that the abnormal growth of Ni silicide results in a single crystal of NiSi2 and that it grows toward Si directions along (111) planes with the Ni diffusion through the silicon interstitial sites. In addition, we confirm that the abnormal growth is related to crystal microstructure and crystal defects. These detailed analyses are essential to understand the formation mechanism of abnormal growths of Ni silicide.

Aim The purpose of this study was to better understand the effects of introducing the Japan Triage and Acuity Scale (JTAS) in the emergency room for walk-in patients. Methods A simple triage was used in Term A (from April 2006 to December 2010, 4 years and 9 months) and the JTAS was introduced in Term B (from January 2011 to September 2015, 4 years and 9 months). The number of patients who had a sudden turn for the worse after arrival in the emergency room and the time between attendance and emergency catheterization (TBAEC) due to acute coronary syndrome were reviewed. Results There were 653 patients in Term A and 626 patients in Term B who were finally diagnosed as having serious causes. There was no significant difference in the frequency of a sudden turn for the worse between the two terms. There were 182 patients in Term A and 167 patients in Term B who underwent emergency catheterization due to acute coronary syndrome. When ST elevation was recognized in the first electrocardiogram, the median time between attendance and medical attention during Term B improved significantly, by 4.5 min. However, there was no significant difference in medians for TBAEC. When ST elevation was not recognized, there was no significant difference between the two terms, neither in terms of median time between attendance and medical attention, nor TBAEC. Conclusion The data suggests that the effects of introducing the JTAS in the emergency room were restrictive in these two aspects.

We report a case involving accidental ingestion of a marble that was detected by point-of-care ultrasonography of the abdomen with the patient in the upright and slightly forward tilting position, which we term the "bowing position." Using this position for abdominal ultrasonography may be more useful than the usual supine position for such patients.

BACKGROUND: No prospective study of gamma knife thalamotomy for intractable tremor has previously been reported. Objective: To clarify the safety and optimally effective conditions for performing unilateral gamma knife (GK) thalamotomy for tremors of Parkinson disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET), a systematic postirradiation 24-month follow-up study was conducted at 6 institutions. We present the results of this multicenter collaborative trial. Methods: In total, 72 patients (PD characterized by tremor, n = 59; ET, n = 13) were registered at 6 Japanese institutions. Following our selective thalamotomy procedure, the lateral part of the ventralis intermedius nucleus, 45% of the thalamic length from the anterior tip, was selected as the GK isocenter. A single 130-Gy shot was applied using a 4-mm collimator. Evaluation included neurological examination, magnetic resonance imaging and/or computerized tomography, the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS), electromyography, medication change, and video observations. Results: Final clinical effects were favorable. Of 53 patients who completed 24 months of follow-up, 43 were evaluated as having excellent or good results (81.1%). UPDRS scores showed tremor improvement (parts II and III). Thalamic lesion size fluctuated but converged to either an almost spherical shape (65.6%), a sphere with streaking (23.4%), or an extended high-signal zone (10.9%). No permanent clinical complications were observed. Conclusion: GK thalamotomy is an alternative treatment for intractable tremors of PD as well as for ET. Less invasive intervention may be beneficial to patients.

A 68-year-old woman with no history of cardiac events suffered acute myocardial infarction after surgery for middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion manifesting as transient left motor weakness. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple infarctions in the right cerebral hemisphere. Magnetic resonance angiography and cerebral angiography demonstrated an occlusion at the horizontal segment of the right MCA and no collateral circulation. Cerebral blood flow study 6 weeks after the initial presentation indicated decreased blood flow in the right cerebral hemisphere. Superficial temporal artery-MCA anastomosis was conducted to prevent recurrent cerebral infarction. Two hours after surgery, her systolic blood pressure fell to 60 mmHg and her consciousness worsened. Emergency coronary angiography indicated occlusion of the right coronary artery. Percutaneous coronary intervention was successfully performed and the subsequent course was uneventful. Preoperative evaluation of the coronary artery may be necessary before surgery for cerebral ischemic disease in both the intracranial and extracranial arteries.

Background A rare case of a growing dissecting aneurysm, which was located at the horizontal (A1) segment of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), is reported. Case Description A 53-year-old woman experienced left hemiparesis and alien hand syndrome. A computerized tomography scan showed an infarction in the right frontal lobe, and cerebral angiography revealed a false lumen and intimal flap at the A1 segment of the ACA. Magnetic resonance angiography demonstrated that the stenosis progressed 6 months later and improved 1 year later. Cerebral angiography showed a saccular-like aneurysm 2 years later. The surgery was planned for prevention of aneurysmal rupture. The aneurysm, which was cocoon shaped, was exposed surgically and was resected. Histological examination of the aneurysm showed arterial dissection. The postoperative course was uneventful without additional neurological deficits. Conclusion This is the first case report of A1 dissecting aneurysm presenting with an ischemic event in the literature. The sequential change of the configuration was curious to develop aneurysmal dilatation in 2 years. Long-term follow-up is necessary even after disappearance of the arterial dissection.

目的:めまいを訴えて救急外来を受診する患者について,危険な責任病変に対する診断の的確性に関して検討する。方法:2002年4月1日より2004年3月31日までの2年間で,相澤病院の救急外来受診患者数は37,823人であった。そのうち,めまいに関連する病名を中心に約4,000人の電子カルテの記載を調べ対象症例を抽出した。結果:695人のめまい患者がのべ809回救急外来を受診した。この695人の患者の初回受診時において,受診後および入院後に危険な責任病変が診断できたものは42例(6.0%)あった。内訳は,脳梗塞4例,小脳脳幹梗塞15例,小脳脳幹出血7例,徐脈性不整脈6例,頻脈性不整脈3例,解離性大動脈瘤1例,ヘモグロビン値7以下の貧血3例,肝性脳症1例だった。性別(男性),年齢(70歳以上)は危険な責任病変を診断する上で有意な因子であった。危険な責任病変が診断できた42例のうち,もし心電図,血液検査,胸部X線写真をまず先に行った場合,30例(695人のめまい患者の4.3%)において危険な責任病変が診断できないものと推測された。引き続き頭部CTを施行すると21例(3.0%)において危険な責任病変が診断できないものと推測された。さらに拡散強調画像を含む頭部MRIを施行しても,入院後に小脳脳幹梗塞や徐脈性不整脈の所見が明らかになることもあり,5例(0.7%)において危険な責任病変が診断できないものと推測された。結語:注意深い既往歴の聴取と身体的・神経学的所見を得ることにより,多くの場合めまいの危険な責任病変を診断できると思われる。しかし,緊急で拡散強調画像を含む頭部MRIなどの諸検査を行っても,めまい患者のうち0.7%において危険な責任病変を診断できないものと推測された。

We present a rare case of traumatic atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation in an adult. A 63-year-old woman developed hypovolemic shock after sustaining a left hemothorax, fractured ribs, a pelvic fracture and a fracture of the right fibula in a motor vehicle accident. Consciousness disturbance and right hemiparesis were found after recovery from the shock at another hospital and a head computed tomography (CT) disclosed intracranial hemorrhagic lesions. The patient was transferred to our hospital. The patient presented with torticollis and a neurological examination revealed mild consciousness disturbance (Glasgow Coma Scale E3V4M6) and right hemiparesis. A head CT showed the contusion in the left temporal region and intraventricular hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance image (MRI) disclosed diffuse axonal injury at the splenium. Cervical X-ray and CT revealed atlantoaxial rotatory subluxation. Cervical MRI disclosed a spinal cord injury at the C4 level. After cervical traction, the torticollis improved and administration of steroids and hyperbaric oxygenation therapy were effective for the right hemiparesis caused by the spinal cord injury. Diagnosis of injuries in the upper cervical spine is very important but sometimes difficult in patients with multiple traumatic lesions. The possibility of this lesion must be considered when seeing a patient with multiple traumatic lesions, especially when presenting with head trauma and consciousness disturbance.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE: A rare case of an aneurysm arising at the fenestration of the P2 segment of the posterior cerebral artery is reported. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 37-year-old man presented with severe headache and disturbance of consciousness. Computed tomographic scanning showed diffuse subarachnoid hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography revealed an aneurysm at the fenestration of the P2 segment of the right posterior cerebral artery. The aneurysm was located at the middle portion of the lower trunk of the fenestration. An unruptured arteriovenous malformation was incidentally found in the right thalamus. INTERVENTION: A right frontotemporal craniotomy with orbitozygomatic osteotomy was made, and the aneurysm was successfully clipped. One year after the operation, gamma knife surgery was performed for the right thalamic arteriovenous malformation. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of an aneurysm originating from the middle portion of a fenestrated posterior cerebral artery.

Hemophagocytic syndrome is a rare but often fatal condition, and little is known about why this disorder can occur following surgery. We report herein the case of a patient successfully treated for a hemophagocytic syndrome-like condition that developed after emergency right hemicolectomy for a retroperitoneal abscess secondary to perforated colon cancer. The 62-year-old man initially presented after the sudden development of severe right back pain, and computerized tomography scans revealed a retroperitoneal abscess continuous with a tumor in the ascending colon. An emergency right hemicolectomy was subsequently performed. On postoperative day (POD) 2, his blood platelet count suddenly dropped to 1 x 10(4)/microl and histological examination of a bone marrow specimen taken on POD 5 showed abnormal histiocytes that had phagocytosed not only megakaryocytes, but also erythrocytes and leukocytes, and a normocellular marrow with a normal number of megakaryocytes. Hemophagocytic syndrome was suspected, and predonine was administered. The patient's condition improved remarkably and he was discharged on POD 51.

Background Activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) plays an important role in the development of ischemia/reperfusion injury in nonhepatic organs, such as the heart. However, the role of p38 MAPK activation in the liver is unclear. We examined the effects of FR167653, a novel p38 MAPK inhibitor, as an additive to University of Wisconsin (UW) solution in rat liver transplantation. Methods Rat orthotopic liver transplantation was performed after 30 hr of cold storage using UW solution with or without FR167653. Ten-day survival rates, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, liver tissue blood flow, histological findings, and activities of p38 MAPK and p46/p54 c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in liver grafts were evaluated. Results The addition of FR167653 significantly increased animal survival rates. FR167653 significantly suppressed serum ALT and LDH levels and improved liver tissue blood flow after transplantation. FR167653 also ameliorated histological damage to the liver graft. Neither p38 MAPK nor p46/p54 JNKs was activated during cold storage, whereas both were markedly activated within 30 min of reperfusion and remained activated until 60 min after reperfusion. FR167653 inhibited the activation of p38 MAPK both 30 and 60 min after reperfusion, but it did not affect the activation of p46/p54 JNKs. Conclusions The addition of FR167653 to UW solution improved liver graft viability and animal survival rates associated with the inhibition of p38 MAPK activation. These results suggest that inhibiting the activation of p38 MAPK may attenuate ischemia/reperfusion injury in liver transplantation.

A 62-year-old man, receiving chronic haemodialysis and suffering from alcoholic liver cirrhosis and chronic pancreatitis, presented with hypoglycaemic coma. Plasma cortisol was undetectable (< 5.5 nmol/L) with suppressed adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which established a diagnosis of adrenal failure due to ACTH deficiency. Twenty-five milligrams of oral hydrocortisone eradicated hypoglycaemia. Presentation of adrenal failure in this patient was atypical because he was hypertensive, serum electrolytes including sodium were normal and anaemia was unremarkable, which were all due to end-stage renal disease and its treatment with haemodialysis. As far as we are aware, this is the first case report of hypoglycaemic coma due to adrenal failure in a chronic haemodialysis patient.

✓ Despite recent advances in three-dimensional imaging based on a voxel-rendering method, these techniques do not simulate the morphological changes that occur during surgery. The authors' goal was to develop a computer-graphics model to simulate the manipulation that occurs during surgery when clipping a cerebral aneurysm.The authors developed an application program to interpolate the contours of models of an artery and an aneurysm clip. The center of displacement was determined inside the arterial model. The directions of displacement were changed to simulate saccular and broad-neck aneurysms, and the intensity of displacement was calculated by using a cosine-based formula. The morphological changes in a saccular aneurysm that may occur during clipping were calculated in x, y, and z coordinates by using sine- and cosine-based formulas. Clip movement was integrated with the aneurysm model, thus simulating the manipulation used during clipping of a cerebral aneurysm. Surgery performed to clip a basilar artery (BA) aneurysm via the transsylvian approach was simulated, in which displacement of the internal carotid artery and clipping of the BA aneurysm were necessary. The movements of an aneurysm clip and clip applicator were designed to represent those occurring when a surgeon actually manipulates a BA aneurysm.The authors have named this methodological tool “virtual clipping.” Use of this tool would assist the preoperative choice of clipping style and selection of the best clip.

今回, 群馬県における第一例目の生体肝移植の成功例を経験したので, ドナーの選定や手術手技を中心に報告する.症例は16歳の男性で, 劇症高アンモニア血症と脳症で発症し, 内科治療により緩解期にあった.Type II citrullinemiaで生体肝移植術目的に小児科より紹介された.ドナーは45歳の父親, 血液型はcompatible, リンパ球クロスマッチは陰性で, 遺伝子診断はType II citrullinemia heterozygoteであった.中肝静脈を含んだ拡大肝左葉グラフトの予測グラフトレシピエント体重比 (GRWR) は0.95%であり, 肝切除率は29%であった.ドナー手術においてグラフト肝に胆管および血管の異常はなく, 肝血行遮断をせずに中肝静脈を含む拡大肝左葉グラフトを採取した.摘出グラフト重量は370gで, GRWRは0.86%であった.手術時間は7時間32分, 出血は516gであった.全肝摘出前に無肝期の門脈圧亢進を防ぐため一時的に門脈下大静脈シャントをおいた.piggyback法でレシピエント中・左肝静脈にドナー肝静脈を再建し, 門脈を再建した.肝動脈は顕微鏡下に再建した.最後にRoux-en Yに胆管空腸吻合を行い, 消化管を連続させた.冷阻血時間は1時間22分, 温阻血時間41分であり, 門脈遮断時間は0分であった.レシピエント肝は脂肪変性を伴う硬変肝で, 全肝重量は1300gであった.レシピエントの手術時間は11時間5分, 出血は1258gであった.患者は術後50日目に退院し, 現在元気に外来通院中である.また, ドナーは術後10日で退院し社会復帰している.

In this article we demonstrate a computer graphics model to represent the microsurgical anatomy of the supraclinoid portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The source of the input data is a variety of publications showing the detailed anatomy of the area. A computer graphics model of the supraclinoid portion of the ICA and relevant structures including perforators and cranial nerves was made under full colour shading using a Z-buffer algorithm. Complicated microstructures including perforators or cranial nerves are depicted in detail, and can be rotated and viewed from any direction, and thus allows understanding of the three-dimensional relations of the area. Using our method, it may be possible to represent more complicated models of various anatomies, and this methodological tool would be useful for teaching surgical microanatomy and pathology and in pre-surgical operative planning and preparation of the surgeon, introducing a new style navigational system for open microneurosurgery.

✓ The authors' goal was to develop a computer graphics model to simulate the displacement and morphological changes that are caused by the retraction of fine intracranial structures.The authors developed an application program to interpolate the contour of models of an artery and a retractor. The center of the displacement was determined by spatial coordinates, and the shape of the displacement of the arterial model was calculated using a cosine-based formula with representation of a brain retractor. This computer graphics model was applied to the simulation of the displacement and morphological changes that occur when retraction is performed in the optic nerve. An illustrative case is presented, in which the optic nerve was displaced by a retractor to simulate the surgery performed in a carotid cave aneurysm of the internal carotid artery.The authors have named this methodological tool a “virtual retractor.” This new navigational system for open microneurosurgery would be useful in teaching surgical microanatomy and in presurgical operative planning.

IL-1 and TNF-alpha are known to be pleiotropic cytokines associated with various inflammatory conditions such as small intestinal injury after ischemia-reperfusion. FR167653 has been characterized as a potent suppressant of IL-1 and TNF-alpha production. The effect of FR167653 on intestinal reperfusion injury was investigated in a warm ischemia model of the canine gut. Sixteen mongrel dogs were divided into two groups: a control group and a FR group to which FR167653 was administered. Both the superior mesenteric artery and vein were clamped for 2 hr. Arterial pH, hepatic venous hemoglobin oxygen saturation, intramucosal pH, and the survival rate were well maintained in the FR group in comparison with the control group after reperfusion. FR167653 inhibited the expression of IL-1beta mRNA. Histologically, ischemia-reperfusion injury was more severe in the control group than the FR group. This study suggests that FR167653 inhibits proinflammatory cytokines and ameliorates ischemia-reperfusion injury of the small intestine.

An attachment device to fix a Sedan side-biting biopsy cannula to a stereotactic frame is described. The disadvantages of the biopsy cup forceps are resolved, and a relatively large amount of multiple specimens can be obtained along a single biopsy trajectory. This attachment device enables the side-biting cannula to follow a straight trajectory biopsy in various stereotactic frames.

The transformation of iron compounds (α-FeOOH, γ-FeOOH, ferrihydrite, limonite, and pyrite) into pyrrhotite (Fe1-xS) was systematically investigated through the sulfidation tests with elemental sulfur in the absence of feed coal under liquefaction conditions. The order of transformation temperature into pyrrhotite was as follows: ferrihydrite, FeOOH (250 °C) < limonite ore (300 °C) < pyrite ore (350 °C). The crystal growth of pyrrhotite proceeded in the following order: γ-FeOOH < limonite, α-FeOOH, ferrihydrite < pyrite (FeS2). Both transmission electron microscopy observations and corresponding X-ray diffraction data indicated that the ultrafine crystallites of Fe1-xS could be initially formed into the framework of iron oxyhydroxide particles at lower temperatures, followed by growing up to the large hexagonal crystal at higher temperatures through the disappearance of its framework. The presence of H2S is effective not only to maintain the sulfur-rich stoichiometry of Fe1-xS but also to suppress the c...

The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the site and rate of lymph nodes metastases originating from thoracic esophageal carcinoma and also to confirm the optimal extension of lymph node dissection in the treatment of thoracic esophageal carcinoma. A total of 70 patients were included in this study. The rate of lymph node metastases was 61% with no difference in the location of tumors. The rates of lymph node metastases in the tumor depth of muscularis mucosae (mm) and submucosa (sm) were 17% and 60%, respectively. Tumors with mm3 (massive invasion) depth had lymph node metastases of 29%, however, in cases of mm1-2 (slightly or moderate invasion), no lymph node metastases occurred. The deeper the tumor invaded, the higher and wider was the occurrence of lymph node metastases. The rates of lymph node metastases in the cervical, thoracic, and abdominal nodes were 14%, 37%, and 43%, respectively. Lymph node metastases jumped to the cervical region without upper mediastinal node metastases even if the tumor was located in the lower esophagus or the depth of tumor was mm3. In the thoracic nodes, the rates of metastases to the paraesophageal, the paratracheal (which includes the region of the right and left recurrent laryngeal nerve), and the bifurcation nodes were a maximum of 21%, 17%, and 10%, respectively. In the abdominal nodes, the rate of metastases to the right cardiac nodes was the highest. Among patients who underwent radical lymph node dissection, lymph node metastasis was seen in the paraaortic nodes but not surrounding the splenic artery or in the splenic hilar nodes. Patients who underwent three-field lymph node dissection had relatively better survival compared to those with two-field lymph node dissection. The cumulative survival rate was 52.8% after 5 years. Based on this study, the optimal extension of lymph node dissection is as follows : when a tumor has invaded to the mm3, standard three-field dissection should be performed, including the cervical and thoracic paratracheal, the deep cervical, and the supraclavicular nodes. When a tumor has invaded layer deeper than mp, a three-field dissection including the bifurcation, the pulmonal hilar, the paratracheal (including left thoracobronchial and Botallo nodes) and the intraabdominal paraaortic nodes sparing the pancreas and spleen, should be performed.

Transformation of iron based catalysts (γ-FeOOH α-FeOOH and natural pyrite) to pyrrhotite (Fe1-xS) was investigated in relation to the catalytic activ-ity in the initial stage of direct liquefaction of brown coal.XRD analysis indicated that γ-FeOOH could be completely transformed to pyrrho-tite with smaller crystallite size at 250°C, while only a part of pyrite converted at 350°C with a large crystal growth of pyrrhotite. It was found that remarkable hydrogen con-sumption was observed on the heating to 450°C during the liquefaction of Yallourn coal with γ-FeOOH compared to pyrite catalyst. Results from the analysis in the products suggested that gaseous hydrogen could be activated on Fe1-xS surface, followed by trans-fer to radical fragments produced through the thermal decomposition of coal.It was ascertained that γ-FeOOH had a excellent catalytic activity for hydrogen transfer to radical fragments in the initial stage during the liquefaction of brown coal be-cause of its lower transformation temperature to fine crystallite size pyrrhotite with high surface area, resulted in the higher oil yield with lower hydrogen consumption due to the less formation of hydrocarbon gases.

Similar unknown peaks were detected on an amino acid chromatogram of the acid hydrolysates in 3-deoxyglucosone (3DG)-lysozyme as well as glucose-lysozyme reaction systems. Unknown peaks were also detected in the acid hydrolysates of 3DG and N a -benzoylarginine amide (BzArgNH 2 ) reaction system. By this system, 2-(N α -benzoyl-N δ -ornithylamide)-5-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-4-imidazolone (S17) and 2-(N α -benzoyl-N δ -ornithylamide)-5-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2-imidazoline-4-one (S12) were identified as major products in a previous paper (Hayase et al. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 1995, 59, 1407-1411). In addition, minor products were also formed from one molecule of BzArgNH 2 and two molecules of 3-DG. The minor product was identified as 2-(N α -benzoyl-N δ -ornithylamide)-5,6a-di(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-5,6-dihydroxydehydrofuro[2,3-d]imidazole (S11). Periodic changes in the amounts of compounds S17, S12, and S11 suggest the formation of compound S17 via compound S12 by dehydration and oxidation from the BzArgNH 2 -3DG reaction system to be the major pathway, the formation of compound S11 by the addition of 3DG to compound S12 being the other pathway.

A detailed structural analysis of Hf-doped SiON dielectrics was performed by using advanced physical analysis techniques: Cs-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and three-dimensional (3-D) atom-probe (AP) tomography. We confirmed that the distribution and agglomeration of Hf atoms cause a time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) in Hf-doped SiON dielectrics gate stacks. We revealed that the behavior of Hf atoms in dielectrics is related to the TDDB lifetime, which depends on Hf concentration and the polarity of electrodes. The TDDB mechanism of Hf-doped SiON dielectrics was successfully revealed in detail, based on physical analysis results.

A 24-year-old woman was struck on the head by a hammer. Because of early signs and symptoms of intercranial hypertension, she underwent surgery for elevation of the depressed fragments which was compressing the superior sagittal sinus (SSS). After operation, the intracranial pressure (ICP) once decreased, but it gradually increased again. After hypothermia and barbiturate therapy, she recovered fully except for partial visual field defect due to brain contusion. A carotid angiogram 28 days after injury revealed complete occlusion of the whole SSS with good collateral circulation. After brain edema had subsided, a follow-up angiogram revealed normal blood flow through the SSS. Elevation of depressed bony fragments is required for a case presenting with early signs and symptoms of intracranial hypertension due to sinus compression. In a case with severe destruction of the SSS, one needs to know that re-occlusion of the dural sinus may occur after surgical recanalisation.

A 78-yr-old man was admitted in emergency with fatigue, anorexia, vomiting, hypothermia (35.1 °C on a hot August day), hypotension (89/56 mmHg) and hyponatraemia (126 mEq/l). Plasma corticotropin and cortisol were severely depressed: 0.84 pmol/L and 33.1 nmol/L respectively (reference range, 1.5-13.9 pmol/L and 110-505 nmol/L, respectively). Thyroid stimulating hormone was low-normal and free-triiodothyronine and free-thyroxine were subnormal. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed swelling of the pituitary gland and the stalk. The patient recovered after glucocorticoid replacement (200 mg/day intravenous hydrocortisone on Day 1 followed by tapering). Central diabetes insipidus which had become apparent had been treated with 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin. A surge of corticotropin and cortisol, 19.4 pmol/L and 712.1 nmol/L respectively, was found on Day 5 when luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and testosterone were subnormal and prolactin was slightly elevated. Subsequently, corticotropin and cortisol levels normalized together with normalization of luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, anti-diuretic hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin, testosterone and thyroid hormone levels. Shrinkage of the pituitary gland occurred after one month. Serum immunoglobulin G4 was elevated (3.21 and 6.02 g/l at 1- and 3-month follow-ups respectively). In conclusion, a paradoxical surge of corticotropin after glucocorticoid replacement was observed in a patient with central adrenal insufficiency due to immunoglobulin G4-related hypophysitis. Surge of ACTH in central adrenal insufficiency after glucocorticoid replacement has rarely been reported, and this is the second such case report.

A new approach of strain mapping is proposed with scanning transmission electron microscopy and applied to strained MOSFETs for the first time. This technique is extended to quantitative measurement with sub-nano meter spatial resolution combining with nano-beam diffraction. As a result, two-dimensional strain mapping with sub-nano meter spatial resolution is obtained and actual strain at inversion layer was determined using experimental methods without simulation. This technique will become a powerful means of improving the performance and optimizing stress design for strained MOSFETs of 45 nm node and beyond.

Protein-bound polysaccharide K (PSK) increased the 5-year disease-free survival rate and reduced the risk of recurrence in a randomised, controlled study for stage II and III colorectal cancer. In order to elucidate the disease-free survival benefits with PSK and what immunological markers could indicate a PSK responder, serial changes in immunological parameters were monitored in the study. PSK decreased the mean serum immunosuppressive acidic protein (IAP) level, and increased the mean population of natural killer (NK) cells compared with the controls. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rate for patients with serum IAP valuesor=500 microg ml(-1), which represents the normal value, were 75.5% (95% CI: 66.8-84.2%; p=0.016) and 85.1% (95% CI: 77.9-92.3%; p=0.032), respectively, in the PSK group compared with 57.5% (95% CI: 43.3-71.6%) and 70.2% (95% CI: 57.1-83.3%) in the control group. In patients with NK cell populationor=8% at 3 months after surgery, PSK conferred a significantly better (p=0.038) 5-year disease-free survival (86.7%; 95% CI: 74.5-98.8%) compared to the control group (60.0%; 95% CI: 29.6-90.4%). In the proportional hazards model, the presence of regional metastases (relative risk, 3.595; 95% CI: 1.518 to 8.518; p=0.004) and omission of PSK treatment (relative risk, 3.099; 95% CI: 1.202 to 7.990; p=0.019) were significant indicators of recurrence. PSK acts as an immunomodulatory activity and biochemical modulator in stage II or III colorectal cancer. Pre-operative serum IAP valuesor=500 microg ml(-1) and an NK cell populationor=8% at 3 months after surgery are possible PSK response predictors.

Liver resection has improved the survival of colorectal cancer patients with metastases. However, there are groups at high risk of recurrence after liver resection. This report reviews our results using anatomical liver resection and analyzes the prognostic factors.We analyzed 78 patients who underwent anatomical liver resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer between June 1988 and March 2002.Twenty-nine patients had synchronous metastases, and 49 had metachronous. The 5-year overall survival rate was 43%. Patients with more than three metastatic tumors had a significantly poorer 5-year recurrence-free survival rate. There was no statistical difference in the 5-year overall survival rate between patients with metachronous metastases (41%) and those with synchronous (44%) metastases. The 5-year overall survival rate was significantly poorer for patients with an interval of 1 year or less between colorectal and liver resections than for patients with a longer interval. Recurrence after liver resection occurred in 38 patients (49%). The recurrences occurred in the lung in 18 patients, in remnant liver in 15 patients, in lymph nodes in 7 patients, and in other organs in 6 patients.We conclude that anatomical liver resection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer improves survival. Liver metastases that occur within 1 year of colorectal resection may need an interval of observation before liver resection.

A patient with cerebral deep sinus thrombosis, which was not diagnosed on the first examination, is reported. A 46-year-old woman presented with headache and vomiting. Neurological examination and a brain computed tomography (CT) scan showed no obvious abnormal findings. The patient suffered disturbed consciousness on the day after the examination, and was admitted to our emergency centre. A CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an ischaemic lesion in the left basal ganglia, suggesting deep sinus occlusion. Anticoagulant therapy was administered. One day after admission, a CT scan showed a haematoma and severe brain swelling in the same region. Cerebral angiography demonstrated a straight sinus occlusion. Intracranial pressure was not controlled with hypothermia, and the patient died 25 days after admission. Review of the initial CT scan revealed subtle, early findings of deep venous thrombosis that were missed on first examination.

The evasion of apoptosis has been linked to the development of cancer. A recent study of a small number of gastric and colorectal cancers found that the BAK gene, which encodes a pro-apoptotic protein, contained somatic mutations in approximately 17% of the samples analyzed. To investigate the precise frequency of BAK mutations, we examined the entire coding sequence of the BAK gene in gastric and colorectal cancers, using polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis and direct sequencing. We could not detect any somatic mutations of the BAK gene in 192 colorectal and gastric cancers. We found only four single-nucleotide substitutions in the coding sequences, which were also found in corresponding normal samples. We conclude that somatic alterations of the BAK gene are rare in colorectal and gastric cancers.

Human cancers frequently show a loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 7q31, which indicates the existence of broad-range tumour-suppressor gene(s) at this locus. Truncating mutations in the ST7 gene at this locus are seen frequently in primary colon cancer and breast cancer cell lines. Therefore, the ST7 gene represents a novel candidate gene for the tumour suppressor at this locus. However, more recent studies have reported that ST7 mutations are infrequent or absent in primary cancer and cell lines. To ascertain the frequency of mutations of the ST7 gene in cancer cells, we examined mutations in the ST7 coding sequence in 48 colorectal, 48 gastric, and 48 hepatocellular carcinomas using polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformational polymorphism and direct sequencing. We detected somatic mutations, which were located near the exon-intron junction in intron 8, in only three out of 144 cases. We conclude that mutations in the ST7 gene are rare in primary colorectal, gastric, and hepatocellular carcinomas.

To obtain a low-thermal-expansion mold resin, various tests to obtain the most suitable coupling agent for the resin were carried out. As a result, the mixture of titanate and silane type coupling agents allowed an increase in filler content to higher than 60% in volume. The developed mold resin showed a thermal expansion coefficient as low as that of aluminum and had excellent resistance to cracking. Finally, it was confirmed that the mechanical strength, dielectric strength, and E-t characteristics of the developed resin were superior to those of the conventional one. >

It is demonstrated that the dynamic floating-body effects in SOI circuits can be detected directly by backside electron beam (EB) testing. Using the present technique, we have determined the actual body potential waveform during dynamic operation and confirmed that 0.35/spl mu/m field-shield SOI CMOS devices provide stable-operation while keeping such merits of SOI as quicker switching.

We have developed a nanoscale fault isolation technique based on conducting atomic force microscopy (AFM). Using this technique, we located the failure points of junction leakage and gate oxide leakage with high accuracy. Furthermore, we obtained the I-V curves by direct probing of 0.2 /spl mu/m contact plugs and verified the junction leakage failure model. This technique is useful for nanoscale fault isolation. It has the additional advantage of being available for samples without interconnects or electrodes, so that it can be applied to physical analysis of the samples after removal of metal layers or in-line inspection during the fabrication process.

BACKGROUND Aberrant activation of Wnt signaling caused by mutations in the tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli or beta-catenin is a critical event in the development of human colorectal tumors. We have recently identified the ICAT gene, which encodes a small protein that interacts with beta-catenin and represses Wnt signaling. METHODS We examined the prevalence of mutations in the entire ICAT coding sequence and intronic splice donor and acceptor regions of ICAT by PCR-SSCP and also the expression of the ICAT gene by RT-PCR. RESULTS The ICAT gene was mapped to chromosome 1p36.1-p36.2, which is implicated in the pathogenesis of various types of cancers. However, no mutations in ICAT were detected among 128 colorectal tumors. Instead, ICAT was found to be overexpressed in almost half of colorectal carcinomas. Cases exhibiting ICAT overexpression showed a significantly higher incidence of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma and positive lymphatic permeation. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that ICAT is not the putative tumor suppressor on 1p36.1-p36.2, although aberrant overexpression of ICAT may play a role in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinomas.

Omentoplasty--wrapping the omentum around the alimentary tract anastomosis is thought to lower the rate of anastomotic leakage. We evaluated the role of omentoplasty to reinforce cervical esophagogastrostomy after radical esophagectomy.We compared anastomotic leakage, stricture formation, and related deaths in 63 patients who underwent radical esophagectomy and cervical esophagogastrostomy, with (n = 48) or without (n = 15) omentoplasty, between 1995 and 1999.An esophageal anastomotic leakage was diagnosed in 1 of the 48 patients (2.1%) with omentoplasty versus 3 of the 15 patients (20.0%) without omentoplasty (P0.01). Anastomotic stricture occurred in 2 (4.2%) of the omentoplasty group and 1 (6.7%) of the no omentoplasty group (P0.01). Death within 1 month was zero in the omentoplasty group and one (6.7%) in the no-omentoplasty group, despite no differences in lethal anastomotic leakage.Omentoplasty of cervical esophagogastrostomy reduced anastomotic leakage. Although promising, these observations require confirmation with a randomized prospective study.