Serum human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF) is elevated in patients with metastatic gastric carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a stromally derived protein growth factor that modulates epithelial cell proliferation and motility. HGF may therefore be involved in tumor progression. METHODOLOGY: We measured the immunoreactive (ir)-HGF concentration in the sera of 56 patients with human gastric carcinoma, using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and evaluated its association with clinical and histopathologic factors. Clinical stages were classified in accordance with The General Rules for TNM Classification (International Union Against Cancer). RESULTS: The serum hHGF concentrations from patients with gastric carcinoma significantly increased with increasing pathologic tumor grades. Also, there were significantly higher concentrations in patients with nodal metastasis compared to patients without metastasis. The serum hHGF concentrations in patients with liver metastasis were significantly higher than in patients without liver metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that the serum hHGF concentration is elevated in gastric carcinoma patients with liver and nodal metastasis. In multivariate analysis, the serum hHGF concentration was found to be the most important independent factor in predicting overall survival. Thus, the current results suggest that HGF may be important in the progression and metastasis of gastric carcinoma.     

A system LSI memory redundancy technique using an ie-flash(inverse-gate-electrode flash) programming circuit

A new memory redundancy technique using inverse-gate-electrode flash (ie-flash) memory cells has been developed. The ie-flash can be fabricated by the conventional logic CMOS process, so no additional processes are necessary in using it in system LSIs, and it can be programmed by logic testers. We enhanced the reliability of ie-flash by using some circuits, increasing reliability to endure practical use. This new redundancy technique was successfully implemented in the cache memories of a 32-b RISC microprocessor     

Magnetic Resonance in ZnGeP2 and (Zn,Mn)GeP2

Electron paramagnetic (EPR) and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) have been studied in the system of (Zn,Mn)GeP₂ ferromagnetic layer grown on undoped ZnGeP₂ single crystal. Strong FMR signals are registered in the wide temperature range up to room temperature. EPR and photo-EPR of intrinsic defects are observed in ZnGeP₂ substrate. EPR spectra characteristic of Mn²⁺ ions on Zn²⁺ sites in the bulk appear after the growth of the ferromagnetic layer on ZnGeP₂ crystal indicating the efficient Mn-diffusion into the bulk crystal by the annealing treatments.     

16.7-fA/cell tunnel-leakage-suppressed 16-Mb SRAM for handling cosmic-ray-induced multierrors

Tunnel-leakage currents become the dominant form of leakage as MOS technology advances. An electric-field-relaxation scheme that suppresses these currents is described. Cosmic-ray-induced multierrors have now become a serious problem at sea level. An alternate error checking and correction architecture for the handling of such errors is also described, along with the application of both schemes in an ultralow-power 16-Mb SRAM. A test chip fabricated by using 0.13-/spl mu/m CMOS technology showed per-cell standby-current values of 16.7 fA at 25/spl deg/C and 101.7 fA at 90/spl deg/C. The chip provided a 99.5% reduction in soft errors under accelerated neutron-exposure testing.     

Magnetic Resonance in ZnGeP2 and (Zn,Mn)GeP2

Electron paramagnetic (EPR) and ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) have been studied in the system of (Zn,Mn)GeP₂ ferromagnetic layer grown on undoped ZnGeP₂ single crystal. Strong FMR signals are registered in the wide temperature range up to room temperature. EPR and photo-EPR of intrinsic defects are observed in ZnGeP₂ substrate. EPR spectra characteristic of Mn²⁺ ions on Zn²⁺ sites in the bulk appear after the growth of the ferromagnetic layer on ZnGeP₂ crystal indicating the efficient Mn-diffusion into the bulk crystal by the annealing treatments.     

The result of cooling operation of Yazaki experimental solar house “one”

One of the important factors for designing solar house is to examine the most economic combination what is called optimum design between solar collector area and storage volume for the required energy demand. The result of experimentation gives the fundamental data for completing the computer simulation program that is effectively usable for designing solar house.     

Development of an on-line stabilization method for local power systems with large-capacity generation plants

This paper presents an on-line stabilization control method developed with the aim of maintaining transient stability in a local power system which includes large-capacity generation plants. The characteristics of this method are that the power/angle curve is estimated from the on line active and reactive power measured at the generator terminal, and the optimum generation shedding for stabilization is determined by applying the equal area method to this curve. Simulation tests using detailed models of the power system confirmed that the optimum generation shedding for stabilization could be computed for various fault conditions, both symmetrical or asymmetrical. It was also determined that the on-line data could be sampled for several tens of milliseconds after clearing the fault. Thus, this method provides effective control logic for practical stabilizing systems.