Power Doppler enhancement of the placenta by dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in term pregnancy

We studied the effect of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHAS) on placental blood flow in 11 women with an uncomplicated pregnancy between 37 and 39 weeks of gestation. Power Doppler enhancement of the placenta was performed before and 60 minutes after the administration of a 200 mg intravenous dose of DHAS dissolved in 20 mL of 5% dextrose. Increased power Doppler enhancements of the placenta after DHAS injection were evident in each case studied. The power Doppler enhancement returned to the baseline imaging within 60 minutes. This DHAS loading test, assessed by means of power Doppler imaging, may be a useful technique when attempting to assess fetoplacental function in normal and high risk pregnancies.     

A case of an adult patient of tetralogy of Fallot having malignant hyperthermia during surgery

An episode of malignant hyperthermia occurring in a 42-year-old man undergoing hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass is reported. Malignant hyperthermia is a syndrome initiated by a hypermetabolic state of skeletal muscle. A patient presented for correction of an acyanotic tetralogy of Fallot. The coincidental usage of hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass obscured the classical presenting sings and symptoms of the malignant hyperthermia. And the disease of tetralogy of Fallot made the syndrome difficult to manage. Although the clinical diagnosis of malignant hyperthermia is difficult to be confirmed, when it is suspected, it is prudent for the case to be initially treated as malignant hyperthermia.     

Adherent leukocytes to the aortic wall promotes atherosclerosis in the Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits

It is well known that leukocytes adherence to the endothelium of arterial wall occurs in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic animals. We examined the relationship between leukocytes adherence and atherosclerosis in the thoratic aorta of the Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits (WHHL rabbits). Five of 2 or 3 months old WHHL rabbits were sacrificed and after perfusion fixation with 2.5% gulutaraldehyde, thoratic aorta was taken out carefully and divided into the 4 portions: Portion 1; cranial side of aortic arch, Portion 2; caudal side of aortic arch, Portion 3; upper side of thoratic aorta except aortic arch, Portion 4; lower side of thoratic aorta except aortic arch. Three to 6 samples from each portion except branching sites were examined using electron microscopy, and the counts of adherent leukocytes (LC) in each portion were calculated. Seven of 6 to 12 months old WHHL rabbits were sacrificed and the internal side of thoratic aorta was cut opened from the ventral side and the atherosclerotic lesions were copied. From these copies, the % area of atherosclerotic plaques (%AT) in each 4 portions as described was calculated using microcomputer. LC in Portion 1 to 4 was 265 +/- 62, 234 +/- 46, 53 +/- 8 and 41 +/- 13/mm2 respectively. LC in Portion 1 or 2 was significantly larger than that in Portion 3 or 4 (p < 0.05). The endothelium to which leukocytes adhered was intact. %AT in Portion 1 to 4 was 68 +/- 8, 63 +/- 8, 40 +/- 8 and 34 +/- 8% respectively. %AT in Portion 1 or 2 was significantly larger than that in Portion 3 or 4 (p < 0.05). It is concluded that leukocytes adherence to the intact endothelium of the arterial wall was one of the geneses and promoters of atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits.     

High density packaging technology ultra thin package & new tab package

As electronic devices become more highly integrated, the demand for small, high pin count packages has been increasing. We have developed two new types of IC packages in response to this demand. One is an ultra thin small outline package (TSOP) which has been reduced in size from the standard SOP and the other, which uses Tape Automated Bonding (TAB) technology, is a super thin, high pin count TAB in cap (T.I.C.) package. In this paper, we present these packages and their features along with the technologies used to improve package reliability and TAB. Thin packages are vulnerable to high humidity exposure, especially after heat shock.1 The following items were therefore investigated in order to improve humidity resistance: (1) The molding compound thermal stress, (2) Water absorption into the molding compound and its effect on package cracking during solder dipping, (3) Chip attach pad area and its affect on package cracking, (4) Adhesion between molding resin and chip attach pad and its affect on humidity resistance. With the improvements made as a result of these investigations, the reliability of the new thin packages is similar to that of the standard thicker plastic packages.     

Highly Stretchable,Global, and Distributed Local Strain Sensing Line Using GaInSn Electrodes for Wearable Electronics

For identifying human or finger movement, it is necessary to sense subtle movements at multiple points, including the local strain and global deformation simultaneously; however, this has not yet been realized. Therefore, a highly stretchable, global, and distributed local strain sensing electrode made of GaInSn and polydimethylsiloxane is developed for wearable devices. To investigate the electrical properties of multiple sections of the GaInSn electrode when stretching, tensile, cyclic, and three‐point‐bending tests are performed. The results demonstrate that the electrode can withstand a strain up to 50% and has little hysteresis without any delay. Moreover, the distributed local strain and global strain can be simultaneously measured using just a single electrode line. Finally, a prototype of a data glove as an application of the strain sensing line is manufactured, and it is demonstrated that the folding state of fingers could be identified. The proposed technology may allow the creation of a lightweight master hand manipulator or 3D data entry device.     

Effect of impurity on dissolution behavior of simulated molybdenum cermet fuels

The effects of impurity Zr on dissolution behavior into nitric acid of sintered Mo pellets were investigated using simulated fuels to accumulate basic data and knowledge concerning the matrix of Mo-cermet fuels. Mo pellets containing 1– 10 mol% Zr were prepared by conventional powder metallurgical route. After characterization tests using optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction and secondary electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX), the sintered pellets were subjected to dissolution tests by nitric acid. The apparent dissolution rate of Mo pellets containing impurity Zr was found to be followed by the first-order chemical reaction form, which is generally known as a simple chemical reaction. The rate of dissolution of sintered Mo-cermet fuels by nitric acid was found to decrease with the increase of the amount of impurity Zr.     

Reflection and absorption characteristics of electromagnetic waves for PV modules

In this paper, the authors investigated the reflection and absorption characteristics of a general photovoltaic (PV) module. As a result, the electromagnetic waves could be attenuated only 6 dB in typical PV module. However, if the PV module is installed in the outer wall of buildings, electromagnetic interference is caused by the surroundings. To reduce this electromagnetic interference, the authors suggested a method to absorb electromagnetic wave using multiple PV modules that have deference impedance, and simulation was performed. As a result, it was confirmed that using a typical PV module and the PV module including electronic device, the reflection waves of those PV modules could be attenuated up to 12 dB.     

Measurements, analyses and evaluation of residential PV systems by Japanese monitoring program

This paper is about measurements, analyses and evaluation of residential PV systems in the Japanese Monitoring Program, on which JQA was subsidized by NEDO (New Energy Development and Industrial Technology Organization) that is currently proceeding [NSS R&D] from FY1997 to FY 2000.The aim of this investigation refers, through the data evaluation and analyses, to obtain knowledge required for optimizing design of PV systems, such as system performance, characteristics and regional dependency under practical operation and to develop the system evaluation technology on the design parameter method.