A Design Method and Developments of a Low-Power and High-Resolution Multiphase Generation System

A practical method for coupled oscillator design is elaborated. The topology analysis of a coupled oscillator, the ways of simulating its sensitivity, initializing its operation, and the oscillation frequency enhancement with nMOS phase couplers are presented. We have developed a write strategy system for DVD with a coupled oscillator using these techniques. In addition, we have also developed a low-power-oriented multiphase generator for mobile phones with our newly devised multiphase level shift system (M-LS). The M-LS has established superiority in its low power consumption because of no short current. Moreover, we have applied the method of output phase-accuracy improvement using a resistor ring to the M-LS. Two test chips are fabricated and the design method is validated. The first coupled oscillator has a resolution of 32 ps and a phase accuracy of -1.0 to 0.8 LSB at 490 MHz, corresponding to 16times DVD write speed. The second one consumes 1 mA and has a high phase accuracy of 0.5 LSB at 123 MHz.     

A molecular dynamics study on liquid-vapor interface adsorbed by impurities

In this paper, we focus on the microscopic structure of the liquid-vapor interface and the effect of impurities such as surfactants or electrolytes in the aqueous solution on interfacial properties. We perform molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of a simple planar interface system and a bubble system in which a nanometer-size void region is maintained. In these MD systems, some static and dynamic properties of molecules near the interface are investigated and we elucidate some microscopic features of the interface. Especially, we show the difference of the dynamics of water molecules between the surfactant and electrolyte solutions. We also consider the definition of the interface at the molecular level which can treat the local and instantaneous structure, and discuss the physical properties which we calculate including the effect of molecular fluctuations of the interface.     

Removal of low-density lipoprotein from plasma by adsorption increases bradykinin and plasma nitric oxide levels in patients with peripheral atherosclerosis

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) adsorption using a dextran sulfate cellulose column is brought about by electrostatic binding between the positive charges of apolipoprotein B in LDL and the negative charges of dextran sulfate cellulose. There is general agreement that the initial contact phase in the coagulation pathway may be activated by a negatively charged surface such as dextran sulfate cellulose, resulting in the generation of bradykinin. We investigated whether the increase in the generation of bradykinin during LDL adsorption is accompanied by the activation of endogenous production of nitric oxide (NO) in patients with peripheral atherosclerosis. LDL adsorption therapy was repeated ten times over a period of 3 months in ten peripheral atherosclerosis patients. Treatment significantly reduced serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. This was associated with a significant improvement in Fontaine's classification and ankle pressure index. We also measured the kinin-kallikrein system and plasma levels of NO in the same patients. The results showed that coagulation factors of the intrinsic pathway including high-molecular-weight kininogen and prekallikrein decreased markedly after initial adsorption compared with the levels before treatment. There was a marked increase in bradykinin and NO concentrations after the initial adsorption, compared with their levels before adsorption. Our results suggest that the generation of bradykinin and increased plasma levels of NO may contribute to the improvement in peripheral circulation after LDL adsorption in peripheral atherosclerosis patients.     

Preparation of micron-size monodisperse poly(methyl methacrylate) particles using poly(2-oxazoline) macromonomer

Micron-size monodisperse poly(methyl methacrylate) particles were prepared by dispersion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with a hydrophilic poly(2-oxazoline) macromonomer in an aqueous methanol solution. The macromonomer acted as a comonomer as well as a stabilizer. As the macromonomer concentration increased, the diameter of the particles decreased. The macromonomer with higher molecular weight, or with more hydrophilic nature, stabilized the particles more effectively The diameter of the particles was dependent on the initiator concentration. Under the conditions giving monodisperse particles, the particle volume increased linearly with the yield of the particles and the particle number was almost constant during the copolymerization. From ESCA analysis of the particle surface, poly(2-oxazoline) chains were enriched on the surface.     

An intelligent power IC with double buried-oxide layers formed bySIMOX technology

A device structure for an intelligent power LSI composed of a vertical power MOSFET and a control CMOS LSI on a single chip is discussed. The distinctive feature of the device structure is that double buried-oxide layers formed by SIMOX technology are utilized to electrically protect the CMOS LSI from the high voltage applied to the power MOSFET. An evaluation of the electrical characteristics of an intelligent power IC and its components fabricated on a trial basis for automotive applications verifies the usefulness of the device structure     

Effect of electrical stimulation of the central amygdaloid nucleus on the nociceptive neuron of the cortex (SI) in the cat

The effect of conditioning stimulation of the central amygdaloid nucleus (ACE) on the response of tooth pulp-driven (TPD) neurons in the first somatosensory cortex (SI) was investigated in cats anesthetized with N2O-O2 (2:1) and 0.5% halothane. The tooth pulp test stimulus was a single 30-450 microA rectangular pulse, and the conditioning stimuli of the ACE were trains of 33 pulses (300 microA) delivered at 330 Hz. The ACE conditioning stimulation markedly suppressed the response of the slow-type neurons with latencies of more than 20 ms without any effect on the discharges of fast-type TPD neurons and spontaneous discharges. This inhibition was 68.9 +/- 24.7% (mean +/- SD) of the control. These findings suggest that there are at least two pathways for the ascending pulpal (nociceptive) information to the SI, and that the ACE modulates the transmission of impulses in one of the pathways.     

Angioarchitectural comparison of the filiform papillae of the cat and rabbit using scanning electron microscopic specimens

Women undergoing prenatal diagnosis (PND) for psychological reasons constitute a considerable proportion (10-20 per cent) of tests carried out on pregnant women. In these cases, the couple is below the lower limit for parental age, and there is no increased genetic risk. The aim of the present study was to describe the psychosocial background of women asking for PND on psychological grounds and to evaluate their wish for PND. A consecutive series of 51 women were interviewed in the 12th-15th week of gestation before attending for the test. Forty-five per cent were close to the limit for advanced maternal age (35-37 years). Most of them were educated and had stable partners; more than half of the women worked in nursing. Almost half (23/51) of them had previous psychic problems and 29/51 showed depressive mood. During childhood, 21 women had experienced severe disease or handicap. One-third (17/51) of them had been a consolidating member in their family. More than half (33/51) described considerable problems in relation to their mother or to motherhood and 10/51 in their relation to their father. Half of the women described at least three and only three women none of the following six identified predisposing factors: previous or present psychic insufficiency, experience of disability in childhood, role as a significant supporter in childhood, problems in relation to own mother, problems in relation to own father. These women's anxiety was understandable when their psychological history and current mental status were recognized. More than half of the women (29/51) were considered to have strong and 22 moderately strong psychological reasons for their desire to have prenatal diagnosis.