Preoperative thermochemotherapy of oral cancer using magnetic induction hyperthermia (Implant Heating System: IHS)

This study investigated the impact of Difficulty Level and Type of Suggestion upon the durability of posthypnotic suggestion over an 8-week period. Seventy-eight highly susceptible subjects selected by both the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility: Form A (HGSHS:A) and Stanford Hypnotic Scale of Susceptibility: Form C (SHSS:C) were assigned to six groups (two levels of Difficulty x three Types of Suggestion). S's were tested for posthypnotic suggestion at 1, 3, 6, and 8 weeks. A 2 x 3 x 4 (Difficulty x Suggestion x Time) factorial ANOVA was conducted, with Time treated as a repeated-measure. The outcome variable at each time was either pass or fail for relevant suggestion. We found a significant Time effect, a significant Difficulty effect, and a significant Time x Difficulty interaction. Fewer subjects passed the difficult suggestions than passed the easy suggestions; fewer passed suggestions at a latter time; and the decay in pass rate was more pronounced for the easy suggestion condition, due largely to the higher initial pass rate. Type of Suggestion was not significant, nor were any of the other interactions. Clinical implications were discussed.     

Novel anion exchange membranes having fluorocarbon backbone: Preparation and stability

Anion exchange membranes with excellent durability were prepared by chemical modification of Nafion. The modification was achieved by transformation of the sulfonic acid group into quaternary ammonium group. Namely, Nafion membrane was first converted into an amide-type membrane. Reduction of the carbonxyl group to methylene followed by quaternarization with alkyl iodide resulted in the formation of an anion exchange membrane. The electric resistance of the resulting membranes depends on the equivalent weight of the starting membranes (4.4–6.0 Ω cm² in 0.5N NaCl). The characteristics of the membranes are the excellent stability toward chemical substances such as organic solvents, oxidizing agents, acids, etc. For example, the membranes are stable in aqueous saturated chlorine solution at 60°C for 1000 hr.     

Steady-state torque control system with secondary-current feedback for three-phase squirrel-cage induction motors

This paper presents a highly stable steady-state torque control system with a feedback of a secondary current signal. The torque control system is constructed with a feedback of the secondary current (I₂) signal using a quick response magnetic-field sensor constructed with an amorphous core multivibrator bridge, which can solve the secondary resistance change problem for temperature variation in the IM. Moreover, we added a state feedback to the system to improve the response speed for the unit step function of a torque order. The I₂ sensor method has advantages especially at a low-speed range, in which conventional method using an integrator shows control errors.     

The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the oral iron chelator deferiprone (L1) in relation to hemoglobin levels

Recently, we demonstrated that administration of the orally active iron chelating agent deferiprone (1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-one (L1)) at 6-hour intervals results in significantly greater urinary iron excretion than that induced during administration of the drug at 12-hour intervals. That study was conducted in thalassemia patients, all of whom had received a packed red cell transfusion of 15 cc/kg. 72 hours prior to evaluation of urinary iron excretion, at a time when endogenous erythropoiesis would be expected to be at its lowest. In clinical practice however, thalassemia patients, suppression of endogenous erythropoiesis is not sustained between transfusions. We set out to determine the influence that administration of deferiprone has on urinary iron excretion at lower hemoglobin concentrations, immediately prior to transfusion. We hypothesized that hemoglobin levels will affect the ability of deferiprone to chelate iron. Ten regularly transfused patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia (HBT) aged mean +/- SD, 20.9 +/- 4.7, range 13 - 27 years, receiving long-term therapy with deferiprone, were treated with deferiprone 75 mg/kg/day, administered every 6 hours (or every 12 hours) for 72 hours immediately prior to a blood transfusion in the first month. One month later each patient received the other of the 2 dosing regimens for 72 hours immediately prior to transfusion. The deferiprone-induced 24-hour urinary iron excretion was similar during both dosing regimens; 0.56 +/- 0.45 mg/kg when L1 was given every 6 hours and 0.48 +/- 0.52 mg/kg when L1 was administered every 12 hours (p = 0.79). However, the calculated 24-hour area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-24) of deferiprone was significantly lower when deferiprone was administered at 6-hour intervals (6,762.8 +/- 1,601.6 mg*min/l), than that observed when deferiprone was administered every 12 hours (8,250.1 +/- 1,235.7 mg*min/l) (p = 0.04). The pharmacokinetics of deferiprone when administered immediately prior to transfusions are different from those following transfusions. More studies assessing total body iron excretion are needed to determine the contribution of the fecal route in iron excretion.     

Structure and dynamics of suspensions of silica particles in liquidcrystals under a low frequency AC applied voltage

Silica particles dispersed in liquid crystals exhibit a novel behavior such as a unique migrating behavior and alignment. These characteristics are found to depend on the size of the nanoparticles, the surface state of nanoparticles, the liquid crystal (LC) phases, the amplitude and the frequency of applied voltage. These are discussed in terms of anisotropic particle-particle and particle-LC molecules interactions in the anisotropic environment of liquid crystal matrix     

Forming mental models in learning operating procedures for terminalequipment

People faced with an unfamiliar product or service tend to fall back on mental models based on analogical relationships with familiar products or services. Two experiments on the analogical relationships or metaphors that people might use when operating a communications terminal are described. In the first experiment, the role previously acquired operating knowledge has in determining the mental models people use when directory dialing with novel equipment is examined. In a second experiment, it is shown that an explicit appeal to an analogy between conventional mail and electronic mail can help users learn to use an electronic mail system, and make it easier for them to remember how to use the system as long as 90 days after initial exposure. It is concluded that the mental model is constructed only from the user's operating knowledge acquired as a result of past experiences, and the metaphor method is effective when the instructions are metaphorically taught     

Using precise data sets on farming and pesticide properties to verify a diffuse pollution hydrological model for predicting pesticide concentration.

Verification of a diffuse pollution model involves comparing results actually observed with those predicted by precise model inputs. Acquisition of precise model inputs is, however, problematic. In particular, when the target catchment is large and substantial estimation uncertainty exists, not only model verification but also prediction is difficult. Therefore, in this study, rice-farming data were collected for all paddy fields from all farmers in a catchment and pesticide adsorption and degradation rates in paddy field soil samples were measured to obtain precise model inputs. The model inputs successfully verified the model's capability to predict pesticide concentrations in river water. Sensitivity analyses of the model inputs elucidated the processes significantly affecting pesticide runoff from rice farms. Pesticide adsorption and degradation rates of the soil did not significantly affect pesticide concentrations, although pesticide discharge to river water accounted for less than 50% of the total quantity of pesticide applied to fields, possibly owing to pesticide adsorption and degradation. The timing of increases in pesticide concentrations in river water was affected mostly by the farming schedule, including the time of pesticide application and irrigation, and secondarily by rainfall events.     

A study of suppression of vapor explosions by adding inversely soluble polymers

The mechanism of the suppression of vapor explosions by adding inversely soluble polymers in water is studied. Vapor explosion experiments and quench experiment are conducted using a silver test piece. Polymetric solution (polyethylene oxide), of concentrations from 0 to 500 wppm, whose normalized viscosity (by water) varies from 1.00 to 2.00, is used. No vapor explosion is observed in the aqueous polymer solution at a concentration higher than 200 wppm. Quench experiments using the silver test piece submerged in the polymer solution and water are performed in order to examine the stability of film boiling. The suppression of the vapor film collapse is attributed to the precipitation of polyethylene as a gel around the vapor film. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 31(4): 297–306, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.10037