Three dimensional simulation of side-writing and crosstalk for thinfilm heads with various pole shapes

Side-fringing fields of thin-film heads are studied with the three-dimensional simulation code TOSCA. Readback signals are calculated using the principle of reciprocity for various pole shapes and off-tracks. Read/write characteristics are evaluated in the presence of side-writing and crosstalk. They depend on the shape of the interface between the pole and the air-bearing surface of the sliders. The side-writing is large when the side angle is small. Crosstalk is large when the side angle is small and the projection of the pole from the track edge is large. A pole edge shape on the air bearing surface of thin-film heads that produces a narrow head field outside of the track and a sharp head field gradient is concluded to be essential to achieve large side-writing and small crosstalk     

Health-related quality of life varies with personality types: a comparison among cancer patients, non-cancer patients and healthy individuals in a Japanese population

In an attempt to examine differential effects of personality on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) without regard to disease type, we used the HRQoL-20, a general questionnaire (Japanese original scale) we developed (comprising 20 questions related to physiological, psychological or social HRQoL) and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), which measures personality traits of extraversion (E), neuroticism (N) and psychoticism (P). The subjects (399 males and 429 females), stomach cancer patients, non-cancer patients (who had received acupuncture or moxibustion treatment) and healthy controls, were classified into three personality types. The results indicated that the HRQoL score of the tolerable/tolerant type (high E, low N and high P scorers) was greater than the intolerable/intolerant type (low E, high N and low P scorers) and also the unclassified type (neither of above scorers). The HRQoL correlated positively with the E and P scales and negatively with the N scale, in the case of all subjects, with the exception of N in male cancer patients and E in male non-cancer patients. The results supported the hypothesis that the HRQoL varies with personality variables, in that each patient, in different treatment settings, strives for the situation that is congruent with his/her personality to attain a better HRQoL.     

Fault diagnosis using a diagnostic shell and its verificationresults by connecting to an operator training simulator

This paper describes a fault diagnostic system using a diagnostic expert system shell, MELDASH, and results that confirm its effectiveness. The diagnostic shell that reflects and makes use of nature of model-based diagnosis is developed to overcome the drawbacks of methods that depend on operator knowledge. A high-performance fault diagnostic system is constructed by adding an application model to the diagnostic shell. A prototype system is verified by adding an application model to the diagnostic shell. A prototype system is verified by connecting it to an operator training simulator. It is able to make a proper diagnosis in 79 difficult cases. Verification results show that the prototype system has sufficient accuracy. The authors confirm the effectiveness of this fault diagnostic method for future energy management systems     

Expression of a retrovirally transduced gene under control of an internal housekeeping gene promoter does not persist due to methylation and is restored partially by 5-azacytidine treatment

BACKGROUND: Tachykinins, such as substance P, might be involved in the development of airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the effects of the tachykinin NK1 receptor antagonist SR 140333 (Nolpitantium) and the NK2 receptor antagonist SR 48968 (Saredutant) on the activation of alveolar macrophages in the guinea-pig. METHODS: Guinea-pigs sensitized and challenged by ovalbumin administered by aerosol or naive guinea-pigs were exposed by aerosol to the neutral endopeptidase, phosphoramidon and, 15 min later, to substance P. Twenty-four hours later, bronchoalveolar lavages were performed and the cell composition of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and the arachidonate release from alveolar macrophages stimulated in vitro with fMLP were evaluated. RESULTS: Antigen challenge in sensitized guinea-pigs induced an increase in the total number of cells and granulocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids that was not reduced by pre-treatment of guinea-pigs with a single dose of SR 140333 or SR 48968 (1 mg/kg). Substance P exposure in phosphoramidon-pretreated guinea-pigs did not induce an increase in the total number of cells. In contrast, antigen or substance P exposure induced a significant increase in the in vitro fMLP-induced arachidonate release from alveolar macrophages. Pre-treatment of the guinea pigs with SR 140333 or SR 48968 did not reduce the increase in arachidonate release from fMLP-stimulated alveolar macrophages from sensitized and challenged guinea-pigs. Pre-treatment of the animals by SR 140333 and SR 48968 reduced the enhanced arachidonate release induced by fMLP from substance P-exposed guinea-pigs. CONCLUSION: The present data demonstrate the importance of NK1- and NK2-receptor stimulation in the development of substance P-induced increased reactivity of alveolar macrophages.     

Altered response to histamine in brain tumor vessels: the selective increase of regional cerebral blood flow in transplanted rat brain tumor

The authors studied the effect of intracarotid administration of histamine on the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in transplanted rat C6 glioma by the hydrogen clearance method. Histamine infusion at doses of 1 and 10 micrograms/kg/min produced an increase of rCBF in the tumor (24.6% +/- 16.4%, p < 0.002, and 37.6% +/- 18.2%, p < 0.0001, respectively) and also in brain surrounding the tumor (26.8% +/- 16.2%, p < 0.002, and 34.9% +/- 9.2%, p < 0.0001, respectively) without any significant changes in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Intravenous administration of pyrilamine (H1 antagonist) and cimetidine (H2 antagonist) reduced blood flow responses to histamine; cimetidine was a more effective blocking agent than pyrilamine. Intracarotid infusion of histamine (1 and 10 micrograms/kg/min) with intravenous injection of Evans blue dye disclosed the selective extravasation of dye in the tumor and the brain surrounding the tumor. These results indicated that brain tumor vessels could respond to histamine differently than normal brain capillaries. The mechanism of selective response to histamine could be explained either by increased permeability or by altered characteristics of histamine receptors in the tumor vessels.     

An autopsy case of intracranial hemorrhage during tissue plasminogen activator infusion

A comprehensive classification system has been proposed by the AO/ASIF Foundation for the classification of long bone fractures. After an explanatory talk and with the aid of an illustrated pamphlet, 18 orthopaedic surgeons were asked to classify 10 long bone fractures according to the AO system. Three of the participating surgeons had previous experience of the classification system. After individual classification, a consensus classification was derived and the results of the individual and consensus codings were compared. Only 32 per cent of all codings agreed with the final consensus. There was no difference between the surgeons with previous experience of the system (66 per cent) and novice coders (69 per cent) in the number of inaccurate codes when compared with the consensus codes. Reasons for error in coding are discussed. It is recommended that if the AO system is used for the purposes of research and computer-based audit, a consensus of opinion is used as the basis of classification.     

Increased plasma levels of substance P and disturbed water excretion in patients with liver cirrhosis

We describe a surgical technique for replacing the hip joint capsule using synthetic mesh after oncological resections of the proximal femur that resulted in gross intraoperative instability of the prosthetic reconstruction. The results of its use in 13 patients, 6 of whom also had pelvic resections, are described. These patients were selected from a total group of 88 patients undergoing proximal femoral replacement, 75 of whom did not require capsular replacement (none of these 75 patients have experienced dislocation). In the group requiring capsular reconstruction, 1 of 4 patients with bipolar hemiarthroplasty and 4 of 9 patients with total hip replacements experienced dislocation after operation. Of the dislocated total hip replacements, 1 remains chronically dislocated, and 3 were successfully stabilized by open reduction with further capsular augmentation. Given that the resections involved removal of most of the soft tissues stabilizing the hip joint, we believe that the technique of capsular reconstruction is useful in this difficult group of patients.     

Collection of submicron particles in electro-flotation

A theoretical analysis is presented to describe the deposition of Brownian particles onto hydrogen bubbles under surface interactions. Single collection efficiency has been numerically calculated for zeta potentials, having assumed that the effective Hamaker constant is equal to 3.0 × 10^?14erg though our choice of Hamaker constant is rather arbitrary. From a mass balance, total collection efficiency or the rate of flotation has been determined. In this way, electro-flotation process is quantitatively described.Experimentally, the electro-flotation of polystyrene latices of mean diameter 0.6 μm has been studied to examine the effect of the charge on both particles and bubbles on the total collection efficiency. The bubbles were of mean diameter 20 μm. The electrolyte was AlCl₃. To measure the charge on the bubbles, we directly sampled solution including very small bubbles with a glass tube from a flotation vessel and poured into a micro-electrophoresis cell. The horizontal velocity measured when the bubbles rose up a “stationary level” in the cell under the known potential gradient gave the electromobility. The charge on the latex particles were found to change its sign from negative to positive as flotation time went on.The theoretical total collection efficiency has been in close agreement with the experimentally determined one.