Membrane separation of indigenous noroviruses from sewage sludge and treated wastewater.

In this study, feasibility of membrane separation for the removal of indigenous noroviruses (NVs) is evaluated. The indigenous NV gene was never detected from ultrafiltration (UF) permeates of sewage sludge and treated wastewater. Indigenous NV gene was also not detected from permeates of sewage sludge and treated wastewater by microfiltration (MF) with a pore size of 0.1 microm (MF0.1). Even though the pore size of MF (0.1 microm) was much larger than the diameter of virus particle (approximately 30-40nm), more than 4-log10 reduction value (LRV) at maximum was achieved by membrane separation with MF0.1. NV genes were often detected from permeates of sewage sludge and treated wastewater by MF with a pore size of 0.45 microm (MF0.45), although the maximum log10 reduction values were more than 3.59 for sewage sludge and more than 2.90 for treated wastewater. It is important to verify factors determining the removal efficiency of viruses with MF membranes.     

A case of chronic encephalitis due to double infection with herpes simplex and measles viruses

In a healthy 49-year-old man, a decrease in job efficiency was noticed along with bizarre behavior. On admission, he was euphoric, childish, superficial and had increased libido. Neurological findings were normal. There were no abnormal findings on routine blood tests, hematochemistry or urine analysis. MRI showed no abnormal findings. However, single photon emission CT (SPECT) showed diffuse hypoaccummulation of tracer from the temporal to frontal regions. Lumbar puncture showed clear cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with pleocytosis and an elevated protein level. Moreover, antibody IgG titers to herpes simplex virus (HSV) and measles virus were elevated, according to EIA [serum HSV -1,202.2x, measles virus 47.1x: CSF HSV-116.1x, measles virus 9.9x]. The ratio of serum to CSF antibody titers of HSV and measles virus were 12.5 and 4.75, respectively. The antibody index values of HSV and measles virus IgG titers were 8.42 and 22.22. The ratio of albumin was 105.7. Chronic, progressive HSV encephalitis is rare, and there have been very few reports of encephalitis due to double infection by HSV and another virus. Our patient was diagnosed as having encephalitis due to double infection with HSV and measles virus, because the ratio of serum to CSF antibody titers was less than 20 and the antibody index values were over 1.91. Moreover, since the IgG index was elevated and the ratio of albumin was not low, it was suggested that the blood-brain-barrier had not been disrupted, and antibodies were being produced chronically in the medullary cavity. Hyperaccummulation of tracer on SPECT studies has been reported in the early stages of HSV encephalitis. In our case, while CT and MRI showed no abnormal findings, SPECT showed diffuse hypoaccummulation. SPECT appears to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of this disorder. In case of chronic, progressive personality change in middle-aged adults, we must be aware of double virus infection of the brain as a possible causal factor.     

Decentralized adaptive coordinated control of multiple robot arms without using a force sensor

This paper presents a distributed adaptive coordinated control method for multiple robot arms grasping a common object. The cases of rigid contact and rolling contact are analyzed. In the proposed controller, the dynamic parameters of both object and robot arms are estimated adaptively. The desired motions of the robot arms are generated by an estimated object reference model. The control method requires only the measurements of the positions and velocities of the object and robot arms, but not the measurements of forces and moments at contact points. The asymptotic convergence of trajectory is proven by the Lyapunov-like Lemma. Experiments involving two robot arms handling a common object are shown.     

Preface

Multimedia Tools and Applications -     

A unified proposal for characteristic testing methods and figure of merit of 8‐kV/3.5‐kVA class light‐triggered thyristors

Power devices with high capability have been developed. 8‐kV/3.5‐kA‐class light‐triggered thyristors have the highest capability among power devices. These devices are used in the Kii Channel HVDC transmission system in Japan. In this paper, we report the extracted problems of conventional testing methods of 8‐kV/3.5‐kA‐class light‐triggered thyristors among manufacturers, and the proposed unified testing methods on the basis of element characteristics and operating conditions in the Kii Channel HVDC system. Furthermore, we propose a figure of merit for power devices for the practical use, and try to extract elements used at the Kii Channel HVDC system with small margins and low withstand capabilities. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 140(3): 61–70, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10024     

Sub-50-nm physical gate length CMOS technology and beyond usingsteep halo

Sub-50-nm CMOS devices are investigated using steep halo and shallow source/drain extensions. By using a high-ramp-rate spike annealing (HRR-SA) process and high-dose halo, 45-nm CMOS devices are fabricated with drive currents of 650 and 300 μA/μm for an off current of less than 10 nA/μm at 1.2 V with T_ox^inv =2.5 nm. For an off current less than 300 nA/μm, 33-nm pMOSFETs have a high drive current of 400 uA/μm. Short-channel effect and reverse short-channel effect are suppressed simultaneously by using the HRR-SA process to activate a source/drain extension (SDE) after forming a deep source/drain (S/D). This process sequence is defined as a reverse-order S/D (R-S/D) formation. By using this formation, 24-nm nMOSFETs are achieved with a high drive current of 800 μA/μm for an off current of less than 300 μA/μm at 1.2 V. This high drive current might be a result of a steep halo structure reducing the spreading resistance of source/drain extensions     

NiCoFe/C cathode electrocatalysts for direct ethanol fuel cells

A direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC), which is less prone to ethanol crossover, is reported. The cell consists of PtRu/C catalyst as the anode, Nafion^® 117 membrane, and Ni–Co–Fe (NCF) composite catalyst as the cathode. The NCF catalyst was synthesized by mixing Ni, Co, and Fe complexes into a polymer matrix (melamine-formaldehyde resins), followed by heating the mixture at 800 °C under inert atmosphere. TEM and EDX experiments suggest that the NCF catalyst has alloy structures of Ni, Co and Fe. The catalytic activity of the NCF catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was compared with that of commercially available Pt/C (CAP) catalyst at different ethanol concentrations. The decrease in open circuit voltage (V_oc) of the DEFC equipped with the NCF catalysts was less than that of CAP catalyst at higher ethanol concentrations. The NCF catalyst was less prone to ethanol oxidation at cathode even when ethanol crossover occurred through the Nafion^®117 film, which prevents voltage drop at the cathode. However, the CAP catalyst did oxidize ethanol at the cathode and caused a decrease in voltage at higher ethanol concentrations.     

Acute progressive polyneuropathy in a patient with Waldenstr?m macroglobulinemia

A case of Waldenstr?m's macroglobulinemia (WM) (IgM-kappa type) associated with acute-onset demyelinating peripheral neuropathy is reported. A 49-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of general fatigue and recurrent syncope attacks. She was treated with vincristine, cyclophosphamide, epirubicin and prednisolone. By 10th hospital day, her clinical condition improved and serum viscosity was reduced. However, on the 21st hospital day, she suffered from rapidly progressive writing and gait disturbance. Neurological examination showed muscular atrophy and weakness in the distal part of four extremities. Deep tendon reflexes were diminished. There was no sensory deficit. Cerebrospinal fluid was normal. Anti-myelin associated glycoprotein activity of her serum was negative. Both motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities were markedly decreased. Biopsy of sural nerve revealed marked demyelination and onion bulb formation. There was IgM deposition on myelin sheath. Minimal axonal changes excluded the possibility of vincristine neuropathy. Plasmapheresis improved her symptoms, but nerve conduction velocities remained unchanged. Polyneuropathy associated with WM is usually gradual onset and sensory dominant. In this case, associated neuropathy was acute onset, progressive and motor dominant. This type of neuropathy in patients with WM is very rare.     

Spontaneous hemorrhage of an adrenal cortical adenoma causing Cushing''s syndrome

A modified surgical splint for Le Fort I osteotomies with transverse expansion is presented. The splint is made of a transpalatal stainless steel bar with acrylic abutment against the palatal surface of the molar and bicuspid tooth. It is rigid and renders excellent retention. It causes minimal patient discomfort, and oral hygiene is hardly compromised.     

Activities of FexO in CaO + CaF2 + SiO2 + FexO quaternary slags by disposable electrochemical oxygen probes

The activities of Fe_xO in CaO + CaF₂ + SiO₂ + Fe_xO quaternary slags were measured by means of solid-oxide galvanic cell. The Fe_xO activities in the slags are influenced by CaF₂ as well as SiO₂. At constant Fe_xO mole fractions, e.g., , at low SiO₂ mole fractions i.e., , the substitution of CaF₂ for CaO has an effect of raising the Fe_xO activity. At higher SiO₂ mole fractions, e.g., , however, such an effect becomes insignificant.