640-Gb/s high-speed ATM switching system based on 0.25-μm CMOS,MCM-C, and optical WDM interconnection

A 640-Gb/s high-speed ATM switching system that is based on the technologies of advanced MCM-C, 0.25-μm CMOS, and optical wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) interconnection is fabricated for future broadband backbone networks. A 40-layer, 160×114 mm ceramic MCM forms the basic ATM switch module with 80-Gb/s throughput. It consists of 8 advanced 0.25-μm CMOS LSIs and 32 I/O bipolar LSIs. The MCM has a 7-layer high-speed signal line structure having 50-Ω strip lines, high-speed signal lines, and 33 power supply layers formed using 50-μm thick ceramic layers to achieve high capacity. A uniquely structured closed-loop-type liquid cooling system for the MCM is used to cope with its high power dissipation of 230 W. A three-stage ATM switch is made using the optical WDM interconnection between high-performance MCMs. For WDM interconnection, newly developed compact 10-Gb/s, 8-WDM optical transmitter and receiver modules are used. These modules are each only 80×120×20 mm and dissipate 9.65 W and 22.5 W, respectively. They have a special chassis for cooling, which contains high-performance heat-conductive plates and micro-fans. An optical WDM router based on an arrayed waveguide router is used for mesh interconnection of boards. The optical WDM interconnect has 640-Gb/s throughput and simple interconnection     

Localization of extracellular matrix molecules, integrins and their regulators, TGF betas, is correlated with axon pathfinding in the spinal cord of normal and Danforth''s short tail mice

We present a local Dissemination of EPIC, a project which has been devised to support health and social primary care by an information system. One key point of the EPIC project was a standardization effort at European level, providing a standardized basis for the management system based on client needs for planning and manpower control. Whilst EPIC has been designed as a general community information system, the main EPIC applications focus is on the care of the elderly. Savona is a middle size Italian town with a high percentage of elderly people and has already had an experience of integration of health and social care within an Italian project. It has therefore been regarded as a suitable site for the dissemination of EPIC. The EPIC application solved some of the information problems which emerged during the validation of the previous Italian project, such as the definition of the requirements; the collection, processing and retrieval of the clinical/social data; the definition of responsibilities and relations of the operators.     

Sexual dysfunction

According to the definition of the ICD-10 or DSM-III, sexual dysfunction is not caused by organic disorder or disease, and psychogenic. But, the patient who is suffered from sexual dysfunction caused by organic disorder or disease, has many psycho-social problems. So, in this article, all types of sexual dysfunction are subjected. Especially sexual hypofunction is mentioned. And the new type of sexual dysfunctions such as computer sex are also explained. Sex therapy of the Masters and Johnson method and the new sex therapy of Kaplan, H. are explained.     

High Mechanical Strength Double‐Network Hydrogel with Bacterial Cellulose

Double‐network (DN) hydrogels with high mechanical strength have been synthesized using the natural polymers bacterial cellulose (BC) and gelatin. As‐prepared BC contains 90 % water that can easily be squeezed out, with no more recovery in its swelling property. Gelatin gel is brittle and is easily broken into fragments under a modest compression. In contrast, the fracture strength and elastic modulus of a BC–gelatin DN gel under compressive stress are on the order of megapascals, which are several orders of magnitude higher than those of gelatin gel, and almost equivalent to those of articular cartilage. A similar enhancement in the mechanical strength was also observed for the combination of BC with polysaccharides, such as sodium alginate, gellan gum, and ι‐carrageenan.     

Parametric uncertainties for dynamic response evaluation of offshore structures

The dynamic characteristics involved in the loading process in the ocean environment are extremely complicated and difficult for exact evaluation. In this paper, parametric studies are presented to assess the influence of uncertainties associated with various assumptions and approximations, involved in modelling the dynamic loading processes of ocean environment, for the evaluation of dynamic response of offshore structures. These uncertainties are represented by the inertia coefficient and the drag coefficient of the Morison equation which defines the wave forcing function, the mean height of the input sea waves and the shear wave velocity of the soil. The results show that the effects of uncertainties are closely related to the natural frequency of the structure and the predominant frequency of the wave force. These uncertainties, except the variation in the shear wave velocity in the soil, contribute significantly to the dynamic response and the first passage probability evaluation of the offshore structure systems.     

Esophageal stimulation by hydrochloric acid causes neurogenic inflammation in the airways in guinea pigs

To investigate whether tachykinins are released in the airways in response to stimulation of the esophagus, we studied the airway plasma extravasation induced by intraesophageal HCl in the presence or absence of neutral endopeptidase inhibitor phosphoramidon and NK1-receptor antagonist FK-888 in anesthetized guinea pigs. The airway plasma leakage was evaluated by measuring extravasated Evans blue dye in the animals pretreated with propranolol and atropine. Infusion of 1 N HCl into the esophagus significantly increased plasma extravasation in the trachea. Phosphoramidon significantly potentiated plasma extravasation in the trachea and main bronchi, whereas FK-888 significantly inhibited that extravasation in a dose-related manner. In the capsaicin-treated animals, airway plasma extravasation was completely inhibited even in the presence of phosphoramidon. Tracheal plasma extravasation potentiated by phosphoramidon was significantly inhibited in the bilateral vagotomized animals. These results suggest that 1) tachykinin-like substances are released to cause plasma extravasation in the airways as a result of intraesophageal HCl stimulation and 2) there are neural pathways communicating between the esophagus and airways, including the vagus nerve.     

A master-slave control system for a semi-autonomous underwater vehicle-manipulator system

Underwater vehicle-manipulator systems (UVMS) are expected to play an important role in ocean exploration. It is considered that UVMS will be operated by both automatic and manual control. We have proposed an automatic control method. In this article, we propose a master-slave system for a UVMS. The effectiveness of the proposed master-slave control system is demonstrated by using a floating underwater robot with a 2-link manipulator.     

Observation of large diamagnetism in La-Sr-Nb-O films up to room temperature

Large diamagnetic transitions along with sharp resistive transitions were observed in the La-Sr-Nb-O system near room temperature (290 K). The amplitude of the diamagnetism reaches 35% of that of a pure Nb sheet. In addition, a behavior similar to weak magnetic spin ordering was observed for some samples at a temperature of about 290 K, over a temperature range of 30 K. The diamagnetism reappears above this temperature and continues up toT 320 K. It is not clear what composition ratio of La-Sr-Nb-O is responsible for this large diamagnetism and the high critical temperature. The yield probability of these samples is around 50%. The characteristics of the samples having not passed through many thermal cycles remain stable for about 1 month.