We successfully managed 11 patients with aqueductal stenosis of adult or adolescent onset, with no mortality or significant morbidity, by using a flexible ventriculoscope to perform either a third ventriculostomy or an aqueductal plasty. A flexible fiberoptic ventriculoscope and its accessories were newly developed, and surgical techniques were improved. For all patients, cinemagnetic resonance imaging was a critical part of the preoperative and postoperative evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid flow in the third ventricle and in the aqueduct of Sylvius. All of the 11 patients showed patency to cerebrospinal fluid flow at the aqueduct of Sylvius and the floor of the third ventricle. Only one patient subsequently required a lumboperitoneal shunt. Flexible endoneurosurgical management is simple and safe and allows in situ observation and the ability to perform biopsies. Therefore, flexible endoneurosurgical third ventriculostomy and aqueductal plasty are now considered our treatment of choice for aqueductal stenosis in adults and adolescents.

Stress is evaluated for silicon nitride films prepared by rf-biased plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The total stress of the films shows a change from tensile to compressive with increasing applied rf bias during film deposition. The biaxial elastic moduli and linear thermal expansion coefficients of the silicon nitride films are determined by measuring the temperature dependence of the total stress of films deposited on two different substrate materials. Both the biaxial modulus and linear thermal expansion coefficient are dominantly related to film density. The intrinsic stress of the silicon nitride films calculated using these values is very close to the total stress. The intrinsic tensile stress originates from spontaneous densification during film growth, while the compressive stress results from incorporated atoms that are accelerated and implanted into the films by rf-bias induced plasma potential.

As concern for Japan's aging population and shrinking workforce continues to mount, many researchers are focusing on nursing and healthcare-related robots to help ease the burden on society. In order to successfully integrate robots into the home environment to coexist with family members, three features are considered essential: safe interaction, a compact and lightweight body, and a simple interface. In this paper the authors introduce a robot that possesses these qualities: the human support robot (HSR). The current prototype HSR is designed to support independent living of persons with limited limb mobility. This paper discusses the development of the HSR and the results of user testing conducted in the homes of two persons with disabilities. Fig. 1. R&D areas of the Toyota Partner Robot

We successfully managed 11 patients with aqueductal stenosis of adult or adolescent onset, with no mortality or significant morbidity, by using a flexible ventriculoscope to perform either a third ventriculostomy or an aqueductal plasty. A flexible fiberoptic ventriculoscope and its accessories were newly developed, and surgical techniques were improved. For all patients, cinemagnetic resonance imaging was a critical part of the preoperative and postoperative evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid flow in the third ventricle and in the aqueduct of Sylvius. All of the 11 patients showed patency to cerebrospinal fluid flow at the aqueduct of Sylvius and the floor of the third ventricle. Only one patient subsequently required a lumboperitoneal shunt. Flexible endoneurosurgical management is simple and safe and allows in situ observation and the ability to perform biopsies. Therefore, flexible endoneurosurgical third ventriculostomy and aqueductal plasty are now considered our treatment of choice for aqueductal stenosis in adults and adolescents.

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