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Research was conducted to study the effects of gallium doping on the structural, electrical, optical and optoelectronic properties of amorphous-SiC:H films. Doping at very low Ga concentrations below Z = 10/3 leads to a reduction of photoconductivity. Results indicate that the n-type conduction of the undoped film confirmed by a thermoelectric power experiment is compensated by the gallium doping.

Investigates the impurity effects of gallium on properties of a-SiC:H films by use of an experiment. Detailed information on the experiment; Indepth look at the results.

Two axial and coronal section planes are commonly used for a conventional computed tomography diagnosis of the temporal bone. In recent years, sagittal and oblique section planes have been reformatted using high-resolution multiplanar reconstruction (MPR). Detailed three-dimensional (3D) images are also employed. To understand the 3D structure of the small, complicated temporal bone, we compared common angle MPR section planes with 3D images. We also suggest four-section planes, which are optimal for observing the ossicular chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effects and the gender differences of self-paced resistance training and lack of training on knee extension strength in community-dwelling older adults. Six men and six women were involved in self-paced resistance training for 12 weeks. The knee extension strength in men increased significantly from 33.5±6.1 kg at baseline to 39.9±6.8 kg after training, but the difference was not significant in women. The loss of knee extension strength owing to lack of training was -23.9±6.4% in men and -15.5±4.9% in women. A repeated measures analysis of variance showed a gender difference for the change in muscle strength. Self-paced resistance training needs different strategies according to gender to improve muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The authors newly propose and investigate two types of carbon dioxide recovering SOFC/GT combined power generation systems in which a gas turbine with carbon dioxide recycle or water vapor injection is adopted as the bottoming cycle. In these systems, fuel gas is first introduced to a SOFC, and its exhaust fuel gas is afterburned by pure oxygen. Carbon dioxide or water vapor is also injected into the combustor to reduce the combustion gas temperature. The obtained combustion gas, which is composed of only carbon dioxide and water vapor, is introduced to a gas turbine in the bottoming cycle. The exhaust gas of the gas turbine preheats the injection gas, and then, carbon dioxide is separated by only cooling and water condensation. It is made clear that the overall efficiency of the system with carbon dioxide recycle reaches 63.87% (HHV) or 70.88% (LHV), and that of the system with water vapor injection reaches 65.00% (HHV) or 72.13% (LHV). These values are sufficiently high, indicating that the proposed systems are worth further research and development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chemotherapy is not effective for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HMG-CoA redutase inhibitors have cytostatic activity for cancer cells, but their clinical usefulness is unknown. To investigate whether pravastatin, a potent HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, prolongs survival in patients with advanced HCC, this randomized controlled trial was conducted between February 1990 and February 1998 at Osaka University Hospital. 91 consecutive patients <71 years old (mean age 62) with unresectable HCC were enroled in this study. 8 patients were withdrawn because of progressive liver dysfunction; 83 patients were randomized to standard treatment with or without pravastatin. All patients underwent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) followed by oral 5-FU 200 mg[SUP-1] d for 2 months. Patients were then randomly assigned to control (n = 42) and pravastatin (n = 41) groups. Pravastatin was administered at a daily dose of 40 mg. The effect of pravastatin on tumour growth was assessed by ultrasonography. Primary endpoint was death due to progression of HCC. The duration of pravastatin administration was 16.5 ± 9.8 months (mean ± SD). No patients in either group were lost to follow-up. Median survival was 18 months in the pravastatin group versus 9 months in controls (P = 0.006). The Cox proportional hazards model showed that pravastatin was a significant factor contributing to survival. Pravastatin prolonged the survival of patients with advanced HCC, suggesting its value for adjuvant treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Hepatic lipoprotein production is important to the understanding of mechanisms involved in the development of fatty liver and hyperlipidemia. Previously, we have reported that hepatic fatty acid synthesis and apolipoproteinB transcription are increased in obese rats. Here, we describe the effects of a high sucrose diet on hepatic fatty acid synthesis and apolipoprotein gene expression in obese rats. DESIGN: Obese rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions were fed on a high sucrose diet (30.3% of cal) or lab chow for 11 weeks. RESULTS: Serum triglycerides and plasma immuno-reactive insulin concentrations were further increased in the obese rats fed a high sucrose diet. The experimental diet increased the activity of hepatic acetyl-CoA carboxylase, the rate limiting enzyme for hepatic fatty acid synthesis, and triglycerides content, concurrent with an increase abundance of apolipoproteinA-IC mRNA in the obese rats. Despite further accumulation of hepatic triglycerides there was no further increase in hepatic apolipoproteinB mRNA abundance in the obese rats fed the high sucrose diet. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that the synthesis of hepatic fatty acids but not of apolipoproteinB is further increased in obese rats fed the high sucrose diet, and that apolipoproteinA-IV gene expression may be modulated in response to alterations in hepatic triglycerides flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of intravenous magnesium sulfate infusion on corrected serum calcium level and parathyroid function assessed by determination of nephrogenous cAMP (NcAMP) excretion were studied in normal human subjects. Significant hypermagnesemia induced by the magnesium sulfate infusion for 120 minutes was accompanied by a gradual and progressive decrease in the corrected serum calcium level. NcAMP excretion fell rapidly, reaching a nadir between 60 and 120 minutes after the infusion began, and after that rose above the baseline excretion. Urinary calcium excretion gradually increased, reaching a peak between 120 and 180 minutes after the infusion began and then gradually decreased. Since magnesium was given as the sulfate, it is not clear whether these changes were attributable to magnesium or sulfate or both. As a control study, we performed intravenous sodium sulfate infusion. The sodium sulfate infusion caused slight hypocalcemia, slight hypercalciuria, and a significant increase in NcAMP excretion. These findings indicate that the hypocalcemia and the hypercalciuria caused by the magnesium sulfate infusion is mainly due to the effect of magnesium, and that the decrease in NcAMP excretion during the infusion is due to the effect of magnesium alone. We conclude that the hypocalcemia caused by the magnesium sulfate infusion is mainly due to the renal calcium loss, and that the inhibition of parathyroid function caused by hypermagnesemia may be only partially involved in the early phase of this hypocalcemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]