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The electromagnetic wave absorption properties of Ba M-type (Ba[Fe.sub.12-x]([Ti.sub.0.5][Mn.sub.0.5)x][O.sub.19]) ferrite - epoxy resin composites were investigated. After measuring the complex permittivities of the samples, the regions of complex permeabilities in which the reflection loss (R.L.) becomes less than -20 dB (-20 dB Regions), were calculated. Altering the conditions such as sintering temperature, particle size and the ratio of ferrite powder in the composite samples, resulted in frequency dependencies of permeabilities that agree well with the calculated -20 dB regions, and which lead to an expansion in bandwidth (frequency range ([Delta]f) of R.L. [is less than] -20 dB). The Ba[Fe.sub.9]([Ti.sub.0.5][Mn.sub.0.5)3][O.sub.19] ferrite-resin composite, which was produced by sintering at 1573K for 20 h, crushing into powder (150-300 [micro]m) and mixing with epoxy resin at a ratio of 70 mass %, exhibited a wide bandwidth ([Delta]f=7.2 GHz) from 13.75 GHz to 20.95 GHz. [Delta]f values of 1.4-5.4 GHz in the frequency range 6.35-15.65 GHz, were obtained by changing the composition of the Ba[Fe.sub.12-x]([Ti.sub.0.5][Mn.sub.0.5)x][O.sub.19]/ epoxy resin composite from x=3.5 to 4.5. Index Terms--composite, electromagnetic absorber, impedance matching, M-type ferrite.

Angiotensin (Ang) II type 1 receptor blockers have demonstrated beneficial effects beyond blood pressure control in the treatment of chronic kidney disease. There is clinical evidence that telmisartan is more effective than losartan in reducing proteinuria in hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy, because it is a partial agonist of peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), as well as an Ang II type 1 receptor blocker (AMADEO Study [A comparison of telMisartan versus losArtan in hypertensive type 2 DiabEtic patients with Overt nephropathy]). In this study, we examined the role of PPARγ activation in the renal protective actions of telmisartan using Ang II type 1 receptor-deficient mice. Renal injury was induced in Ang II type 1 receptor-deficient mice by producing unilateral ureteral obstruction, which exhibited severe renal interstitial fibrosis and inflammation. In these mice, telmisartan prevented hydronephrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction more strongly than did losartan. Importantly, the prevention of renal atrophy and fibrosis by telmisartan was significantly attenuated by GW9662, a PPARγ antagonist. Interestingly, the downstream effector of PPARγ activation by telmisartan is hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a well-known antifibrotic factor, because renal HGF expression was significantly increased by telmisartan, and a neutralizing antibody against HGF diminished the renal protective action of telmisartan. These beneficial changes by telmisartan were associated with a decrease in the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 and other proinflammatory and profibrotic cytokine genes through PPARγ/HGF activation. Our findings provide evidence of organ protective actions of telmisartan through the PPARγ/HGF pathway, independent of Ang II type 1 receptor blockade. Further development of the next generation of Ang II type 1 receptor blockers with added organ protective actions, such as PPARγ activation, might provide new beneficial drugs to treat renal and cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adiabatic two-phase flow experiments have been conducted to investigate the effects of channel diameter and liquid properties on void fraction in horizontal microchannels. Water/nitrogen gas and ethanol-water/nitrogen gas mixtures were pumped through circular microchannels of 50, 75, 100, and 251 μm diameter. The ethanol concentration in water was varied to change the surface tension and liquid viscosity. The void fraction data were obtained by an image analysis technique and correlated as a function of homogeneous void fraction. The void fraction data obtained in 50, 75, and 100 μrn channels conformed welt to the correlation In Kawahara et al. [1], but the data for a 251 μm diameter channel agreed with the Armand [2] correlation suitable for minichannels. There was no significant effect of liquid properties on void fraction for all channel sizes. These results suggest that the boundary between microchannels and minichannels would lie between 100 and 251 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study aimed to survey the effects of removable partial denture (RPD) wearing on periodontal conditions of both abutment and non-abutment teeth. The periodontal conditions changed in the 5 years following RPD placement. Tooth mobility of non-abutment teeth improved despite poor oral hygiene. This improvement might be related to the RPD placement. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]