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Hideki Kobara,1 Hirohito Mori,1 Kazi Rafiq,2 Shintaro Fujihara,1 Noriko Nishiyama,1 Maki Ayaki,1 Tatsuo Yachida,1 Tae Matsunaga,1 Johji Tani,1 Hisaaki Miyoshi,1 Hirohito Yoneyama,1 Asahiro Morishita,1 Makoto Oryu,1 Hisakazu Iwama,3 Tsutomu Masaki1 1Department of Gastroenterology and Neurology, 2Department of Pharmacology, 3Life Science Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kita-Gun, Kagawa, Japan Abstract: Advances in endoscopic submucosal dissection include a submucosal tunneling technique, involving the introduction of tunnels into the submucosa. These tunnels permit safer offset entry into the peritoneal cavity for natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery. Technical advantages include the visual identification of the layers of the gut, blood vessels, and subepithelial tumors. The creation of a mucosal flap that minimizes air and fluid leakage into the extraluminal cavity can enhance the safety and efficacy of surgery. This submucosal tunneling technique was adapted for esophageal myotomy, culminating in its application to patients with achalasia. This method, known as per oral endoscopic myotomy, has opened up the new discipline of submucosal endoscopic surgery. Other clinical applications of the submucosal tunneling technique include its use in the removal of gastrointestinal subepithelial tumors and endomicroscopy for the diagnosis of functional and motility disorders. This review suggests that the submucosal tunneling technique, involving a mucosal safety flap, can have potential values for future endoscopic developments. Keywords: submucosal endoscopy, submucosal tunneling method, natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery, peroral endoscopic myotomy, gastrointestinal subepithelial tumor, functional and motility disorders

A new study seeks to determine a precise conversion factor for the calculation of the protein content of twenty common Japanese vegetables.

The effect of substrate-induced strain in polycrystalline ZnO thin films on different substrate, e.g., GaN epilayer, sapphire (0001), quartz glass, Si(111)/SiO2, and glass deposited by sol-gel process, has been investigated by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, electrical resistivity, and photoluminescence measurements. A strong dependence of orientation, crystallite size, and electrical resistivity upon the substrate-induced strain along the c axis has been found. The results of structural and morphological studies indicate that relatively larger tensile strain exists in ZnO deposited on sapphire and glass, while a smaller compressive strain appears in film deposited on GaN and the strain is relaxed in larger crystallite size. The electrical resistivity of the films increases exponentially with increasing strain. The excitonic peak positions are found to shift slightly towards lower energy side with increasing strain. The analysis shows that GaN being a closely lattice-matched substrate produces ZnO films of better crystallinity with a lower resistivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A more accurate conversion factor is determined for calculating the protein content of each cereal product from the total nitrogen content base on the amino acid composition by considering the distribution of nitrogen in protein or other nitrogenous components. The results have shown that adjusted nitrogen to protein (N: P) conversion factor is reliable and practical for estimating more accurately protein contents in cereal products.