Blue light-emitting diode based on ZnO

A near-band-edge bluish electroluminescence (EL) band centered at around 440 nm was observed from ZnO p-i-n homojunction diodes through a semi-transparent electrode deposited on the p-type ZnO top layer. The EL peak energy coincided with the photoluminescence peak energy of an equivalent p-type ZnO layer, indicating that the electron injection from the n-type layer to the p-type layer dominates the current, giving rise to the radiative recombination in the p-type layer. The imbalance in charge injection is considered to originate from the lower majority carrier concentration in the p-type layer, which is one or two orders of magnitude lower than that in the n-type one. The current-voltage characteristics showed the presence of series resistance of several hundreds ohms, corresponding to the current spread resistance within the bottom n-type ZnO. The employment of conducting ZnO substrates may solve the latter problem.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures. Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. in pres

The thyroid function of Graves' disease patients is aggravated by depressive personality during antithyroid drug treatment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We previously reported that depressive personality (the scores of hypochondriasis, depression and psychasthenia determined by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)) and daily hassles of Graves' disease (GD) patients treated long trem with antithyroid drug (ATD) were significantly higher in a relapsed group than in a remitted group, even in the euthyroid state. The present study aims to examine the relationship among depressive personality, emotional stresses, thyroid function and the prognosis of hyperthyroidism in newly diagnosed GD patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixty-four untreated GD patients responded to the MMPI for personality traits, the Natsume's Stress Inventory for major life events, and the Hayashi's Daily Life Stress Inventory for daily life stresses before and during ATD treatment.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the untreated thyrotoxic state, depressive personality (T-scores of hypochondriasis, depression or psychasthenia greater than 60 points in MMPI) were found for 44 patients (69%). For 15 (23%) of these patients, the scores decreased to the normal range after treatment. However, depressive personality persisted after treatment in the remaining 29 patients (46%). Normal scores before treatment were found for 20 patients (31%), and the scores were persistently normal for 15 patients (23%). The remaining 5 patients (8%) had higher depressive personality after treatment. Such depressive personality was not associated with the severity of hyperthyroidism. Serum TSH receptor antibody activity at three years after treatment was significantly (p = 0.0351) greater in the depression group than in the non- depression group. The remission rate at four years after treatment was significantly (p = 0.0305) lower in the depression group than in the non- depression group (22% vs 52%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data indicate that in GD patients treated with ATD, depressive personality during treatment reflects the effect of emotional stress more than that of thyrotoxicosis and that it aggravates hyperthyroidism. Psychosomatic therapeutic approaches including antipsychiatric drugs and/or psychotherapy appears to be useful for improving the prognosis of hyperthyroidism.</p

Thermal Conditions and Growth of 'Muscat of Alexandria' Vines Planted at Different Locations in Heated House

ブドウの加温栽培における地温不足の実態を明らかにするために,1月中旬から加温した‘連棟’ガラス室の‘マスカット・オブ・アレキサンドリア’栽培園において,栽植位置の異なる樹体の生育と気温及び地温の変化を調査した. 1.地温はガラス室内の位置により大きく異なり,側壁寄りでは中央寄りに比べて発芽期で4～6℃,開花期で2-3℃低かった.室外地温は発芽期までは5℃以下で推移し,その後徐々に上昇したが開花期でも10℃以下であった.室内気温は位置による差はほとんど認められず,また樹体温も中央寄りに比べて側壁寄りで低いということはなかった. 2.根は室外にも分布したが,その量は比較的少なかった.新根の発生は中央寄りに比べて側壁寄りで遅かった.発芽の開始及び100%の発芽率に達したのも側壁寄りで遅かった.新梢や花穂の生長速度には位置による大きな差はみられなかったが,発芽の場合と同様に側壁寄りの生育は中央寄りに比べて遅れた.側壁寄りにおけるこのような生育の遅れは収穫果実でも認められた. 3.以上より,1月中旬から加温したブドウ樹では地温不足に起因すると思われる生育の遅れが認められたが,12月加温でみられる生育不良は地温不足だけでなく休眠覚醒が不十分であることも大きく関係していると思われた

Women's anxiety in old age and long-term care provision for the elderly.

The purpose of this study was to verify the differences in women's anxiety in old age, the expected long-term care provision, and the expected final location for terminal care for the women themselves and for their parents. In addition, we examined factors that related to their anxiety and needs. The subjects were 1,000 women of the Seikatsu Club customer cooperative association in Chiba; 539 responded to our survey. The subjects were more anxious for their parents than for themselves. They more strongly expected long-term care for their parents to be provided by their family than they expected the same for themselves. Although no differences were observed in the expected location for terminal care, most subjects expected their home to be the terminal location. Analysis by the multiple logistic regression model indicated that the following factors were significantly related to the anxiety in old age: age odds ratio [OR = 1.81], employment [OR = 2.25] for women, and planning to live with parents [OR = 2.42], housing conditions [OR = 0.56] for parents. The following factors were significantly related to the expected long-term care provision: age [OR = 2.22] for women, and age [OR = 2.15], living with parents [OR = 3.58], and employment [OR = 2.33] for parents. Age [OR = 2.14] for women, and planning to live with parents [OR = 2.09] for parents were significantly related to the expected final location of terminal care. This survey showed that women expected long-term care for their parents to be provided by their family, while many expected public long-term care services for themselves. This is the biggest difference in women's outlook on long-term care for their parents and for themselves. Multivariate analysis suggested that women aged 40 years or over, who will need long-term care in the future, tended to expect public home care services for themselves. It is virtually certain that the demand for public home care services will increase in the future.</p

Laparoscopic Splenectomy Using a Low-pressure Pneumoperitoneum for the Treatment of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura During Pregnancy : A Case Report

Article信州医学雑誌 62(6):441-446(2014)journal articl