Characterization of GaAs layers grown on polycrystalline GaAs by LPE and current controlled LPE

It is the purpose of this paper to investigate the suitability and effectiveness of growth of thin GaAs layers on polycrystalline GaAs substrates by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) and current controlled LPE (CCLPE). During each growth run LPE and CCLPE were used to grow thin GaAs layers on two large-grain polycrystalline GaAs substrates cut from the same wafer and simultaneously placed in the same growth system. The grain boundary was exposed by cleaving the samples perpendicular to the grain boundary. Notnarski contrast, SEM, C-V and Hall measurements were performed in order to determine the surface morphology, discontinuity of epilayer at the grain boundary, epilayer thickness unform-ity, resistivity (in directions parallel and perpendicular to the grain boundary), and dopant concentration. The CCLPE system was carefully designed so that growth would take place only by electrotransport in the absence of convection or Peltier cooling. The results indicate that CCLPE yields layers with improved surface morphology and thickness uniformity as compared to those grown by LPE. In some samples the epilayer was discontinuous at certain grain boundaries. Results are presented on CCLPE growth rate dependence upon grain orientation, current density, and continuity of the epilayer at the grain boundary.     

Cuticle chirality and body handedness in Caenorhabditis elegans

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Norway has the highest reported incidence of hip fractures in western Europe. Little is known about the epidemiology of falls in Norway where the winter season is long and dark. The objective of this work was to study reported falls and their consequences among elderly Norwegians living at home. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used for the study. Interviews were performed in the homes of 431 subjects, aged 67-97 years, living at home. Information on falling was gathered through six questions: whether the subject had fallen during the last six months, and if so, how many falls they had, where the last fall occurred, its perceived reason, the activity the subject had been engaged in when the fall occurred, and the resulting injury. RESULTS: In all, 24.1% of subjects reported falling during the last six months, and 9.5% had suffered more than one fall. Falls were most frequently linked to external events (63.1%). Outdoor falls were more frequent (59.0%; 95% CI = 51.2-82.0) than indoor falls. Older subjects were associated with more frequent indoor falls (p < 0.05), but gender was not significant. Fifty-one per cent of subjects had fallen while walking and 53% had suffered an injury from the last fall. In 13.4% of the women and 16.2% of the men, the last fall had resulted in a fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the results of other studies from industrialized Western countries, a similar crude fall rate, similar frequency and similar type of injury were found. However, in contrast to other studies, no gender difference was observed with regard to falling, place of falling and fracture rate.     

Percutaneous transjejunal biliary intervention: 10-year experience with access via Roux-en-Y loops

Ancylostoma duodenale is still the dominant hookworm species in the Mediterranean area, India, China and Japan. In the present study, biopsied materials were taken from the small intestine of 30 patients infected only with A. duodenale and 12 cross matched controls. The results showed some pathological changes in severely infected cases. However, normal or insignificant changes were seen in the enzymatic activity of the intestinal mucosa.     

Evaluation of peer intervention training for high school alcohol safety education

A program of peer intervention in the drinking and driving of others compared with a conventional alcohol safety program in the high school setting. The peer intervention program led to significant increases in self-reported intervention behavior following completion of the course. The conventional alcohol safety program failed to produce changes in intervention behavior during this period. Both the peer intervention program and the conventional alcohol safety program led to significant knowledge gains. Neither program led to significant measured shifts in attitudes.     

A twin study of dental dimension. II. Independent genetic determinants

To demonstrate the presence of independent genetic determinants of multiple correlated tooth dimensions from twin data, a multivariate analysis was performed on the covariance matrices of monozygotic and dizygotic within-pair differences for mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions of 28 teeth of the secondary dentition. The results provided strong evidences that the correlation among tooth dimensions is primarily genetic in origin, probably attributable to the pleiotropic action of either independent genes or groups of genes. Among the genetic factors that were identified, one appeared to affect the maxillary teeth in general while a second influenced primarily the anterior mandibular teeth. There was a striking tendency for homologous measurements on the right and left sides to be associated with the same genetic factor. In contrast, genetic determination of the maxillary and mandibular dentition seemed to be independent of each other, and a wider range of genetic factors were found to influence the mandibular than the maxillary teeth, suggesting that a differential degree of evolutionary stability may have been achieved in the teeth of the two jaws.