Effects of β-alanine supplementation and high-intensity interval training on endurance performance and body composition in men; a double-blind trial

Background  

Intermittent bouts of high-intensity exercise result in diminished stores of energy substrates, followed by an accumulation of metabolites, promoting chronic physiological adaptations. In addition, β-alanine has been accepted has an effective physiological hydrogen ion (H⁺) buffer. Concurrent high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and β-alanine supplementation may result in greater adaptations than HIIT alone. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of combining β-alanine supplementation with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on endurance performance and aerobic metabolism in recreationally active college-aged men.     

Histopathological studies on the myocardial fibrosis and vascular lesion of rheumatic valvular disease

To clarify the types and frequency of myocardial fibrosis and vascular lesions caused by different types of the rheumatic valvular disease, 41 autopsied hearts with rheumatic valvular lesions were examined and the following results were obtained. As to myocardial fibrosis, 1) perivascular fibrosis, caused mainly by perivascular inflammation and partly by myocardial strain, varied in grade according to the types of the valvular disease, i.e., most severe in mitral regurgitation (MR) and combined valvular disease (CVD) and least in mitral stenosis (MS); 2) Aschoff's nodes: 3 typical and 8 atypical cases were found; 3) perimycial fibrosis due to myocardial strain: most severe in MR and CVD and least in MS; and 4) irregular patchy fibrosis, caused mainly by myocarditis and partly by ischemia, was noticed in all types of the valvular disease. As to vascular lesion, 1) angitis was found in 7 cases and most frequently in MR; and 2) thickening of the intima and media was found in all types of valvular disease. Thus, myocardial fibrosis and vascular lesion varied according to the types of valvular disease, and not only hemodynamic changes but also myocardial fibrosis and vascular lesions might determine the prognosis of the valvular disease.     

Transmission characteristics of long spliced graded-index optical fibers at 1.27µm

Transmission characteristics of graded-index fibers at 1.27 μm are investigated. Bandwidth measurements are made in the frequency domain by using a CW GaInAsP laser diode modulated by a sinusoidal signal. For a germanium pbosphosilicate fiber, the optimum index profile at 1.27 μm is determined as 1.98. It is shown that optimum profile at 0.83 μm is 2.08 and there exists a large profile dispersion effect: for example, the experimental maximum 3-dB bandwidth at 1.27 μm decreases to one-third at 0.83 μm. Length dependence of bandwidth is investigated for 48 km long spliced graded-index fibers at 1.27 μm. It is verified that using a simplified transmission model in which mode conversion is assumed at splicing points, the bandwidths of long spliced fibers are predicted with satisfactory accuracy in terms of unit fiber transfer functions.     

Small round and spindle cell sarcoma with neuronal differentiation and oncocyte-like features of the thoracic wall: a case report with histological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examinations

A case of small round and spindle cell sarcoma with neuronal differentiation and oncocyte-like features is presented. The tumor was encountered in a 32 year old Japanese woman with an initial presentation of palpable tumor in the left lateral region of the thorax. The resected tumor was a partially well encapsulated whitish medullary one and consisted of small round and spindle tumor cells, together with so-called rhabdoid cells in the small round cell area. Although pseudorosettes were often observed, true rosette formation could not be detected anywhere. Ultrastructurally, despite a histologic variety of tumor cells, most tumor cells possessed numerous mitochondria, some of which occasionally contained abnormal filamentous or crystalloid structures. Various amounts of microfilaments were present in most tumor cells and microtubules were present in a few. A minority of small round cells possessed a small number of neurosecretory granules, especially in short cytoplasmic processes. A positive immunoreaction for neuron specific enolase was found by immunohistochemical examination in several small round tumor cells and for neurofilaments in lesser numbers. Despite the lack of S-100 protein, MB2 was detected in both small round and spindle cells. On the basis of these findings, the tumor of the present case corresponds to malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with neuronal differentiation and oncocytic features.     

Stress tests on 1.3 ?m buried-heterostructure laser diode

Preliminary results of the accelerated aging test under stresses of temperature and current are presented. The degradation modes are found to be divided into two patterns which can be mapped in co-ordinates of these stresses.     

Diffusion behavior of fission product in pyrolytic silicon carbide

The concentration distributions of ¹³³Xe, ¹⁴⁰Ba, ⁸⁹Sr, ¹⁴¹Ce, ¹⁰³Ru and ⁹⁵Zr-⁹⁵Nb in a SiC layer and releases of these fission products from SiC coated fuel particles were measured in a temperature range from 1650° to 1850°C, to obtain the diffusion parameters and to investigate the diffusion behaviors in SiC. Temperature dependences of the diffusion coefficients of these fission products except ⁹⁵Zr-⁹⁵Nb were obtained. In diffusion behaviors of the alkali earth fission product, volume diffusion occured considerably besides grain boundary above 1650°C. ¹⁴¹Ce and ¹⁰³Ru diffusions were almost through grain boundaries in the temperature range. ⁹⁵Zr-⁹⁵Nb showed volume diffusion besides boundaries diffusion in their distribution annealed at 1850°C for 35 h, but those for the shorter time or at the lower temperature would be due to boundary diffusion. In comparison of the diffusion coefficients in SiC and PyC, it was proved that SiC was effective for retention of the solid fission products.     

Studies on the improvement of cured two-stage phenolics performance. III. Relation between conditions of heat treatment and properties of wood-flour-filled phenolics

The effect of heat treatment on the properties of cured two-stage phenolics was studied. Samples were compression-molded from the compound that was prepared from novolac, wood flour (100 phr), and hexamethylenetetramine (15 phr). Samples were heat-treated in conditions of four levels for temperature (150°C, 170°C, 190°C, and 210°C) and time (4, 8, 16, and 24 h). The properties of samples heat-treated, such as weight loss, dimensional stability, water absorption after boiling, and flexural properties were measured. The relation between the properties and the conditions of heat treatment was examined statistically. From the results, it was decided that the optimum conditions of heat treatment for practical use were: (i) to decrease water absorption and to heighten electrical resistance, 210°C, 24 h; (ii) to improve flexural properties at room temperature and at 160°C; 170°C, 8 h, and 170–190°C, 24 h, respectively. It was concluded that the decrease of water absorption of moldings was due to the increase of hydrophobic nature of wood flour included in moldings by heat treatment and that the improvement of flexural property of moldings at 160°C was due to an increase of crosslinking density by heat treatment. The reasons for the improvement of the electrical properties by heat treatment were also discussed.