In the Gunn effect, which occurs in certain semiconductors in strong electric fields, electrons are driven out of a low-mass central valley into a heavy-mass side valley in k (momentum) space, ultimately resulting in negative differential resistance (NDR). Recently, there has been interest in the possibility of exploiting this phenomenon in heterostructured semiconductors, as a means to realize...

Gunn rats, a mutant strain of rats, suffer from autosomal recessive hyperbilirubinemia. The homozygotes (j/j) develop jaundice soon after birth and often exhibit kernicterus and cerebellar hypoplasia that are due to bilirubin. Therefore, j/j Gunn rats have been used as an animal model of bilirubin encephalopathy, as well as of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. In this review, we discuss morphologica...

H as anyone noticed the various electronic game machines that claim to be able to train your brain and body from the comfort of your lounge room? Quite convenient that. From observing my children and their friends, I see the Nintendo Wii has them leaping and jumping and the new Sony PlayStation has them boxing and dancing. Forget sending them to the gym or on long boring runs, this gives parent...

ANG II induces vasoconstriction, at least in part, by stimulating NADPH oxidase and generating reactive oxygen species. ANG II also induces heme oxygenase activity, and bilirubin, a product of such activity, possesses antioxidant properties. We hypothesized that bilirubin, because of its antioxidant properties, may reduce the pressor and prooxidant effects of ANG II. Our in vivo studies used th...

We have previously reported that there is a poor correlation between increase in the levels of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, UGT1A1 and UGT1A6, and decrease in the levels of serum total thyroxine (T4) and free T4 in phenobarbital (PB)-treated rats, although the PB-induced decrease in rats is generally thought to occur through induction of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (T4-UDP-GT: UGT1A1 and U...

Various body condition scoring (BCS) methods have been developed as management tools in zoo animal husbandry. In contrast to BCS for farm animals, where visual and palpable features are used, these protocols are mainly restricted to visual cues. Considering their inherent subjectivity, such methods face scepticism as their reliability is questioned. In terms of their respective methodology, com...