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Background: Innovations in treatments, imaging, and molecular characterisation in advanced prostate cancer have improved outcomes, but various areas of management still lack high-level evidence to inform clinical practice. The 2021 Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference (APCCC) addressed some of these questions to supplement guidelines that are based on level 1 evidence. Objective: To present the voting results from APCCC 2021. Design, setting, and participants: The experts identified three major areas of controversy related to management of advanced prostate cancer: newly diagnosed metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), the use of prostate-specific membrane antigen ligands in diagnostics and therapy, and molecular characterisation of tissue and blood. A panel of 86 international prostate cancer experts developed the programme and the consensus questions. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: The panel voted publicly but anonymously on 107 pre-defined questions, which were developed by both voting and non-voting panel members prior to the conference following a modified Delphi process. Results and limitations: The voting reflected the opinions of panellists and did not incorporate a standard literature review or formal meta-analysis. The answer options for the consensus questions received varying degrees of support from panellists, as reflected in this article and the detailed voting results reported in the Supplementary material. Conclusions: These voting results from a panel of experts in advanced prostate cancer can help clinicians and patients to navigate controversial areas of management for which high-level evidence is scant. However, diagnostic and treatment decisions should always be individualised according to patient characteristics, such as the extent and location of disease, prior treatment(s), comorbidities, patient preferences, and treatment recommendations, and should also incorporate current and emerging clinical evidence and logistic and economic constraints. Enrolment in clinical trials should be strongly encouraged. Importantly, APCCC 2021 once again identified salient questions that merit evaluation in specifically designed trials. Patient summary: The Advanced Prostate Cancer Consensus Conference is a forum for discussing current diagnosis and treatment options for patients with advanced prostate cancer. An expert panel votes on predefined questions focused on the most clinically relevant areas for treatment of advanced prostate cancer for which there are gaps in knowledge. The voting results provide a practical guide to help clinicians in discussing treatment options with patients as part of shared decision-making. © 2022 The Author(s)

The authors regret that Axel Heidenreich was added to the author list in error. The author list is now corrected as above, however the affiliations of remaining authors have been retained. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. © 2022 The Author(s)

In the phase III JAVELIN Renal 101 trial, first-line avelumab plus axitinib demonstrated a progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) benefit versus sunitinib in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC). However, efficacy in elderly patients remains unclear. We report efficacy and safety by age group from the second interim analysis of overall survival (OS).PFS and ORR as per blinded independent central review (RECIST 1.1), OS, and safety were assessed in patient groups aged65, ≥65 to75, and ≥75 years.In the avelumab plus axitinib and sunitinib arms, 271/138/33 and 275/128/41 patients aged65, ≥65 to75, and ≥75 years, respectively, were randomized. At data cut-off (January 2019), median PFS [95% confidence interval (CI)] with avelumab plus axitinib versus sunitinib in these respective age groups was 11.6 (8.4-19.4) versus 6.9 (5.6-8.4) months [hazard ratio (HR), 0.63; 95% CI 0.501-0.786], 13.8 (11.1-18.0) versus 11.0 (7.8-16.6) months (HR, 0.88; 95% CI 0.627-1.231), and 13.8 [7.0-not estimable (NE)] versus 9.8 (4.3-NE) months (HR, 0.76; 95% CI 0.378-1.511). Median OS (95% CI) in the respective age groups was not reached (NR) (NE-NE) versus 28.6 (25.5-NE) months (HR, 0.74; 95% CI 0.541-1.022), 30.0 (30.0-NE) versus NR (NE-NE) months (HR, 0.89; 95% CI 0.546-1.467), and 25.3 (19.9-NE) versus NR (19.4-NE) months (HR, 0.87; 95% CI 0.359-2.106). ORR (95% CI) in the respective age groups was 49.4% (43.3% to 55.6%) versus 27.3% (22.1% to 32.9%), 60.9% (52.2% to 69.1%) versus 28.9% (21.2% to 37.6%), and 42.4% (25.5% to 60.8%) versus 22.0% (10.6% to 37.6%). In the avelumab plus axitinib arm, grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) and immune-related AEs occurred in 76.9%/81.2%/72.7% and 45.5%/48.1%/36.4% in the respective age groups.First-line avelumab plus axitinib demonstrated favorable efficacy across age groups, including patients aged ≥75 years. OS data were still immature; follow-up is ongoing. The safety profile was generally consistent across age groups.

RESUMO O presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar em condições de laboratório e campo, a eficiência de um inseticida Teste (à base de cipermetrina, clorpirifós e citronela), no controle do cascudinho dos aviários (Alphitobius diaperinus). Em laboratório, o produto foi testado sobre insetos adultos, por meio de pulverização sobre os insetos (contato direto) e caminhamento sobre superfície tratada (contato indireto). Posteriormente, foi avaliado em condições de campo, em um aviário de frangos de corte. O produto foi eficiente, sendo comparável ao produto padrão, causando 100% de mortalidade em laboratório e reduzindo a população do aviário em 76%. Assim, o produto constitui-se em uma alternativa para o controle do cascudinho. ABSTRACT The present study was carried out with the objective to evaluate, under laboratory and field conditions, the effectiveness of the insecticide Test (based on cypermethrin, chlorpyrifos and citronellal), for the control of lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus). In the laboratory, the product was tested on adult insects, by spraying on the insects (direct contact) and by their walking on a treated surface (indirect contact). After this, it was evaluated in field conditions, in a poultry house. The product was effective, being comparable to the standard product, causing 100% of mortality in the laboratory and reducing the population in the poultry house by 76%. Thus, the product presents an alternative for the control of this pest.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between economic security and self-rated health for elderly Japanese residents living alone. A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study. N City, H. Prefecture, Japan. Survey questionnaires were distributed to 2,985 elderly residents living alone, aged ≥70 years, of which, 1,939 (65.0%) were returned and treated as valid responses. The survey included questions about gender, age, number of years spent in N City, self-rated health, economic security, number of years spent living alone, reason for living alone, life satisfaction, cooking frequency, frequency of seeing a doctor, long-term care service usage, as well as whether they enjoyed their lives, participated in social organizations. Of the respondents, 1,563 (80.6%) reported that they were economically secure, and 376 (19.4%) responded that they were insecure. The odds ratio predicting poor self-rated health for the economically insecure participants was significantly high (odds ratio: 3.19, 95%, Confidence Interval (CI): 2.53−4.02, and P < 0.001). Similarly, the adjusted odds ratio for poor self-rated health was significantly high for the economically insecure participants in multivariate analyses controlling for factors such as age, gender, cooking frequency, and social participation (adjusted odds ratio: 2.21, 95%, CI: 1.70−2.88, and P < 0.001). Furthermore, a similar trend was observed in stratified analyses based on gender and age groups. Economic security predicted self-rated health independently of confounders, including social participation and cooking frequency, among the elderly Japanese living alone in communities.

In 2014 and 2015, we examined the spatial distribution of cesium-134 (half-life: 2.06 years) from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) in marine sediments within coastal–basin areas (water depths of 40–520 m) off central Honshu Island (the main island of Japan) in the Sea of Japan. The 134Cs concentrations in both the surface sediment (0–1 cm depth) and whole-core inventory exhibited wide variations, and were highest at the site closest to the Agano River Estuary area (6.7 Bq/kg-dry and 886 Bq/m2, respectively). This indicates that 134Cs in coastal areas was delivered by riverine suspended solids (SS). Given the spatial variation in 134Cs concentrations, we believe that 134Cs partially migrated northeastward within ~50 km along Honshu Island (at water depths shallower than ~140 m), and southwestward, including the Sado Basin area. This is predominantly attributable to the transport of SS by bottom currents and unsteady downward delivery onto the steep slopes of the basin. The total amount of 134Cs in the study area in 2014 was estimated at approximately 0.6 TBq (decay-corrected to March 11, 2011, date of FDNPP accident).

Japanese Black beef cattle (JBBC) are a leading Wagyu breed in Japan. Embryo transfers are being used to improve JBBC, a sturdy, fast-maturing breed prized for its marbled beef; however, relevant donor selection techniques have not been fully established. Accordingly, in this study, in order to produce embryos efficiently, we aimed to investigate donor selection techniques based on follicle counts at different time points (Experiment 1) and an associated genetic marker (Experiment 2). Statistical differences were evaluated with Student's t-test or Welch's t-test, regarding P

The applied voltage (Vcc) dependence of SEB characteristics of the Failure In Time (FIT) is generally estimated by the accelerated test, because it takes a long time to cause SEB under the natural condition. So, it is meaningful to confirm the relationship among Field Failure Rate (FFR), SEB, FIT and CBS characteristic. Through physical analysis, the destruction point is confirmed to be located around the electric field peak position during SEB experiment using the neutron irradiation. After both SEB curve fitting and sufficient numbers of analysis for the destruction points, the first major factor to characterize the SEB curve is confirmed to be the electric field strength.

Soft-switching techniques are very attractive and often mandatory requirements in medium-voltage and medium-frequency applications such as solid-state transformers. The effectiveness of these soft-switching techniques is tightly related to the dynamic behavior of the internal stored charge in the utilized semiconductor devices. For this reason, this paper analyzes the behavior of the internal charge dynamics in high-voltage (HV) semiconductors, giving a clear base to perform overall converter optimizations and to understand the previously proposed zero-current-switching techniques for insulated-gate bipolar-transistor (IGBT)-based resonant dual active bridges. From these previous approaches, the two main concepts that allow switching loss reduction in HV semiconductors are identified: 1) shaping of the conducted current in order to achieve a high recombination time in the previously conducting semiconductors; and 2) achieving zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) in the turning-on device. The means to implement these techniques in a triangular-current-mode dual-active-bridge converter, together with the benefits of the proposed approaches, are analyzed and experimentally verified with a 1.7-kV IGBT-based neutral-point-clamped (NPC) bridge. Additionally, the impact of the modified currents in the converter's performance is quantified in order to determine the benefits of the introduced concepts in the overall converter.

To control the efficiency of photoinduced charge-order melting in perovskite manganites, we performed femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy using double-pulse excitation on Pr_{0.6}Ca_{0.4}MnO_{3}. The results revealed that the transfer of the spectral weight from the near-infrared to infrared region by the second pump pulse is considerably enhanced by the first pump pulse and that the suppression of crystal anisotropy, that is, the decrease of long-range lattice deformations due to the charge order by the first pump pulse is a key factor to enhance the charge-order melting. This double-pulse excitation method can be applied to various photoinduced transitions in complex materials with electronic and structural instabilities.

To control the efficiency of photoinduced charge-order melting in perovskite manganites, we performed femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy using double-pulse excitation on Pr_{0.6}Ca_{0.4}MnO_{3}. The results revealed that the transfer of the spectral weight from the near-infrared to infrared region by the second pump pulse is considerably enhanced by the first pump pulse and that the suppression of crystal anisotropy, that is, the decrease of long-range lattice deformations due to the charge order by the first pump pulse is a key factor to enhance the charge-order melting. This double-pulse excitation method can be applied to various photoinduced transitions in complex materials with electronic and structural instabilities.

In this paper we propose an approach for action recognition based on a vocabulary of local appearance-motion features and fast approximate search in a large number of trees. Large numbers of features with associated motion vectors are extracted from video data and are represented by many trees. Multiple interest point detectors are used to provide features for every frame. The motion vectors for the features are estimated using optical flow and a descriptor based matching. The features are combined with image segmentation to estimate dominant homographies, and then separated into static and moving ones despite the camera motion. Features from a query sequence are matched to the trees and vote for action categories and their locations. Large number of trees make the process efficient and robust. The system is capable of simultaneous categorisation and localisation of actions using only a few frames per sequence. The approach obtains excellent performance on standard action recognition sequences. We perform large scale experiments on 17 challenging real action categories from various sport disciplines. We demonstrate the robustness of our method to appearance variations, camera motion, scale change, asymmetric actions, background clutter and occlusion.

Captures of the coffee berry borer (CBB) Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) were assessed in traps in the field. IAPAR designed traps [plastic bottles (2 L) lured with methanol:ethanol (1:1) in a vessel] were placed either at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5m high from the ground or simultaneously tested in the 2004 fructification season. Traps placed at the three heights trapped 5.5 times more CBB than the others, mostly at the traps placed at 0.5 m (75%). Treatments using the IAPAR designed trap placed at 1.2 m high; IAPAR trap with a white plastic plate above (IAPAR modified I) at 1.2 m high; IAPAR at 0.5 m high and two additional vessels at 1.0 and 1.5m high (IAPAR modified II) and T-163 trap [three red plastic cups (300 ml) and a red plastic plate as a cover] lured with M:E (1:1) at 1.2m height were compared in the vegetative (2005) and fructification (2006) periods. IAPAR modified II (dispenser vessels placed at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 m) trapped more beetles than the remaining types (2.72 times more beetles than IAPAR design); and IAPAR modified I traps trapped more beetles than T 163 and IAPAR traps in the vegetative period. In the reproductive period, IAPAR modified II trapped less beetles than IAPAR and IAPAR modified I. In 2007 vegetative season, IAPAR modified II trap were compared with IAPAR trap and trapped 2.8 times more beetles. The positive responses to a vertical distribution of the volatile attractants in the vegetative period of the planting allow the development of more efficient trapping systems for CBB.

The detection of antigen–antibody reactions in normal saline solution, measured using a chip-mounted source-drain electrode coated with an insulation layer with immobilized antibody or antigen molecules, was investigated as a function of concentration. Five pairs of source-drain electrodes (×8 arrays) were fabricated on a glass substrate of 20 mm × 30 mm size, in which the individual Au/Cr (1.0/0.1 μm thickness) sensors had widths of 50 μm, and an inter-electrode interval of 100 μm. The fabricated source-drain electrodes were further coated with an insulation layer comprising various porous materials for use as an adsorbent for receiving antibody molecules. The sensor chip was equipped with a handy-type sensor signal analyzer that comprised either an amplifier circuit with a Miniship™, or a system in a packaged LSI device. The weak current received by each sensor electrode was amplified and modulated with a sensor signal analyzer to give a digital signal, which was then wirelessly transmitted to a PC connected to a receiver device. The effects of the immobilized antibody molecules on the detection selectivity and detection limits were examined. The sensing functions were determined by measurement of the source-drain electrode voltage when the surface of the insulator was contacted with antigen solutions of various concentrations. The sensor ability was also evaluated by comparing the relative selectivity of each sensor. When a sensor surface with immobilized biotin was used for avidin sensing, or immobilized with leukotriene B4 for anti-leukotriene sensing, the sensor showed the largest effect for the selective detection of all sensor testing conducted. In contrast, when the sensor surface was immobilized with avidin for biotin sensing, or immobilized with anti-leukotriene for leukotriene sensing, the sensor exhibited low selectivity. Based on the results obtained, an adsorbed antibody on an adsorption particle is effectively expressed as the selective detection ability for the sensor-array chips. When liquid is deposited on the surface of an insulator, an electric double layer arises at the boundary surface. In this respect, the insulator molecules become polarized, resulting in the formation of opposing charges on both the boundary surface between the liquid and solid, and on the reverse side of the insulator. In the same way, when a solution mixture containing antigens is deposited on the surface of an insulator with antibodies immobilized to its surface, specific antigens and antibody reactions occur and the charge on the reverse side of the insulator is increased. The relationship between the source-drain electrode current and the sensor voltage follows Ohm's law. Based on this principle, a source-drain electrode produces a signal in response to changes in current originating from antigen–antibody reactions at the boundary surface on the insulator layer. The avidin molecule is composed of four domain structures, such that, four acceptors per molecule exist on the surface of the adsorbent particle. Biotin preferably interacts with this acceptor, because the molecular size of biotin is smaller that that of avidin. The sensor voltage changes do not suffer in the presence of cation contamination. In contrast, the molecular size of avidin is much larger than that of the cations in solution. In this respect, the cations are considered to interact with the sensor surface in preference to the biotin antibodies, thus promoting polarization of the insulator layer. As a result, the detection voltages increased, while the detection selectivity decreased.

Photoinduced melting of the spin-Peierls phase was investigated in Na-tetracyanoquinodimethane by pump-probe reflection spectroscopy with a time resolution of 49 fs. Photoirradiation generates coherent molecular oscillation, which indicates that the spin-Peierls dimerization decreased. Increasing the excitation photon density to $g0.02$ photon/molecule doubles the oscillation frequency attributable to recovery of the original symmetry, that is, complete melting of the spin-Peierls phase. We observed a complete photoinduced transition with symmetry recovery revealed by frequency doubling of coherent oscillations.

Charge dynamics in one-dimensional (1D) Mott insulators was investigated by femtosecond pump-probe absorption spectroscopy on ${\mathrm{Ca}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuO}}_{3}$. An irradiation of a femtosecond laser pulse gives rise to a Drude-like response due to the nature of spin-charge separation characteristic of 1D Mott insulators. The photoinduced metallic state decays with \ensuremath{\sim}30 fs, and photocarriers are localized as polarons via charge-phonon coupling which produce a broad midgap absorption. Calculations with the extended Hubbard-Holstein model suggest that the peak structure of the midgap absorption is a magnon sideband of the polaron absorption. This demonstrates that charge-spin coupling becomes effective via charge-phonon coupling in polarons.

We present two cases of imported Zika fever to Japan, in travellers returning from French Polynesia, where an outbreak due to Zika virus (ZIKV) is ongoing since week 41 of 2013. This report serves to raise awareness among healthcare professionals, that the differential diagnosis of febrile and subfebrile patients with rash should include ZIKV infection, especially in patients returning from areas affected by this virus.

Ultrafast charge dynamics in one-dimensional Mott insulators was investigated by femtosecond reflection spectroscopy on organic molecular compounds, K-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ), Rb-TCNQ, and bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (ET)-difluorotetracyanoquinodimethane (F2TCNQ). In K- and Rb-TCNQ, photocarriers are localized as polarons with ∼70 fs and recombine with a few ps. In ET-F2TCNQ, photocarriers lead to a metallic state and decay with ∼200 fs. Such differences of the charge dynamics can be explained by taking account of the different magnitudes of the electron-lattice interactions in the three compounds.

Objective: To report the results of prenatal triple marker screening on a population of Japanese pregnant women. Methods: From April 1994 through March 1999, a total of 32,925 native Japanese women with singleton pregnancies requested a triple marker-screening test. Multiples of the median values for 3 markers and individual risks for each patient were calculated following adjustment for the Japanese weight correction factor. The risk cut-off values used for Down syndrome (T21), open spina bifida (OSB) and trisomy 18 (T18) were 1:295, 1:290, and 1:100, respectively. Follow-up information was collected postpartum and statistically analyzed. Results: Detection rates (DR) of T21 for women less than 35 years, over 35 years and overall were 58, 94, and 83%, respectively. DR of T18 for women less than 35 years, over 35 years and overall were 75, 79, and 79%, respectively. DR of open neural tube defects (ONTD) was 100%. Conclusions: The first cumulative data of an intervention program and prospective follow-up studies in Japan have proven to be similar to other published reports. Individual risk values were calculated for each pregnancy for T21, T18 and ONTD. This screening program is more effective than age-dependent screening for detecting T21, T18 and ONTD pregnancies.

We investigated the distribution of endothelin B (ET B ) receptor-like immunoreactivity in rat brain, kidney, and pancreas, using an antiserum against amino acid residues 425-439 of the rat ET B receptor modified by the multiple-antigen peptide complex system. In the brain, immunoreactive fibers were observed mainly in the hypothalamus and diagonal band of Broca. Densely arranged immunoreactive fibers were observed in the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis and the median eminence. In these areas, the immunoreactive fibers corresponded to luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone-immunoreactive fibers. In the kidney, intense ET B receptor-like immunoreactivity was seen in structures that were presumably proximal tubules. In other segments of renal tubules and collecting ducts, immunoreactive puncta were scattered. In the glomerulus, a few immunoreactive puncta were seen on the capillaries. In the pancreas, ET B receptor-like immunoreactivity was seen in the acinar cells and islets of Langerhans. By analysis of double staining in the same section, B and D cells showed intense immunoreactivity, whereas A cells showed only weak immunoreactivity. These results suggest that the ET B receptor or its subtype is localized in specific cell types in the organs investigated. In these cells, ET(s) may modulate the function of each cell type via this type of receptor.

Immunohistochemical and immunocytochemical techniques were employed to investigate the distribution of endothelin 3 (ET3)-like immunoreactivity in the pituitary of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana. ET3-immunoreactive (ET3-IR) cells were scattered all over the pars distalis of the female pituitary; however, only a few ET3-IR cells were observed in the male pituitary. ET3-IR cells were found to correspond to cells immunostained with monoclonal antibodies against the beta-subunit of bullfrog LH (fLH beta) or monoclonal antibodies against the beta-subunit of bullfrog FSH (fFSH beta) at the light microscopic level. However, we could not find ET3-IR cells which were immunoreactive for other pituitary hormones. So far, all ET3-IR cells showed both fLH beta and fFSH beta immunoreactivity. About 24% of the fLH beta-IR cells and about 33% of the fFSH beta-IR cells showed ET3-like immunoreactivity. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis using colloidal gold revealed the coexistence of ET3-like substance(s) and gonadotropins within the same granules. This study demonstrated the presence of ET3-like peptide(s) in bullfrog gonadotrophs, suggesting the possible participation of ET3 in regulating pituitary function as an autocrine and/or paracrine hormone.

We report a new photoinduced transition from a nonordered phase to a transient ordered phase with symmetry breaking in an organic charge-transfer compound, dimethyltetrathiafulvalene (DMTTF)-dibromodichloro-$p$-benzoquinone ($2,6Q{\mathrm{Br}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}$), which is a neutral compound located near the neutral-ionic phase boundary and shows quantum paraelectricity at low temperatures. By an irradiation of a femtosecond laser pulse, an ionic domain consisting of $\ensuremath{\sim}40$ molecules is introduced into the neutral lattice per photon, giving rise to coherent molecular oscillations with fractional charge modulations over $\ensuremath{\sim}400$ molecules. This response is due to the recovery of ferroelectric nature from the quantum paraelectricity by a photoinjection of an ionic domain with a large dipole moment.

Non-exercise activity thermogenesis has recently drawn attention because of its potential to prevent weight gain.This study evaluated the relationships between the duration of daily non-sedentary activities and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance (IR) in the Japanese population.A total of 518 eligible subjects (380 men and 138 women) who attended the Tokushima Prefectural General Health Checkup Center and participated in the baseline survey of a cohort study conducted in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan were analyzed. Information about lifestyle characteristics including leisure-time exercise and daily non-exercise activities was obtained from a questionnaire. Logistic and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between the duration of daily non-exercise non-sedentary activities (beyond sitting) and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (and its components) and IR.Subjects with longer duration of daily non-sedentary activities had significantly lower adjusted odds ratios for metabolic syndrome (p for trend =0.024), abdominal obesity (p for trend =0.023), and low HDLcholesterol levels (p for trend =0.002), after adjustment for sex, age, and other probable covariates including leisure-time exercise. Longer duration of daily non-sedentary activities was further associated with lower homeostasis model of assessment- IR (HOMA-IR) values (p for trend =0.009).Our results suggest that abundant daily non-sedentary activity might be associated with a lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome, especially for the components of central obesity and low HDL-cholesterol levels, and with a lower prevalence of IR, independent of leisure-time exercise.

High-molecular weight (HMW) isoform level and HMW ratio have been shown to be better predictors of insulin sensitivity and metabolic syndrome than total adiponectin level.We examined the changes in circulating levels of HMW adiponectin and ratios of HMW to total adiponectin in women during the menopausal transition.We conducted a cross-sectional study in 217 healthy women and divided them into 4 stages: 58 women in pre-menopausal, 69 women in perimenopausal, 62 women in early post-menopausal and 28 women in late post-menopausal phase. Serum levels of total adiponectin and HMW adiponectin were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.In late post-menopausal women, HMW adiponectin level was significantly higher than that in peri-menopausal women and the HMW to total adiponectin ratio was significantly lower than that in early post-menopausal women. In peri-menopausal women, HMW adiponectin level was significantly lower than that in pre-menopausal women and HMW to total adiponectin ratio was significantly lower than the ratios in pre-menopausal and early post-menopausal women.The ratio of HMW to total adiponectin is low in late post-menopausal women, though both levels of total and HMW adiponectin were high after menopause in our cross-sectional study.

We examined the arrangement of the coronary arterial and cardiac venous systems in 46 specimens with discordant atrioventricular connections so as to identify any structural abnormalities and to consider their surgical implications in terms of anatomical biventricular repair. Grossly abnormal arterial courses were seen in 11 hearts (24%). A substantial branch supplying the morphologically right ventricular outflow tract, which could restrict a ventriculotomy, was found in 61% of cases. The coronary sinus received all the morphologically right ventricular veins, as well as the posterior interventricular vein, in 40 hearts, this pattern being in contrast to the pattern in the normal heart. The morphologically left ventricular and anterior interventricular veins, all of which drain via the coronary sinus in the normal heart, were frequently connected independently to the morphologically right atrium in the specimens with discordant connections, the drainage occurring through the spaces between the pectinate muscles. These direct drainages are at risk of potential damage either by extensive intra-atrial maneuvers or by postoperative intraatrial thrombosis. It is predicted, therefore, that surgical results can be improved still further when account is taken of this vascular anatomy of the heart itself.

Effects of lattice dimerizations on charge dynamics in one-dimensional (1D) half-filled Mott insulators were studied using an organic compound, Rb-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ). First, we investigated the presence of the dimeric molecular displacements by the measurements of polarized Raman spectra and the time evolutions of photoinduced reflectivity changes. The results indicate that Rb-TCNQ shows a spin-Peierls-like structural phase transition and molecular dimerization occurs below 220 K. Second, we performed femtosecond reflection spectroscopy from visible to infrared regions down to 0.1 eV on Rb-TCNQ in both the low-temperature phase with dimerization and the high-temperature phase without dimerization. The results revealed that the molecular dimerization causes splitting of midgap absorption due to photocarriers. Theoretical calculations by the density-matrix renormalization group method reveal that low- and high-energy midgap absorptions are due to pure charge excitation and spin-charge-coupled excitation, respectively, of polarons stabilized by the electron-lattice interaction. This indicates that dimerization breaks the spin-charge separation characteristic of 1D Mott insulators with large electron correlation.

The relaxation dynamics of an exciton in rubrene was investigated by femtosecond absorption spectroscopy. Exciton relaxation to a self-trapped state occurs via the coherent oscillation with 78 cm(-1) due to a coupled mode of molecular deformations with phenyl-side-group motions and molecular displacements. From the temperature dependence of the decay time of excitons, the energy necessary for an exciton to escape from a self-trapped state is evaluated to be ~35 meV (~400 K). As a result, a self-trapped exciton is stable at low temperatures. At room temperature, excitons can escape from a self-trapped state and, subsequently, they are dissociated to charged species. The exciton dissociation mechanism is discussed on the basis of the results.

Photoinduced transitions from a Mott insulator to a metal have been investigated in the undoped cuprates Nd${}_{2}$CuO${}_{4}$ and La${}_{2}$CuO${}_{4}$ by applying femtosecond pump-probe absorption spectroscopy to epitaxially grown thin-film samples. In Nd${}_{2}$CuO${}_{4}$, a metallic state is generated with low excitation photon density less than 0.01 photons/Cu and decays within 40 fs via the rapid photocarrier recombination. Residual photocarriers are localized by the effect of charge-spin coupling, exhibiting two midgap absorptions due to a particle and a hole. La${}_{2}$CuO${}_{4}$ also shows a photoinduced Mott insulator to metal transition, while it exhibits different charge dynamics from those of Nd${}_{2}$CuO${}_{4}$, that is, larger threshold excitation photon density for the formation of the metallic state, higher energies of the midgap absorptions, and slower recombination of polaronic carriers. These behaviors can be explained by the larger charge-phonon coupling strength in La${}_{2}$CuO${}_{4}$ than in Nd${}_{2}$CuO${}_{4}$, which is attributable to the presence of apical oxygen atoms in La${}_{2}$CuO${}_{4}$.