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Objectives: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) have been approved for oral anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). On the other hand, DOAC are sometimes prescribed off-label under-doses for patients with AF. This study aimed to compare the effects of different DOAC doses on coagulation and fibrinolytic markers. Methods:A total of 88 patients with AF (age, 68 ± 11 years; male sex, 45%; persistent AF, 43%) were analyzed. All patients received edoxaban (60 or 30 mg) once daily. For this study, patients were divided into three groups according to whether they had been treated before the ablation procedure under an appropriate standard-dose group (n = 30 [34.1%]), appropriate low-dose group (n = 35 [39.8%]), or off-label under-dose group (n = 23 [26.1%]). Coagulation and fibrinolytic markers and echocardiographic parameters were examined before ablation. Results:There were no significant baseline differences in AF type, plasma B-type natriuretic peptide, protein C, fibrinogen, D-dimer level, left ventricular ejection fraction, or left atrial dimension among the three groups. The prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2) level was significantly different among the appropriate standard-dose, appropriate low-dose, and off-label under-dose groups (105.9 ± 29.4, 142.6 ± 41.3, and 142.8 ± 84.9 pmol/L, respectively; P = 0.011). After multivariate analysis, the F1+2 was significantly higher in the off-label low-dose group than in the standard-dose group when compared among the three groups (P = 0.034, Bonferroni test). Conclusion:Our results suggest that an appropriate standard dose of edoxaban is required to suppress hypercoagulability in patients with AF.

Background An association between uric acid (UA) and cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure (HF), has been reported. However, whether UA is a causal risk factor for HF is controversial. In particular, the prognostic value of lowering UA in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is unclear. Methods and Results We enrolled patients with HFpEF from the PURSUIT‐HFpEF (Prospective Multicenter Observational Study of Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction) registry. We investigated whether UA was correlated with the composite events, including all‐cause mortality and HF rehospitalization, in patients with hyperuricemia and HFpEF (UA >7.0 mg/dL). Additionally, we evaluated whether lowering UA for 1 year (≥1.0 mg/dL) in them reduced mortality or HF rehospitalization. We finally analyzed 464 patients with hyperuricemia. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, UA was an independent determinant of composite death and rehospitalization (hazard ratio [HR], 1.15 [95% CI, 1.03–1.27], P =0.015). We divided them into groups with severe and mild hyperuricemia according to median estimated value of serum UA (8.3 mg/dL). Cox proportional hazards models revealed the incidence of all‐cause mortality was significantly higher in the group with severe hyperuricemia than in the group with mild hyperuricemia (HR, 1.73 [95% CI, 1.19–2.25], P =0.004). The incidence of all‐cause mortality was significantly decreased in the group with lowering UA compared with the group with nonlowering UA (HR, 1.71 [95% CI, 1.02–2.86], P =0.041). The incidence of urate‐lowering therapy tended to be higher in the group with lowering UA than in the group with nonlowering UA (34.9% versus 24.6%, P =0.06). Conclusions UA is a predictor for the composite of all‐cause death and HF rehospitalization in patients with hyperuricemia and HFpEF. In these patients, lowering UA, including the use of urate‐lowering therapy, may improve prognosis.

Objective: We aim to clarify the differences in the association between re-admission for heart failure (HF) and left atrial (LA) overload indices by sex in heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Methods: We analyzed 898 HFpEF patients hospitalized for acute decompensated HF. Blood tests and transthoracic echocardiography were performed before discharge. The primary endpoint was re-admission for HF during the first year. Results: The ratio of diastolic elastance to arterial elastance (p = 0.014), a relative index of LA pressure overload, in men and LA volume index (LAVI, p = 0.020) in women were significant for re-admission for HF during the first year in the multivariable Fine–Gray analysis. Stroke volume (SV)/LA volume (LAV), another index for LAV overload, was not a significant prognostic factor of re-admission for HF during this time. Conclusion: LA overload was an important prognostic factor for HF re-readmission during the first year after enrolment in patients with HFpEF, but the indices relating to LA overload differed by sex.

ObjectivesThe prognostic significance of an afterload-integrated diastolic index, the ratio of diastolic elastance (Ed) to arterial elastance (Ea) (Ed/Ea=[E/e′]/[0.9×systolic blood pressure]), is valid for 1 year after discharge in older patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We aimed to clarify the association with changes in Ed/Ea from enrolment to 1 year and prognosis thereafter in patients with HFpEF.SettingA prospective, multicentre observational registry of collaborating hospitals in Osaka, Japan.ParticipantsWe enrolled 659 patients with HFpEF hospitalised for acute decompensated heart failure (men/women: 296/363). Blood tests and transthoracic echocardiography were performed before discharge and at 1 year after.Primary outcome measuresAll-cause mortality and/or re-admission for heart failure were evaluated after discharge.ResultsHigh Ed/Ea assessed before discharge was a significant prognostic factor during the first, but not the second, year after discharge in all-cause mortality or all-cause mortality and/or re-admission for heart failure. When re-analysis was performed using the value of Ed/Ea at 1 year after discharge, high Ed/Ea was significant for the prognosis during the second year for both end points (p=0.012 and p=0.033, respectively). The poorest mortality during 1‒2 years after enrolment was observed in those who showed a worsening Ed/Ea during the first year associated with larger left ventricular mass index and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. In all-cause mortality and/or re-admission for heart failure, the event rate during 1‒2 years was highest in those with persistently high Ed/Ea even after 1 year.ConclusionsTime-sensitive prognostic performance of Ed/Ea, an afterload-integrated diastolic index, was observed in older patients with HFpEF.Trial registration numberUMIN000021831.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) may cause cerebral and systemic embolism. An increased D-dimer level indicates hyperactivation of secondary fibrinolysis, resulting in predilection for thrombosis. To clarify the differential effects of anticoagulation therapy, we compared the D-dimer levels in peripheral and left atrial (LA) blood of atrial fibrillation patients scheduled for ablation. Methods We analyzed 141 patients with non-valvular AF (dabigatran, n = 30; apixaban, n = 47; edoxaban, n = 64; mean age: 68 years, male: 60%). Peripheral venous blood and LA blood was collected before pulmonary vein isolation. We examined the laboratory and echocardiographic parameters. Results After adjusting for baseline characteristics, D-dimer level in the LA was significantly higher in patients treated with edoxaban than that in those on apixaban (0.77 ± 0.05 vs. 0.60 ± 0.05 μg/mL, P = 0.047), although there were no significant differences in peripheral D-dimer levels. We classified the D-dimer value of the LA into a normal group (P = 0.008) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (OR, 0.947; 95% CI, 0.910–0.986; P = 0.008) were potential predictors of high LA D-dimer levels. Conclusions In apixaban-treated patients, the D-dimer level in the left atrium was lower than in edoxaban-treated patients on the day of ablation, suggesting that the anticoagulant effect of apixaban on the left atrium is better than that of edoxaban in patients with AF.

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is known to increase the risks of cerebral and systemic embolism. Apart from vitamin K antagonists, edoxaban, a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), has been approved for oral anticoagulation in patients with non-valvular AF. On the other hand, DOACs are sometimes prescribed at off-label under-doses for patients who have undergone ablation for AF. Prothrombin fragment F1+2 is an activation peptide released from prothrombin during thrombin formation. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of DOAC doses on coagulation and fibrinolytic markers. Methods and results A total of 88 patients with AF (age: 68±11 years, male:45%, paroxysmal AF n=49, persistent AF n=39) were recruited. All patients were received edoxaban (60mg or 30mg) once a day. For the purpose of the study, patients were divided into three groups according to whether they had been treated before the ablation procedure under an appropriate standard dose group (n=30 [34.1%]), appropriate low-dose group (n=35 [39.8%]), or off-label under-dose group (n=23 [26.1%]). We examined the coagulation and fibrinolytic markers, and echocardiographic parameters before ablation. All patients were followed up for 12 months after AF ablation. Creatinine clearance was significantly higher in appropriate standard-dose group than in appropriate low-dose or off-label under-dose group (101.1±38.4, 57.1±15.9 and 73.2±14.6 mL/min, respectively; P Conclusion Our results suggest that an appropriate standard dose of edoxaban is needed to suppress hypercoagulability in patients with AF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Prothrombin fragment F1+2 level

The role of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels as a predictor of arrhythmia recurrence (AR) after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the association of BNP levels before and 3 months after ablation with the risk of AR. A total of 234 patients undergoing their first session of AF ablation were included (68% male, mean age of 69 years). The cut-off value for discriminating AR was determined based on the maximum value of the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The impact of BNP levels on AR was evaluated using Cox regression analysis. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for BNP at 3 months after the procedure was larger (0.714) compared to BNP levels before ablation (0.593). Elevated levels of BNP 3 months after the procedure (&gt, 40.5 pg/mL, n = 96) was associated with a higher risk of AR compared to those without elevated levels (34.4% vs. 10.9%, p &lt, 0.01). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that elevated BNP levels were associated with an increased risk of AR (hazard ratio 2.43, p = 0.014). Elevated BNP levels 3 months after AF ablation were a significant prognostic factor in AR, while baseline BNP levels were not.

OBJECTS: We aimed to clarify the differences in the of the ratio of diastolic elastance (Ed) to arterial elastance (Ea), [Ed/Ea=(E/e’)/(0.9×systolic blood pressure)], anafterload-integrateddiastolic index that reflects left atrial pressure overload, on prognosis between patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with and without atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: We studied 552 HFpEF patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (sinus rhythm/AF:352/200).Blood testing and transthoracic echocardiography were performed before discharge. Primary endpoint was all-cause mortality after discharge. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 508 days, 88 patients (sinus rhythm/AF: 54/34) had all-cause mortality. In the subgroup with sinus rhythm, but not AF, Ed/Ea was significantly higher in patients with than without all-cause mortality. In a multivariate Cox hazard analysis, Ed/Ea was significantly associated with all-cause mortality independent of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide level in patients with sinus rhythm, but not with AF. CONCLUSIONS: Ed/Ea providedlesser important information for predicting all-cause mortality in HFpEF patients with AF than with sinus rhythm. The prognostic risk factors may differ between elderly HFpEF patients with and without AF.

Objective: We aimed to clarify the differences in the significance of the ratio of diastolic elastance (Ed) to arterial elastance (Ea), [Ed/Ea=(E/e’)/(0.9 х systolic blood pressure)], a relative index of left atrial (LA) pressure overload, in relation to N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level on prognosis between patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) with and without atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: We studied 297 HFpEF patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure (sinus rhythm/AF: 192/105). Blood testing and transthoracic echocardiography were performed before discharge. All-cause mortality was evaluated at >1 year after discharge. Results: During a median follow-up of 626 days, 47 patients (sinus rhythm/AF: 30/17) had all-cause mortality. In the subgroup with sinus rhythm, but not AF, Ed/Ea was significantly higher in patients with than without all-cause mortality. In a multivariate Cox hazard analysis, Ed/Ea was significantly associated with all-cause mortality independent of NT-proBNP in patients with sinus rhythm, but not with AF. Among patients with higher NT-proBNP levels, the effect of higher Ed/Ea on prognosis was prominent only in those with sinus rhythm (p=0.037). Conclusions: Ed/Ea provides additional prognostic information to serum NT-proBNP level for predicting all-cause mortality only in HFpEF patients with sinus rhythm. The prognostic risk factors differed between elderly HFpEF patients with and without AF.

Backgrounds Tolvaptan significantly increases urine volume in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF); serum sodium level increases due to aquaresis in almost all cases. We aimed to elucidate clinical factors associated with hypernatremia in ADHF patients treated with tolvaptan. Methods We enrolled 117 ADHF patients treated with tolvaptan in addition to standard therapy. We examined differences in clinical factors at baseline between patients with and without hypernatremia in the initial three days of hospitalization. Results Systolic (p = 0.045) and diastolic (p = 0.004) blood pressure, serum sodium level (p = 0.002), and negative water balance (p = 0.036) were significantly higher and serum potassium level (p = 0.026) was significantly lower on admission day in patients with hypernatremia (n = 22). In multivariate regression analysis, hypernatremia was associated with low serum potassium level (p = 0.034). Among patients with serum potassium level ≤ 3.8 mEq/L, the cutoff value obtained using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, those with hypernatremia related to tolvaptan treatment showed significantly higher diastolic blood pressure on admission day (p = 0.004). Conclusion In tolvaptan treatment combined with standard therapy in ADHF patients, serum potassium level ≤ 3.8 mEq/L may be a determinant factor for hypernatremia development. Among hypokalemic patients, those with higher diastolic blood pressure on admission may be carefully managed to prevent hypernatremia.

Background: Myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging with stress is a useful examination for detecting coronary artery disease. Since the presence of artifacts is remaining challenges, we aimed to define the minimum intensity of low-grade exercise stress levels combined with drug stress to reduce undesired artifacts and their related factors.Methods: We divided patients with suspicious coronary artery disease into 4 groups as follows: group A, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for 6 min; group A+25 W, ATP+25 W exercise for 6 min; group A+35 W, ATP+35 W exercise for 6 min; group A+45 W, ATP+45 W exercise for 6 min) and enrolled only those whose summed stress scores were H/L) ratio and heart-to-10 pixels below the heart (H/below the H) ratio. Results: The logarithmic values of H/L and H/below the H ratios were significantly higher in groups A+35 W and A+45 W than in group A (pH/L and H/below the H ratios positively correlated with the increment of rate pressure product (RPP, p=0.002 and p=0.005, respectively) after stress in the univariate analysis. The left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) after stress (p=0.002) negatively correlated with the logarithmic value of H/below the H ratio, but not H/L ratio. Although the increment of RPP was independently associated with the logarithmic values of both H/L (p=0.001) and H/below the H ratios (p=0.005), LVEDV was also independently associated with the logarithmic value of H/below the H ratio (pConclusion: ATP plus ≥35 W exercise stress for 6 min was useful for reducing undesired artifacts after stress in myocardial perfusion SPECT. LVEDV after stress in addition to the increment of RPP was independently associated with the H/below the H ratio, but not the H/L ratio.

The relationship between alterations in left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and the incidence of recurrence, as well as the associated factors after cryoballoon (CB) and radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (Paf), require clarification. We enrolled 138 patients with Paf (RF/CB 69/69) who underwent the first catheter ablation and follow-up for 12 months. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed before and after ablation. An afterload-integrated index of LV diastolic function was calculated as diastolic elastance (Ed)/arterial elastance (Ea), Ed/Ea. No significant increases were observed in Ed/Ea 3 days after RF ablation in patients with (n=12) and without (n=57) recurrence. However, a significant increase was observed in recurrence-free patients with CB ablation (n=59; P

Objectives The NIPPON (Nobori Dual Antiplatelet Therapy as Appropriate Duration) study was a multicenter randomized investigation of the noninferiority of short-term versus long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in patients with implantation of the Nobori drug-eluting stent (DES) (Terumo, Tokyo, Japan), which has a biodegradable abluminal coating. Background The optimum duration of DAPT for patients with a biodegradable polymer-coated DES is unclear. Methods The subjects were 3,773 patients with stable or acute coronary syndromes undergoing Nobori stent implantation. They were randomized 1:1 to receive DAPT for 6 or 18 months. The primary endpoint was net adverse clinical and cerebrovascular events (NACCE) (all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, and major bleeding) from 6 to 18 months after stenting. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed in 3,307 patients who were followed for at least 6 months. Results NACCE occurred in 34 patients (2.1%) receiving short-term DAPT and 24 patients (1.5%) receiving long-term DAPT (difference 0.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5 to 0.3). Because the lower limit of the 95% CI was inside the specified margin of −2%, noninferiority of short-term DAPT was confirmed. Mortality was 1.0% with short-term DAPT versus 0.4% with long-term DAPT, whereas myocardial infarction was 0.2% versus 0.1%, and major bleeding was 0.7% versus 0.7%, respectively. The estimated probability of NACCE was lower in the long-term DAPT group (hazard ratio: 1.44, 95% CI: 0.86 to 2.43). Conclusions Six months of DAPT was not inferior to 18 months of DAPT following implantation of a DES with a biodegradable abluminal coating. However, this result needs to be interpreted with caution given the open-label design and wide noninferiority margin of the present study. (Nobori Dual Antiplatelet Therapy as Appropriate Duration [NIPPON]; NCT01514227)

In order to enhance light output power of green light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on a sapphire (0001) substrate, we employ 1.5 nm-thick AlGaN interlayer between an InGaN well layer and an upper GaN barrier layer. AlGaN interlayer controls asymmetric band profile due to piezoelectric field, and thus it controls the quantum-confined Stark effect. Although both photoluminescence intensity and electroluminescence intensity of a conventional MQW decreases drastically as the emission wavelength becomes longer, the intensity drop at spectral range of 530–580 nm is suppressed by utilizing an AlGaN interlayer. The maximum light output power of 12 mW at 532 nm and external quantum efficiency of 25.4% have been achieved for the LED employing Al0.30Ga0.70N interlayer at a driving current of 20 mA. This result indicates that the band-engineering approach is effective for an IQE enhancement at pure green or longer wavelength, even if a polar (0001) face is utilized.

We deal with a system of Lotka–Volterra competition-diffusion equations on $\mathbb{R}$, which is a competing two species model with diffusion. It is known that the equations allow traveling waves with monotone profile. In this article we prove the existence of an entire solution which behaves as two monotone waves propagating from both sides of the x-axis, where an entire solution is meant by a classical solution defined for all space and time variables. The global dynamics for this entire solution exhibits the extinction of the inferior species by the superior one invading from both sides. The proof is carried out by applying the comparison principle for the competition-diffusion equations, that is, using an appropriate pair of a subsolution and a supersolution.

We have successfully realized a very smooth surface morphology of GaN-based epitaxial layers on n-GaN (0001) substrates with the misorientation angle of approximately 0.2° only toward [1¹100] direction, which is confirmed using Nomarski microscopy and atomic force microscopy. In x-ray diffraction spectra, the narrow width of the satellite peak of superlattices also indicated the smooth surface morphology and abrupt interfaces of the epitaxial layers on the GaN (0001) substrate with the misorientation angle only toward [100] direction. The realization of smooth surface morphology of the layers grown on GaN (0001) substrates misoriented only towards [100] direction is considered to be closely related to the anisotropic inplane growth rate. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The influence of InGaN growth conditions on the structural instability of green light-emitting InGaN quantum wells (QWs) is investigated. The multiple quantum wells (MQWs) were grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD), varying the growth rate of InGaN well layers. It is found that the structural deterioration of MQWs attributable to high-temperature post-growth of GaN on MQWs is suppressed by decreasing the growth rate. Atomic force microscope measurement reveals the reduction of In-rich clusters that are fragile under high-temperature process on the surface of MQWs grown at low growth rates. It is demonstrated that the suppression of the formation of these In-rich clusters at the lower growth rates lead to the improvement of the thermal stability and the enhancement of optical properties of green light-emitting diodes. (© 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

We demonstrated the growth of blue LED structures grown on 4-inch and 8-inch Si (111) substrates. GaN layers that have low threading dislocation density (TDD) of 1.6×108/cm2, which is comparable to state of the art in GaN on sapphire, can be obtained on 4-inch Si substrate by using a new TDD reduction technology using a silicon nitride (SiN) interlayer. A dependence of LED device performance on threading dislocation density was studied by using 4-inch Si substrate. A LED manufacturing technology has been developed by using 8-inch Si towards mass production technology. The light output power representing a median performance exceeded 641 mW at 350 mA, which was comparable to state-of-the-art LED.

We investigate the internal quantum efficiency of InGaN-based Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) from the semiconductor rate equation of pulse current injection. A method is presented for estimating the internal quantum efficiency based on data of electroluminescence decay times measured as a function of current in the pulse injection. For the screening of built-in electric field, the pulse current was injected with bias voltage. For blue LED, the internal quantum efficiency was measured to be about 70% in high injection condition. It is found that the internal quantum efficiency increase with injection current, whereas the external quantum efficiency decreases at high injection. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

We have studied microphotoluminescence mapping of InGaN quantum wells grown on GaN (0001) substrates with misorientation toward [100] direction. The fluctuation of peak energy and full width at half maximum in the mapping was large when the misorientation angle was 0.0° or 0.1°, whereas it was small when the misorientation angle was over 0.2°. The average of the full width at half maximum of InGaN peak had the minimum of below60 meV at room temperature when the misorientation angle was around 0.28°. These results indicate that InGaN quantum wells have high crystalline quality when grown on GaN (0001) substrates with misorientation angle between 0.2° and 0.3° toward [100] direction. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Radiodermatitis, predominantly over the right scapula, is a well-known complication of complex percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). To reduce focal radiation exposure, we analyzed an inversed X-ray beam direction using a reversed C-arm position. On phantom experiment, we found that 130° right anterior oblique projection reduced skin dose over the right scapula by 98.2 % (P < 0.001) compared with conventional 50° left anterior oblique projection. A 73-year-old man with history of bypass surgery, multiple PCI and chronic radiodermatitis over the right scapula presented with recurrent chest pain. After successful PCI using the reversed C-arm projection, no aggravation of radiodermatitis was found.

For complete antegrade revascularization of a chronic total occlusion (CTO) intimal plaque tracking is crucial. However, by angiography the intimal plaque cannot be distinguished from the subintimal space and even the course of the occluded vessel is often unclear. The spatial resolution of computed

The contribution of reduction of threading dislocation densities (TDDs) to optical properties is investigated for InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes (LEDs) grown on sapphire substrate. The external quantum efficiency (EQE) curves depending on the TDDs are discussed both theoretically and experimentally. At the current density of 2 , the EQE increases with decreasing the edge-type TDD from 5 e8/cm 2 to 2 e8/cm 2 . The current density at the maximum EQE shifts to lower value as the edge-type TDD decreases, whereas the EQE presents no remarkable difference in the highercurrent density range irrespective of the TDD. According to the rate equation (ABC) model, the peak shift reflects the Shockley-Read-Hall non-radiative process (A coefficient). Analysis of the photoluminescence (PL) decay and the dependence of integrated PL intensity on excitation power reveals that the threading dislocations act as non-radiative recombination centers in the multiple quantum well active region. The TDD of 2 is required for highly efficient blue LEDs operating at current density of around 15 A/cm 2 , whereas the TDD of 2 in required for the LEDs operating at around 50 A/cm 2 .

We have directly observed that InGaN quantum well layers were incoherently grown on 5-nm-thick GaN barrier layers in an InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well (MQW) system of a blue light-emitting diode by using a lattice image obtained by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and fast Fourier transform mapping (FFTM) analysis of the lattice image. The lattice disorder was observed in the middle of the InGaN well layer by using high-angle annular dark field (HAADF) scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM). In contrast, FFTM of the InGaN well layers with 10-nm-thick barrier layers showed the intervals of the (01-10) lattice planes were homogeneous, and the lattice disorder was not observed in the HAADF-STEM image. These results indicate that the excess stain in the InGaN/GaN MQW having thinner GaN barrier layers induces the lattice disorder in the InGaN well layers. Indium composition fluctuation in the InGaN well layer was also observed by using three-dimensional atom probe analysis. It indicates that the incorporation of indium atoms is affected by the imperfect structural properties of the MQW system with thinner GaN barrier layers. The intensity of electroluminescence from the sample with 10-nm-thick barrier layers in the MQWs was higher than that from the sample with 5-nm-thick barrier layers.

The optical properties of InGaN quantum wells on misoriented GaN (0001) substrates were investigated. The suctuationof peak wavelength and full width at half maximum of micro-photoluminescence from InGaN quantum wells was largewhen the misorientation angle was 0.0 . The micro-photoluminescence showed narrow-width spectra, with full width athalf maximum below 60 meV, of InGaN quantum wells grown on GaN (0001) substrates with a misorientation angle ofaround0.28 toward[1 100] direction. These results indicate that InGaN quantumwells havehigh crystalline qualitywhenoInGaN quantumwells are grown with misorientation angle between 0.2 and 0.3 toward [1 100] direction.oKeywords: Micro-photoluminescence,InGaN, quantumwells, GaN substrates 1. INTRODUCTION GaN-basedlasershaveattractedmuchattentioninreg ardto epitaxialgrowthanddeviceapplications. 1,2 Theheteroepitaxyof GaN-based layers on sapphire or SiC s ubstrates deteriorates crystalline qua lity and device performance, due to dislo-cations and defects generated from the mismatch of lattice constant and thermal expansion coe cient. In contrast, thehomoepitaxyof GaN-based layerson GaN substrates is exp ectedto bring about superior crystalline quality and higher de-vice characteristics. Recently, large-areaGaN substrates were demonstrated

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) stimulates the proliferation of bone marrow granulocytic progenitor cells and promotes their differentiation into granulocytes. G-CSF is therefore an important component of immune defense against pathogenic microorganisms: recombinant human G-CSF (rhG-CSF) is used to treat patients with a variety of neutropenias. In the present study, we screened approximately 10 000 small nonpeptidyl compounds and found 3 small compounds that mimic G-CSF in several in vitro and in vivo assays. These compounds induced G-CSF–dependent proliferation, but had no effect on interleukin-3–dependent, interleukin-2–dependent, interleukin-10–dependent, thrombopoietin (TPO)–dependent, or erythropoietin (EPO)–dependent proliferation. Each compound induced the phosphorylation of signal transducers and activators of transcription–3 (STAT3) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in a G-CSF–dependent cell line and in human neutrophils. In addition, these compounds induced hematopoietic colony formation from primary rat bone marrow cells in vitro. When subcutaneously injected into normal rats, they caused an increase in peripheral blood neutrophil counts. Furthermore, when they were administered to cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenic rats, blood neutrophil levels increased and remained elevated up to day 8. We therefore suggest that these small nonpeptidyl compounds mimic the activity of G-CSF and may be useful in the treatment of neutropenic patients.

In 1964 the senior writer reported the occurrence of beachrock from the beach exposed along the west coast of the entrance of Ogushi Bay in the western part of Narushima in the Goto Islands, and he discussed on the age and origin of the beachrock containing the pottery of the Sobata type and concluded its age to be of the early Jomon period by the occurrence of this pottery.On the other hand, Esaka published different opinion on the age of this beachrock in 1967 and he considered its age to be rather younger than the period indicated by this early Jomon pottery.In the present paper, the writers especially discussed on the age of the beachrock upon the basis of the 14C dating of the shells cemented in the beachrock and the field work as follows.1. The shells included in the beachrock is dated as 5, 650±150y. B. P. (Gak. 2861). The age of this beachrock is therefore thought to belong to the early Jomon period.2. It is considered that the sea level in the Goto Islands has been comparatively stable during the past about five thousand years since the early Jomon period.3. Judging from the origin of beachrock, the climatic condition of the early Jomon period is presumed to have been warmer than that of the present day.

4-Acetoxy-6-polyprenyl-2,3,5-trimethylphenols or 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-6-polyprenylhydroquinones were obtained selectively by the BF3·OEt2 catalyzed polyprenyl rearrangement of polyprenyl 4-acetoxy-2,3,5-trimethylphenyl ethers or polyprenyl 2,3-dimethoxy-4-hydroxy-5-methylphenyl ethers.