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Enhancing the voluntary supportive actions of older adults towards other community-dwelling citizens is an important measure for a healthy community. Volunteering action in adulthood is related to the volunteering actions of older adults' parents, which they remember from their youth. In this study, the association between parents' former voluntary supportive actions and the current voluntary supportive actions of older adults is explored. Questionnaires were distributed to community-dwelling citizens aged 65 years and above, in Tokamachi city, Niigata Prefecture, Japan (response rate: 81.7%). Participants self-reported their current voluntary supportive actions and reported on their parents' former voluntary actions during their youth. The results indicated that the current voluntary supportive actions of the study participants were related to the former voluntary actions of their parents (OR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.62-3.20). Moreover, the participants were more likely to extend support in contexts which are more closely related to one's private life, only when their parents provided support in those private contexts. The study provides implications for the importance of considering life experiences when facilitating voluntary supportive actions and renders information on how unique strategies should to be implemented to involve individuals who are unfamiliar with volunteering actions.

Introduction A regional community space in Japan, Chiiki-Katsudokan, was founded to facilitate the social interactions of older adults through activities. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic occasionally forced this space to close or limited the volume of its participants. In this research, the operation of the space was reviewed by monitoring the changes in the social interactions of the attendees, and by investigating the anticipated function from the attendees' needs. Method: A semi-structured interview targeting the attendees of Chiiki-Katsudokan was conducted in December 2021 (N=19, main age:80s). The level of social interaction before and during the pandemic and the newly anticipated function of the space were examined. Results First, deep and light interactions were observed. Those with deep interactions initially had wide social connections and used Chiiki-Katsudokan to interact with friends. Meanwhile, those with light interactions only talked to other attendees while attending the space. During the quarantine, those with deep interactions stayed connected with others and met privately, while those with light interactions faced a higher risk of social isolation. Second, the most popular newly anticipated functions of the space were "Place to gather with friends (n=14)" and "Interaction with younger generation (n=14)." "Opportunity to learn about the new pandemic-lifestyle (n=11)" was also rated high, while need for "online events" was rated the lowest (n=7). Conclusion The pandemic re-emphasized older adults' need for direct interaction. Low interest in technology-based countermeasures suggested that community spaces should expand their operation method while considering offline methods (e.g., pen-pal system) that could enhance social interaction.

Social participation promotes and maintains the health of older adults. Working is a type of social participation; however, the effect of employment in old age on health outcomes has not been established. This study aimed to review the relationship between employment in old age (≥60 years) and all-cause mortality. For this systematic review, a computerized search was performed using PubMed, CINAHL and PsycINFO for prospective studies published through June 2020. The observational studies were extracted according to the study participants, indicators, follow-up period, statistical approach and main results. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Of the 37 832 records identified, 14 studies were included in the systematic review based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eight studies were derived from Asian countries (four from Japan, two from Taiwan and one from Thailand and South Korea), three were from the United States, two were from Israel and one was from Brazil. The baseline data of 13 studies were collected before 2000. Thirteen of the 14 studies reported any association between employment in later life and a lower risk of mortality. Four studies examined the sex-related differences in the effect of later-life employment on all-cause mortality, but the association was controversial. Overall, we revealed that working in old age would lower mortality risk. Although more findings based on recent data are required, this study indicates that working later in life is beneficial for promoting and maintaining health. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 705-714.

Introduction Designing community space for social participation of older adults is essential for healthy aging. The behavioral characteristics of the attendees have much to offer as they relate to social settings designed in the space. This study aims to elucidate the basic typology of the attendees considering their motivation for attendance and state of social connection. Methods Semi-structured interviews targeting attendees of Chiiki-Katsudokan, a space designed for social participation in a larger aging estate in Japan, were conducted in December 2021 (N=16, 16% male). Attendees were asked about their reasons for attending events at Chiiki-Katsudokan, interaction levels with other attendees, and levels of social participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results Based on the interviews, attendees were classified into three types: Seeker, Hobbyist, and Socializer. First, Seekers (n=3) used Chiiki-Katsudokan as the primary means of preventing social isolation. Amongst the three types, the social interaction level of Seekers was the lightest, and the opportunity decreased when Chiiki-Katsudokan closed during the quarantine. Second, the main motivation for Hobbyists (n=5) was the event contents which matched their interests. Hobbyists were also likely to engage in hobby networks, which continued privately during the pandemic. Finally, Socializers (n=8) attended Chiiki-Katsudokan to communicate with friends. Many were initially socially active and engaged in social interaction outside Chiiki-Katsudokan, e.g., teatime with friends, during the quarantine. Conclusion This study suggested that designing community space for social participation requires defining the varying levels of engagement and expecting relationships outside the space based on the behavioral characteristics of the attendees.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, informal caregivers’ mental health was more deteriorated than non-caregivers. The objective of this study was to examine the association between increased caregiver burden and severe psychological distress (SPD) during the pandemic. We used cross-sectional data from a nationwide internet survey conducted between August and September 2020 in Japan. Of 25,482 participants aged 15–79 years, 1,920 informal caregivers were analyzed (mean age, 52.3 ± 15.9 years; men, 48.8%). SPD was defined as the Kessler 6 Scale (K6) ≥ 13. The self-rated change in caregiver burden was measured with the single question item. A binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between SPD and increased caregiver burden, adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and caregiving variables. To examine the differential association between increased caregiver burden and SPD, interaction terms were added and binary logistic regression was separately conducted in all variables. Of total caregivers, 56.7% reported the increased caregiver burden and 19.3% were SPD. Increased caregiver burden was significantly associated with SPD, with an adjusted odds ratio 1.90 (95% confidence interval 1.37–2.66). The association between increased caregiver burden and SPD was stronger among married caregivers, with disease treatment, and with their care-receiver’s care need level 1–2 (Japanese long term care service levels). This study demonstrated that increased caregiver burden was associated with SPD during the pandemic. Therefore, measures against mental health for the caregivers with increased caregiver burden need to be implemented immediately.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, informal caregivers' mental health deteriorated more than that of non-caregivers. We examined the association between increased caregiver burden during the pandemic and severe psychological distress (SPD).We used cross-sectional data from a nationwide internet survey conducted between August and September 2020 in Japan. Of 25,482 participants aged 15-79 years, 1,920 informal caregivers were included. SPD was defined as Kessler 6 Scale (K6) score ≥ 13. Self-rated change in caregiver burden was measured retrospectively with a single question item. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between SPD and increased caregiver burden during the pandemic, adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, health, and caregiving variables. To examine the differential association between increased caregiver burden and SPD, interaction terms were added and binary logistic regression was separately conducted for all variables.Participants' mean age was 52.3 years (standard deviation 15.9), 48.8% of participants were male, 56.7% reported increased caregiver burden, and 19.3% exhibited SPD. Increased caregiver burden was significantly associated with SPD (adjusted odds ratio: 1.90; 95% confidence interval: 1.37-2.66). The association between increased caregiver burden and SPD was stronger among caregivers who were married, those undergoing disease treatment, and those with a care-receiver with a care need level of 1-2.The results revealed that more than half of caregivers reported increased caregiver burden, and increased caregiver burden was associated with SPD during the pandemic. Measures supporting mental health for caregivers with increased caregiver burden should be implemented immediately.

We report on the enhancement effect of metal nanotriangles (NTs) on the photoluminescence and its time-resolved dynamics of tris(8-quinolinolato) aluminum (Alq3). Regularly arranged Al NTs arrays were fabricated on the quartz substrate by means of nanosphere lithography. The absorption peaks corresponded to the localized surface plasmon (LSP) resonance of Al NTs were observed within a visible light region, and it was significantly shifted towards longer wavelength as increasing refractive index of the covering medium. The typical resonance wavelength of LSP of Alq3/Al NTs fabricated with 350 nm-PSt beads was 600 nm. From the PL measurement 2.6-fold PL enhancement was observed in Alq3 with Al NTs at room temperature, whereas the 4.4-fold PL enhancement was observed for Ag NTs with same size. According to the time-resolved PL data, the coupling of LSP with the excitation light field mainly contribute to the observed emission enhancement for the Al NTs, whereas the emission enhancement by Ag NTs can be originated from the direct coupling of LSP and emission which was suggested from the large contribution of short lifetime component.

Sex ratio is an important factor in population dynamics as it influences the production of offspring; understanding the sex ratio of a given population is vital for the conservation of endangered species. In sea turtles, the sex of hatchlings is temperature dependent, with warmer incubation temperatures producing more female hatchlings. The rise in temperatures due to global warming may skew the sex ratios towards females. We studied the sex ratio of immature green turtles at a foraging ground in the Yaeyama Islands from 1997-1999 and from 2016-2017, using laparoscopy. The overall proportion of females was 68.2% (N = 314), and proportions were not significantly different between 1997-1999 (69.9%; N = 183) and 2016-2017 (65.6%; N = 131). Thus, sex ratios have not changed at this site over the last 20 years, suggesting minor or no effect of global warming/environmental influences on this population. The small size class (

Here we report identification of powders of titania, one of the most important metal oxides, with their energy-resolved distribution of electron traps (ERDT), as a fingerprint, measured by reversed double-beam photoacoustic spectroscopy (RDB-PAS). The ERDT patterns combined with conduction-band bottom (CBB) position data measured by ordinary PAS for various titania powders and other metal-oxide powders were different depending on the kind of sample. The degree of coincidence (ζ) of ERDT/CBB patterns was evaluated for a given pair of samples as a product of each degree of coincidence for ERDT-pattern matching, total density of electron traps and CBB position. Titania samples collected from close positions in a container exhibited high values of ζ, while samples with different code names showed low values of ζ, except for pairs of samples prepared in the same way but coded differently. It was shown that the higher was the values of ζ, the higher was the degree of coincidence for photocatalytic activity of titania samples. ERDT/CBB-pattern arrays arranged in the order of photocatalytic activities in three reaction systems suggested preferable patterns for each photocatalytic reaction.

Maintaining personal connections in geriatric years is important to sustain the functional capacity of older adults. In this study, we define the term functional capacity as the ability to perform tasks and activities necessary for one’s independent life. Meanwhile, the type of personal connection and its effect on functional capacity remain unclear. We classified personal connections into connections with family or friends and examined their association with the functional capacity of independently living Japanese older adults. A two-year longitudinal study (2016 and 2018) was conducted using data from the Kashiwa Cohort Study. The amount of personal connections was determined using the Lubben Social Network Scale. The Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence was used to assess participants’ functional capacity. The change in functional capacity was analyzed by binomial logistic regression analysis (N=638, reference: group with high family and friend connection). The results showed a decline in the functional capacity of the group with low friend and family connections (odds ratio (OR): 0.48, 95%CI: 0.29–0.82). This trend was also seen for the group with a high family connection but low friend connection (OR: 0.43, 95%CI: 0.24–0.78). Meanwhile, there was no significant difference between the reference group and the group with low family but high friend connection (OR: 0.85, 95%CI: 0.47–1.56). The results imply the importance of having a friend for sustainable functional capacity in old age. Interventions that facilitate friend-to-friend interactions or promote new friendships among older adults can be considered as support strategies.

Aging increases the risk of social isolation, which could lead to conditions such as depressive mood. Pet ownership is known to reduce social isolation. However, previous studies have mainly focused on mammals as pets, which could be difficult at old age. A small ornamental fish is relatively easy to culture and might be a suitable alternative. In this research, we aimed to elucidate the possible effects of fish ownership on the psychological state of community-dwelling older adults in Japan. A Bottleium, a bottle-type aquarium, was selected to lower the burden of fish ownership. A workshop was hosted in 2019 and participants brought home their own Bottleium, with fish and water snail inside. Nineteen participants gave consent to the follow-up interview a month later. Five themes, “observation of fish and water snail”, “interaction between the fish and the owner”, “taking care of the fish as pet owner”, “facilitation of interpersonal interaction”, and “development of support system”, emerged from thematic analysis. The promotion of animal-to-human, and human-to-human interaction and development of responsibility could relate to a sense of social inclusion and ikigai-kan, a purpose of life. Fish ownership, when using equipment that suits the physical capability of older adults, could act as a positive stimulus.

Light-intensity dependence of the rate of carbon-dioxide liberation in the photocatalytic decomposition of acetic acid by bismuth tungstate particles suspended in an aqueous solution under aerobic conditions was measured by monochromatic photoirradiation using a monochromator (lower intensity < 20 mW) and high-intensity UV-LED (higher intensity < 300 mW). The light-intensity dependence of both flake ball-shaped micrometer-sized particles (FB-BWO) and wet ball-milled nanometer-sized particles (ML-BWO) seemed to be bimodal, i.e., first and 0.5th orders in the lower and higher intensity ranges, respectively. Approximately 1.5th and second-order light-intensity dependences were also observed for ML-BWO at the lowest intensity range and for FB at the highest intensity range, respectively. The light-intensity dependences could be reproduced by a kinetic model that was derived on the basis of the assumption of oxygen reduction via two-electron (and possibly four-electron at the highest intensity region) transfer and a radical chain mechanism with peroxy radicals as chain carriers. The calculated threshold intensity between the first and 0.5th-order light-intensity dependences for FB-BWO was appreciably lower than that of ML-BWO, suggesting that the higher FB-BWO activity is attributable to the larger effective particle size for accumulation of two (or four) electrons.

Enhancement of 4.4-fold photoluminescence (PL) of tris(8-hydroxyquinolinato)aluminum (Alq3) thin film was observed in the presence of 50-nm thick Ag nanotriangles (NTs) compared with bare Alq3 film at room temperature. According to the temperature dependence of integrated PL intensity and the PL lifetime obtained from time-resolved PL measurements, an increase in radiative recombination rate was observed over a wide temperature range. Because the absorption peak originated from localized surface plasmon (LSP) states and the emission spectra are well overlapped, the observed enhancement can be explained by efficient coupling of the LSP of the Ag NTs with the emission from the Alq3.

A photocatalytic reaction mechanism that involves multielectron reduction of molecular oxygen (O 2 ), as a key step, in photocatalytic decomposition of acetic acid by pristine bismuth tungstate (Bi 2 WO 6 ; BWO) particles is proposed on the basis of results of studies on (i) comparison of photocatalytic activity trends of BWO, tungsten(VI) oxide and titanium(IV) oxide photocatalyst powders with or without platinum deposits in three photocatalytic reaction systems (oxidative decomposition of acetic acid in aerobic aqueous suspensions, methanol dehydrogenation in deaerated aqueous suspensions and O 2 liberation from deaerated silver salt solutions) and (ii) effects of morphology and structural properties of BWO particles on photocatalytic activities.

The light-intensity dependence (LID) of oxygen evolution using titanium(IV) oxide particles and electron acceptors under intense UV-LED irradiation was multimodal; in general, the LID changed from second to first order, and then fourth order in some cases. Such LID-order switching could reasonably be explained using a kinetic model in which the probability of multiple-electron (positive holes) accumulation in each particle governs the overall rates digitally.

The mechanism of the formation of flake ball-shaped (FB) bismuth-tungstate (BWO) particles was studied with samples prepared by hydrothermal reactions under standard conditions (tungsten/bismuth ratio of 0.55 in feed; 433 K; 20 h) and other modified conditions, and the structural characteristics of the samples were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction (composition and crystal structure), field emission-type scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) (morphology), focused ion-beam etching followed by FE-SEM (inner void structure), ultrahigh-voltage transmission electron microscopy (inner void structure) and low-voltage scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopic analysis (morphology and elemental distribution). Based on the results, a novel two-step mechanism of (1) formation of aqueous bismuth-oxyhydroxide droplets covered by tungstic acid (BOx@HWO) with fluidity and (2) reaction of inner bismuth and outer tungsten components at the BOx@HWO surface to yield BWO flakes is proposed as a one of the most plausible pathways that are consistent with the hollow structure of FB BWO and observations of the products prepared with shorter hydrothermal reaction. Photocatalytic activities of FB BWO samples in relation to their structure were studied.

A novel instrumental methodology, reversed double-beam photoacoustic spectroscopy (RDB-PAS), was developed for measuring the energy-resolved distribution of electron traps (ERDT) of metal-oxide powders. In the RDB-PAS measurement, electrons in the valence band of a powder sample are directly excited to electron traps (ETs) and accumulated in the ETs from the deeper (anodic) side to the shallower (cathodic) side by wavelength-scanned continuous light, and the increase in photoabsorption of electron-filled ETs is measured by modulated light at a fixed wavelength by PAS. It was shown that ERDT/CBB (conduction-band bottom) patterns measured by RDB-PAS can be used for not only identification and detailed characterization of a wide range of metal-oxide powder samples but also estimation of difference in apparent valence-band top (VBT) position. (c) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The consumption of essential nutrition is fundamental to maintain the health of older adults. Conventional studies report that community dwelling older adults who live alone have the tendency to skip meals and result in low nutrition intake. However, the details regarding the dietary behavior and its association with the status of nutrition intake remain unclear. In this study, a cross-sectional analysis was conducted to explore the association between the time of meals and nutrition balance. In October 2019, questionnaire surveys were distributed to 184 participants of a lunch event dedicated to older adults living alone (Kashiwa, Japan). The time of meals, number of meals per day, consumption status of 10 food groups, and self-rated health were used for the analysis (N=165). As a result, older adults who usually ate their first meal between 5 to 8 A.M. ate three meals/day, while those who ate their first meal after 8 A.M. ate two meals/day. Those who ate their meal between 5 to 8 A.M., frequently consumed meat, fish and seafood, milk, and green and yellow vegetables compared to those who ate after 8 A.M. Self-rated health score was also high. The consumption of early-morning meals was associated with good dietary behaviors. The importance of eating breakfast has been emphasized, however, the time of the breakfast could vary among individuals. This study proposed the importance of considering the time of the meal. Development of intervention programs which encourage early-morning meal consumption might be helpful to form healthy dietary behaviors of older adults.

Active older adults in Japan participate in multiple social activities to be socially involved. However, physical limitation and decline in enthusiasm due to ageing decrease their participation. Diverse activities should be available at one place, close to older adult’s residence, to sustain social connections. A community space was launched at Toyoshikidai housing complex (Kashwia, Japan) in February 2018. The place offers about 25 activities per month. This research aimed to elucidate the relationship between activity type and motivation for participation, and study the effect of the community space on older adults’ social connection. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted targeting the attendees of community space (February 2020). Of attendees, 68% lived within 10-minutes walking distance to the community space (N=101). The activities were classified into craft, exercise, and music. The motivation for attending craft events were information exchange and relaxation, as was health maintenance for exercise events. Participating in group performance was the motivation to attend active music event, and casual gathering and network expansion was for passive music event. The frequency of social participation outside the community space was low in the group aged over 75 years. This group attended the activities at the community space more frequently than did the younger group. Differences in the number of social connections were not found. This result implies that older adults maintained their social connection by attending activities held at the community space. The diverse programs and close location of the community space might have contributed to the motivation of participation.

The intensity of Raman scattering from dye molecules strongly coupled with localized surface plasmons of metal nanostructures was controlled by the electrochemical potential. Through in situ electrochemical extinction and surface-enhanced Raman scattering measurements, it is found that the redox state of the molecules affects the coupling strength, leading to the change in the intensity of the Raman scattering. Analysis of the Raman spectrum provides information on the molecules in strong coupling states showing effective enhancement of Raman scattering.

The Toyoshiki-dai housing complex, constructed in 1960s, is located in one of the commuter towns in a metropolitan area of Japan. Those who moved to this area as youngsters are now aged over 75 and many live a solitary life; making social support vital to prevent social frailty. The municipalities and universities have been hosting interventions, e.g. club activities, to make social connection but the effects remain unclear. In this study, the relationship between activity participation and the size of social support was explored to develop an effective method to increase social connections. A cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2018 and 200 questionnaires were distributed at a lunch event at the housing complex. The participants were solitary and independent seniors over the age of 70 (M:F=14.4:67.5). The frequency of going out to participate in club activity, see friends, and the geriatric social support scale were used for analysis. As a result, compared to seniors who went out to see their friends, the size of social support was smaller in groups that remained isolated (N = 161, odds ratio = 0.26, 95% CI=0.11-0.60). On the contrary, seniors who joined club activities had similar size of social support despite the frequency of participation. Clubs in Japan are often closed groups with limited membership, which may have restricted the addition of new social connection. Future intervention researches should focus on modifying the membership system of clubs and opening of a public space where seniors can casually access and talk to acquaintances.

Previous research indicated that dining style is associated with depressive mood in community-dwelling older adults; however, the nature of this relationship in care facilities is unclear. The association between dining style and depressive mood was examined in Japanese assisted living facility. A questionnaire survey was conducted among residents older than 65 years. Dining style was assessed by objective (the number of people with whom one eats) and subjective (feelings of enjoyment during mealtimes) factors. The odds ratio of participants who ate alone but enjoyed meals having depressive mood were not statistically different from the reference group (eating with others and enjoying). In contrast, participants who ate with others and did not enjoy meals, and participants who ate alone and did not enjoy meals were more likely to have depressive mood compared to the reference group. Although a cross-sectional study, findings suggested that caregivers should consider residents' subjective dining styles to provide optimal support at mealtimes.

Here we propose a method for identification and detailed characterization of metal-oxide powders with patterns of energy-resolved density of electron traps (ERDT) and conduction-band bottom (CBB) position, as a fingerprint, measured by newly developed reversed double-beam photoacoustic spectroscopy (RDB-PAS). Keywords: Electron Traps, Photoacoustic Spectroscopy, Metal-oxide Powders, Degree of Coincidence

Facet-selective gold or platinum-nanoparticle deposition on decahedral-shaped anatase titania particles (DAPs) exposing {001} and {101} facets via photodeposition (PD) from metal-complex sources was reexamined using DAPs prepared with gas-phase reaction of titanium (IV) chloride and oxygen by quantitatively evaluating the area deposition density on {001} and {101} and comparing with the results of deposition from colloidal metal particles in the dark (CDD) or under photoirradiation (CDL). The observed facet selectivity, more or less {101} preferable, depended mainly on pH of the reaction suspensions and was almost non-selective at low pH regardless of the deposition method, PD or CDL, and the metal-source materials. Based on the results, the present authors propose that facet selectivity is attributable to surface charges (zeta potential) depending on the kind of facets, {001} and {101}, and pH of the reaction mixture and that this concept can explain the observed facet selectivity and possibly the reported facet selectivity without taking into account facet-selective reaction of photoexcited electrons and positive holes on {101} and {001} facets, respectively.

A local community space in Japan, Chiki Kastudokan, has been hosting several senior-to-senior social activities for community-dwelling older adults with support from the University of Tokyo. The activities are aimed at fostering communication and social engagement through exercise, music, cafe, and craft. After the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, these activities have been disrupted. We conducted a questionnaire survey between June and July 2020 to assess how the pandemic has affected 26 activities and identify support needs that can enable their continuity amid the pandemic (response rate: 77%). First, all 26 activities were suspended by the onset of COVID-19. Hosts of 8 (40%) activities devised alternative ways to engage participants at home. For instance, hosts of craft activities arranged and sent to participants crafting kits. Limited capacity in using online platforms like Skype or Zoom prevented virtual interaction of hosts and participants. Notably, hosts were anxious towards resuming activities amid the pandemic. They worried about their health (50%), of being criticized by friends and family(25%), and of infections spreading among participants (85%). Hosts wanted strategies to prevent infections during activities, and easy to understand infection prevention guidelines for participants. These findings reveal that COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected senior-to-senior activities at Chiki Kastudokan. The University of Tokyo could help hosts identify effective infection prevention strategies to use when hosting activities amid the pandemic. It could also provide ICT training to hosts and participants to enhance their capacity in using online platforms in case of future waves of COVID-19.

The pet ownership of ornamental fish acts positively towards the well-being of older adults. A Bottleium is an aquarium that uses a glass bottle instead of a tank. Its small size allows older adults to own ornamental fish as a pet. In this study, the effect of Bottleium ownership on the daily life of community-dwelling older adults was explored. A three-hour workshop to build one’s own Bottleium (size: 11cm×11cm×20cm) was hosted at Toyoshikidai housing complex (Kashiwa, Japan). An ornamental fish and a freshwater snail were added to each bottle. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants one month after taking the Bottleium home (N=25). The Bottleium ownership acted as a stimulus to older adults. The effects on an individual were “trigger of conversation” and “development of responsibility.” Participants living alone treated the fish as their companions and had light conversations. They carefully looked after the fish as would a pet owner. Furthermore, the Bottleium facilitated “interpersonal interactions.” Basic information was provided during the workshop, but participants assisted each other in complementing the information, and they even visited each other’s residences to observe the fish. Older adults who do not own the Bottleium also visited for this purpose. Two cases were reported where participants looked after each other’s fish in times of hospitalization. The interpersonal interactions might have resulted from the nature of the housing complex, as participants were already familiar with each other. Similar phenomena could be anticipated at places such as apartments and nursing homes.

Introduction: One of metal fine particles’ applications is Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering; SERS) with their surface plasmon resonance. It is usually performed on the substrates which have gold or silver clusters on their surface. It can be enhanced at the gap between two clusters much more than at the surface of a cluster. However, this enhancement at the gap of clusters was limited because these clusters were usually placed on the plate substrate. Placed these nanoparticles on the surface of the larger particles, the enhanced point can be moved on any place. In this study, we tried to prepare polystyrene (PS) particles which have smaller metal particles deposited by the electroplating on their surface. Experimental: PS beads ( The flash electroplating was performed with DC power supply with 1 – 10 V in aqueous solutions containing silver ions. After rinsed with distilled water, the particles were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Photoabsorption spectrum of Ag deposited samples were measured for evaluation of LSPR. Results and Discussions: SEM images of Ag electroplated with 3 V for 5 s in 0.001 M AgNO3 aqueous solution on the template by 1.0 μm PS beads were shown in Fig. 1. With lower voltage, 1 V, less Ag clusters were generated. With higher voltage, the clusters were rapidly grown and covered the PS beads’ surface so that it is not found the gap between the clusters. Same tendency was found the results with more concentrated silver solution. It is suggested that the optimal condition for placing Ag clusters on the PS beads was the electroplating with 3 or 5 V. It is also indicated that the Ag particles’ size can be controlled by the applied DC voltage and applied period of electrodeposition. In addition, the Ag cluster induced photoabsorption with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) around 480 nm region. The photoabsorption was observed particularly strongly in the brushy structure (using 1.0 μm PS beads and 5 V applied), and it was shown that it was due to the strong electromagnetic field derived from the nanogap structure in the Ag clusters. This also shows that SPR is localized. We have succeeded in preparing the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) active structure and found that its optical properties can be controlled using a very simple method with an electroplating process. These results suggest that one of the possibilities of the helpful to high sensitivity the sensor using the surface enhanced method (Raman, IR, photoluminescence (PL) and more). Acknowledgement: This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP19K05191. Figure 1

A comparison of the trends in photocatalytic activities of titanium(IV) oxide and tungsten(VI) oxide powders with or without loaded platinum deposits, in various reaction systems, suggested that pristine bismuth-tungstate particles without any co-catalyst deposits can drive photocatalytic decomposition of organic compounds under aerobic conditions through multielectron reduction of molecular oxygen.

Eating alone while living with family members is a risk factor for mental health decline in old age. However, little is known as to why older adults choose to eat alone, even with family present. This study therefore aimed to explore reasons for older adults eating alone despite living with family members, using a qualitative approach. Fifteen people aged 65 years and older (11 men and 4 women) who were eating alone while living with family members were included in the study. These individuals were selected from the participants of the Kashiwa cohort study conducted in 2016. Individual interviews were conducted using an open-ended format. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. The data were further thematically analyzed using a qualitative software package, NVivo 11. We extracted six themes as reasons for eating alone and hypothesized interactions among these themes. The extracted themes were: "age-related changes," "solo-friendly environment," "family structure changes," "time lag for eating," "bad relationships with family members" and "routinization." To assess interactions, the themes were categorized as "background factors," "triggers," and "stabilizers." The aforementioned themes could lead to the development and sustained behavior of eating alone among older adults living with family members. As most themes describe conditions that are likely to remain static, it may not be realistic to encourage such individuals to begin eating with family members. The promotion of meals with neighbors or friends could be effective in alleviating the negative consequences of eating alone.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of recumbent cycling with integrated volitional control electrical stimulation (IVES) on gait ability in stroke patients. Six stroke patients (all male; average age, 55.7±8.3 years) participated. Recumbent cycling (R-cycling) was performed with and without IVES in the power assist (IVES-P) mode. The targeted muscle for electrostimulation was the tibialis anterior. Patients performed 10 min of IVES-P mode plus R-cycling (program A) or R-cycling alone (program B), once per day, 5 times per week. Patients completed two sets of each program, alternating between programs each week. Gait speed and the number of steps numbers on a 10-m walking test was assessed before and after each interventional session. Program A improved gait speed, but not the number of steps, to a greater extent than that in program B. Specifically, the combined intervention significantly improved gait speed in the first set, but not the second set of the intervention. R-cycling with IVES-P mode improved gait speed during the recovery stage in stroke patients to a greater extent than that achieved with R-cycling alone. Thus, this combined therapy has potential as a standardized treatment in the field of rehabilitation medicine.

Reversible tuning of localized surface plasmon resonances is achieved with strong resonance intensity in the near-IR region using hydrogen uptake into dimeric nanostructures of Pd–Ag layered nanodots. The resonance feature in the present dimer is characterized by hybridized plasmon modes between two adjacent Pd–Ag layered nanodots with similar plasmonic features. In contrast, the resonance of a conventional Pd–Ag heterodimer is considered to be a perturbed plasmon mode between Pd and Ag nanodots with different plasmonic features. The strong symmetric interactions in the layered dimers lead to a large peak shift with hydrogen uptake into the Pd layers, while the weak asymmetric interactions in the heterodimers result in a decrease in the band intensity. The flexible tailoring of the resonance intensity, wavelength, and tunability of the layered nanostructures provides the possibility for novel functionalized plasmonic materials or devices to be realized.

The mechanism of formation of hierarchical “flake-ball”-structured bismuth tungstate (BTO) particles was studied on the basis of structural analyses and was revealed to be the growth of plate-like ...

The Yaeyama Islands provide habitat for juvenile green turtles originating from various rookeries in the western Pacific. The sea turtle fishery has been declining since 2004 due to the retirement of sea turtle fishermen in the region. We investigated the population ecology of green turtles based on capture–mark–recapture data from 1995 to 2016. The effect of the past sea turtle fishery on the green turtle population was analyzed by comparing the population structure, growth and mortality rates during 1995–2003, with those of the population in 2004–2016. Mean straight carapace lengths of green turtles in 1995–2003 were 51.5 cm (SD = 10.9, range 34.0–102.4, N = 838), annual growth rates were 2.7 cm year−1 (SD = 1.31, range 0.09–5.32, N = 50), and mortality rates were 0.25 year−1 (95% CI 0.20–0.30). In comparison, mean straight carapace length of green turtles in 2004–2016 was 55.5 cm (SD = 12.1, range 6.2–96.5, N = 595), growth rates were 2.24 cm year−1 (SD = 0.78, range 0.79–4.17, N = 67) and mortality rates were 0.15 year−1 (95% CI 0.11–0.19). Carapace size increased and annual growth and mortality rates decreased after 2004. The increase in the number of larger-sized green turtles and the decrease in mortality rates were likely effects of the decline in the sea turtle fishery.

Intensive research has been carried out over the past few years to find industrial-scale methods for the preparation of monolayer or few-layer graphene. However, large-scale, economical production of graphene with a low level of defects remains challenging. In this chapter, we review the research on several techniques for production of single- and few-layer graphene, particularly concerning mechanical exfoliation of high-quality graphene. We report our production scheme for graphite nanosheets from natural graphite. Crystalline graphite nanosheets were successfully produced from natural graphite powder by solution-phase synthesis of graphite intercalation compounds, following wet planetary-ball milling. We emphasize the high potential of graphene as a conductive composite film. Some composite films derived from phenolic resin and graphite nanosheets displayed much higher electrical conductivities than those of films from natural graphite particles. We also show that the stage structure of synthetic graphite intercalation compounds affected film conductivity.