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Continuous administration of low‐intensity whole‐body vibration (WBV) gradually diminishes bone mechanosensitivity over time, leading to a weakening of its osteogenic effect. We investigated whether discretizing WBV into bouts with short rest intervals was effective in enhancing osteoporotic bone repair. Ten‐week‐old female mice were ovariectomized and underwent drill‐hole defect surgery (Day 0) on the right tibial diaphysis at 11 weeks of age. The mice underwent one of three regimens starting from Day 1 for 5 days/week: continuous WBV at 45 Hz and 0.3 g for 7.5 min/day (cWBV); 3‐s bouts of WBV at 45 Hz, 0.3 g followed by 9‐s rest intervals, repeated for 30 min/day (repeated bouts of whole‐body vibration with short rest intervals [rWBV]); or a sham treatment. Both the cWBV and rWBV groups received a total of 20,250 vibration cycles per day. On either Day 7 or 14 posteuthanasia (n = 6/group/timepoint), the bone and angiogenic vasculature in the defect were computed tomography imaged using synchrotron light. By Day 14, the bone repair was most advanced in the rWBV group, showing a higher bone volume fraction and a more uniform mineral distribution compared with the sham group. The cWBV group exhibited an intermediate level of bone repair between the sham and rWBV groups. The rWBV group had a decrease in large‐sized angiogenic vessels, while the cWBV group showed an increase in such vessels. In conclusion, osteoporotic bone repair was enhanced by WBV bouts with short rest intervals, which may potentially be attributed to the improved mechanosensitivity of osteogenic cells and alterations in angiogenic vasculature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic corticosteroid administration, also called short bursts (SB), is harmful for patients with asthma; however, the actual burden of one-day SB remains unsolved. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of patients requiring one-day SB against asthma in clinical practice. Consecutive patients who regularly visited our hospital for asthma treatment between January 2019 and December 2020 were reviewed and followed for one year. SB was defined as ≥3 days of systemic corticosteroid treatment for an exacerbation. One-day SB was defined as one-day of systemic corticosteroid to treat an exacerbation. The one-day SB group included patients who received only one-day SB but no SB during the preceding year. Frequent SB was defined as that occurring ≥2 times/year. Data on 229 patients were analyzed. Among them, 2.6% (95% confidence interval 1.2–5.6%) were in the one-day SB group. The one-day SB group was female-dominant, obese, non-eosinophilic, and non-atopic. The median one-day SB was 1.5 times/year and almost half of one-day SB were performed by patients themselves. Independent of the low pulmonary function, high blood eosinophil count, and inhaled corticosteroid dose, one-day SB was associated with future frequent SB (adjusted odds ratio = 18.2, 95% confidence interval 1.1–288, P = 0.040, compared to the no SB group). Although one-day SB was not frequently experienced, even one-day SB without conventional SB was associated with future frequent SB. It is important to grasp the actual condition of one-day SB and to reinforce the treatment used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regular prophylactic therapy has become an increasingly common treatment for severe hemophilia. Therefore, hypercoagulability—a potential risk factor of thrombosis—is a cause for concern in hemophilic patients treated with a high dose of FVIII concentrate. In clot waveform analysis (CWA)-thrombin time (TT), a small amount of thrombin activates clotting factor VIII (FVIII) instead of fibrinogen, resulting in FVIII measurements using CWA-TT with a small amount of thrombin. Methods: The coagulation ability of patients treated with FVIII concentrate or emicizumab was evaluated using activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), TT and a small amount of tissue factor-induced FIX activation assay (sTF/FIXa) using CWA. Results: The FVIII activity based on CWA-TT was significantly greater than that based on the CWA-APTT or chromogenic assay. FVIII or FVIII-like activities based on the three assays in plasma without emicizumab were closely correlated; those in plasma with emicizumab based on CWA-TT and chromogenic assays were also closely correlated. CWA-APTT and CWA-TT showed different patterns in patients treated with FVIII concentrates compared to those treated with emicizumab. In particular, CWA-TT in patients treated with FVIII concentrate showed markedly higher peaks in platelet-rich plasma than in platelet-poor plasma. CWA-APTT showed lower coagulability in hemophilic patients treated with FVIII concentrate than in healthy volunteers, whereas CWA-sTF/FIXa did not. In contrast, CWA-TT showed hypercoagulability in hemophilic patients treated with FVIII concentrate. Conclusions: CWA-TT can be used to evaluate the thrombin bursts that cause hypercoagulability in patients treated with emicizumab. Although routine APTT evaluations demonstrated low coagulation ability in patients treated with FVIII concentrate, CWA-TT showed hypercoagulability in these patients, suggesting that the evaluation of coagulation ability may be useful when using multiple assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cryoprecipitate (CRY) is widely used for treating acquired hypofibrinogenemia. During our study to determine an optimal preparation method, we noticed that the measurement of fibrinogen concentration in CRY had a risk of overestimation. We analyzed this condition and mechanism. Study Design and Methods: CRY was prepared from fresh frozen plasma (FFP) under four conditions: A, 30 h thawing time, 2 cycles; B, 24 h thawing time, 2 cycles; C, 30 h thawing time, 1 cycle; and D, 24 h thawing time, 1 cycle. Then, fibrinogen concentrations in CRY and cryosupernatant (CS) were measured by the Clauss method. Results: Purification (CRY/CRY+CS) and recovery (CRY/FFP) rates in CRY prepared under 2‐cycle conditions were higher than those under 1 cycle. However, recovery rates often exceeded 100%, particularly in the case of CRY prepared under A condition, and fibrinogen concentrations calculated by direct measurement were higher than those indirectly calculated from FFP and CS, suggesting an overestimation of fibrinogen values. The level of soluble fibrin monomer complex was considerably higher in CRY prepared under A than under D condition, indicating that CRY adopted a hypercoagulated state. We further found that repeated thawing/freezing increased fibrinogen values as measured by the Clauss method while mechanical vortexing did not. Discussion: Our findings suggest that direct assessment of fibrinogen contents in CRY prepared by repeated freeze–thawing with a longer thawing period presents a higher risk of overestimation. For the purpose of quality control, we propose an alternative method to indirectly estimate fibrinogen concentrations in CRY from those of CS and FFP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Recently an association between blood glucose dysregulation and sleep disruption was suggested. The association between sleep disordered breathing, most of which is due to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the general population, and diabetic severity, as well as the impact of antidiabetic treatment, remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate these associations as well as age and sex differences. This cross‐sectional study evaluated 7,680 community participants as the main cohort (population‐based cohort). OSA was assessed by the 3% oxygen desaturation index from pulse oximetry, which was corrected for sleep duration obtained by wrist actigraphy. For arguing the limitations for using pulse oximetry, 597 hospitalised patients, who were assessed by the apnea–hypopnea index from attended polysomnography, were also evaluated as the validation cohort (hospital‐based cohort). Moderate‐to‐severe OSA was more prevalent as haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels increased (<5.6%/5.6%–<6.5%/6.5%–<7.5%/≥7.5%, respectively) in both cohorts (p < 0.001), but only in those without antidiabetic treatment. The HbA1c level was an independent factor for moderate‐to‐severe OSA (population‐based cohort, odds ratio [OR] 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.45; hospital‐based cohort, OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.22–2.33, per 1% increase). These associations were more prominent in the middle‐aged (aged <60 years) than in the elderly (aged ≥60 years) and in women than in men in both cohorts. The prevalence of moderate‐to‐severe OSA in patients with antidiabetic treatment in the hospital‐based cohort was ≥75% regardless of HbA1c levels. In conclusion, an association between the prevalence of OSA and HbA1c level even within or over the normal range was found only in patients without antidiabetic treatment and was more prominent in the middle‐aged and in women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports that the redox-active metalloligand (ML) fac-[CrIII(mp)3]3− (mp: 2-mercaptophenolato) coordinates with a Co(III) ion to afford the trianionic complex [CoIII{fac-CrIII(mp)3}2]3−. The free ML shows ligand-centered redox processes, whereas the guest-metal-bound trinuclear structure exhibited a guest-metal-centered Co(II)/Co(III) redox couple, demonstrating redox switching through guest-metal binding to the MLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of porous materials capable of capturing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as benzene and its derivatives, with high efficiency, selectivity, and reusability is highly demanded. Here we report unusual vapor adsorption behavior toward VOCs by a new porous solid, composed of a polyaromatic capsule bearing a spherical nanocavity with subnano‐sized windows. Without prior crystallization and high‐temperature vacuum drying, the porous polyaromatic solid exhibits the following five features: vapor adsorption of benzene over cyclohexane with 90 % selectivity, high affinity toward o‐xylene over benzene and toluene with >80 % selectivity, ortho‐selective adsorption ability (>50 %) from mixed xylene isomers, tight VOCs storage even under high temperature and vacuum conditions, and at least 5 times reusability for xylene adsorption. The observed adsorption abilities are accomplished at ambient temperature and pressure within 1 h, which has not been demonstrated by organic/inorganic porous materials reported previously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated whether whole-body vibration (WBV) prevented bone loss induced by breast cancer (BC) metastasis and the involvement of bone marrow vasculature. One day after orthotopic transplantation of mammary 4T1 tumor cells, 8-week-old BALB/c mice were subjected to 0.3 g/90 Hz vertical vibration for 20 min/day for 5 days/week (BC-WBV) or sham-handled (BC-Sham) over 3 weeks. Age-matched intact mice (Intact) were also sham-handled. Both tibiae were harvested from BC-WBV (n = 7), BC-Sham (n = 9), and Intact (n = 5) mice for bone structure imaging by synchrotron radiation-based computed tomography (SRCT) and hematoxylin and eosin staining, whereas right tibiae were harvested from other BC-WBV and BC-Sham (n = 6 each) mice for vascular imaging by SRCT. Tumor cells were similarly widespread in the marrow in BC-WBV and BC-Sham mice. In BC-Sham mice, cortical bone volume, trabecular volume fraction, trabecular thickness, trabecular number density, and bone mineral density were smaller, and marrow volume and trabecular separation were larger than in Intact mice. However, although trabecular thickness was smaller in BC-WBV than Intact mice, the others did not differ between the two groups. Serum osteocalcin tended to be higher in BC-WBV than BC-Sham mice. Compared with BC-Sham mice, BC-WBV mice had a smaller vessel diameter, a trend of a larger vessel number density, and smaller vessel diameter heterogeneity. In conclusion, WBV mitigates bone loss in BC bone metastasis, which may be partly due to increased bone anabolism. The alteration of marrow vasculature appears to be favorable for anti-tumor drug delivery. Further studies are needed to clarify the multiple actions of WBV on bone, tumor, and marrow vasculature and how they contribute to bone protection in BC metastasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for malignant lesions are associated with immune‐related adverse events (irAEs), but reports about severe eosinophilia induced by ICIs are scarce. A 73‐year‐old man with lung squamous cell carcinoma was treated by chemotherapy (carboplatin plus paclitaxel) and ICIs (nivolumab plus ipilimumab). After two cycles of chemotherapy, the ICIs were continued. After 5 months, the eosinophilia, which had exceeded 5000/μl, increasingly deteriorated, and the only detected irAE was a grade 1 rash. Under continuation of the ICIs, although the eosinophilia decreased, a grade 3 rash and severe pruritis subsequently appeared. Squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) was steeply increased simultaneously. A complete response had been achieved, and oral prednisolone markedly improved the rash, pruritis, and eosinophilia. Clinicians should be aware that precedent severe eosinophilia and subsequent severe irAE could occur in patients treated by nivolumab and ipilimumab, and SCCA elevation could be associated with dermatologic irAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data on intermittent systemic corticosteroid therapy for asthma exacerbation, clinically called a "short burst," is limited. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of patients with frequent systemic corticosteroid bursts for asthma in real clinical practice. Consecutive patients who regularly visited our hospital for asthma treatment between January 2019 and December 2020 were reviewed. The number of systemic corticosteroid bursts during the past 1 year was collected, and those with frequent bursts (≥2 times/year) were defined as the Frequent group. Data on 236 patients were analyzed. Among them, 5.5% (95% confidence interval 3.2–9.2%) were in the Frequent group. In the Frequent group, 23% of patients had no unplanned visits, and 38% experienced at least one corticosteroid burst without visiting a physician (self-medication). One-third of patients did not undertake high-dose inhaled corticosteroid treatment, and three-fourths of patients did not undertake long-acting muscarinic antagonist treatment. Low pulmonary function and increased blood eosinophils were independently associated with the Frequent group (adjusted odds ratio = 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.55–0.99, P = 0.039, per 10% predicted increase in a forced expiratory volume in 1 s; adjusted odds ratio = 1.15, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.29, P = 0.025, per 100/μL increase in blood eosinophils). There was a certain rate of frequent corticosteroid bursts in real clinical practice. It is important to determine the actual condition, as some patients experienced "hidden" frequent bursts and have the option to reinforce the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The clinical application of gemcitabine (GEM) is limited by its pharmacokinetic properties. The aim of this study was to characterize the stability in circulating plasma, tumor targeting, and payload release of liposome-encapsulated GEM, FF-10832. Methods: Antitumor activity was assessed in xenograft mouse models of human pancreatic cancer. The pharmacokinetics of GEM and its active metabolite dFdCTP were also evaluated. Results: In mice with Capan-1 tumors, the dose-normalized areas under the curve (AUCs) after FF-10832 administration in plasma and tumor were 672 and 1047 times higher, respectively, than after using unencapsulated GEM. The tumor-to-bone marrow AUC ratio of dFdCTP was approximately eight times higher after FF-10832 administration than after GEM administration. These results indicated that liposomal encapsulation produced long-term stability in circulating plasma and tumor-selective targeting of GEM. In mice with Capan-1, SUIT-2, and BxPC-3 tumors, FF-10832 had better antitumor activity and tolerability than GEM. Internalization of FF-10832 in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) was revealed by flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy, and GEM was efficiently released from isolated macrophages of mice treated with FF-10832. These results suggest that TAMs are one of the potential reservoirs of GEM in tumors. Conclusion: This study found that FF-10832 had favorable pharmacokinetic properties. The liposomal formulation was more effective and tolerable than unencapsulated GEM in mouse xenograft tumor models. Hence, FF-10832 is a promising candidate for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global demand for energy and the concerns over climate issues renders the development of alternative renewable energy sources such as hydrogen (H2) important. A high‐spin (hs) FeII complex with o‐phenylenediamine (opda) ligands, [FeII(opda)3]2+ (hs‐[6R]2+), was reported showing photochemical H2 evolution. In addition, a low‐spin (ls) [FeII(bqdi)3]2+ (bqdi: o‐benzoquinodiimine) (ls‐[0R]2+) formation by O2 oxidation of hs‐[6R]2+, accompanied by ligand‐based six‐proton and six‐electron transfer, revealed the potential of the complex with redox‐active ligands as a novel multiple‐proton and ‐electron storage material, albeit that the mechanism has not yet been understood. This paper reports that the oxidized ls‐[0R][PF6]2 can be reduced by hydrazine giving ls‐[FeII(opda)(bqdi)2][PF6]2 (ls‐[2R][PF6]2) and ls‐[FeII(opda)2(bqdi)][PF6]2 (ls‐[4R][PF6]2) with localized ligand‐based proton‐coupled mixed‐valence (LPMV) states. The first isolation and characterization of the key intermediates with LPMV states offer unprecedented molecular insights into the design of photoresponsive molecule‐based hydrogen‐storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to analyze associations of sleep disturbance, including sleep disordered breathing, sleep fragmentation, and sleep efficiency, with abnormal nocturnal blood pressure (BP) profiles that may be risk factors for adverse cardiovascular outcomes.Methods: The study included 5854 community residents with 20,725 multi-day measurements. Sleep fragmentation and efficiency were evaluated using a wrist-worn activity monitor. Sleep disordered breathing was assessed using the 3% oxygen desaturation index corrected for actigraphy-determined sleep duration. A timer-equipped standard cuff-oscillometric device was used for home and sleep BP monitoring.Results: Mean nocturnal systolic BP (SBP) change was -8.6 ± 9.7% (-11.1 ± 12.6 mmHg), and inter-day correlation coefficient of the nocturnal SBP change was 0.443. Results of a linear mixed model analysis using daily measured values identified lower sleep efficiency (coefficient = -0.130, p < 0.001) as a determinant for decreased nocturnal SBP dipping beyond the interday variations of these parameters. Number of nocturnal urinations was another strong determinant (coefficient = 1.191, p < 0.001), although the association of sleep efficiency was independent of nocturnal urination, awake SBP, and sleep disordered breathing (coefficient = -0.102, p < 0.001). Sleep efficiency was also independently associated with sleep SBP level (coefficient = -0.138, p < 0.001). Estimated differences in nocturnal SBP dipping and sleep SBP level as a function of the degree of sleep efficiency (less than 80%) reached 1.63% (1.09-2.17%) and 2.16 mmHg (1.49-2.82%), respectively.Conclusion: More attention should be paid to sleep efficiency as a factor in maintaining circadian BP rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidation of [MII(3,5‐DTBCat)(DTBbpy)] (M=Ni ([Ni]), Pd ([Pd]), and Pt ([Pt]); 3,5‐DTBCat=3,5‐di‐tert‐butylcatecholato; DTBbpy=4,4′‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine) afforded the dimeric {[NiII(3,5‐DTBSQ)(DTBbpy)](PF6)}2 ({[Ni](PF6)}2; 3,5‐DTBSQ=3,5‐di‐tert‐butylsemiquinonato) and monomeric semiquinonato (SQ) complexes [MII(3,5‐DTBSQ)(DTBbpy)](PF6) (M=Pd ([Pd](PF6)) and Pt ([Pt](PF6))). The negative solvatochromic properties of the SQ complexes allowed us to estimate the relative order of their dipole moments: [Pd](PF6)>[Pt](PF6)>{[Ni](PF6)}2. The complexes [Pd](PF6) and [Pt](PF6) adopt monomeric structures and are stable in CH2Cl2 and toluene, whereas they gradually disproportionate at room temperature to [M] and 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylbenzoquinone (3,5‐DTBBQ) in polar solvents such as THF, MeOH, EtOH, DMF, or DMSO. The results of spectroscopic studies suggested that the oxidized nickel complex adopts a monomeric structure ([Ni](PF6)) in CH2Cl2, but a dimeric structure ({[Ni](PF6)}2) in the other investigated solvents. In polar solvents, {[Ni](PF6)}2 may disproportionate to [Ni] and 3,5‐DTBBQ at 323 K, thereby demonstrating a significant solvent‐ and metal‐dependence in temperature. The relative activities of {[Ni](PF6)}2 and [M](PF6) toward disproportionation are related to the electrochemically estimated Kdis values in CH2Cl2 and DMF. The present work demonstrates that solvent polarity and the dipole moments of the SQ complexes promote disproportionation, which can be controlled by a judicious choice of the metal ion, solvent, and temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: Pause following incessant tachycardia is often encountered in clinical practice. We encountered a rare arrhythmic condition mimicking tachycardia‐bradycardia syndrome. We hereby describe the step‐by‐step diagnostic process. Pause following incessant tachycardia is often encountered in clinical practice (Jackson et al, Pacing Clin Electrophysiol, 2017;40:442). We encountered a rare arrhythmic condition mimicking tachycardia‐bradycardia syndrome. We hereby describe the step‐by‐step diagnostic process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylation of the molybdenum sulfide cluster unit [Mo6S8(PEt3)6] (1) with CH3OTf resulted in the formation of mono‐ and dimethylated cluster units, [Mo6S8–x(SCH3)x(PEt3)6]OTf·yCH2Cl2 {[2]OTf·0.5CH2Cl2 (x = 1, y = 0.5) and [3]OTf·CH2Cl2 (x = 2, y = 1)}. Structural and electrochemical investigations revealed that the methylation of the µ3‐S ligand(s) induced a characteristic structural distortion of the [Mo6S8] cluster core and enhanced its ability to accept multiple electrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The combination of the redox‐active mesogenic anion [NiII(Bdt)(BdtSQ)]− (Bdt=1,2‐benzenedithiolato; BdtSQ=1,2‐dithia‐semi‐benzoquinonato) with alkyl‐substituted ammonium cations afforded a series of redox‐active ionic complexes of the type [NR4][NiII(Bdt)(BdtSQ)] [R=nC16H33 (NC164Ni) and C8,10 (NC8,104Ni); C8,10=6‐octylhexadecyl] or [NMe2R2][NiII(Bdt)(BdtSQ)] [R=nC16H33 (NMe2C162Ni) and C8,10 (NMe2C8,102Ni)]. X‐ray crystallographic analyses of NMe2C162Ni and NC164Ni revealed the formation of cation‐dependent integrated ionic layers separated by interdigittated alkyl chains. Complexes NMe2C162Ni and NC164Ni commonly form crystalline phases at room temperature, whereas complexes NMe2C8,102Ni and NC8,104Ni, which contain branched alkyl chains, form a metastable mesophase and an amorphous phase at the same temperature, respectively. Furthermore, complexes NMe2C162Ni, NMe2C8,102Ni, and NC164Ni commonly form a smectic A phase (SmA) at 375, 317, and 342 K, respectively. For the four complexes, well‐defined cyclic voltammetry responses, derived from ligand‐based oxidation and reduction, were observed in solution and the condensed phases, that is, upon casting these complexes on an indium‐doped tin oxide working electrode. The present study demonstrates the tunability of the mesomorphism of ionic molecular assemblies composed of alkyl‐substituted quaternary ammonium cations, while maintaining the well‐defined redox responses of the anions even in the condensed phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-intensity whole-body vibration (LIWBV) may stimulate bone healing, but the involvement of vascular ingrowth, which is essential for bone regeneration, has not been well examined. We thus investigated the LIWBV effect on vascularization during early-stage bone healing. Mice aged 13 weeks were subjected to cortical drilling on tibial bone. Two days after surgery (day 0), mice were exposed daily to sine-wave LIWBV at 30 Hz and 0.1 g peak-to-peak acceleration for 20 min/day (Vib) or were sham-treated (sham). Following vascular casting with a zirconium-based contrast agent on days 6, 9, or 12 and sacrifice, vascular and bone images were obtained by K-edge subtraction micro-CT using synchrotron lights. Bone regeneration advanced more in the Vib group from days 9 to 12. The vascular volume fraction decreased from days 6 to 9 in both groups; however, from days 9 to 12, it was increased in shams, while it stabilized in the Vib group. The vascular volume fraction tended to be or was smaller in the Vib group on days 6 and 12. The vessel number density was higher on day 9 but lower on day 12 in the Vib group. These results suggest that the LIWBV-promoted bone repair is associated with the modulation of vascularization, but additional studies are needed to determine the causality of this association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of N,N'-bis(diisopropylphosphoniumacetyl)-o-phenylenediamide dibromide (H4L⋅2Br) with NiII[ClO4]⋅ 6H2O in the presence of Et3N resulted in the formation of N,N'-bis(diisopropylphosphinoacetyl)-o-phenylenediamidate nickel(II) ([NiII(L)]). The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of [NiII(L)] revealed that each pair of N and P atoms in L2- coordinates in a tetradentate fashion to afford a distorted squareplanar NiII amide complex. On the other hand, N,N'-bis(diisopropylphosphinoacetyl)-o-phenylenediamide copper(I) bromide ([CuI(H2L)Br]) was isolated by the reaction of H4L⋅2Br with [CuI(MeCN)4][PF6] in the presence of Et3N. The structural analysis revealed that the two P atoms in H2L coordinate in a bidentate fashion to afford a trigonal-planar CuI complex, in which the amide moieties remain in free form. Complex [NiII(L)] showed reversible deprotonation processes on the amidate ligand (L2-), whereas the protonated state of the N atoms of the amide ligand (H2L) in [CuI(H2L)Br] was maintained, even in the presence of excess Et3N, suggesting substantial stability for the protonated state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of redox-active metal-organic frameworks and coordination networks (CNs), which exhibit metal- and/or ligand-centered redox activity, has recently received increased attention. In this study, the redox-active metalloligand (RML) [Me4N]3 fac-[CrIII(mp)3] ( 1) (mp=2-mercaptophenolato) was synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and its reversible ligand-centered one-electron oxidation was examined by cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemical measurements. Since complex 1 contains O/S coordination sites in three directions, complexation with K+ ions led to the formation of the two-dimensional honeycomb sheet-structured [K3 fac-{CrIII(mp)3}(H2O)6] n ( 2⋅6 H2O), which is the first example of a redox-active CN constructed from a RML with o-disubstituted benzene ligands. Herein, we unambiguously demonstrate the ligand-centered redox activity of the RML within the CN 2⋅6 H2O in the solid state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional porous carbon was prepared via a hard templating method using a colloidal crystal of monodispersed silica nanospheres (SNSs). Platinum nanoparticle catalyst on thus prepared porous carbon was prepared by a liquid-phase method using hydrogen hexachloroplatinate (IV) hexahydrate as Pt source in the presence of ethylene glycol. The prepared Pt catalyst on the carbon was characterized in detail and applied for the C -methylation reaction to elucidate the influence of the pore structure and morphology of the replicated porous carbon supports. [Display omitted] • Three-dimensionally porous carbons were synthesized via a hard templating method. • Pt nanoparticle catalyst supported on the porous carbons were prepared. • The Pt catalyst exhibited a high catalytic performance in C-methylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-restorative sleep (NRS) was suggested to be associated with cardiovascular outcomes. However, causative factors for NRS have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to clarify factors and their relationships with NRS to better understand the clinical and epidemiological implications of NRS and to develop a score that can objectively evaluate NRS status. Methods: Study subjects consisted of 9,788 community residents (age 53.6 ± 13.4 y). Subjective NRS as well as possible clinical and lifestyle factors for NRS were investigated by questionnaires. Other clinical parameters were obtained from personal records of information obtained at the baseline examination. Results: A total of 3,261 participants complained of NRS. Factors independently associated with subjective NRS were younger age (odds ratio = 1.43), use of a hypnotic drug (2.04), irregular sleep schedule (2.02), short sleep duration (<5 h, 11.7; 5–6 h, 4.81; 6–7 h, 2.40), frequent sleepiness (2.33), routine stress (4.63), no habitual exercise (1.61), nocturia symptoms (1.43), symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (1.44), and depression (1.46) (all P <0.001). The NRS score comprised of these 10 factors was linearly associated with the frequency of subjective NRS (Ptrend <0.001). Frequency of individuals with a high NRS score was greater in women (52.3%) than in men (42.1%, P<0.001), while no clear association was observed with common risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions: NRS was a phenomenon representing various clinical and lifestyle features. Careful attention should be paid to individuals with a high NRS score who might be at risk for mental fatigue and have unfavorable lifestyle factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chemical decomposition of polyurea (PUA) by hydrolysis under high pressure of carbon dioxide (CO) was proposed. The hydrolysis of PUA was carried out at 190 °C for 2 h under 7.0 MPa of CO in the presence of water. The hydrolysis reaction gave white residual solid and water soluble compound. The white residual solid was characterized to be degraded PUA by FT-IR spectrum and elemental analysis. H-NMR spectra of the water soluble compound revealed that the hydrolysis of PUA produced diamine only from repeating unit of PUA, which was a component of PUA. This hydrolysis gave the corresponding diamine for quantitative yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective-area growth, which can be an alternative to ion implantation, is an important technology for processing diamond power devices. In conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD), a portion of the metal mask (non-growing region) peels off and is unintentionally incorporated into the film; therefore, creating high-quality fine patterns is a great challenge. In this study, we developed a technique to fabricate fine structures on a submicron scale by employing hot-filament (HF) CVD. The mask pattern was kept intact during growth, and submicron-scale selective-area growth was realized. As a result, contamination-free metallic p + diamond films possessing a smooth surface morphology were successfully selectively grown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • New synthetic and catalytic design with redox-active ligands/non-innocent ligands (RALs/NILs). • RALs/NILs is use for supplying and pooling multiple electrons and active hydrogen species. • RALs/NILs can act as spectators, moderators, suppliers/poolers, cooperators, or actors. • Excited-state hydrogen detachment (ESHD) as an alternative trigger for chemical reactions. • The ESHDs of a RAL/NIL realize various photochemical reactions in solution. • Chemical-, electrochemical- and photochemical activations of a RAL/NIL are described. A central issue in the design of reactions and catalysts based on metal complexes is the hybridization of functional ligands with metal atoms. Recent studies have demonstrated that redox-active/non-innocent ligands can potentially act as spectators, moderators, electron/H+/0/– supplier/poolers, cooperators, or actors, depending on their role(s) in the reaction. In this review, we will highlight selected stoichiometric or catalytic reactions driven by substituted ethylenes and dithiolenes, as well as six-membered ligands, such as catecholato, benezendithiolato, aminophenolato, and o -phenelyenediamine derivatives. Chemically, electrochemically, and photochemically induced lability of these ligands can be expected to provide an enriched recipe for a platform toward useful bond-activation and bond-formation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A PBPK/PD model for liposomal dFdC (FF-10832) constructed in a bottom-up approach. • The PBPK/PD model for dFdC, the active metabolite dFdCTP, and tumor growth inhibition. • The PBPK/PD model revealing a potential biomarker for antitumor activity enhancement. This study aimed to quantitatively clarify the critical factors responsible for the superior antitumor efficacy of a liposomal gemcitabine (2,2-difluorodeoxycytidine; dFdC) formulation, FF-10832, compared with dFdC. The underlying hypothesis is the different exposure of tumors to its active metabolite, dFdC triphosphate (dFdCTP), between the two formulations. Therefore, physiologically based pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) models for encapsulated and unencapsulated dFdC were constructed considering the tumor dFdCTP concentration as an index of antitumor activity. To estimate drug the parameters, the time profiles of encapsulated and unencapsulated dFdC in the blood and those of dFdC and dFdCTP in tumors were measured following the intravenous bolus administration of FF-10832 or dFdC. dFdC metabolism and transport in the liver S9 fraction and isolated hepatocytes, respectively, were experimentally determined. The tumor growth curve in a mouse xenograft model following the administration of FF10832 and dFdC was also used to construct the PD model. The sensitivity analysis of the PBPK/PD model revealed the critical factors affecting antitumor efficacy, which included the total and intratumor tissue uptake clearances for liposomal formulation and the cytidine deaminase and deoxycytidine deaminase activities in tumors. Thus, these parameters are potential biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of the liposomal formulation of dFdC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to determine the effectiveness of whole-body vibration (WBV) and intermittent parathyroid hormone (iPTH) in combination against estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis. Female C57BL/6J mice were bilaterally ovariectomized (OVX, n = 40) or sham-operated (sham-OVX, n = 8) at 9 weeks of age. Two weeks later, the OVX mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 each): the control group (c-OVX) and groups treated with iPTH (p-OVX), WBV (w-OVX) and both (pw-OVX). The p-OVX and pw-OVX groups were given human PTH (1-34) at a dose of 30 µg/kg/day. The w-OVX and pw-OVX groups were exposed to WBV at an acceleration of 0.3 g and 45 Hz for 20 min/day. All mice were euthanized after the 18-day treatment, and the left tibiae were harvested. The proximal metaphyseal region was µCT-scanned, and its cortical bone cross-section was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy and nanoindentation testing. A single application of iPTH or WBV to OVX mice had no effect on bone structure or material properties of cortical bone, which were compromised in comparison to those in sham-OVX mice. The combination of iPTH and WBV improved trabecular bone volume, thickness, and connectivity in OVX mice. Although the combined treatment failed to improve cortical bone structure, its mineral maturity and hardness were restored to the levels observed in sham-OVX mice. There was no evidence of interaction between the two treatments, and the combined effects seemed to be additive. These results suggest combining WBV with iPTH has great potential for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical one-electron oxidation of [PtII(3,5-DTBCat)(DTBbpy)] (1) (3,5-DTBCat = 3,5-di-tert-butyl catecholato, DTBbpy = 4,4′-di-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine) afforded the corresponding paramagnetic complex, [PtII(3,5-DTBSQ)(DTBbpy)]+PF6− (1(PF6)), as a result of ligand-centred oxidation. While complex 1 is relatively stable in common organic solvents, the present study demonstrates that cationic [1]+ is subject to an unprecedented solvent-induced disproportionation in highly polar solvents such as DMSO and DMF, which results in the formation of 1 and a free benzoquinone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Our objective was to study the potential utility of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) to identify both cardiac embolic sources and coronary artery disease (CAD) in embolic-stroke patients. Methods: We performed MDCT for 184 patients with embolic stroke but without known CAD. Twenty-six patients had atrial fibrillation. We investigated the prevalence of the potential source of the embolism and the coronary characteristics. Results: Overall, 64 potential embolic sources were detected in 59 patients (32.1%). Left atrial appendage thrombus, left ventricular thrombus and aortic atheroma were detected in 3.3, 0.5 and 15.8% of patients, respectively. Circulatory stasis and patent foramen ovale were detected in 8.7 and 6.5%, respectively. As for coronary calcium score, only 47 patients (25.5%) had a score of zero and 51 (27.7%) had a score of =400. Significant CAD was detected in 18 patients (9.8%). One hundred and thirty-seven (74.5%) had coronary plaques. The prevalence of positive remodeling, low-attenuation plaque, spotty calcification and a napkin-ring sign was 7.1, 1.6, 5.4 and 2.7%, respectively. Importantly, only 34 patients (13.0%) had no abnormalities detected by MDCT. Conclusions: Our results suggest that MDCT has potential to identify both cardiac embolic sources and CAD in patients with embolic stroke but without known CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium fortuitum is a rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacterium. This microorganism is an uncommon etiological agent of lung lesions; among lung lesions caused by M. fortuitum , thoracic empyema is particularly rare. A 61-year-old man who had been treated for chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure with noninvasive ventilation was admitted because of breathing difficulty and was found to have M. fortuitum thoracic empyema. He improved after the administration of amikacin, imipenem/cilastatin, and clarithromycin following sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and clarithromycin. This is the first report of M. fortuitum thoracic empyema in a patient without human immunodeficiency virus infection. The thoracic empyema may have developed via a pulmonary fistula in this case. This case highlights the fact that we must be aware of the possibility of M. fortuitum thoracic empyema, especially in patients with M. fortuitum lung infection and treatment with noninvasive ventilation. Multidrug therapy may be effective and important to the resolution of M. fortuitum thoracic empyema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The redox-active metalloligand (RML) (Et3NH)3[CrIII(F4Cat)3] (F4Cat = perfluorocatecholato) (1) was synthesized and its interactions with guest metal ions Li+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ were examined. Cyclic voltammetry measurements and spectroelectrochemical studies revealed that complex 1 shows three-step ligand-centred one-electron oxidation to consecutively generate [CrIII(F4Cat)2(F4SQ)]2− (F4SQ = perfluorosemiquinonato), [CrIII(F4Cat)(F4SQ)2]−, and [CrIII(F4SQ)3] at −0.12, 0.23, and 0.53 V vs. Ag/Ag+ in dichloromethane, or at −0.21, 0.08, and 0.50 V in acetonitrile (MeCN), respectively. Titration experiments in MeCN revealed that treatment of 1 with Cu2+ leads to the formation of [CrIII(F4Cat)2(F4SQ)]2− and Cu+via a redox reaction. However, when 1 was treated with Li+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, and Zn2+, further titration experiments revealed that these metal ions coordinated via the lone pairs on the coordinating oxygen atoms of the F4Cat2− moieties in a one-to-one ratio, and binding constants of 3.7 (±0.3) × 104 (Li+), 1.5 (±0.2) × 105 (Mn2+), 2.2 (±0.4) × 105 (Fe2+), 1.9 (±0.2) × 105 (Co2+), and 3.8 (±0.4) × 105 M−1 (Zn2+) were established. Moreover, the oxidation potentials of 1 were positively shifted by 0.08–0.33 V upon addition of guest metal ions. Spectroelectrochemical studies of 1 in the presence of guest metal ions suggested that ligand-centred one- and two-electron oxidation of the RML occurred for Li+, Mn2+, Co2+, and Zn2+, respectively, while guest metal-centred one-electron oxidation was observed for Fe2+. Considering all the aforementioned results, this study demonstrated for the first time the ability of [CrIII(F4Cat)3]3− to act as a RML in solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deposition of gold nanoparticles in an electroplating solution containing gold (I) trisodium disulphite under synchrotron X-ray radiation was investigated. The nanoparticles grew and aggregated into clusters with increasing radiation time. This behavior is explained by evaluating the effect of Derjaguin-Landau-Verweyand-Overbeek (DLVO) interactions combining repulsive electrostatic and attractive van der Waals forces on the particle deposition process. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of 4,4′ -bipyridine (4bpy) in aqueous solution was measured using gold nanoparticles immobilized on silicon substrates under systematically-varied X-ray exposure. The substrates provided an in situ SERS spectrum for 1 nM 4bpy. This demonstration creates new opportunities for chemical and environmental analyses through simple SERS measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerating fracture healing during bed rest allows early mobilization and avoids prolonged fracture healing times. We tested the hypothesis that stimulating angiogenesis with deferoxamine ( DFO) mitigates the unloading-induced reduction in early-stage bone repair. Rats aged 12 weeks were subjected to cortical drilling on their tibial diaphysis under anesthesia and treated with hindlimb unloading ( HU), HU and DFO administration ( DFOHU), or weight bearing ( WB) for 5 or 10 days ( HU5/10, DFOHU5/10, WB5/10; n = 8 per groups) until sacrifice for vascular casting with a zirconium dioxide-based contrast agent. Taking advantage of its absorption discontinuity at the K-absorption edge, vascular and bone images in the drill-hole defects were acquired by synchrotron radiation subtraction CT. Bone repair was reduced in HU rats. The bone volume fraction (B.Vf) was 88% smaller in HU5 and 42% smaller in HU10 than in WB5/10. The bone segment densities (B.Seg) were 97% smaller in HU5 and 141% larger in HU10 than in WB5/10, and bone thickness (B.Th) was 38% smaller in HU10 than in WB10. The vascular volume fraction (V.Vf) was 35% and the mean vessel diameter (V.D) was 13% smaller in HU10 than in WB10. When compared according to categorized vessel sizes, V.Vf in the diameter ranges 20-30, 30-40, and >40 μm were smaller in HU10 than in WB10, and V.Seg in the diameter range >40 μm was smaller in HU10 than in WB10. In contrast, there was no difference in B.Vf between DFOHU5/10 and WB5/10 and in V.Vf between DFOHU10 and WB10, though B.Seg remained 86% smaller in DFOHU5 and 94% larger in DFOHU10 than in WB5/10, and B.Th and V.D were 23% and 14% lower in DFOHU10 than in WB10. Vessel size-specific V.Vf in the diameter ranges 10-20 and 20-30 μm was larger in DFOHU5 than in HU5. In conclusion, the enhanced angiogenic ingrowth mitigates the reduction in bone repair during mechanical unloading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the talc pleurodesis, CT showed the tract made from the chest tube even after its removal. The unexpanded thoracic space might also contribute to it; thus, gathering specific medical history is important to understand this rare phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of o-phenylenediamine (opda), which possesses two proton- and electron-pooling capability, with Fe(II) leads to the photochemical hydrogen-evolution reaction (HER) in THF at room temperature without addition of photosensitizers. From the THF solution, the tris(o-phenylenediamine) iron(II) complex, [FeII(opda)3](ClO4)2 (1), was isolated as a photoactive species, while the deprotonated oxidized species was characterized by X-ray crystallographic analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and UV-vis NIR spectra. Furthermore, the HER is photocatalyzed by hydroquinone, which serves as a H+/e- donor. The present work demonstrates that the use of a metal-bound aromatic amine as a H+/e- pooler opens an alternative strategy for designing nonprecious-metal-based molecular photochemical H2 production/storage materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of lone pairs on the Pt and S atoms of [Pt(Bdt)(DTBbpy)] ( l ) (Bdt = 1,2-benzenedithiolato and DTBbpy = 4,4'-di-ferf-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) and [Pt(Bdt)(C13bpy)] (2) (C13bpy = 4,4'-ditridecyl-2,2'-bipyridine) led to selective dative bond formation with Cd(II). Complexes 1 and 2 show no binding interaction with Zn(II), while they bind selectively with Cd(ll) to give a twisted trinuclear complex, [Cd{Pt(Bdt)(DTBbpy)}2(ClO4)(H2O)]- (ClO4) (3), and a shuttiecock-shaped tetranuclear complex, [Cd{Pt(Bdt)(C13bpy)}3(H2O)](ClO4)2-CH2Cl2 (4), respectively, depending upon the alkyl groups substituted on the 2,2'-bipyridine. The two platinum moieties in 3 are connected to the seven-coordinated Cd atom through Pt →Cd (2.7331(7) and 2.7936(7) Å) and S → Cd (2.690(3), 2.940(3), and 3.067(3) A) dative bonds, while the diree moieties in 4 are connected to the tetrahedral Cd atom only by S → Cd (2.552(4) A) dative bonds. These structural variations found in 3 and 4 are caused not only by steric hindrance of the t-Bu groups but also by the microsegregation effect derived from the tridecyl chains. The three platinum moieties in 4 align so as to form a parallel orientation of their dipole moments, in contrast to the twisted arrangement found in 3. The dative bonds formed in 3 and 4 are commonly stable in the solid state and in less coordinative solvents such as dichloromethane, while dissociation behavior of platinum moieties with Cd(II) was observed in more coordinative THF. UV--vis and NMR spectroscopy unsealed the characteristic association/dissociation properties depending on the coordination abilities of solvents. Finally, the present study revealed that the formation of dative bonds between the platinum moieties with Cd(II) plays important roles not only in stabilizing the ground states, which leads to blue shifts in both absorption and emission energies, but also in electronic interactions between the moieties, which are revealed by electrochemical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lognormality was found experimentally for coarse-grained squared turbulence velocity and velocity increment when the coarsening scale is comparable to the correlation scale of the velocity [Mouri et al., Phys. Fluids 21, 065107 (2009)]. We investigate this large-scale lognormality by using a simple stochastic process with correlation, the Ornstein-Uhlenbeck (OU) process. It is shown that the OU process has a similar large-scale lognormality, which is studied numerically and analytically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Although emicizumab is a bispecific, monoclonal antibody that has led to a significant improvement of treatment for hemophilia A patients with inhibitors, the routine monitoring of patients treated with emicizumab is difficult. Thrombin time (TT) reflects thrombin burst, which mainly depends on activation of factor V (FV) and FVIII. Methods: We, therefore, developed a method for evaluating clotting activity independent of the presence of emicizumab. Normal plasma (NP) or FVIII-deficient plasma (FVIIIDP) with and without emicizumab was measured using clot waveform analysis (CWA)-activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and TT. Results: Emicizumab caused clot formation in FVIIIDP using the CWA-APTT; however, the coagulation peaks of plasma with and without emicizumab measured by the CWA-TT did not differ to a statistically significant extent. Regarding the mixing tests with NP and FVIIIDP, CWA-APTT showed large differences between each mixing test in plasma with and without emicizumab, whereas the CWA-TT showed similar patterns in mixing plasma with and without emicizumab. Regarding the standard curve of FVIII activity, the CWA-APTT showed an FVIII-concentration-dependent increase; however, the values with each concentration of FVIII differed between samples with and without emicizumab, whereas CWA-TT showed FVIII-concentration-dependent fluctuations independent of the presence of emicizumab, and the values with each concentration of FVIII were similar in samples with and without emicizumab. Conclusions: As CWA-TT using a small amount of thrombin (0.5 IU/mL) can reflect thrombin burst and be useful for evaluating FVIII activity, independent of the presence of emicizumab, it is useful for monitoring clotting activity in patients with an anti-FVIII inhibitor treated with emicizumab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrated the capability of in vivo synchrotron radiation CT (SRCT) in analyzing short-term changes in trabecular bone architecture (TBA) and the degree of bone mineralization (DBM) in small animals. Mice underwent unilateral sciatic neurectomy (SN) and sham operation on the contralateral side (SO) at 13 weeks of age. In vivo SRCT scans (11.7-μm cubic voxel) were made of both knees 7 and 17 days (group 1, n = 7) or only 17 days (group 2, n = 6) after surgery. In three mice in group 2, one knee was scanned twice on the same day in different orientations for reproducibility testing. Two scan data sets of the tibial proximal metaphysis acquired at different time points (group 1) or at the same time point (group 2) were registered for detecting differences in volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number (Tb.N), connectivity density (Conn.D), and mean DBM (mDBM). The reproducibility test showed small errors of <2.5% in the TBA indexes and <3.0% in mDBM, while mismatched bone regions amounted to >25%. In group 1, Tb.Th increased but Tb.N and Conn.D decreased in both SN and SO; BV/TV and mDBM increased only in SO; accordingly, BV/TV, Tb.Th, and mDBM became lower in SN than in SO. No significant interaction between SN and irradiation was found; the SN effects on TBA and DBM were similar between groups 1 and 2, although synchrotron irradiation led to higher Tb.Th and lower Tb.N in group 1. In conclusion, in vivo SRCT has potential use for detecting short-term bone dynamics of small animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis and characterization of two coordination polymers, {CuI[MoV(bdt)3]·0.5Et2O}n (1·0.5Et2O, bdt: o-benzenedithiolato) and {AgI[MoV(bdt)3]}n (2), composed of redox-active [MoV(bdt)3]- metalloligand with CuI and AgI ions are reported. The complexation reactions of [MoV(bdt)3]- with CuII(ClO4)2 or AgIClO4 commonly lead to the formation of one-dimensional (1-D) coordination polymers. The presence of CuI in 1·0.5Et2O strongly indicates that the CuII ion is reduced during the complexation reaction with [MoV(bdt)3]-, which acts as an electron donor. The total dimensionalities of the assembled structures of 1·0.5Et2O and 2 are significantly different and related to the type of additional metal ions, CuI and AgI. In contrast to the isolated 1-D chain structure of 1·0.5Et2O, complex 2 has a three-dimensional (3-D) assembled structure constructed from additional π-π stacking interactions between adjacent [MoV(bdt)3]- moieties. These structural differences influence the solubility of the complexes in organic solvents; complex 1·0.5Et2O is soluble as origomeric species in highly polar solvents, while 2 is insoluble in organic solvents and water. Coordination polymers 1·0.5Et2O and 2 were investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy in the solid state, and that in solution together with their electrochemical properties were also investigated for 1 because of its higher solubility in polar organic solvents. Complex 1·0.5Et2O dissolved in CH3CN demonstrates concentration-dependent UV-vis spectra supporting the presence of coordinative interactions between [MoV(bdt)3]- moieties and CuI ions to create the origomeric species even in solutions, an observation that is supported also by electrochemical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigate chemical-potential (μ) and temperature (T) dependence of scalar and pseudo-scalar meson masses for both real and imaginary μ, using the Polyakov-loop extended Nambu–Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model with three-flavor quarks. A three-flavor phase diagram is drawn in plane where positive (negative) corresponds to positive (imaginary) μ. A critical surface is plotted as a function of light- and strange-quark current mass and . We show that μ-dependence of the six-quark Kobayashi–Maskawa–''t Hooft (KMT) determinant interaction originated in anomaly can be determined from lattice QCD data on meson mass around and with T slightly above the critical temperature at where the chiral symmetry is restored at but broken at , if it is measured in future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Little is known about hypoxia-induced modification of the canal network in the cortical bone despite its involvement in intracortical vascularity and bone blood supply. In this study, we examined the effect of chronic hypoxia on the canal network in postnatal bone. Tibiae were harvested from 4- and 8-week-old rats (hyp-4 and -8, n = 8 each), whose growth was retarded owing to postnatal exposure to hypoxia (12-14% O₂), and from 3- and 4-week-old normoxic rats (cnt-4 and -5, n = 8 each), which were similar in tibial length and cortical cross-sectional area to hyp-4 and -8, respectively. The diaphyseal canals were detected by monochromatic synchrotron radiation CT with a 3.1-μm voxel resolution. The anatomical properties of the canal network were compared between age- or size-matched hypoxic and normoxic groups. The canals were larger in diameter, were more densely distributed and connected, and opened into the marrow cavity with a higher density in hyp-4 than in cnt-4. The canal density and connectivity were also higher in hyp-4 than in cnt-3. The canal diameter, density, and connectivity were smaller in hyp-8 than in cnt-4; however, the densities of endocortical and periosteal canal openings did not differ between hyp-8 and cnt-4. We concluded that chronic hypoxia enhanced the formation of cortical canal networks at the postnatal developmental stage, probably facilitating intra- and transcortical vascularization and bone perfusion accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution of coronary atherosclerosis has not been fully clarified. We measured coronary artery calcium score (CACS) in 624 consecutive patients for the right coronary artery (RCA), left main trunk (LMT), left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), and left circumflex coronary artery (LCx), then calculated total CACS. Coronary artery calcium score was measured using the Agatston method. We divided these patients into four groups: CACS 1–100 (Group A, n = 267), CACS 101–400 (Group B, n = 160), CACS 401–1000 (Group C, n = 110), and CACS >1000 (Group D, n = 87). In Group A, B, and C, the CACS in LAD was significantly higher than in the other three arteries ( P < 0.0001). In Group D, the CACS was not significantly different between LAD and RCA ( P = 0.6930). In Groups A, B, and C, coronary artery calcium (CAC) was more frequently found in LAD compared with other arteries ( P < 0.0001). However, in Group D the prevalence of CAC was not significantly different among the three arteries ( P = 0.4435). Coronary artery calcium was found more frequently in LAD than in the other coronary arteries in patients with mild to high CAC, but not in those with very high CAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Several identified ‘active faults’ located in the southwest Ryukyu area may be an origin of M5-class earthquakes taking place frequently every year, sometimes of M7-class earthquakes which cause a severe geohazard in this area. ‘The East Ishigaki Fault’, one of the ‘officially identified’ active faults, was studied precisely by multibeam echo sounding and the in-situ ROV observation. The survey expedition figured the topographic feature of the fault clearly and more precisely than that mapped by the Hydrographic Department of Japan. The survey also identified the locations of northwestern and southeastern termini of the fault, which revealed the total length to be 44 km: corresponding to a M7.4 earthquake. The new topographic map shows that the fault is composed of four or five segments with maximum vertical offset of ∼80 m in the southernmost segment; not all of the segment can slip at once. A reconnaissance survey of three of these segments by the ROV Hyper-Dolphin dives during the same expedition revealed that the headwall scarp is an outcrop made up of the Ryukyu Limestone of the Middle Pleistocene and that the lower scarp and the trough are covered with mostly talus apparently from the headwall. At least two of these segments look fresher in fault activity rather than the others, though all the observations show very recent activities along the fault. Based on these results, the East Ishigaki Fault, at least some of the segments, might cause the 1771 tsunami and also future tsunamis with the similar magnitude. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Liposome-encapsulated hemoglobins (LHs) are comparable to red blood cells (RBCs) in terms of oxygen (O2)-carrying capacity. The smaller particle size of LHs than of platelets allows their homogeneous dispersion in circulating plasma. In this study, we evaluated the effect of LH transfusion on arterial O2 delivery through vascular trees by simulation. A mathematical model was established on the basis of the coronary arterial anatomy, the conservation of flow and RBC flux, and Poiseuille’s law. The Fåhraeus-Lindqvist, Fåhraeus, and phase separation effects were considered in the model. By assuming steady perfusion, the arterial flow and O2 delivery were calculated for five model trees undergoing the isovolumic replacement of RBCs (0.3mghemoglobin (Hb)/mL) with LHs (0.2mgHb/mL) or a plasma volume expander (PVE). The RBC–LH exchange increased both the total flow and the total O2 flux but had almost no effect on the relative distribution of O2 flux. In contrast, the RBC–PVE exchange decreased the total O2 flux and increased the proportion of regions receiving a relatively low O2 supply. Thus, LH transfusion may compensate for an enhanced bias in RBC-associated O2 flux under hemodilution and is expected to be beneficial for both total and local O2 delivery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]