Search

Binuclear Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes supported by rac-dpmppm (bis[(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphino]methane) in a triply-bridged Z-form, [M2Cl4(rac-dpmppm)] (M = Pd (3a), Pt (3b)), readily reacted with 2,6-xylyl isocyanide (XylNC) in the presence of NH4PF6 to afford [M2Cl2(rac-dpmppm)(XylNC)2](PF6)2 (M = Pd (4a), Pt (4b)), in which each metal center accommodates one isocyanide ligand at the trans position to the inner P atom of dpmppm. Similarly, treatment of 3a and 3b with axially chiral (R/S)-1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-bisisocyanide (rac-Binac) in the presence of NH4OTf gave cyclic tetranuclear complexes, [{M2Cl2(rac-dpmppm)(rac-Binac)}2](OTf)4 (M = Pd (5), Pt (8)), where two {M2Cl2(rac-dpmppm)}2+ fragments are connected by two rac-Binac ligands through chirality sorting of (R*,R*)-dpmppm and (R*)-Binac. Complex 5 could be transformed into the halide exchanged tetranuclear complexes, [{Pd2X2(rac-dpmppm)(rac-Binac)}2](OTf)4 (X = Br (6), I (7)), to show that the rectangular arrangement of four Pd(II) ions is elongated by repulsive interaction between halide ligands. By using (R)- and (S)-Binac, enantiopure Pd4 complexes, [{Pd2Cl2((R*,R*)-dpmppm)((R*)-Binac)}2](OTf)4 (5RR/R and 5SS/S), were successfully isolated as pure crystalline forms, from which enantiopure (R,R)- and (S,S)-dpmppm were obtained by treatment with NaCN aqueous solution. Namely, optical resolution of rac-dpmppm was established through the tetranuclear Pd complexes, which is the first example for methylene-bridged polyphosphines, R2P(CH2PR)nCH2PR2 (n > 0). Furthermore, chiral octapalladium chains, [Pd8((R*,R*)-dpmppm)4(N≡CCH3)2](BF4)4 (2RR and 2SS), were synthesized by reacting enantiopure P-chiral dpmppm with [Pd2(CH3CN)6](BF4)2 and [Pd2(dba)3]·C6H6 and were characterized by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic analyses, to determine the absolute configurational structures. The Pd8 chains are the longest enantiopure chiral single-metal-atom chains structurally characterized, thus far, and the electronic structures were examined on the basis of DFT calculations of 2RR.

Background Progress in neonatal medicine has dramatically improved the survival rate of preterm births, but the evidence suggests that these low-birth weight infants (LBWIs) go on to develop pervasive development disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at greater rates than the general population. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders are known to suffer from deficits in visual cognition, such as in face perception and attentional functions, the characteristics of which already manifest in early infancy. Purpose This study aimed to investigate visual cognition in LBWIs during infancy. Subjects 20 LBWIs and 20 normal-birth-weight infants (NBWIs: control) of age 9–10 months (corrected age was used for LBWIs). Method Children were held seated in front of an eye tracking system by a parent, and presented with facial photos as visual stimuli. During the familiarization phase, the child was presented with two images of the same human face (familiarization stimulus) on the left and right side of a display screen (5 × 10 s trials). Next, during the test phase, the child was presented with the same image on one side of the screen, and a photo of a different person’s face (novel stimulus) on the other (2 × 5 s trials). Gaze behavior was assessed in terms of the total time spent looking at either facial stimulus, and specifically at the eyes of the stimuli, as well as the number of attentional shifts between stimuli, and novelty preference. Results/Discussion LBWIs spent significant less time looking at facial stimuli overall, and less time at the eye region, than NBWIs. These findings seem to evidence developmental differences in functions related to visual cognition.

Objective: Colostrum, the first form of human milk, is strongly encouraged for infants due to its benefits. During the early postpartum (PP) period, the secreted colostrum volume can be minimal, causing concerns among mothers about sufficient milk supply. Few studies have examined temporal changes in the colostrum. This study aimed to elucidate the trajectory of expressed colostrum volume in the first 48 hours after delivery. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional observational study performed at Kagawa National Children's Hospital. One hundred five mothers who did not directly breastfeed in the first 48 hours after delivery were enrolled in the study. Well-trained midwives instructed the mothers on how to express human milk, and mothers started to express as soon as possible after delivery. Mothers were advised to express human milk every 3 hours, and the milk volume was measured. Results: Within 3 hours PP, 60% of mothers expressed milk, and the median frequency of expression was 14 (interquartile range, 11-16) times in the first 48 hours. At 0-3 and 3-6 hours PP, the volume of initially expressed milk was 0.4 (0.0-2.0) mL and 1.0 (0.0-6.0) mL, respectively. Subsequently, milk volume decreased. The volume remained low until 30 hours PP and increased dramatically; this phenomenon is termed secretory activation, which began later in primiparous women than in multiparous women. Conclusion: The decline in expressed milk volume during the early PP period caused concern among mothers. Therefore, mothers should be informed of the PP trajectory of human milk volume.

The aim of this study is to assess the association between smartphone usage and depression in each gender of senior high school students. A cross-sectional study with self-administered questionnaires for 295 high school students, aged 15-19 was conducted in Japan. Depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Female adolescents used smartphones more hours a day than males. Students who used the smartphones for three hours a day accounted for 44.3% of female students and 22.5% of male students. Female students spent longer hours on online chat, social networking sites (SNS), and Internet browsing. The longer hours they spent for online chat (Odds ratio (OR): 1.74; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.18-2.56), and SNS (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.04-1.92) were associated with depression. On the other hand, male students spent more hours playing games than female students, and their smartphone use was not correlated with depression. There were gender differences in smartphone usage: female students spent more time on social contacts, whereas males were more likely to use them for entertainment. Therefore, if female students overuse online communication, they may be at a higher risk for depression.

Binuclear Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes supported by

AimsThe invasion success of alien plants is strongly affected by both biological and human-associated factors. Evaluation of the relative contribution of each factor is important not only for the further understanding of invasion processes but also for the better management of invasion risk, particularly in protected areas of high conservation priority. Here, we quantified the relative importance of species biological traits and association with a human activity, i.e., agriculture, in explaining the invasion success of alien plants across the entire region and in protected areas in Hokkaido, Japan.MethodsAs a quantitative measure of invasion success, the distribution extent of naturalized populations across the entire prefecture and in protected areas was calculated for 63 alien species with equal residence time based on species occurrence records at a spatial resolution of 5-km mesh grid units. For each species, we identified seven biological traits (seed mass, dispersal mode, maximum plant height, capability of vegetative reproduction, flowering start time and period, and life span) and two human-associated factors (introduction purpose and cultivation frequency for agricultural use). Cultivation frequency was determined based on the frequency of seed-sowing in pastures: 1. not sown, 2. accidentally sown as a seed contaminant, and 3. intentionally sown for commercial cultivation. The importance of biological traits and human-associated factors in explaining the distribution extent was determined using an information-theoretic approach.Important FindingsIn explaining the distribution extent across the entire prefecture, species biological traits and human-associated factors showed comparable importance; cultivation frequency exhibited the highest importance value closely followed by seed mass, maximum height, and flowering period. In contrast, when focusing on protected areas, human association was more important than biological traits, as indicated by the greatest importance of cultivationfrequency and much lower values for most biological traits. The results demonstrated that species biological traits and human association almost equally contributed to invasion success across the entire region, while invasions into protected areas were more attributable to human association than to biological traits. We highlight that the control of propagule pressure associated with artificial cultivation may be key to preventing further invasions into protected areas.

Background and Purpose Stiff-knee gait, which is a gait abnormality observed after stroke, is characterized by decreased knee flexion angles during the swing phase, and it contributes to a decline in gait ability. This study aimed to identify the immediate effects of pedaling exercises on stiff-knee gait from a kinesiophysiological perspective. Methods Twenty-one patients with chronic post-stroke hemiparesis and stiff-knee gait were randomly assigned to a pedaling group and a walking group. An ergometer was set at a load of 5 Nm and rotation speed of 40 rpm, and gait was performed at a comfortable speed; both the groups performed the intervention for 10 min. Kinematic and electromyographical data while walking on flat surfaces were immediately measured before and after the intervention. Results In the pedaling group, activity of the rectus femoris significantly decreased from the pre-swing phase to the early swing phase during gait after the intervention. Flexion angles and flexion angular velocities of the knee and hip joints significantly increased during the same period. The pedaling group showed increased step length on the paralyzed side and gait velocity. Conclusions Pedaling increases knee flexion during the swing phase in hemiparetic patients with stiff-knee gait and improves gait ability.

Miscanthus ×ogiformis is a hybrid between Miscanthus sacchariflorus and Miscanthus sinensis and its several synonyms indicate the insufficient understanding of the morphological variation of its awn on the spikelet, which is a key characteristic for identifying Miscanthus species. In the present study, all the Miscanthus specimens in 19 herbaria were examined in order to find new localities for Miscanthus ×ogiformis. Thirty-nine Miscanthus ×ogiformis specimens appeared to be naturally occurring hybrids, as their callus hair length, awn length, and callus-to-spikelet ratio differed from those found in the parental species. Therefore, new Miscanthus ×ogiformis individuals with morphological variations are likely to be discovered and these strains might be useful as new genetic resources for this biomass crop.

Objective: In patients with hemiplegia, botulinum toxin type A injection for ankle spasticity of the plantar flexors reportedly improves walking speed. This improvement may be affected by background factors and patient baseline physical performance. This study aimed to clarify the factors affecting gait velocity improvement after botulinum toxin type A injection. Methods: Background and evaluation data were collected for 60 patients with stroke who received botulinum toxin type A injection for spasticity of the plantar flexors. The patients were divided into improvement (n=27) and non-improvement (n=33) groups based on the gait velocity change from before injection to 2 weeks after injection. Logistic regression analysis was performed with the improvement and non-improvement groups as response variables and background data and evaluation data at baseline as explanatory variables. Results: The presence or absence of physical therapy following botulinum toxin type A injection (odds ratio: 7.82) was the only significant explanatory variable for gait velocity change. Conclusion: Background factors and physical performance at baseline did not affect gait velocity improvement after botulinum toxin type A injection. If botulinum treatment of the ankle plantar flexors in patients with stroke is targeted at walking performance improvement, then physical therapy following botulinum toxin type A injection should be an essential part of the treatment strategy.

Increasing incidences of swallowing dysfunction, or dysphagia, a risk factor for aspiration pneumonia, are being reported in aging populations.To investigate the relationship between swallowing function and oral bacteria in independent, community-dwelling elderly.This study recruited 139 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥ 70 years with poor swallowing function. The presence of anaerobic (Prevotella spp. and Fusobacterium spp.) and aerobic bacteria was examined in the participants' oral cavity flora. Swallowing function was evaluated using a 30 mL water swallowing test. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between oral bacteria and swallowing function.Swallowing function was assessed as abnormal in 2.9% and as abnormal in 47.5% of the subjects. The colony-forming units (CFUs/ml) of Prevotella spp. were associated with the swallowing dysfunction (odds ratio [OR] 3.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49-8.11). Further, CFUs/ml of Fusobacterium spp. and aerobes did not correlate with the swallowing dysfunction but were related with the number of teeth (OR 2.71; 95% CI 1.28-5.74, and OR 0.40; 95% CI, 0.18-0.91, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: Swallowing dysfunction in community-dwelling elderly is associated with increased abundance of Prevotella spp., which indirectly may be an increased risk factor for aspiration pneumonia.

Summary The treatment of skeletal deep bite does not remain stable. The patient was a Japanese woman aged 16 years and 10 months. Her chief complaint was maxillary protrusion. The degree of overjet was + 10.5 mm and overbite was + 5.0 mm; the intermolar relationship was Angle Class II. An excessive curve of Spee was observed in the mandibular arch. A hypodivergent skeletal pattern was indicated by a small mandibular plane angle and gonial angle. The maxillary incisors were proclined and the mandibular incisors were retroclined. Based on the above findings, the patient was diagnosed with Angle Class II maxillary protrusion and deep bite with hypodivergency. Both maxillary first premolars were extracted and orthodontic treatment was performed using multi-bracket appliances. A proper overbite was achieved by 5.0 mm intrusion of the mandibular incisors. The maxillary incisors were retracted by 11.2 mm and a proper overjet was achieved. Good treatment results were obtained without apical root resorption. After 2 years of retention, the occlusion has been well maintained. This report may constitute a remarkable suggestion for treatment of an unstable deep bite.

There have been a number of recent reports on the occurrence of autoimmune conditions after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We describe a rare case of Evans syndrome (ES) that developed in a 16-year-old patient >1 year after autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma. ES is a rare and frequently refractory condition. No therapy for the condition has been established, and it can often be fatal. In the present case, i.v. cyclosporine A injection was significantly effective against the ES, which has not recurred.

Background In Cambodia, the age-standardized prevalence of diabetes mellitus has increased in both men and women. The main objective of this study was to identify factors associated with diabetes medication adherence among people with diabetes mellitus in poor urban areas of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017 using a structured questionnaire for face-to-face interviews by trained interviewers. The participants were people with diabetes mellitus who were the active members of a peer educator network, lived in poor urban areas of Phnom Penh, and attended weekly educational sessions during the survey period. Diabetes medication adherence was measured using four items of modified Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Participants were classified into two groups based on their adherence score: 0 (high adherence) and from 1 to 4 (medium or low adherence). Sociodemographic characteristics; medical history; accessibility to health services; and knowledge, attitude, and practices related to diabetes mellitus were examined. A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted adjusting for sex, age, marital status, and education levels. Results Data from 773 people with diabetes were included in the analyses. Of the total, 49.3% had a high level of diabetes medication adherence. A high level of adherence was associated with higher family income (≥50 USD per month) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.25–11.08), absence of diabetes mellitus-related complications (AOR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.19–2.32), use of health services more than once per month (AOR = 2.87, 95% CI = 1.64–5.04), following special diet for diabetes mellitus (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.17–2.81), and absence of alcohol consumption (AOR = 13.67, 95% CI = 2.86–65.34). Conclusions High diabetes medication adherence was associated with better family economic conditions, absence of diabetes mellitus-related complications, and healthy behaviors. It would be crucial to improve affordable access to regular follow-ups including promotion of healthy behaviors through health education and control of diabetes mellitus-related complications.

BACKGROUND The Japanese government has established a law encouraging early detection and treatment of developmental disorders in children. Child behavior problems (CBP) tend to be recognized at school as a result of developmental disorders. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with CBP in Japan. We hypothesized that factors other than developmental disorders are important in explaining CBP. METHODS The study was conducted between February and March 2015. Parents of 3,515 children aged 2-5 years attending one of 34 public nursery schools in Takamatsu, Kagawa, Japan received self-administered questionnaires addressing parental socioeconomic factors, mental health, parenting style (i.e. hostile, overreactive, or lax), developmental disorders in children, and CBP. A multiple regression analysis was applied to explore associations between CBP and possible factors. RESULTS Overall, 1,410 mothers were eligible to participate in the study. Children diagnosed with developmental disorders accounted for 7.8% of the sample, while on the Eyberg Child Behavior Inventory 17% of children had behavior problems needing clinical intervention. After adjustment for confounding factors, as well as for the diagnosis of developmental disorders, poor mental status and all three dysfunctional parenting styles had strong associations with CBP, and hostile, overreactive, and lax parenting had standardized β-values (β) of 0.29, 0.28, and 0.15, respectively (P < 0.01). A problematic relationship between the parents was also significantly associated with CBP (β = -0.29, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION When CBP are identified, parenting skills, mental health status and parental relationships should be considered along with the possibility of developmental disorders in the development of interventions.

To investigate the prolonged effects of a 12-month exercise-plus-diet intervention in Japanese adults at risk of impaired glucose or lipid metabolism.A total of 180 participants were randomly divided into an intervention group (n=94), and a control group (n=86). An exercise-plus- diet intervention was conducted on the intervention group for 12 months. The effects were evaluated by questionnaire, physical examinations, and blood tests at baseline, 3 months, 12 months (the end of intervention), and 24 months (one year after the end of intervention). The control group took only the same examinations as the intervention group.At the end of the 12-month intervention, body weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, HbA1c, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol were improved in the intervention group compared to the control group (all p0.05). One year after the end of the intervention, body weight, waist circumference, fasting glucose, triglycerides, and LDL-cholesterol were still decreased in the intervention group compared to the control group (all p0.05), especially among non-overweight participants. Among overweight persons, only body weight in the intervention group was lower than the control group. The personal behaviours of physical activity and diet in the intervention group were also improved.The 12-month exercise-plus-diet programs were found to be effective in improving glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as personal behaviour one year after completion of the intervention.

Background Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) usually results in a poor clinical outcome even when treated with hypothermic therapy (HT). Early postnatal changes in cerebral blood oxygenation and hemodynamics may be critical determinants of brain injury and the efficacy of HT. Objectives We measured cerebral hemoglobin oxygen saturation (ScO 2 ) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) by near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS) in HT-treated and non-HT-treated neonatal HIE patients to assess the influence of these parameters on clinical outcome. Methods We retrospectively compared ScO 2 , CBV, and clinical outcomes of 11 neonates with HIE: 5 were treated by HT (HT-treated; 33.5 °C ± 0.5 °C for 72 h starting approximately 6 h after delivery) and 6 were not (non-HT-treated). Both CBV and ScO 2 were measured by TRS at 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after birth. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed 1–2 weeks after birth to assess brain injury. Results Five neonates had adverse outcomes (3 HT-treated, 2 non-HT-treated). Of these, 1 died within 3 days of birth and 4 had abnormal MRI findings, including basal ganglia, white matter, and/or thalamic lesions. The other 6 neonates had normal MRI findings (favorable outcome). At 6 h after birth, CBV was significantly higher in neonates with adverse outcomes compared with those with a favorable outcome. At 24 h after birth, ScO 2 was significantly higher in neonates with adverse outcomes. Furthermore, we found that combined CBV at 24 h after birth plus ScO 2 had the best predictive ability for neurological outcome: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were all 100%. Conclusion Early postnatal CBV and ScO 2 elevations were predictive of a poor outcome in HIE. Therefore, measuring combined CBV plus ScO 2 at 24 h after birth can allow more precise prediction of neurological outcome. Control of postnatal CBV and ScO 2 is critical for effective HIE treatment.

Objective The purpose of the present study was to investigate factors associated with quality of life (QOL) among mothers raising 4 and 18-month-old infants. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using self-report questionnaires. Participants included 400 women who took their infants for health checkups at a city in Aichi Prefecture, Japan (4-month-olds: n = 197, 18-month-olds: n = 203). Study variables included the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) scale, mother's lifestyle, support from family, and other factors potentially related to QOL. Results For mothers of 4-month-old infants, total QOL was associated with emotional support from families (OR 6.09, 95% CI 2.13-17.43) and having enough sleep (7 h or more; OR 4.18, 95% CI 1.86-9.36). These mothers had shorter sleeping hours than mothers of 18-month-old infants. QOL of mothers of 18-month-old infants was associated with emotional support from families (OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.14-8.22) and using childrearing support facilities (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.01-4.01). Conclusion Different factors contributed to mothers' QOL as a function of infant age. Emotional support from families was associated with better QOL in both mother groups. Differences were that for mothers of 4-month-old infants, enough sleep was relevant to QOL, while in mothers of 18-month-old infants, childcare services helped improving their QOL.

The aim of the study was to investigate the difference in response to a motor imagery task between individuals with and without painful temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). The participants were 24 adults with and without TMD (TMD and control group, resp.). A set of photographic images of the profile view of a person’s head and neck and a hand and a foot were presented in a random order. The set consisted of six different orientations with rotations of each image at 0, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 degrees and included left and right representations. The participants were required to view the image and make a decision as to whether it was a left or a right side presented, that is, mental rotation (MR) task. Data were collected on 48 tasks (including left and right) at each orientation for each body part. Reaction times (RTs) for correct answers and accuracy in making the left or right judgements were recorded. The RT was slower in the TMD group than in the control group. The RT for the profile image was slower than those for the hand and foot images. For images that were 180 degrees, the RT was slower and the accuracy was lower than those for five of the other image orientations. The judgements made about the 180-degree rotated image were more inaccurate compared to images of all other orientations among all types of stimuli.

Adolescents spend an increasing amount of time on mobile phones. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between duration of mobile phone use and insomnia and depression in senior high school students. The cross-sectional study was conducted on 295 senior high school students in Japan. Mobile phones were owned by 98.6% of students; 58.6% of students used mobile phones for more than 2 h daily and 10.5% used them for 5 h daily. The risk of insomnia was significantly high in students who used mobile phones for 5 h or more (OR: 3.89 [95% CI: 1.21-12.49]). There was no significant association between depression and duration of mobile phone use. However, individuals who spent 120 min or more using mobile phones for social network services (OR: 3.63 [1.20-10.98]) and online chats (OR: 3.14 [1.42-6.95]) were at risk for depression. Excessive mobile phone use is associated with unhealthy sleep habits and insomnia. Moreover, the excessive use of the social network services and online chats are related to depression rather than duration of mobile phone use. Adolescents should use mobile phones appropriately to avoid sleep disturbances and the impairment of mental health.

Nucleotide sequence variations were investigated with respect to the geographical distribution patterns of Miscanthus sinensis populations that were sampled from 26 Japanese national parks and three populations of the Ryukyu Islands. Twelve homozygous sequences in the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region were detected. The populations of M. sinensis in mainland Japan mainly were composed of a monophyletic group with a symapomorphic character, whereas those in the Ryukyu Islands included a polyphyletic group. Only an internal transcribed spacer haplotype with a plesiomorphic character was found in both mainland Japan and the Ryukyu Islands. Thus, no clear geographical isolation was observed in this species. These facts might be caused by the ability of M. sinensis as a pioneer plant to have a high migration potential and high gene flow by outcrossing. On the basis of the results of this study (nuclear ribosomal DNA) and the previous study (chloroplast DNA), a phylogeographical history of M. sinensis was presumed where the ancestral and derived lineages were distributed in the southern and northern regions of Japan, respectively, without strict geographical isolation.

A series of tetragold(I) complexes supported by tetraphosphine ligands, meso- and rac-bis[(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphino]methane (meso- and rac-dpmppm) were synthesized and characterized to show that the tetranuclear Au(I) alignment varies depending on syn- and anti-arrangements of the two dpmppm ligands with respect to the metal chain. The structures of syn-[Au4 (meso-dpmppm)2X]X'3 (X = Cl; X' = Cl (4 a), PF6 (4 b), BF4 (4 c)) and syn-[Au4 (meso-dpmppm)2]X4 (X = PF6 (4 d), BF4 (4 e), TfO (4 f); TfO = triflate) involved a bent tetragold(I) core with a counter anion X incorporated into the bent pocket. Complexes anti-[Au4 (meso-dpmppm)2]X4 (X = PF6 (5 d), BF4 (5 e), TfO (5 f)) contain a linearly ordered Au4 string and complexes syn-[Au4 (rac-dpmppm)2X2]X'2 (X = Cl, X' = Cl (6 a), PF6 (6 b), BF4 (6 c)) and syn-[Au4 (rac-dpmppm)2]X4 (X = PF6 (6 d), BF4 (6 e), TfO (6 f)) consist of a zigzag tetragold(I) chain supported by the two syn-arranged rac-dpmppm ligands. Complexes 4 d-f, 5 d-f, and 6 d-f with non-coordinative large anions are strongly luminescent in the solid state (λmax = 475-515 nm, Φ = 0.67-0.85) and in acetonitrile (λmax = 491-520 nm, Φ = 0.33-0.97); the emission was assigned to phosphorescence from (3) [dσ*σ*σ* pσσσ] excited state of the Au4 centers on the basis of DFT calculations as well as the long lifetime (a few μs). The emission energy is predominantly determined by the HOMO and LUMO characters of the Au4 centers, which depend on the bent (4), linear (5), and zigzag (6) alignments. The strong emissions in acetonitrile were quenched by chloride anions through simultaneous dynamic and static quenching processes, in which static binding of chloride ions to the Au4 excited species should be the most effective. The present study demonstrates that the structures of linear tetranuclear gold(I) chains can be modified by utilizing the stereoisomeric tetraphosphines, meso- and rac-dpmppm, which may lead to fine tuning of the strongly luminescent properties intrinsic to the Au(I) 4 cluster centers.

Miscanthus sinensis Andersson is a dominant perennial grass in East Asia, where it is a pioneer species in disturbed habitats. To obtain basic information about the genetic structure of this pioneer species, we investigated chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) variation in M. sinensis within and among native populations across Japan. We detected nine haplotypes in 636 individuals from 30 populations. Two distinct haplotypes had a wide geographical distribution and coexisted within most of the populations. The degree of genetic differentiation among the populations was relatively low. Two putative ancestral lineages were distributed in the Ryukyu Islands. Therefore, it is possible that lineages that originated in subtropical areas of mainland China migrated into the Ryukyu Islands via Taiwan. Another possible migration route is the Korean Peninsula. Two major haplotypes may have migrated from the Eurasian continent to the northern coast in Kyushu via the Korean Peninsula and then expanded throughout Japan. There was no clear genetic boundary among the populations north of Kyushu. The enhanced immigration ability and high rate of gene flow of Miscanthus may have modulated the genetic structure created during previous glacial periods. Alternatively, the shortage of unique haplotypes north of Kyushu may indicate the recent expansion of this species to northern Japan.

Aim To determine if nurse managers’ leadership style is related to Japanese staff nurses’ affective commitment to their hospital. Background In Western countries, nurse managers’ transformational leadership style has been found to increase staff nurses’ affective commitment to their hospital. However, there are few studies examining this relationship in the context of acute care hospitals in Japan. Methods Staff nurses completed measures of their nurse managers’ perceived leadership style and factors related to their own affective commitment. The association between affective commitment and perception of leadership style was assessed with multiple logistic regression. Results Of 736 questionnaires distributed, 579 (78.9%) were returned, and data from 396 (53.8%) fully completed questionnaires were analysed. The intellectual stimulation aspect of transformational leadership positively increased staff nurses’ affective commitment (odds ratio: 2.23). Nurse managers’ transactional and laissez-faire leadership styles were not related to affective commitment among staff nurses. Conclusions The intellectual stimulation aspect of transformational leadership may increase the retention of staff nurses through enhanced affective commitment. Implications for nursing management To increase staff nurses’ affective commitment to their hospital, we suggest that hospital administrators equip nurse managers with intellectual stimulation skills.

Background Anemia of prematurity commonly occurs in infants with very low birth weight; blood transfusion is an important treatment. However, there is no clear evidence to support the criteria currently widely used, based on blood hemoglobin (bHb) and hematocrit indices. Previous studies showed that overtransfusion or a low threshold for transfusion could induce complications or neurologic sequelae, respectively. We hypothesized that a cerebral hemodynamic index may provide an appropriate criterion for determining the need for transfusion in anemic preterm infants. Study Design and Methods We used near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy to measure cerebral hemoglobin oxygen saturation (ScO2) and cerebral blood volume (CBV) before and after transfusion in 19 infants (24 measurements) with anemia of prematurity. The median gestational age was 27 weeks 0 days, median birth weight was 751 g, and median postconceptual age at transfusion was 30 weeks 4 days. Results bHb levels before and after transfusion (mean ± SD) were 9.3 ± 1.4 and 13.7 ± 1.3 g/dL, respectively. After transfusion, CBV significantly decreased from 2.63 ± 0.60 to 2.13 ± 0.26 mL/100 g of brain, and ScO2 significantly increased from 72.8 ± 4.3% to 74.7 ± 4.2%. Conclusion After transfusion, CBV changes were significantly greater with low compared to high pretransfusion Hb levels. This reflected the physiologic response to severe anemia in premature infants, which is to increase CBV and decrease ScO2. Therefore, CBV and ScO2 may be useful markers for determining the need for transfusion in very-low-birth-weight infants.

The purpose of this study was to examine developmental changes in visuocognitive function, particularly face recognition, in early infancy. In this study, we measured eye movement in healthy infants with a preference gaze problem, particularly eye movement between two face stimulations. We used the eye tracker system (Tobii1750, Tobii Technologies, Sweden) to measure eye movement in infants. Subjects were 17 3-month-old infants and 16 4-month-old infants. The subjects looked two types of face stimulation (upright face/scrambled face) at the same time and we measured their visual behavior (preference/looking/eye movement). Our results showed that 4-month-old infants looked at an upright face longer than 3-month infants, and exploratory behavior while comparing two face stimulations significantly increased. In this study, 4-month-old infants showed a preference towards an upright face. The numbers of eye movements between two face stimuli significantly increased in 4-month-old infants. These results suggest that eye movements may be an important index in face cognitive function during early infancy.

Inelastic neutron scattering, far-infrared spectroscopy, and cryogenic nuclear magnetic resonance are used to investigate the quantized rotation and ortho–para conversion of single water molecules trapped inside closed fullerene cages. The existence of metastable ortho -water molecules is demonstrated, and the interconversion of ortho -and para -water spin isomers is tracked in real time. Our investigation reveals that the ground state of encapsulated ortho water has a lifted degeneracy, associated with symmetry-breaking of the water environment.

Experiments were carried out to investigate whether papillomas could be induced on the teat skin of heifers by intradermal injection with bovine papillomavirus type 9 (BPV-9). Three heifers (#1 and 2, two 0.5-year-old Holsteins; #3, a 1.5-year-old Japanese Black) were injected with BPV-9 and one heifer (#4, a 0.5-year-old Holstein) was mock-infected. Viral DNA load in the inocula was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction assay and adjusted to 1.56 × 10 12 copies per injection. Papillomas appeared at the injection sites in the BPV-9-injected heifers #1, 2 and 3 and grew over the 8 (#1 and 2) and 4 (#3) mo observation period, respectively. However, no papillomas were found in the mock-infected heifer #4. The experimentally induced papillomas were excised and examined. Histologically, the lesions were characterized by hyperplasia of the epidermis with hyperkeratosis and marked acanthosis and were morphologically similar to naturally occurring lesions. BPV-9 DNA and bovine papillomavirus capsid antigen were abundant in the lesions. Therefore, we conclude that BPV-9 is an etiological agent causing epithelial papillomas on the teat skin of heifers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that cerebral hemoglobin (Hb) oxygenation is related to phosphorylation potential during primary and secondary cerebral energy failure in newborn infants who have experienced birth asphyxia. We subjected newborn piglets to severe transient cerebral hypoxic-ischemia followed by resuscitation and examined cerebral energy metabolism by 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and evaluated changes in cerebral Hb oxygen saturation (ScO2) using full-spectrum near-infrared spectroscopy before, during, and up to 54 h after the hypoxic-ischemic insult. ScO2 was significantly decreased during the hypoxic-ischemic insult compared with baseline values. During secondary energy failure, piglets were separated based on the relationship between the ratio of phosphocreatine to inorganic phosphate and ScO2; those with a negative correlation were less injured than those with a positive correlation. These results indicate that changes in ScO2 as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy are related to phosphorylation potential during secondary energy failure in asphyxiated infants.

The purpose of the present study was to measure changes in blood volume and the oxygenation state of breast tissue during breastfeeding with the use of near-infrared time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS) as a noninvasive method. Forty breastfeeding mothers were divided into 2 groups in which measurements were made in the contralateral breast (group A) and in the ipsilateral breast (group B). The tissue concentrations of oxyhemoglobin, deoxyhemoglobin, and total hemoglobin and the hemoglobin oxygen saturation were measured in the breast by using TRS during a breastfeed. In both groups A and B, the values of all parameters decreased significantly after the start of breastfeeding compared with the pre-breastfeeding values. The values of all parameters fluctuated cyclically after the beginning of the breastfeed. Time-resolved spectroscopy is an effective noninvasive method for investigating the hemodynamics of the breast during breastfeeding. J Hum Lact. 24(4):415-421.

Using optical topography, changes in the cerebral oxygenation were compared in the parieto-temporal lobe of preterm and term infants of equal postconceptional age in response to verbal stimulation. Eight preterm infants of gestational age 23-34 weeks were studied at postconceptional term age (38-46 weeks). Ten term infants were studied at 2-11 days after birth. Twenty-four-channel near-infrared optical topography (NIOT) was used to measure changes in concentration of oxyhemoglobin ([oxyHb]), deoxyhemoglobin ([deoxyHb]) and total hemoglobin ([totalHb]) in the bilateral temporal cortices. Verbal stimulation was provided by a recording of a Japanese fairy tale. The latency in response to verbal stimulation was significantly shorter in the preterm infants than in the term infants. This time is thought to reflect brain development, particularly the development of the neuro-vascular coupling mechanisms in the cerebral cortex. The present results indicate that the number of days after birth is more closely related to development of auditory system and neuro-vascular coupling than is postconceptional age. Thus, this suggests that early extrauterine environment affects the cortical responses to verbal stimulation in preterm infants.

We evaluated the applicability of the Australian Weed Risk Assessment (AWRA) system in Japan. Native weeds (n = 117) and introduced plants (n = 142), whose weed status was classified by 20 plant experts, were assessed using a slightly modified version of the AWRA system designed to fit Japanese conditions. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for the system, when classifying two-thirds of the 259 taxa as weeds or non-weeds, was plotted and the area under the ROC curve was calculated. The area was 0.88 and significantly greater than 0.5. Thus, the validity of the system to classify plants was proven. The best cut-off level for the WRA score using Youden’s index was 10. When taxa whose AWRA scores were greater than 10 were regarded as weeds, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.88 and 0.78, respectively. These values were verified with the remaining one-third of the taxa. From these findings, the modified AWRA system was considered to be effective for use in Japan. However, further studies are required to set the best cut-off level in terms of maximising the benefits gained from using the system. A second screening test associated with the cut-off level also needs to be developed.

Background: The light-emitting diode is used as one of the new light sources for phototherapy. NeoBLUE (Atom Medical, Tokyo, Japan) incorporates blue light-emitting diodes for the treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. The authors compared the in vitro efficacy of neoBLUE with conventional phototherapy devices. Methods: The three light devices used included neoBLUE and two conventional phototherapy devices with six blue–white (BW) or six green (GR) fluorescent tubes. A bilirubin/human serum albumin solution (15 mg/dL) in 200 × 300 mm elliptical bag was irradiated with each three light device. The average light intensity of neoBLUE, BW and GR was 22.5, 10.2 and 2.6 μW/cm2 per nm, respectively, for the irradiated area. Bilirubin photoisomers and native bilirubin were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: In neoBLUE, BW and GR, the respective production rate of cyclobilirubin was 6.0, 3.7 and 3.9 × 10−2 mg/dL/min, and the respective (4Z, 15E)-bilirubin/(4Z, 15Z)-bilirubin ratio after irradiation was 0.44, 0.33 and 0.12; the (4Z, 15Z)-bilirubin reduction rate at 20 min after irradiation was 60, 68 and 82%, respectively. The reduction rate of (4Z, 15Z)-bilirubin correlated with the (4Z, 15E)-bilirubin/(4Z, 15Z)-bilirubin ratio. Conclusion: Phototherapy using the neoBLUE under high level may be clinically more effective than therapy using the conventional light source from the results of the production rate of cyclobilirubin.

The Clinical Trial Management Center in Kyushu University Hospital was originally established in April 1999 and was later reorganized to form the Clinical Research Center in October 2003 due to the expansion of support activities for clinical trials. In pace with this, the number of clinical research coordinators (CRCs) increased from 2 in 1999 to 13 in 2005. To improve the performance of clinical research for physicians, CRCs and secretariats, we conducted a questionnaire survey of sponsors of clinical trials (pharmaceutical company staff) to see how they evaluated the work done by our Clinical Research Center. The questionnaire consisted of 10 items regarding our overall conduct of trial practice for which scores were obtained anonymously. We sent the questionnaire to 116 sponsor staff and received replies from 101 of them, a recovery of rate of 87%. The sponsors were generally satisfied with the conduct of clinical research at our Center, but were not fully satisfied regarding a few items which included the payment system for trial expenses, physicians' awareness, and recruitment of subjects by CRCs.Based on the results, we have recently introduced a new education system designed to increase physicians' motivation. Under this system, the conduct of clinical trials is limited to physicians who receive regular lectures on clinical research and are certified by our Clinical Research Center.

The Clinical Trial Management Center of Kyushu University Hospital was originally established in April 1999 and reorganized as the Clinical Research Center in October 2003 due to the expansion of support for clinical trials and general clinical research. In pace with this, the number of full-time clinical research coordinators (CRCs) increased from 2 in 1999 to 11 in 2004. To evaluate our function as CRCs and further improve it, we surveyed the opinions of physicians who have been in charge of clinical trials by questionnaire. Although most of the physicians generally appreciated the service we provide as CRCs, several of them said that there were not enough CRCs and that we had to provide better support. In conclusion, we felt there was a need to revise the content of the support provided to physicians by CRCs in the future. Also, in order to ensure the smooth conduct of clinical trials, in addition to enhancing physicians' appreciation of clinical research, we must further improve the situation of clinical trials, for instance by introducing a new system for evaluating their performance.

Background: The developmental changes of the umbilical cortisol levels in neonates at gestational age of 23–41 weeks were studied and the effect of antenatal steroid administration on the umbilical cortisol levels were examined. Methods: Cortisol levels in the umbilical vein (UV) and the umbilical artery (UA) were studied in 35 neonates at the gestational age (GA) of 23–41 weeks with or without antenatal administration of corticosteroids. Serum cortisol concentrations were measured by the high performance liquid chromatography method. Results: The correlation between cortisol levels in UV and birthweight (BW) was weak and negative in premature infants. UV cortisol levels in the neonates with antenatal corticosteroid were lower than those in the neonates without antenatal corticosteroid, but the relation was not significant. The developmental changes of UV cortisol levels were the same as those in Murphy's study (spontaneous-onset labor). The cortisol levels in UV and UA had a significantly positive correlation and both had almost equal concentrations. There were no correlations between cortisol levels in UV and placental weight, Apgar Score at 1 and 5 min. Conclusions: In the neonates whose birthweight was less than 2000 g without antenatal corticosteroid, there was a negative correlation between cortisol levels in UV and BW but there was no correlation between cortisol levels in UV and GA. That the neonates with antenatal corticosteroid would have a suppressed adrenocortical function after birth could not be proved.