Thermoelectric properties of lanthanum sesquisulfide with Ti additive

The electrical resistivity, thermopower, and thermal conductivity have been measured for the lanthanum sesquisulfide (La2S3) of which the crystal phase is controlled by the Ti additive. In all the samples, the thermopower is negative between 300 and 1000 K. The sample with 8 wt % Ti, which consists almost of the cubic γ phase, behaves as a degenerate semiconductor. The thermoelectric figure of merit ZT increases with increasing temperature, reaching a value of 0.21 at 1000 K. In contrast, the sample with 2 wt % Ti consists almost of the tetragonal β phase. The transport mechanism can be well explained by the model of the Anderson localization. The ZT value increases abruptly with increasing temperature. At 1000 K, this ZT value is comparable with that of the sample with 8 wt % Ti

地域包括ケア病棟における認知症高齢患者の身体拘束解除に向けた生活リズムを整える院内デイケアの有用性

Aim: This study aimed to provide inpatient daycare for older adults with cognitiveimpairment who were physically restrained for fall prevention, and to verify its effects onthe reduction of physical restraint time via an adjustment of the rhythm of daily living at aregional comprehensive care ward.Methods: This intervention study was conducted using a control group, where one roundlasted two weeks, and six rounds of inpatient daycare were implemented with a changeof intervention group participants each round. The program outline included inpatientdaycare as a daily routine, burden-free and fun activities for continuous participation andmotivation, and the provision of a safe space. An evaluation was conducted by comparingthe day before intervention and the day after the final day of inpatient daycare; theevaluation items were the physical restraint time in the wards, physical restraint tool types,sleep hours, scores of the Dementia Behavior Disturbance Scale (DBDS), and scores of theVitality Index (VI). An analysis was performed using a two-way ANOVA to confirm thepresence or absence of interaction and main effects.Results: In total, 18 participants in the intervention group and 21 participants in thecontrol group were analyzed. The total physical restraint time during the daytime wassignificantly lower in the intervention group compared to those in the control group. Inregard to physical restraint tool types, the time using the four-point bed rail as a physicalrestraint was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to those in the controlgroup. By contrast, no change was observed between the groups for the time spent wearingwaistbands while lying on the bed. There was no change in the sleep hours and scores ofDBDS; however, the intervention group showed a significant improvement in VI scores.Conclusion: The study indicated that this inpatient daycare may help reduce the fourpointbed rail physical restraint period during the daytime

Deletion of CDKAL1 Affects Mitochondrial ATP Generation and First-Phase Insulin Exocytosis

A variant of the CDKAL1 gene was reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes and reduced insulin release in humans; however, the role of CDKAL1 in β cells is largely unknown. Therefore, to determine the role of CDKAL1 in insulin release from β cells, we studied insulin release profiles in CDKAL1 gene knockout (CDKAL1 KO) mice.Total internal reflection fluorescence imaging of CDKAL1 KO β cells showed that the number of fusion events during first-phase insulin release was reduced. However, there was no significant difference in the number of fusion events during second-phase release or high K(+)-induced release between WT and KO cells. CDKAL1 deletion resulted in a delayed and slow increase in cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration during high glucose stimulation. Patch-clamp experiments revealed that the responsiveness of ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels to glucose was blunted in KO cells. In addition, glucose-induced ATP generation was impaired. Although CDKAL1 is homologous to cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) regulatory subunit-associated protein 1, there was no difference in the kinase activity of CDK5 between WT and CDKAL1 KO islets.We provide the first report describing the function of CDKAL1 in β cells. Our results indicate that CDKAL1 controls first-phase insulin exocytosis in β cells by facilitating ATP generation, K(ATP) channel responsiveness and the subsequent activity of Ca(2+) channels through pathways other than CDK5-mediated regulation

P2 receptor-mediated modulation of neurotransmitter release—an update

Presynaptic nerve terminals are equipped with a number of presynaptic auto- and heteroreceptors, including ionotropic P2X and metabotropic P2Y receptors. P2 receptors serve as modulation sites of transmitter release by ATP and other nucleotides released by neuronal activity and pathological signals. A wide variety of P2X and P2Y receptors expressed at pre- and postsynaptic sites as well as in glial cells are involved directly or indirectly in the modulation of neurotransmitter release. Nucleotides are released from synaptic and nonsynaptic sites throughout the nervous system and might reach concentrations high enough to activate these receptors. By providing a fine-tuning mechanism these receptors also offer attractive sites for pharmacotherapy in nervous system diseases. Here we review the rapidly emerging data on the modulation of transmitter release by facilitatory and inhibitory P2 receptors and the receptor subtypes involved in these interactions