La5Ti2Cu1-xAgxS5O7 photocathodes operating at positive potentials during photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution under irradiation of up to 710 nm

A photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell based on a series-connected photocathode and photoanode made of particulate semiconductors is a potentially scalable and inexpensive device for renewable solar hydrogen production via PEC water splitting without any external power supply. The realisation of such PEC devices hinges on the development of photoelectrodes that operate at a small applied voltage. In this study, solid solutions of La5Ti2CuS5O7 (LTC) and La5Ti2AgS5O7 (LTA) were synthesised, and their physical, optical, and PEC properties in the water splitting reaction were discussed. LTC and LTA formed a La5Ti2Cu1-xAgxS5O7 solid solution (LTC(1-x)A(x)) over the whole compositional range. The indirect bandgap energy of LTC(1-x)A(x) changed nonlinearly with respect to composition, attaining its minimum value (ca. 1.8 eV) at a composition of x approximate to 0.16. Photoelectrodes of Al-doped LTC(1-x)A(x) solid solution powder fabricated using the particle transfer method exhibited a photocathodic response regardless of the Ag content. 1% Al-LTC(0.9)A(0.1) photocathodes exhibited the best PEC properties in the hydrogen evolution reaction and yielded a hypothetical half-cell solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of 0.25% at +0.6 V vs. RHE, three times higher than the previously reported 1% Sc-LTC. In addition, 1% Al-LTC(0.9)A(0.1) photocathodes were fairly stable at + 0.7 V vs. RHE without any protective modifications. Owing to the positive operational electrode potential of 1% Al-LTC(0.9)A(0.1), unassisted PEC water splitting was accomplished using series-connected photoelectrodes made of 1% Al-LTC(0.9)A(0.1) and BaTaO2N, particulate semiconductors with absorption edge wavelengths of 710 and 660 nm, respectively, at a Faradaic efficiency of unity and a solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency of approximately 0.1%.ArticleEnergy & Environmental Science.8(11):3354-3362(2015)journal articl

再発性甲状腺癌のリンパ節転移におけるTc-99m MDPの集積(Tc-99m MDP Accumulation in Lymph Node Metastases of Recurrent Thyroid Cancer)(英語)

金沢医科大学 放射線科原著論文/症例報

Field measurements of absolute gravity in East Antarctica

This paper reports the results of field-based absolute gravity measurements aimed at detecting gravity change and crustal displacement caused by glacial isostatic adjustment. The project was initiated within the framework of the 53rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE53). Absolute gravity measurements, together with GPS measurements, were planned at several outcrops along the Prince Olav Coast and Sôya Coast of East Antarctica, including at Syowa Station. Since the icebreaker Shirase (AGB 5003) was unable to moor alongside Syowa Station, operations were somewhat restricted during JARE53. However, despite this setback, we were able to complete measurements at two sites: Syowa Station and Langhovde. The absolute gravity value at the Syowa Station IAGBN (A) site, observed using an FG-5 absolute gravimeter (serial number 210; FG-5 #210), was 982 524 322.7±0.1 μGal, and the gravity change rate at the beginning of 2012 was –0.26 μGal∙a-1. An absolute gravity value of 982 535 584.2±0.7 μGal was obtained using a portable A-10 absolute gravimeter (serial number 017; A-10 #017) at the newly located site AGS01 in Langhovde

Absolute Gravity Measurements and Gravity Changes at Syowa Station, Antarctica

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/第32回極域地学シンポジウム 11月29日（木） 統計数理研究所 ３階セミナー

第53次日本南極地域観測隊で新設した重力基準点

第53 次日本南極地域観測隊では，昭和基地の国際絶対重力基準点（IAGBN（A）点）およびラングホブデの露岩で絶対重力測定と相対重力測定を行った．これに伴い，昭和基地に2点，ラングホブデに5点の重力基準点を新たに設置した．本稿では，新設した各重力基準点の位置および重力値を含む詳細情報を記載する．Absolute and relative gravity measurements were carried out at International Absolute Gravity Basement Network (IAGBN (A)) site #0417 at Syowa Station and at outcrops at Langhovde during the summer operation of the 53rd Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE-53). Two new gravity reference sites were established at Syowa Station and five at Langhovde. We present detailed data for the new sites, including location coordinates and gravity values

Brief overview of the absolute gravity measurement conducted in JARE53

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/第32回極域地学シンポジウム 11月30日（金） 国立極地研究所 ３階ラウン

Absolute gravity observation at the Antarctic Continent with the portable absolute gravimeter A10

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/第32回極域地学シンポジウム 11月29日（木） 統計数理研究所 ３階セミナー

Impact of single nucleotide polymorphism on short stature and reduced tongue pressure among community-dwelling elderly Japanese participants: a cross-sectional study

Background: Asian-specific single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) (rs3782886) is reported to be associated with myocardial infarction; sarcopenia is reported to be associated with coronary subclinical atherosclerosis. On the other hand, short stature has been revealed as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, no studies have reported on the association between sarcopenia and short stature nor on the impact of rs3782886 on this association. Methods: Since reduced maximum voluntary tongue pressure against the palate (MTP) reflects one aspect of sarcopenia, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 537 community-dwelling elderly Japanese participants aged 60?89 years who had participated in a general health checkup in 2015. Short stature was defined as values at or under the 25th percentile, and reduced MTP was defined as the lowest tertile of the study population (<158.0 cm and <26.5 kPa for men, <145.0 cm and <24.1 kPa for women). Results: Independent of classical cardiovascular risk factors, short stature was revealed to be positively associated with reduced MTP. The adjusted-odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of reduced MTP for short stature was 1.87 (1.19, 2.94). We also found that independent of known cardiovascular risk factors, with the non-minor homo of rs3782886 taken as the reference group, the adjusted OR and 95% CI for short stature and reduced MTP of the minor homo allele were 3.06 (1.23, 7.63) and 3.26 (1.33, 8.03), respectively. Conclusion: Short stature is independently associated with reduced MTP, with Asian-specific SNPs possibly playing an important role in this association

Association between high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and hypertension in relation to circulating CD34-positive cell levels

Background: Although high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL) level is inversely correlated with cardiovascular events, HDL is also reported to be positively associated with hypertension, which is a known endothelial impairment factor. Since HDL mediates important protective actions on the vascular endothelium by increasing the number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CD34-positive cells), the level of circulating CD34-positive cells should influence the association between HDL and hypertension. Methods: To investigate the association between HDL and hypertension in relation to the level of circulating CD34-positive cells, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 477 elderly men aged 60?69 years who participated in general health checkup. Results: HDL was found to be significantly positively associated with hypertension in subjects with a high level of circulating CD34-positive cells, while no significant association was observed for subjects with low circulating CD34-positive cells. Known cardiovascular risk factors adjusted odds (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of hypertension for increments of one standard deviation (SD) in HDL (13.8 mg/dL) were 1.44 (1.06, 1.96) for subjects with a high level of circulating CD34-positive cells and 0.87 (0.63, 1.19) for subjects with low circulating CD34-positive cells. We also revealed a significant association between HDL level and CD34-positive cell level on hypertension, with fully adjusted p values for the effect of this interaction on hypertension at 0.022. Conclusions: Independent of known cardiovascular risk factors, HDL was found to be positively associated with hypertension in subjects with a high level of circulating CD34-positive cells but not for subjects with low circulating CD34-positive cells