Type A Behavior Pattern and Obesity in Japanese Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study

Obesity is associated with personality. The Type A behavior pattern (TABP), which is characterized by hostility and competitive behavior, is related to psychological stress. However, the relationship between obesity and the TABP has not been examined. This study aimed to examine the relationship between obesity and the Type A behavior pattern in 3,099 Japanese workers. The Type A behavior pattern was measured via the Maeda Type A Behavior Checklist. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age, being current smokers, heavy drinker, lack of exercise, occupation, and rapid eating. The multivariate odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for obesity associated with TABP was 1.55 (1.13 to 2.13) in men. Regarding other variables, age, lack of exercise, and rapid eating were associated with obesity in men. The multivariate odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for obesity associated with TABP was 1.27 (0.81 to 2.02) in women. Regarding other variables, age andrapid eating were associated with obesity in women. The findings suggest that the Type A behavior pattern was associated with increased obesity prevalence in Japanese men. People with TABP tend to eat larger portions during mealtimes repeatedly by rapid eating; it is possible that eating large portions may lead to an increase weight in men with TABP

Eliminating the Reverse ISC Bottleneck of TADF Through Excited State Engineering and Environment‐Tuning Toward State Resonance Leading to Mono‐Exponential Sub‐µs Decay. High OLED External Quantum Efficiency Confirms Efficient Exciton Harvesting

The electronic structure and photophysics of the recently designed organic direct singlet harvesting (DSH) molecule are explored, in which donor (D) and acceptor (A) are held at distance by two bridges. One of the bridges is functionalized with fluorene. This structure leads to an ultrasmall singlet–triplet energy gap of ∆E (S1−T1) ≈ 10 cm−1 (≈1 meV) between the charge transfer states 1,3CT and shows an energetically close-lying 3ππ* state localized on fluorene. Dielectric constant variation of the environment leads to state crossing of 3ππ* and 1,3CT near ε = 2.38 (toluene), as confirmed through time-dependent density functional theory (DFT) and state-specific DFT/polarizable continuum model excited-state calculations. Transient absorption (TA) and time-resolved luminescence in the femtosecond to microsecond regimes show rates of intersystem crossing (ISC) and reverse ISC (rISC) of >109 s–1. Thus, a strictly mono-exponential short-lived photo-luminescence decay (431 ns) is observed, revealing that rISC is no longer the bottleneck responsible for long thermally activated delayed fluorescence. Ultrafast TA displays a time constant of ≈700 fs, representing the relaxation time of DSH and its solvent environment to the relaxed 1CT state with a molecular dipole moment of ≈40 D. Importantly, OLED devices, emitting sky-blue light and showing high external quantum efficiency of 19%, confirm that singlet and triplet excitons are harvested efficiently

Solvent Dependence of Structural Dynamics and Spin-flip Processes in 3,4,5-tri(9H-carbazole-9-yl)benzonitrile (ortho-3CzBN)

We have investigated the solvent-dependence of structural changes along with intersystem crossing of a thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecule, 3,4,5-tri(9H-carbazole-9-yl)benzonitrile (o-3CzBN), in toluene, tetrahydrofuran, and acetonitrile solutions using time-resolved infrared (TR-IR) spectroscopy and DFT calculations. We found that the geometries of the S1 and T1 states are very similar in all solvents though the photophysical properties mostly depend on the solvent. In addition, the time-dependent DFT calculations based on these geometries suggested that the thermally activated delayed fluorescence process of o-3CzBN is governed more by the higher-lying excited states than by the structural changes in the excited states.<br /

Characterization of Excited States in a Multiple-Resonance-Type Thermally Activated Delayed Fluorescence Molecule Using Time-resolved Infrared Spectroscopy

We have investigated the correlation between the photophysical properties and the excited-state detailed characteristics in a multiple-resonance-type thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecule, DABNA-1, using time-resolved infrared vibrational spectroscopy. In comparison of the distinctive vibrational spectra in the fingerprint region, 1000 - 1700 cm-1, to the simulated spectra by density functional theory calculations, we found the best calculation condition. On the basis of the calculations, we determined the excited-state geometries and molecular orbitals of the lowest excited singlet (S1) and triplet (T1) states as well as the ground state (S0). We revealed that the similarity of the potential surfaces between T1 and S0 suppresses the nonradiative decay and causes the high fluorescence quantum yield via TADF process

Prevention of depression in first-year university students with high harm avoidance

High harm avoidance (HA) scores on the temperament and character inventory appear to be a risk factor for depressive disorders and suicide. Since 2012, we have conducted group cognitive behavioral therapy (G-CBT) interventions for students at Nagasaki University with high HA and without depressive disorders, with the aim of preventing depression. Here, we report on the effects of the G-CBT at 1-year follow-up for the 2012 to 2015 period. Forty-two participants with high HA were included in the final analysis. Outcomes were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory II, Manifest Anxiety Scale, 28-item General Health Questionnaire, and Brief Core Schema Scales at baseline, and at 6-month, and 1-year follow-ups.Repeated-measures analyses of variance revealed a significant decrease in mean depressive symptom scores at the 6-month follow-up point; this decrease was maintained at 1 year. Improvements in cognitive schemas were also seen at 6 months and 1 year.We observed improvements in cognitive schemas associated with depression as a result of the G-CBT intervention, with effects maintained at 1 year post intervention. This intervention may be effective in positively modifying the cognitions of students with HA and preventing future depression

Increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome in university students due to gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety

Background: Gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety (GSA) has been reported to impact symptom severity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), suggesting that GSA may be an important treatment outcome. The present study explored whether higher levels of GSA were associated with increased risk of having IBS, and whether individuals with IBS were at greater risk for severe gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Methods: Participants comprised 1156 university students. The Rome III modular questionnaire was used to assess for IBS. GSA was measured using the Japanese version of the Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI). IBS-SI was used to assess severity of GI symptoms. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence rate of IBS (provisional diagnosis, based on Rome III questionnaire responses) was 21%. Logistic regression analysis was performed using the VSI cutoff point as the independent variable, and the presence or absence of IBS as the dependent variable. Results indicate that for individuals above the VSI cutoff point, the adjusted odds ratio for having IBS was 2.64 (95% CI: 1.87-3.71). Furthermore, results indicate that in participants with high GSA, adjusted odds ratios for severity of IBS symptoms were 0.44 (95% CI: 0.33-0.58) for subclinical, 1.15 (95% CI: 0.90?1.46) for mild symptoms, 2.19 (95% CI: 1.57?3.07) for moderate symptoms, and 5.63 (95% CI: 2.24?14.15) for severe symptoms. Conclusion: Higher VSI scores were associated with having risk factors for IBS and greater severity of IBS symptoms

Increased risk of irritable bowel syndrome in university students due to gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety

Background: Gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety (GSA) has been reported to impact symptom severity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), suggesting that GSA may be an important treatment outcome. The present study explored whether higher levels of GSA were associated with increased risk of having IBS, and whether individuals with IBS were at greater risk for severe gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Methods: Participants comprised 1156 university students. The Rome III modular questionnaire was used to assess for IBS. GSA was measured using the Japanese version of the Visceral Sensitivity Index (VSI). IBS-SI was used to assess severity of GI symptoms. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence rate of IBS (provisional diagnosis, based on Rome III questionnaire responses) was 21%. Logistic regression analysis was performed using the VSI cutoff point as the independent variable, and the presence or absence of IBS as the dependent variable. Results indicate that for individuals above the VSI cutoff point, the adjusted odds ratio for having IBS was 2.64 (95% CI: 1.87-3.71). Furthermore, results indicate that in participants with high GSA, adjusted odds ratios for severity of IBS symptoms were 0.44 (95% CI: 0.33-0.58) for subclinical, 1.15 (95% CI: 0.90–1.46) for mild symptoms, 2.19 (95% CI: 1.57–3.07) for moderate symptoms, and 5.63 (95% CI: 2.24–14.15) for severe symptoms. Conclusion: Higher VSI scores were associated with having risk factors for IBS and greater severity of IBS symptoms