Fertility knowledge and the timing of first childbearing: a cross-sectional study in Japan

Although fertility educational initiatives have increased in developed countries to prevent infertility and to broaden fertility choices, the relationship between knowledge and behaviour is still poorly understood. In order to investigate the association between fertility knowledge and timing of childbearing, we investigated male and female participants between 35 and 44 years of age who had children (n = 640) from an online survey conducted in Japan in 2013. The age at which participants actually gave birth to or fathered their first child was compared between those who were aware for at least a decade of age-related decline in female fertility (hereinafter, those with past fertility knowledge) and those without. Age at first birth was significantly younger and more narrowly distributed among women with past fertility knowledge than among those without: 28.2 ± 3.4 vs. 29.8 ± 4.6 (mean ± SD). A multivariate linear regression analysis showed that women with past fertility knowledge gave birth to their first child 2.34 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09–3.59] years earlier compared to those without such knowledge. No significant relation existed among men. Being informed in young adulthood about the facts of fertility might be related to starting a family at an earlier age, although further longitudinal evaluation will be necessary

Structural characterization of the Fddd phase in a diblock copolymer thin film by electron microtomography

A 3-dimensional Fddd network structure of a polystyrene-block-polyisoprene (PS-b-PI) diblock copolymer (M(n) = 31 500, f(PI) = 0.645) was observed for the first time in real space by transmission electron microtomography (TEMT). In a 650 nm thick film of the PS-b-PI thin film on a silicon wafer, the Fddd phase was developed after annealing at 215 degrees C for 24 h. The single network structure consists of the connected tripodal units of minor PS block domains. The {111}(Fddd) plane, the densest plane of the minor PS phase, was found to orient parallel to the film plane. The transitional structure from the wetting layer at the free surface to the internal {111}(Fddd) plane via a perforated layer structure was also observed.X111313sciescopu

Single chain distributions at the interface in micro phase separated structures obtained by self consistent field calculations

この論文は国立情報学研究所の電子図書館事業により電子化されました。研究会報告昨年度、3次元透過型電子顕微鏡により得られた3次元ラメラ構造上で自己無撞着場計算を行い、実験で得られた構造に村してさらに詳細な鎖の情報が得られる事を示した。本発表では、ブロックポリマーによって得られる幾つかのミクロ相分離構造に村して上の方法を適用し、鎖の伸び等に関して解析を行ったので報告する

The morphological change in block copolymer thin films analyzed by SCF simulation

この論文は国立情報学研究所の電子図書館事業により電子化されました。研究会報告薄膜におけるブロック共重合体のミクロ相分離構造は、膜厚や表面自由エネルギーにより通常バルク状態とは異なる多様な構造を示す。例えば,バルク状態にてシリンダー構造を呈するブロック共重合体が、膜厚によっては球構造を呈する場合がある。この実験では、構造形成初期にみられるシリンダードメインの格子歪みが構造変化を誘起していると予測されている。本研究では、self-consistent field (SCF) theoryに基づいたシミュレーションによりシリンダー構造と球構造のHelmholz自由エネルギーを格子歪みの関数として計算し、薄膜中の構造の安定性に関する検討を行った

Reaction Products Affecting the PEFC Catalyst Ink Property

Catalyst ink is a key material of the catalyst layer in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell, but can be degraded as the reactions of alcohols are promoted by Pt in the ink. The present study quantitatively determined the concentrations of reaction products in an ethanol/water-based catalyst ink, and the effects of these substances on the ink and catalyst layer were investigated. The acetaldehyde concentration was found to be the key factor, as acetaldehyde caused particle agglomeration in the catalyst ink and micro-scale crack formation in the catalyst layer

Synthesis of Titanium-Containing Block, Random, End-Functionalized, and Junction-Functionalized Polymers via Ruthenium-Catalyzed Living Radical Polymerization and Direct Observation of Titanium Domains by Electron Microscopy

A series of well-defined titanium-containing random, diblock, and triblock copolymers were prepared by ruthenium-catalyzed living radical polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate followed by amination of the epoxy group with diethanolamine and titanium complex loading, which was achieved by reacting the resulting triethanolamine pendent group with CpTiCl₃ or Cp*TiCl₃ (Cp: cyclopentadienyl; Cp*: pentamethylcyclopentadienyl). The titanium-containing unit obtained by this procedure possessed a discrete atrane structure, which contributed to the formation of soluble well-defined polymers without cross-linking via uncontrolled intermolecular multisite ligation to the titanium center. In addition, the Cp* derivatives were highly stable to moisture. The same strategy was used successfully to construct well-defined titanium end-functionalized polymers, and an epoxy-functionalized initiator was used in the ruthenium-catalyzed living radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate, followed by postreactions with diethanolamine and Cp*TiCl₃. The titanium-containing block copolymers were analyzed by electron energy loss spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and transmission electron microtomography to directly observe titanium-containing phases in the microphase-separated block copolymers

A cross sectional study on fertility knowledge in Japan, measured with the Japanese version of Cardiff Fertility Knowledge Scale (CFKS-J)

Background A recent survey of 79 countries showed that fertility knowledge was lower in Japan than in any other developed country. Given the fertility decline in Japan and the importance of fertility knowledge, we conducted an online survey to examine fertility knowledge and the related factors for effective public education. Methods We studied people aged 18-59 years old, n = 4,328 (the “General” group), and also people who had been trying to conceive for at least six months, 18-50 years old, n = 618 (the “Triers” group). Fertility knowledge was assessed using the Japanese version of the 13-item Cardiff Fertility Knowledge Scale (CFKS-J). All participants provided socio-demographic and fertility information. Participants also completed a 14-item health literacy scale and an 11-item health numeracy scale. We asked participants who were aware of age-related decline in fertility when and where they first acquired that knowledge. Results The average percentages of CFKS-J items answered correctly were 53.1% in the Triers group and 44.4% in the General group (p < 0.001). Multivariate linear regression models showed in the Triers group greater fertility knowledge was associated with greater health literacy and prior medical consultation regarding their fertility. In the General group greater fertility knowledge was associated with being female, younger, university educated, currently trying to conceive, non-smoking, having higher household income, having higher health literacy and having higher health numeracy. Of those who were aware of the age-related decline in fertility, around 3% first learned the fact “at school”, and around 65% first learned it “through mass media” or “via the Internet”. More than 30% of the respondents first learned it “less than 5 years before” the survey. Conclusions Although fertility knowledge had improved since a previous study, possibly due to recent media coverage of age-related infertility, it was still low. Educational interventions, both in schools and in the community, may be needed to increase fertility knowledge in the general population because most people obtain fertility knowledge from mass media, which has been shown to often present distorted and inaccurate fertility information

Epitaxial Phase Transition between Double Gyroid and Cylinder Phase in Diblock Copolymer Thin Film

The epitaxial relationship in the thermal phase transition between double gyroid (DG) and hexagonally packed cylinder (HEX) phases in polystyrene-<i>block</i>-polyisoprene thin films on Si wafer was investigated using transmission electron microtomography and grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering. Two different types of epitaxial transitions were observed, and they appeared to be selectively favored depending on the transition direction. One type of epitaxial relationship prevails in the phase transition from DG to HEX upon heating in which {121}_DG, {111}_DG, and {220}_DG are converted to {100}_HEX, {110}_HEX, and {001}_HEX, respectively. The interphase planes are {220}_DG and {001}_HEX, and the cylinders meet the {220}_DG plane perpendicularly (head-on, Type A) at the grain boundary between DG and HEX. Although there are small dimensional mismatch and distortion in the location of the cylinders in this epitaxial relationship, all cylinders are formed along the topologically equivalent DG skeletal path. On the other hand, in the transition from HEX to DG upon cooling, another epitaxial relationship as well as the head-on type epitaxy was observed, in which {100}_HEX, {110}_HEX, and {001}_HEX are converted to {121}_DG, {220}_DG, and {111}_DG, respectively. The interphase planes are {220}_DG and {110}_HEX, and the cylinders meet the {220}_DG plane in parallel (side-on, Type B) at the grain boundary between HEX and DG. The domain spacing and the symmetry of the two phases are matched near perfectly, but cylinders are converted to two different DG skeletal paths. The Type B epitaxy is hardly observed in the transition from DG to HEX