Room-temperature reduction at SrRuO₃– metal interface in hydrogenous atmosphere detected by interface-sensitive resistance measurement

Using interface-sensitive resistance measurement techniques, we detected the reducing reaction precursor at the interface between the metallic oxide SrRuO₃ and the electrodes under a hydrogenous atmosphere at room temperature. The interface resistance between this polycrystalline oxide and the electrodes (metallic pads or wires) clearly increased with the hydrogen present even at room temperature. In contrast, for bulk SrRuO₃, no increase in resistance was found. The rate of increase of the interface resistance depends on the electrode material. For example, that of SrRuO₃- Ag is larger than that of SrRuO₃-Cu, and the rate is related to the propensity for bulk oxide to reduce; Ag₂O is easier to reduce than CuO. The origin of the increase in interface resistance is posited to be the partial deficiency of oxygen in SrRuO₃. Our experiments suggest that the reduction at the interface of SrRuO₃ occurs at relatively low temperatures (room temperature) compared with the bulk reducing temperature of ～200℃ previously reported. In addition, electrode materials control the reducing reaction at the interface.ArticleJournal of Applied Physics,128(17):175306 (2020)journal articl

日本人2型糖尿病患者において、身体活動レベルが高いことは独立して糖尿病網膜症の新規発症リスク低減と関連する。

We assessed the prospective association between baseline levels of physical activity (PA) and the incidence of newly developed diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Data from 1,814 patients with type 2 diabetes without DR were obtained from a Japanese diabetes registry at Tenri Hospital, Nara, Japan. To assess the independent correlations between baseline PA levels and newly developed DR, the participants were divided into five categories based on their PA levels. A Cox proportional hazards model with time-varying exposure information was used and adjusted for potential confounders to assess the independent correlations. At baseline, the mean age, BMI, and hemoglobin A1c levels of the patients were 65.5 years, 24.5 kg/m2, and 7.2% (54 mmol/mol), respectively. After 2 years, newly developed DR was confirmed in 184 patients (10.1%). Patients with newly developed DR had longer duration of type 2 diabetes (14.7 versus 11.0 years, p < 0.0001), higher systolic blood pressure (139.2 versus 135.1 mmHg, p = 0.0012), lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (74.0 versus 77.1 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.0382), greater urinary albumin–creatinine ratio (4.00 versus 2.45 mg/mmol, p < 0.0039), and higher HbA1c levels (7.5 versus 7.2%, p = 0.0006) than those without newly developed DR. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for DR development were 0.87 (95% CI, 0.53–1.40; p = 0.557), 0.83 (95% CI, 0.52–1.31; p = 0.421), 0.58 (95% CI, 0.35–0.94; p = 0.027), and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.42–0.94; p = 0.025)for the second, third, fourth, and fifth PA categories, respectively, compared with the reference category of patients with a mean PA of 0 metabolic equivalent of task-hours/week). Higher PA levels are independently associated with a lower incidence of DR in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes.博士（医学）・甲第730号・令和2年3月16日Copyright: © 2017 Kuwata et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

A simulation environment to simulate lower-hybrid-wave-driven plasmas efficiently

In this study a hybrid simulation environment to investigate the lower-hybrid-wave-driven tokamak plasmas is presented, and its application to the spherical tokamak TST-2 is described. These plasma are formed and driven by radio-frequency waves without the use of the central solenoid, and are characterized by low density and low magnetic field. A hybrid simulation environment which is divided into two groups, one using magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) as well as particle-in-cell (PIC) approaches, and the second group using ray-tracing and Fokker–Planck solvers, is applied to describe the behavior of energetic electrons, bulk plasma, wave propagation, and the wave-particle interaction. Both groups of solvers can be coupled via the energetic-particle velocity distribution function and the equilibrium conditions of magnetic field, pressure, and density profiles to obtain a self-consistent solution. First results show the impact of a self-consistent equilibrium on ray trajectories and current density profiles. Therefore, new insights in lower-hybrid-wave-driven plasmas of TST-2 can be obtained using the proposed hybrid simulation environment

Electronic structure of Kondo lattice compounds YbNi3X9 (X = Al, Ga) studied by hard x-ray spectroscopy

We have performed hard x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (HAXPES) for Yb-based Kondo lattice compounds; an antiferromagnetic heavy-fermion system YbNi3Al9 and a valence fluctuation system YbNi3Ga9. The Yb 3d5/2 spectra of YbNi3Ga9 showed both Yb2+ and Yb3+-derived structures indicating strong valence fluctuation, and the intensity of Yb2+ (Yb3+) structures gradually increased (decreased) on cooling. The Yb 3d5/2 spectra of YbNi3Al9 mostly consisted of Yb3+-derived structures and showed little temperature dependence. The Yb valences of YbNi3Ga9 and YbNi3Al9 at 22 K were evaluated to be 2.43 and 2.97, respectively. Based on the results of the Ni 2p and valence-band HAXPES spectra together with soft x-ray valence-band spectra, we described that the difference of physical properties of YbNi3X9 (X= Al, Ga) is derived from the differences of the 4f-hole level relative to the Fermi level (EF) and Ni 3d density of states at EF. The HAXPES results on the Yb valences were consistent with those obtained by x-ray absorption spectroscopy using the partial fluorescence yield mode and resonant x-ray emission spectroscopy at the Yb L3 edge

Prevention of type 2 diabetes in a primary healthcare setting: Three-year results of lifestyle intervention in Japanese subjects with impaired glucose tolerance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A randomized control trial was performed to test whether a lifestyle intervention program, carried out in a primary healthcare setting using existing resources, can reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Japanese with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). The results of 3 years' intervention are summarized.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Through health checkups in communities and workplaces, 304 middle-aged IGT subjects with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.5 kg/m²were recruited and randomized to the intervention group or control group. The lifestyle intervention was carried out for 3 years by public health nurses using the curriculum and educational materials provided by the study group.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After 1 year, the intervention had significantly improved body weight (-1.5 ± 0.7 vs. -0.7 ± 2.5 kg in the control; p = 0.023) and daily non-exercise leisure time energy expenditure (25 ± 113 vs. -3 ± 98 kcal; p = 0.045). Insulin sensitivity assessed by the Matsuda index was improved by the intervention during the 3 years. The 3-year cumulative incidence tended to be lower in the intervention group (14.8% vs.8.2%, log-rank test: p = 0.097). In a sub-analysis for the subjects with a BMI > 22.5 kg/m², a significant reduction in the cumulative incidence was found (p = 0.027).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The present lifestyle intervention program using existing healthcare resources is beneficial in preventing diabetes in Japanese with IGT. This has important implications for primary healthcare-based diabetes prevention.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p><b>UMIN000003136</b></p