We have investigated the temperature dependence of an energy transfer ͑ET͒ between CdSe/ZnS quantum dots ͑QDs͒ measuring photoluminescence dynamics in a bilayer structure consisting of differently sized QDs. In the bilayer structure, an effective direct ET from donor QDs to acceptor QDs is realized. The temperature dependence of the observed ET rate can be classified into two categories. Under the condition that the thermal energy ͑k B T͒ is comparable to the splitting energy between the bright-and dark-exciton states and above, the observed ET rate is dominated by the thermal population behavior of the bright-exciton state: the ET rate increases with an increase in temperature. On the other hand, in the lower temperature region, the observed ET rate is almost constant, which may be due to a breakdown of the thermal equilibrium between the lower-lying dark-exciton state and the bright-exciton state.

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SUMMARY A 6.5-year prospective study of cerebral infarction among residents 40 years and older was conducted at the Akadani-Ijimino district in Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The response rate for the initial examination was 85% of 1,182 males and 93% of 1,469 females. Nine hundred and sixty males and 1,339 females who were initially free of stroke were followed up from July 1977 through December 1983. Statistically significant risk factors for cerebral infarction appeared to be age, elevated blood pressure, high R, ST-T changes and atrial fibrillation on ECG, and albuminuria. The ECG abnormalities and albuminuria were due to the high blood pressure persisted over a long period of time. The strength of association of blood pressure with cerebral infarction got weak in comparison with other factors, and funduscopic changes which had been regarded as a risk factor for stroke in 1965-1974 did not reach statistical significance because of the spread of the community-based hypertension control. Even in 1977-1983 when Japanese dietary habits were westernized, neither hyperlipidemia nor obesity appeared to be related to the development of cerebral infarction.LIFE STYLE appears to be related to the development of stroke. Life style, mainly the dietary habit of the Japanese, has rapidly been westernized since the end of the World War II, while retaining the traditional style. Particularly, changes for 10 years from 1965 to 1974 were most conspicuous.12 From 1975 downward, the changes have leveled off, and life style is in the so-called stable period. The community-based control of hypertension started around .1965 and spread throughout the country in the first half of the 1970s. It is possible that the risk factors for stroke and the strength of the association between stroke and each factor after 1975 have changed from those before 1975. In Japan, the measures for prevention of stroke based on epidemiologic studies of risk factors performed during the period from 1965 to 1974 are taken even at present. Therefore, obtaining information on the risk factors for stroke after 1975 has become an urgent matter.An epidemiologic study was conducted in City, Niigata Prefecture, for the purpose of evaluating the risk factors for stroke after the second half of the 1970s. This city is divided into nine administrative districts. Of them, the Akadani-Ijimino district (hereinafter referred to as A-I district) was selected randomly. A baseline examination was carried out in 1977 when the consent of the residents, medical association and administrative organs was obtained. Nine hundred and sixty men and 1,339 women who were initially free of stroke have been followed up ever since. In this preliminary report, we deal with results of the 6.5-year observation for occurrence of cerebral infarction which shows the highest incidence among the subtypes of stroke. Standardized person-year incidence ratio for cerebral infarction has been determined among subgroups stratified according to risk factors present at the time of the baselin...

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Dramatic lifestyle changes due to the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident increased the prevalence of hepatobiliary enzyme abnormalities (HEA). We aimed to evaluate associations of HEA with specific lifestyle- and disaster-related factors in residents who lived near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.This cross-sectional study included 22,246 residents who underwent a Comprehensive Health Check and the Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey from June 2011 to March 2012. Residents were divided into 2 groups based on residential area and housing status after the accident. Associations between HEA and lifestyle- and disaster-related factors, including psychological distress, were estimated using logistic regression analysis adjusted for demographic and lifestyle factors.HEA was present in 27.3% of subjects. The prevalence of HEA was significantly higher in evacuees than controls (29.5% vs 25.7%, P < .001). There were significant differences in various lifestyle characteristics and the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder between evacuees and controls. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that age, sex, moderate to heavy drinking, and low/no physical activity were significantly associated with HEA regardless of evacuation status. Changes in jobs and unemployment were significantly associated with HEA in controls and evacuees, respectively.Lifestyle and disaster-related factors, but not psychological distress, were associated with HEA among subjects who lived near the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident.

Cardiometabolic risks were increasing in Fukushima residents after the Great East Japan Earthquake. We examined the association between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risks in those aged ≥16 years. Dietary patterns were derived by principal component analysis for participants who underwent at least one diet assessment using a short-form food frequency questionnaire during 2011–2013 and a health checkup in 2014 and 2015 (n = 15,409 and 14,999, respectively). In 2014, the adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in the highest versus lowest quartile of accumulative mean scores were 0.97 (0.96–0.99) for overweight/obesity, 0.96 (0.95–0.97) for total cholesterol (TC) ≥ 220 mg/dL, 0.96 (0.95–0.98) for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥ 140 mg/dL, and 0.97 (0.96–0.99) for triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL for a vegetable diet and 1.03 (1.01–1.04) for TC ≥ 220 mg/dL and 1.02 (1.01–1.04) for LDL-C ≥ 140 mg/dL for a juice/milk diet. In 2015, we found consistently significant associations for the vegetable and juice/milk diets, and the PR and 95% CI were 0.99 (0.98–1.00) for HDL-C < 40 mg/dL for a meat diet. The continuous promotion of the vegetable pattern diet is necessary to reduce cardiometabolic risks, particularly dyslipidemia, in Japan.

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