Modification of tantalum nitride (Ta(3)N(5)), which has a band gap of 2.1 eV, with nanoparticulate iridium (Ir) and rutile titania (R-TiO(2)) achieved functionality as an O(2) evolution photocatalyst in a two-step water-splitting system with an IO(3)(-)/I(-) shuttle redox mediator under visible light (lambda > 420 nm) in combination with a Pt/ZrO(2)/TaON H(2) evolution photocatalyst. The loaded Ir nanoparticles acted as active sites to reduce IO(3)(-) to I(-), while the R-TiO(2) modifier suppressed the adsorption of I(-) on Ta(3)N(5), allowing Ta(3)N(5) to evolve O(2) in the two-step water-splitting system.

A composite material consisting of tantalum oxynitride (TaON) and monoclinic zirconium oxide (m-ZrO 2 ) is prepared by a surface modification method as a photocatalyst with enhanced activity for H 2 evolution from water under visible light ( > 420 nm). The composite is prepared by loading particulate Ta 2 O 5 with nanoparticulate m-ZrO 2 followed by nitridation at 1123 K for 15 h under NH 3 flow. The activity of the m-ZrO 2 /TaON composite for H 2 evolution from aqueous methanol solution is higher than that of either m-ZrO 2 or TaON when loaded with nanoparticulate ruthenium as a H 2 evolution site. The highest activity is obtained using a composite prepared with a Zr/Ta molar ratio of 0.1. The optimized material also provides elevated activity when used as an H 2 evolution photocatalyst in Z-scheme overall water splitting in combination with Pt-loaded WO 3 as an O 2 evolution photocatalyst and an IO 3 À /I À shuttle redox mediator. The improvement in activity is attributed to the suppression of surface defect formation by inhibiting tantalum reduction during nitridation.

Tantalum nitride (Ta3N5) modified with various O2-evolution cocatalysts was employed as a photocatalyst for water oxidation under visible light (λ>420 nm) in an attempt to construct a redox-mediator-free Z-scheme water-splitting system. Ta3N5 was prepared by nitriding Ta2O5 powder under a flow of NH3 at 1023-1223 K. The activity of Ta3N5 for water oxidation from an aqueous AgNO3 solution as an electron acceptor without cocatalyst was dependent on the generation of a well-crystallized Ta3N5 phase with a low density of anionic defects. Modification of Ta3N5 with nanoparticulate metal oxides as cocatalysts for O2 evolution improved water-oxidation activity. Of the cocatalysts examined, cobalt oxide (CoO(x)) was found to be the most effective, improving the water-oxidation efficiency of Ta3N5 by six to seven times. Further modification of CoO(x)/Ta3N5 with metallic Ir as an electron sink allowed one to achieve Z-scheme water splitting under simulated sunlight through interparticle electron transfer without the need for a shuttle redox mediator in combination with Ru-loaded SrTiO3 doped with Rh as a H2-evolution photocatalyst.

The effects of organizational justice on psychological distress seem to be mediated by reward at work (or ERI) while those regarding work engagement may be mediated by worksite support to a large extent, at least in Japanese workers.

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Background and Purpose-Stroke mortality in Japan has significantly declined during recent decades. To determine the cause of this decrease, we studied the trends in stroke incidence and case fatality within 28 days after stroke in a rural area in Japan. Methods-We used a population-based registry during 1977-1991 in Oyabe, a rural area in the central part of Japan. The average population aged 25 years and older numbered 32 859 persons. Changes in age-standardized stroke incidence rate were calculated and compared between the 3 periods 1977-1981, 1982-1986, and 1987-1991. The 28-day case fatality rate was evaluated and also compared between the 3 periods by onset year. Results-The total number of strokes was 2068. The age-standardized incidence rate of all strokes decreased during the 15-year period, from 605 to 417 per 100 000 in men and from 476 to 329 per 100 000 in women. A marked decline was found during 1977-1986 but was not apparent during 1987-1991. Moreover, there was an increase in the group aged 75 years and older. The 28-day case fatality rates for all strokes improved from 18.0% to 14.2% in men and from 26.8% to 19.1% in women during the observation period. Conclusions-These data indicate that declines in the stroke incidence and the 28-day case fatality have been associated with a marked decrease in stroke-related mortality in Japan. (Stroke. 2000;31:1583-1587.) Key Words: epidemiology Ⅲ incidence Ⅲ Japan Ⅲ stroke outcome S troke is one of the major causes of death and disability in most developed countries. 1 Stroke mortality in Japan had been higher than that in other developed countries 1,2 but has significantly declined during recent decades, and by 1990 stroke-related deaths were only 40% of those of 1965. 3 Measurement of community trends in incidence and case fatality is necessary to determine whether mortality is falling because there are fewer events occurring or because survival after the event has improved. No nationwide study of stroke incidence in Japan is available. By some studies of model districts, a decline in stroke incidence was reported. 4 -8 However, information about secular trends in incidence and case fatality is still inadequate. Additionally, few studies have been conducted on the survival rate of stroke patients in a whole population in Japan.The purpose of our study was to reveal the trends of stroke incidence and survival rate from the data of a communitybased stroke registry in a rural area in Japan. This area is a valuable one in which a population-based registry system of stroke was established and has been maintained for a relatively long period. Subjects and MethodsWe used a population-based registry in the jurisdiction of the Oyabe Public Health Center and determined the trend in stroke incidence during 1977-1991 and acute fatal rate within 28 days after stroke. The jurisdiction of Oyabe Public Health Center is a semirural area located in Toyama prefecture, in the central part of Japan. It comprises the city of Oyabe and the town of Fukuoka and has an area of 19...

To determine whether birth weight and childhood growth, especially rate of height increase, are independently related to major cardiovascular disease risk factors in adult life, the authors conducted a 20-year follow-up study in a Japanese population, using the record-linkage method. From medical checkup data for babies and for residents aged 20 years in Ishikawa, Japan, the authors obtained 20-year follow-up data (1985-1994) on 4,626 participants (2,198 men and 2,428 women) born in 1965-1974. Using multiple linear regression analysis, the authors estimated that a 1-standard-deviation higher birth weight was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure that was lower by 1.6 mmHg in men and by 1.0 mmHg in women, and with a serum cholesterol level that was lower by 0.07 mmol/liter in men and by 0.04 mmol/liter in women, after adjustment for current weight and rate of height increase. Moreover, after adjustment for birth weight and current weight, a 1-standard-deviation higher rate of height increase from age 3 years to age 20 years was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure that was lower by 0.7 mmHg in men and by 0.5 mmHg in women, and with serum cholesterol that was lower by 0.09 mmol/liter in men and by 0.05 mmol/liter in women. The results suggest that lower birth weight and lower rate of height increase during childhood are independently associated with increases in blood pressure and serum cholesterol in adult life.

Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Ve r s i o n o f t h e O r g a n i z a t i o n a l J u s t i c eWe translated the modified OJQ into the Japanese language and examined the internal consistency reliability, and factor-based and construct validity of this measure. A back-translation procedure confirmed that the translation was appropriate, pending a minor revision. Methods: A total of 185 men and 58 women at a manufacturing factory in Japan were surveyed using a mailed questionnaire including the OJQ and other job stressors. Results: Cronbach alpha coefficients of the two OJQ subscales were high (0.85-0.94) for both sexes. The hypothesized two factors (i.e., procedural justice and interactional justice) were extracted by the factor analysis for men; for women, procedural justice was further split into two separate dimensions supporting a three-rather than two-factor structure. Convergent validity was supported by expected correlations of the OJQ with job control, supervisor support, effort-reward imbalance, and job future ambiguity in particular among the men. Conclusion:The present study shows that the Japanese version of the OJQ has acceptable levels of reliability and validity at least for male employees. (J Occup Health 2009; 51: 74-83)