The nonmesonic decay rates and the lifetimes of hypernuclei of mass Aϭ4Ϫ209 are extensively calculated based on the 1, correlated-2, and 1 exchange potentials. Two types of new hyperon-nucleon potentials have been constructed in which the two pions are correlated and coupled to and/or in the exchange process. The roles of these potentials and 1 exchange potential are discussed. The theoretical decay rates are consistent with the existing data for s-shell and p-shell hypernuclei within the present model. The calculated decay rate increases gradually up to AӍ60 and then tends to be almost constant for Aտ60. The A-dependent behavior of the hypernuclear lifetimes tends to be constant over the mass region AϾ30 of hypernuclei in our model. It is most remarkable that the cooperative effect of the correlated-2 and 1 exchanges enhances the neutron-stimulated decay rate ⌫ n ͑proton-stimulated one ⌫ p ) by 400-450 % ͑20-30 %͒ with respect to the standard 1-exchange estimate for AϾ5. As a result the ⌫ n /⌫ p ratios for light-to-heavy hypernuclei are calculated to be 0.4 -0.5, which values are several times larger than the 1-exchange estimate. Although the experimental ratios seem still about two times larger than these theoretical values, it has revealed that the representative 2-exchange and 1 exchange mechanisms give rise to a clear improvement on the ⌫ n /⌫ p ratios.

We observed that Faraday waves are parametrically generated on a free surface of superfluid 4He when a sample cell is vibrated vertically. Standing-wave patterns appear on the surface, and their frequencies are one-half the driving frequency. We observed clear threshold amplitudes of the vibration for the instability. The difference in the threshold between the superfluid and the normal fluid is explained by a wall damping.

BMI was confirmed as the most useful predictive factor for NAFLD onset in both sexes; its cutoff levels were similar to those recommended by the World Health Organization for helping to prevent metabolic disease. An accurate BMI cutoff level will enable clinicians to identify subjects at risk for NAFLD onset.

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Objective: We estimated the prevalence of nocturnal intermittent hypoxia, a surrogate marker of obstructive sleep apnoea, among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and examined the association between nocturnal intermittent hypoxia and microvascular diseases. Design and methods: We recruited 513 Japanese patients (292 men and 221 women) with T2DM. Nocturnal intermittent hypoxia was diagnosed using the 3% oxygen desaturation index, with less than five events per hour corresponding to normal and five events or more per hour corresponding to nocturnal intermittent hypoxia. Results: The prevalence of nocturnal intermittent hypoxia was 45.4% among T2DM patients. The nocturnal intermittent hypoxia group was older and had a higher BMI, greater weight change since the age of 20 years, higher smoking rate and increased prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria. Microalbuminuria (model 1: odds ratio (OR), 3.41; 95% CI, 1.85-6.40; model 2: OR, 3.69; 95% CI, 1.85-7.59 and model 3: OR, 3.12; 95% CI, 1.45-6.95) and nephropathy (model 1: OR, 4.51; 95% CI, 1.58-15.1; model 2: OR, 7.31; 95% CI, 2.11-31.6 and model 3: OR, 5.23; 95% CI, 1.45-23.8) were derived as factors from all the three statistical models and constantly associated with nocturnal intermittent hypoxia only in women. Conclusions: Nocturnal intermittent hypoxia was highly prevalent among T2DM patients and may be an independent associated risk factor for microalbuminuria in Japanese women with T2DM.

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ALT level and the novel NAFLD index were confirmed to be surrogate markers for NAFLD in addition to metabolic disease markers. The ALT cutoff level used in NAFLD diagnosis should be revised downward to identify subjects at risk of NAFLD to prevent NAFLD progression and the development of associated diseases.