We investigate a constraint on reheating followed by α-attractor-type inflation (the E-model and T-model) from an observation of the spectral index n s . When the energy density of the universe is dominated by an energy component with the cosmic equation-of-state parameter w re during reheating, its e-folding number N re and the reheating temperature T re are bounded depending on w re . When the reheating epoch consists of two phases, where the energy density of the universe is dominated by uniform inflaton field oscillations in the first phase and by relativistic non-thermalised particles in the second phase, we find a constraint on the e-folding number of the first oscillation phase, N sc , depending the parameters of the inflaton potential. For the simplest perturbative reheating scenario, we find the lower bound for a coupling constant of inflaton decay in the Emodel and T-model depending on the model parameters. We also find a constraint on the α parameter, α > ∼ 0.01, for the T-model and E-model when we assume a broad resonance reheating scenario.

An unprecedented clean interconversion between a novel bis(mu-thiolato)dicopper(II) complex (1) and a disulfide-bridged dicopper(I) complex (3) through a disulfide-bridged (mu-chloro)dicopper(I) complex (2) mediated by chloride ion has been established for the first time, providing a new redox chemistry of the transition metal-sulfur complexes. Crystal structures of 1 and 3 as well as spectroscopic features of the compounds are reported.

Ligand effects on the structures and redox reactivities of copper complexes have been examined using (2-pyridyl)alkylamine derivatives as the supporting ligands, where particular attention has been focused on the effects of the alkyl linker chain length connecting the tertiary amine nitrogen atom and the pyridine nucleus: N[bond]CH(2)[bond]Py (Pym) vs N[bond]CH(2)CH(2)[bond]Py (Pye). X-ray crystallographic analysis of the copper(I) complex of tridentate ligand (Phe)L(Pym2) [N,N-di(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-phenylethylamine] (complex 1) has demonstrated that it possesses a trigonal pyramidal geometry in which a d[bond]pi interaction with an eta(1)-binding mode exists between the metal ion and one of the ortho carbons of the phenyl ring of the ligand side arm (phenethyl). The result shows sharp contrast to the d[bond]pi interaction with an eta(2)-binding mode existing in the copper(I) complex of (Phe)L(Pye2) [N,N-di[2-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]-2-phenethylamine] (complex 2). Such a d-pi interaction has been shown to affect the stability of the copper(I) complex in CH(2)Cl(2). Oxygenation of copper(I) complex 1 supported by (Phe)L(Pym2) produces a bis(mu-oxo)dicopper(III) complex, also being in sharp contrast to the case of the copper(I) complex 2 with ligand (Phe)L(Pye2), which preferentially affords a (micro-eta(2):eta(2)-peroxo)dicopper(II) complex in the reaction with O(2). Such an effect of the alkyl linker chain length of the metal binding site has also been found to operate in the RSSR (disulfide)/2RS(-) (thiolate) redox system. Namely, ligand (S2,R)L(Pym1) (di[2-[(alkyl)(2-pyridinylmethyl)amino]ethyl] disulfide) with the methylene linker group (Pym) induced the reductive disulfide bond cleavage in the reaction with copper(I) ion to give a bis(micro-thiolato)dicopper(II) complex, while the ligand with the ethylene linker group (Pye), (S2,Bn)L(Pye1) (di[2-[(benzyl)(2-(2-pyridinyl)ethyl)amino]ethyl] disulfide), gave a disulfide-dicopper(I) complex. These ligand effects in the Cu(2)[bond]O(2) and Cu(2)[bond]S(2) systems have been discussed by taking into account the difference in electron-donor ability of the pyridine nucleus between the Pym and Pye ligand systems.

Much lower prevalence of coronary calcium despite a less favourable profile of many major independent risk factors in the Japanese might imply that there are strong protective factors against atherosclerosis in the Japanese. Further investigation is of critical importance.

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Objective: To determine whether the early assessment of coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) can predict myocardial viability after revascularisation in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods: 29 patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction who were successfully treated by coronary angioplasty were studied. TTDE was used to record coronary flow velocities in the distal left anterior descending artery at rest and during hyperaemia induced by intravenous infusion of adenosine triphosphate. CFVR was calculated immediately and 24 hours after revascularisation and at discharge. Regional wall motion was analysed to calculate the anterior wall motion score index (A-WMSI) by two dimensional echocardiography before revascularisation and at discharge. Results: CFVR immediately and 24 hours after revascularisation correlated significantly with A-WMSI at discharge (r = −0.58, p < 0.001 and r = −0.80, p < 0.0001, respectively). CFVR 24 hours after revascularisation was a better predictor of recovery of regional left ventricular function than CFVR immediately after revascularisation. The optimal cut off ratio for predicting viable myocardium was 1.5 for CFVR 24 hours after revascularisation (sensitivity = 94%, specificity = 91%). Conclusions: CFVR by TTDE was useful for predicting the recovery of left ventricular function after revascularisation in patients with acute myocardial infarction R evascularisation in patients with acute myocardial infarction enables the early restoration of adequate reflow in the infarct related coronary artery. However, patency of the infarct related coronary artery does not always guarantee salvage of myocardium at risk of ischaemia. Even without significant epicardial coronary stenosis, with the use of myocardial contrast echocardiography we have sometimes recognised the absence of blood flow-that is, "no reflow"-resulting from microvascular damage.

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