This study investigated the size–frequency distribution of 512 landslides triggered by heavy rain in July 2018 on Omishima Island, western Japan. Since the island has undergone rapid land use and ...land cover changes in recent decades, this study statistically examined the impact of past land cover changes on the shape of, and local variability in, the size–frequency distribution using the inverse gamma model. The possible influence of rainfall conditions was also examined. The landslides were classified based on the severity of anthropogenic disturbance and rainfall using a 56-year (1962–2018) land cover trajectory map and hourly rainfall distribution data. The results indicated that the land cover change (mainly forest conversion into farmland and its abandonment) affected the size and frequency of landslides that occurred decades after the disturbance. Although all landslide groups had similar small rollovers (location of probability peak; 0.042–0.075 × 10−3 km2), the scaling exponents of the negative power-law decay were lower for landslides in secondary forest and newly developed farmland (ρ = 1.084–1.231) than in old forest and farmland (ρ = 2.504–2.611). This difference is considered significant compared to general exponent values (ρ = 2.30 ± 0.56), suggesting that farmland development after 1962 caused widespread slope instability, leading to an increase in the proportion of large landslides. By contrast, no clear correlations with rainfall intensity were found, primarily due to complex localised variations in rainfall conditions.
Nanomultilayered chromium nitride (CrN)/ vanadium nitride (VN) films with different layer thicknesses were synthesized on Si substrates using a hybrid system of reactive high-power impulse magnetron ...sputtering (HiPIMS) and pulsed magnetron sputtering. The microstructure and properties of the nanomultilayered CrN/VN films were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the nanoindentation method, and the friction wear test. The XRD results showed that the multilayered films exhibited nanocrystallite structure with a (200) preferred orientation, and the estimated crystallite size was not highly dependent on the CrN and VN layer thicknesses. Inserting the VN layers decreased the compressive stress slightly compared to that of the CrN monolayer film and increased the hardness by 4-5 GPa compared to that of the CrN and VN monolayer films. The friction coefficient of the multilayered films strongly depended on the CrN layer thickness rather than on the VN layer thickness.
Abstract.Purpose To investigate the interaction between locomotion and improvements in performing self-care. Participants and Methods We retrospectively analyzed 930 patients with stroke who were ...registered in the Japanese Rehabilitation Database. We performed a correlation analysis to evaluate the relationships among all the collected data. Then, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed using the self-care motor score of the Functional Independent Measure (FIM) as the dependent variable. "Model 1" used two independent variables (National Institute of Health Stroke and Rankin Scale), "model 2" used two independent variables (locomotion gain and gain of an item with the closest coefficient correlation added to model 1), and "model 3" used a mean-centering value, which was added to model 2. R2 values were calculated using a simple slope analysis. Results Locomotion showed an interaction with three self-care activities. The R2 changes in models 1 and 2 (ΔR2) were significant for dressing upper body (ΔR2=0.001), bowel management (ΔR2=0.006), and toileting (ΔR2=0.006). The results of the simple slope analysis were significant. Conclusion Locomotion demonstrated an interaction with various activities for improving self-care. There were varying degrees of improvement in self-care despite a uniform improvement in the degree of locomotion. Therefore, locomotion interaction should be considered for each intervention that targets activities of daily living.
•DLC films are synthesized by nonreactive Ar HiPIMS or reactive HiPIMS with hydrocarbon gas.•Reactive HiPIMS system contains the small quantities of C2H4 or CH4 gas.•Properties of the films prepared ...by nonreactive and reactive HiPIMS are compared.•Adding hydrocarbon gas less than 5% to Ar HiPIMS is crucial to improve mechanical properties.•Properties of the films prepared by reactive HiPIMS do not strongly depend on peak target current.
Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were prepared via reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) using a mixture of argon and a small amount of C2H4 or CH4 gas. Synthesis of the DLC films was based on both plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and physical vapor deposition. At a peak target current of 30 A corresponding to 1.1 A/cm2, the hardness of films prepared with hydrocarbon gas fractions of less than 5% was somewhat higher than the hardness of films prepared via nonreactive Ar HiPIMS. The absence of background due to photoluminescence in the Raman spectra indicated that the hydrogen contents in the films were less than 20%. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was performed, and the peaks related to the sp3 C in the C 1s core level spectra were investigated. The sp3 C peaks in the C 1s spectra of the films prepared at hydrocarbon gas fractions below 5% were more intense than sp3 C related peaks in the spectra of the films prepared via nonreactive HiPIMS. The sp3 C related peaks accounted for more than 30% of the total at a peak target current of 30 A. The influence of the target current on film properties was also investigated. At peak values of target current exceeding 40 A, the hardness of the films prepared via the nonreactive HiPIMS was somewhat higher than that of the films prepared via reactive HiPIMS. This was predicted from the relationship between the target current and the sp3 C content estimated from the XPS spectra.
Purpose To investigate the interaction between locomotion and improvements in performing self-care. Participants and Methods We retrospectively analyzed 930 patients with stroke who were registered ...in the Japanese Rehabilitation Database. We performed a correlation analysis to evaluate the relationships among all the collected data. Then, hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed using the self-care motor score of the Functional Independent Measure (FIM) as the dependent variable. “Model 1” used two independent variables (National Institute of Health Stroke and Rankin Scale), “model 2” used two independent variables (locomotion gain and gain of an item with the closest coefficient correlation added to model 1), and “model 3” used a mean-centering value, which was added to model 2. R2 values were calculated using a simple slope analysis. Results Locomotion showed an interaction with three self-care activities. The R2 changes in models 1 and 2 (ΔR2) were significant for dressing upper body (ΔR2=0.001), bowel management (ΔR2=0.006), and toileting (ΔR2=0.006). The results of the simple slope analysis were significant. Conclusion Locomotion demonstrated an interaction with various activities for improving self-care. There were varying degrees of improvement in self-care despite a uniform improvement in the degree of locomotion. Therefore, locomotion interaction should be considered for each intervention that targets activities of daily living.
Objective This study assessed the risk factors of mortality from foreign bodies in the respiratory tract using the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for the Evaluation of Cancer Risk data. Methods ...Data of 110,585 participants 40-79 years old living in 45 areas in Japan were collected between 1988 and 2009. Mortality from foreign bodies in the respiratory tract was assessed in a multivariable-adjusted analysis using a Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results Among all participants, 202 deaths occurred from foreign bodies in the respiratory tract. In the multivariable-adjusted model, older age 50-59 (hazard ratio, 4.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-12.74), 60-69 (hazard ratio, 14.96, 6.01-37.25) and 70-79 (hazard ratio, 53.81; 95% confidence interval, 21.44-135.02) years old compared to 40-49 years old, male sex (hazard ratio, 2.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-3.54), a history of apoplexy (hazard ratio, 7.04; 95% confidence interval, 4.24-11.67) and the absence of a spouse (hazard ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.32) were associated with an increased risk of mortality from foreign bodies in the respiratory tract. Conclusions Older age, male sex, medical history of apoplexy and the absence of a spouse were potential risk factors of mortality from foreign bodies in the respiratory tract. Especially in elderly men, social connections, such as cohabitation or relationships, may be important for ensuring the early detection of asphyxia and preventing death due to foreign bodies in the respiratory tract.
A number of proposed next-generation electronic devices, including novel memory elements and versatile transistor circuits, rely on spin currents, that is, the flow of electron angular momentum. A ...spin current may interact with a magnetic nanostructure and give rise to spin-dependent transport phenomena, or excite magnetization dynamics. In contrast to a spin-polarized charge current, a pure spin current does not produce any charge-related spurious effects. One way to produce a pure spin current is non-local electrical-spin injection, but this approach has suffered so far from low injection efficiency. Here, we demonstrate a significant enhancement of the non-local injection efficiency in a lateral spin valve prepared with an entirely in situ fabrication process. Improvements to the interface quality and the device structure lead to an increase of the spin-signal amplitude by an order of magnitude. The generated pure spin current enables the magnetization reversal of a nanomagnet with the same efficiency as in the case of using charge currents. These results are important for further theoretical developments in multi-terminal structures, but also with a view towards realizing novel devices driven by pure spin currents.
Background: The neurological prognosis of asphyxia is poor and the effect of advanced airway management (AAM) in the prehospital setting remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association ...between AAM with adrenaline injection and prognosis in adult patients with asystole asphyxia out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).Methods: This study assessed all-Japan Utstein cohort registry data between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2019. We used propensity score matching analyses before logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effect of AAM on favorable neurological outcome.Results: There were 879,057 OHCA cases, including 70,299 cases of asphyxia OHCAs. We extracted the data of 13,642 cases provided with adrenaline injection by emergency medical service. We divided 7,945 asphyxia OHCA cases in asystole into 5,592 and 2,353 with and without AAM, respectively. After 1:1 propensity score matching, 2,338 asphyxia OHCA cases with AAM were matched with 2,338 cases without AAM. Favorable neurological outcome was not significantly different between the AAM and no AAM groups (adjusted odds ratio OR 1.1; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.5–2.5). However, the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) (adjusted OR 1.7; 95% CI, 1.5–1.9) and 1-month survival (adjusted OR 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1–1.9) were improved in the AAM group.Conclusion: AAM with adrenaline injection for patients with asphyxia OHCA in asystole was associated with improved ROSC and 1-month survival rate but showed no differences in neurologically favorable outcome. Further prospective studies may comprehensively evaluate the effect of AAM for patients with asphyxia.
Purpose To determine the motor Functional Independence Measure item and level that contribute to improvement in Functional Independence Measure gain in the recovery rehabilitation ward. Participants ...and Methods This study analyzed the data of 1,866 participants who were selected based on four criteria: age, number of days from onset to admission, length of hospital stay, and motor Functional Independence Measure upon admission. Moreover, all items examined were recorded. The participants were divided into two groups, the non-improving and improving group, based on a motor Functional Independence Measure gain of 22 points. The degree of contribution of each item was analyzed based on the median motor Functional Independence Measure. Logistic regression analysis was performed, with the two groups as dependent variables and the item with high contribution as independent variable; receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed. Results The items that highly contributed to motor Functional Independence Measure gain were bathing (level 3), dressing (lower body) (level 4), bladder management (level 5), and stair climbing (level 3). Conclusion The results of this study were suggested that the items that contribute to the improvement in motor Functional Independence Measure gain in stroke patients with a motor Functional Independence Measure of less than 50 were related to self-care and at least over moderate assistance.
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