Kagawa University

About: Kagawa University is a education organization based out in Takamatsu, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 6028 authors who have published 11918 publications receiving 224111 citations. The organization is also known as: Kagawa Daigaku.

Blinking suppression in CdSe/ZnS single quantum dots by TiO2 nanoparticles.

Abstract: The photoluminescence of semiconductor quantum dots and fluorescence of single molecules intermittently turn ON and OFF, a phenomenon referred to as blinking. In quantum dots, blinking occurs as a result of intermittent Auger ionization, which results in the formation of positively charged quantum dots. Due to strong Coulombic interactions, successive photoactivation of a charged quantum dot results in nonradiative carrier recombination, inducing long-lived OFF states in the intensity trajectories. Blinking is an undesirable property with respect to applications of quantum dots toward single-molecule imaging and single-photon logic devices. Here we report significant blinking suppression for CdSe/ZnS single quantum dots in the presence of TiO2 nanoparticles. In this work, we continuously recorded photoluminescence intensity trajectories of single quantum dots with and without TiO2 nanoparticles. Interestingly, the intensity trajectory of a single quantum dot that was covalently tethered on a cover glass a...

Crustal structure of the southern Okinawa Trough: Symmetrical rifting, submarine volcano, and potential mantle accretion in the continental back-arc basin

Abstract: Back-arc basins are a primary target to understand lithospheric evolution in extension associated with plate subduction. Most of the currently active back-arc basins formed in intraoceanic settings and host well-developed spreading centers where seafloor spreading has occurred. However, rift structure at its initial stage, a key to understand how the continental lithosphere starts to break in a magma-rich back-arc setting, is poorly documented. Here we present seismological evidence for structure of the southern Okinawa Trough, an active rift zone behind the Ryukyu subduction zone. We find that the southern Okinawa Trough exhibits an almost symmetric rift system across the rift axis (Yaeyama Rift) and that the sedimentary layers are highly cut by inward dipping normal faults. The rift structure also accompanies a narrow (2–7 km wide) on-axis intrusion resulted from passive upwelling of magma. On the other hand, an active submarine volcano is located ~10 km away from the rift axis. The P wave velocity (Vp) model derived from seismic refraction data suggests that the crust has been significantly thinned from the original ~25 km thick arc crust and the thinnest part with 12 km thickness occurs directly beneath the rift axis. The velocity model also reveals that there exists a thick layer with Vp of 6.5–7.2 km/s at lower crustal levels and may indicate that mantle materials accreted at the bottom of the crust during the crustal stretching. The abrupt crustal thinning and the velocity-depth profile suggest that the southern Okinawa Trough is at a transitional stage from continental rifting to seafloor spreading.

Beliefs of chronically ill Japanese patients that lead to intentional non-adherence to medication.

Abstract: Summary Objective: To identify factors, associated with personal beliefs, involved in intentional non-adherence to prescribed medication of Japanese patients with chronic diseases. Methods: A cross-sectional study of Japanese subjects with chronic, primarily liver, gastrointestinal, or nervous system diseases who had been prescribed oral medicines for regular use, was performed. The subjects were admitted to a university hospital and were interviewed face-to-face on admission. Intentional non-adherence was defined as experience of deliberate adjustment of self-managed prescription medicines during the few months prior to hospital admission. Patients’ beliefs about taking medicines were assessed from the perspective of what the patient valued in order to take medicines without anxiety; whether the patient valued information about the medication such as its function and side-effects and/or mutual reliance on doctors. Using logistic multivariate regression analyses, factors associated with intentional non-adherence were identified. Results: Among 154 subjects, 51 showed intentional non-adherence. Intentional non-adherence was associated with the following three factors: (a) the patients’ beliefs with respect to taking medicines without anxiety, especially putting no value on mutual reliance on the patient–doctor relationship (P < 0·001) and putting great value on knowing the drug's side-effects (P < 0·001), (b) poor comprehension of general aspects of medication (P for trend <0·001), and (c) being in the prime of life (40–59 years) (P = 0·011). Comprehension of the function of each medicine, experience of side-effects, anxiety about taking medicines, and the number of types of medicines taken, were not associated with non-adherence. Conclusions: Beliefs on which individual Japanese patients with chronic diseases attach value in order to take medicines without anxiety were potential factors for intentional non-adherence. This emphasizes the necessity of a patient-oriented approach to take account of patients’ personal beliefs about medicines to increase adherence rate in Japan.