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Topologically nontrivial materials host protected edge states associated with the bulk band inversion through the bulk-edge correspondence. Manipulating such edge states is highly desired for developing new functions and devices practically using their dissipation-less nature and spin-momentum locking. Here we introduce a transition-metal dichalcogenide VTe 2 , that hosts a charge density wave (CDW) coupled with the band inversion involving V3 d and Te5 p orbitals. Spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy with first-principles calculations reveal the huge anisotropic modification of the bulk electronic structure by the CDW formation, accompanying the selective disappearance of Dirac-type spin-polarized topological surface states that exist in the normal state. Thorough three dimensional investigation of bulk states indicates that the corresponding band inversion at the Brillouin zone boundary dissolves upon the CDW formation, by transforming into anomalous flat bands. Our finding provides a new insight to the topological manipulation of matters by utilizing CDWs’ flexible characters to external stimuli. Manipulating topological states by coupled electronic orders is promising for future dissipation-less electronic devices. Here, Mitsuishi et al. report selective vanishing of Dirac-type topological surface states by the formation of coupled charge density wave in a transition-metal dichalcogenide VTe 2 .

We describe herein the synthesis of solid Au@Pd and hollow AgPd nanoflowers displaying controlled sizes and compositions in order to investigate how their size, composition, and the presence of Au in the core of the nanoparticles influence their catalytic performance toward both liquid and gas-phase transformations. While the size and composition of Au@Pd and AgPd the nanoflowers could be controlled as function of growth time, their structure (solid or hollow) was dependent on the nature of the seeds employed for the synthesis, i.e., Au or Ag nanoparticles. Moreover, Au@Pd and AgPd nanoflowers were successfully supported onto commercial silica displaying truly uniform dispersion. The catalytic activities of Au@Pd and AgPd nanoflowers were investigated toward the 4-nitrophenol reduction and the benzene, toluene, and o-xylene (BTX) oxidation. The catalytic activities for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol decreased as follows: Au₅₈@Pd₄₂ > Au₂₇@Pd₇₃ > Ag₂₀Pd₈₀ and Ag₈Pd₉₂ > Au₁₂@Pd₈₈ > Ag₃₈Pd₆₂, suggesting that the Au core enhanced the catalytic activity relative to the hollow material when for Pd at.% was up to 80. Regarding the BTX oxidation, supported Au@Pd displayed higher catalytic activities than AgPd nanoflowers, also illustrating the role of the Au cores in the nanoflowers for improving catalytic performance. We believe these results may serve as a platform for the synthesis of Pd-based bimetallic nanomaterials that enable the correlation between these physical/chemical parameters and properties and thus optimized catalytic activities.

Purpose: Similar to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the diffusing capacity of the lung ([D.sub.LCO]) might be decreased and associated with poor prognosis in preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm), a clinical entity as a prodromal phase of COPD. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the distributions of [D.sub.LCO] and to assess the association between [D.sub.LCO] and mortality among subjects with PRISm. Patients and Methods: We conducted an observational cohort study at the National Hospital Organization Fukuoka National Hospital. We classified the 899 patients [greater than or equal to] 40 years of age with an assessment of [D.sub.LCO] into five groups based on spirometry: preserved spirometry, PRISm, mild COPD, moderate COPD, and severe/very severe COPD. The prevalence of low [D.sub.LCO] (< 80% per predicted) was compared among the five groups. Using PRISm patients with follow-up data, we further investigated the association of low [D.sub.LCO] with all-cause mortality. Results: The prevalence of low [D.sub.LCO] in the PRISm group (58.8%) was significantly higher than that in the preserved-spirometry group (21.8%), the mild-COPD group (23.5%), and the moderate-COPD group (36.0%) (all P < 0.01), and it was comparable to that in the severe/very severe-COPD group (63.2%). The results remained unchanged after adjusting for potential confounders. Among the PRISm subjects, the overall survival rate was significantly lower in the low-[D.sub.LCO] group than in the preserved-[D.sub.LCO] group (P < 0.01). The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the low-[D.sub.LCO] group than in the preserved-[D.sub.LCO] group (HR = 10.10 (95% confidence interval 2.33-43.89)). Conclusion: Diffusing capacity was more impaired in PRISm subjects than in those with preserved spirometry or mild to moderate COPD. Regarding PRISm, low [D.sub.LCO] was a significant risk factor for all-cause mortality. Clinicians should assess [D.sub.LCO] in the management of PRISm to predict the future risk of overall death. Keywords: preserved ratio impaired spirometry, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diffusing capacity of the lungs, all-cause mortality

To evaluate the characteristics of sarcopenic dysphagia (SD) and the prognosis of swallowing function in convalescent rehabilitation hospital patients; and to investigate the association between malnutrition severity and SD. A prospective, multi-center, cohort study. We extracted registry data from the Japanese Sarcopenic Dysphagia Database, focusing on patients admitted to convalescent rehabilitation hospitals. A total of 207 participants were recruited and stratified according to the presence or absence of SD. Next, the participants were divided into groups based on nutrition status using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria normal nutrition, moderate malnutrition, and severe malnutrition. We also compared the outcomes between patients with SD (SD group) and those without SD (no-SD group) according to malnutrition status. The Food Intake LEVEL Scale (FILS) score was the outcome measure. Higher scores on the FILS indicate better swallowing function. We compared the patient characteristics between the SD and non-SD groups among all patients and then according to the severity of malnutrition. A total of 207 patients were recruited. 11 were diagnosed with normal nutrition, 72 with moderate malnutrition, and 124 with severe malnutrition. There were 128 participants with SD and 79 participants without SD; the prevalence of SD was 61.8%. Hip fracture was the most common disease among the SD patients (34.4%). The median time to the end of follow-up was 73.5 days for the SD group and 84.0 days for the no-SD group. There was no significant difference in the FILS score between the SD and no-SD groups, but the increase in the FILS score was significantly lower in the SD group than the no-SD group among patients with severe malnutrition after adjusting for confounding factors (age, sex, FILS at admission, BMI, cognitive functional independence measure, and care level before onset) (β = −0.206, p = 0.011, 95% confidence interval = −0.723, −0.098). Orthopedic diseases are the most common type of disease among SD patients in convalescent rehabilitation hospitals. Swallowing dysfunction was particularly severe in malnourished patients with SD. This result suggests the importance of the definition of SD for malnourished patients. We should practice nutritional management as soon as possible in severely malnourished patients diagnosed with SD.

Summary Subchondral trabecular bone structure was analyzed in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients using 3-T MRI to investigate structural features of subchondral trabecular bone of knee OA. With OA progression, osteoporotic changes were observed in the lateral joint, showing a higher correlation than sclerotic changes in the medial joint. Introduction To investigate structural features of subchondral trabecular bone of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods Sixty knees with KL grade 0–4 (all female) were examined. Fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition-cycled phases (FIESTA-c) and FatSat Spoiled gradient recalled acquisition in the steady state (SPGR) images were acquired by 3-T MRI. At four sites (the medial femur, medial tibia, lateral femur, and lateral tibia), subchondral trabecular bone structure was analyzed by FIESTA-c imaging, cartilage area was measured by SPGR imaging, and their correlation was analyzed. In addition, the subjects were classified into four groups from the cartilage area measured by SPGR imaging, and subchondral trabecular bone structure in each group was compared. Results As cartilage area decreased in the medial joint, bone volume fraction and trabecular thickness in the medial tibia increased, and bone volume fraction, trabecular thickness, number, and connectivity in the lateral femur and lateral tibia decreased ( r  ≥ 0.4 or ≤−0.4, p  ≤ 0.001). Compared to medially, the changes laterally showed a higher correlation. When the medial-lateral ratio of trabecular thickness in the tibia was determined, it had the highest correlation coefficient ( r =−0.7, p  < 0.001). These changes were not significantly detected in the early stage. Conclusions To more sensitively detect OA changes in subchondral trabecular bone structure, a focus on osteoporotic changes in the lateral joint and the medial-lateral ratio would be useful. Detectability of early OA remains unknown, but based on a strong correlation with the degree of OA progression, trabecular structural analysis of subchondral bone may be a useful parameter to evaluate OA severity and evaluate treatment.

Background and purpose: Mechanisms associated with the enhanced contractile response to endothelin‐1 in hyperinsulinaemic diabetes have been examined using the rat aorta. Functions for angiotensin II, endothelin‐1 receptor expression and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) have been investigated. Experimental approach: Streptozotocin‐induced diabetic rats were infused with angiotensin II or, following insulin treatment, were treated with losartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Contractions of aortic strips with or without endothelium, in response to endothelin‐1 and angiotensin II, were examined in vitro. Aortic ETA receptors and ERK/MEK expression were measured by western blotting. Key results: Insulin‐treated diabetic rats exhibited increases in plasma insulin, angiotensin II and endothelin‐1. The systolic blood pressure and endothelin‐1‐induced contractile responses in aortae in vitro were enhanced in insulin‐treated diabetic rats and blunted by chronic losartan administration. LY294002 (phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase inhibitor) and/or PD98059 (MEK inhibitor) diminished the enhanced contractile response to endothelin‐1 in aortae from insulin‐treated diabetic rats. ETA and ETB receptors, ERK‐1/2 and MEK‐1/2 protein expression and endothelin‐1‐stimulated ERK phosphorylation were all increased in aortae from insulin‐treated diabetic rats. Such increases were blunted by chronic losartan administration. Endothelin‐1‐induced contraction was significantly higher in aortae from angiotensin II‐infused diabetic rats. angiotensin II‐infusion increased ERK phosphorylation, but the expression of endothelin receptors and ERK/MEK proteins remained unchanged. Conclusions and implications: These results suggest that the combination of high plasma angiotensin II and insulin with a diabetic state induced enhancement of endothelin‐1‐induced vasoconstriction, ETA receptor expression and ERK expression/activity in the aorta. Losartan improved both the diabetes‐related abnormalites and the diabetic hypertension. British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 155, 974–983; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.327; published online 18 August 2008

Six cases of rostral mandibular fracture with considerable displacement were treated successfully by external coaptation. Four cases were simple and two were compound fractures. After xylazine sedation and manual reduction of the fractures, the casting tape was laminated to make a rigid splint below the mandibles and then the splint was secured using the casting tape passing the nasal bridge and cranial and/or caudal to the ears as it encircled the head. During application of the tape, a PVC pipe 25 mm in diameter was held in its jaws to keep the mouth open so that the calf could suckle. Simple rostral mandibular fractures were cured after two weeks of cast immobilisation and compound fractures after about three weeks. This method is easy and non-stressful and provided a good prognosis in the present cases.

We theoretically present the theory of photoinduced spin due to the inverse Faraday effect in metals in the presence of Rashba system in the THz regime. We nd that the induced spin, sμ, (μ = x, y, z) is proportional to frequency(Ω) and square of Rashba spin-orbit interaction(α), i.e., i Ωμαν(E × E*)ν where E represents the electric eld. Its spin is derived from the perturbation of spin-orbit coupling and electromagnetic eld in THz light regime.

The fast development of flexible electronic devices in recent years requires the development of flexible batteries. In this study, a compact and flexible battery (15 mm × 15 mm) was developed. The anode electrode of the battery was based on an anodized stainless mesh coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The battery can be activated anytime, anywhere, by saline solution. The anodization process was applied to the anode electrode. After the heat-treatment process, the anodized stainless mesh was coated MWCNTs. The power generation characteristics of the flexible battery were investigated. Two types of anode electrodes made of stainless mesh with and without anodization were used for the experiment. The anodized stainless mesh anode generated 169 µW/cm2, which is four times higher than that of the anode without anodization, 41.9 µW/cm2.