Extreme extensibility of copper foil under compound forming conditions.

A copper foil with an extreme extensibility up to 43,684% was obtained without any intermediate annealing by means of asynchronous rolling with high tension. It was found that under the combination of compression, shearing and tension, the copper foil represents a wonderful phenomenon. As the reduction increases, the specimen hardness increases up to a peak value 138 HV0.

Bark flammability as a fire-response trait for subalpine trees.

Relationships between the flammability properties of a given plant and its chances of survival after a fire still remain unknown. We hypothesize that the bark flammability of a tree reduces the potential for tree survival following surface fires, and that if tree resistance to fire is provided by a thick insulating bark, the latter must be few flammable. We test, on subalpine tree species, the relationship between the flammability of bark and its insulating ability, identifies the biological traits that determine bark flammability, and assesses their relative susceptibility to surface fires from their bark properties.

Crystal structure of the tetrameric fibrinogen-like recognition domain of fibrinogen C domain containing 1 (FIBCD1) protein.

The high resolution crystal structures of a recombinant fragment of the C-terminal fibrinogen-like recognition domain of FIBCD1, a vertebrate receptor that binds chitin, have been determined. The overall tetrameric structure shows similarity in structure and aggregation to the horseshoe crab innate immune protein tachylectin 5A. The high affinity ligand N-acetylmannosamine (ManNAc) binds in the S1 site, predominantly via the acetyl group with the oxygen and acetamide nitrogen hydrogen-bonded to the protein and the methyl group inserted into a hydrophobic pocket.

Elucidation of the thermophilic phenol biodegradation pathway via benzoate during the anaerobic digestion of municipal solid waste.

Anaerobic digestion makes it possible to valorize municipal solid waste (MSW) into biogas and digestate which are, respectively, a renewable energy source and an organic amendment for soil. Phenols are persistent pollutants present in MSW that can inhibit the anaerobic digestion process and have a toxic effect on microbiota if they are applied to soil together with digestate. It is then important to define the operational conditions of anaerobic digestion which allow the complete degradation of phenol.

Photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide over Ag cocatalyst-loaded ALa4Ti4O15 (A = Ca, Sr, and Ba) using water as a reducing reagent.

Ag cocatalyst-loaded ALa(4)Ti(4)O(15) (A = Ca, Sr, and Ba) photocatalysts with 3.79-3.85 eV of band gaps and layered perovskite structures showed activities for CO(2) reduction to form CO and HCOOH by bubbling CO(2) gas into the aqueous suspension of the photocatalyst powder without any sacrificial reagents.

The acceleration of spoken-word processing in children's native-language acquisition: an ERP cohort study.

Healthy adults can identify spoken words at a remarkable speed, by incrementally analyzing word-onset information. It is currently unknown how this adult-level speed of spoken-word processing emerges during children's native-language acquisition. In a picture-word mismatch paradigm, we manipulated the semantic congruency between picture contexts and spoken words, and recorded event-related potential (ERP) responses to the words.

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water in self-assembled supramolecular iridium-cobalt systems.

Supramolecular photosynthetic systems made up of the [Ir(ppy)(2)(bpy)](+) and [Co(bpy)(3)](2+) cores (ppy = 2-phenylpyridinate, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine) are in situ self-assembled in aqueous media to generate H(2) upon visible light irradiation, where one of them recorded a relatively high turnover number of 20.

[Laterality of upper extremity movements in infancy: observations at 4 and 9 months of age].

This study investigated the process involved in the lateralization of movements during infancy by observing upper extremity movements in a laboratory setting. Reaching for flying rings, balls, mini toy cars, and small round cookies were observed and recorded by videotape at 4 and 9 months of age. The subjects were 202 infants who participated in Japan Children's Study, a cohort study on the development of sociability.

AFM surface morphology and friction force studies of microscale domain structures of binary phospholipids.

We have studied friction forces on binary mixtures of phospholipid monolayer films. The phospholipid monolayer films have been prepared via the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique on mica. The two-component phospholipids are distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC).

[The structure of anxiety associated with avian influenza and pandemic influenza].

This study examined the structure of anxiety associated with highly pathogenic avian influenza and pandemic influenza among lay people, using data from a survey of 1 016 adults in the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Confirmative factor analyses demonstrated that anxieties associated with infection and its effects are comprised of three factors: health threats, concern about economics, and anxiety about unknown risks. Anxieties related to management of influenza consisted of factors of distrust of administrative organizations, distrust of grocery stores, industry, and farmers, distrust of medical services, and lack of self-confidence in coping.

Relationship between children's intelligence and their emotional/behavioral problems and social competence: gender differences in first graders.

Background: The present study examines gender differences in the correlations between intelligence and developmental problems as well as social competence in first graders.

Methods: Ninety parent-child dyads participated in this study. The children comprised 7-year-olds recruited from the first grade of an elementary school.

A longitudinal study on social competence development and sleeping habits.

Background: It is known that sleep problems impact children's health, learning, and school performance. The purpose of this paper is to examine the association between sleeping habits and social competence development.

Methods: Three hundred and nine caregiver-child dyads participated in this study, which was conducted as part of a Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) project.

Infant responses to maternal still face at 9 months predict social abilities at 18 months.

Background: This study investigated developmental change and stability in infant responses to the still-face (SF) situation, as well as predictive validity at age 18 months, focusing on autonomy and responsiveness.

Methods: A total of 231 children (117 boys and 114 girls) and their Japanese mothers were observed in a face-to-face SF situation at two infant ages (4 and 9 months), as well as a caregiver-child teaching interaction at age 18 months. Each infant's facial expression, gaze direction, and vocalization were coded according to the SF paradigm, including the Natural Interaction (NI) and SF phases.

The trajectory of children's social competence from 18 months to 30 months of age and their mother's attitude towards the praise.

Background: Praise from caregivers has been shown as an important influence on the development of social competence in early adolescence. However, the effects of praise in younger children have not been investigated. We examined how the trajectory of children's social competence from 18 months to 30 months of age was related to their caregiver's attitude towards the importance of praise at times when their child was 4 months and 9 months old.

Interaction Rating Scale (IRS) as an evidence-based practical index of children's social skills and parenting.

Background: The purpose of this paper is to describe the features of the Interaction Rating Scale (IRS) as an evidence-based practical index of children's social skills and parenting.

Methods: The participants in our study, which was conducted as part of a Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) project, were 370 dyads of children (aged 18, 30, and 42 month) and 81 dyads of 7-year-old children with their caregivers. The participants completed the five minute interaction session and were observed using the IRS.

The trajectory patterns of parenting and the social competence of toddlers: a longitudinal perspective.

Background: Many studies have suggested that the daily emotional interactions between a child and his/her caregiver play a significant role in his/her development. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the trajectory patterns of parenting patterns of caregivers raising toddlers affect the social competence of the toddlers.

Methods: The study participants were 246 dyads of 18-month-old children (baseline) and their caregivers, which was conducted as part of a Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) project.

Implications of social competence among thirty-month-old toddlers: a theory of mind perspective.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relations between children's social competence and initial index of theory of mind at 30 months of age.

Methods: The participants of the study were 322 toddlers and parents/caregivers who were registered with the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) project. They completed a five-minute interaction session, which was coded using the Interaction Rating Scale (IRS) as an evidence-based practical index of children's social competence.

A novel subjective sleep assessment tool for healthy elementary school children in Japan.

Background: A child's sleep pattern is important in defining his or her mental and physical well-being. Although we have reported previously on the utility of collecting 2 weeks of daily sleep logs, this type of record keeping is often onerous for the parents. Therefore, we established a new questionnaire, called the Japan Children's Study Sleep Questionnaire (JCSSQ), which is used to collect sleep pattern data over 4 weeks, including weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Developmental trends in mother-infant interaction from 4-months to 42-months: using an observation technique.

Background: It is clear that early social interaction follows from mother-infant interaction after pregnancy. Many researchers have illuminated this interaction in the first years of life. Most common mother-infant interaction is the attachment behavior of an infant.

Comparison of factors contributing to developmental attainment of children between 9 and 18 months.

Background: Little is known about how contributing factors of development change during early childhood in Japan. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that contributed to the developmental attainment of children between 9 and 18 months of age using prospective longitudinal data from a developmental cohort study.

Methods: We used data from observations at 3 time points (at infant age of 4, 9 and 18 months) in the Japan Children's Study.

Early television exposure and children's behavioral and social outcomes at age 30 months.

Background: Previous research has suggested that television (TV) viewing may be associated with increased behavioral and emotional problems in children. However, there are few prospective studies targeted for its association with outcomes of children under 3 years old. The purpose of this study was to exam the association between children's early TV exposure at ages 18 and 30 months and the behavioral and emotional outcomes at age 30 months.

Strategies behind the establishment of a developmental cohort study in the Tottori City.

Background: The Tottori study group, part of the JCS, presides over a community-based cohort study started when subjects-children living in Tottori City-were 5 years old. The social aspects of conducting a cohort study should also be made public, as this information is crucial for conducting community-based cohort studies.

Methods: Documents pertaining to social aspects implemented by the Tottori study group between 2004 and 2008 were arranged chronologically.

Incidental findings of brain magnetic resonance imaging study in a pediatric cohort in Japan and recommendation for a model management protocol.

Background: The increasing use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in brain researches has led to growing concern over incidental findings (IFs). To establish a practical management protocol for IFs, it is useful to know the actual prevalence and problems of IF management. In the present study, we report the prevalence proportion and some handling problems of IFs in healthy Japanese children, and suggest a management protocol from ethical and practical standpoints.

Overview of the Japan Children's Study 2004-2009; cohort study of early childhood development.

Background: There are still a lot of unknown aspects about the childhood development of sociability which are based on neuroscientific basis. Purpose of the Japan Children's Study (JCS) was to verify the normal process of child development of sociability; the trajectory and factors related development of sociability, and to collect findings and integrate the knowledge to make the plan of long-term and large scale cohort study.

Methods: A child cohort study underway in Japan since 2005.

Utility of subjective sleep assessment tools for healthy preschool children: a comparative study between sleep logs, questionnaires, and actigraphy.

Background: Sleep pattern is an important factor in a child's mental, behavioural and physical status. To evaluate the sleep patterns of children, subjective tools such as sleep logs and questionnaires are still widely used in addition to objective methods of sleep assessment. Despite the established correlation between subjective and objective sleep variables, the characteristic features of subjective assessment have not been elucidated.