Good Movement in Rhythmic Dance: Time, Space, and Weight

This study focused on time, space, and weight from the perspective of good movement in rhythmic dance. The effect of guidance was verified. Specifically, the following two research subjects are presented: i.e., (1) we examine the change in rhythmic dance skills after an explanation about the three perspectives of good movement; (2) we examine the change in rhythmic dance skills using the breath (e.g., onomatopoeia). As a result, the following three points were clarified: (1) dance skills were improved by explaining good movement from the perspectives of time, space, and weight; (2) in being conscious of breathing (onomatopoeia) during rhythmic dance, it is easy to express rhythm with the body and it is effective in improving timing skills; and (3) dancing while sounding onomatopoeia has the potential of improving emotional aspects, predictive/judgmental abilities, and memory

Green Tea-Derived Catechins Have Beneficial Effects on Cognition in the Pond Snail

Green tea has been used as a medicine in East Asia for thousands of years. Plant-derived compounds called flavanols, which are included in green tea, may have potentials to help maintain healthy brain function. In this chapter, we review the effects of flavanols, e.g. epicatechin (EpiC), on cognitive ability in the pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis. In this decade, the Lukowiak’s group has tested the effects of EpiC on cognition ability in Lymnaea. In a Lymnaea model system, they showed that EpiC and EpiC-containing foods have a rapid and activity-dependent effect enhancing the formation of long-term memory (LTM) following operant conditioning of aerial respiratory behavior. In the last part of this chapter, we also introduce our study for the effects of EpiC on LTM formation in another model system in Lymnaea. This study showed that EpiC increases the persistence of LTM formed by classical conditioning of feeding behavior, and suggested that EpiC alters some electrophysiological properties of a neuron in the feeding system

Regional gray matter volume in the posterior precuneus is associated with general self-efficacy

Motivation in doing a task is influenced not only by the expected outcome of the task, but also by the belief that one has in successfully executing the task. Over time, individuals accumulate experiences that contribute to a general belief in one’s overall ability to successfully perform tasks, which is called general self-efficacy (GSE). We investigated the relationship between regional gray matter volume and individual differences in GSE. Brain anatomy was analyzed using magnetic resonance images obtained from 64 healthy right-handed participants who had completed Sherer’s GSE scale. After controlling for other factors related to motivation, age, sex, and total gray matter volume of each subject, results showed that regional gray matter volume in the posterior part of the precuneus significantly and positively correlated with GSE score. These results suggest that one’s accumulated experiences of success and failure, which contribute to GSE, also influence the anatomical characteristics of the precuneus

Improving Teaching Methods, Student Learning Outcomes, and Curricula through Cross-Phase Teaching in Primary and Junior High School

In order to obtain a certain hint of forming a good cooperation between primary and junior high schools through Cross-Phase Teaching (CPT), it is necessary to verify the effect of CPT. We analyzed our CPT, surveyed the teachers and students by questionnaire, and interviewed the teachers, so that we might verify the effect of the CPT. While verifying, we not only recognized the change of the teachers' mind but also found the concrete way of improving their teaching

Repeatability, Reproducibility, and Comparability of Subjective and Objective Measurements of Intraocular Forward Scattering in Healthy Subjects

. Purpose. To assess the repeatability, reproducibility, and comparability of measurements of subjective and objective forward scattering in healthy subjects. Methods. We prospectively examined twenty eyes of 20 healthy volunteers (7 men and 13 women; ages, 28.4 ± 4.1 years). The logarithmic straylight value (log(s)) and the objective scattering index (OSI) were measured with a straylight meter (C-Quant) and a point-spread function meter (OQAS), respectively. Results. The 95% limits of agreement (LoA) between first and second measurements ranged from −0.211 to 0.207 for the C-Quant and from −0.302 to 0.477 for the OQAS. The intraclass correlation coefficients for the repeatability of the log(s) and OSI measurements were 0.815 and 0.926, respectively. The mean difference between examiners was −0.051 ± 0.133 (95% LoA; −0.311 to 0.209) for the C-Quant and 0.080 ± 0.307 (−0.522 to 0.682) for the OQAS. There was a modest, but significant, correlation between the log(s) and the OSI (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.498, = 0.026). Conclusions. The C-Quant and the OQAS provide good repeatability and reproducibility, although the OQAS measurement provides a slightly higher ICC than the C-Quant measurement. The subjective forward scattering may be to some extent expressed in the objective forward scattering in healthy subjects

Exploring early discontinuation of mental health outpatient treatment: language, demographics and clinical characteristics among migrant populations in Japan.

BACKGROUND: The fast-growing migrant population in Japan and globally poses challenges in mental healthcare, yet research addressing migrants mental health treatment engagement remains limited. OBJECTIVE: This study examined language proficiency, demographic and clinical characteristics as predictors of early treatment discontinuation among migrants. METHODS: Electronic health record data from 196 adult migrants, identified from 14 511 patients who received mental health outpatient treatment during 2016 and 2019 at three central hospitals in the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan region of Japan, were used. We conducted multivariable regression models to identify predictors of early discontinuation within 3 months. FINDINGS: The study cohort (65% women, age range: 18-90 years, from 29 countries or regions) included 23% non-Japanese speakers. Japanese and non-Japanese speakers had similar discontinuation rates (26% vs 22%). Multivariable models revealed younger age (OR=0.97; 95% CI: 0.95, 0.99; p=0.016) and those with a primary diagnosis other than a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (OR=3.99; 95% CI: 1.36, 11.77; p=0.012) or a neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorder (OR=2.79; 95% CI: 1.14, 6.84; p=0.025) had higher odds of early discontinuation. These effects were more pronounced among the Japanese speakers with significant language-by-age and language-by-diagnoses interactions. CONCLUSION: Younger age and having a primary diagnosis other than a schizophrenia spectrum disorder or a neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorder increased vulnerability for discontinuing mental health treatment early in Japanese-speaking migrants but not for migrants with limited Japanese proficiency. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Understanding language needs within a context of mental health treatment should go beyond assumed or observed fluency. Unmet language needs might increase vulnerability for treatment disengagement among migrants. Targeted clinical efforts are crucial for enhancing early treatment engagement and informing health practices in Japan and countries with growing migrant populations

A Study of the Effect of the Action Research Type Training in a Master's Course Stage : focusing on the alteration trend of knowledge and teaching skills in the health and physical education trainee

The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of the action research type training in a master's course stage, especially focusing on two knowledge: "teacher's practical knowledge" and "teacher knowledge about pedagogy". As a result, two points were made clear. 1. Throughout the action research type training, simplex knowledge about "teacher's practical knowledge" was greatly seen in the graduate students in a master's course, similar to the prior research. Plus, "Teacher knowledge about pedagogy" was also seen in the action research type training. 2. Throughout the action research type training, graduate students in a master's course changed its' multiple "teacher's practical knowledge" and "teacher knowledge about pedagogy" by receiving mentoring from a faculty member, supervisor, and mentor.本研究の成果の一部は,平成24～26年度科学研究費補助金(若手研究B)「実践的指導力」を育成する学部・大学院一貫の体育教員養カリキュラムの開発と実践(課題番号24700624)の補助によ

Association of Vegetable, Fruit, and Okinawan Vegetable Consumption With Incident Stroke and Coronary Heart Disease

Background: Few studies have investigated the effects of Okinawan vegetable consumption on the risk of incident stroke and coronary heart disease. This study aimed to examine associations of vegetable, fruit, and Okinawan vegetable consumption with risk of incident stroke and coronary heart disease in the Japanese population of Okinawa.Methods: The study design was a prospective cohort study. During 1995–1998, a validated food frequency questionnaire was administered in two study areas to 16,498 participants aged 45–74 years. In 217,467 person-years of follow-up until the end of 2012, a total of 839 stroke cases and 197 coronary heart disease cases were identified.Results: No statistically significant association between total Okinawan vegetable consumption and risk of stroke and coronary heart disease was obtained: the multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for the highest versus lowest tertile of consumption were 1.09 (95% confidence interval, 0.93–1.29; P for trend = 0.289) in model 2. Total vegetable and fruit and specific Okinawan vegetable consumption were also not statistically significantly associated with risk of cardiovascular outcomes.Conclusions: This study demonstrated that consumption of total vegetable and fruit, total Okinawan vegetables, and specific Okinawan vegetables in Japanese residents of Okinawa was not associated with risk of incident stroke and coronary heart disease

Experimental model for the irradiation-mediated abscopal effect and factors influencing this effect

Radiotherapy (RT) is the primary treatment for cancer. Ionizing radiation from RT induces tumor damage at the irradiated site, and, although clinically infrequent, may cause regression of tumors distant from the irradiated site-a phenomenon known as the abscopal effect. Recently, the abscopal effect has been related to prolongation of overall survival time in cancer patients, though the factors that influence the abscopal effect are not well understood. The aim of this study is to clarify the factors influencing on abscopal effect. Here, we established a mouse model in which we induced the abscopal effect. We injected MC38 (mouse colon adenocarcinoma) cells subcutaneously into C57BL/6 mice at two sites. Only one tumor was irradiated and the sizes of both tumors were measured over time. The non-irradiated-site tumor showed regression, demonstrating the abscopal effect. This effect was enhanced by an increase in the irradiated-tumor volume and by administration of anti-PD1 antibody. When the abscopal effect was induced by a combination of RT and anti-PD1 antibody, it was also influenced by radiation dose and irradiated-tumor volume. These phenomena were also verified in other cell line, B16F10 cells (mouse melanoma cells). These findings provide further evidence of the mechanism for, and factors that influence, the abscopal effect in RT

Combination treatment with highly bioavailable curcumin and NQO1 inhibitor exhibits potent antitumor effects on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most intractable cancers, so the development of novel therapeutics has been required to improve patient outcomes. Curcumin, a polyphenol from Curcuma longa, exhibits various health benefits including antitumor effects, but its clinical utility is limited because of low bioavailability. Theracurmin® (THC) is a highly bioavailable curcumin dispersed with colloidal submicron particles. Methods: We examined antitumor effects of THC on ESCC cells by cell viability assay, colony and spheroid formation assay, and xenograft models. To reveal its mechanisms, we investigated the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and performed microarray gene expression analysis. According to those analyses, we focused on NQO1, which involved in the removal of ROS, and examined the effects of NQO1-knockdown or overexpression on THC treatment. Moreover, the therapeutic effect of THC and NQO1 inhibitor on ESCC patient-derived xenografts (PDX) was investigated. Results: THC caused cytotoxicity in ESCC cells, and suppressed the growth of xenografted tumors more efficiently than curcumin. THC increased ROS levels and activated the NRF2–NMRAL2P–NQO1 expressions. Inhibition of NQO1 in ESCC cells by shRNA or NQO1 inhibitor resulted in an increased sensitivity of cells to THC, whereas overexpression of NQO1 antagonized it. Notably, NQO1 inhibitor significantly enhanced the antitumor effects of THC in ESCC PDX tumors. Conclusions: These findings suggest the potential usefulness of THC and its combination with NQO1 inhibitor as a therapeutic option for ESCC