Provisional norms by age group for Japanese males on the controlled force exertion test using a quasi-random display

金沢大学人間社会研究域人間科学系Objectives: This study aimed to examine age group and individual differences in the controlled force exertion test by quasi-random display and to propose a provisional norm in 207 males who were right-handed and aged 15-86 years. Methods: The subjects matched exertion values of their submaximal grip strength to changing demand values, appearing as a quasi-random wave on the display of a personal computer. The quasi-random waveform was changed in π with amplitude and in π/2 with frequency (peak and mean frequency were 0.1 Hz in both waveforms). The subjects performed the controlled force exertion test three times at 1-min intervals (single trials were 40 s) after one practice trial using the dominant hand. The total of the differences (%) between the demand value and the grip exertion value for 25 s was used as an evaluation parameter. Results: The measurements showed a right-skewed distribution, which was normal after logarithmic transformation. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among means of each age group and test performance decreased after 40 years of age. Norms for each age group were established. Conclusions: An individual\u27s controlled force exertion by the provisional norm devised in this study can be properly evaluated. © 2009 Springer-Verlag Italia

Succession of Genetic Diversity of Botryococcus braunii (Trebouxiophyceae) in Two Japanese Reservoirs

AbstractBotryococcus braunii is a green colonial alga that produces large volumes of liquid hydrocarbon. Therefore, B. braunii is expected to be useful as an alternative fuel resource. Natural blooms of B. braunii have been recorded in several lakes and reservoirs. Elucidation of natural B. braunii blooming would provide important information for the development of an open-pond cultivation system. In this study, we periodically assessed the genetic diversity and colony density of B. braunii populations, along with several environmental parameters, in two Japanese reservoirs (provisionally called “N” and “S”) from December 2008 to December 2009. Reservoir N had low numbers of B. braunii colonies whereas Reservoir S was characterized by periodic density increases that occurred in December 2008, and in March, September, and December 2009. Population genetics analysis using specific environmental sequences (PGA-SES method) was conducted for B. braunii populations for the first time. Among the B. braunii-dominated samples of Reservoir S, high levels of genetic diversity were observed in December 2008 and March 2009, whereas the diversity levels in September and December 2009 were low. The results suggest that B. braunii periodicity can be categorized into a high genetic diversity type and a low genetic diversity type. The high genetic diversity type may be caused by simultaneous growth of many genotypes, whereas the low genetic diversity type seems to be explained by increases in the cell density of only a few adapted genotypes

A possible new syndrome with double endocrine tumors in association with an unprecedented type of familial heart-hand syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The combination of a pituitary prolactinoma and an aldosterone-producing adrenal adenoma is extremely rare. To the best of our knowledge, double endocrine tumors in association with heart-hand syndrome have not previously been reported.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 21-year-old Japanese woman presented with galactorrhea and decreased visual acuity. A large pituitary adenoma with an increased level of serum prolactin was apparent by computed tomography. She additionally showed mild hypertension (136/90 mmHg) accompanied by hypokalemia. The plasma aldosterone concentration was increased. Computed tomography showed a mass in the right adrenal gland. No other tumors were found despite extensive imaging studies. Physical and radiographic examinations showed skeletal malformations of the hands and feet, including hypoplasia of the first digit in all four limbs. An atrial septal defect was demonstrated by echocardiography. Similar digital and cardiac abnormalities were detected in our patient's father, and a clinical diagnosis of hereditary heart-hand syndrome was made.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>No established heart-hand syndrome was wholly compatible with the family's phenotype. Her father had no obvious endocrine tumors, implying that the parent of transmission determined variable phenotypic expression of the disease: heart-hand syndrome with multiple endocrine tumors from the paternal transmission or no endocrine tumor from the maternal transmission. This suggests that the gene or genes responsible for the disease may be under tissue-specific imprinting control.</p

Enhancement of superconducting properties in FeSe wires using a quenching technique

Enhancements of superconducting properties were observed in FeSe wires using a quenching technique. Zero resistivity was achieved at about 10 K in quenched wires, which is about 2 K higher than that of polycrystalline FeSe bulk. Furthermore, transport Jc of quenched wires showed three times higher than that of furnace-cooled wires. In contrast, the quenched polycrystalline FeSe bulks did not show the enhancement of Tc. The quenching technique is a greatly promising for fabricating FeSe wires with high Tc and high Jc, and quenched FeSe wires have high potential for superconducting wire applications