Development of 1-T Class Force-Balanced Helical Coils Using REBCO Tapes

The authors proposed the concept of the force-balanced helical coils (FBC) using high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tapes as a feasibility option for superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES). Although the FBC can minimize the mechanical stresses induced by the electromagnetic forces, the FBC has three-dimensional complex shapes of helical winding. Therefore, when the tensile strain and the complex bending strain simultaneously apply to the HTS tapes, the critical current of the HTS coils may decrease irreversibly. The objective of this work is to clarify the critical current property of REBCO tapes depending on the applying complex mechanical strain due to the winding process, the winding configuration and the electromagnetic forces through the development of the HTS-FBC. As a first, design parameters of 1-T class FBC using REBCO tapes and coil winding trajectory were introduced, and the authors discussed the normalized critical current of the HTS-FBC for complex uniaxial strain distribution. The authors also reported a development of a helical winding machine whose motion was optimized to prevent from decreasing the critical current of the HTS tapes during winding process

A systematic review of nonrandomized controlled trials on the curative effects of aquatic exercise

Hiroharu Kamioka1, Kiichiro Tsutani2, Yoshiteru Mutoh3, Hiroyasu Okuizum4, Miho Ohta5, Shuichi Handa4, Shinpei Okada6, Jun Kitayuguchi7, Masamitsu Kamada7, Nobuyoshi Shiozawa8, Sang-Jun Park4, Takuya Honda4, Shoko Moriyama41Faculty of Regional Environment Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan; 2Department of Drug Policy and Management, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 3Department of Physical and Health Education, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; 4Mimaki Onsen (Spa) Clinic, Tomi City, Japan; 5Laboratory of Aqua, Health, and Sports Medicine, 6Physical Education and Medicine Research Foundation, Nagano, Japan; 7Physical Education and Medicine Research Center Unnan, Unnan City, Japan; 8Department of Longevity and Social Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, JapanBackground: The objectives of this review were to integrate the evidence of curative effects through aquatic exercise and assess the quality of studies based on a review of nonrandomized controlled trials (nRCTs).Methods: Study design was a systematic review of nonrandomized controlled trials. Trials were eligible if they were nonrandomized clinical trials. Studies included one treatment group in which aquatic exercise was applied. We searched the following databases from 2000 up to July 20, 2009: MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, and Ichushi-Web.Results: Twenty-one trials met all inclusion criteria. Languages included were English (N = 9), Japanese (N = 11), and Korean (N = 1). Target diseases were knee and/or hip osteoarthritis, poliomyelitis, chronic kidney disease, discomforts of pregnancy, cardiovascular diseases, and rotator cuff tears. Many studies on nonspecific disease (healthy participants) were included. All studies reported significant effectiveness in at least one or more outcomes. However results of evaluations with the TREND and CLEAR-NPT checklists generally showed a remarkable lack of description in the studies. Furthermore, there was the problem of heterogeneity, and we were therefore not able to perform a meta-analysis.Conclusion: Because there was insufficient evidence on aquatic exercise due to poor methodological and reporting quality and heterogeneity of nRCTs, we were unable to offer any conclusions about the effects of this intervention. However, we were able to identify problems with current nRCTs of aquatic exercise, and propose a strategy of strengthening study quality, stressing the importance of study feasibility as a future research agenda objective.Keywords: aquatic exercise, systematic review, nonrandomized controlled trials&nbsp

チイキザイジュウコウレイシャ ニ オケル テントウヨボウジココウリョクカン ト HDL コレステロール オヨビ シンタイノウリョク トノ カンレン コスゲムラオウダンケンキュウ

背景 : 本研究の目的は,転倒予防自己効力感とHDLコレステロール及び身体能力との関連性を調べることであった。方法 : 対象者は山梨県小菅村に在住する65歳以上の高齢者339名で,本調査には132名(38.9%)が参加した。移動能力として10m全力歩行,最大一歩幅,40cm踏台昇降を,バランス能力としてつぎ足歩行を測定した。血液性状の中で,主要なアウトカムとして,HDLコレステロールを用いた。転倒予防自己効力感は,10項目,4リッカートスケールからなる質問紙で評価した。研究デザインは,転倒恐怖の有無による2群間比較の横断研究である。結果 : 転倒予防自己効力感とHDLコレステロールの間に有意な関連はなかったが,転倒予防自己効力感が低い群では有意に移動能力が低かった。また,膝痛や腰痛を伴う男性では,転倒予防自己効力感が低かった。結論 : 自己効力感とHDLコレステロールとの関連は認められなかったが,本研究は地域在住で独立生活を営む高齢者に限定されているため,今後,良くデザインされた大規模な観察研究が必要だと考えられた。Background : The aim of the current study was to clarify relationships between self-efficacy and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and physical strength.Methods : Target participants were 339 elderly residents aged 65 years or older from Kosuge Village, Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan. One hundred and thirty two persons participated in the study (38.9%). Outcome measurements included the 10-m walking time, the maximal step length and 40-cm step test as moving ability, the tandem gait as balance ability, and HDL-C. Fall-prevention self-efficacy (FPSE) was evaluated using a questionnaire that examined 10 items (actions) and 4 Likert scale. A total of 40 points could be awarded. This research design was a cross-sectional study that divided the elderly into two groups by the existence of a fear of falling.Results : Although there was no significant relationship between fall-prevention self-efficacy and HDL-C, we demonstrated that a group with poor self-efficacy had significantly deteriorated moving ability and that only one male participant with knee pain and/or lumbago exhibited poor self-efficacy.Conclusions : We could not find significant relationships between self-efficacy and HDL-C. But this study is limited to the independent elderly people in a local area, and further studies should be conducted to detect the relationships

ジョセイカイゴシャ ニ オケル ヨウツウ ノ ジッタイ ト カンレンヨウイン ニ カンスル オウダンケンキュウ

本研究は,横断研究により,女性介護者における腰痛との関連要因を明らかにすることを目的とした。4カ所の特別養護老人ホームに勤務する女性介護職員88人を対象として,腰痛の有無,経験年数,Body Mass Index(BMI),握力,長座体前屈,指床間距離(Finger-Floor Distance : FFD),抑うつ自己評価スコア(the Center for Epidemiologic Study Depression Scale : CES-D),SF-8による身体的健康度(Physical Health Score : PHS)と精神的健康度(Mental Health Score : MHS),疲労の自覚症状を調査した。腰痛の有無を目的変数とし,その他の変数を説明変数とした多重ロジスティック回帰分析を行った。49人(55.7%)が,慢性的な腰痛を訴えていた。多重ロジスティック回帰分析の結果,腰痛の発生は,身長がオッズ比(OR)1.12,95%信頼区間(95%CI)1.02-1.23,SF-8による身体的健康度(PHS)が,OR : 0.89(95%CI : 0.86-0.97),精神的健康度(MHS)がOR : 0.90(95%CI : 0.81-0.99)で有意であった。本研究は,身長が高いことは中腰姿勢を助長し,腰痛を起こす原因になるかもしれないこと,身体・精神的な健康の程度は,腰痛と関係があることが明らかになった。今後,交代勤務に伴う睡眠障害や慢性疲労との関連性も含めて検討すべきであることが示唆された。The objective of this cross-sectional study was to reveal the actual conditions and related factors of low back pain among female caregivers in special nursing homes for the elderly.The participants were 88 female caregivers in four facilities for the elderly. We surveyed the existence of low back pain, employment period, Body Mass Index (BMI), grip power, sitting forward flexion, Finger-Floor Distance (FFD), the Center for Epidemiologic Study Depression Scale (CES-D), Physical Health Score (PHS) and Mental Health Score (MHS) by using SF-8 and subjective symptoms of fatigue. Multinomial logistic regression model was used to investigate how far low back pain was related to mental and physical health status, flexibility, power, employment period, and BMI.55.7% (N=46) of the participants notified the presence of chronic lumbago. The result of multinomial logistic regression model showed that the existence of low back pain was significant in the following variables : 1) Odds ratio (OR)=1.12 (95% confidence interval : 95%CI=1.02-1.23) for height, 2) OR=0.89 (95% CI=0.81-0.97) for PHS, 3) OR=0.90 (95% CI=0.81-0.99) for MHS.Our findings suggest that height may reinforce a half-crouching position, thus it can be a cause of low back pain, and that the degree of physical and mental health is related to low back pain. It was also suggested that lumbago prevention and/or reduction strategy should include the relevance of sleep interruption and chronic fatigue with shift work when this problem is examined in future

Relationship Between Neighborhood Food Environment and Diet Variety in Japanese Rural Community-dwelling Elderly : A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Food access is an important aspect of health promotion for the elderly. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between distance to the nearest food store and diet variety in rural community-dwelling elderly Japanese. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 1,103 elderly participants surveyed by mail in rural areas of Japan. Diversity of food intake was assessed using the diet variety score (DVS). Street network distance from home to food store was calculated and categorized by quartile using a geographic information system and analyzed in relation to diet using multivariable regression with the primary outcome as low DVS. Sub-analysis of the association with DVS was conducted for each food store category (convenience store, supermarket, and small food store). The association between intake frequency of each food group and distance was also analyzed. Results: Participants in the fourth quartile of distance to food store had significantly higher prevalence ratio (1.15; 95% CI, 1.01–1.32) for low DVS than those in the first quartile. There was a significant tendency between greater distance to food store and lower DVS (P for trend = 0.033). Supermarkets and convenience stores, in particular, showed significant associations. Greater distance was significantly associated with lower frequency of meat and fruit intake. Conclusion: There was significant association between distance to nearest food store and diet variety in rural Japanese elderly. These findings suggest the importance of interventions for areas at high risk of low diet variety, such as places far away from food stores