Comparison of Physical Fitness between Sport and Non-Sport Groups among Elementary School Children

We compared physical fitness factors between sport and non-sport groups of elementary school children in all grades. The subjects of this study were 1,079 1st- to 6th-grade male elementary school children. Their parents completed a questionnaire examining whether the child attended sports lessons as a regular after-school activity. Physical fitness was evaluated by a new physical fitness test recommended by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (4). The test consists of the following items: 1) Grip strength (kg); 2) Sit-ups (number completed in 30 sec); 4) Sitting front stretches (cm); 5) Side steps (number completed in 20 sec); 6) 20-m shuttle run (number of repetitions); 7) 50-m run (sec); 8) Standing long jump (m); 9) Softball throw (m); 10) Height (m); and 11) weight (kg). Point of application ＃1: In regards to the sit-ups, 20-m shuttle run, and softball throw, children who attend sports lessons after school showed a better performance compared to children who do not attend sport lessons, especially after the 3rd grade. Point of application ＃2: Performance in physical fitness that requires complex movements, such as the side steps and 50-m run, were susceptible to sports lessons. Point of application ＃3: Flexibility and performance in physical fitness that require simple movement, such as the grip strength and standing long jump, were not affected significantly by sport lessons during elementary school ages

Phase Separation of Multi-Component Bose-Einstein Condensates of Trapped Atoms and Molecules with a Homonuclear Feshbach Resonance

We investigate phase separation of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs) of two-component atoms and one-component molecules with a homonuclear Feshbach resonance. We develop a full model for dilute atomic and molecular gases including correlation of the Feshbach resonance and all kinds of interparticle interactions, and numerically calculate order parameters of the BECs in spherical harmonic oscillator traps at zero temperature with the Bogoliubov's classical field approximation. As a result, we find out that the Feshbach resonance can induce two types of phase separation. The actual phase structures and density profiles of the trapped gases are predicted in the whole parameter region, from the atom dominant regime to the molecule dominant regime. We focus on the role of the molecules in the phase separation. Especially in the atom dominant regime, the role of the molecules is described through effective interactions derived from our model. Furthermore we show that a perturbative and semi-classical limit of our model reproduces the conventional atomic BEC (single-channel) model.Comment: 11pages, 4 figure

Efficient modelling of 3-d finite element mesh formation with use of 3-d topographic survey

In this decade, 3-dimensional topographic survey has been developed by using the UAV as like drones. With the technique, the complete topographies of the geo-structures can be measured. Although the accurate shapes of the geo-structures can be obtained, the numerical methods as like the finite element method is are not related to the 3-dimensional survey directly. In this research, the finite mesh modelling technique with use of the 3-D topographic survey is developed. The models of the earth-fill embankments formed from measured 3-D data are introduced as the examples

Olfactory Ensheathing Cell Tumor Arising from the Olfactory Mucosa

We report a rare case of olfactory ensheathing cell tumor. A female presented a large soft mass extending medially to the olfactory cleft and laterally to the middle meatus in the left nasal cavity. Imaging studies confirmed a cystic mass extending superiorly into the frontal lobe, indicating that the tumor arouse from the olfactory mucosa. A subtotal resection was achieved through an endoscopic endonasal approach without operative complications. Immunohistochemically constituent cells were diffusely positive for S-100 protein, but olfactory ensheathing cell tumor was diagnosed by negative staining for Leu7 (CD57). This case indicates that olfactory ensheathing cell tumor should be included in differential diagnoses for the olfactory cleft tumors

Early Development of Resident Macrophages in the Mouse Cochlea Depends on Yolk Sac Hematopoiesis

Resident macrophages reside in all tissues throughout the body and play a central role in both tissue homeostasis and inflammation. Although the inner ear was once believed to be “immune-privileged, ” recent studies have shown that macrophages are distributed in the cochlea and may play important roles in the immune system thereof. Resident macrophages have heterogeneous origins among tissues and throughout developmental stages. However, the origins of embryonic cochlear macrophages remain unknown. Here, we show that the early development of resident macrophages in the mouse cochlea depends on yolk sac hematopoiesis. Accordingly, our results found that macrophages emerging around the developing otocyst at E10.5 exhibited dynamic changes in distribution and in situ proliferative capacity during embryonic and neonatal stages. Cochlear examination in Csf1r-null mice revealed a substantial decrease in the number of Iba1-positive macrophages in the spiral ganglion and spiral ligament, whereas they were still observed in the cochlear mesenchyme or on the intraluminal surface of the perilymphatic space. Our results demonstrated that two subtypes of resident macrophages are present in the embryonic cochlea, one being Csf1r-dependent macrophages that originate from the yolk sac and the other being Csf1r-independent macrophages that appear to be derived from the fetal liver via systemic circulation. We consider the present study to be a starting point for elucidating the roles of embryonic cochlear resident macrophages. Furthermore, resident macrophages in the embryonic cochlea could be a novel target for the treatment of various inner ear disorders

Numerical Studies of the Double Scaling Limit in Large N Reduced Model

We study the two-dimensional Eguchi-Kawai model as a toy model of the IIB matrix model, which has been recently proposed as a nonperturbative definition of the type IIB superstring theory. While the planar limit of the model is known to reproduce the two-dimensional Yang-Mills theory, we find through Monte Carlo simulation that the model allows a different large $N$ limit, which can be considered as the double scaling limit in matrix models.Comment: LATTICE98(surfaces), 3 pages, 2 eps-figures; typos correcte

The environment-induced cracking of as-annealed Ni3(Si,Ti) and Ni3(Si,Ti) with 2Mo in sodium chloride solutions

Accepted manuscript version. The final publication is available at Springer via http://doi.org/10.1186/s40712-015-0046-7.Background The environment-induced cracking (EIC) of as-annealed Ni3(Si,Ti) and Ni3(Si,Ti) with 2Mo has been researched as functions of applied stress, chloride ion concentration, test temperature, and pH. Methods The investigation of EIC was carried out by applying a constant method in NaCl solutions. Results The EIC susceptibility of both intermetallic compounds increased with increasing test temperature and Cl− ion concentration and increased with decreasing pH. The fracture surface morphologies of Ni3(Si,Ti) was intergranular while Ni3(Si,Ti) with 2Mo was a mixture of intergranular and transgranular, and the relationship between log t f (time to failure) and log l ss (steady-state elongation rate) became the identical straight line irrespective of applied stress, chloride ion concentration, test temperature, and pH, which means that l ss becomes a relevant parameter for predicting t f. The EIC susceptibility of Ni3(Si,Ti) with 2Mo was lower than that of Ni3(Si,Ti), which showed the advantageous effect of Mo. Conclusions From the results acquired, EIC of both the compounds was indicated to take place by hydrogen embrittlement (HE)

Effects of saliva collection using cotton swabs on melatonin enzyme immunoassay

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although various acceptable and easy-to-use devices have been used for saliva collection, cotton swabs are among the most common ones. Previous studies reported that cotton swabs yield a lower level of melatonin detection. However, this statistical method is not adequate for detecting an agreement between cotton saliva collection and passive saliva collection, and a test for bias is needed. Furthermore, the effects of cotton swabs have not been examined at lower melatonin level, a level at which melatonin is used for assessment of circadian rhythms, namely dim light melatonin onset (DLMO). In the present study, we estimated the effect of cotton swabs on the results of salivary melatonin assay using the Bland-Altman plot at lower level.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nine healthy males were recruited and each provided four saliva samples on a single day to yield a total of 36 samples. Saliva samples were directly collected in plastic tubes using plastic straws, and subsequently pipetted onto cotton swabs (cotton saliva collection) and into clear sterile tubes (passive saliva collection). The melatonin levels were analyzed in duplicate using commercially available ELISA kits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean melatonin concentration in cotton saliva collection samples was significantly lower than that in passive saliva collection samples at higher melatonin level (>6 pg/mL). The Bland-Altman plot indicated that cotton swabs causes relative and proportional biases in the assay results. For lower melatonin level (<6 pg/mL), although the BA plots didn't show proportional and relative biases, there was no significant correlation between passive and cotton saliva collection samples.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings indicate an interference effect of cotton swabs on the assay result of salivary melatonin at lower melatonin level. Cotton-based collection devices might, thus, not be suitable for assessment of DLMO.</p