Chandra Observation of the Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 1E 1841-045

We present the results from the {\it Chandra} ACIS CC mode observation of an anomalous X-ray pulsar (AXP) 1E 1841-045. This is the first observation in which the pulsar spectrum in wide energy range is spatially discriminated from the surrounding SNR, Kes 73. Like other AXPs, the phase-integrated spectrum is fitted well with power-law plus blackbody model. The spectral parameters are $\Gamma = 2.0 \pm 0.3$, $kT_{\rm BB} = 0.44 \pm 0.02$ keV, and $N_H = 2.54^{+0.15}_{-0.13} \times 10^{22} {\rm cm}^{-2}$. This photon index is significantly flatter than the other AXPs, and resemble to soft gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs) in the quiescent state. The pulse profile is double-peaked, and we found that the second peak has significantly hard spectrum. The spectra of all phases are consistent with power-law plus blackbody model with constant temperature and photon index. When fitted with two blackbody model, we obtained similarly good fit. These results can be interpreted that there are two emission regions with different energy spectra.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ Letter

Relationship between Social Participation, Physical Activity and Psychological Distress in Apparently Healthy Elderly People: A Pilot Study

Few studies examined the relationship between social participation, physical activity and psychological distress in elderly people. Here we examined these relationships in apparently healthy elderly people. After exclusion of subjects who dropped out or did not meet enrollment criteria, the data of 86 subjects (apparently healthy elderly embers at a college health club; 25 males, 61 females) from July 20 to September 10, 2016 were used. We evaluated each subject’s psychological distress using the K6 questionnaire, social participation by a self-completed questionnaire, and physical activity level by a triaxial accelerometer (7 consecutive days). The K6 scores were significantly correlated with social participation in the total series and the women. The K6 scores of the subjects who had engaged in social participation (1.847±2.231) were significantly lower (better) than those of the subjects who had not (6.714±5.014). Both exercise limitation and social participation were significant predictors of the K6 scores. Our findings indicate that psychological distress in apparently healthy elderly people is not associated with physical activity, but is associated with social participation. Our results demonstrate that in healthy elderly people, participating in a social activity can help improve psychological distress

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Short-term Toe Resistance Training to Improve Toe Pinch Force in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Resistance training is effective against type 2 diabetes (T2DM), but the effect of resistance training on toe pinch force (TPF) is unknown. Here we investigated the effect of short-term toe resistance training on TPF in patients with T2DM, in a prospective, parallel-group, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Twelve patients with T2DM who were hospitalized to improve glycemic control were enrolled. The patients were randomly allocated to the intervention (n=6) and control (n=6) groups. The intervention group performed traditional aerobic exercise and 4 newly developed toe-resistance training exercises. The control group performed aerobic exercise only. After 2 weeks of the exercise intervention program, we evaluated anthropometric parameters, clinical parameters, motor function, and muscle parameters in each patient. After the exercise intervention program, the TPF and toe muscle quality, isometric knee extension force, and knee muscle quality were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group. Two weeks of toe-resistance training significantly increased the TPF in the T2DM patients. Toe resistance training is thus recommended in clinical practice for patients with T2DM

Image Quality of the Coronary Angiography with Noise Reduction Technology to Decrease the Radiation Dose

We examined the effects of a reduced exposure dose on the quality of images from an angiography device augmented with a noise reduction algorithm. Before its clinical application, we compared the diameter of the discrimination limit of the hole with that in the conventional method by a visual evaluation with a contrast-detail (C-D) phantom imaged using the target dose. Based on the results, a reducible dose was determined and applied clinically. The sample population consisted of patients being followed up after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for coronary artery disease; we evaluated the effects of the exposure reduction on image quality. A significant dose reduction was observed by the noise-reduction method compared to the conventional method; the radiation dose to the flat panel detector (FPD) could be reduced to 70 nGy per frame. Clinically, a dose reduction of approx. 40% was obtained while maintaining image quality almost equal to that of the conventional method

All-Optical NRZ-DPSK to RZ-OOK Format Conversion Using Optical Delay Line Interferometer and Semiconductor Optical Amplifier

We describe an all-optical NRZ-DPSK to RZ-OOK converter employing an optical delay line interferometer and a semiconductor optical amplifier. System penalty at 10Gbit/s is experimentally demonstrated to be less than 1dB at BER of 10{ extminus}9

Toe Pinch Force in Male Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

We compared the toe pinch force in men with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sixty-eight male T2DM patients and 35 apparently healthy men matched for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. We compared the toe pinch force between the subjects with and without T2DM, and we evaluated the effect of diabetic polyneuropathy on toe pinch force in the patients. The toe pinch force of the T2DM patients was significantly lower than that of the subjects without diabetes (3.12±1.22 kg vs. 4.40±1.19 kg, p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that T2DM was a determinant of reduced toe pinch force. In addition, the toe pinch force of patients with diabetic polyneuropathy was significantly lower than that of patients without diabetic polyneuropathy (2.31±0.93 kg vs. 3.70±1.07 kg, p<0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that diabetic polyneuropathy was a determinant of the toe pinch force in men with T2DM, even after adjusting for age, BMI, HbA1c, and duration of diabetes. Reduced toe pinch force is a fundamental feature of motor dysfunction in men with T2DM, and diabetic polyneuropathy might be associated with toe pinch force in these patients

Unraveling the Nature of Unidentified High Galactic Latitude Fermi/LAT Gamma-ray Sources with Suzaku

We report on the results of deep X-ray follow-up observations of four unidentified Fermi/LAT gamma-ray sources at high Galactic latitudes using Suzaku. The studied objects were detected with high significance during the first 3 months of Fermi/LAT operation, and subsequently better localized in the Fermi/LAT 1 year catalog (1FGL). Possible associations with pulsars and active galaxies have subsequently been discussed, and our observations provide an important contribution to this debate. In particular, an X-ray point source was found within the 95% confidence error circle of 1FGL J1231.1-1410. X-ray spectrum is well-fitted by a blackbody with an additional power-law. This supports the recently claimed identification of this source with a millisecond pulsar (MSP) PSR J1231-1411. Concerning 1FGL J1311.7-3429, two X-ray sources were found within the LAT error circle. Even though the X-ray spectral and variability properties were accessed, their nature and relationship with the gamma-ray source remain uncertain. We found several weak X-ray sources in the field of 1FGL J1333.2+5056, one coinciding with CLASS J1333+5057. We argue the available data are consistent with the association between these two objects. Finally, we have detected an X-ray source in the vicinity of 1FGL J2017.3+0603. This object was recently suggested to be associated with a newly discovered MSP PSR J2017+0603, because of the spatial-coincidence and the gamma-ray pulse detection. We have only detected the X-ray counterpart of the CLASS J2017+0603, while we determined an X-ray flux upper limit at the pulsar position. All in all, our studies indicate while a significant fraction of unidentified high Galactic latitude gamma-ray sources is related to the pulsar and blazar phenomena, associations with other classes of astrophysical objects are still valid options.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Ap

Factors Associated with Remission and/or Regression of Microalbuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The aim of this study was to clarify the factors associated with the remission and/or regression of microalbuminuria in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 130 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with microalbuminuria for 2-6 years (3.39±1.31 years). Remission was defined as improving from microalbuminuria to normoalbuminuria using the albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), and regression of microalbuminuria was defined as a decrease in ACR of 50% or more from baseline. Progression of microalbuminuria was defined as progressing from microalbuminuria to overt proteinuria during the follow-up period. Among 130 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with microalbuminuria, 57 and 13 patients were defined as having remission and regression, respectively, while 26 patients progressed to overt proteinuria. Sex (female), higher HDL cholesterol and lower HbA1c were determinant factors associated with remission/regression of microalbuminuria by logistic regression analysis. Lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) was also correlated with remission/regression, but not at a significant level. These results suggest that proper control of blood glucose, BP and lipid profiles may be associated with remission and/or regression of type 2 diabetes mellitus with microalbuminuria in clinical practice

Study on the Development of a New Device with Dual Cameras for Evaluating Expiratory Nasal Flow

[Background] Use of the Glatzel mirror for measuring expiratory nasal flow in preschool children has the disadvantage of vagueness, and the mirror may induce fear and inhibition of interest in those children. In response to these limitations, we developed a new device with dual cameras for measuring expiratory nasal flow in 2 to 6 year old children. The aim of this study is to compare the Glatzel mirror and the new device, in terms of accurate assessment of expiratory nasal flow, children’s feelings, and correlation to each child’s profile. [Methods] This study evaluated 20 cleft lip and palate patients and 21 healthy children aged between 2 and 6 (under 7) years. After consent was granted, a 4-week screening period was undertaken followed by inspection at weeks 8, 16, 24, and 32. Each inspection was conducted while the children were asked to pronounce various sounds and comprised three stages: i) use of the Glatzel mirror, ii) subjective visual assessment using the new device, and iii) image recording by dual cameras of the new device. Questionnaires for the new device were administered at the initial and final inspections. To contrast the results between the Glatzel mirror and the new device, the numbers that indicated values of subjective visual assessment and camera assessment greater than the assessment values of the Glatzel mirror were compared. For measuring the children’s responses to the new device compared with those to the Glatzel mirror, the answers to the questionnaires were compared. For the comparison of the children’s profiles (age and sex) and feelings, the numbers of subjects who could use the new device were measured. [Results] The camera assessment of the new device indicated significantly greater values than that of the Glatzel mirror (P < 0.05). The feelings of the subjects to the new device mostly improved as the study progressed. Subjects aged 3 years and older were generally able to use the new device from the initial inspection. For both sexes, as the inspection progressed, the number occasions of successful use increased. [Conclusion] This study demonstrated the superiority of the new device with dual cameras to the Glatzel mirror in terms of functionality and attitude of children

Stealth Transmission of Time-Domain Spectral Phase Encoded OCDMA

Abstract-Security enhancement of stealth channel by combining time-domain spectral phase en/decoding (SPE/D) OCDMA scheme and group velocity dispersion is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The time-domain spectral phase encoded OCDMA signal, which utilizes a linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating for pulse broadening and a high-speed phase modulator for SPE, has been stealth transmitted over a public wavelengthdivision-multiplexing network. Error-free transmission (bit-error rate 10 9 ) has been achieved for both the public and stealth channel with 32-chip 40-Gchip/s gold codes. Index Terms-Optical code-division multiple-access (OCDMA), optical steganography, spectral phase en/decoding (SPE/D)