BRAKING AND PROPULSIVE IMPULSES ACROSS A RANGE OF RUNNING SPEEDS IN UNILATERAL TRANSFEMORAL AMPUTEES

Braking and propulsive ground reaction force impulses (GRIs) are mechanical parameters affecting the running performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the braking and propulsive GRIs across a range of speeds in unilateral transfemoral amputees. Ten unilateral transfemoral amputees ran on an instrumented treadmill at incremental speeds of 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, and 70% of their maximum speed. At all given speeds, the braking GRI of affected limb was significantly smaller than unaffected limb; however, the propulsive GRIs were similar for both limbs. Consequently, the net anteroposterior GRI was positive in affected limb and negative in unaffected limb. These results suggest that the functional role of braking and propulsion is not the same between the limbs. Training for unilateral transfemoral amputees could focus on reducing the braking GRI of unaffected limb

RUNNING MECHANICS IN UNILATERAL TRANSFEMORAL AMPUTEES ACROSS A RANGE OF SPEEDS

Running-specific prostheses (RSP) allows individuals with lower extremity amputations to participate in running activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the average vertical ground reaction force (Favg), step frequency (Freqstep) and contact length (Lc) between intact and prosthetic limb across a range of running speeds. Nine unilateral transfemoral amputees with RSP performed running on instrumented treadmill at incremental speeds of 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70% of their maximum speed. We found that prosthetic limb generated smaller Favg than intact limb, and had similar Freqstep between limbs. However, prosthetic limb had longer Lc than intact limb at faster speeds. These results suggest that unilateral transfemoral amputees using RSP have asymmetrical running mechanics between limbs to adapt to the increasing running speed

Variation of Inner Radius of Dust Torus in NGC4151

The long-term optical and near infrared monitoring observations for a type 1 act ive galactic nucleus NGC 4151 were carried out for six years from 2001 to 2006 b y using the MAGNUM telescope, and delayed response of flux variations in the $K(2.2\mu m)$ band to those in the $V(0.55\mu m)$ band was clearly detected. Based on cross correlation analysis, we precisely measured a lag time $\Delta t$ for eight separate periods, and we found that $\Delta t$ is not constant changing be tween 30 and 70 days during the monitoring period. Since $\Delta t$ is the ligh t travel time from the central energy source out to the surrounding dust torus, this is the first convincing evidence that the inner radius of dust torus did ch ange in an individual AGN. In order to relate such a change of $\Delta t$ with a change of AGN luminosity $L$, we presented a method of taking an average of th e observed $V$-band fluxes that corresponds to the measured value of $\Delta t$, and we found that the time-changing track of NGC 4151 in the $\Delta t$ versus $L$ diagram during the monitoring period deviates from the relation of $\Delta t \propto L^{0.5}$ expected from dust reverberation. This result, combined with t he elapsed time from period to period for which $\Delta t$ was measured, indicat es that the timescale of dust formation is about one year, which should be taken into account as a new constraint in future studies of dust evolution in AGNs.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, To appear in the ApJ Lette

自己愛の観点から見たSelf-esteemに関する一検討

The purpose of this study was to examine self-esteem considering psychic structures in the background in terms of narcissism. The theory on narcissism in this study mainly depended on that of Heinz Kohut. Taking some cases of narcissistic personality disorders into consideration, it could be understood that high self-esteem was not always based on highly integrated personality, but also based on relatively primitive narcissism which wasn\u27t fully integrated into the central personality structure. It was supposed that the level of integration of narcissism was measured by empathy, because narcissism transforms developmentally into empathy in the Kohut\u27s theory. Validity of this hypothesis was investigated by the expression forms of aggression at the crisis of narcissistic injury. Subjects were 157 college students. Self-esteem and empathy were measured by inventory scales, and expression forms of aggression was investigated by P-F study of Rosenzweig. The investigation showed that persons with high self-esteem and low empathy expressed their aggression in the form similar to "narcissistic rage". This suggested it was effective that the perspective of narcissism was added to the study on self-estee

Electrochemical Na-insertion/extraction properties of Sn-P anodes

Thick-film electrodes of tin phosphides, Sn4P3 and SnP3, were prepared using a mechanical alloying method followed by a gas-deposition method, and were evaluated as Na-ion battery anodes in an organic electrolyte and ionic liquid electrolytes. The Sn4P3 electrode showed a better cycling performance in the organic electrolyte compared with the SnP3 electrode and an Sn electrode. The performance of the Sn4P3 electrode was further improved by using ionic liquid electrolytes because of a uniformly formed surface layer and resulting uniform sodiation/desodiation reactions on the electrode

Maternity swimmlng at Misasa Hospital of Okayama University Medical School. Second report. The indication and its practice.

第一報において，当科外来通院妊婦を対象とした妊婦水泳に関するアンケート調査の結果を報告1）したが，その結果にもとづき，1988年2月より妊婦水泳を開始し，11カ月を経過した。この間，初産婦および前回難産経験をもつ経産婦を主たる対象として，積極的に水泳を奨めた結果，18例の妊婦水泳を経験することができた。その結果，流早産例は1例もなく，児の予後も良好であり，妊婦管理の一環としての妊婦水泳の安全性と有用性が確認できたので，当科における妊婦水泳の現状とその適応につき報告する。From February to December, 1988, 18 cases of maternity swimming were deliverd at Misasa hospital of Okayama university medical school. Then we discussed the indication, safety and effectiveness of maternity swimmmg. (Results) (1) Fifteen cases (83.3%) were primiparas and 5 cases (27.8%) were 30 years old or more. (2) As for the weeks of pregnancy at the beginning of swimming, the earliest one was at 18 weeks and the latest one was at 37 weeks. (3) The times of swimming during pregnancy were variou in each case, and the maxirnum one was 20 times and the minimum one was 2 times. (4) There was no abortion and premature delivery. (5) There was no low birth weight infant and no asphxia of the newborn. (Conclusion) The inducement of maternity swimming is safe and effective to the management of pregnancy, especially to the cases of primipara, old aged or having minor disturbance

Character, Habit and Taste of woman with coldeness in their bodies

冷え性の発現は寒冷刺激に対する血管運動性体温調節と密接に関係しているが,患者の性格･生活習慣･食事の嗜好等にも関わっていると考えられる｡そこで今回は冷え性婦人100名を対象にCMl調査と35項目にのぼるアンケート調査を行った｡その結果,冷え性の増悪因子として,日頃の運動不足･神経症的性格傾向･過労･食べ物の嗜好がクローズアップされ,この面での生活指導が冷え性の治療を行っていく上で,薬物的な治療と並んで重要であることか示唆された。The character, habit and taste were studied about by means of a questionnaire survey and Cornell Medical Index in 100 women who felt cold in their part of bodies. More than 30% of the women showed the neurotic personality, They had a tendency to dislike the greasy foods, and frequently had sweet foods. More than 50% of them ordinally complained of shoulder stiffness and generalfatigue. The women who played sports weekly were less than 20%. The neurotic porsonality, the tendency to dislike the greasy foods and the lack of exercise were seemed to be the feature of their character, taste, and habit. Thus, improvement of their personality and life style may have a good effect on the coldness in women

The Early Decline of alpha-Fetoprotein and Des-gamma-Carboxy Prothrombin Predicts the Response of Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients

Introduction: Molecular targeting drugs are recommended as second-line treatment for intrahepatic advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, in Asia, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) is also considered as a second-line treatment because it improves the survival of responders. The aim of this study was to predict responders and non-responders to HAIC with low-dose cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil (LFP) using tumor markers. Objective and Methods: The data of 47 patients who received LFP for the first time in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively. We evaluated the association between treatment response by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors and the changing ratio of the serum concentration of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP),Lens culinarisagglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3), and des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) 2 weeks after LFP initiation. Results: The number of patients showing a complete response (CR), a partial response (PR), stable disease (SD), and progressive disease (PD) was 0 (0%), 20 (43%), 18 (38%), and 9 (19%), respectively. The AFP ratio showed significant positive correlations for PR vs. SD (p= 0.004) and PR vs. PD (p= 0.003). The DCP ratio correlated significantly for PR vs. SD (p= 0.02). The optimal cutoff values for responders were 0.79 for the AFP ratio and 0.53 for the DCP ratio. Prediction using both or either cutoff value showed 93% sensitivity, 53% specificity, a 94% negative predictive value, and a 57% positive predictive value. Conclusion: Optimal cutoff values for AFP and DCP ratios enable prediction of nonresponders to HAIC with LFP. This simple and early assessment method allows the use of HAIC and molecular targeting drugs for HCC treatment