EFFECTS OF PLAYING BADMINTON ON BONE PROPERTIES USING CALCANEAL QUANTITATIVE ULTRASOUND: A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the effects of playing badminton on calcaneal bone properties. Methods: Eleven sedentary collegiate women were recruited. They played badminton for 75 min, 2 days per week, for 10 weeks. The right calcaneus was assessed to measure speed of sound and broadband ultrasound attenuation using a quantitative ultrasound device. A stiffness index was derived from both the speed of sound and broadband ultrasound attenuation. Results: After the training period, broadband ultrasound attenuation and stiffness index did not change significantly, whereas speed of sound significantly increased, Conclusion: The results indicate that playing badminton influences calcaneal bone properties in a positive manner.  Article visualizations

HEALTH ASPECTS OF KARATE AS PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY

The present study examined energy expenditure, metabolic equivalent (MET) intensities of karate exercises for health promotion, and bone properties of karate practitioners to examine the health aspects of karate as physical education and an extracurricular activity. The mean energy expenditure following a 70-minute karate practice was 563 kcal for men and 268 kcal for women. The calculated mean MET intensities resulting from the 70-minute karate practice were 7.9 METs for men and 5.2 METs for women. The mean MET intensities of all exercises for men and women were above 3 METs which is defined as “active physical activity” in the “Physical Activity Reference for Health Promotion 2013” in Japan. Practicing karate, especially sparring techniques, may help to enhance bone mineral density. It appears that longer duration, higher frequency, and earlier start of physical training positively influenced skeletal status.  Article visualizations

Nutrient intake, serum lipids and iron status of colligiate rugby players

BACKGROUND: There are two main playing positions in rugby (backs and forwards), which demonstrate different exercise patterns, roles, and physical characteristics. The purpose of this study was: 1) to collect baseline data on nutrient intake in order to advise the athletes about nutrition practices that might enhance performance, and 2) to compare serum lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins (apo), lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity, and iron status of forwards and backs. METHODS: The sporting group was divided into 18 forwards and 16 backs and were compared with 26 sedentary controls. Dietary information was obtained with a food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: There were significant differences among the three groups. The forwards had the highest body weight, body mass index, percentage of body fat (calculated by sum of four skinfold thicknesses), as well as the highest lean body mass, followed by the backs and the control group. The mean carbohydrate intake was marginal and protein intake was lower than the respective recommended targets in all three groups. The mean intakes of calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, B(1), B(2), and C were lower than the respective Japanese recommended dietary allowances or adequate dietary intakes for the rugby players. The forwards had significantly lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and HDL(2)-C than the backs and had significantly higher apo B and LCAT activity than the controls. The backs showed significantly higher HDL-C, HDL(3)-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apo A-I, and LCAT activity than the controls. Four forwards (22%), five backs (31%), and three controls (12%) had hemolysis. None of the rugby players had anemia or iron depletion. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study indicate that as the athletes increased their carbohydrate and protein intake, their performance and lean body mass increased. Further, to increase mineral and vitamin intakes, we recommended athletes increase their consumption of green and other vegetables, milk and dairy products, and fruits. The forwards showed more atherogenic lipid profiles than the backs, whereas the backs showed not only anti-atherogenic lipid profile, but also showed more atherogenic lipid profile relative to the control group. Additionally, our study showed none of the rugby players experienced anemia and/or iron depletion

New readout and data-acquisition system in an electron-tracking Compton camera for MeV gamma-ray astronomy (SMILE-II)

For MeV gamma-ray astronomy, we have developed an electron-tracking Compton camera (ETCC) as a MeV gamma-ray telescope capable of rejecting the radiation background and attaining the high sensitivity of near 1 mCrab in space. Our ETCC comprises a gaseous time-projection chamber (TPC) with a micro pattern gas detector for tracking recoil electrons and a position-sensitive scintillation camera for detecting scattered gamma rays. After the success of a first balloon experiment in 2006 with a small ETCC (using a 10$\times$10$\times$15 cm$^3$ TPC) for measuring diffuse cosmic and atmospheric sub-MeV gamma rays (Sub-MeV gamma-ray Imaging Loaded-on-balloon Experiment I; SMILE-I), a (30 cm)$^{3}$ medium-sized ETCC was developed to measure MeV gamma-ray spectra from celestial sources, such as the Crab Nebula, with single-day balloon flights (SMILE-II). To achieve this goal, a 100-times-larger detection area compared with that of SMILE-I is required without changing the weight or power consumption of the detector system. In addition, the event rate is also expected to dramatically increase during observation. Here, we describe both the concept and the performance of the new data-acquisition system with this (30 cm)$^{3}$ ETCC to manage 100 times more data while satisfying the severe restrictions regarding the weight and power consumption imposed by a balloon-borne observation. In particular, to improve the detection efficiency of the fine tracks in the TPC from $\sim$10\% to $\sim$100\%, we introduce a new data-handling algorithm in the TPC. Therefore, for efficient management of such large amounts of data, we developed a data-acquisition system with parallel data flow.Comment: 11 pages, 24 figure

New acoustic respiratory sound monitoring with artificial intelligence

Monitored anesthesia care (MAC) often causes airway complications, particularly posing an elevated risk of aspiration and airway obstruction in obese patients. This study aimed to quantify the levels of aspiration and airway obstruction using an artificial intelligence (AI)-based acoustic analysis algorithm, assessing its utility in identifying airway complications in obese patients. To verify the correlation between the stridor quantitative value (STQV) calculated by acoustic analysis and body weight, and to further evaluate fluid retention and airway obstruction, STQV calculated exhaled breath sounds collected at the neck region, was compared before and after injection of 3 ml of water in the oral cavity and at the start and end of the MAC procedures. STQV measured immediately following the initiation of MAC exhibited a weak correlation with body mass index. Furhtermore, STQV values before and after water injection increased predominantly after injection, further increased at the end of MAC. AI-based analysis of cervical respiratory sounds can enhance the safety of airway management during MAC by quantifying airway obstruction and fluid retention in obese patients

Blood Lipids and Lipoproteins in Soccer Players

本研究の目的は､関連した文献から1)ｻｯｶｰ選手の血清脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質に関する横断的研究を食事や栄養素等摂取量､肥満､喫煙､ｱﾙｺｰﾙ摂取量､月経周期､競技ﾎﾟｼﾞｼｮﾝなどの潜在的な交絡因子を含めて検討し､2)90分間のｻｯｶｰ競技の血清脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質に対する急性効果､3)競技者やﾚｸﾘｴｰｼｮﾝとして行っている者の定期的なｻｯｶｰﾄﾚｰﾆﾝｸﾞが血清脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質に対する効果につい検討することである｡ｻｯｶｰ選手の血中脂質における最も一致した見解は､高比重ﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸｺﾚｽﾃﾛｰﾙ(HDL-C)が対照群よりも高値を示すことである｡血中脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質における90分間のｻｯｶｰの試合の急性効果に関する研究では､特に血漿量の変化を補正する必要がある｡定期的なｻｯｶｰﾄﾚｰﾆﾝｸﾞを行えば､異なる年齢層において総ｺﾚｽﾃﾛｰﾙ､ﾄﾘｸﾞﾘｾﾘﾄﾞ､低比重ﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸｺﾚｽﾃﾛｰﾙ(LDL-C)を減少させ､HDL-C を増加させることができる｡訓練していない男女のﾚｸﾘｴｰｼｮﾝとしてのｻｯｶｰﾄﾚｰﾆﾝｸﾞにおける血中脂質への効果に関する最も一致した見解は､LDL-C および/または LDL-C/ HDL-C 比が低下することである｡ｻｯｶｰ選手における血中脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質の変化は､ﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質ﾘﾊﾟｰｾﾞ､ﾚｼﾁﾝ:ｺﾚｽﾃﾛｰﾙｱｼﾙﾄﾗﾝｽﾌｪﾗｰｾﾞおよび肝性ﾘﾊﾟｰｾﾞの活性ﾚﾍﾞﾙの変化によるものである可能性が考えられる｡ｻｯｶｰ選手における今後の研究は､血中脂質およびﾘﾎﾟﾀﾝﾊﾟｸ質が変化するﾒｶﾆｽﾞﾑに向けられる必要がある｡これらの研究では特に知見が不足している女性や青年､若年成人に焦点を当てるべきである｡The purpose of this study was to review the related literature to examine: 1) cross-sectional studies on serum lipids and lipoproteins in soccer players in the context of the potentially confounding factors such as dietary and nutritional intakes, obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, menstrual cycle, and playing positions in soccer, 2) acute effects of 90-min soccer match, and 3) effects of regular soccer training on lipid parameters in competitive and recreational soccer players. The most consistent observation regarding cross-sectional studies on lipid profile in soccer players is significantly higher high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) than the controls. Research on the acute effects of 90-min of soccer match on the blood lipids and lipoproteins needs further attention, particularly it should correct plasma volume shifts. Participation in regular soccer training could decrease total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and increase HDL-C in soccer players of different age groups. The most consistent observation regarding effects of recreational soccer training on lipid profile in both untrained men and women is significantly lowered LDL-C and / or LDL-C / HDL-C ratio. The changes in lipids and lipoproteins in soccer players could be caused by changes in activity levels of lipoprotein lipase, lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase, and hepatic lipase. Future research investigating blood lipids and lipoproteins in soccer players should direct research towards the underlying mechanisms for changes in blood lipids and lipoproteins. These studies should, in particular, focus on women, adolescents and young adults since there is a paucity of information in the literature in this area

Program study of forestry recreation as outdoor education ーThe example of forest recreation practice carried out as part of outdoor education ー

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of outdoor education in college students who participated in a 4-days forestry recreation course,nature and outdoor school course.Forests and trees are vitally important to human society,and affect nearly every aspect of our lives.The importance of forestry recreation by the activity of university class is to visit real forest and experience the natural life style. The forest recreation activities include eliminating weeds for afforestation of beech trees.In the outdoor education program we want to help improving the quality of environment and life style by students.It is important to consider carefully our spiritual health,social health,and even wellness life style through the forest recreation program.The purpose of the forestry recreation is to educate students and to study about the benefits of trees and natural enviroment.This program assists to recognize rural communities and to encourage our recognition of citizen involvement in protecting,expanding,and improving our forests.? The forestry recreation programs also produce a variety of activities that may effect to educate everyday life style. From such a viewpoint,the usefulness of the forestry recreation program as physical education in the university was suggested