Suppressive control of optokinetic and vestibular nystagmus by the primate frontal eye field.

When the eyes are fixated on a spot, fixation neurons in the frontal eye field (FEF) show an increase in activity. Our previous study suggested that fixation neurons in the FEF contribute to the suppression of saccades and smooth pursuit eye movements to maintain active fixation. The present study examined the role of the FEF in the suppressive control of reflexive eye movements, optokinetic and vestibular nystagmus, in trained monkeys.

Magnetic-field-induced phase separation via spinodal decomposition in epitaxial manganese ferrite thin films.

In this study, we report about the occurrence of phase separation through spinodal decomposition (SD) in spinel manganese ferrite (Mn ferrite) thin films grown by Dynamic Aurora pulsed laser deposition. The driving force behind this SD in Mn ferrite films is considered to be an ion-impingement-enhanced diffusion that is induced by the application of magnetic field during film growth. The phase separation to Mn-rich and Fe-rich phases in Mn ferrite films is confirmed from the Bragg's peak splitting and the appearance of the patterned checkerboard-like domain in the surface.

Motor action of the frontal eye field on the eyes and neck in the monkey.

Focal stimulation in the frontal eye field (FEF) evoked eye movements that were often accompanied by neck movements. Experiments were performed with concurrent recording of both movements in trained monkeys. We recorded neck forces under a head-restrained condition with a force-measuring system.

Non-Fermi Liquids as Highly Active Oxygen Evolution Reaction Catalysts.

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) plays a key role in emerging energy conversion technologies such as rechargeable metal-air batteries, and direct solar water splitting. Herein, a remarkably low overpotential of ≈150 mV at 10 mA cm in alkaline solutions using one of the non-Fermi liquids, HgRuO, is reported. HgRuO displays a rapid increase in current density and excellent durability as an OER catalyst.

Psychosocial Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in a Japanese Population.

There is limited evidence in Japan regarding the psychosocial determinants of fruit/vegetable intake. We performed a cross-sectional study of people aged 18 years or older in four regions of Japan; 2308 (men: 1012, women: 1296) individuals who completed the questionnaires were included. We found that 24.

Strain engineering effects on electrical properties of lead-free piezoelectric thin films on Si wafers.

Using radio frequency - magnetron sputtering, calcium-doped barium zirconate titanate ((Ba(0.85)Ca(0.15))(Zr(0.

Activity of fixation neurons in the monkey frontal eye field during smooth pursuit eye movements.

We recorded the activity of fixation neurons in the frontal eye field (FEF) in trained monkeys and analyzed their activity during smooth pursuit eye movements. Fixation neurons were densely located in the area of the FEF in the caudal part of the arcuate gyrus facing the inferior arcuate sulcus where focal electrical stimulation suppressed the generation of saccades and smooth pursuit in bilateral directions at an intensity lower than the threshold for eliciting electrically evoked saccades. Whereas fixation neurons discharged tonically during fixation, they showed a variety of discharge patterns during smooth pursuit, ranging from a decrease in activity to an increase in activity.

One-year outcome of an interactive internet-based physical activity intervention among university students.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether improvement in physical activity of students following a 4-month intervention of a university course was maintained 8 months later.

Methods: Data on 77 students who responded to our scheduled inquiries completely through 1 year were analyzed. Participants of the intervention group (n=49) using the internet-based physical activity program exhibited significant increases in energy expenditures measured by IPAQ compared with the no-treatment control group (n=28) through 1 year.

Phase diagram and piezoelectric response of (Ba₁-xCax)(Zr₀.₁Ti₀.₉)O₃ solid solution.

We report the phase diagram of (Ba1-xCax)(Zr0.1Ti0.9)O3 solid solution.

Suppression of smooth pursuit eye movements induced by electrical stimulation of the monkey frontal eye field.

This study was performed to characterize the properties of the suppression of smooth pursuit eye movement induced by electrical stimulation of the frontal eye field (FEF) in trained monkeys. At the stimulation sites tested, we first determined the threshold for generating electrically evoked saccades (Esacs). We then examined the suppressive effects of stimulation on smooth pursuit at intensities that were below the threshold for eliciting Esacs.

Expression of an RSV-gag virus-like particle in insect cell lines and silkworm larvae.

Rous sarcoma virus group antigen protein-based virus-like particles (VLPs) are well known for their structural integrity and ease of handling. VLPs play an important role in drug delivery systems because they can be manipulated with ease. In this study, a new method was established for expressing Rous sarcoma virus group antigen protein based VLPs in silkworm larvae and establishing stably expressing insect cell lines.

Magnetic and optical properties of MgAlO-(NiZn)FeO thin films prepared by pulsed laser deposition.

Thin films composed of MgAlO and (NiZn)FeO ([MA(100-)-NZF] films) were grown on fused SiO substrates by pulsed laser deposition. X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that the films were polycrystalline, and that their lattice constant varied linearly with composition, indicating the formation of a solid solution. The film with =60 was paramagnetic and those with ≥ 70 were ferromagnetic.

Fabrication of two-dimensional close-packed shell structure in ceramic thin films.

TiO thin films with a periodical two-dimensional close-packed hemispherical structure were prepared on Si substrates using pulsed laser deposition and close-packed monolayer polystyrene colloidal crystals as a template. Compared with conventional methods, which use a top-down approach, this route supports low-cost production of a periodic structure. Additionally, it is applicable to various ceramics for use in applications related to photonic crystals, surface self-cleaning materials, data storage media, bioassays, and so on.

Response properties of fixation neurons and their location in the frontal eye field in the monkey.

Electrical stimulation of the frontal eye field (FEF) has recently been reported to suppress the generation of saccades, which supports the idea that the FEF plays a role in maintaining attentive fixation. This study analyzed the activity of fixation neurons that discharged during fixation in the FEF in relation to visual fixation and saccades in trained monkeys. The neural activity of fixation neurons increased at the start of fixation and was maintained during fixation.

Relationship of psychological factors with physical activity stage of change in prime-and middle-aged Japanese.

The present study aimed to investigate the status of physical activity and the differences in psychological factors associated with physical activity from the perspective of transtheoretical model stages between prime- and middle-aged Japanese. The study involved 375 prime-aged volunteers (175 men, 200 women) and 557 middle-aged volunteers (247 men, 310 women) living in Kuse, a town in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. We found that the prime-aged men at the preparation stage had significantly higher self-efficacy scores than at the contemplation stage (p<0.

Initiation and suppression of saccades by the frontal eye field in the monkey.

After a saccadic eye movement occurs to an interesting object appearing in the visual field, visual fixation holds its image on the fovea and suppresses saccades to other objects appearing in the visual field. To understand the neural mechanism of visual fixation, the effects of electrical stimulation of the frontal eye field (FEF) on the generation of electrically evoked saccades (Esacs) and the suppression of saccades in trained monkeys were investigated. When the properties of the electrically evoked suppression of visually guided (Vsacs) and memory-guided saccades (Msacs) were examined, two types of suppression were found.

Suppression of visually and memory-guided saccades induced by electrical stimulation of the monkey frontal eye field. II. Suppression of bilateral saccades.

To understand the neural mechanism of fixation, we investigated effects of electrical stimulation of the frontal eye field (FEF) and its vicinity on visually guided (Vsacs) and memory-guided saccades (Msacs) in trained monkeys and found that there were two types of suppression induced by the electrical stimulation: suppression of ipsilateral saccades and suppression of bilateral saccades. In this report, we characterized the properties of the suppression of bilateral Vsacs and Msacs. Stimulation of the bilateral suppression sites suppressed the initiation of both Vsacs and Msacs in all directions during and approximately 50 ms after stimulation but did not affect the vector of these saccades.

Suppression of visually and memory-guided saccades induced by electrical stimulation of the monkey frontal eye field. I. Suppression of ipsilateral saccades.

When a saccade occurs to an interesting object, visual fixation holds its image on the fovea and suppresses saccades to other objects. Electrical stimulation of the frontal eye field (FEF) has been reported to elicit saccades, and recently also to suppress saccades. This study was performed to characterize properties of the suppression of visually guided (Vsacs) and memory-guided saccades (Msacs) induced by electrical stimulation of the FEF in trained monkeys.

Bone assessment of female long-distance runners.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of long-distance training on the bones in different growth stages by evaluating the bones of female high school athletes and female adult athletes who engage in long-distance training. Thirteen female high school athletes (aged 15-17 years) and 7 female adult athletes (aged 21-25 years) were enrolled in the present study. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Daily exercise lowers blood pressure and reduces visceral adipose tissue areas in overweight Japanese men.

Objective: To investigate the link between a reduction in blood pressure (BP) and daily exercise.

Design: Cross-sectional and longitudinal clinical intervention study with exercise education.

Subjects: 43 overweight Japanese men aged 32-59 years (BMI, 29.

Psychological determinants of physical activity in Japanese female employees.

To understand how psychological characteristics influence adoption and maintenance of physical activity/exercise, we conducted a cross-sectional study among Japanese employees based upon the idea of stages of behavior modification. The study population consisted of 719 employees (male, 396, female, 323) from five medium-sized manufacturing companies (50-200 employees) in Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The female response rate was 67.

[Evaluation of an exercise program for obese males].

Purpose: We developed a one-year exercise program based on evaluation of life style and physical fitness and investigated its efficacy.

Subjects And Methods: Sixty one Japanese males (30 < or = age < 59, body mass index: BMI > or = 26.4 kg/m2) were enrolled in the stady.

Daily walking reduces visceral adipose tissue areas and improves insulin resistance in Japanese obese subjects.

Objective: It is known that the accumulation of abdominal fat is one of the risk factors for atherosclerosis. Although exercise is commonly prescribed to reduce body weight, the efficacy of low intensity exercise for the reduction of abdominal visceral adipose tissue remains to be investigated.

Research Design And Methods: Thirty one obese Japanese males (body mass index (BMI) > or = 25) ranging in age from 32 to 59, participated in a 1-year follow up study and they were instructed to have a modest increase in daily activity and record their daily walking.

Ultrasound assessment of tibial cortical bone acquisition in Japanese children and adolescents.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the normal process of cortical bone acquisition during childhood and adolescence, and the relationship between speed of sound (SOS), measured by the Sound Scan 2000 system, and linear growth. A total of 1689 healthy Japanese children and adolescents (862 males and 827 females, aged 7-19 years) were enrolled in the study. SOS (m/s) was measured at the right tibial midshaft and the standard SOS values in the children and adolescents were generated.