What is the significance of the traditional pinching mode of holding chopsticks?

Background: The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of manipulation mode of chopsticks on the learning process, using assessment of task performance and electromyography, and to understand the significance of the traditional manipulation mode from the viewpoint of physiological anthropology. Previous studies have described two modes of manipulating chopsticks, the traditional pincers-pinching mode and the scissors-pinching mode.

Methods: We conducted experiments with two conditions of holding chopsticks: scissors mode and pincers mode.

A review of the studies on nonvisual lighting effects in the field of physiological anthropology.

Here, we review the history and the trends in the research on the nonvisual effect of light in the field of physiological anthropology. Research on the nonvisual effect of light in the field of physiological anthropology was pioneered by Sato and colleagues in the early 1990s. These authors found that the color temperature of light affected physiological functions in humans.

Correction to: Effect of simultaneous exposure to extremely short pulses of blue and green light on human pupillary constriction.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported that the abstract was missing from this article.

Simulated High Altitude Helium-Oxygen Diving.

Background: Experience with commercial heliox diving at high altitude is limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of acute high-altitude exposure on fitness to dive and the safety of decompression after heliox diving while using U.S.

Subadditive responses to extremely short blue and green pulsed light on visual evoked potentials, pupillary constriction and electroretinograms.

Background: The simultaneous exposure to blue and green light was reported to result in less melatonin suppression than monochromatic exposure to blue or green light. Here, we conducted an experiment using extremely short blue- and green-pulsed light to examine their visual and nonvisual effects on visual evoked potentials (VEPs), pupillary constriction, electroretinograms (ERGs), and subjective evaluations.

Methods: Twelve adult male subjects were exposed to three light conditions: blue-pulsed light (2.

Human pupillary light reflex during successive irradiation with 1-ms blue- and green-pulsed light.

Background: In the human retina, the contribution of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) to the regulation of the pupillary response remains poorly understood. The objective of the current study was to determine the response dynamics of the pupillary light reflex to short, successive pulses of light. In order to better assess the roles of ipRGCs and cones, we used pulses of blue and green light.

Effect of quantity and intensity of pulsed light on human non-visual physiological responses.

Background: Exposure to pulsed light results in non-visual physiological responses in humans. The present study aims to investigate whether such non-visual effects are influenced to a greater extent by the intensity of lighting or by the power (quantity) of lighting.

Methods: >Twelve healthy young male participants (23 ± 0.

THE INFLUENCE OF LATERALITY ON DIFFERENT PATTERNS OF ASYMMETRICAL FOOT PRESSURE AND MUSCLE ACTIVATION DURING A GAIT CYCLE IN MANUAL PUSHING.

This study investigated laterality of manual pushing during a gait cycle by measuring pushing force, muscular activation and foot pressure. Subjects were 17 healthy young adult males; (11 right-handed [RH], and 6 left-handed [LH]). They pushed a force plate while walking on a treadmill at 1.

Effects of horizontal console position on operator muscular stress during cardiac ultrasonic diagnosis.

Ultrasound examinations tend to put sonographers in unnatural postures, which may lead to musculoskeletal disorders. In order to address this issue, in this study, we focused on the horizontal position of the console of a diagnostic ultrasound system to quantitatively assess the influence of the work plane position on musculoskeletal stress cardiac ultrasonic diagnosis in the bed-sitting position. Five subjects were asked to simulate a scanning task that involved touching five points on the console, setting the work plane at different positions in the space.

Ergonomic design and evaluation of the handle for an endoscopic dissector.

The purpose of this study was to design an endoscopic dissector handle and objectively assess its usability. The handles were designed with increased contact area between the fingers and thumb and the eye rings, and the eye rings were modified to have a more perpendicular insertion angle to the finger midline. Four different handle models were compared, including a conventional product.

THE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT TRUNK INCLINATIONS ON BILATERAL TRUNK MUSCULAR ACTIVITIES, CENTRE OF PRESSURE AND FORCE EXERTIONS IN STATIC PUSHING POSTURES.

In order to reconcile contradictory results from previous studies on manual pushing, a study was conducted to examine the effect of trunk inclination on muscular activities, centre of pressure (COP) and force exertion during static pushing. Ten subjects pushed at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, and 45 degrees body inclinations in parallel and staggered feet stances. Wall and ground force plates measured pushing force, wall COP, vertical ground reaction force (GRF) and ground COP.

Ergonomic design and evaluation of new surgical scissors.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study is to design a new surgical scissors handle and determine its effectiveness with various usability indices. A new scissors handle was designed that retains the professional grip but has the shapes of the eye rings modified to fit the thumb and ring finger and finger rests for the index and little finger. The newly designed scissors and traditional scissors were compared by electromyography, subjective evaluation and task performance in experiments using cutting and peeling tasks.

Verification of impact of morning showering and mist sauna bathing on human physiological functions and work efficiency during the day.

Recently, a growing number in Japan are switching to taking baths in the morning (morning bathing). However, the effects of the morning bathing on human physiological functions and work efficiency have not yet been revealed. Then, we hypothesized that the effect of morning bathing on physiological functions would be different from those of night bathing.

Effects of horizontal console position on operator muscular stress during abdominal ultrasonic diagnosis.

Ultrasound examinations may require sonographers to adopt unnatural postures, which can lead to musculoskeletal disorders. We previously assessed the effect of a vertical operation panel on muscular stress. In this study, we focused on the horizontal positioning of the control panel of a diagnostic ultrasound system to quantitatively assess the influence of work plane position on musculoskeletal stress during scanning.

Effects of a vertical console position on operator muscular stress during ultrasonic diagnosis.

Ultrasound examinations tend to put sonographers in unnatural postures, which may lead to musculoskeletal disorders. In this study, we focused on the height of the operation panel of the diagnostic ultrasound system to quantitatively assess the effects of panel height (work plane height) on musculoskeletal stress during scanning in a sitting position. Eight subjects were asked to perform a simulated scanning task that involved touching nine points on the operation panel at four different panel heights.

The core interthreshold zone during exposure to red and blue light.

Background: This study tested the hypothesis that the core interthreshold zone (CIZ) changes during exposure to red or blue light via the non-visual pathway, because it is known that light intensity affects the central nervous system. We conducted a series of human experiments with 5 or 10 male subjects in each experiment.

Methods: The air temperature in the climatic chamber was maintained at 20 to 24°C.

Sustaining biological welfare for our future through consistent science.

Physiological anthropology presently covers a very broad range of human knowledge and engineering technologies. This study reviews scientific inconsistencies within a variety of areas: sitting posture; negative air ions; oxygen inhalation; alpha brain waves induced by music and ultrasound; 1/f fluctuations; the evaluation of feelings using surface electroencephalography; Kansei; universal design; and anti-stress issues. We found that the inconsistencies within these areas indicate the importance of integrative thinking and the need to maintain the perspective on the biological benefit to humanity.

Physiological functions of the effects of the different bathing method on recovery from local muscle fatigue.

Background: Recently, mist saunas have been used in the home as a new bathing style in Japan. However, there are still few reports on the effects of bathing methods on recovery from muscle fatigue. Furthermore, the effect of mist sauna bathing on human physiological function has not yet been revealed.

Effects of blue pulsed light on human physiological functions and subjective evaluation.

Background: It has been assumed that light with a higher irradiance of pulsed blue light has a much greater influence than that of light with a lower irradiance of steady blue light, although they have the same multiplication value of irradiance and duration. We examined the non-visual physiological effects of blue pulsed light, and determined whether it is sensed visually as being blue.

Findings: Seven young male volunteers participated in the study.

Physiological responses at short distances from a parametric speaker.

In recent years, parametric speakers have been used in various circumstances. In our previous studies, we verified that the physiological burden of the sound of parametric speaker set at 2.6 m from the subjects was lower than that of the general speaker.

Verification of endocrinological functions at a short distance between parametric speakers and the human body.

Objective: In recent years, a new type of speaker called the parametric speaker has been used to generate highly directional sound, and these speakers are now commercially available. In our previous study, we verified that the burden of the parametric speaker was lower than that of the general speaker for endocrine functions. However, nothing has yet been demonstrated about the effects of the shorter distance than 2.

The effect of season and light intensity on the core interthreshold zone.

The hypothesis tested in the present study is a seasonal difference in the core interthreshold zone (CIZ), as we suggested in an earlier study that individual awareness of heat may change the CIZ due to thermoregulatory behavior. A series of human experiments were carried out in a climatic chamber in January and August of 2009 and January of 2010. The air temperature in the chamber was controlled at 20-24°C.

Effects of parametric speaker sound on physiological functions during mental task.

In recent years, parametric speakers have been used in various circumstances. However, nothing has yet been demonstrated about the safety of parametric speakers for the human body. Therefore, we studied their effects on physiological functions.