[External Intervention for Visually Induced Postural Change during Video Viewing].

Objectives: Virtual reality (VR) and three-dimensional (3D) images have become increasingly popular. It has been reported that visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) is more frequently caused by viewing these images. We propose a method to control VIMS by controlling visually evoked postural responses (VEPRs) using galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS).

Characterization of the bacterial community structure in traditional Gifu ayu-narezushi (fermented sweetfish).

In this study, we aimed to elucidate the bacterial biota of ayu-nazushi, which is a fermented salted fish dish made in Gifu City, Japan. In traditional Gifu ayu-nazushi, Lactobacillaceae (mainly Latilactobacillus sakei) was the most dominant family, followed by Enterobacteriaceae. Moreover, fermentation bacteria in ayu-nazushi came from the salted fish, and the bacterial biota in the ayu-nazushi transferred as the fermentation process progressed.

[Pattern of Body Sway While Viewing 3D Video Clips in Various Age Groups].

Objectives: These days, developments in graphical technology have resulted in an increase in the chance to view 3D video clips. Visually induced motion sickness (VIMS) has been widely reported as a negative result of viewing these clips. The onset of VIMS is explained by some hypotheses.

[Effect of Olfactory Stimulation with Vanilla Odor on Degree of Gastric Myoelectrical Activity].

Objectives: Olfactory stimulation elicits various physiological responses. However, few reports exist on the changes in gastric motility during olfactory stimulation in humans. In this regard, we carried out electrogastrography (EGG) to non-invasively measure the gastric myoelectrical activity, which regulates gastric motility.

The Relationship between Family Meals and Mental Health Problems in Japanese Elementary School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The relative burden of mental health problems in children is increasing worldwide. Family meals have attracted attention as an effective modifiable factor for preventing children's mental health problems. We examined the relationship between family meals and mental health problems in Japanese elementary schoolchildren.

The Hekinan Children's Study: Design and Profile of Participants at Baseline.

Background: The early life environment is now recognized as a key factor contributing to susceptibility to certain diseases in later life.

Methods: We initiated a cohort study among school children in 2011 to primarily investigate the associations between lifestyle and environmental factors and some surrogate markers of chronic diseases, such as cardiometabolic risk factors (ie, obesity, high blood pressure, high blood glucose, insulin, or lipids) and cancer risk factors (ie, height and age at menarche). A baseline questionnaire asked for information, including demographic variables, medical history and use of medication, dietary habits, physical activity, sleep habits, and behavioral and emotional problems of children.

Novel mathematical model to estimate ball impact force in soccer.

To assess ball impact force during soccer kicking is important to quantify from both performance and chronic injury prevention perspectives. We aimed to verify the appropriateness of previous models used to estimate ball impact force and to propose an improved model to better capture the time history of ball impact force. A soccer ball was fired directly onto a force platform (10 kHz) at five realistic kicking ball velocities and ball behaviour was captured by a high-speed camera (5,000 Hz).

Level of perception of technical terms regarding the effect of radiation on the human body by residents of Japan.

Background: This study aimed to examine the level of perception of the technical terms related to the effect of radiation on the human body among residents of the six prefectures of Miyagi, Fukushima, Tokyo, Aichi, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki in Japan. Miyagi and Fukushima were selected as devastated area by Great East Japan Earthquake. Tokyo and Aichi were selected as control.

Associations between polymorphisms in folate-metabolizing genes and pancreatic cancer risk in Japanese subjects.

Background: Evidence supporting the associations between folate metabolizing gene polymorphisms and pancreatic cancer has been inconclusive. We examined their associations in a case-control study of Japanese subjects.

Methods: Our case-control study involved 360 newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer cases and 400 frequency-matched, non-cancer control subjects.

Genome-wide association study-identified SNPs (rs3790844, rs3790843) in the NR5A2 gene and risk of pancreatic cancer in Japanese.

We genotyped 2 SNPs (rs3790844 T/C and rs3790843 G/A) in the NR5A2 gene that were identified in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of pancreatic cancer in populations of mainly European ancestry, and we examined their associations with pancreatic cancer risk in a case-control study of 360 patients and 400 control subjects in Japan. Unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The SNPs were in linkage disequilibrium (r(2) = 0.

Choline and Betaine Intakes Are Not Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Risk in Japanese Men and Women.

Background: Dietary intakes of betaine and choline may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease; however, epidemiologic evidence is limited. Seafood is a rich source of betaine and is a popular traditional food in Japan.

Objective: We examined the associations of betaine and choline intakes with cardiovascular disease mortality in a population-based cohort study in Japan.

Dietary intakes of glutamic acid and glycine are associated with stroke mortality in Japanese adults.

Background: Dietary intakes of glutamic acid and glycine have been reported to be associated with blood pressure. However, the link between intakes of these amino acids and stroke has not been studied.

Objective: We aimed to examine the association between glutamic acid and glycine intakes and the risk of mortality from stroke in a population-based cohort study in Japan.

Exploratory study of some acoustic and articulatory characteristics of sad speech.

This study examines acoustic and articulatory EMA data of two female speakers (American and Japanese) spontaneously producing emotional speech while engaged in an informal telephone-type conversation. A set of control data in which the speakers imitated or read the original emotional utterance was also recorded; for the American speaker, the intonation pattern was also imitated. The results suggest (1) acoustic and articulatory characteristics of spontaneous sad speech differ from that of read speech or imitated intonation speech, (2) spontaneous sad speech and imitated sad speech seem to have similar acoustic characteristics (high F(0), changed F(1) as well as voice quality), but articulation is different in terms of lip, jaw and tongue positions, and (3) speech that is rated highly by listeners as sad is associated with high F(0) and changed voice quality.

Gold sodium thiomalate improves membrane potential impaired by high-frequency stimulation.

Effects of gold sodium thiomalate (GSTM) on membrane potential and tetanus tension were examined to elucidate whether the gold compound improves mechanical and electrical muscle dysfunction produced by continuous repeated stimulation of frog skeletal muscles. Continuous stimulation (50 Hz for 2 min, 0.05 ms pulse duration) to the sartorius muscle depolarized the membrane, decreased action potential amplitude, and prolonged action potential duration.

Presence of glyoxylate cycle enzymes in the mitochondria of Euglena gracilis.

Isocitrate lyase and malate synthase are specific enzymes of the glyoxylate cycle, used here as glyoxysomal markers. Both enzymes were found in the mitochondrial fraction after organelle fractionation by isopycnic centrifugation. Electron microscopy of this fraction indicated that mitochondria were the only recognizable organelles.

Articulation of extreme formant patterns for emphasized vowels.

This study examined formant, jaw and tongue dorsum measurements from X-ray microbeam recordings of American English speakers producing emphasized vs. unemphasized words containing high-front, mid-front and low vowels. For emphasized vowels, the jaw position, regardless of vowel height, was lower, while the tongue dorsum had a more extreme articulation in the direction of the phonological specification of the vowel.

Effects of vitamin B6 deficiency on cytokine levels and lymphocytes in mice.

The effects of vitamin B6 (B6) deficiency on cytokine levels and proportions of lymphocyte subsets in BALB/c mice were investigated. The proportion of lymphocytes from the thymus and spleen of mice given no B6, that were CD4+ CD8- T cells, was larger than in mice given B6, and the ratio of CD8+ to CD4+ T cells in the thymus of mice given no B6 was lower. The concentrations of interleukin-5 and -10 in spleen cells stimulated in vitro with concanavalin A were significantly higher in the mice with B6 deficiency, as was their plasma corticosterone concentrations.

Effect of vitamin B6 deficiency on an antibody production in mice.

To investigate the effects of vitamin B6 (B6) deficiency on an antibody production in BALB/c mice, the production of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibody against dinitrophenylated ovalbumin (DNP-OVA) were measured by the methods of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The mice fed on on a B6 deficient diet for 4 weeks were immunized intraperitoneally with DNP-OVA absorbed to aluminum hydroxide gel. The contents of anti DNP-IgE antibodies in sera of B6 deficient mice significantly increased compared to that of control mice fed on a diet containing B6.

[Relationship between chilliness of the limbs and daily-life conditions in young females].

In winter, many people have trouble with chilliness in their arms and legs. Many women are especially sensitive to cold, and for them the chilliness of the hands and the feet is difficult to ease even after entering a warm room, or taking a bath. They even feel pain owing to coldness of their limbs in daily life.

Involvement of thiols in the induction of inward current induced by silver in frog skeletal muscle membrane.

Exposure of voltage-clamped frog skeletal muscle fibres to silver caused a maintained inward current which could be carried by Ca2+, Mg2+ or Na+. Inorganic Ca2+ channel blockers and dithiothreitol (SH reducing agent) diminished this current, but a Na+ channel blocker did not. Thus, silver activates the Ca2+ channel by acting on SH groups in a Ca2+ channel protein.