The Largest Quasicrystalline Tiling with Dodecagonal Symmetry from a Single Pentablock Quarterpolymer of the ABCBD Type.

A quasicrystalline tiling pattern with tile size of . 60 nm has been discovered in the bulk state of a four-component pentablock polymer molecule of the type, where A, S, I, and P denote poly(4-vinylbenzyldimethylamine), polystyrene, polyisoprene, and poly(2-vinylpyridine), respectively. The polymer samples used were prepared by anionic polymerizations and have narrow molecular weight distribution.

Contribution of skeletal muscle and serum lipids to muscle contraction induced by neuromuscular electrical stimulation in older individuals.

Intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) stored in droplets in muscle cells and free fatty acids (FFA) from fat cells in the blood are the main substrates of adenosine triphosphate during continuous muscle contractions of relatively lower intensity. Although it is known that the lipid oxidative capacity decreases with aging, the effect of IMCL and FFA on muscle contraction in older individuals remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of skeletal muscle lipids and blood lipids as energy sources for muscle contraction in older individuals.

Association and solubility of chlorophenols in CCl: MIR/NIR spectroscopic and DFT study.

This work provides new information on the effect of position and number of substituents on association and solubility of chlorophenols in CCl. Using MIR and NIR spectroscopy we examined solutions of 12 chlorophenols at several concentrations. In addition, we calculated (DFT) theoretical spectra and structures of monomers and associates of chlorophenols from dimer to tetramer.

Applying Lean principles to create a high throughput mass COVID-19 vaccination site.

A high throughput COVID-19 vaccination site was created using Lean principles and tools. Mass-vaccination sites can achieve high output by creating a standard physical design for workspaces and standardised work protocols, and by timing each step in the vaccination process to create a value stream map that can identify and remove all wasteful steps. Reliability of the vaccination process can be assured by creating a visual checklist that monitors the individual steps as well as by building in second checks by downstream personnel.

A comparison of daytime and nighttime pedestrian road-crossing behavior using an immersive virtual environment.

Objective: Reduced visibility for both drivers and pedestrians is a key factor underlying the higher risk of vehicle-pedestrian collisions in dark conditions. This study investigated the extent to which pedestrians adjust for the higher risk of road crossing at night by comparing daytime and nighttime pedestrian road crossing using an immersive virtual environment.

Method: Participants physically crossed a single lane of continuous traffic in an immersive pedestrian simulator.

Effects of Balance Exercise Assist Robot training for patients with hemiparetic stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Robot-assisted rehabilitation for patients with stroke is promising. However, it is unclear whether additional balance training using a balance-focused robot combined with conventional rehabilitation programs supplements the balance function in patients with stroke. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Balance Exercise Assist Robot (BEAR) training combined with conventional inpatient rehabilitation training to those of conventional inpatient rehabilitation only in patients with hemiparetic stroke.

Attenuated Total Reflection Far-Ultraviolet (ATR-FUV) Spectroscopy is a Sensitive Tool for Investigation of Protein Adsorption.

Attenuated total reflection far-ultraviolet (ATR-FUV) spectra in the 145-250 nm region were studied for four kinds of proteins (two α-helix-rich proteins: bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme and two β-sheet rich proteins: concanavalin A and γ-globulin) in different solutions (pure water and phosphate buffered saline, or PBS) with different concentrations. All the spectra show a band at 191 nm due to the π-π transition of amide bonds of the proteins. The wavelength of the band does not change with their second structures, suggesting that the corresponding electronic transition mode is localized and polarized in the direction that is not affected by the difference in the peptide folding.

Factors associated with response to compression-based physical therapy for secondary lower limb lymphedema after gynecologic cancer treatment: a multicenter retrospective study.

Background: Lower limb lymphedema (LLL) is one of the most refractory and debilitating complications related to gynecological cancer treatment. We investigated factors associated with response to compression-based physical therapy (CPT) for secondary LLL after gynecologic cancer treatment.

Methods: We performed a multicenter retrospective study using the records of seven medical institutions from 2002 and 2014.

Acute effects of ankle plantar flexor force-matching exercises on postural strategy during single leg standing in healthy adults.

Background: Ankle plantar flexor force steadiness, assessed by measuring the fluctuation of the force around the submaximal target torque, has been associated with postural stability.

Research Question: To investigate whether a force-matching exercise, where submaximal steady torque is maintained at the target torque, can modulate postural strategy immediately.

Methods: Twenty-eight healthy young adults performed ankle plantar flexor force-matching exercises at target torques of 5%, 20%, and 50% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), in a randomized crossover trial.

Predicting atrial fibrillation episodes with rapid ventricular rates associated with low levels of activity.

Background: Rapid and irregular ventricular rates (RVR) are an important consequence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Raw accelerometry data in combination with electrocardiogram (ECG) data have the potential to distinguish inappropriate from appropriate tachycardia in AF. This can allow for the development of a just-in-time intervention for clinical treatments of AF events.

Digital Twin-Driven Human Robot Collaboration Using a Digital Human.

Advances are being made in applying digital twin (DT) and human-robot collaboration (HRC) to industrial fields for safe, effective, and flexible manufacturing. Using a DT for human modeling and simulation enables ergonomic assessment during working. In this study, a DT-driven HRC system was developed that measures the motions of a worker and simulates the working progress and physical load based on digital human (DH) technology.

Relationship between locomotive syndrome and frailty in rheumatoid arthritis patients by locomotive syndrome stage.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between locomotive syndrome (LS) and frailty in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Subjects were 538 RA patients (female, 72.9%; mean age ± standard deviation, 66.

Validating a Japanese Version of the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire.

Background: There is increasing international interest in clinical practice and research related to mental health in the international sports society. The athlete-specific psychological distress assessment tool that addresses potential mental health needs can help promote early detection and recovery of mental illness, as well as physical illnesses. Currently, little is known about the applicability of the useful assessment tool for Japanese elite athletes.

Core body temperature estimation by eyeglass-type device: thermal analysis of radiation heat measured from caruncle.

This paper describes a method for estimating core body temperature from radiation heat of the caruncle and an eyeglass-type device for measuring the temperature of the caruncle to prescreen for infectious diseases such as COVID-19. As a precise prescreening method, monitoring a person's continuous core body temperature is desired. By monitoring the continuous core body temperature, including circadian rhythm, in our daily life, infections can potentially be discovered when body temperature is higher than normal.

The Effect of Functional Biomechanics Garment for Walking.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a functional biomechanics garment (FBG) with a lower extremity assist function. 32 healthy male participants were included in this study. Participants were divided into an FBG with taping function group (FBG group) and a compression garment group (CG group).

On the role of intermolecular vibrational motions for ice polymorphs. III. Mode characteristics associated with negative thermal expansion.

Low-pressure ice forms, such as hexagonal and cubic ice, expand on cooling below temperature 60 K. This negative thermal expansivity has been explored in terms of phonon frequency modulation with varying volume and attributed to the negative Grüneisen parameters unique mostly to tetrahedrally coordinated substances. However, an underlying mechanism for the negative Grüneisen parameters has not been known except some schematic analyses.

A body shape index could serve to identify individuals with metabolic syndrome and increased arterial stiffness in the middle-aged population.

Background: A body shape index (ABSI) is a novel anthropometric measure calculated using waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and body height. This study investigated the usefulness of ABSI to identify individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and increased arterial stiffness in the middle-aged population.

Methods: Middle-aged workers who underwent periodic health check-ups and who were without previous cardiovascular events were enrolled (n = 10,182).

Walking on the bright side: Associations between affect, depression, and gait.

Background: Psychomotor change is a core symptom of depression and one of the criteria in diagnosing depressive disorders. Research suggests depressed individuals demonstrate deviations in gait, or walking, compared to non-depressed controls. However, studies are sparse, often limited to older adults and observational gait assessment.

Effects of Force Modulation on Large Muscles during Human Cycling.

Voluntary force modulation is defined as the ability to tune the application of force during motion. However, the mechanisms behind this modulation are not yet fully understood. In this study, we examine muscle activity under various resistance levels at a fixed cycling speed.

Model-Based Prediction of Operation Consequences When Driving a Car to Compensate for a Partially Restricted Visual Field by A-Pillars.

The partial restriction of a driver's visual field by the physical structure of the car (e.g., the A-pillar) can lead to unsafe situations where steering performance is degraded.

Annual body mass index gain and risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in a subsequent pregnancy.

Weight gain during interpregnancy period is related to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). However, in interpregnancy care/counseling, the unpredictability of the timing of the next conception and the difficulties in preventing age-related body weight gain must be considered while setting weight management goals. Therefore, we suggest considering the annual change in the body mass index (BMI).

Indeno[1,2,3,4-pqra]Perylene: A Medium-Sized Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exhibiting Full-Range Visible-Light Absorption.

We report the synthesis and properties of indeno[1,2,3,4-pqra]perylene, which was prepared by the fusion of one anthracene unit with one naphthalene unit via three carbon-carbon bonds. The synthetic route through two-fold C-H arylation enabled not only the synthesis of unsubstituted indenoperylene, but also rapid access to its arylated derivatives on the gram scale. Indenoperylene is a medium-sized aromatic hydrocarbon with the composition C H that is isomeric to coronene.

Relationship between Physical Activity and Physical and Mental Health Status in Pregnant Women: A Prospective Cohort Study of the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

To discuss appropriate physical activity (PA) levels during pregnancy, this prospective cohort study examined the relationships between PA levels before and during pregnancy and physical and mental health status. Fixed data for 104,102 pregnant women were used from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, of which data for 82,919 women were analyzed after excluding women with multiple birth and pregnancy complications. PA levels were measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form.

Occupational physical activity differentially affects the risk for developing later-onset Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis among middle-aged and older populations.

Background: A person's occupation may increase his/her risk for developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study investigated the association between risk for later-onset of IBD and both specific occupations and occupational physical activity (OPA) levels.

Materials And Methods: A multicenter hospital-based matched case-control study was conducted using the Inpatient Clinico-Occupational Survey database.