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Axiomatic Method of Measure and Integration (X). Definition of Curvilinear L-integral and its Fundamental Properties
Get PDFIn this paper, we define the concept of the length of a space curve C in the space Rd in the Lebesgue’s sense. Here we assume d ≥ 2. Then we consider the continuous mapping φ : I → C, which is defined by the formula
φ(t) = r(t), (a ≤ t ≤ b).
Then we define the measure space (C, MC , ν) of Lebesgue type. This is the image measure space on the curve C of (I, M, µ) on the interval I = [a, b] by the mapping φ. Then we define the curvilinear L-integral on C and we study its fundamental properties. The result is a new and exact formulation.departmental bulletin pape
High serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are associated with greater lean tissue mass and skeletal muscle mass : a cross-sectional study on young healthy Japanese women
Get PDFStudies have shown that low serum 25(OH)D levels in young women may affect not only their own health but also the health of next generation through pregnancy and childbirth. The aim of this study is to assess the serum 25(OH)D levels in young Japanese women and to determine the factors influencing the changes in their serum 25(OH)D levels. Herein, 83 healthy young Japanese women were included. Early morning fasting blood samples, habitual food intake survey, eating habits survey, and anthropometric measurements were used to analyze the relationship between the serum 25(OH)D levels and nutrient intake, intake of food groups, dietary habits, and body composition. The findings revealed that about 50% of the study participants had an adequate intake (AI) of vitamin D (8.5 µg), whereas about 88% of the study participants were vitamin D deficient and about 12% were insufficient in serum 25(OH) levels. No significant association was observed between the serum 25(OH)D levels and nutrient intake or intake of food groups. Furthermore, higher serum 25(OH)D levels were associated with higher percentages of muscle and lean tissue, indicating that regulating the serum 25(OH)D levels helps maintain muscle mass and lowers the risk of sarcopenia and locomotive syndrome.journal articl
初めて育児をする女性が家事育児に前向きになれた夫からの働きかけ
Get PDF目的：初めて育児をする女性が，家事育児に前向きになれた夫からの働きかけについて明らかにする．
方法：地方都市にある周産期母子医療センターにて正期産で出産した産後１か月から３か月の心身ともに健康な第一子育児中の女性に，半構造化面接調査を実施し，質的記述的に分析した．
結果：研究参加者は，11名であった．初めて育児をする女性が家事育児に前向きになれた夫からの働きかけは，【思いやりのある言葉をかけてくれる】ことや，【家族に愛情を注いでくれる】こと，【一生懸命家事育児をしてくれる】ことであった．
結論：語りの中から，夫婦がお互いを尊重し，支えあっている様子が伺え，夫婦関係の調和性が読み取れた．本研究の結果から，夫は，子どもとの生活を理解して，妻を思いやり，妻もその思いを受け止め，家事育児役割責任を共に遂行するという意識とそれに伴う態度と行動，状況を察しながら互いに労わる言葉かけが重要である．Objective : The aim of this study was to clarify the approaches taken by husbands that helped women who were raising a child for the first time to be more positive about housework and childcare.
Methods : Qualitative descriptive research with semi-structured one-to-one interviews was conducted for 11 postpartum women who were physically and mentally healthy and had given birth at full term at a perinatal medical center in a regional city in Japan.
Results : Data analysis led to the emergence of 3 categories : （1）‘willing to speak caring word to me’ （2）‘willing to be affectionate to our family’ （3）‘willing to work to his best at housework and childcare for our family’.
Conclusions : It was apparent from the interviews that the husbands and wives respected and supported each other and that there was harmony in the marital relationship. The results of this study indicated that it is important for husbands to understand the situation of living with their children, for husbands to show kindness to their wives, for wives to accept those feelings of the husbands, and for the husbands to be conscious of their responsibility to participate in both housework and child rearing. The results of this study also showed the importance of the attitude and behavior that accompany these responsibilities and the importance of words the husband and wife use to help each other while understanding the situation.journal articl
Ultrasound-guided muscle dissection for lumboperitoneal shunting via lateral abdominal laparotomy
Get PDFPurpose ; Lumboperitoneal shunting (LPS) is a common procedure for treating idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), involving two abdominal approaches : anterior abdominal laparotomy and lateral abdominal laparotomy (LAL). While LAL is advantageous in terms of infection risk, it presents challenges such as muscle manipulation and potential deviation from the desired trajectory. This report presents a novel technique that utilizes ultrasound examination of the lateral abdominal wall (UELAW) to visualize the three muscle layers (external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis) before abdominal manipulation during LAL. Illustrative Case ; An 83-year-old iNPH patient underwent LPS with this approach, ensuring precise alignment of the trajectory and successful access to the abdominal cavity. Following the procedure, the patient experienced an improvement in gait disturbance and was discharged without any surgical complications. Conclusion ; The use of UELAW during LPS provides clear visualization of the abdominal muscle layers, allowing surgeons to perform the procedure with confidence and accuracy, minimizing the risk of trajectory deviation, and ultimately improving patient outcomes.journal articl
Analysis of the singularity cells controlling the pattern formation in multi-cellular systems
No full textjournal articl
Effect of pachinko parlour openings and closings on neighbourhood income-generating crimes in Japan : 6.5 years of observations
No full textBackground: Electronic gambling machines (EGMs) in gambling venues cause gambling-related harm and are a public health concern. This study focused on pachinko parlours as gambling venues and income-generating crimes as gambling-related harm. We aimed to verify whether income-generating crime rates increase in proximity to pachinko parlours and during the opening and post-closing periods of pachinko parlours relative to the pre-opening periods.
Methods: We used crime records spanning 6.5 years, including data on the opening and closing days of pachinko parlours for 6.5 years. We also sampled the addresses of convenience stores, bowling alleys, and households with ofcial land prices all over Japan. The dependent variable was the daily income-generating crime incidence rate. Areas within 0.5 km, 0.5–1 km, 1–5 km, and 5–10 km radii of the pachinko parlours were the independent variables. The pre-, opening-, and post-closing periods of the pachinko parlours were also independent variables. The covariates included the number of convenience stores and always open pachinko parlours near pachinko parlours. Data were analysed using an analysis of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA). We also used diferences-in-differences analysis (DD) to reveal the increase in income-generating crime rates in neighbourhoods exposed to the opening or closing of pachinko parlours.
Results: The daily income-generating crime incidence rate was signifcantly higher in areas within 0.5–1 km and 1–5 km radii of pachinko parlours than in those within 0.5 km and 5–10 km radii of them. The daily income-generating crime incidence rate was also signifcantly higher during the opening and post-closing periods than during the pre-opening period, even when controlling for the number of convenience stores and always open pachinko parlours. In particular, fraud crime rates increased with the opening and closing of pachinko parlours.
Conclusions: The highest income-generating crime incidence rate was observed within a 0.5–1 km and 1–5 km radius of pachinko parlours. The opening of pachinko parlours also increased income-generating crime incidence rates, which increased after closing. Pachinko parlours are considered to be creating public harm because the corporate activities of these parlours make the youth in their neighbourhood perpetrators of fraud and older adults its victims. Future research should examine the current fndings using ofcial crime records.journal articl
A machine learning approach for estimating supercapacitor performance of graphene oxide nano-ring based electrode materials
No full textThis work utilizes a novel approach leveraging the machine learning (ML) technique to predict the electrochemical supercapacitor performance of graphene oxide nano-rings (GONs) as electrode nanomaterials. Initially, the experimental procedure was carried out to synthesize GO via a modified Hummers method, followed by GONs preparation using the water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion technique. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis reveals the formation of a typical two-dimensional GO nanosheet and multilayer-GO nano-rings. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis results show that the GONs possess similar structural and surface chemistry properties as of GO, with a slight reduction in oxygenous functionalities, enhancing the capacitive behaviours through facile electron migration at the electrode surface. The electrochemical assessment of GO and GONs samples indicates outstanding specific capacitances of 164 F g−1 and 294 F g−1 at 1 mV s−1, showcasing capacitive retention of up to 63% and 60% after 2500 cycles. In addition, four different machine learning models were tested to estimate the role of electrochemical parameters in determining the specific capacitance of GONs.journal articl
Flavonoids, nobiletin, heptamethoxyflavone, and genistein enhance antigen-presenting cell function in vitro
No full textAim: Antigen (Ag) presentation by Ag-presenting cells (APCs) is the first step in the generation of adaptive humoral and cellular immune responses. However, there have been few studies on the effects of flavonoids on APC function. In this study, we examined the effects of five polymethoxyflavones, two isoflavones, and one flavanol on CD11c+dendritic cell function.
Methods: CD11c+dendritic cells were differentiated from bone marrow cells by culturing with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor. Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The Ag-presenting ability was determined by a mixed lymphocyte reaction assay. Expressions of MHC class II, CD40, CD80, and CD86 molecules on CD11c+cells were determined by flow cytometric analysis. Lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory cytokines productions were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: The flavonoids used in the study did not show strong toxicity to CD11c+cells. Nobiletin, heptamethoxyflavone, and genistein enhance Ag-presenting function. Nobiletin and heptamethoxyflavone increased the expression of MHC class II and CD80 molecules. A direct correlation between APC function and lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine production was not found.
Conclusions: The results of the in vitro study indicate that flavonoids, nobiletin, heptamethoxyflavone, and genistein regulate innate dendritic cell function.journal articl
Effects of renin-angiotensin system inhibitor and beta-blocker use on mortality in older patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in Japan
No full textIntroduction: Guideline-directed medical therapy with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors and beta-blockers has improved the survival of patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, it is unclear whether RAS inhibitors and beta-blockers can be administered to older patients with HF. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of beta-blockers and RAS inhibitors on the prognosis of older patients with HFrEF.
Methods: Demographic, clinical, and pharmacological data from 1,061 patients with acute decompensated HF, enrolled in the Kochi Registry of Subjects with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure (Kochi YOSACOI study), were analyzed to assess their impact on mortality. Additionally, a machine learning approach was applied to complement the conventional statistical model for analysis. Patients with HFrEF (n = 314) were divided into the all-cause mortality within 2 years group (n = 80) and the survivor group (n = 234).
Results: Overall, 41.1% (129/314) of the patients were aged ≥80, and 25.5% (80/314) experienced all-cause mortality within 2 years. Furthermore, 57.6% (181/314) and 79.0% (248/314) were prescribed RAS inhibitors and beta-blockers, respectively. Our analysis showed that RAS inhibitor use was associated with reduced all-cause mortality and cardiac death in patients with HFrEF of all ages (P < 0.001), and beta-blocker use had an interaction with age. Machine learning revealed that the use of beta-blockers altered the risk of mortality, with a threshold of approximately 80 years of age. Beta-blocker use was associated with lower all-cause mortality and cardiac death in patients with HFrEF aged <80 years (P < 0.001) but not in those aged ≥80 years (P = 0.319 and P = 0.246, respectively). These results suggest that beta blockers may differ in their all-cause mortality benefits according to age.
Conclusions: RAS inhibitors prevented all-cause mortality and cardiac death at all ages, whereas beta-blockers had different effects depending on the patient's age. This study suggested that the choice of beta-blockers and RAS inhibitors is more important in older patients with HFrEF than in younger patients with the same condition.journal articl
Anti-NXP2 Antibody-positive Juvenile Dermatomyositis with Characteristic Fascial Thickening on Muscle Ultrasound and Improvement with Immunotherapy
No full textWe herein report a 12-year-old boy who presented with a fever, erythematous rash on the cheeks, back pain, and dysphagia. Blood tests revealed increased creatine kinase levels, and muscle ultrasonography (MUS) revealed characteristic fascial thickening in the lumbar paraspinal muscles, where myalgia was prominent. Sarcoplasmic expression of myxovirus-resistant protein A on a muscle biopsy and the presence of anti-nuclear matrix protein 2 (NXP2) antibodies confirmed the diagnosis of dermatomyositis. Prednisolone and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy improved the clinical and laboratory parameters as well as fascial thickening. MUS is useful for evaluating fasciitis associated with anti-NXP2 autoantibodies and monitoring therapeutic efficacy.journal articl