Measurements of cosmic-ray proton and helium spectra from the BESS-Polar long-duration balloon flights over Antarctica.

The BESS-Polar Collaboration measured the energy spectra of cosmic-ray protons and helium during two long-duration balloon flights over Antarctica in December 2004 and December 2007, at substantially different levels of solar modulation. Proton and helium spectra probe the origin and propagation history of cosmic rays in the galaxy, and are essential to calculations of the expected spectra of cosmic-ray antiprotons, positrons, and electrons from interactions of primary cosmic-ray nuclei with the interstellar gas, and to calculations of atmospheric muons and neutrinos. We report absolute spectra at the top of the atmosphere for cosmic-ray protons in the kinetic energy range 0.2-160 GeV and helium nuclei 0.15-80 GeV/nucleon. The corresponding magnetic rigidity ranges are 0.6-160 GV for protons and 1.1-160 GV for helium. These spectra are compared to measurements from previous BESS flights and from ATIC-2, PAMELA, and AMS-02. We also report the ratio of the proton and helium fluxes from 1.1 GV to 160 GV and compare to ratios from PAMELA and AMS-02.

Search for antihelium with the BESS-Polar spectrometer.

In two long-duration balloon flights over Antarctica, the Balloon-borne Experiment with a Superconducting Spectrometer (BESS) collaboration has searched for antihelium in the cosmic radiation with the highest sensitivity reported. BESS-Polar I flew in 2004, observing for 8.5 days. BESS-Polar II flew in 2007-2008, observing for 24.5 days. No antihelium candidate was found in BESS-Polar I data among 8.4×10(6) |Z|=2 nuclei from 1.0 to 20 GV or in BESS-Polar II data among 4.0×10(7) |Z|=2 nuclei from 1.0 to 14 GV. Assuming antihelium to have the same spectral shape as helium, a 95% confidence upper limit to the possible abundance of antihelium relative to helium of 6.9×10(-8)} was determined combining all BESS data, including the two BESS-Polar flights. With no assumed antihelium spectrum and a weighted average of the lowest antihelium efficiencies for each flight, an upper limit of 1.0×10(-7) from 1.6 to 14 GV was determined for the combined BESS-Polar data. Under both antihelium spectral assumptions, these are the lowest limits obtained to date.

Measurement of the cosmic-ray antiproton spectrum at solar minimum with a long-duration balloon flight over antarctica.

The energy spectrum of cosmic-ray antiprotons (p's) from 0.17 to 3.5 GeV has been measured using 7886 p's detected by BESS-Polar II during a long-duration flight over Antarctica near solar minimum in December 2007 and January 2008. This shows good consistency with secondary p calculations. Cosmologically primary p's have been investigated by comparing measured and calculated p spectra. BESS-Polar II data show no evidence of primary p's from the evaporation of primordial black holes.

Polyphenol-enriched oolong tea increases fecal lipid excretion.

OBJECTIVE: To assess possibility of polyphenol-enriched oolong tea to reduce dietary lipid absorption in humans. DESIGN: Twelve healthy adult subjects, three males and nine females, aged (mean+/-s.d.) 22.0+/-1.8 years, respectively, were randomly divided into two groups. The participants were followed a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design, including 7-day washout periods and 10-day treatment periods. During the treatment periods, subjects were given about 38 g of lipids from potato chips (19 g each within 30 min after lunch and dinner) and total 750 ml beverages (placebo- or polyphenol-enriched oolong tea) at three meals. Blood samples were collected for biochemical examination at days 8, 18, 25 and 35 of the study period. On the last 3 days of each treatment period, feces were collected to measure the excretion of lipids. RESULTS: Lipid excretion into feces was significantly higher in the polyphenol-enriched oolong tea period (19.3+/-12.9 g/3 day) than in the placebo period (9.4+/-7.3 g/3 day) (P < 0.01). Cholesterol excretion tended to increase in polyphenol-enriched oolong tea period (1.8+/-1.2 g/3 day) compared with that of placebo (1.2+/-0.6 g/3 day) (P = 0.056). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicated that polyphenol-enriched oolong tea could increase lipid excretion into feces when subjects took high-lipid diet.

Isolation from beer and structural determination of a potent stimulant of gastrin release.

Beer was subjected to five successive chromatographic procedures to isolate the gastrin release-inducing activity, guided by bioassay of the fractions in anaesthetized Donryu rats. The procedures were: (1) hydrophobic interaction chromatography (aqueous effluent with an HP20 column); (2) weak cation-exchange chromatography (1 M acetic acid eluate with a CM Sephadex C-25 column); (3) gel filtration (methanol eluate with a Sephadex LH-20 column); (4) same as (2); (5) high-performance liquid chromatography (YMC-Pack ODS-AM with 7% acetonitrile-0.01 M HCl). The active component finally isolated had a specific activity approximately 10000 times higher than that of beer. It was identified by means of mass, 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance spectral analyses as N-methyltyramine (NMT). The dose of NMT giving maximal gastrin-releasing activity was 25 microg/kg, and the 50% effective dose was approximately 10 microg/kg on oral administration to rats. NMT was isolated and identified as a gastrin release inducer in beer. Its concentration in beer is sufficient to account for most of the activity of beer.

UK-3A, a novel antifungal antibiotic from Streptomyces sp. 517-02: fermentation, isolation, structural elucidation and biological properties.

A novel antifungal antibiotic, UK-3A, was obtained from the mycelial cake of Streptomyces sp. 517-02. UK-3A was very similar in structure to UK-2A, a structural relative of antimycin A. The antifungal spectrum of UK-3A was relatively broad (MICs for yeasts and filamentous fungi: 1.56-6.25 and 0.39-1.56 micrograms/ml, respectively). The cytotoxic activity of UK-3A was weak (IC50: 18-100 micrograms/ml).

Relative foot size and shape to general body size in Javanese, Filipinas and Japanese with special reference to habitual footwear types.

Stature, body weight, left foot length and breadth were measured on East Javanese, Filipinas in Northern Luzon, and Japanese in Tokyo. No footwear is used by the Javanese, rubber sandals are used by the Filipinas, and sneakers or leather shoes by the Japanese group. Regression lines regardless of age were obtained among these four measurements, body mass index (BMI), and relative foot breadth to foot length. The relationships between general body size and foot size/shape were examined with regard to footwear. The results can be summarized as follows: (1) in either sex, compared with the Japanese, the East Javanese have a longer foot for the same stature and body weight, and a wider foot for the same BMI and the same foot length; (2) the relationship between BMI and foot shape (breadth/length) is nearly the same in the Filipinas and the Japanese females, (3) sexual dimorphism of the foot is greater among the East Javanese than among the Japanese; (4) as body size/weight increases sexual dimorphism diminishes among the East Javanese, whereas it is more emphasized among the Japanese; (5) the appropriateness of the regression equation obtained from measurements of present-day barefoot peoples for estimation of the stature of prehistoric humans is supported.

A comparative study of foot morphology between Filipino and Japanese women, with reference to the significance of a deformity like hallux valgus as a normal variation.

In order to investigate the shape and size differences in feet caused by daily footwear, a comparative study was conducted on foot morphology in two populations. The data from six measurements in general physique and 18 measurements in the feet and their contours were obtained from 34 Filipino women in Isabela Province and 40 Japanese women in Tokyo. Despite the fact that the Tokyo women had larger physique than the Isabela women, there were no significant differences in foot size between two groups. Both relative size of foot for general physique and intragroup deviation of foot proportion were larger in the Isabela women than those in the Tokyo women. In comparing foot contour, many measurements relating particularly to foot proportion, represented by angles, showed significant differences between the two groups. In gross observation some of the Isabela women showed marked deformity of the grand toe to the lateral side, "like a hallux valgus' without any complaints. In principal-component analysis (PCA), CP1 was interpreted as size factor, CP2 was considered as position of foot axis, CP3 and CP4 were estimated as degree of angle between foot axis and ball axis. Means of individual score by PCA showed a completely inverse pattern between Isabela and Tokyo women. The differences in foot morphology recognized in these two groups were considered from the point of view of differences of daily footwear, which have not changed in the Philippines but have changed dramatically in Japan since World War II. We concluded that the deformity like a hallux valgus, frequently found in previous generations of Japanese who used to wear traditional footwear, geta and zori, must have been a healthy deformity, however, the pathological deformity hallux valgus is observed only in the Isabela women of today.

[Comparison of bone mineral levels in healthy Japanese perimenopausal women measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and ultrasound methods].

One hundred and seventy Japanese perimenopausal women, 44 to 65 years old (average 55.3), living in the Tokyo metropolitan area were evaluated for bone minerals by two methods of measurement--DXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) measured at the 2nd-4th lumbar spine and three areas of proximal femur, and US (ultrasound bone densitometry) measured at the calcaneal area of the foot. Menopausal status was determined by interview, and anthropometric measurements, grip strength and various foot measurements including length, breadth, girth, area, and angles were taken. The relationship between these physical factors and bone minerals measured by DXA and US was considered in comparisons of evaluations of bone mineral condition by these two different methods. The results were as follows: 1) The means of bone mineral density (BMD) at four sites by DXA and of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) by US decreased with age significantly in a graded fashion. The mean of speed of sound (SOS) by US, however, did not show a significant decrease by age. 2) All measurements but one (SOS by US) showed significant differences among three groups of menopausal status (premenopause, < 6 years after menopause, and > or = 6 years after menopause) by ANOVA. 3) Concerning the relationship between physical variables and bone measurements, all measurements for bone mineral showed significant correlations with body weight (positive) and age (negative) except SOS by US. Grip strength had significantly positive correlations to all bone measurements. BUA by US showed strong correlations with several of the foot measurements. 4) Correlations between bone measurements by DXA and US, were all strong and positive particularly in the combinations within the measurement by DXA. 5) Multiple regression analysis of the physical variables to each bone measurement as the dependent variable, showed significant relationship of age (negative) and body weight or BMI (positive) to each bone measurements except for SOS. The foot area remained significant for BUA. The significant relationship of combinations of physical factors that persisted for US were somewhat different from those in DXA. These results indicate that the level of accuracy of measurements of bone mineral by ultrasound may not necessarily be equivalent to that of dual energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements and must be utilized with caution especially in risk factor analysis of osteoporosis.

[Appropriateness and limitations of bone mineral measurements by DXA (dual energy x-ray absorptiometry) in the elderly--comparison with x-ray findings].

A group of 674 (266 males and 410 females) elderly living in a rural community of Nangai Village, Akita Prefecture, were subjects of bone mineral measurements in the lumbar spine and three areas of proximal femur (femoral neck; FN, trochanter; TR and Ward's triangle; WD). Measurement was by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) set in a mobile van during mass health examination. The purpose of this study was to verify the appropriateness and imitations in the bone mineral measurements by DXA in elderly who have other aging related abnormal calcifications such as osteophytosis in the lumbar spine and calcification of the abdominal aorta, all of which may have an influence on the 'true' value of bone mineral density (BMD) particularly in the lumbar region. The results were as follows: 1) Subjects who were not capable of being measured by DXA tended to be older and reported experiencing pain and who scored low in TMIG index of competence compared to measurable subjects. 2) BMD of 2nd-4th lumbar spine with antero-posterior projection (AP) did not show simple age-declines that are seen in younger generations. In contrast, BMDs of proximal femur show linear aging declines. 3) Analysis of the association between BMDs and osteophytosis by spondylosis deformans in the lumbar spine and calcification of the abdominal aorta in front of the lumbar spine showed that AP-BMD had a strong correlation with the grade of both spinal osteophytosis and aortic calcification. On the other hand, BMDs of proximal femur showed no significant associations with these abnormal calcifications. 4) In this context, in order to evaluate the 'true' BMD in the elderly, BMDs in the proximal femur are a more appropriate indicator than AP-BMD which may be easily contaminated by other aging-related calcification in and around the lumbar region.

Comparative foot dimensions in Filipino rural children and Tokyo children.

The height, weight, chest circumference and foot size (length, breadth and circumference) were compared in Isabela (Philippines) and Tokyo (Japan) children in 1985. The Isabela subjects were 350 girls from 7 to 15 years of age, and 396 boys from 7 to 16 years of age. In Tokyo, the subjects were 191 girls and 186 boys, both from 7 to 18 years of age. The following results were obtained: (1) the Isabela children were significantly smaller in height and chest circumference, and lighter in weight than the Tokyo children; (2) there was no difference between Isabela and Tokyo children in foot breadth and circumference; (3) there was a protuberance of the first metatarso-phalanx joint in 4.5% of the Guibang village children in Isabela, but in none of the Tokyo children.

Approximate surface development of the left side half-trunk by a free-formed model.

The approximate surface development, skin length, and surface area of the left side of the trunk of 51 female students were compared with regard to static and stretched postures. The data for each subject were obtained from geometrical models generated by moiré topography with a computer. When the chest was stretched, the anterior surface, the shoulder line, and the arm-base line were transformed from concave to convex, and a gap oriented toward the nipple widened out. The skin elongated vertically and transversely, except at the side of the waistline, where the skin contracted. The area at the top of the trunk decreased about 25%, while the other parts of the trunk increased 8-15%. The total anterior area was 1.20 m2 for the static posture and 1.29 m2 for the stretched posture. When the posterior surface was stretched, the shoulder line changed from convex to concave, the side line from quasi-straight to concave, and gaps oriented toward the chest line disappeared. The skin elongated most at the infrascapular region (20-35%), while the neck base line contracted (-11%). The center of the back and the lower arm base areas enlarged the most (25%) and the lumbar area enlarged the least (12%). The total posterior area was 1.26 m2 in the static posture and 1.37 m2 in the back-stretched posture. In conclusion, the back skin elongated and enlarged more when stretched than the frontal skin.

Fringe patterns and measurement on dorsal moiré topography in Japanese children, aged 13 and 14.

Dorsal moiré topographies of 165 boys and 156 girls, aged 13 and 14, were investigated. Moiré fringe patterns were classified into seven types, of which type IV, thin and symmetric back, was most frequent (29% in boys and 22% in girls), and types I and II thoracic, fleshy back, were observed in 15% of boys and 29% of girls. Settling four prominent points on the back, length, depth (number of fringes), angles between these points, and the most depressed point on the lumbar region were measured. Neither bilateral or sex differences were detected in length and depth measurements, whereas larger right side angles were observed as a general tendency. In both sexes, significant correlation was detected between measurements on points situated in the inner part of the back, while on points situated in the outer parts only angle and length correlation was significant.