Hokusho University

Depressive symptoms in university students harm academic performance. Behavioral activation (BA) may alleviate these symptoms, but evidence in Japan is scarce. This study evaluates a two-week, self-guided BA smartphone application (BEARS) in sixteen Japanese students with moderate depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 scores 10–19). The app delivered psychoeducation, value clarification, goal-setting, scheduling, and mood monitoring. Baseline, one week, post intervention, and four weeks follow-up assessments showed significant reductions in depressive symptoms, early decreases in avoidance, and gradual increases in goal-directed activity. Usability feedback was positive despite occasional connectivity issues. These findings support BA apps as promising interventions for student depression.

The number of alcohol use disorders (AUD) worldwide has increased; therefore, understanding and preventing alcohol addiction is of utmost importance. The objective of this study was to examine the influence of memory recall interventions using the odor of alcohol on mental health and drinking behavior. We used three different studies, two online and one in a laboratory, where participants with and without problematic drinking behaviors were asked to recall autobiographical memories evoked by the odor of alcohol. They were asked to complete questionnaires to measure their autobiographical memory and mental health. The results revealed that participants without problematic drinking behaviors recalled more positive memories and exhibited better mental health than those with such behaviors. Furthermore, in both groups, recalling positive memories increased positive mood, while recalling negative memories decreased positive mood. Additionally, for participants with problematic drinking behaviors, recalling positive memories increased their planned alcohol consumption, whereas recalling negative memories decreased it. The results suggest that interventions focused on recalling emotional autobiographical memories may influence the mental health and behavior of individuals with problematic drinking behaviors.

Development of online psychological service tool for care workers' stress management An examination about contents of on-demand video lectures

In order to improve the flight distance of a ski jumping, the lift-to-drag ratio must be maximized in all phases of the flight. Recently, high-accuracy positioning using kinematic GNSS becomes common, which achieves accuracy at centimeter-level by using carrier-phase enhancement. The purpose of this study is to apply the kinematic GNSS to analyze aerodynamic characteristics in all the flight phases of ski jumping. We have developed a wearable post-processed kinematic (PPK) GNSS receiver named AT-H-02 and measured a ski jumping at the Okurayama jump stadium in Japan. In order to improve the positioning accuracy, we have developed a select method of the GNSS satellites that can eliminate signals deteriorated by jumping hill. By using this method, the fix rate during flight of a ski jumping improved more than 20% and achieved 97.7%. Based on flight trajectory of the ski jump obtained from the AT-H-02, we have successfully calculated the aerodynamic characteristics in terms of lift force, drag force and lift-to-drag ratio.

Abstract Background Use of a wearable gait analysis system (WGAS) is becoming common when conducting gait analysis studies due to its versatility. At the same time, its versatility raises a concern about its accuracy, because its calculations rely on assumptions embedded in its algorithms. The purpose of the present study was to validate all spatiotemporal gait parameters calculated by the WGAS by comparison with simultaneous measurements taken with an optical motion capture system (OMCS). Methods Ten young healthy volunteers wore two inertial sensors of the commercially available WGAS, Physilog®, on their feet and 23 markers for the OMCS on the lower part of the body. The participants performed at least three sets of 10-m walk tests at their self-paced speed in the laboratory equipped with 12 high-speed digital cameras with embedded force plates. To measure repeatability, all participants returned for a second day of testing within two weeks. Results All gait parameters calculated by the WGAS had a significant correlation with the ones determined by the OMCS. Bland and Altman analysis showed that the between-device agreement for all gait parameters was within clinically acceptable limits. The validity of the gait parameters generated by the WGAS was found to be excellent except for two parameters, swing width and maximal heel clearance. The repeatability of the WGAS was excellent when measured between sessions. Conclusion The present study showed that spatiotemporal gait parameters estimated by the WGAS were reasonably accurate and repeatable in healthy young adults, providing a scientific basis for applying this system to clinical studies.

What is the central question of this study? We questioned whether an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor prevents skeletal muscle fibrosis in diabetic mice. What is the main finding and its importance? Administration of ACE inhibitor prevents the increase in skeletal muscle fibrosis during the early phase after induction of diabetes by streptozotocin. Our findings might provide a new therapeutic target for skeletal muscle abnormalities in diabetes. Fibrosis is characterized by the excessive production and accumulation of extracellular matrix components, including collagen. Although the extracellular matrix is an essential component of skeletal muscle, fibrosis can have negative effects on muscle function. Skeletal muscle fibrosis was shown to be increased in spontaneously hypertensive rats and to be prevented by an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, an antihypertensive drug, in dystrophic mice or a mouse model of myocardial infarction. In this study, we therefore analysed whether (1) there is increased skeletal muscle fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, and (2) a preventive effect on skeletal muscle fibrosis by administration of an ACE inhibitor. Skeletal muscle fibrosis was significantly increased in STZ-induced diabetic mice compared with control mice from 2 to 14days post-STZ. The ACE inhibitor prevented both skeletal muscle fibrosis and the reduction in muscle function in STZ-treated mice. Our study demonstrated that administration of an ACE inhibitor prevents the increase in skeletal muscle fibrosis during the early phase after onset of diabetes. Our findings might provide a new therapeutic target for skeletal muscle abnormalities in diabetes. Future studies are required to clarify whether skeletal muscle fibrosis is also linked directly to physical activity.

BackgroundThe extremely low loads (e.g., <30% of one-repetition maximum) involved in performing resistance exercise are effective in preventing musculoskeletal injury and enhancing exercise adherence in various populations, especially older individuals and patients with chronic diseases. Nevertheless, long-term intervention using this type of protocol is known to have little effects on muscle size and strength adaptations. Despite this knowledge, very low-intensity resistance exercise (VLRE) with slow movement and tonic force generation (ST) significantly increases muscle size and strength. To further explore efficacy of ST-VLRE in the clinical setting, this study examined the effect of ST-VLRE on post-exercise inhibitory control (IC). MethodsTwenty healthy, young males (age: 21 ± 0 years, body height: 173.4 ± 1.2 cm, body weight: 67.4 ± 2.2 kg) performed both ST-VLRE and normal VLRE in a crossover design. The load for both protocols was set at 30% of one-repetition maximum. Both protocols were programmed with bilateral knee extension for six sets with ten repetitions per set. The ST-VLRE and VLRE were performed with slow (3-sec concentric, 3-sec eccentric, and 1-sec isometric actions with no rest between each repetition) and normal contractile speeds (1-sec concentric and 1-sec eccentric actions and 1-sec rests between each repetition), respectively. IC was assessed using the color-word Stroop task at six time points: baseline, pre-exercise, immediate post-exercise, and every 10 min during the 30-min post-exercise recovery period. ResultsThe reverse-Stroop interference score, a parameter of IC, significantly decreased immediately after both ST-VLRE and VLRE compared to that before each exercise (decreasing rate >32 and 25%, respectively, vs. baseline and/or pre-exercise for both protocols; all Ps < 0.05). The improved IC following ST-VLRE, but not following VLRE, remained significant until the 20-min post-exercise recovery period (decreasing rate >48% vs. baseline and pre-exercise; both Ps < 0.001). The degree of post-exercise IC improvements was significantly higher for ST-VLRE than for VLRE (P = 0.010 for condition × time interaction effect). ConclusionsThese findings suggest that ST-VLRE can improve post-exercise IC effectively. Therefore, ST-VLRE may be an effective resistance exercise protocol for improving cognitive function.

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160; Typhoon intensity changes according to the momentum and enthalpy flux supplied from the boundary layer. MPI theory uses the ratio between a drag coefficient and an enthalpy exchange coefficient, which are indexes that indicate how much momentum or enthalpy is exchanged between the air and the sea. Each is a coefficient depending on wind speed, temperature and SST.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;However, Lighthill (1999) is shown that latent heat exchange varies because sea spray generated from the sea surface evaporates in the boundary layer. In addition, Barenblatt (2005), inspired by Lighthill (1999), showed that the Karman constant changes according to the Froude number and the drag coefficient changes. Since both changes can change the MPI theory, it is necessary to quantitatively evaluate the effect of the droplets generated from the sea surface in order to grasp both accurately. In addition, it is necessary to consider the effects of rainfall in actual storms, which often involve rainfall.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In this study, to evaluate the flux exchange in the boundary layer quantitatively, we show the drag coefficient and the enthalpy exchange coefficient taking into account sea spray and rain. In addition, we show the results of observation of sea spray and rain using disdrometer and X-band radar.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;