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Chemically ordered face-centered cubic (fcc) phases consisting mainly of Cr, Co, and Ni were synthesized by annealing a Cr26.7Co26.7Ni26.7Si10B5P5 amorphous alloy. The annealed Cr26.7Co26.7Ni26.7Si10B5P5 sample was composed of Cr4.5BP2, Cr3 Co5Si2, and fcc phases. Synchrotron radiation anomalous X-ray scattering (AXS) measurements confirmed that the annealed Cr26.7Co26.7Ni26.7Si10B5P5 sample had superlattice reflections from an L10-, and/or L12-, and D022-type ordered structure. The diffraction intensities of the superlattice reflections observed in the AXS measurements indicated strong dependence on the incident X-ray energy. The diffraction intensity of the superlattice reflection increased at the X-ray energy near the K-edge of Cr, suggesting that Cr is mainly ordered in the L10- and D022-type structures. Microstructural analysis using scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) revealed crystal grains with diameters of approximately 20 nm, showing diffraction spots corresponding to superlattice reflections of 001 and 110, in addition to a two-dimensional diffraction pattern corresponding to the fcc structure. Simultaneous STEM--energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis indicated that the grains had a higher Cr concentration than the mother alloy composition of Cr26.7Co26.7Ni26.7Si10B5P5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Accumulating evidence from cross-sectional studies suggests that the serum creatinine-to-cystatin C ratio (CCR) may be a useful biomarker for sarcopenia. This study aimed to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of CCR with sarcopenia and its parameters in community-dwelling older adults. Design: Cross-sectional and longitudinal study. Setting and Participants: This 6-year prospective cohort study included the repeated measurement data from 1,253 Japanese residents (662 males and 591 females) aged ≥65 years who underwent medical checkups in Kusatsu and Hatoyama, Japan. A total of 4,421 observations were collected. Measurements: The CCR was grouped into quartiles by sex (Q1–Q4) using Q4 as the reference category. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 algorithm. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) measured using segmental multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, handgrip strength (HGS), usual gait speed (UGS), and maximal gait speed (MGS) were measured repeatedly as sarcopenia parameters. The association of the CCR with changes in sarcopenia, SMI, HGS, UGS, and MGS during the 6-year period were analyzed using a generalized linear mixed-effects model. Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia at baseline was 13.1% (11.9% in males and 14.5% in females). In a cross-sectional analysis, the CCR quartile was inversely associated with sarcopenia and was positively associated with SMI, HGS, and MGS (P for trend < 0.001). In a longitudinal analysis during the 6 years, a significant increase in sarcopenia in Q2 (B = 1.1% point/year; P = 0.026 for group-by-time interaction) and significant declines in SMI (B = −0.01 kg/m2/year; P = 0.044 for group-by-time interaction) and MGS (B = −0.008 m/sec/year; P = 0.041 for group-by-time interaction) in Q1 were observed compared with Q4. However, the dose-response relationship was significant only for MGS (P = 0.033 for trend). No significant group-by-time interaction was observed for HGS. CCR was not significantly associated with UGS either cross-sectionally or longitudinally. Conclusions: CCR is a useful biomarker regarding the status of sarcopenia. It may be used for sarcopenia screening even in older adults whose physical function is difficult to assess. However, further longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether CCR can be a predictor of future sarcopenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we describe the fabrication of horizontal and inclined micro-multi-fin structures and discuss the experimental results of the shape transfer to resin material. Using the MEMS fabrication process, micro-mold structures with microscale ridge structures and several-hundred-nanometer-sized multi-fin structures at the scale of a morpho butterfly were fabricated on Si substrates. The shape transfer to the resin material was examined using a thermal imprinting process. In both mold types, the resin was injected into the narrow gaps of the multi-fin structures of the mold. It was difficult to release the resin in the horizontal multi-fin from the mold. Conversely, with the inclined-type, the multi-fin shape was successfully transferred to the resin and released without fracture (2 μm pitch ridge structure with a 0.2 μm pitch inclined multi-fin structure). The optical reflection of the inclined molded COP resin was evaluated, exhibiting a light blue reflection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To identify the dietary patterns among community-dwelling Japanese older adults and to explore the association between these patterns and sarcopenia. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Kashiwa city, Chiba prefecture, Japan. Participants: Community-dwelling older adults (n = 1241) aged 65 years and over who were not eligible for long-term care. Measurements: Dietary intake was assessed using the brief self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ). Dietary patterns were identified using both principal component analysis and the score on the Japanese diet comprising soybeans and soybean products, fish, vegetables, pickles, mushroom, seaweeds, and fruits. Sarcopenia was defined by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) criteria. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed with sarcopenia status as the dependent variable after adjusting for economic status, living alone status, BMI, energy intake, multimorbidity, and physical activity. Results: Participants' mean age was 74.6 years, and 52.1% were male. According to AWGS criteria, 5.1% had sarcopenia. Three dietary patterns were identified from the principal component analysis. Dietary pattern 1 (DP1), showed high loadings for fish, tofu, vegetables, and fruits which are similar to the side dishes in a typical Japanese diet. Dietary pattern 2 (DP2) had high factor loadings for fish, rice, and miso soup which are main dishes in a typical Japanese diet. Dietary pattern 3 (DP3) had a high factor loading for noodles. Men with the lowest tertile of DP1 score had a higher likelihood of being sarcopenic (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 3.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.20∓11.2). Women with the lowest tertile of DP2 score had a moderate likelihood of being sarcopenic (AOR 2.71, 95%CI 0.99∓7.46). Low adherence to Japanese dietary pattern was associated with prevalence of sarcopenia in both genders. Conclusion: Adherence to a dietary pattern high in foods characteristic of a Japanese diet including fish, soybean products, vegetables, and fruits was associated with low prevalence of sarcopenia in both genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine associations of dietary variety with changes in lean mass and physical performance during a 4-year period in an elderly Japanese population. Design: Four-year prospective study. Setting: The Hatoyama Cohort Study and Kusatsu Longitudinal Study, Japan. Participants: 935 community-dwelling Japanese aged 65 years or older. Measurements: Dietary variety was assessed using a 10-item food frequency questionnaire. Body composition was determined by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, and physical performance (grip strength and usual gait speed) was measured in surveys at baseline and 4 years later. Longitudinal analysis included only participants who were originally in the upper three quartiles of lean body mass, appendicular lean mass, grip strength, and usual gait speed. The outcome measures were decline in lean body mass, appendicular lean mass, grip strength, and usual gait speed, defined as a decrease to the lowest baseline quartile level at the 4-year follow-up survey. Associations of dietary variety with the outcome measures were examined by logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders. Results: In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratios for decline in grip strength and usual gait speed were 0.43 (95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.99) and 0.43 (confidence interval, 0.19-0.99), respectively, for participants in the highest category of dietary variety score as compared with those in the lowest category. Dietary variety was not significantly associated with changes in lean body mass or appendicular lean mass. Conclusion: Among older adults, greater dietary variety may help maintain physical performance, such as grip strength and usual gait speed, but not lean mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To examine the associations of dietary variety with body composition and physical function in community-dwelling elderly Japanese Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Community-based. Participants: A total of 1184 community-dwelling elderly adults aged 65 and over. Measurements: Dietary variety was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire (maximum, 10 points) that encompassed the 10 main food components of Japanese meals (meat, fish/shellfish, eggs, milk, soybean products, green/yellow vegetables, potatoes, fruit, seaweed, and fats/oils). Body composition was determined by multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. Physical function was assessed by measuring grip strength and usual walking speed. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to examine the associations of dietary variety with body composition and physical function. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, higher dietary variety scores were independently associated with higher lean mass (β (SE): 0.176 (0.049), p<0.001) and appendicular lean mass (β (SE): 0.114 (0.027), p<0.001) but not with body fat mass. Elders with a higher dietary variety score had greater grip strength and faster usual walking speed (β (SE): 0.204 (0.071), p=0.004, and β (SE): 0.008 (0.003), p=0.012, respectively). Conclusion: Greater dietary variety was significantly associated with greater lean mass and better physical function in Japanese elders. The causal relationship warrants investigation in a prospective study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]