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On 19 December 2009, the eastern part of Taiwan at approximate depth of 45 km was struck by a strong earthquake (Mw = 6.4). The epicenter was located about 20 km away from the Hualien (HLN) station in Taiwan. By analyzing data from the HLN station and Amami Oshima (AMA) in Japan as a remote reference, the geomagnetic east-west (D) and vertical (Z) components recorded at the HLN station are showing no correlation with those at the AMA station in December 2009. Anomalous variations of ∼10-15 nT started about one week before the occurrence of the earthquake and lasted for about two weeks. Also, an enhanced ULF signal in the range of Pc 3 (10-40 s) was observed a few days before the onset of the earthquake. Moreover, the polarization ratio (Z/H (north-south component)) of the Pc 3 amplitude at the HLN station decreased a few days preceding the earthquake. The mechanism behind these anomalous variations is not fully understood. However, we expect that crustal stress perturbations and underground conductivity changes associated with the earthquake played an important role for generating such observed geomagnetic variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Extracellular water is increased in patients with edema, such as those with chronic heart failure, and it is difficult to assess skeletal muscle mass with the skeletal muscle mass index when extracellular water is high. We investigated the relationship between phase angle and physical function, nutritional indices, and sarcopenia in patients with cardiovascular diseases, including chronic heart failure. Methods and Study Design: In 590 patients with cardiovascular diseases (372 men), handgrip strength, gait speed, and anterior mid-thigh muscle thickness by ultrasound were measured, and the skeletal muscle mass index, phase angle, and the extracellular water: total body water ratio were measured with a bioelectrical impedance analyzer, and presence of sarcopenia was evaluated. Results: Phase angle, but not the skeletal muscle mass index, was correlated with serum albumin (r = 0.377, p < 0.001) and hemoglobin values in women. Multivariate regression analysis showed that at the extracellular water: total body water ratio below 0.4, both phase angle and skeletal muscle mass index were independent determinants of handgrip strength and log mid-thigh muscle thickness in men, after adjustment for age and presence of chronic heart failure. In contrast, for the ratio of 0.4 or greater, after adjustment for age and presence of chronic heart failure, phase angle was a stronger independent determinant of handgrip strength and log mid-thigh muscle thickness than the skeletal muscle mass index in men. Conclusions: Phase angle is a good marker of muscle wasting and malnutrition in patients with cardiovascular disease, including chronic heart failure., Competing Interests: The author declares no conflict of interest