The effect of wearing protective gloves and boots on thermal exchanges of wet-suited subjects in cold water was evaluated. Four male subjects, clad in 5 mm-thick neoprene wet suits and either with or without neoprene gloves (5 mm-thick) and boots (5 mm-thick) were immersed up to the neck in water at 13 iC while resting for 3 h or exercising for 2 h. Rectal temperature, oxygen consumption and local (chest, back, upper arm, thigh, forearm, calf, hand and foot) skin temperatures, skin heat fluxes and thermal insulations were determined during immersion. The rectal temperature was not different between conditions but the skin tempera-ture was significantly higher with gloves and boots, especially at the distal extremities (forearm, calf, hand and foot). Consequently, the core-to-skin temperature gradient was reduced by wearing gloves and boots, but the skin heat loss was markedly increased. Calculated overall body insulation was significantly lowered by wearing gloves and boots. These results indicate that in wet-suited subjects resting or exercising in cold (13°C) water, gloves and boots increase the overall rate of body heat loss. Attenuation of cold-induced vasoconstriction is proposed as the mechanism.

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In this study, subjects performed wrist flexion in isokinetic manner by using CYBEX dynamometer while their right forearm was attached in a MR magnet. ³¹P-MR spectra were obtained from wrist flexor muscles before and throughout the exerclse. Intracellular pH of muscle was calculated from the chemical shift between phosphocreatine (PCr) and inorganic phosphate (Pi). Fifteen Japanese males volunteered as subjects. They performed two experi-mental protocols, i. e. constant load test (CT) and stepwise incremental load test (IT). In CT, 10 of the subjects were participated. After 2 minutes rest, wrist flexion of 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 % of maximal voluntary contraction force (MVC was performed at 2 seconds intervals for 15 minutes. In IT, 14 including 9 of CT were participated. They performed wrist flexion in incremental contraction force of 5 steps from 10 % to 50 % of MVC for 3 minutes in each step. Changes in intracellular pH of muscle against contraction level show non·Iinear relationships both in CT and IT. From this relationship we calculated the contraction level at which pH was 6.9 (%MVC_6.9). Mean values of obtained %MVC_6.9 by CT and by IT were 29.3 and 30.0 % of MVC, respectively. And, significant correlation was found between %MVC_6.9 by CT and by IT This result shows that %MVC_6.9 was a reproducible index independent of the type of exercise test, i. e. constant or incremental load test, and might reflect the physiological characteristics of the muscle.

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Although underwater weighing has been regarded as a representative of the criterion reference methods for determining body composition, this technique is cumbersome for screening. The purpose of the present study was to examine the stability of body composition assessed not only by underwater weighing but also by existing bioelectrical impedance equations and skinfold thickness equations during a 4-week period. Ten male and 10 female junior high school pupils, aged 12 to 15 years. volunteered to serve as subjects. Body density (Db) was estimated by underwater weighing (UW), skinfold thickness (ST) method. and bioelectrical impedance (BI) method. The UW was considered criterlon reference method. The underwater weight was the heaviest value that was reproduced twice at least among 5 to 10 measurements.

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The present study was conducted to confirm the validity of an evaporimeter and its measuring condition prior to applying it to the field of clothing physiology, especially for measuring the amount and distribution of the evaporation rate over the human body surface. After caiibration of the evaporimeter according to the manufacture's specifications, It was checked for its response time and the comparative assessments of the evaporatlon rate from the skin. The quantitative examination of the evaporation rate in both in vitro water loss and in vivo the evaporation rate from the human skin, clarified that the observed values of evaporation rate were lower than water loss or weight loss of the human body. Although the evaporimeter is a useful device to measure the evaporation rate at regional parts of the human body under natural condition, an additional calibration by an actual in vitro measured water loss should be adopted for the accurate assessments of the evaporation rate.

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The purpose of the present study was to examine the hemispheric differences in letter matching of hiragana and katakana. The stimuli with a pair of each one letter of hiragana and katakana were presented unilaterally to the right or left visual hemifieid with a tachistoscope. The subjects were 40 male right handers. They were required to judge whether a pair of letters had the same name or different one. A significant right visual hemifield superiority was observed for both the accuracy of recognition and reaction time. The results suggest that the callosal relay model of Zaidel may be applied to the name matching task.

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Signs have gained importance as an information mechanism that supports the urban activities in signage, and projects are being actively launched in cities. Urban spaces are already filled with multitudes of signs including directories and signboads, calling for organization of signage as a system and not merely as a collection of individual signs. As a first step for tackling with the objectives, the present study noted the type and amount of environmental information presented in the realm of pedestrians. Our study included (1) investigating the type and amount of information available in the streets including underpass ; (2) classifying and organizing signs according to the content of information ; and (3) analyzing the relation between different types of information, between situations and signs, and continuity of the signs of the same type. The study revealed that there was a (1) deviation in information offered at various spots on a pedestrian route ; (2) multitudes of advertisements and installations other than signs were placed at the same spot using the same method as the public signs ; and (3) there were qualitative lack of signs despite many signs in the investigated area. The study thus indicated a need for cross-sectional environmental design for information in place of sign designs and delineates several basic requirements for it.

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1) We evaluated the method for calibrating the pneumotachograph according to flow rate by the software on personal computer. Flow volume was detected using the approximated equation (y = 1.294x²+0.989x+35.824, r = 0.976, p < 0.01) from various mean flow rate and integration of output voltage. The error between syringe volume (21) and the estimated value on the equation was l0d±8 ml (0.48±0.42 %). 2 ) Using the method descrived in l), we developed computer-controlled-system for assesing respiratory gas exchange by mixing chamber method.To evaluate the accuracy of the system as compared with the Douglas Bag method, we measured the gas parameters of the both methods for two male subjects at rest(3 and 5min) and steady state exercise (3 min., 60-240watt). The error between the both methods were within±5 % in ventilation(VE), mixed expired O₂ (F_EO₂) and CO₂ (F_ECO₂) concentration, and were within±8% in O₂ uptake(VO₂) and CO₂ production(VCO₂). There were high positive correlation(r > 0.99, p < 0.01) between the both methods in the all parameters. These results indicate that the system in this stydy would be practical use, that VE can be measured in only one pneumotachograph, even if the range of flow rate was wide(e.g. from rest to heavy exercise).

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Temporal pattern of daily living behavior and development in infants aged 3-6 yr were compared between urban and rural regions at Fukuoka-prefecture. The present study consisted of questionnaire on behavior of daily living and tests for development in intelligence and motor function. Rural infants got up and went to bed earlier than urban infants. Urban infants with less physical activity were inferior to rural infants in motor skill. It is suggested that manual dexterity and intelligence may be related.

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The absolutely accurate measurement of adiposity in a living organism is undoubtedly difficult. Although a number of methods have been developed, none has been proven to be both theoretically and empirically an unquestioned validating criterion method for the estimation of human body composition. In the present study, a new method was introduced that is rapid, safe, and relatively simple to administer and has the added advantage of not requiring a measurement of the underwater weight.

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