Spinning Top Research Articles

A Top Model of Urban Residents’ Subjective Well-Being in China

Past research on subjective well-being (SWB) in Western society and China has revealed various contributing factors. This study conducted a series of interviews with Chinese urban residents to systematically analyze those factors based on Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System Theory. The results revealed that 5 layers, 23 factors, and 55 elements, many of which had distinct Chinese characteristics, contributed to Chinese urban residents’ SWB. The Top Model of SWB, visualized as a spinning top or gyroscope, showcased the interdependent layers of factors impacting Chinese urban residents’ SWB. At its vertical axis is a time dimension as residents often reflect on factors by comparing their present situation with the past and the future. Discussion regarding each layer, the primary factors that comprise each layer, links between the layers, and the impact of a time dimension was included to substantiate the proposed model. The discussions focus on the study’s contribution to SWB literature, public policy-making, and future research on urban Chinese residents’ SWB.

Long-Axis Spinning of an Optically Levitated Particle: A Levitated Spinning Top.

An elongated object can be rotated around one of its short axes, like a propeller, or around its long axis, like a spinning top. Using optically levitated nanoparticles, short-axis rotation and libration have been systematically investigated in several recent studies. Notably, short-axis rotational degrees of freedom have been cooled to millikelvin temperatures and driven into gigahertz rotational speeds. However, controlled long-axis spinning has so far remained an unrealized goal. Here, we demonstrate controlled long-axis spinning of an optically levitated nanodumbbell with spinning rates exceeding 1GHz. We show that the damping rate in high vacuum can be as low as a few millihertz. Our results open up applications in inertial torque sensing and studies of rotational quantum interference.

Asymptotical dynamics of askew-polarized spinning top under the radiation reaction torque

Asymptotical dynamics of askew-polarized spinning top under the radiation reaction torque

Evaluation of the relationship between household economic situation and food group intake in children attending nursery school

Objectives The relationship between household income and dietary intake among older children and adults in Japan has been studied. However, few studies have examined the relationship in younger children, and we believe that this should be taken into consideration from early childhood to correct health disparities. In this study, we examined the relationship between family income and dietary food group intake, and investigated the adequacy of food intake based on the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top for young children aged 3 to 6 years attending nursery school. The goal of this study was to obtain trends in food intake that can be used to improve poor dietary intake of young children caused by socioeconomic factors.Methods A dietary survey using the food weighing or recording method and a self-administered questionnaire on dietary status were conducted on two non-consecutive days, including weekdays and weekends, from October to December 2019 or 2020. The participants were 761 young children (423 boys and 338 girls) attending nursery schools in seven cities in Japan. Equivalent income was calculated from household income and the number of family members indicated in the dietary status survey. Intake of each food group and consistency with the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top were compared in five quintiles.Results Compared to the low equivalent income group, the high equivalent income group showed a decreasing trend in cereal intake and an increasing trend in the intake of sugar and sweeteners, green and yellow vegetables, and dairy products. The percentage of the low-income group who did not meet the definition of adequate intake using the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top was lower for meals that include cereals and grain products, and higher for meals that include meat and fish, vegetable, milk and dairy products, and fruits.Conclusion The lower income group had higher intake of cereals and lower intake of vegetables and fruits compared to the higher income group. This finding is similar to the results of studies in adults and older children. However, based on the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top, >90% of young children have a diet that fall below the adequate intake of meals, including vegetable dishes and even on weekdays, which suggests a general vegetable deficiency in young children. Multifaceted support is required to address this concern, including measures to correct disparities of income and to ensure desirable nutrient intake in early childhood.

Traditional game of spinning top gone wrong: Short communication of a pediatric facial penetrating injury

Introduction A spinning top is a traditional game in some countries. The top is often made of wood or mud and the bottom is made of a sharp metal pin. Penetrating injuries can occur if the spinning top is incorrectly thrown. Case report We report a spinning top penetrating injury on the nose of an 8-year-old girl. Clinical examination revealed a spinning top that had penetrated her nasal bridge. Plain computed tomography (CT) of paranasal sinuses revealed a spinning top with its sharp pointed nail penetrating through the left nasal bone into the left nasal cavity. Examination under general anesthesia and rigid nasoendoscopy showed the tip of spinning top situated in between middle turbinate and nasal septum. The spinning top was then removed following the direction of entry. Discussion While air gun pellet facial injuries in pediatric patients have been reported, other playthings as culprits of facial penetrating injuries is still unheard of. Projectile objects can easily penetrate pediatric facial skeleton due to thinner facial bones. It is vital to exclude life- and sightthreatening injuries first, followed by imaging to assist decision-making and surgical planning. Computed tomography (CT) imaging is the gold standard for the radiographic evaluation of facial injuries. It assists in evaluating trauma extent, trajectory, depth, and course of foreign body. Following that, examination under anaesthesia including rigid nasal endoscopy is warranted. Conclusion We would like to highlight the importance of parental supervision and the value of pre-operative imaging. Neglecting seemingly harmless children’s toys can potentially cause fatal injuries.

Dose-Response Relationships between Diet Quality and Mortality among Frail and Non-Frail Older Adults: A Population-Based Kyoto-Kameoka Prospective Cohort Study

ObjectivesAlthough better diet quality is inversely associated with mortality risk, the association between diet quality and mortality remains unclear in frail and non-frail older adults. Thus, we aimed to examine this association in older Japanese adults. DesignA prospective cohort study. Setting and ParticipantsWe used the data of 8,051 Japanese older adults aged ≥65 years in the Kyoto-Kameoka study MesurementsDietary intake was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Diet quality was evaluated by calculating the adherence scores to the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top (range, 0 [worst] to 80 [best]), which were stratified into quartiles. Frailty status was assessed using the validated self-administered Kihon Checklist (KCL) and the Fried phenotype (FP) model. Survival data were collected between February 15, 2012 and November 30, 2016. Statistical analysis was performed using the multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis and the spline model. ResultsDuring the median 4.75-year follow-up (36,552 person-years), we recorded 661 deaths. After adjusting for confounders, compared with the bottom adherence score quartile, the top quartile was associated with lower hazard ratio (HR) of mortality in frailty (HR, 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54–1.00) and non-frailty, as defined by the KCL (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52–1.01). In the spline model, regardless of frailty status defined by the KCL and FP model, adherence score showed a strongly dose-dependent inverse association with mortality up to approximately 55 points; however, no significant differences were observed thereafter. This association was similar to the results obtained in individuals with physical, cognitive, and depression as domains of KCL in the spline model. ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate an L-shaped association between diet quality and mortality in both frail and non-frail individuals. This study may provide important knowledge for improving poor diet quality in older individuals with frailty or domains of frailty.

Design and Application of Portable Centrifuge Inspired by a Hand-Powered Spinning Top.

Traditional centrifuges, extensively employed in biology, chemistry, medicine, and other domains for tasks such as blood separation and pathogen extraction, have certain limitations. Their high cost, substantial size, and reliance on electricity restrict their range of application. Contemporary centrifuges, inspired by everyday items like paper trays and egg beaters, boast characteristics such as ease of operation, independence from electricity, and portability. These features offer unique advantages in specific situations, such as electricity shortages, inadequate infrastructure, and challenging medical conditions. Consequently, we designed a hand-powered portable centrifuge driven by pulling a rope. Our experiments revealed significant performance factors, including load capacity, rope length, and frequency of rope pulling. The results demonstrated that the revolutions per minute (RPM) of a hand-powered portable centrifuge were directly proportional to the length of the rope and the frequency of pulling, up to a certain limit, while inversely proportional to the load. When used for separating and washing polystyrene microspheres, the portable centrifuge's performance equaled that of traditional centrifuges. According to relevant calculations, this centrifuge could be capable of meeting the application of blood separation. Therefore, we believe this portable centrifuge will find meaningful applications in similar areas, particularly in resource-poor settings.

Periconceptional maternal diet quality and offspring wheeze trajectories: Japan Environment and Children's Study.

The role of prenatal diet on childhood wheezing and subsequent risk of asthma is inconclusive, which may be partly due to the heterogeneity in wheezing phenotypes. We aimed to identify wheeze trajectories in early childhood and to examine their associations with periconceptional maternal diet quality. Data from 70,530 mother-child pairs of liveborn singletons from the Japan Environment and Children's Study were analysed. Wheezing was reported by caregivers using a modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire yearly from 1 to 4 years of age, from which trajectories were derived using group-based trajectory modelling. Maternal diet in the year preceding the first trimester of pregnancy was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire; overall diet quality was determined using the balanced diet score based on the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top. Bayesian inference of multinomial logistic regression models was performed to examine the association between maternal diet quality and wheeze trajectory in early childhood. We identified four wheeze trajectories: 'never/infrequent' (69.1%; reference group), 'early-childhood onset' (6.2%), 'transient early' (16.5%) and 'persistent' (8.2%). After adjustment for confounders, a higher quartile of maternal balanced diet score was associated with a lower risk of belonging to the 'transient early' and 'persistent' wheeze trajectories compared with the 'never/infrequent' wheeze trajectory by 10% of both. Maternal balanced diet score was not associated with belonging to the 'early-childhood onset' wheeze trajectory. Improving maternal diet quality prior to conception may reduce certain wheeze phenotypes in early childhood.

Euler–Poisson equations of a dancing spinning top, integrability and examples of analytical solutions

Equations of a rotating body with one point constrained to move freely on a plane (dancing top) are deduced from the Lagrangian variational problem. They formally look like the Euler–Poisson equations of a heavy body with fixed point, immersed in a fictitious gravity field. Using this analogy, we have found examples of analytical solutions for the case of a heavy symmetrical dancing top. They describe the motions with center of mass keeping its height fixed above the supporting plane. General solution to equations of a dancing top in terms of exponential of Hamiltonian field is given. An extra constraint, that take into account the reaction of supporting plane, leads to modification of the canonical Poisson structure and therefore the integrability according to Liouville is under the question.

Diet Quality and Its Relationship with Weight Characteristics in Pregnant Japanese Women: A Single-Center Birth Cohort Study

Maternal underweight and inadequate gestational weight gain (GWG) are problems in Japan. However, increases in food intake aimed at weight gain alone are not sufficient for mother-child health. This study assessed diet quality based on the 3-day dietary records of pregnant women in an urban area of Japan in order to show the importance of evaluating diet quality, using the Nutrient-Rich Food Index 9.3 (NRF9.3), which is one metric based on nutrition profiling, and the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top (JFGST). After excluding misreporters of energy intake, we stratified women (n = 91) by pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and determined energy intake, diet quality status, and their relationship with GWG. Intakes of carbohydrate-containing staple foods, vegetable dishes, and fruit were insufficient regardless of BMI. Most of the underweight women with inadequate GWG had insufficient energy intake but high diet quality, as assessed by NRF9.3. In contrast, most women who consumed energy within the recommended range had low diet quality and gained weight at inappropriate levels. These results highlight the importance for pregnant Japanese women to maintain diet quality through a nutrient-dense diet, while simultaneously increasing energy intake after evaluation of their individual diet quality.

Periconceptional diet quality and its relation to blood heavy metal concentrations among pregnant women: The Japan environment and Children’s study

BackgroundDiets contain toxic chemical contaminants as well as essential nutrients, both of which influence the intrauterine environment for foetal growth. However, whether a high-quality diet that is nutritionally healthy also results in lower exposure to chemical contaminants is unknown. ObjectiveWe examined associations between periconceptional maternal diet quality and circulating concentrations of heavy metals during pregnancy. DesignDietary intake over the year prior to the first trimester of pregnancy was assessed using a validated, self-administered food frequency questionnaire among 81,104 pregnant Japanese women who participated in the Japan Environment and Children's Study. Overall diet quality was determined using the Balanced Diet Score (BDS) based on the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top, the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) score and the Mediterranean diet score (MDS). We measured whole-blood concentrations of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. ResultsAfter controlling for confounders, all diet quality scores were positively associated with blood Hg concentrations. By contrast, higher BDS, HEI-2015 and DASH scores were associated with lower concentrations of Pb and Cd. Although the MDS was positively associated with concentrations of Pb and Cd, when dairy products were classified as a beneficial (rather than detrimental) food component, these associations were attenuated. ConclusionA high-quality diet may reduce exposure to Pb and Cd but not Hg. Further studies are required to determine the optimal balance between mercury exposure risk and nutritional benefits of high-quality diets prior to pregnancy.

Food Categories for Breakfast and Mental Health among Children in Japan: Results from the A-CHILD Study.

There is limited evidence that what children eat for breakfast contributes to their mental health. This study aimed to examine the associations between food categories for breakfast and mental health among children in Japan. A proportion of participants aged 9-10 years in the Adachi Child Health Impact of Living Difficulty (A-CHILD) study in Japan who consumed breakfast daily were included (n = 281). Foods eaten for breakfast were reported by the children each morning for 7 consecutive days, and defined according to the food categories in the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top. Child mental health was assessed by caregivers using the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. The mean intake frequencies per week were six times for grain dishes, two times for milk products, and one time for fruits. Linear regression analysis revealed an inverse association between the frequent intake of grain dishes, whether rice or bread, and problem behaviors after adjustment for potential confounders. However, confectionaries, which mainly consisted of sweet breads or pastries, were not associated with problem behaviors. The intake of non-sweet grain dishes at breakfast may be effective for preventing behavioral problems in children.

Символика волчка: звуковая деталь в пьесе А. П. Чехова «Три сестры»

The article deals with the study of the sound features of Chekhov’s creative legacy, and in particular, with the analysis and interpretation of the place and role of the sound detail of the spinning top in the play by A. P. Chekhov The Three Sisters, which has not been previously conducted by researchers. The analysis involves stage readings of the drama by major Russian and European directors of the 20–21st centuries – K. S. Stanislavsky, Vl. I. Nemirovich-Danchenko, A. V. Efros, P. Stein, E. Nyakroshus, P. N. Fomenko, L. A. Dodin, who show that for most of them the ‘amazing sound’ of the spinning top plays an important symbolic role in Chekhov’s play, and for its interpreters the character of this sound is important – instilling anxiety into the upcoming action, as well as foreshadowing the direction of its development and even the finale. The ‘amazing sound’ of the spinning top, according to the concept of parallelism of the first and fourth acts proposed by G. I. Tamarli, is projected onto the sound of the shot that struck Tuzenbach at the end of the play. The conclusions drawn will help future drama directors in theater and cinema to pay more attention to Chekhov’s sound details and see the symbolism in seemingly everyday objects introduced into the plot.

Periconceptional maternal diet quality influences blood heavy metal concentrations and their effect on low birth weight: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study

BackgroundBoth poor maternal nutrition and toxic heavy metal exposure influence foetal growth and development. However, whether consumption of a variety of healthy foods modifies the association between prenatal heavy metal exposure and foetal growth is unknown. ObjectiveWe examined whether long-term maternal diet quality in periconception modifies the associations between maternal circulating concentrations of heavy metals and foetal growth. DesignData of 72,317 Japanese women who delivered singleton infants was extracted from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. Maternal diet over a 1-year before the first trimester of pregnancy was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and overall diet quality was determined using the balanced diet score based on the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top. Maternal whole-blood concentrations of mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were measured during the second/third trimester of pregnancy. Bayesian inference of multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between maternal diet quality and the blood concentrations of heavy metals; Bayesian logistic regression was used to analyse the risk of low birth weight (LBW; <2,500 g). ResultsAfter controlling for confounders, a high maternal balanced diet score was associated with low concentrations of blood Pb and Cd and high Hg. While all heavy metals assessed were positively associated with LBW risk, a higher maternal balanced diet score was negatively associated with LBW risk. A high-quality maternal diet attenuated the effect of Pb on LBW, an effect that was more marked at high blood Pb concentrations. ConclusionA high-quality, ‘well-balanced’ diet prior to conception may reduce exposure to some heavy metals and mitigate the elevated risk of LBW associated with prenatal Pb exposure in Japanese mother–child pairs.

New equations for the spinning top

New equations for the spinning top

New equations for the spinning top

New equations for the spinning top

An axis-asymmetric self-driven micromotor that can perform precession multiplying “on-the-fly” mass transfer

<h2>Summary</h2> Self-driven micro/nanomotors (MNMs) can generate "on-the-fly" mass transfer, significantly advancing micro/nanofluid technologies. However, the presence of at least one symmetric axis regulates them to implement either translation or rotation, confining the enhancement efficiency for mass transfer. Here, we report axis-asymmetric hollow bowl-shaped Janus micromotors that can perform unusual precession like a spinning top and thus intriguingly enhance liquid medium convection in a large area. They are formed by self-collapse of polystyrene (PS)/platinum (Pt) hollow Janus microspheres adjacent to the boundary between the two hemispheres of PS and Pt caused by the osmotic pressure with the assistance of stirring. The synchronistic self-rotation and translation modulated by the fuel concentration and depression degree can multiply solute mixing and diffusion efficiencies by several times compared with conventional Janus counterparts. This work demonstrates a novel motion mode of self-driven MNMs, precession that greatly enhances micro-convection and rapid diffusion of liquid medium.

Long-term changes in the Earth's climate: Milankovitch cycles as an exercise in classical mechanics

Long-term changes in the tilt of the Earth's axis, relative to the plane of its orbit, are of great significance to long-term climate change, because they control the size of the arctic and Antarctic circles. These “Milankovitch cycles” have hitherto been calculated by classical perturbation methods or by direct numerical integration of Newton's equations of motion. This paper presents an approximate calculation from simple considerations of angular momentum using similar methods to those used to study the precession of a spinning top. It is an instructive exercise in classical mechanics and gives a simple explanation of the phenomenon in terms of angular momentum. It is shown that the main component of “Milankovitch cycles” has a period of 41,000 yr and is due to one of the modes of precession of the Earth-Venus system. The other mode of this system produces a component of period 29,500 yr, and a third component of period 54,000 yr results from the influence of the precession of the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn. These results agree closely with several of the numerical simulations in the literature and strongly suggest that some other results in the literature are incorrect.

Development and evaluation of a modified version of the dietary variety score for community-dwelling older adults

Objectives The dietary variety score (DVS) was developed as an index to assess the variety of food intake among older Japanese adults and has been widely used in epidemiological studies and public health settings. However, this index has not been reviewed since its development in the 1990s and may not adequately reflect the current dietary habits of the older Japanese population. In this study, we developed a modified version of the DVS (MDVS) and examined its validity.Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 357 community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 years (mean age: 76.2±4.6, men: 61.1%) who participated in the 2016 survey of the Hatoyama cohort study. The DVS and MDVS were assessed by the number of food groups eaten almost every day based on the weekly frequency of consumption. The DVS was calculated based on ten components: meat, fish/shellfish, eggs, milk, soybean products, green/yellow vegetables, potatoes, fruits, seaweed, and fats/oils. The components of the MDVS were determined by calculating the contribution of each food group to the total and nutrient intakes from the food groups comprising the main dish, side dish, and soup, based on the data from older adults aged ≥65 years who participated in the 2017 National Health and Nutrition Survey in Japan. Based on the contribution of each food group, we added "other vegetables" and "dairy products" in the MDVS. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated, self-administered diet history questionnaire. We calculated the probability of adequacy for each of the fourteen nutrients selected as per the estimated average requirement in the Dietary Reference Intake for Japanese 2020 and the mean probability of adequacy for all fourteen nutrients. In addition, we assessed the correlation between the DVS, MDVS, and each indicator and the significance of the difference between correlation coefficients.Results The MDVS was significantly positively correlated with the energy ratios of protein and fat, dietary fiber, potassium, and the modified diet score based on the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top (r=0.21-0.45) and negatively correlated with the carbohydrate energy ratio (r=-0.32). The MDVS was also correlated with the mean probability of nutrient adequacy (r=0.41). The correlation coefficients between the MDVS and each indicator were not significantly different from those of the DVS.Conclusions Validity in terms of nutrient intake and diet quality was comparable between the DVS and MDVS. To revise the DVS, it is necessary to conduct nationwide studies based on highly accurate dietary surveys.

Relationship of chronotype and social jetlag with adherence to the Japanese dietary guidelines among workers

ABSTRACT While late chronotype and greater social jetlag have been associated with poor dietary behavior among the general population, these associations have not been investigated among workers, who struggle to align their sleep timings with work schedules. We aimed to explore the cross-sectional association of social jetlag and a late chronotype with adherence to a healthy diet among Japanese workers. Participants were 1,435 non-shift workers (18–78 years) who attended a nutritional survey. Social jetlag was defined as the difference in the midpoint of sleep times between weekdays and weekends, while chronotype was estimated using the mid-sleep time on weekends that was corrected with sleep debt on weekdays. We calculated the adherence score of the Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top (JFGST) – healthy diet guidelines for Japanese. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to calculate the adjusted means and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for adherence scores of social jetlag and chronotype. We found that greater social jetlag was associated with a lower JFGST score. The multivariable-adjusted mean (95% CI) of JFGST scores were 39.7 (39.1–40.2), 38.7 (37.9–39.6), and 38.1 (36.6–39.7) for <1 hour, 1 to <2 hours, and ≥2 hours of social jetlag, respectively (P-trend = 0.02). Workers with late chronotypes had significantly lower adherence scores on JFGST [36.3 (34.7–37.8); P-trend = 0.002]. Results suggest that a late chronotype and social jetlag are inversely associated with adherence to a healthy diet among Japanese workers.