It is my great pleasure to publish New Frontiers in Lifestyle-Related Dis eases, the proceedings of the Showa University International Symposium for Life Sciences, 3rd Annual Meeting, held at Showa University on Sep tember 13, 2006. This symposium was supported, in part, by Grants for the Promotion of the Advancement of Education and Research in Graduate Schools and Ordinary Expenses for Private Schools from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan. On behalf of Showa University, I would like to express my deepest thanks to all the authors and editors for their great contribution to the publication of this memorable book that accelerates research activity in lifestyle-related diseases. Akiyoshi Hosoyamada, M.D., Ph.D. President, Showa University Tokyo, Japan September 2007 v Preface The leading cause of death in Western countries and some developing countries is atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Among them, acute myocardial infarction is the most common type of fatal disease, caused by the progression of atherosclerosis characterized by accumulation of choles terol in vascular walls. Development of atherosclerosis is greatly enhanced by major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as obesity, hyperlip idemia, diabetes (hyperglycemia), and hypertension. Among those, obesity frequently initiates a metabolic change that subsequently induces hyperlip idemia, diabetes, hypertension, and eventually atherosclerotic cardiovascu lar diseases. Because obesity and its related disorders largely depend on lifestyle factors such as high calorie intake and low physical activity, a series of disorders are termed lifestyle-related diseases.

In this thesis, the author develops new high-power millimeter wave techniques for measuring the hyperfine structure of positronium (Ps-HFS) directly for the first time in the world. Indirect measurement of Ps-HFS in the literature might have systematic uncertainties related to the use of a static magnetic field. Development of the millimeter wave devices supports the precise determination of Ps-HFS by directly measuring the Breit-Wigner resonant transition from o-Ps to p-Ps without the magnetic field. At the same time, the width of the measured Breit-Wigner resonance directly provides the lifetime of p-Ps. This measurement is the first precise spectroscopic experiment involving the magnetic dipole transition and high-power millimeter waves. The development of a gyrotron and a Fabry-Perot cavity is described as providing an effective power of over 20 kW, which is required to cause the direct transition from o-Ps to p-Ps. Those values measured by the newly developed millimeter wave device pave the way for examining the discrepancy observed between conventional indirect experiments on Ps-HFS and the theoretical predictions of Quantum Electrodynamics.

The Japanese Cattle industry has been undergoing major changes for the past three decades. During the 1950's and 1960's mechanized power rapidly. The process of beef industry structure change accelerated in the 1970's as medium scale feedlots came into being, regional packing plants were established, and the beef marketing system matured. Economic forces, both within and external to the industry. A major objective of this book is to test the authors' hypothesis that beef production by Japan's cattle industry could become competitive with imported beef.

The Japanese Cattle industry has been undergoing major changes for the past three decades. During the 1950's and 1960's mechanized power rapidly. The process of beef industry structure change accelerated in the 1970's as medium scale feedlots came into being, regional packing plants were established, and the beef marketing system matured. Economic forces, both within and external to the industry. A major objective of this book is to test the authors' hypothesis that beef production by Japan's cattle industry could become competitive with imported beef.

It is my great pleasure to publish New Frontiers in Lifestyle-Related Dis eases, the proceedings of the Showa University International Symposium for Life Sciences, 3rd Annual Meeting, held at Showa University on Sep tember 13, 2006. This symposium was supported, in part, by Grants for the Promotion of the Advancement of Education and Research in Graduate Schools and Ordinary Expenses for Private Schools from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of Japan. On behalf of Showa University, I would like to express my deepest thanks to all the authors and editors for their great contribution to the publication of this memorable book that accelerates research activity in lifestyle-related diseases. Akiyoshi Hosoyamada, M.D., Ph.D. President, Showa University Tokyo, Japan September 2007 v Preface The leading cause of death in Western countries and some developing countries is atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Among them, acute myocardial infarction is the most common type of fatal disease, caused by the progression of atherosclerosis characterized by accumulation of choles terol in vascular walls. Development of atherosclerosis is greatly enhanced by major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as obesity, hyperlip idemia, diabetes (hyperglycemia), and hypertension. Among those, obesity frequently initiates a metabolic change that subsequently induces hyperlip idemia, diabetes, hypertension, and eventually atherosclerotic cardiovascu lar diseases. Because obesity and its related disorders largely depend on lifestyle factors such as high calorie intake and low physical activity, a series of disorders are termed lifestyle-related diseases."