The results to this study demonstrate that daily PA was high among female subjects living in a NE with land use mix-diversity, and who had an awareness of places to walk to and the accessibility to facilities for daily necessities in their neighborhood. For male subjects, daily PA was high among those who perceived the aesthetics of and accessibility to facilities for pleasure in their neighborhood. Further research is needed to determine the association between PA and NE on the basis of sex differences.

In the Mongolian gerbil, bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) for several minutes induces ischemia and delayed neuronal cell death in the CA1 region of the hippocampus due to their incomplete Circle of Willis. In the present study, the expression of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), its receptors (FGFR1 and FGFR2), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and isolectin B4 (ISLB4) was investigated by immunohistochemical and lectin-binding methods after BCCAO was performed for 5 min in gerbils. One day after BCCAO, the pyramidal cells of the CA1 region of the hippocampus showed degenerative changes and lowered expression of FGF2, FGFR1, and FGFR2. Three days after BCCAO, there was an increase in GFAP-positive astrocytes and ISLB4-positive microglial cells. From five to 10 days after BCCAO, intense neuronal cell death in the stria pyramidale of the hippocampal CA1 region was observed, as well as an increase in GFAP-positive astrocytes and decrease in ISLB4-positive microglial cells. These results indicate that transient forebrain ischemia induces neuronal cell death with lowered expression of FGF2 and its receptors, and that the activation of glial cells may not directly lead to neuronal cell death.

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Investigation of the association between the neighborhood environment NE and daily physical activity PA is new and limited. The purpose of the study was to clarify the association between NE and PA in a community in Japan.Two types of regions with different residential density, land use mix diversity, and street connectivity were selected. Residents were selected using a stratified random sampling method. Each resident's NE was objectively and subjectively measured using the Geographic Information System GIS and a questionnaire. PA was measured using a pedometer accelerometer type and a questionnaire.For female residents, walking time for leisure was significantly longer with a high GIS score for the land use types, and total walking steps and walking time for leisure were higher among those who perceived land use mix access. For male residents, total walking steps were significantly higher for those who perceived accessibility to working places and hardware stores, and the walking time for leisure was longer for those who perceived accessibility to working places and fast food restaurants.The study results reveal that mixed land use that is in proximity to several non residential facilities could promote daily walking steps and walking time. However, there is a sex difference in the association between NE and PA. Studies are needed in various communities with environmental variability in Japan. Thus, we measured NE using both objective measurement and residents' perception. PA measurement methods also included both objective and subjective tools. Because an accelerometer, which has been recommended for objectively measuring total PA Ward et al., 2005 , cannot measure separate PA based on the purpose of the activity, PA was also measured using an accelerometer type pedometer and a questionnaire in this study. Methods 1 Study communityThe study community was Tsuruoka City in According to this selection method IPEN, 2004 , two types of regions were selected to make a large inter variation of residents' NE. One was a region with high residential density, land use mix diversity, and street connectivity Dense region and the other was a region with low residential density, land use mix diversity, and street connectivity Sparse region . The Dense region had residential and nonresidential land uses grocery stores, restaurants, small retail stores along the main corridor whereas, the Sparse region was mostly residential. Study participantsThe study participants were selected using a stratified random sampling method among the resi- A cover letter, a written consent form, and a self administered questionnaire were sent to the selected residents by mail in November 2006.