On Optimal Operator for Combining Left and Right Sole Pressure Data in Biometrics Security

This paper describes optimal operator for combining left and right sole pressure data in a personal authentication method by dynamic change of sole pressure distribution while walking. The method employs a pair of right and left sole pressure distribution change data. These data are acquired by a mat-type load distribution sensor. The system extracts features based on shape of sole and weight shift from each sole pressure distribution. We calculate fuzzy degrees of right and left sole pressures for a registered person. Fuzzy if-then rules for each registered person are statistically determined by learning data set. Next, we combine the fuzzy degrees of right and left sole pressure data. In this process, we consider six combination operators. We examine which operator achieves best accuracy for the personal authentication. In the authentication system, we identify the walking persons as a registered person with the highest fuzzy degree. We verify the walking person as the target person when the combined fuzzy degree of the walking person is higher than a threshold. In our experiment, we employed 90 volunteers, and our method obtained higher authentication performance by mean and weighted sum operators

Suppression of hyperexcitability of trigeminal nociceptive neurons associated with inflammatory hyperalgesia following systemic administration of lutein via inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 cascade signaling

Abstract Introduction Lutein is a dietary constituent known to inhibit inflammation; however, its effect on nociceptive neuron-associated hyperalgesia remains to be determined. The present study therefore investigated under in vivo conditions whether administration of lutein attenuates the inflammation-induced hyperexcitability of trigeminal spinal nucleus caudalis (SpVc) neurons that is associated with mechanical hyperalgesia. Results Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) was injected into the whisker pads of rats to induce inflammation, and then mechanical stimulation was applied to the orofacial area to assess the threshold of escape. The mechanical threshold was significantly lower in inflamed rats compared to uninjected naïve rats, and this lowered threshold was returned to control levels by 3 days after administration of lutein (10 mg/Kg, i.p.) Also the lutein administration, inflammation-induced thickness of edema was returned to control levels. The mean increased number of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2)-immunoreactive cells in the whisker pads of inflamed rats was also returned to control levels by administration with lutein. The mean discharge frequency of SpVc wide-dynamic range (WDR) neurons to both nonnoxious and noxious mechanical stimuli in inflamed rats was significantly decreased after lutein administration. In addition, the increased mean spontaneous discharge of SpVc WDR in inflamed rats was significantly decreased after lutein administration. Similarly, lutein significantly diminished noxious pinch-evoked mean after discharge frequency and occurrence in inflamed rats. Finally, lutein restored the expanded mean size of the receptive field in inflamed rats to control levels. Conclusion These results together suggest that administration of lutein attenuates inflammatory hyperalgesia associated with hyperexcitability of nociceptive SpVc WDR neurons via inhibition of the peripheral Cox-2 signaling cascade. These findings support the proposed potential of lutein as a therapeutic agent in complementary alternative medicine strategies for preventing inflammatory mechanical hyperalgesia

Metallic-Nanostructure-Enhanced Optical Trapping of Flexible Polymer Chains in Aqueous Solution As Revealed by Confocal Fluorescence Microspectroscopy

Optical trapping of flexible polymer chains to a metallic nanostructured surface was explored by microscopic imaging and confocal fluorescence spectroscopy. A fluorescence-labeled poly­(<i>N</i>-isopropylacrylamide) was targeted, being a representative thermo-responsive polymer. Upon resonant plasmonic excitation, it was clearly observed that polymers were assembled into the excitation area to form molecular assemblies. Simultaneously, fluorescence from the area was obviously intensified, indicating an increase in the number of polymer chains at the area. The excitation threshold of light intensity that was required for obvious trapping was 1 kW/cm², which was much lower by a factor of 10⁴ than that for conventional trapping using a focused laser beam. The morphology of the assemblies was sensitive to excitation intensity. We precisely evaluated temperature rise (Δ<i><i>T</i></i>) around the metallic nanostructure upon plasmonic excitation: Δ<i><i>T</i></i> ≈ 10 K at 1 kW/cm² excitation. This temperature rise was an origin of a repulsive force that blocked stable trapping. On the basis of experimental observations and theoretical calculations, we quantitatively evaluated the plasmon-enhanced trapping force and the thermal repulsive force (Soret effect). The overall mechanisms that were involved in such plasmon-enhanced optical trapping are discussed in detail. The smooth catch-and-release trapping (manipulation) of polymer chains was successfully demonstrated

Metallic-Nanostructure-Enhanced Optical Trapping of Flexible Polymer Chains in Aqueous Solution As Revealed by Confocal Fluorescence Microspectroscopy

Optical trapping of flexible polymer chains to a metallic nanostructured surface was explored by microscopic imaging and confocal fluorescence spectroscopy. A fluorescence-labeled poly­(<i>N</i>-isopropylacrylamide) was targeted, being a representative thermo-responsive polymer. Upon resonant plasmonic excitation, it was clearly observed that polymers were assembled into the excitation area to form molecular assemblies. Simultaneously, fluorescence from the area was obviously intensified, indicating an increase in the number of polymer chains at the area. The excitation threshold of light intensity that was required for obvious trapping was 1 kW/cm², which was much lower by a factor of 10⁴ than that for conventional trapping using a focused laser beam. The morphology of the assemblies was sensitive to excitation intensity. We precisely evaluated temperature rise (Δ<i><i>T</i></i>) around the metallic nanostructure upon plasmonic excitation: Δ<i><i>T</i></i> ≈ 10 K at 1 kW/cm² excitation. This temperature rise was an origin of a repulsive force that blocked stable trapping. On the basis of experimental observations and theoretical calculations, we quantitatively evaluated the plasmon-enhanced trapping force and the thermal repulsive force (Soret effect). The overall mechanisms that were involved in such plasmon-enhanced optical trapping are discussed in detail. The smooth catch-and-release trapping (manipulation) of polymer chains was successfully demonstrated