EDA-BASED ESTIMATION OF VISUAL ATTENTION BY OBSERVATION OF EYE BLINK FREQUENCY

This paper describes the relationship between visual attention and eye blink frequency. In an experiment, we prompted the activation of a subject's visual attention and examined the influence of visual attention (as measured using electrodermal activity (EDA), which is meaningfully correlated with visual attention) on the subject's eye blink frequency. Experimental results show that engagement of visual attention decreased eye blink frequency and that when visual attention was not activated, eye blink frequency increased. Knowledge of this relationship provides a technique using EDA to objectively determining a subject's visual attention status

Study on Morphological Properties and Mass Transport Parameters of ORR in Recast Ion- exchange Polymer Electrolyte Membranes

ABSTRACT We have investigated the effect of the recast temperature, i.e., heat treatment of a polymer electrolyte, on the diffusion coefficient and solubility of oxygen in the electrolyte and also on the morphological properties of recast ion-exchange membranes for improving the cathode activity in PEFCs. The recast membranes were prepared at different recast temperatures from Nafion ® and Aciplex ® solutions. Based on the chronoamperometric measurements, it was found that the diffusion coefficient and solubility of oxygen were deeply affected by the recast temperature. The diffusion coefficient increased with the decreasing recast temperature while the solubility had the opposite tendency. The water uptakes and ionic cluster size also varied with the recast temperature. Based on the X-ray measurements, it is considered that the differences in the mass transport parameters, the cluster sizes and water uptakes are due to the growth of clusters and crystallinity in the electrolyte

Editorial: Conflicts

The Editorial Board reflects on the theme of 'conflict', as observed in the work published in this issue, and in the wider world

遺伝子診断教育のための簡便な毛髪形態（EDAR）及び耳垢型（ABCC11）遺伝子多型解析法

Recently, progress in molecular biology is being made in various fields such as biology, agriculture and medical and pharmaceutical sciences. Students graduating from not only pharmaceutical departments but also general high schools will be required to have knowledge of molecular biology techniques for understanding prevailing technologies. However, it is difficult to include such experiments in a curriculum for students at general high schools and universities because of safety aspect, expensive materials and experimental equipment and time consumed. This report introduces the convenient experimental methods on human DNA polymorphisms for the genotyping of the hair thickness-determining gene EDAR on the chromosome 2 and the earwax type gene ABCC11 on the chromosome 16 using a PCR-RFLP method. This experiment enables each student to handle DNA safely. The total experiment time is less than 6 hours. The PCR-RFLP experiment proposed here is a suitable genotyping method to acquire molecular biological knowledge and techniques

Malignant transformation arising from mature cystic teratoma of the ovary presenting as ovarian torsion: a case report and literature review

Objective: Ovarian torsion is an acute gynecological condition. Torsion is more likely to occur with benign rather than malignant tumors. Mature cystic teratoma of the ovary (MCTO) is frequent in women of reproductive age; however, the incidence of malignant transformation is approximately 2%. We report a case of malignant transformation of MCTO presenting as ovarian tumor torsion. Case report: A 51-year-old premenopausal woman was diagnosed with mature cystic teratoma in the left ovary 7 years ago. The patient visited our hospital because she had been experiencing of pain in left lower abdomen for the past two days. She was diagnosed with ovarian tumor torsion and underwent emergency surgery. The left ovarian tumor was twisted, and left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma arising from the MCTO. We carefully followed the patients without performing staging laparotomy. On postoperative day 112, multiple lymph node metastases in the pelvic and para-aortic areas were found by positron-emission tomography and computed tomography. After referral to a university hospital, total hysterectomy, right salpingo-oophorectomy, partial omentectomy, and pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy were performed. Metastases of squamous cell carcinoma were confirmed in the pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes. Six courses of adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin were given following radical surgery to prevent the recurrence of malignant transformation of MCTO. No recurrence of the disease has been observed during 2 years of follow-up. Conclusio: When physicians diagnose large ovarian tumor torsion cases, preoperative examinations should be performed, with the possibility of malignancy in mind

Role of PSCs in Regeneration of Remnant Pancreas after PX

Background and objectives Mechanism of regeneration of remnant pancreas after partial pancreatectomy (PX) is still unknown. In this study, effect of siRNA against the collagen specific chaperone, HSP47, which inhibits collagen secretion from activated pancreas stellate cells (aPSCs), and induces their apoptosis, on regeneration of remnant pancreas was determined. Methods Pancreatectomy was performed according to established methods. Proliferation of cells was assessed by BrdU incorporation. Immunostaining of HSP47 was employed to identify PSCs. Progenitor cells were identified by SOX9 staining. Acinar cells were immunostained for amylase. Co-culture of acinar cells with aPSCs were carried out in a double chamber with a cell culture insert. siRNA HSP47 encapsulated in vitamin A-coupled liposome (VA-lip siRNA HSP47) was delivered to aPSCs by iv injection. Results In remnant pancreas of 90% PX rat, new areas of foci were located separately from duodenal areas with normal pancreatic features. After PX, BrdU uptake of acinar cells and islet cells significantly increased, but was suppressed by treatment with VA-lip siRNA HSP47. BrdU uptake by acinar cells was augmented by co-culturing with aPSCs and the augmentation was nullified by siRNA HSP47. BrdU uptake by progenitor cells in foci area was slightly enhanced by the same treatment. New area which exhibited intermediate features between those of duodenal and area of foci, emerged after the treatment. Conclusion aPSCs play a crucial role in regeneration of remnant pancreas, proliferation of acinar and islet cells after PX through the activity of secreted collagen. Characterization of new area emerged by siRNA HSP47 treatment as to its origin is a future task