Flexible network infrastructure for wearable computing using conductive fabric and its evaluation

金沢大学理工研究域電子情報学系Numbers of devices are distributed in the environment in wearable and ubiquitous computing systems, and all of such devices need power supply and communication ways as well as flexibility of placement. Both wireless and wired communication systems intrinsically contain the problems in power supply or flexibility of placement. In this paper, we introduce the flexible network infrastructure for wearable computing systems, named as TextileNet, and experimental results of its evaluation. TextileNet uses the wear both of sides of which are made of conductive fabric as electrodes. On this year, the power is supplied from a battery, and the devices are attached by sticking so that electric contact can obtain the sufficient power and communication way on the wear\u27s surface. This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of the TextileNet system. © 2006 IEEE

Flexible network system for wearable computing using conductive fabric

金沢大学工学部金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科情報システ

Nonvolatile SRAM based on Phase Change

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科電子情報科学金沢大学工学

Wearable electromyography measurement system using cable-free network system on conductive fabric

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科情報システムObjective: To solve the complicated wires and battery maintenance problems in the application of wearable computing for biomedical monitoring, the electromyography (EMG) measurement system using conductive fabric for power supply and electric shield for noise reduction is proposed. Material and methods: The basic cable-free network system using conductive fabric, named as "TextileNet" is developed. The conductive fabric has the function of electric shield for noise reduction in EMG measurement, and it enables the precise EMG measurement with wearable system. Results: The specifications of the developed prototype TextileNet system using wear with conductive fabric were communication speed of 9600 bit/s and power supply of 3 W for each device. The electric shield effect was evaluated for precise EMG measurement, and the shield efficacy of conductive fabric was estimated as high as that of shield room. Conclusions: TextileNet system solves both the problems of complicated wires and battery maintenance in wearable computing systems. Conductive fabric used in TextileNet system is also effective for precise EMG measurement as electric shield. The combination of TextileNet system and EMG measurement device will implement the cable-free, battery-free wearable EMG measurement system. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Id4, a New Candidate Gene for Senile Osteoporosis, Acts as a Molecular Switch Promoting Osteoblast Differentiation

Excessive accumulation of bone marrow adipocytes observed in senile osteoporosis or age-related osteopenia is caused by the unbalanced differentiation of MSCs into bone marrow adipocytes or osteoblasts. Several transcription factors are known to regulate the balance between adipocyte and osteoblast differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the balance between adipocyte and osteoblast differentiation in the bone marrow have yet to be elucidated. To identify candidate genes associated with senile osteoporosis, we performed genome-wide expression analyses of differentiating osteoblasts and adipocytes. Among transcription factors that were enriched in the early phase of differentiation, Id4 was identified as a key molecule affecting the differentiation of both cell types. Experiments using bone marrow-derived stromal cell line ST2 and Id4-deficient mice showed that lack of Id4 drastically reduces osteoblast differentiation and drives differentiation toward adipocytes. On the other hand knockdown of Id4 in adipogenic-induced ST2 cells increased the expression of Pparγ2, a master regulator of adipocyte differentiation. Similar results were observed in bone marrow cells of femur and tibia of Id4-deficient mice. However the effect of Id4 on Pparγ2 and adipocyte differentiation is unlikely to be of direct nature. The mechanism of Id4 promoting osteoblast differentiation is associated with the Id4-mediated release of Hes1 from Hes1-Hey2 complexes. Hes1 increases the stability and transcriptional activity of Runx2, a key molecule of osteoblast differentiation, which results in an enhanced osteoblast-specific gene expression. The new role of Id4 in promoting osteoblast differentiation renders it a target for preventing the onset of senile osteoporosis

天然添加物に関わる基礎的調査研究 -その1 天然香料-

2006年厚労省により513種の天然香料其原物質がﾘｽﾄｱｯﾌﾟされた｡当ﾘｽﾄには動物､複合体､生成物､化合物､ｷﾉｺ類､海藻類､樹脂類､規制に関わる物質等が含まれるのでこれらは除いた450種の其原植物について調査研究を遂行することとした｡本ﾌﾟﾛｼﾞｪｸﾄでは天然香料の安全性確認のため以下の調査研究を行った｡1)天然香料に用いられる全ての原料の本体が明確になっていないので､最初に其原植物の学名を決定する｡2)安全性確認のためには食経験の調査が重要なので､食経験に関する文献を広い分野に求めそれらを記述し安全性の評価資料に資する｡3)近年分析機器の急速な発展により多くの成分が単離構造決定されているので､それぞれの其原植物に含まれる成分のﾃﾞｰﾀﾍﾞｰｽを作成する｡4)本ﾃﾞｰﾀﾍﾞｰｽが RTECS ﾃﾞｰﾀﾍﾞｰｽから得られる科学的安全性を支持することを確認する｡The natural resource of flavoring additives 513 items were listed in 2006. Since there are various kinds of complicated materials like animals, complexes, products, components, mushrooms, seaweeds, resins and materials related to the regulations, we removed such items in this project and relisted up 450 items. To make sure the safety of flavoring additives, the following have been investigated. 1) Since the principles of all original plant species using for flavoring additives have not been evident, we confirmed and determined their scientific names individually. 2) The eating experiences as food is important for the confirmation of safety. Therefore, the accumulated scientific data regarding eating experiences published in various fields were incorporated in this project resulting in evaluation of safety. 3) Recently so many natural compounds have been isolated and structurally elucidated depending on the development of purification and structural elucidation technique. We therefore prepared data base of components contained in individual flavoring additive. 4) It becomes evident that the above data base supported the scientific safety data of flavoring additives obtained from RTECS data

Arginine vasopressin altered the expression of monocarboxylate transporters in cultured astrocytes isolated from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats and congenic SHRpch1_18 rats

Abstract Background Astrocytes support a range of brain functions as well as neuronal survival, but their detailed relationship with stroke-related edema is not well understood. We previously demonstrated that the release of lactate from astrocytes isolated from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP/Izm) was attenuated under stroke conditions. The supply of lactate to neurons is regulated by astrocytic monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). The purpose of this study was to examine the contributions of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and/or hypoxia and reoxygenation (H/R) to the regulation of MCTs and neurotrophic factor in astrocytes obtained from SHRSP/Izm and congenic SHRpch1_18 rats. Methods We compared AVP-induced lactate levels, MCTs, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in astrocytes isolated from SHRSP/Izm, SHRpch1_18, and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY/Izm). The expression levels of genes and proteins were determined by PCR and Western blotting (WB). Results The production of lactate induced by AVP was increased in astrocytes from all three strains. However, the levels of lactate were lower in SHRSP/Izm and SHRpch1_18 animals compared with the WKY/Izm strain. Gene expression levels of Slc16a1, Slc16a4, and Bdnf were lowered by AVP in SHRSP/Izm and SHRpch1_18 rats compared with WKY/Izm. The increase of MCT4 that was induced by AVP was blocked by the addition of a specific nitric oxide (NO) chelator, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (CPTIO). Furthermore, AVP increased the expression of iNOS and eNOS proteins in WKY/Izm and SHRSP/Izm rat astrocytes. However, the iNOS expression levels in SHRSP astrocytes differed from those of WKY/Izm astrocytes. The increase of MCT4 protein expression during AVP treatment was blocked by the addition of a specific NF-kB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). The induction of MCT4 by AVP may be regulated by NO through NF-kB. Conclusions These results suggest that the expression of MCTs mediated by AVP may be regulated by NO. The data suggest that AVP attenuated the expression of MCTs in SHRSP/Izm and SHRpch1_18 astrocytes. Reduced expression of MCTs may be associated with decreased lactate production in SHRSP