Biorhythm-Based Awakening Timing Modulation

Abstract-The purpose of the present study is to control human biological rhythm and life cycle by optimization of awakening timing. We developed a wearable interface for controlling awakening time named "BRAC (Biological Rhythm based Awakening timing Controller)". BRAC could estimate bio-rhythm by pulse wave from finger tip and send awake signal to user. An ordinary alarm clock operates according to set times that have to be set in advance. However, humans have a rhythm in their sleep, which affects one's sleep depth and wake-up timing. We consider the simplest way to control or reset human's biorhythm or life style is to optimize the awakening timing and the sleeping hours. We examined the relationship between controlling awakening timing based on autonomous nerve rhythm and equilibrium function. Our findings suggest indicate that the prototype "BRAC" could evaluate user's biological rhythm and awakes user at the time optimized for physical function of equilibrium

Autoregulator Protein PhaR for Biosynthesis of Polyhydroxybutyrate [P(3HB)] Possibly Has Two Separate Domains That Bind to the Target DNA and P(3HB): Functional Mapping of Amino Acid Residues Responsible for DNA Binding

PhaR from Paracoccus denitrificans functions as a repressor or autoregulator of the expression of genes encoding phasin protein (PhaP) and PhaR itself, both of which are components of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) granules (A. Maehara, S. Taguchi, T. Nishiyama, T. Yamane, and Y. Doi, J. Bacteriol. 184:3992-4002, 2002). PhaR is a unique regulatory protein in that it also has the ability to bind tightly to an effector molecule, PHA polyester. In this study, by using a quartz crystal microbalance, we obtained direct evidence that PhaR binds to the target DNA and poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] [P(3HB)], one of the PHAs, at the same time. To identify the PhaR amino acid residues responsible for DNA binding, deletion and PCR-mediated random point mutation experiments were carried out with the gene encoding the PhaR protein. PhaR point mutants with decreased DNA-binding abilities were efficiently screened by an in vivo monitoring assay system coupled with gene expression of green fluorescent protein in Escherichia coli. DNA-binding abilities of the wild-type and mutants of recombinant PhaR expressed in E. coli were evaluated using a gel shift assay and a surface plasmon resonance analysis. These experiments revealed that basic amino acids and a tyrosine in the N-terminal region, which is highly conserved among PhaR homologs, are responsible for DNA binding. However, most of the mutants with decreased DNA-binding abilities were unaffected in their ability to bind P(3HB), strongly suggesting that PhaR has two separate domains capable of binding to the target DNA and P(3HB)

On predicted measure of listener envelopment in existing halls

The purpose of this study is to propose a new method for evaluating the sound field of auditoria with incorporation of the measure for listener envelopment(LEV). In this paper, the strength of LEV is calculated in existing halls based on the previous results of objective measurements and psychological experiments, and the relation between LEV and the characteristics of late arriving sounds(C80 and directional late energy ratios) is examined. The result shows that significant differences in perceptions of LEV are found in the different seats and its range differs according to the objective properties of the halls. This confirms that the consideration of LEV is important for the evaluation of sound fields

Directional Distribution of Late Sounds in Concert Auditoria

Directional late sounds are measured in two multi-purpose halls and two shoe-box type concert halls and the directional characteristics including distribution of late sound level and the correlation of physical indices are considered. The results show that in multi-purpose halls the average values of longitudinal, lateral and vertical late sounds level are -5dB, -6dB and -6dB respectively and in concert halls they are -2dB , -3dB and -3dB. It is also found that the directional late sound levels decrease with the increase of source-receiver distance and they correlate strongly with overall late sound level. To try to express directional late sounds observed by listener, a triangular coordinate based on the normalized directional late energy ratios is introduced. It shows that the directional late sounds are equally distributed in the field of high frequency

Effects of Distribution of Directional Late Sound Energy on Listener Envelopment

The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of late arriving sound on listener envelopment(LEV). In our previous work, it was shown that late sounds from above and behind the listener as well as lateral, which had a single directional component, significantly affected LEV when the ratio of early-to-late sound energy(C80) was constant. Furthermore, shown was the relation between C80 and directional late energy ratios(DLR), and perceived LEV. In this paper, two kinds of psychological experiments are performed with simulated sound fields in order to examine the relation between DLR and perceived LEV. In the first experiment, late sounds which consist of plural directional components are used. The previous findings about the contribution of DLR to LEV are confirmed also when late sounds come from arbitrary directions. In the second experiment, the effect of DLR on LEV is examined when the reverberation time is set to 2.5 s. The result shows that the contribution of overhead and back late energy ratios grows larger when reverberation time is longer

既存ホールにおける音に包まれた感じに関する考察

The purpose of this study is to propose a new method for evaluating the sound field of auditoria with incorporation of the measure for listener envelopment(LEV). In this paper, the strength of LEV is calculated in existing halls based on the previous results of objective measurements and psychological experiments, and the relation between LEV and the characteristics of late arriving sounds(C80 and directional late energy ratios) is examined. The result shows that significant differences in perceptions of LEV are found in the different seats and its range differs according to the objective properties of the halls. This confirms that the consideration of LEV is important for the evaluation of sound fields

Effects of Total Level and Arrival Direction of Late Sound on Listener Envelopment

The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of late arriving sound on listener envelopment (LEV). In our previous work, it was shown that late sounds from above and behind the listener as well as lateral significantly affected LEV when the ratio of early-to-late sound energy(C80) was constant. In this paper, a psychological experiment is performed with simulated sound fields in order to examine the relation between C80 and directional late energy ratios, and perceived LEV. The result shows that the contribution of C80 to LEV is the highest in the negative. This means that LEV increases as the late energy increases. Furthermore, late overhead and back energy ratios are definitely effective for LEV at the rate of approximately 35 to 62 percent of the effect of lateral energy ratio

オーディトリウムにおける後期音の到来方向分布

Directional late sounds are measured in two multi-purpose halls and two shoe-box type concert halls and the directional characteristics including distribution of late sound level and the correlation of physical indices are considered. The results show that in multi-purpose halls the average values of longitudinal, lateral and vertical late sounds level are -5dB, -6dB and -6dB respectively and in concert halls they are -2dB , -3dB and -3dB. It is also found that the directional late sound levels decrease with the increase of source-receiver distance and they correlate strongly with overall late sound level. To try to express directional late sounds observed by listener, a triangular coordinate based on the normalized directional late energy ratios is introduced. It shows that the directional late sounds are equally distributed in the field of high frequency

後期音の方向分布が音に包まれた感じに与える影響

The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of late arriving sound on listener envelopment(LEV). In our previous work, it was shown that late sounds from above and behind the listener as well as lateral, which had a single directional component, significantly affected LEV when the ratio of early-to-late sound energy(C80) was constant. Furthermore, shown was the relation between C80 and directional late energy ratios(DLR), and perceived LEV. In this paper, two kinds of psychological experiments are performed with simulated sound fields in order to examine the relation between DLR and perceived LEV. In the first experiment, late sounds which consist of plural directional components are used. The previous findings about the contribution of DLR to LEV are confirmed also when late sounds come from arbitrary directions. In the second experiment, the effect of DLR on LEV is examined when the reverberation time is set to 2.5 s. The result shows that the contribution of overhead and back late energy ratios grows larger when reverberation time is longer

後期音のレベルおよび方向特性が音に包まれた感じに与える影響

The purpose of this study is to clarify the effect of late arriving sound on listener envelopment (LEV). In our previous work, it was shown that late sounds from above and behind the listener as well as lateral significantly affected LEV when the ratio of early-to-late sound energy(C80) was constant. In this paper, a psychological experiment is performed with simulated sound fields in order to examine the relation between C80 and directional late energy ratios, and perceived LEV. The result shows that the contribution of C80 to LEV is the highest in the negative. This means that LEV increases as the late energy increases. Furthermore, late overhead and back energy ratios are definitely effective for LEV at the rate of approximately 35 to 62 percent of the effect of lateral energy ratio