Development of a visual information to auditory information transformation system for ambulation assistance.

Background: Assistant equipment for the visually impaired has a white cane. If the information in the three-dimensional space is transmitted by sound, the blind can draw a three-dimensional space.

Objective: This study developed "Visual System," an ambulation aid/guide for the blind that transforms visual-spatial information into auditory information, and verified its utility.

Development of a Gulfweed-Based Edible Coating Using High-Pressure Homogenization and Its Application to Smoked Salmon.

Gulfweed-based edible materials were developed in forms of food film and coating. Gulfweed suspension was subjected to high-pressure homogenization (HPH) at 103, 138, and 193 MPa with 1, 2, and 3 passes, and mixed with 14, 30, 50, and 70% (w/w gulfweed) glycerol and 1% (w/w gulfweed) polysorbate 20 to produce a film-forming suspension. The particle size of the suspension decreased with increasing pressure from 103 to 193 MPa and pass number from 1 to 3.

Hypnotic effects and binding studies for GABA(A) and 5-HT(2C) receptors of traditional medicinal plants used in Asia for insomnia.

Aim Of The Study: Many medicinal plants have been used for treatment of insomnia in Asia. However, scientific evidence and precise mechanism for their sedative-hypnotic activity have not been fully investigated. Thus, we investigated the binding activity of the oriental plant extracts (mainly from Korea and Japan) to the well-known molecular targets for sleep regulation, GABA(A) and 5-HT(2C) receptors.

Evaluation of two mobile telemedicine systems in the emergency room.

Two different prototype mobile telemedicine systems were constructed for use in the emergency room. They could transmit physiological signals as well as video pictures and sound. One device, the mobile emergency bed (MEB), was powered by battery and had a wireless connection to the local-area network (LAN).

Alterations in promoter usage and expression levels of insulin-like growth factor-II and H19 genes in cervical carcinoma exhibiting biallelic expression of IGF-II.

Biallelic expression of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF2) has been reported to be associated with progression of several tumors. Here, we report that the promoter usage and expression levels of IGF2 and H19 were altered in cervical carcinoma showing loss of imprinting. The imprinting status was examined in 32 cervical carcinomas and their matched normal tissues.