Quantitative Measurement of the Pressure and Shear Stress Acting on the Body of a Wheelchair User Using a Wearable Sheet-Type Sensor: A Preliminary Study.

To provide a safer sitting environment for wheelchair users, it is important to quantitatively measure the forces acting on the contact surface between the seat and the person in the wheelchair. In addition to the pressure acting on the buttocks, shear forces have received particular attention in recent years; however, measuring shear force is more difficult than measuring pressure. To obtain this measurement, a thin and flexible sensor that can be used in a natural state on a wheelchair is needed.

The relationship between torso inclination and the shearing force of the buttocks while seated in a wheelchair: Preliminary research in non-disabled individuals.

The shearing force acting upon the contacting surface of the buttocks while seated in a wheelchair has been linked to the development of pressure ulcers. However, the actual causative factors have not been examined in detail. In an attempt to clarify the nature of this problem, we developed a specific measurement system.

Development of Wearable Sheet-Type Shear Force Sensor and Measurement System that is Insusceptible to Temperature and Pressure.

A sheet-type shear force sensor and a measurement system for the sensor were developed. The sensor has an original structure where a liquid electrolyte is filled in a space composed of two electrode-patterned polymer films and an elastic rubber ring. When a shear force is applied on the surface of the sensor, the two electrode-patterned films mutually move so that the distance between the internal electrodes of the sensor changes, resulting in current increase or decrease between the electrodes.

A non-adhesive solid-gel electrode for a non-invasive brain-machine interface.

A non-invasive brain-machine interface (BMI) or brain-computer interface is a technology for helping individuals with disabilities and utilizes neurophysiological signals from the brain to control external machines or computers without requiring surgery. However, when applying electroencephalography (EEG) methodology, users must place EEG electrodes on the scalp each time, and the development of easy-to-use electrodes for clinical use is required. In this study, we developed a conductive non-adhesive solid-gel electrode for practical non-invasive BMIs.

Full-length transcriptome analysis of human retina-derived cell lines ARPE-19 and Y79 using the vector-capping method.

PURPOSE. To collect an entire set of full-length cDNA clones derived from human retina-derived cell lines and to identify full-length transcripts for retinal preferentially expressed genes. METHODS.

Fine expression profiling of full-length transcripts using a size-unbiased cDNA library prepared with the vector-capping method.

Recently, we have developed a vector-capping method for constructing a full-length cDNA library. In the present study, we performed in-depth analysis of the vector-capped cDNA library prepared from a single type of cell. As a result of single-pass sequencing analysis of 24,000 clones randomly isolated from the unamplified library, we identified 19,951 full-length cDNA clones whose intactness was confirmed by the presence of an additional G at their 5' end.

Mutation screening and haplotype analysis of the rhodopsin gene locus in Japanese patients with retinitis pigmentosa.

Purpose: To identify nucleotide sequence variations in the rhodopsin (RHO) gene of Japanese patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in order to search for mutations or haplotypes responsible for RP.

Methods: The entire region of RHO locus including a promoter region and introns was sequenced using blood-derived genomic DNA samples donated by 68 patients with RP and 68 control subjects.

Results: We found 39 single nucleotide substitutions including 17 rare substitutions of less than 1% in frequency, one insertion/deletion polymorphism, and one CA-repeat polymorphism in a 7.

Classification of DNA-binding mode of antitumor and antiviral agents by the electrochemiluminescence of ruthenium complex.

The DNA-binding mode of antitumor and antiviral agents has been evaluated by electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of tris(1,10-phenanthroline)-ruthenium complex (Ru(phen)(3)(2+)) in the presence of oxalate ion in pH 7.3 Tris buffer solution. An emission of Ru(phen)(3)(2+) was observed repeatedly with a voltage above 1000mV subjected to a potential sweep from 0 to 1250mV.