Development of Boxing Glove Type Sensation Device for Exercise Induction and Continuation

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by a virus called RARS-CoV-2 spread worldwide. As the result, the number of people who are lack exercise has increased. In addition, there are few systems to evaluate exercise movements and facilitate physical exercise at home. In this study, we developed a boxing glove type sensation device an acceleration sensor was installed in a boxing glove to evaluate the power of a punch, and the device has the function of glitz to the punches by producing sound, vibration, and light according to the type and power of the punching motion. An evaluation experiment was conducted to confirm that this device could induce exercise and promote health by having fun. A comparison was made between a normal boxing glove and the boxing glove type sensation device. As the results, we could confirm that, the number of strong punches with high acceleration and the total number of punches increased in the sensation device. In addition, the heart rate after exercise increased significantly compared to before and after exercise. The results also showed an increase in mood elevation and positive emotions. © 2022 IEEE.

Dual-Comb Biosensing for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

We demonstrated rapid detection of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein antigen by dual-comb biosensing with surface modification of its corresponding antibody. A sensitivity close to that of RT-PCR was achieved, thanks to the use of active-dummy temperature compensation. © Optica Publishing Group 2022, © 2022 The Author(s)

Exercise becomes Music: Creating communication through new music experiences using exercise data

This is a new communication proposal using data acquired by Physiological signal measurement. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, opportunities for exercise have been decreasing as people have fewer opportunities to go outside. For this reason, we have created several exercise guidance contents that can be used on a daily basis. The data obtained from the exercise guidance contents can be used in various ways. For example, in a physical education class, the children were motivated to improve their exercise by seeing the actual data of their exercise. There are three exercise guidance contents, each of which has its own feedback loop of acquiring data and utilizing it. "Exercise becomes Music"is an attempt to use them in a more meta way to motivate people to exercise, and to create a larger feedback loop throughout. The data acquired from the exercise guidance content is converted into music that makes the most of the characteristics of each content, and the content is designed to be played by the experiencer while combining the generated music. The surprise of having one's own data converted into music, and the experience of playing with the combination of data, will create feedback for each exercise, and we also hope that sharing the combined music online will create new communication. © 2022 IEEE.

The Relaxation Effect of Music and Natural Sounds

With the spread of the coronavirus infection in Japan, the suicide rate has increased. So, we thought that we want to take care of people's mental health by using music. In previous studies, they showed that music included 1/f frequency influence the state of mind relaxing. On the other hand, there are reports that the natural sounds induce the state of relaxing. In this study, we investigated whether the reminiscence of scenes by natural sounds can work on the central nervous system and bring about a relaxing effect, and whether a synergistic effect can be observed by working together with the autonomic nervous system. Headphones and a questionnaire were also used. Twelve young male and female were recruited as subjects. The results showed that most of the subjects had a good impression of music, nature sounds and their mixtures. The results for music and nature sounds were mixed, but most of the subjects had a good impression of the blended sounds. The effect on relaxation, as measured by the questionnaire, was better after listening to the music than before in all conditions. In all conditions, there was a greater improvement in relaxation after listening to the music than before, and the degree of improvement was as follows: mixture > nature sounds > music. Although there was no statistical superiority, it was possible to show this trend. This suggests that there may be a synergistic effect of mixing music, which affects the autonomic nervous system, with nature sounds, which affect the central nervous system. © 2022 IEEE.

Evaluation for Biorhythm of Japanese University Students during COVID-19 Pandemic Using Wearable Device

This study focused on university students' sleep and circadian rhythms during the COVID-19 pandemic by monitoring the lowest point of circadian rhythms based on heart rate during nighttime sleep. Five healthy male university students wore a wristwatch-type wearable device for approximately one month. We measured the heart rate and monitored the lowest point of the circadian rhythm during nighttime sleep. The average minimum time of the estimated circadian rhythm was 5:48:06\pm 0:50:18 (five subjects). The standard deviation (SD) of the lowest point time was 1:46:41\pm 0:46:25 (five subjects). The SD of the lowest point time of two subjects was two and three hours, implying that the self-restraint imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic caused a disturbance in the body clock. Our method of monitoring circadian rhythms by measuring the heart rate during nighttime sleep with a wearable device enables individuals to monitor their circadian rhythm status, which is expected to contribute to health care for people living with the COVID-19 pandemic, shift workers, business workers, and athletes. © 2022 IEEE.

Development of a Music Interactive Online Fitness System for Shoulder Press Exercise: Latest Update for Biosignal Art

Global COVID-19 pandemic limited our ability to have adequate physical activity. It is necessary to replace outdoor and gymnasium exercise with in-door and home-based fitness. However, little effort has been paid for solving the new rising problems for the new alternative fitness, such as insufficient system access, lack of exercise skill, and motivation. To make a response to these problems, we updated and published a new online fitness system: Biosignal Art (BA) for shoulder press exercise on July 1, 2020. Shoulder press motion is captured by a web camera and evaluated through an original algorithm consisted of arms initial position, forearm position, and motion rhythm. Music interactive feedback according to the shoulder press performance is also provided after the exercise and can be downloaded by the users. We collected and analyzed the access status data nine months after the first release of the new BA system. By the end of April 2021, a total of 287 visitors accessed and performed the shoulder press exercise through the new BA system. 55% of them acquired fifty shoulder press points or higher. Facing the severe COVID-19 pandemic situation, we expect the Biosignal Art system can help more people to keep inadequate physical activity. © 2021 IEEE.

A comprehensive score for financial toxicity in Japanese women: a pilot study before COVID-19 era

Purpose or Objective: Patients with financial toxicity (FT) have a lower quality of life and survival. In Japan, although the universal health insurance system has provided comprehensive coverage to all Japanese citizens, FT is increasingly recognized as an adverse outcome of cancer treatment. The poverty rate for elderly Japanese women is increasing;however, the FT of cancer treatment has been poorly studied in Japan. The comprehensive score for FT (COST) questionnaire is a tool to measure FT. In our study, we examined COST questionnaire among adult Japanese women receiving radiotherapy for breast cancer. Materials and Methods: Patients who were aged >18, had stage I–III A breast cancer, and received radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy were eligible for the study. In addition to COST survey, socioeconomic characteristics were determined using a questionnaire and medical records. Results: All 17 patients we approached (100%) responded to the questionnaire. The median COST score was 17 (range, 9–38). Ten (59%) and five (29%) patients suffered grade 1 FT (COST score, 14–25) and grade 2 FT (COST score, 1–13), respectively. On univariant analyses, part-time job (P = .03), and lower household savings (P < .001) were negatively associated with COST score. Lower household income (P = .12) and use of strategies to cope with the cost of cancer care expenses (included using savings) to pay for cancer treatment (P = .13) did not show statistically significant associations. Conclusion: Our preliminary data showed that despite the existing universal health insurance system, some Japanese women experienced meaningful financial toxicity during radiotherapy. This is a preliminary report with a small number of patients before COVID-19 era. COVID-19 has the potential to affect patients economically. Therefore, a prospective study is underway to confirm the results under COVID-19 era.

The long-quarantined case of COVID-19 with prolonged viral shedding and intermittent fever for more than 70 days

A 79-year old Japanese woman was diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by SARS coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), based on a positive reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) test result. Chest computed tomography revealed mild interstitial pneumonia. She had intermittent persistent inflammatory reactions with fever. Laboratory findings and RT-PCR test results showed SARS-CoV-2 positivity for more than 70 days. To the best of our knowledge, this relatively mild case has the longest duration of viral shedding recorded, as confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. This case demonstrates that the viral shedding in COVID-19 can be prolonged, even in mild disease, and highlights the difficulties in distinguishing viral shedding from SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.