Emotional valence sensing using a wearable facial EMG device.

Emotion sensing using physiological signals in real-life situations can be practically valuable. Previous studies have developed wearable devices that record autonomic nervous system activity, which reflects emotional arousal. However, no study determined whether emotional valence can be assessed using wearable devices. To this end, we developed a wearable device to record facial electromyography (EMG) from the corrugator supercilii (CS) and zygomatic major (ZM) muscles. To validate the device, in Experiment 1, we used a traditional wired device and our wearable device, to record participants' facial EMG while they were viewing emotional films. Participants viewed the films again and continuously rated their recalled subjective valence during the first viewing. The facial EMG signals recorded using both wired and wearable devices showed that CS and ZM activities were, respectively, negatively and positively correlated with continuous valence ratings. In Experiment 2, we used the wearable device to record participants' facial EMG while they were playing Wii Bowling games and assessed their cued-recall continuous valence ratings. CS and ZM activities were correlated negatively and positively, respectively, with continuous valence ratings. These data suggest the possibility that facial EMG signals recorded by a wearable device can be used to assess subjective emotional valence in future naturalistic studies.

(S)-stereoisomer of telomestatin as a potent G-quadruplex binder and telomerase inhibitor.

Total synthesis of the (S)-stereoisomer of telomestatin (1) was accomplished. (S)-Telomestatin exhibited potency four times that of the natural product, (R)-telomestatin, which was the most potent telomerase inhibitor previously reported. In the circular dichroism spectral analysis of the complexes possessing randomly structured single-stranded d[TTAGGG](4) oligonucleotide, (S)-telomestatin, like (R)-telomestatin, induced an antiparallel G-quadruplex structure. The melting temperature (T(m)) value of the (S)-isomer complex was greater than that of the (R)-telomestatin complex. Therefore, it is concluded that the stereochemistry of the thiazoline of telomestatin is important to the binding ability of a G-quadruplex binder, and (S)-telomestatin as a G-quadruplex binder is more potent than the natural product.

Estimation of cancer incidences in Aichi prefecture: use of a model area with good quality registry data.

In Japan, local government is responsible for organization of population-based cancer registries and the quality of the registration remains modest, mainly due to dependence on voluntary-based operations without legal obligations. Aichi Prefecture cancer registry covers a large population, estimated at 7 million, and its quality has yet to reach the level required internationally. The derived cancer incidences for Aichi Prefecture therefore tend to be underestimated. In the present study we set up a model area, located in the central part of Aichi Prefecture, with a good quality of registry data, covering a reasonable population, including both urban and rural areas. Our model area has typical demographic features of Aichi Prefecture. The materials were data on cancer incidence and deaths during the period of 1996-2000 in this model area of Aichi prefecture, with a population of approximately one million, under the jurisdiction of three public health centers, covering nine municipalities. The percentage of death certificated notified (DCN) cases for all sites was around 14% and the incidence/death ratio was around 1.9. Estimated age-adjusted incidence rates were found to be 256.0 (per 100,000) for males and 177.6 for females, these values being 10-15 % higher than those generated using data for the whole prefecture, and quite close to incidence rates in Japan estimated from the highest quality of data available. It is suggested that the cancer incidence in the Aichi prefecture is indeed being underestimated and that the actual figures may be closer to the estimates provided here.