Earlier models explaining cell locomotion are briefly reviewed. Then, a model explaining locomotion of non-adhesive Walker carcinosarcoma cells is proposed based on the following data: 1) Walker carcinosarcoma cells, which normally form lamellipodia, can produce forces for movement by at least two distinct actin-based mechanisms, 2) Lamellipodial motility is driven by local actin polymerization, but lamellipodia and actin-based mechanisms (polymerization or contraction) at the front are redundant for locomotion, 3) actomyosin-dependent contraction at the rear (body and/or uropod) is sufficient and necessary for locomotion, 4) fluid pressure can generate protrusion (blebs), 5) an intact cortical layer at the front tends to reduce the speed of locomotion, 6) there is no biologically significant difference in the efficiency of locomotion (speed, persistence, net displacement) of migrating cells showing either lamellipodia, blebs or no morphologically recognizable protrusions, 7) polymerized actin is concentrated in the cortical actin layer. Myosin IIA is preferentially associated with the actin cortex at the rear part of the cell. The data suggest that actomyosin-based contraction in the form of cortical contraction generates protrusion and locomotion in Walker carcinosarcoma cells as previously described in Amoebae. The role of actomyosin-dependent contraction and of fluid-driven mechanisms in other metazoan tissue cell lines is discussed.

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Grafting engineered cartilage tissues represents a promising approach for the repair of joint injuries. Recent animal experiments have demonstrated that tissues engineered by culturing chondrocytes on 3D scaffolds in bioreactors provide functional templates for orderly repair of large osteochondral lesions. To date, however, a reproducible generation of uniform cartilage tissues of predefined size starting from adult human cells has not been achieved. In this paper we review some of the recent advances and challenges ahead in the identification of appropriate (i) cell sources, (ii) bioactive factors, (iii) 3D scaffolds and (iv) bioreactors for human cartilage tissue engineering. We also present an example of how integrated efforts in these different areas can help addressing fundamental questions and advancing the field of cartilage tissue engineering towards clinical use. The presented experiment demonstrates that human nasal chondrocytes are responsive to dynamic loading and thus could be further investigated as a cell source for implantation in a joint environment.

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Although the force production of the outer hair cell (OHC) leads to the fine tuning of the mammalian cochlea, the value of the force generated by the motility of the OHC in vivo has not been clarified yet. In this study, first, the active force generated by the motility of the load-free OHC in response to an electrical stimulation was measured from the deflection of the force probe. Next, to establish cell conditions similar to those of the intact cochlea, a compressive load was applied to the OHC using a force probe driven by a bimorph actuator, and then the active force generated by the motility of the loaded OHC was determined. Comparing the active force generated by the motility of the load-free OHC with that by the motility of the loaded OHC, it was found that the active force decreased due to application of the compressive load.

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Tensile properties of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of synthetic and contractile phenotypes were determined using a newly developed tensile test system. Synthetic and contractile VSMCs were isolated from the rabbit thoracic aorta with an explant and an enzymatic digestion method, respectively. Each cell floated in Hanks' balanced salt solution of 37°C was attached to the fine tips of a pair of micropipettes with a cell adhesive and, then, stretched at the rate of 6µm/sec by moving one of the micropipettes with a linear actuator. Load applied to the cell was measured with a cantilever-type load cell; its elongation was determined from the distance between the micropipette tips using a video dimension analyzer. The synthetic and contractile VSMCs were not broken even at the tensile force of 2.4µN and 3.4µN, respectively. Their stiffness was significantly higher in contractile phenotype (0.17N/m) than in synthetic one (0.09N/m). The different tensile properties between synthetic and contractile cells are attributable to the differences in cytoskeletal structures and contractile apparatus.

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This paper verifies the hypothesis that a stress fiber (SF) will only be oriented in the direction in which the fiber strain does not exceed a limit for the maximally deformed state of the substrate. We assume three-dimensional and uniform deformation of a cell on a substrate and predict the three-dimensional orientations of the SFs during cyclic deformation tests of the substrate. These predictions are in good agreement with experimental data for the basal membrane under simple cyclic elongations, and reproduce an observation of the three-dimensional orientation of actin filaments under equibiaxial cyclic stretching. Results from a stress analysis using a finite element model of an adherent cell with a nucleus show that a tensile stress develops in the direction transverse to the stretch axis under pure uniaxial stretching. This indicates that SFs are oriented to minimize strain, not the stress, and that a nucleus complicates the stress distribution in a cell.

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In human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC), mechanical stress is known to induce transients of [Ca²⁺]_i that lead to the regulation of vascular functions in vivo. The transmembraneous influx of Ca²⁺ is thought to be mediated by voltage-dependent ion channels or stretch-activated ion channels. In order to elucidate the correlation of [Ca²⁺]_i and membrane potential under mechanical stress, the influences of mechanical or biochemical stimulation on endothelial cells stained with both fura-2 and DiBAC₄(3) were studied in vitro, by constructing an imaging system that could capture four kinds of fluorescence images simultaneously at real-time. In the application of thrombin, [Ca²⁺]_i transients were accompanied with preceding depolarization, while mechanical stress that were loaded on a single cell with a micropipette did not evoke dramatic changes of membrane potential. These results indicate that the signaling pathway initiated by mechanical stress could be independent of electrochemical activation, and different from that by biochemical stimulation in HUVEC.

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We studied the relation between actin structural changes and cytoskeleton mechanical properties in living adherent epithelial alveolar cells, before and during actin depolymerization. The mechanical response of adherent alveolar epithelial cells was measured using magnetic twisting cytometry and a two-component model representing the cortical and the cytosolic elastic components at equilibrium. Chemiluminescent staining of the actin cytoskeleton was performed in the same living cells to estimate the intracellular actin density distribution for each cytoskeleton component. We found that (i) cytoskeleton alterations induced by actin depolymerization differed between the cortical and cytosolic cytoskeleton components (e.g., -30% and -49%, respectively, at a stress of 31 Pa) and that (ii) the concomitant change in actin distribution was also different (e.g., actin volume decrease was -7% and -19% for the cortical and cytosolic components, respectively).

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Bovine thoracic aorta is stiffer in the inner wall than in the outer, and its opening angle is larger in the inner layer than in the outer. A model for mechanical analysis of such a heterogeneous artery wall was developed. The wall was assumed to be made of thin, incompressible, homogeneous, and isotropic layers having different elastic properties and opening angle. Stress and strain distributions in the wall were calculated using the opening angle and stress-strain relationship measured in thin sliced layers of bovine thoracic aortas. Stress distribution was uniform under a physiological condition if elastic properties and the opening angle were set uniform. Stress distribution was not uniform under any condition when the material heterogeneity was introduced. Such non-uniformity was reduced if heterogeneity in the opening angle was considered. The opening angle may be higher in the inner wall to compensate stress concentration caused by the material heterogeneity.

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A computational fluid dynamics study of intraventricular flow during early diastole is carried out to examine the effect of a change in the size of the mitral orifice due to opening and closing of the mitral valve on the flow evolution in the left ventricle during early diastole. It is found that a velocity profile of a transmitral flow with maximum velocity locating at the center of the mitral orifice is generated by gradual opening of the mitral orifice, and it remains even after the mitral orifice has fully opened. This transmitral flow causes the development of a vortex ring extending from the anterior to the posterior side of the left ventricle. The vortex ring keeps the main inflow to stream linearly toward the ventricular apex. Such a flow pattern produces an elongated shape of an aliasing area in a color M-mode Doppler echocardiogram obtained clinically. It is, therefore, considered that although opening and closing of the mitral orifice occur with a short period, they play an important role in characterizing intraventricular flow during early diastole.

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In vivo microwave treatments for bone tumor are designed, which enable us to conserve the activity and functionality of the matrix of living tissues. This treatment is composed of two steps. In the first step, the tumor was coagulated by the application of microwaves emitted from the antenna inserted into the tumor tissue, and then removed. In the second step, the surrounding tissue suspected to be invaded with transformed cells was covered with hydro gels and heated similarly. The tissue itself was heated by the conduction from the gels. The tissue temperature should be kept at 60°C for 30 minutes. This treatment should kill the whole cells within the tissues, but the mechanical strength and the biochemical activity of the matrix should be left intact. The matrix preserves the mechanical functions and ensures the maximum regeneration ability of the tissue. In this study, various hydro gels were examined and the most promising one was selected. Animal experiments were carried out and successful heating verified the applicability of the treatment.

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Minor soft tissue injuries of the cervical spine are of increasing significance in public health. They may in particular be associated with long-term impairment. Such injuries are observed primarily in rear-end automobile collisions at low impact speeds and are attributed to a “whiplash”-type event. The question with respect to injury mechanisms of the cervical spine in cases of impacts of a low severity have raised controversial views in the past. Among proposed injury mechanisms, interactions between fluid and solid structures have been postulated: Viscous shear stresses or pressure gradients which arise in the deforming anatomical structures may have an adverse influence, e. g., on cellular membranes. In this communication, mathematical modeling approaches are presented which allow for a quantification of fluid/solid interactions under typical loading conditions of interest here. It is found, that the shear stresses caused by fluids and acting on accelerated surfaces of fluid-filled bodies depend largely on the size of the fluid space under consideration. Accelerations exhibit a stronger influence than their duration. It cannot be excluded that critical levels are reached even in a low speed impact scenario.

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Motivated by an improved understanding of skeletal fragility, the objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between morphological and mechanical properties of bone structural units (BSU). The average orientation of collagen fibers was classified using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and the mean degree of mineralization (MDMB) was quantified by microradiography for a collection of BSU from two donors. The mechanical properties of the same BSU were then measured by nanoindentation and scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM). Surprisingly, the indentation modulus and hardness quantified by nanoindentation were only weakly correlated to MDMB. The longitudinal wave modulus measured by SAM was better related to MDMB but did not correlate with the indentation modulus. There is increasing evidence that the collagenous phase and its bonding to the mineral phase play a significant role in the mechanical properties of bone tissue and deserve more attention in our understanding of bone fragility.

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Diffusive and convective transport of bioactive solutes within the extracellular matrix of articular cartilage plays an important role in the regulation of tissue physiology and the cell biological response to mechanical compression. With a view toward identifying means to employ mechanical control of solute transport for the optimization of in vitro methods of cartilage tissue engineering, we have developed techniques for real-time observation and quantification of solute transport within statically compressed cartilage explants in the presence of interstitial fluid flows and matrix inhomogeneities, and also within dynamically compressed cartilage explants. Initial results confirm the potential usefulness of the new methods, and suggest roles for transport phenomena in regulation of the cartilage biological response to static and dynamic compression. Further characterization of solute transport using these methods may therefore guide the optimization of in vitro mechanical loading protocols used in cartilage tissue engineering.

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Large and highly variable deformations of the ACL cannot be adequately quantified by one-dimensional and/or localized measurements. Since the complex anatomy of the ACL makes uniform loading of all fiber bundles almost impossible, strains on specific portions being tested are considerably altered during knee movement. To observe the ACL's entire surface, we propose a photoelastic coating method. A simulator jig was used to allow a natural motion of the knee whose medial and lateral femoral bone parts were removed in order to expose the ACL for observation. The simulator jig with the knee was mounted on a universal stand which allows tilt and swivel rotations, so that the exposed ACL might be viewed from any direction. Measurements were performed on the strain distributions over the ACL at various knee angles. The panoramic images of the photoelastic fringe patterns yielded significant results. Special attention was paid for insight into the relation between strain distribution and the directions of fiber run.

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The purpose of this study was to develop a microcomputer-based acceleration logger device for the swimming stroke monitoring. The authors measured the swimmer's tri-axial wrist acceleration and applied this device for the fatigue evaluation of the swimmers. The experimental protocol led the swimmers exhausted after the crawl stroke interval training. Every single stroke was determined by the impact acceleration peak, which appeared on the x and z-axis acceleration. The change of the underwater stroke phases was identified by the characteristics of the acceleration peaks. In their exhaustion, the y-axis acceleration, which was longitudinal forearm acceleration decreased at the beginning of the upsweep phase. At that time, the swimmer could not extend his elbow joint. Since the developed acceleration data logger could provide us the information about the underwater stroke phases and it would be a helpful tool in the swimming training.

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A tracking system with five degrees of freedom based on a 2D-array of 16 Hall sensors and a permanent magnet is presented in this paper. The sensitivity of the Hall sensors is increased by integrated micro- and external macro-flux-concentrators. Detection distance larger than 20cm (during one hour without calibration) is achieved using a magnet of 0.2cm³. This corresponds to a resolution of the sensors of 0.05µT_rms. The position and orientation of the marker is displayed in real time at least 20 times per second. The sensing system is small enough to be hand-held and can be used in a normal environment. This presented tracking system has been successfully applied to follow a small swallowed magnet through the entire human digestive tube. This approach is extremely promising as a new non-invasive diagnostic technique in gastro-enterology.

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The former analysis of neutrophil's transit through pulmonary capillary network used the result of a micropipette aspiration experiment to model the transit in single capillary segment despite blunt tip geometry of the pipette is largely different from the real capillary segment. In the previous work, we have numerically investigated the transit of passive and fMLP-stimulated neutrophils through an arc-shaped constriction, establishing the analytical expression for the transit time. This paper intends to give a simplified model for the transit of a neutrophil through a capillary segment based on the numerical analysis and the stress-strain relationship of a Maxwell material. It is shown that the transit time is in proportion to the viscosity of the cell and in inverse proportion to the square root of the curvature radius of the constriction. The definition of the driving pressure of the cell into a micropipette is also applicable to that into the constriction.

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To clarify the correlation between high-shear flow and hemolysis in blood pumps, detail shear velocity distribution was quantified by an experimental method with a model centrifugal blood pump that has a series data of hemolysis tests and computational fluid dynamic analyses. Particular attention was paid to the shear velocity near the casing surface in the volute where the high shear causes in circumferentially wide region that is considerable to cause high hemolysis. Three pump models were compared concern with the radial gap width between the impeller and casing (the radial volute width) also with the outlet position whereas the impeller geometry was identical. These casing geometries were as follows: model 1-the gap width is standard 3mm and the outlet locates to make a smooth geometrical connection with the volute, model 2-the gap width is small 0.5mm and the outlet locates to make the smooth geometrical connection with the volute, and model 3-the gap width is small 0.5mm and the outlet locates to hardly make the smooth geometrical connection with the volute but be similar radial position with that of model 1. Velocity was quantified with a particle tracking velocimetry that is one of the quantitative flow visualization techniques, and the shear velocity was calculated. Results showed that all large shear velocity existed within the layers of about 0.1mm from the casing surface and that those layers were hardly affected by a vane passage even if the gap width is 0.5mm. They also showed that the maximum shear velocity appeared on the casing surface, and the shear velocities of models 2 and 3 were almost twice as large as that of model 1. This finding is in full corresponding with the results of hemolysis tests which showed that the hemolysis levels of both models 2 and 3 were 1.5 times higher than that of model 1. These results suggest that detailed high-shear evaluation near the casing surface in the volute is one of the most important keys in estimating the hemolysis of a centrifugal blood pump.

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Blood vessel in circulatory system often shows a rich variety in geometry as well as in morphology and image-based anatomic modeling of such vessels for haemodynamic simulation is usually of great time-consumption. In this paper we proposed a new computational fluid dynamic method that is capable to directly utilize the pixel and/or voxel dataset based on the threshold for the raw medical images of MRI, CT and etc. to define the computational domain in a Cartesian coordinate system. Boundary of the domain is determined in a manner of VOF (fractional Volume Of Fluid) and the flow is computed using a non-staggered finite difference method, in which treatment of the boundary conditions is conducted with the neighboring point local collocation method (NPLC). Results are presented of two pulsatile flows in a two-dimensional stenosed blood vessel model. Comparison with other reliable results shows that the present method is able to reasonably predict complicated vortical flow in blood vessel very well.

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We devised a method that combines the differential geometrical technique and overset grid formation to construct an aortic arch model for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The simulations incorporate both non-planarity and the major branches at the top of the arch, using a set of magnetic resonance (MR) images, and we discuss their combined effects on blood flow. The results show that flow along the arch consists of a large right-handed rotational flow in the descending part of the arch, and a large left-handed rotational flow at the end of the arch. Although these characteristics of the global flow were similar to the results obtained using our previous arch model without branches, backward flow was found near the inner wall at the top of the arch due to the flow into the branches.

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To simulate fluid-structure interaction involved in the contraction of a human left ventricle, a 3D finite element based simulation program incorporating the propagation of excitation and excitation-contraction coupling mechanisms was developed. An ALE finite element method with automatic mesh updating was formulated for large domain changes, and a strong coupling strategy was taken. Under the assumption that the inertias of both fluid and structure are negligible and fluid-structure interaction is restricted to the pressure on the interface, the fluid dynamics part was eliminated from the FSI program, and a static structural FEM code corresponding to the cardiac muscles was also developed. The simulations of the contraction of the left ventricle in normal excitation and arrhythmia demonstrated the capability of the proposed method. Also, the results obtained by the two methods are compared. These simulators can be powerful tools in the clinical practice of heart disease.

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A monopivot centrifugal blood pump, whose impeller is supported with a pivot bearing and a passive magnetic bearing, is under development for implantable artificial heart. The hemolysis level is less than that of commercial centrifugal pumps and the pump size is as small as 160 mL in volume. To solve a problem of thrombus caused by fluid dynamics, flow visualization experiments and animal experiments have been undertaken. For flow visualization a three-fold scale-up model, high-speed video system, and particle tracking velocimetry software were used. To verify non-thrombogenicity one-week animal experiments were conducted with sheep. The initially observed thrombus around the pivot was removed through unifying the separate washout holes to a small centered hole to induce high shear around the pivot. It was found that the thrombus contours corresponded to the shear rate of 300s^-1 for red thrombus and 1300-1700s^-1 for white thrombus, respectively. Thus flow visualization technique was found to be a useful tool to predict thrombus location.

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A calculation model is proposed to examine the generation mechanism of the numerous lobes on the inner-wall of the airway in asthmatic patients and to clarify luminal occlusion of the airway inducing breathing difficulties. The basement membrane in the airway wall is modeled as a two-dimensional thin-walled shell having inertia force due to the mass, and the smooth muscle contraction effect is replaced by uniform transmural pressure applied to the basement membrane. A dynamic explicit finite element method is used as a numerical simulation method. To examine the validity of the present model, simulation of an asthma attack is performed. The number of lobes generated in the basement membrane increases when transmural pressure is applied in a shorter time period. When the remodeling of the basement membrane occurs characterized by thickening and hardening, it is demonstrated that the number of lobes decreases and the narrowing of the airway lumen becomes severe. Comparison of the results calculated by the present model with those measured for animal experiments of asthma will be possible.

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Wear in a polyethylene acetabular cup is dependent on the history of the cup, namely on the sterilization treatment, initial mounting situation, the patient's lifestyle and length of time in vivo. Understanding wear patterns is essential in order to prevent inflammation and prosthesis failure. This study describes the profile measurement of a worn acetabular cup by holographic contouring, which can provide non-contact measurement over the entire visual field. Experiments were performed to verify the method, and measurements of cups worn in vivo were carried out. Cup profile was investigated using holograms obtained in three directions and changes in cup profile were evaluated using fringe patterns in which the interval range was adjusted from tens of microns to several millimeters.

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Near infra-red (NIR) diffuse optical tomography (DOT) has gained much attention and it will be clinically applied to imaging breast, neonatal head, and the hemodynamics of the brain because of its noninvasiveness and deep penetration in biological tissue. Prior to achieving the imaging of infant brain using DOT, the developed methodologies need to be experimentally justified by imaging some real organs with simpler structures. Here we report our results of an in vitro chicken leg and an in vivo exercising human forearm from the data measured by a multi-channel time-resolved NIR system. Tomographic images were reconstructed by a two-dimensional image reconstruction algorithm based on a modified generalized pulse spectrum technique for simultaneous reconstruction of the µ_a and µ_s´. The absolute µ_a- and µ_s´-images revealed the inner structures of the chicken leg and the forearm, where the bones were clearly distinguished from the muscle. The Δµ_a-images showed the blood volume changes during the forearm exercise, proving that the system and the image reconstruction algorithm could potentially be used for imaging not only the anatomic structure but also the hemodynamics in neonatal heads.

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A model having a three-dimensional entire-body structure and consisting of both the neuronal system and the musculo-skeletal system was proposed to precisely simulate human walking motion. The dynamics of the human body was represented by a 14-rigid-link system and 60 muscular models. The neuronal system was represented by three sub-systems: the rhythm generator system consisting of 32 neural oscillators, the sensory feedback system, and the peripheral system expressed by static optimization. Unknown neuronal parameters were adjusted by a numerical search method using the evaluative criterion for locomotion that was defined by a hybrid between the locomotive energy efficiency and the smoothness of the muscular tensions. The model could successfully generate continuous and three-dimensional walking patterns and stabilized walking against mechanical perturbation. The walking pattern was more stable than that of the model based on dynamic optimization, and more precise than that of the previous model based on a similar neuronal system.

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It is essential for the biomechanical study of human walking motion to consider not only in vivo mechanical load and energy efficiency but also aspects of motor control such as walking stability. In this study, walking stability was investigated using a three-dimensional entire-body neuro-musculo-skeletal model in the computer simulation. In the computational experiments, imaginary constraints, such as no muscular system, were set in the neuro-musculo-skeletal model to investigate their influence on walking stability. The neuronal parameters were adjusted using numerical search techniques in order to adapt walking patterns to constraints on the neuro-musculo-skeletal system. Simulation results revealed that the model of the normal neuro-musculo-skeletal system yielded a higher stability than the imaginary models. Unstable walking by a model with a time delay in the neuronal system suggested significant unknown mechanisms which stabilized walking patterns that have been neglected in previous studies.

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The three-dimensional entire-body neuro-musculo-skeletal model generating normal walking motion was modified to synthesize pathological walking including asymmetricalcompensatorymotions. Inadditiontotheneuronalparameters, musculo-skeletal parameters were employed as search parameters to represent affected musculo-skeletal systems. This model successfully generated pathological walking patterns, such as walking by a person with one lower extremity shorter than the other and walking by a person with an affected gluteus medius muscle. The simulated walking patterns were of the entire body, three-dimensional, continuous and asymmetrical, and demonstrated the characteristics of actual pathological walking. The walking model with an artificial foot also predicted not only the walking pattern adapted to the artificial foot but also the design parameters of the artificial foot adapted to the effective walking pattern simultaneously. Such simulation methods will establish a novel methodology that we call computational rehabilitation engineering.

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In the present study, the computer simulation technique to autonomously generate running motion from walking was developed using a three-dimensional entire-body neuro-musculo-skeletal model. When maximizing locomotive speed was employed as the evaluative criterion, the initial walking pattern could not transition to a valid running motion. When minimizing the period of foot-ground contact was added to this evaluative criterion, the simulation model autonomously produced appropriate three-dimensional running. Changes in the neuronal system showed the fatigue coefficient of the neural oscillators to reduce as locomotion patterns transitioned from walking to running. Then, when the running speed increased, the amplitude of the non-specific stimulus from the higher center increased. These two changes indicate mean that the improvement in responsiveness of the neuronal system is important for the transition process from walking to running, and that the comprehensive activation level of the neuronal system is essential in the process of increasing running speed.

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Compared with the other exercise, such as walking and cycling, rowing was expected to have some fitness advantage, while there were some misgivings about the risk of injury. The objectives of this study were to quantify biomechanical characteristics of rowing for fitness and rehabilitation and to offer normative data for the prevention of injury and for determining effective exercise. An experiment was performed to collect the kinematic and kinetic data during rowing by experienced and non-experienced subjects. A three-dimensional whole-body musculo-skeletal model was used to calculate the biomechanical loads, such as the joint moments, the muscular tensions, the joint contact forces and the energy consumption. The results of this study indicate that rowing is an effective exercise for rehabilitation and fitness. However, the non-experienced rower should acquire considerable skill to obtain sufficient exercise. The rowing cadence should be decided according to the purpose of the exercise.

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A new control model for the study of biomechanical simulation of human movement was investigated using rowing as an example. The objectives were to explore biological and mechanical alternatives to optimal control methods. The simulation methods included simple control mechanisms based on proportional and derivative (PD) control, consideration of a simple neural model, introduction of an inverse dynamics system for feedback, and computational adjustment of control parameters by using an evaluative criterion and optimization method. By using simulation, appropriate rowing motions were synthesized. The generated rowing motion was periodic, continuous, and adaptable so that the pattern was stable against the mechanical force and independent of the initial condition. We believe that the simulation model is not only practical as a computational research tool from a biomechanical-engineering viewpoint but also significant from the point of view of fundamental biological theories of movement.

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A wide variety of home care equipment has been developed to support the independent lifestyle and care taking of elderly persons. Almost all of the equipment has an alarm designed to alert a care person or to sound a warning in case of an emergency. Due to the fact that aging human beings' senses physiologically, weaken and deteriorate, each alarm's sound must be designed to account for the full range of elderly person's hearing loss. Since the alarms are usually heard indoors, it is also necessary to evaluate the relationship between the basic characteristics of the sounds and living area's layout. In this study, we investigated the sounds of various alarms of the home care equipment based on both the age-related hearing characteristics of elderly persons and the propagation property of the sounds indoors. As a result, it was determined that the hearing characteristics of elderly persons are attuned to sounds which have a frequency from 700Hz to 1kHz, and it was learned that the indoor absorption ratio of sound is smallest when the frequency is 1kHz. Therefore, a frequency of 1kHz is good for the alarm sound of home care equipment. A flow chart to design the alarm sound of home care equipment was proposed, taking into account the extent of age-related auditory sense deterioration.

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This paper is concerned with the functional design and hydrodynamic characteristics of fish scales. The rough surfaces of fish scales were measured with a three-dimensional, optical shape measuring system. The measurement was carried out on embiotocid fish Ditrema temminck, rockfish Sebastes inermis, and dogfish Mustelus manago Bleeker. Some scales of a dogfish Mustelus manago Bleeker were also observed microscopically making use of the scanning electron microscope as a faster fish. From the viewpoint of hydrodynamics, the microscopic structure and morphological characteristics of fish scales were discussed.

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