This study describes comprehensive polling of transcription start and termination sites and analysis of previously unidentified full-length complementary DNAs derived from the mouse genome. We identify the 5' and 3' boundaries of 181,047 transcripts with extensive variation in transcripts arising from alternative promoter usage, splicing, and polyadenylation. There are 16,247 new mouse protein-coding transcripts, including 5154 encoding previously unidentified proteins. Genomic mapping of the transcriptome reveals transcriptional forests, with overlapping transcription on both strands, separated by deserts in which few transcripts are observed. The data provide a comprehensive platform for the comparative analysis of mammalian transcriptional regulation in differentiation and development.

A wristband-type PPG heart rate sensor capable of overcoming motion artifacts in daily activity and detecting heart rate variability has been developed together with a motion artifact cancellation framework. In this work, a motion artifact model in daily life was derived and motion artifacts caused by activity of arm, finger, and wrist were cancelled significantly. Highly reliable instant heart rate detection with high noiseresistance was achieved from noise-reduced pulse signals based on peak-detection and autocorrelation methods. The wristband-type PPG heart rate sensor with our motion artifact cancellation framework was compared with ECG instant heart rate measurement in both laboratory and office environments. In a laboratory environment, mean reliability (percentage of time within 10% error relative to ECG instant heart rate) was 86.5% and the one-day pulse-accuracy achievement rate based on time use data of body motions in daily life was 88.1% or approximately 21 hours. Our device and motion artifact cancellation framework enable continuous heart rate variability monitoring in daily life and could be applied to heart rate variability analysis and emotion recognition.

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A vast number of long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) are found expressed in human cells, which RNAs have been developed along with human evolution. However, the physiological functions of these lncRNAs remain mostly unknown. In the present study, we for the first time uncovered the fact that one of such lncRNAs plays a significant role in the differentiation of chondrocytes and, possibly, of osteoblasts differentiated from mesenchymal stem cells, which cells eventually construct the human skeleton. The urothelial cancer-associated 1 (UCA1) lncRNA is known to be associated with several human malignancies. Firstly, we confirmed that UCA1 was expressed in normal human chondrocytes, as well as in a human chondrocytic cell line; whereas it was not detected in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBMSCs). Of note, although UCA1 expression was undetectable in hBMSCs, it was markedly induced along with the differentiation toward chondrocytes, suggesting its critical role in chondrogenesis. Consistent with this finding, silencing of the UCA1 gene significantly repressed the expression of chondrogenic genes in human chondrocytic cells. UCA1 gene silencing and hyper-expression also had a significant impact on the osteoblastic phenotype in a human cell line. Finally, forced expression of UCA1 in a murine chondrocyte precursor, which did not possess a UCA1 gene, overdrove its differentiation into chondrocytes. These results indicate a physiological and important role of this lncRNA in the skeletal development of humans, who require more sustained endochondral ossification and osteogenesis than do smaller vertebrates.

This paper considers the architecture and the effectiveness of new algorithms that control the subjective depth on 3-D displays by modulating the contrast of stereoscopic pictures on the basis of a quantified monocular depth cue. First, a psychophysical experiment to quantify the relationship between contrast and subjective depth was conducted. This experimental result shows that the higher the contrast, the nearer the object will be perceived, corresponding to the qualitative relationship. Second, this result was applied to image-processing algorithms that expand or contract the subjective depth of stereoscopic pictures. Subjective assessments to verify the effectiveness of the algorithms were also conducted. The results suggest that the algorithms will allow viewers to experience a highly realistic sensation.