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Squids can rapidly change their body color using chromatophores that are controlled by electrical signals transmitted through nerves. The authors transform a squid’s skin into an audio visualizer called Chromatophony. This is accomplished by sending an electric tone signal composed as music to the skin. Although Chromatophony’s appearance is similar to that of computer-generated images, it is based on a natural phenomenon with a colorful mosaic display. By comparing chromatophores with pixels, the authors propose Living Images to expand the potential of visual expression from the perspective of bioart theory.

It is generally understood that urban transportation networks in overcrowded urban areas need to be developed with the assumption of pedestrian movement within roughly 300 m. In such projects, coordinating underground transportation networks in urban spaces, including subways as a typical feature, plays a key role. Underground spaces thus formed by connecting stations and concourses with adjacent buildings not only contribute to smooth pedestrian movement, and to improve the productivity of neighboring districts for revitalization (retail, offices, education and culture, government agencies, hospitals, residences), but also to create a new urban environment through landscape arrangement and provision of disaster prevention. Currently, along with refurbishing adjacent buildings, and redevelopment projects, there has also been a lot of activity connecting underground stations with buildings to form new underground spaces. In addition, the areas around subway entrances have been developed in conjunction with street construction. However, we cannot deny that there are development plans that are not efficiently coordinated with the district, and that, in some districts, appropriate pedestrian movement cannot be developed as designed. There is a need for formulating plans from a rational and effective viewpoint in accordance with the characteristics of the area in the vicinity of the underground station. Based upon the above, we have researched and studied a way to develop the urban environment encompassing railway facilities in underground stations (ticket gates, concourses, exits, etc.), adjacent buildings, roads and parks. In this paper, we report the results of our research and study.

An elongated styloid process stimulates the pharyngeal wall or cervical nerves and causes pharyngeal pain, foreign body sensation of the pharynx, or pain in the ear. The only satisfactory and effective method to alleviate the complaints associated with an elongated styloid process is surgical shortening. In this report, one case of a giant elongated styloid process is discussed. In this patient, the styloid process was highly elongated and the tip of the process had connected with the hyoid bone. Major symptoms were swelling of the submandibular region and dysphagea because the styloid process had formed nodules behind the submandibular gland pressing it and obstructing movement of the hyoid bone. Surgical shortening was performed using the transcervical approach, and as a result, the symptoms disappeared immediately. The transcervical approach has an advantage of wide visualization over the intraoral approach and is recommended when the styloid process is extremely long and thick.

For reconstruction of facial paralysis, dynamic operative methods such as cross-face nerve transplantation and free muscle transplantation with neurovascular anastomosis are often performed. However, optimal reconstruction of the muscles of facial expression is very difficult. An appropriate operative method should be selected in each patient based on age, the underlying disease, the degree of paralysis, and the patient's desire to be treated.We performed palliative operations in 2 patients with complete facial paralysis. Patient 1 (81 years old) with Bell's palsy was treated by suspension of the lower eyelid, tarsectomy of the central area, and skin resection of the lateral area. Patient 2 (79 years old) after operation for parotid tumor (mucoepidermoid carcinoma) was treated by suspension of the lower eyelid and mouth angle, and skin resection of the upper area of the eyebrow and nasolabial groove and around the lips. The tendon of the long palmar muscle was used for suspension in both patients, and adequate results were obtained.The improvement achieved by palliative suspension is expected to be maintained for 5-10 years. If quality of life is a goal, this operation is appropriate for reconstruction of paralysis in aged patients. In our patients, adequate results could be obtained by using the tendon of the long palmar muscle.

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and polychlorinated quaterphenyl (PCQ) concentrations in the blood and subcutaneous fat tissue from 11 patients with PCB poisoning (Yusho) and 10 controls were analyzed by electron captured gaschromatography. The mean concentration levels of blood PCB and PCQ and the CB% ratio were elevated in patients with Yusho. The PCB pattern was the A type in 5 cases and the B type in 6 others. The mean concentration level of PCB in subcutaneous fat tissue was 1579.45 ppb in the Yusho group, 3.9 times higher than that in the control group. The mean concentration level of PCQ was 206.65 ppb, 119 times higher than that in the control group. The mean value of CB% was 3.22 in the Yusho group and 0.66 in the control group. These results show that PCB and PCQ accumulate in the subcutaneous fat tissue of patients with PCB poisoning (Yusho), as late as 17 years after diagnosis of the disease. The PCB and PCQ concentration levels in the subcutaneous fat tissue appear to be useful in diagnosis and evaluation of prognosis in this disease. Investigations of the elimination of PCB and PCQ in subcutaneous tissues should be done.