Identification of Geographical Segmentation of the Rental Apartment Market in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area (Short Paper)

It is often said that the real estate market is divided geographically in such a manner that the value of attributes of real estate properties is different for each area. This study proposes a new approach to the investigation of the geographical segmentation of the real estate market. We develop a price model with many regional explanatory variables, and implement the generalized fused lasso - a regression method for promoting sparsity - to extract the areas where the valuation standard is the same. The proposed method is applied to rental data of apartments in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and we find that the geographical segmentation displays hierarchal patterns. Specifically, we observe that the market is divided by wards, railway lines and stations, and neighbourhoods

How WEIRD is Usable Privacy and Security Research? (Extended Version)

In human factor fields such as human-computer interaction (HCI) and psychology, researchers have been concerned that participants mostly come from WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) countries. This WEIRD skew may hinder understanding of diverse populations and their cultural differences. The usable privacy and security (UPS) field has inherited many research methodologies from research on human factor fields. We conducted a literature review to understand the extent to which participant samples in UPS papers were from WEIRD countries and the characteristics of the methodologies and research topics in each user study recruiting Western or non-Western participants. We found that the skew toward WEIRD countries in UPS is greater than that in HCI. Geographic and linguistic barriers in the study methods and recruitment methods may cause researchers to conduct user studies locally. In addition, many papers did not report participant demographics, which could hinder the replication of the reported studies, leading to low reproducibility. To improve geographic diversity, we provide the suggestions including facilitate replication studies, address geographic and linguistic issues of study/recruitment methods, and facilitate research on the topics for non-WEIRD populations.Comment: This paper is the extended version of the paper presented at USENIX SECURITY 202

Studies of the efficacy and safety of methotrexate at dosages over 8 mg/week using the IORRA cohort database

The maximum dosage of methotrexate (MTX) for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) formally approved in Japan is 8 mg/week. We intended to examine the efficacy and safety of MTX at dosages over 8 mg/week in Japanese rheumatoid arthritis patients using the large Institute of Rheumatology, Rheumatoid Arthritis (IORRA) cohort database. Among 9,122 patients registered in the IORRA database from the October 2000 survey to the October 2007 survey, 5,201 patients who had been treated with MTX were selected. We attempted to overcome the drawbacks innate to nonrandomized studies by using longitudinal analyses and multifactorial logistic regression analyses. Cross-sectional analysis of data obtained from the October 2007 survey indicated that dosages of MTX higher than 8 mg/week were used in 27.5% of patients treated with MTX. Longitudinal analyses based on data from three consecutive phases showed that final Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28) values were significantly lower [n = 260, mean difference 0.563, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.438–0.688, P < 2.2 × 10−22, two-sided paired t test] than initial values when MTX was increased from 8 mg/week or lower to over 8 mg/week. In addition, longitudinal analyses based on data from two consecutive phases indicated decreases in DAS28 values of 0.26 ± 1.04 (n = 690, P = 6.78 × 10−11, two-sided paired t test) when MTX dosages were increased from 8 mg/week or lower to over 8 mg/week, compared with decreases of 0.07 ± 0.89 (n = 2,125, P = 0.000307) when the dosage was maintained at 8 mg/week. The decreases in DAS28 values were significantly larger in the former than the latter (P = 2.27 × 10−6, two-sided unpaired t test). Concerning safety of MTX at dosages over 8 mg/week, we performed logistic regression analysis in which the objective variable was the existence or nonexistence of self-reported side-effects and the explanatory variable was the MTX dosage in the former phase, with adjustments made for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), steroid administration, folic acid administration, concomitant pulmonary diseases, and renal dysfunction. The results indicated that MTX dosages over 8 mg/week did not have any association with either severe or severe + moderate side-effects. These data regarding both efficacy and safety of MTX at dosages over 8 mg/week in Japanese RA patients would provide the basis for use of the drug at dosages currently not formally approved by the Japanese government

Amphiregulin and Epiregulin mRNA expression in primary colorectal cancer and corresponding liver metastases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Amphiregulin (AREG) and Epiregulin (EREG), ligands of EGFR, are reported to be predictive biomarkers of colorectal cancer patients treated with Cetuximab, an anti-EGFR antibody. The purpose of this study is to determine the correlation of AREG and EREG expression between primary colorectal cancer and corresponding liver metastases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>One hundred twenty colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases (100 with synchronous metastases, 20 with metachronous) were evaluated. No patients had ever received anti-EGFR antibody agents. AREG and EREG mRNA expression from both the primary tumor and liver metastases were measured using real-time RT-PCR. KRAS codon 12, 13 mutation status was analyzed by direct sequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Modest, but significant, correlations were observed between primary tumor and corresponding liver metastases in both AREG mRNA expression (Rs = 0.54, p < 0.0001) and EREG mRNA expression (Rs = 0.58, p < 0.0001). AREG and EREG mRNA expression was strongly correlated in both the primary tumor (Rs = 0.81, p < 0.0001) and the liver metastases (Rs = 0.87, p < 0.0001). No significant survival difference was observed between low and high AREG or EREG patients when all 120 patients were analyzed. However, when divided by KRAS status, KRAS wild-type patients with low EREG mRNA levels in the primary site showed significantly better overall survival rates than those with high levels (p = 0.018). In multivariate analysis, low EREG expression was significantly associated with better overall survival (p = 0.006).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>AREG and EREG expression showed a modest correlation between primary tumor and liver metastases. As EREG mRNA expression was associated with decreased survival, it is appeared to be a useful prognostic marker in KRAS wild-type patients who never received anti-EGFR therapy.</p

Validity of the Japanese version of the quick mild cognitive impairment screen

Early detection of dementia provides opportunities for interventions that could delay or prevent its progression. We developed the Japanese version of the Quick Mild Cognitive Impairment (Qmci-J) screen, which is a performance-based, easy-to-use, valid and reliable short cognitive screening instrument, and then we examined its validity. Community-dwelling adults aged 65–84 in Niigata prefecture, Japan, were concurrently administered the Qmci-J and the Japanese version of the standardized Mini-Mental State Examination (sMMSE-J). Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia were categorized using established and age-adjusted sMMSE-J cut-offs. The sample (n = 526) included 52 (9.9%) participants with suspected dementia, 123 (23.4%) with suspected MCI and 351 with likely normal cognition. The Qmci-J showed moderate positive correlation with the sMMSE-J (r = 0.49, p < 0.001) and moderate discrimination for predicting suspected cognitive impairment (MCI/dementia) based on sMMSE-J cut-offs, area under curve: 0.74, (95%CI: 0.70–0.79), improving to 0.76 (95%CI: 0.72 to 0.81) after adjusting for age. At a cut-off of 60/61/100, the Qmci-J had a 73% sensitivity, 68% specificity, 53% positive predictive value, and 83% negative predictive value for cognitive impairment. Normative data are presented, excluding those with any sMMSE-J < 27. Though further research is required, the Qmci-J screen may be a useful screening tool to identify older adults at risk of cognitive impairment

Simple derivation of skeletal muscle from human pluripotent stem cells using temperature‐sensitive Sendai virus vector

温度感受性センダイウイルスベクターを用いて ヒトES細胞／iPS細胞から骨格筋細胞を簡便に作製する技術開発 --神経筋疾患病態モデル構築と創薬研究への利用--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-09-13.Human pluripotent stem cells have the potential to differentiate into various cell types including skeletal muscles (SkM), and they are applied to regenerative medicine or in vitro modelling for intractable diseases. A simple differentiation method is required for SkM cells to accelerate neuromuscular disease studies. Here, we established a simple method to convert human pluripotent stem cells into SkM cells by using temperature-sensitive Sendai virus (SeV) vector encoding myoblast determination protein 1 (SeV-Myod1), a myogenic master transcription factor. SeV-Myod1 treatment converted human embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into SkM cells, which expressed SkM markers including myosin heavy chain (MHC). We then removed the SeV vector by temporal treatment at a high temperature of 38℃, which also accelerated mesodermal differentiation, and found that SkM cells exhibited fibre-like morphology. Finally, after removal of the residual human ESCs by pluripotent stem cell-targeting delivery of cytotoxic compound, we generated SkM cells with 80% MHC positivity and responsiveness to electrical stimulation. This simple method for myogenic differentiation was applicable to human-induced pluripotent stem cells and will be beneficial for investigations of disease mechanisms and drug discovery in the future

Bilateral Chronic Subdural Hematoma in the Posterior Fossa Treated with a Burr Hole Irrigation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSH) in the posterior fossa is extremely rare. The surgical strategy is still controversial. We report a case of bilateral CSH in the posterior fossa successfully treated with a single-burr hole surgery. A 74-year-old man under anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy developed headache and nausea during observation for an asymptomatic supratentorial CSH. Radiological examinations revealed appearance of bilateral CSH in the posterior fossa associated with hydrocephalus. Upon rapid deterioration of the patient’s consciousness, an urgent treatment was required. A burr hole was made near the transverse-sigmoid junction on the left side to access the hematoma. No ventricular drainage was placed as his consciousness improved during the decompression of the hematoma. Postoperative computed tomography showed that bilateral CSH and hydrocephalus had been successfully treated. In bilateral CSH in the posterior fossa, there may be a connection between each side. CSH in the posterior fossa, when urgent, can be treated under local anesthesia with a unilateral burr hole irrigation

Tissue-specific splicing regulator Fox-1 induces exon skipping by interfering E complex formation on the downstream intron of human F1γ gene

Fox-1 is a regulator of tissue-specific splicing, via binding to the element (U)GCAUG in mRNA precursors, in muscles and neuronal cells. Fox-1 can regulate splicing positively or negatively, most likely depending on where it binds relative to the regulated exon. In cases where the (U)GCAUG element lies in an intron upstream of the alternative exon, Fox-1 protein functions as a splicing repressor to induce exon skipping. Here we report the mechanism of exon skipping regulated by Fox-1, using the hF1γ gene as a model system. We found that Fox-1 induces exon 9 skipping by repressing splicing of the downstream intron 9 via binding to the GCAUG repressor elements located in the upstream intron 8. In vitro splicing analyses showed that Fox-1 prevents formation of the pre-spliceosomal early (E) complex on intron 9. In addition, we located a region of the Fox-1 protein that is required for inducing exon skipping. Taken together, our data show a novel mechanism of how RNA-binding proteins regulate alternative splicing