多数の消波ブロックを撮影した動画像からの3次元形状の復元

平成20年度電気・情報関連学会中国支部第59回連合大会発表資料 ; 開催地:鳥取大学 ; 開催日:2008年10月25

Macro-Scale Population Patterns in the Kofun Period of the Japanese Archipelago: Quantitative Analysis of a Larger Sample of Three-Dimensional Data from Ancient Human Crania

The present study collected a larger set of three-dimensional data on human crania from the Kofun period (as well as from previous periods, i.e., the Jomon and Yayoi periods) in the Japanese archipelago (AD 250 to around 700) than previous studies. Three-dimensional geometric morphometrics were employed to investigate human migration patterns in finer-grained phases. These results are consistent with those of previous studies, although some new patterns were discovered. These patterns were interpreted in terms of demic diffusion, archaeological findings, and historical evidence. In particular, the present results suggest the presence of a gradual geological cline throughout the Kofun period, although the middle period did not display such a cline. This discrepancy might reflect social changes in the middle Kofun period, such as the construction of keyhole-shaped mounds in the peripheral regions. The present study implies that a broader investigation with a larger sample of human crania is essential to elucidating macro-level cultural evolutionary processes

3D reconstruction from images of many wave absorbing blocks

第10回IEEE広島支部学生シンポジウム(HISS), ポスター ; 開催場所:広島 ; 開催日:2008年11月21-23

Fast pose estimation of a wave absorbing block with GPGPU

第10回IEEE広島支部学生シンポジウム(HISS), ポスター ; 開催場所:広島 ; 開催日:2008年11月21-23

The acute effects of antidepressants on the human VEP and EEG

The acute effects of clomipramine hydrochloride (CMI), tricyclic antidepressant, were studied and compared with those of mianserin hydrochloride (MSR), tetracyclic antidepressant, by visual evoked potential (VEP), with each 16 and 12 healthy male subjects, respectively. In the two experimental session on different days, CMI (0.5mg/kg) or MSR (0.3mg/kg) were orally administered for each subject. EEGs containing VEPs evoked by flash stimuli once every 5sec were derived from the two derivations (2ch : O1→ A1 + 2, 5ch : O1→Cz) and recorded into magnetic tape. Reproducing the tape, VEPs before and 120min after the administration of each drug, with 1024msec of analysis time, were obtained by averaging 100 responses, and EEGs were subjected to the frequency analysis. The changes of the waveform of group mean VEP were studied and compared between these drugs. Individual VEPs were subjected to the component analysis, and to the statistical assessment together with EEG. The following, statistically significant, results were obtained. 1. After the administration of CMI, both latencies and peak-to-peak amplitudes of VEP did not significantly change. In EEG, the power% of α1 frequency band increased. These findings indicate that few effect of CMI on the visual system. 2. After the administration of MSR, latencies of short latency components (P3 and N3) significantly increased and peak-to-peak amplitudes of short latency components (P3-N3 and N3-P4) significantly decreased in VEP. In EEG, the power% of δ and θ frequency band increased, and that of α2 and β2 decreased. These findings indicate the inhibitory effect of MSR mainly on the lateral geniculate body and the optic radiation in the visual system. 3. From these results, it was considered that CMI has less effect on depression with anxiety or irritability than MSR

Noninvasive assessment of the cardiac baroreflex Response to downward tilting and comparison with the phenylephrine method

AbstractOBJECTIVESWe studied the relation between changes in systolic blood pressure and RR interval during downward tilting in comparison with assessment of baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) measured by the phenylephrine method (Phe-BRS) and with measures of heart rate variability (HRV).BACKGROUNDThe method most extensively used for assessing BRS involves bolus injections of phenylephrine. Several noninvasive methods proposed to assess BRS have not been widely applied in the clinical setting.METHODSSixteen healthy male volunteers were studied (mean age ± SD 27.5 ± 4.6 years). Arterial blood pressure using tonometry and electrocardiogram was simultaneously recorded. After 20 min of 70° upright tilting, the table was returned to supine position at a speed of 3.2°/s. Subsequently, BRS was assessed using an intravenous bolus injection of phenylephrine (2 to 3 μg/kg). Heart rate variability under resting conditions also was analyzed.RESULTSIn all subjects, a beat to beat systolic blood pressure increase associated with corresponding RR interval lengthening was observed during downward tilting as well as during phenylephrine administration. During both testing procedures, these two variables showed linear correlation, and the slope of regression line during downward tilting (DT-BRS) correlated significantly with Phe-BRS (r = 0.79, p = 0.0003). The DT- and Phe-BRS also correlated significantly with the high frequency component of resting HRV (r = 0.70, p = 0.0023 for DT-BRS; r = 0.58, p = 0.0185 for Phe-BRS).CONCLUSIONSWe conclude that in a small homogeneous group DT-BRS provided an assessment of reflex cardiac vagal function comparable to that obtained by the phenylephrine method

Cationized gelatin-HVJ envelope with sodium borocaptate improved the BNCT efficacy for liver tumors in vivo

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a cell-selective radiation therapy that uses the alpha particles and lithium nuclei produced by the boron neutron capture reaction. BNCT is a relatively safe tool for treating multiple or diffuse malignant tumors with little injury to normal tissue. The success or failure of BNCT depends upon the ¹⁰B compound accumulation within tumor cells and the proximity of the tumor cells to the body surface. To extend the therapeutic use of BNCT from surface tumors to visceral tumors will require ¹⁰B compounds that accumulate strongly in tumor cells without significant accumulation in normal cells, and an appropriate delivery method for deeper tissues.</p> <p>Hemagglutinating Virus of Japan Envelope (HVJ-E) is used as a vehicle for gene delivery because of its high ability to fuse with cells. However, its strong hemagglutination activity makes HVJ-E unsuitable for systemic administration.</p> <p>In this study, we developed a novel vector for ¹⁰B (sodium borocaptate: BSH) delivery using HVJ-E and cationized gelatin for treating multiple liver tumors with BNCT without severe adverse events.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We developed cationized gelatin conjugate HVJ-E combined with BSH (CG-HVJ-E-BSH), and evaluated its characteristics (toxicity, affinity for tumor cells, accumulation and retention in tumor cells, boron-carrying capacity to multiple liver tumors <it>in vivo</it>, and bio-distribution) and effectiveness in BNCT therapy in a murine model of multiple liver tumors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CG-HVJ-E reduced hemagglutination activity by half and was significantly less toxic in mice than HVJ-E. Higher ¹⁰B concentrations in murine osteosarcoma cells (LM8G5) were achieved with CG-HVJ-E-BSH than with BSH. When administered into mice bearing multiple LM8G5 liver tumors, the tumor/normal liver ratios of CG-HVJ-E-BSH were significantly higher than those of BSH for the first 48 hours (<it>p < 0.05</it>). In suppressing the spread of tumor cells in mice, BNCT treatment was as effective with CG-HVJ-E-BSH as with BSH containing a 35-fold higher ¹⁰B dose. Furthermore, CG-HVJ-E-BSH significantly increased the survival time of tumor-bearing mice compared to BSH at a comparable dosage of ¹⁰B.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>CG-HVJ-E-BSH is a promising strategy for the BNCT treatment of visceral tumors without severe adverse events to surrounding normal tissues.</p

Median raphe serotonergic neurons projecting to the interpeduncular nucleus control preference and aversion

不快感を誘発するセロトニン神経を発見 --セロトニン神経の多様性が明らかに--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-12-23.Appropriate processing of reward and aversive information is essential for survival. Although a critical role of serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) in reward processing has been shown, the lack of rewarding effects with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) implies the presence of a discrete serotonergic system playing an opposite role to the DRN in the processing of reward and aversive stimuli. Here, we demonstrated that serotonergic neurons in the median raphe nucleus (MRN) of mice process reward and aversive information in opposite directions to DRN serotonergic neurons. We further identified MRN serotonergic neurons, including those projecting to the interpeduncular nucleus (5-HTMRN→IPN), as a key mediator of reward and aversive stimuli. Moreover, 5-HT receptors, including 5-HT2A receptors in the interpeduncular nucleus, are involved in the aversive properties of MRN serotonergic neural activity. Our findings revealed an essential function of MRN serotonergic neurons, including 5-HTMRN→IPN, in the processing of reward and aversive stimuli

Comparison of ankle-brachial pressure index and pulse wave velocity as markers of cognitive function in a community-dwelling population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vascular factors have been implicated in the development of cognitive decline and dementia. The purpose of this study is to determine the association of the Ankle Brachial pressure Index (ABI) and brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (ba-PWV) to cognitive impairment in a community-dwelling population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The ABI and ba-PWV were measured using the volume-plethymographic apparatus in 388 subjects aged 60 years old and over. The Mini-Mental State Examination was also employed to measure global cognitive status. The effectiveness of the ABI and ba-PWV as putative markers of cognitive impairment were determined by using a multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for confounding factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Subjects with poor cognition were significantly older and less well educated than those with normal cognition. According to the multiple logistic regression analysis, the lowest ABI tertile was found to be a significant independent risk factor (OR = 3.19, 95% CI = 1.30 to 7.82) of the cognitive impairment, whereas the highest brachial-ankle PWV tertile was not.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A low ABI was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older populations, whereas a high ba-PWV may not be. Further research will be required to analyze ABI and PWV with greater accuracy.</p