Using BrainWaves as Transparent Biometrics for On-Demand Driver Authentication

Conventional biometric systems mainly assume one-timeonly authentication. However, this technique is not used with user management applications. If a user is replaced by an imposter after the authentication has occurred, the systems cannot detect such a replacement. One solution to this problem is on-demand-authentication, in which users are authenticated on a regular or nonregular schedule, as determined by the system. However, the on-demand-authentication technique requires that we present biometric data without regard to do so. In this paper, we focus on the use of brain waves as transparent biometric signals. In particular, we assume driver authentication and measure the brain waves of drivers when they are performing mental tasks such as tracing routes or using a simplified driving simulator as an actual task. We propose to extract the power spectrum in the α–β band as an individual feature and propose two verification methods based on the similarity of the features. In addition, we propose to divide the α–β band into either four or six partitions and to fuse the similarity scores from all the partitions. We evaluate the verification performance using 23 subjects and obtain an equal error rate of 20-25 %

Sn-1位に多価不飽和脂肪酸を結合する2-0-methoxyethoxymethylglycerolの立体配置決定

A correlation of optical rotation, optical purity and configuration of the asymmetric center was done for 2-0-methoxyethoxymethylglycerol bearing polyunsaturated fatty acyl group at sn-1 position. This compound was enzymatically prepared and is an important starting material for the syntheses of optical active glycerophospholipids naving polyunwaturated fatty acyl groups.自然界に広く存在し，重要な生理機能を担っている多価不飽和脂肪酸結合リン脂質の化学的合成に必要な出発原料としての2-0-methoxyethoxymethylglycerolの立体配置と光学純度を，立体配置・光学純度既知の物質に化学的に誘導し，それらの比旋光度をお互いに比較する事により決定した

Supermassive black hole feeding and feedback observed on sub-parsec scales

Active galaxies contain a supermassive black hole at their center, which grows by accreting matter from the surrounding galaxy. The accretion process in the central ~10 parsecs has not been directly resolved in previous observations, due to the small apparent angular sizes involved. We observed the active nucleus of the Circinus Galaxy using sub-millimeter interferometry. A dense inflow of molecular gas is evident on sub-parsec scales. We calculate that less than 3% of this inflow is accreted by the black hole, with the rest being ejected by multiphase outflows, providing feedback to the host galaxy. The observations also reveal a dense gas disk surrounding the inflow; the disk is gravitationally unstable which drives the accretion into the central ~1 parsec.Comment: First release on Nov 3, 2023 in Science. 32 pages in one column = Main (13 pages, 4 figures) + Supplement (19 pages, 9 figures + 2 tables). This is the accepted version after peer revie

The fickle Mutation of a Cytoplasmic Tyrosine Kinase Effects Sensitization but not Dishabituation in Drosophila Melanogaster

fickle is a P-element mutation identified from a screen for defects in courtship behavior and disrupts the fly homolog of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) gene (Baba et al., 1999). Here, we show that habituation of the olfactory jump reflex also is defective in fickle. Unlike, the prototypical memory mutants, rutabaga and dunce, which habituate more slowly than normal, fickle flies habituate faster than normal. fickle's faster-than-normal response decrement did not appear to be due to sensorimotor fatigue, and dishabituation of the jump response was normal. Based on a long-standing “two opponent process” theory of habituation, these data suggested that behavioral sensitization might be defective in fickle. To test this hypothesis, we designed a olfactory sensitization procedure, using the same stimuli to habituate (odor) and dishabituate (vortexing) flies. Mutant flies failed to show any sensitization with this procedure. Our study reveals a “genetic dissection” of sensitization and dishabituation and, for the first time, provides a biological confirmation of the two opponent process theory of habituation

Subaru High-z Exploration of Low-luminosity Quasars (SHELLQs). XIII. Large-scale Feedback and Star Formation in a Low-luminosity Quasar at z = 7.07 on the Local Black Hole to Host Mass Relation

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array [C II] 158 μm line and underlying far-infrared (FIR) continuum emission observations (0 70 × 0 56 resolution) toward HSC J124353.93+010038.5 (J1243+0100) at z = 7.07, the only low-luminosity (M1450 > −25 mag) quasar currently known at z > 7. The FIR continuum is bright (1.52 mJy) and resolved with a total luminosity of LFIR = 3.5 × 1012 Le. The spatially extended component is responsible for ∼40% of the emission. The area-integrated [C II] spectrum shows a broad wing (FWHM = 997 km s−1 , L[C II] = 1.2 × 109 Le), as well as a bright core (FWHM = 235 km s−1 , L[C II] = 1.9 × 109 Le). This wing is the first detection of a galactic-scale quasar-driven outflow (atomic outflow rate >447 Me yr−1 ) at z > 7. The estimated large mass-loading factor of the total outflow (e.g., 9 relative to the [C II]-based star formation rate) suggests that this outflow will soon quench the star formation of the host. The core gas dynamics are governed by rotation, with a rotation curve suggestive of a compact bulge (∼3.3 × 1010 Me), although it is not yet spatially resolved. Finally, we found that J1243+0100 has a black hole mass–to–dynamical mass (and –to–bulge mass) ratio of ∼0.4% (∼1%), consistent with the local value within the uncertainties. Our results therefore suggest that the black hole–host coevolution relation is already in place at z ∼ 7 for this object

Phylogenetic groups and cephalosporin resistance genes of Escherichia coli from diseased food-producing animals in Japan

A total of 318 Escherichia coli isolates obtained from different food-producing animals affected with colibacillosis between 2001 and 2006 were subjected to phylogenetic analysis: 72 bovine isolates, 89 poultry isolates and 157 porcine isolates. Overall, the phylogenetic group A was predominant in isolates from cattle (36/72, 50%) and pigs (101/157, 64.3%) whereas groups A (44/89, 49.4%) and D (40/89, 44.9%) were predominant in isolates from poultry. In addition, group B2 was not found among diseased food-producing animals except for a poultry isolate. Thus, the phylogenetic group distribution of E. coli from diseased animals was different by animal species. Among the 318 isolates, cefazolin resistance (minimum inhibitory concentrations: ≥32 μg/ml) was found in six bovine isolates, 29 poultry isolates and three porcine isolates. Of them, 11 isolates (nine from poultry and two from cattle) produced extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL). The two bovine isolates produced blaCTX-M-2, while the nine poultry isolates produced blaCTX-M-25 (4), blaSHV-2 (3), blaCTX-M-15 (1) and blaCTX-M-2 (1). Thus, our results showed that several types of ESBL were identified and three types of β-lactamase (SHV-2, CTX-M-25 and CTX-M-15) were observed for the first time in E. coli from diseased animals in Japan

Subaru High-z Exploration of Low-luminosity Quasars (SHELLQs). XII. Extended [C ii] Structure (Merger or Outflow) in a z = 6.72 Red Quasar

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array [C II] 158 μm line and far-infrared (FIR) continuum emission observations toward HSC J120505.09−000027.9 (J1205−0000) at z = 6.72 with a beam size of ∼0 8 × 0 5 (or 4.1 kpc × 2.6 kpc), the most distant red quasar known to date. Red quasars are modestly reddened by dust and are thought to be in rapid transition from an obscured starburst to an unobscured normal quasar, driven by powerful active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback that blows out a cocoon of interstellar medium. The FIR continuum of J1205−0000 is bright, with an estimated luminosity of LFIR ∼ 3 × 1012 Le. The [C II] line emission is extended on scales of r ∼ 5 kpc, greater than that of the FIR continuum. The line profiles at the extended regions are complex and broad (FWHM ∼ 630–780 km s−1 ). Although it is not practical to identify the nature of this extended structure, possible explanations include (i) companion/merging galaxies and (ii) massive AGN-driven outflows. For the case of (i), the companions are modestly star-forming (∼10 Me yr−1 ) but are not detected by our Subaru optical observations (yAB,5σ = 24.4 mag). For the case of (ii), our lower limit to the cold neutral outflow rate is ∼100 Me yr−1 . The outflow kinetic energy and momentum are both much lower than predicted in energyconserving wind models, suggesting that the AGN feedback in this quasar is not capable of completely suppressing its star formatio

Efficacy of salvage therapies for advanced acral melanoma after anti-PD-1 monotherapy failure: a multicenter retrospective study of 108 Japanese patients

BackgroundAnti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) monotherapy is one of the standard systemic therapies for advanced melanoma; however, the efficacy of salvage systemic therapies after PD-1 monotherapy failure (PD-1 MF), particularly in acral melanoma (AM), the main clinical melanoma type in Japanese patients, is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of salvage systemic therapies in Japanese patients with AM after PD-1 MF.Patients and methodsThe study included 108 patients with advanced AM (palm and sole, 72; nail apparatus, 36) who underwent salvage systemic therapy at 24 Japanese institutions. We mainly assessed the objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).ResultsThirty-six (33%) patients received ipilimumab, 23 (21%) received nivolumab and ipilimumab (nivo/ipi), 10 (9%) received cytotoxic chemotherapy, 4 (4%) received BRAF and MEK inhibitors (BRAFi/MEKi), and the remaining 35 (32%) continued with PD-1 monotherapy after disease progression. The ORRs in the ipilimumab, nivo/ipi, cytotoxic chemotherapy, and BRAFi/MEKi groups were 8, 17, 0, and 100%, respectively. The nivo/ipi group showed the longest OS (median, 18.9 months); however, differences in ORR, PFS, and OS between the groups were insignificant. The OS in the nivo/ipi group was higher in the palm and sole groups than in the nail apparatus group (median: not reached vs. 8.7 months, p < 0.001). Cox multivariate analysis demonstrated that nail apparatus melanoma independently predicted unfavorable PFS and OS (p = 0.006 and 0.001). The total OS (from PD-1 monotherapy initiation to death/last follow-up) was insignificant between the groups.ConclusionNivo/ipi was not more effective than cytotoxic chemotherapy and ipilimumab after PD-1 MF in patients with advanced AM. The prognosis after PD-1 MF would be poorer for nail apparatus melanoma than for palm and sole melanoma