A Similarity-Ranking Method on Semantic Computing for Providing Information-Services in Station-Concierge System

The prevalence of smartphones and wireless broadband networks have been progressing as a new Railway infomration environment.　According to the spread of such devices and information technology, various types of information can be obtained from databases connected to the Internet. One scenario of obtaining such a wide variety of information resources is in the phase of user’s transportation. This paper proposes an information provision system, named the Station Concierge System that matches the situation and intention of passengers. The purpose of this system is to estimate the needs of passengers like station staff or hotel concierge and to provide information resources that satisfy user’s expectations dynamically. The most important module of the system is constructed based on a new information ranking method for passenger intention prediction and service recommendation. This method has three main features, which are (1) projecting a user to semantic vector space by using her current context, (2) predicting the intention of a user based on selecting a semantic vector subspace, and (3) ranking the services by a descending order of relevant scores to the user’ intention. By comparing the predicted results of our method with those of two straightforward computation methods, the experimental studies show the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method. Using this system, users can obtain transit information and service map that dynamically matches their context

Catalogue of epidermal genes: Genes expressed in the epidermis during larval molt of the silkworm Bombyx mori

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The insect cuticle is composed of various proteins and formed during the molt under hormonal regulation, although its precise composition and formation mechanism are largely unknown. The exhaustive catalogue of genes expressed in epidermis at the molt constitutes a massive amount of information from which to draw a complete picture of the molt and cuticle formation in insects. Therefore, we have catalogued a library of full-length cDNAs (designated epM) from epidermal cells during the last larval molt of <it>Bombyx mori</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 10,368 sequences in the library, we isolated 6,653 usable expressed sequence tags (ESTs), which were categorized into 1,451 nonredundant gene clusters. Seventy-one clusters were considered to be isoforms or premature forms of other clusters. Therefore, we have identified 1,380 putative genes. Of the 6,653 expressed sequences, 48% were derived from 92 cuticular protein genes (RR-1, 24; RR-2, 17; glycine-rich, 29; other classes, 22). A comparison of epM with another epidermal EST data set, epV3 (feeding stage: fifth instar, day 3), showed marked differences in cuticular protein gene. Various types of cuticular proteins are expressed in epM but virtually only RR-1 proteins were expressed in epV3. Cuticular protein genes expressed specifically in epidermis, with several types of expression patterns during the molt, suggest different types of responses to the ecdysteroid pulse. Compared with other <it>Bombyx </it>EST libraries, 13 genes were preferentially included in epM data set. We isolated 290 genes for proteins other than cuticular proteins, whose amino acid sequences retain putative signal peptides, suggesting that they play some role in cuticle formation or in other molting events. Several gene groups were also included in this data set: hormone metabolism, P450, modifier of cuticular protein structure, small-ligand-binding protein, transcription factor, and pigmentation genes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have identified 1,380 genes in epM data set and 13 preferentially expressed genes in epidermis at the molt. The comparison of the epM and other EST libraries clarified the totally different gene expression patterns in epidermis between the molting and feeding stages and many novel tissue- and stage-specifically expressed epidermal genes. These data should further our understanding of cuticle formation and the insect molt.</p

Pathophysiology during ECC

Extracorporeal circulation, unlike pulsatile flow based on the beating heart, is the non-pulsatile flow through a blood pump, and the systemic circulation falls into non-physiological conditions. The living body shows various reactions to extracorporeal circulation. The pathophysiology of extracorporeal circulation includes changes in hemodynamics, coagulation, fibrinolysis, acid-base equilibrium, electrolytes, incretion, metabolism, and immune system. With advances in extracorporeal circulation technology, operability has been dramatically improved and safety has rapidly advanced as well. However, there are specific complications with extracorporeal circulation. We need to have a good knowledge of the pathophysiology and complications during extracorporeal circulation, as well as each component of the extracorporeal circulation system

Impact of newly developed, next-generation artificial endocrine pancreas

Background : Recent studies have shown that strict perioperative blood glucose management may reduce mortality and morbidity in critically ill adult patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy and efficacy of the intraoperative application of a newly developed, next-generation artificial endocrine pancreas (STG-55, Nikkiso Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Methods : Twenty patients scheduled to undergo surgery were enrolled in this study. The STG-55 is designed to be more user-friendly than its conventional counterpart (STG-22) while maintaining the latter’s fundamental functions, such as a closed-loop system using algorithms for insulin and glucose infusion. After anesthetic induction, a 20G intravenous catheter was inserted into a peripheral forearm vein and connected to a continuous blood glucose monitor. The resultant 105 scores for paired blood glucose values were compared by Bland-Altman analysis. Results : Stable blood glucose values were maintained automatically, and there were no complications related to use of the STG-55. A close correlation (r=0.96) was observed between continuous glucose measurements using the STG-55 and conventional intermittent glucose measurements. The difficulty of manipulation using this system was decreased by improved preparation procedures. Conclusion : The glycemic control system using the STG-55 could provide an alternative way to achieve effective and safe perioperative glycemic control

Usefulness of central venous oxygen saturation monitoring during bidirectional Glenn shunt

A PediaSat(TM) oximetry catheter (PediaSat : Edwards Lifesciences Co., Ltd., Irvine, CA, U.S.A.), which facilitates continuous measurement of central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2), may be useful for surgery for pediatric congenital heart disease. We used PediaSat during a bidirectional Glenn shunt. The patient was a 13-month-old boy. Under a diagnosis of left single ventricle (pulmonary atresia, right ventricular hypoplasia, atrial septal defect) and residual left aortic arch/left superior vena cava, a modified right Blalock- Taussig shunt was performed. Cyanosis deteriorated, so a bidirectional Glenn shunt was scheduled. After anesthesia induction, a 4.5 Fr double-lumen (8 cm) PediaSat was inserted through the right internal jugular vein for continuous ScvO2 monitoring. Furthermore, the probe of a near-infrared, mixed blood oxygen saturation-measuring monitor was attached to the forehead for continuous monitoring of the regional brain tissue mixed blood oxygen saturation (rSO2) (INVOS(TM) 5100C, Covidien ; Boulder, CO, U.S.A.). Blockage of the right pulmonary artery and right superior vena cava decreased the oxygen saturation, ScvO2, and rSO2, but increased the central venous pressure. Although changes in ScvO2 were parallel to those in rSO2, the former showed more marked changes. A combination of ScvO2 and rSO2 for monitoring during Glenn shunt may be safer

Usefulness of artificial endocrine pancreas during resection of insulinoma

A 71-year-old woman had an episode of syncope due to hypoglycemia of 27 mg/dl. She was diagnosed with insulinoma and scheduled for laparoscopic enucleation along with the use of an artificial endocrine pancreas (STG-22, Nikkiso Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and remifentanil. Her blood glucose level was controlled using the artificial endocrine pancreas, which enabled continuous blood glucose monitoring and computer-operated glucose and insulin infusion to maintain the blood glucose level at a steady state. The target concentration of blood glucose was set at 80-120 mg/dl during surgery. Until removal of the tumor, the blood glucose level was kept at around 80-100 mg/dl. After removal of the tumor, the blood glucose level gradually increased, but it was kept in the normal range by the artificial endocrine pancreas. The artificial endocrine pancreas was useful to monitor and maintain blood glucose levels during and after the removal of insulinoma, without any hyper- or hypoglycemia

Experimental demonstration of position-controllable topological interface states in high-frequency Kitaev topological integrated circuits

Abstract Topological integrated circuits are integrated-circuit realizations of topological systems. Here we show an experimental demonstration by taking the case of the Kitaev topological superconductor model. An integrated-circuit implementation enables us to realize high resonant frequency as high as 13GHz. We explicitly observe the spatial profile of a topological edge state. In particular, the topological interface state between a topological segment and a trivial segment is the Majorana-like state. We construct a switchable structure in the integrated circuit, which enables us to control the position of a Majorana-like interface state arbitrarily along a chain. Our results contribute to the development of topological electronics with high frequency integrated circuits