Probabilistic Prediction in Multiclass Classification Derived for Flexible Text-Prompted Speaker Verification

So far, we have presented amethod for text-promptedmultistep speaker verification using GEBI (Gibbs-distribution based extended Bayesian inference) for reducing single-step verification error, where we use thresholds for acceptance and rejection but the tuning is not so easy and affects the performance of verification. To solve the problem of thresholds, this paper presents a method of probabilistic prediction in multiclass classification for solving verification problem.We also present loss functions for evaluating the performance of probabilistic prediction. By means of numerical experiments using recorded real speech data, we examine the properties of the present method using GEBI and BI (Bayesian inverence) and show the effectiveness and the risk of probability loss in the present method.22nd International Conference on Neural Information Processing, ICONIP 2015, November 9-12, 2015, Istanbul, Turke

Variants of C-C Motif Chemokine 22 (CCL22) Are Associated with Susceptibility to Atopic Dermatitis: Case-Control Studies

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease caused by multiple genetic and environmental factors. AD is characterized by the local infiltration of T helper type 2 (Th2) cells. Recent clinical studies have shown important roles of the Th2 chemokines, CCL22 and CCL17 in the pathogenesis of AD. To investigate whether polymorphisms of the CCL22 gene affect the susceptibility to AD, we conducted association studies and functional studies of the related variants. We first resequenced the CCL22 gene and found a total of 39 SNPs. We selected seven tag SNPs in the CCL22 gene, and conducted association studies using two independent Japanese populations (1st population, 916 cases and 1,032 controls; 2nd population 1,034 cases and 1,004 controls). After the association results were combined by inverse variance method, we observed a significant association at rs4359426 (meta-analysis, combined P = 9.6×10−6; OR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.65–0.85). Functional analysis revealed that the risk allele of rs4359426 contributed to higher expression levels of CCL22 mRNA. We further examined the allelic differences in the binding of nuclear proteins by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The signal intensity of the DNA-protein complex derived from the G allele of rs223821, which was in absolute LD with rs4359426, was higher than that from the A allele. Although further functional analyses are needed, it is likely that related variants play a role in susceptibility to AD in a gain-of-function manner. Our findings provide a new insight into the etiology and pathogenesis of AD

Interconnected pores on the walls of a polymeric honeycomb monolith structure created by the unidirectional freezing of a binary polymer solution

Interconnected submicron pores were created on the walls of a honeycomb monolith structure by the unidirectional freezing of a binary polymer solution. Agglomerated globules of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in a binary solution of polystyrene (PS) and PEG in 1, 4-dioxane solvent were frozen unidirectionally in a liquid nitrogen bath. Removing the frozen solvent and the agglomerated globules of PEG by freeze-drying and leaching, respectively, enabled us to create interconnected pores in the PS walls. The combination of PS and PEG was effective in creating interconnected pores in the walls because PS and PEG are poorly soluble in one another. The higher freezing rate and lower PEG weight fraction of the binary solution effectively reduced the pore size in the microtube walls

Initial-Stage Primary Intraosseous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Derived from Odontogenic Keratocyst with Unusual Keratoameloblastomatous Change of the Maxilla: A Case Report and Literature Discussion

Primary intraosseous squamous cell carcinoma (PIOSCC) is a rare malignant neoplasm derived from odontogenic epithelial remnants in the central jaw bone. Most PIOSCCs originate from odontogenic cysts with a nonkeratinized epithelial lining, especially from radicular/residual and dentigerous cysts. There have been few reports of PIOSCCs derived from the odontogenic keratocyst (OKC), particularly those describing pathological features at the initial stage. The diagnosis of PIOSCC is difficult and based on exclusion of other carcinomas, including metastatic tumors from other primary sites. Here, we report an extremely rare case of initial-stage PIOSCC derived from the OKC with unusual keratoameloblastomatous change of the maxilla

Pairwise linkage disequilibrium between 34 SNPs.

<p>LD was measured by D′/LOD (upper) and r² (lower) estimated using the Haploview 4.2 program (<a href="http://www.broad.mit.edu/mpg/haploview/" target="_blank">http://www.broad.mit.edu/mpg/haploview/</a>). Boxed variants were genotyped in this study.</p

Genotype counts and case-control association test results of seven tag SNPs.

<p><i>P</i> values of the two populations were calculated by logistic regression analysis under an additive model. The combined <i>P</i> values were calculated using the inverse variance method. OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; -, not significant.</p

Allelic imbalance of gene expression of <i>CCL22</i> in EBV-transformed cells with heterozygous genotypes.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Genomic structures, locations and LD of the two SNPs. (<b>B</b>) Haplotypes for the two SNPs in the 1^st population. (<b>C</b>) The allelic ratio of PCR products from individuals. Heterozygous (left) and homozygous (right) at rs4359426. *Two-tailed <i>P</i> = 0.0000006 by the Mann-Whitney U test.</p