Nonparametric Bayesian Double Articulation Analyzer for Direct Language Acquisition from Continuous Speech Signals

Human infants can discover words directly from unsegmented speech signals without any explicitly labeled data. In this paper, we develop a novel machine learning method called nonparametric Bayesian double articulation analyzer (NPB-DAA) that can directly acquire language and acoustic models from observed continuous speech signals. For this purpose, we propose an integrative generative model that combines a language model and an acoustic model into a single generative model called the "hierarchical Dirichlet process hidden language model" (HDP-HLM). The HDP-HLM is obtained by extending the hierarchical Dirichlet process hidden semi-Markov model (HDP-HSMM) proposed by Johnson et al. An inference procedure for the HDP-HLM is derived using the blocked Gibbs sampler originally proposed for the HDP-HSMM. This procedure enables the simultaneous and direct inference of language and acoustic models from continuous speech signals. Based on the HDP-HLM and its inference procedure, we developed a novel double articulation analyzer. By assuming HDP-HLM as a generative model of observed time series data, and by inferring latent variables of the model, the method can analyze latent double articulation structure, i.e., hierarchically organized latent words and phonemes, of the data in an unsupervised manner. The novel unsupervised double articulation analyzer is called NPB-DAA. The NPB-DAA can automatically estimate double articulation structure embedded in speech signals. We also carried out two evaluation experiments using synthetic data and actual human continuous speech signals representing Japanese vowel sequences. In the word acquisition and phoneme categorization tasks, the NPB-DAA outperformed a conventional double articulation analyzer (DAA) and baseline automatic speech recognition system whose acoustic model was trained in a supervised manner.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, Draft submitted to IEEE Transactions on Autonomous Mental Development (TAMD

Anesthesia Induction Technique for Trismus Patients with Combination of Slow Induction and AWS Considering Transition to Fiberscope Tracheal Intubation under Consciousness

Tracheal intubation is difficult in patients with jaw fractures with a limited opening distance. The video laryngoscope is often used in cases where the opening is limited to some extent because the opening distance required for tracheal intubation is smaller than that of the conventional laryngoscope.　The authors devised introduction of anesthesia by fentanyl, midazolam, nitrous oxide, oxygen, and sevoflurane.　We presented three patients underwent slow induction by the inhalation anesthetic, and as the opening distance increased, tracheal intubation with AWS or direct laryngoscope became possible.　We concluded that the technique presented is useful because it can shift to conscious fiberscope tracheal intubation even when it is impossible to tracheal intubation with AWS or laryngoscop

Psychometric properties of the japanese version of the single dental anxiety question: A cross-sectional online survey

Background:Assessment of dental anxiety using a validated questionnaire is important for its management and survey.Objective:The aim of this cross-sectional online survey was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Single Dental Anxiety Question (SDAQ).Methods:The single question was translated into Japanese following the forward-backward method. Four hundred Japanese internet monitors (age 20–79 years) were included in the study. Sensitivity–specificity analysis and the Kappa coefficient were calculated against the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) using the 19 cutoff score for high dental anxiety. Criterion validity was evaluated using age, gender, dental attendance pattern, negative dental experiences, and subjective oral health.Results:Among these subjects, 11% were found to have high dental anxiety on the MDAS score and 9% rated themselves as very afraid of SDAQ. The Kappa coefficient between the MDAS cutoff score and the SDAQ classification was 0.58, the sensitivity was 0.56, and the specificity was 0.97. The SDAQ was associated with gender (P = 0.018), dental attendance pattern (P = 0.020), negative dental experiences (P Conclusion:The Japanese version of the SDAQ has good criterion and construct validity but lower sensitivity than the original version. It can be used to assess dental anxiety in large dental surveys or clinical settings where a multi-item questionnaire is not feasible.</p

Effect of Toki-Shakuyaku-San on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of toki-shakuyaku-san (TSS) on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). All subjects were administered TSS (7.5 g/day) for eight weeks. SPECT and evaluations using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and Physical Self-Maintenance Scale were performed before and after treatment with TSS. Three patients with MCI and five patients with AD completed the study. No adverse events occurred during the study period. After treatment with TSS, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the posterior cingulate was significantly higher than that before treatment. No brain region showed a significant decrease in rCBF. TSS treatment also tended to improve the score for orientation to place on the MMSE. These results suggest that TSS could be useful for treatment of MCI and AD

寝屋川流域における医薬品類および有機フッ素化合物の存在実態

本研究では,大阪府の寝屋川を対象にPFCとPPCPの測定を行った。PFCの中のPFOSはPOPsに追加された化合物で,今後廃絶される物質である。測定は,PFCsで16種類,PPCPで17種類の測定を行った。測定は,SPEとLCMSMSを用いる測定法によって行った。結果は,PFCsでカルボン酸類ではPFOAが最も高い濃度で含まれており,そのほかではPFHpAやPFHxAなどが多く含まれていた。スルホン酸類では,PFOSがほとんどを占めており,その他の化合物は少なかった。医薬品類については,高脂血症剤のCAと抗生物質のCAM, LVFXが多く含まれていた。また,医薬品類の用途でまとめた場合100ng/Lの高い濃度で検出されており,河川水中の医薬品類の評価を行う場合,用途ごとに分けて評価を行う必要があることを示唆した。PPCPs and PFCs are widely detected in a large number of water bodies these days, which is a matter of concern among people. PFOS was recently added to POPs category, and its limited production and uses can be expected in future. Presence of PPCPs and PFCs in the Neya River, Osaka, Japan was investigated in this study.Samples from the river (six representative sampling points, November 2008) were pretreated (SPE) and analyzed using LCMS/MS. Total sixteen PFCs were detected in the samples. PFOA exhibited the largest concentrations among the detected carboxylic acids in addition to significantly larger concentrations of PFHpA and PFHxA. Similarly PFOS showed the largest concentrations among the detected sulfonic acids. Total seventeen PPCPs belonging to three categories (antihyperlipoproteinemic,antiinflammatory, antipyretic and antibiotic) were detected in the samples, where Clofibric acid, Clarithromycin and LVFX exhibited relatively larger concentrations.Though concentrations of individual PPCPs detected in this study were small, total concentrations of those belonging to a particular category exceeded 100ng/L. Therefore, total concentration of PPCPs belonging to a category rather than their individual concentrations may better describe their occurrence in natural water bodies like rivers

Analysis of subgingival microbiota in monozygotic twins with different severity and progression risk of periodontitis

The study aims to reveal the composition of subgingival bacteria in monozygotic twins with discordant in severity and progression risk of periodontitis. Microbiome analysis indicated that most bacteria were heritable but differed in their abundance and immune response. The dysbiotic bacteria can be considered as risk markers for periodontitis progression

A higher intramuscular fat in vastus medialis is associated with functional disabilities and symptoms in early stage of knee osteoarthritis: a case-control study

[Background] The characteristics of muscle degeneration in individual quadriceps in early knee osteoarthritis (OA) and the association of muscle quantity and quality on knee dysfunction remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of muscle degeneration in individual quadriceps muscles in early knee OA and elucidate the association of muscle volume and intramuscular adipose tissue (intraMAT) with knee dysfunction, including functional disabilities, symptoms, and joint morphology. [Methods] Fifty participants were categorized into early knee OA and healthy control groups. 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using T1-weighted and Dixon methods and 3D SPACE in the thigh muscle and knee joint regions was performed. Quadriceps muscle volume, intraMAT, and whole-organ MRI score (WORMS) were assessed. The Knee Society Score (KSS) was used to evaluate functional disabilities and knee symptoms. Univariate analysis of variance was conducted with covariates to clarify the differences in muscle volume and intraMAT between the two groups. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed using the KSS function and symptom subcategories and WORMS as dependent variables and muscle volume, intraMAT, and the presence of early knee OA as independent variables, such as potential confounders. [Results] The quadriceps intraMAT, especially in the vastus medialis (VM), was significantly higher in patients with early knee OA than in healthy controls. The VM intraMAT, not muscle volume, was significantly associated with KSS function [B =  − 3.47; 95% confidence interval [CI],  − 5.24 to − 1.71; p < 0.001] and symptom scores [B =  − 0.63; 95% CI,  − 1.09 to − 0.17; p = 0.008], but not with WORMS. [Conclusion] These findings suggest that higher VM intraMAT is characteristic of quadriceps muscle degeneration in early knee OA and its increase is associated with functional disabilities and symptoms

Effect of Toki-Shakuyaku-San on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer&apos;s Disease

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of toki-shakuyaku-san (TSS) on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer&apos;s disease (AD) using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). All subjects were administered TSS (7.5 g/day) for eight weeks. SPECT and evaluations using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Neuropsychiatric Inventory, and Physical Self-Maintenance Scale were performed before and after treatment with TSS. Three patients with MCI and five patients with AD completed the study. No adverse events occurred during the study period. After treatment with TSS, regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in the posterior cingulate was significantly higher than that before treatment. No brain region showed a significant decrease in rCBF. TSS treatment also tended to improve the score for orientation to place on the MMSE. These results suggest that TSS could be useful for treatment of MCI and AD