Male and female facial attractiveness prediction: An image-based approach using convolutional neural network-based models

In recent years, significant research has been conducted on the use of deep learning for prediction of facial attractiveness. These studies are expected to have various applications such as recommendation systems and face beautification. Therefore, it is crucial to improve the prediction accuracy. In this study, to improve the accuracy of facial attractiveness prediction, several convolutional neural network-based models were built using sex-specific datasets. Then, their accuracies were compared. The results showed that VGG19 and VGG16 had the highest accuracies for the male and female face datasets, respectively. A detailed confirmation of the factors necessary for prediction is expected to contribute to the construction of models based on human perceptual characteristics. These models maybe utilized in various engineering applications

Evaluation of the Appropriate Root Pressure for Maintaining Heartbeat during an Aortic Cross-clamp for Primary Repair of the Aortic Arch in Premature Infants with Associated Cardiac Anomalies

We developed a new cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) method to minimize myocardial damage during aortic arch reconstruction. In this method, coronary flow and heartbeat were stabilized by maintaining the aortic root pressure with an adjusted preload of the ventricle during aortic cross-clamping. This study was performed to determine the appropriate root pressure to maintain the heartbeat without causing deterioration of ventricular function. Study 1. Under partial CPB, the ascending aorta was cross-clamped in 6 pigs (group 1). Experimental data at various systolic aortic root pressures was analysed to determine the appropriate root pressure. Study 2. In group 2 (control, n＝6), the aorta was not clamped, while in group 3 (n＝6), the aorta was cross-clamped for 60 min and the systolic aortic root pressure was maintained at the pressure determined in study 1. Study 1. The diastolic coronary flow was stabilized at values comparable to that before initiation of CPB (6.6±1.4ml/beat) when the systolic aortic root pressure was above 80mmHg. Intracardiac pressure and the myocardial oxygen consumption (MvO2) seemed to be acceptable when the systolic aortic root pressure was below 100mmHg. Therefore, 90mmHg was selected for study 2. Study 2. Perioperative cardiac function did not differ between the groups. We concluded that 90mmHg was the systolic aortic root pressure appropriate for this method

Hepatocyte growth factor prevents lupus nephritis in a murine lupus model of chronic graft-versus-host disease

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) induced in (C57BL/6 × DBA/2) F1 (BDF1) mice by the injection of DBA/2 mouse spleen cells represents histopathological changes associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and Sjogren's syndrome (SS), as indicated by glomerulonephritis, lymphocyte infiltration into the periportal area of the liver and salivary glands. We determined the therapeutic effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) gene transfection on lupus using this chronic GVHD model. Chronic GVHD mice were injected in the gluteal muscle with either HVJ liposomes containing 8 μg of the human HGF expression vector (HGF-HVJ liposomes) or mock vector (untreated control). Gene transfer was repeated at 2-week intervals during 12 weeks. HGF gene transfection effectively prevented the proteinuria and histopathological changes associated with glomerulonephritis. While liver and salivary gland sections from untreated GVHD mice showed prominent PBC- and SS-like changes, HGF gene transfection reduced these histopathological changes. HGF gene transfection greatly reduced the number of splenic B cells, host B cell major histocompatibility complex class II expression, and serum levels of IgG and anti-DNA antibodies. IL-4 mRNA expression in the spleen, liver, and kidneys was significantly decreased by HGF gene transfection. CD28 expression on DBA/2 CD4+ T cells was decreased by the addition of recombinant HGF in vitro. Furthermore, IL-4 production by DBA/2 CD4+ T cells stimulated by irradiated BDF1 dendritic cells was significantly inhibited by the addition of recombinant HGF in vitro. These results suggest that HGF gene transfection inhibited T helper 2 immune responses and reduced lupus nephritis, autoimmune sialoadenitis, and cholangitis in chronic GVHD mice. HGF may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of SLE, SS and PBC

Modulating effect of the PI3-kinase inhibitor LY294002 on cisplatin in human pancreatic cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chemoresistance is a serious problem in pancreatic cancer, but the mechanism of resistance and strategies against the resistance have not been elucidated. We examined the potential of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt inhibitor LY294002 to enhance the anti-tumor effect of cisplatin and investigated the mechanism of chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer cells using a combination therapy of cisplatin and LY294002, both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cisplatin and LY294002, individually or in combination, were given to AsPC-1 and PANC-1 cell lines. Tumor growth, DNA fragments, and Akt phosphorylation were examined <it>in vitro</it>. To examine the therapeutic effect of cisplatin and LY294002, individually or combination an AsPC-1 tumor xenograft model was prepared for <it>in vivo </it>study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cisplatin induced growth inhibition and Akt phosphorylation in pancreatic cancer cells. LY294002 also inhibited cell proliferation but without showing Akt phosphorylation. However, the combination therapy markedly increased cleavage of caspase-3 and cytoplasmic histone-associated DNA fragments compared to the results with cisplatin alone. In the <it>in vivo </it>study, blocking the PI3K/Akt cascade with LY294002 increased the efficacy of cisplatin-induced inhibition of tumor growth in nude mice, suppressing half the tumor growth with cisplatin alone. There were no detectable side effects in mice treated with combination therapy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our studies suggest that the PI3K/Akt pathway plays an important role in cisplatin resistance of pancreatic cancer cells. The augmentation of cisplatin with PI3K/Akt inhibitor may resolve the chemoresistance problem of cisplatin, and this might be a plausible strategy for achieving tolerance for chemotherapeutic agents in pancreatic cancer therapy.</p

Efficacy of MCI-186, a free-radical scavenger and antioxidant, for resuscitation of nonbeating donor hearts

ObjectiveOxygen-derived free radicals are responsible in part for reperfusion injury in globally ischemic myocardium. In this study, the efficacy for resuscitation of nonbeating donor hearts of MCI-186, a free-radical scavenger and antioxidant, was investigated in a pig transplantation model.MethodsCardiac arrest was induced by asphyxiation. After 30 minutes of global ischemia, the hearts were excised and immediately reperfused from the aortic root with normoxemic blood cardioplegia (Po2 100 mm Hg) for 20 minutes, followed by perfusion with hyperoxemic blood (Po2 300 mm Hg). MCI-186 (3 mg/kg) was administered into the aortic root for the first 30 minutes of reperfusion in the treated group (n = 6), and untreated hearts were used as a control group (n = 6). Transplantation was performed with the heart beating.ResultsPosttransplantation recovery of cardiac output, end-systolic pressure–volume ratio, and first derivative of pressure of the left ventricle in the treated group were significantly better than those in the control group. The coronary sinus–aortic root difference in malondialdehyde levels remained low throughout reperfusion in the treated group but abruptly increased after initiation of oxygenated blood perfusion in the control group. The MCI-186–treated hearts showed low degree of edema and well-preserved ultrastructure with normal-appearing organelles, whereas the untreated hearts had marked swelling of mitochondria and scant glycogen granules.ConclusionMCI-186 exerts a cardioprotective action at least partly by inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Antioxidant therapy at the initial reperfusion is essential to successful resuscitation of nonbeating hearts by continuous myocardial perfusion

X-ray and Neutron Study on the Structure of Hydrous SiO2 Glass up to 10 GPa

The structure of hydrous amorphous SiO2 is fundamental in order to investigate the effects of water on the physicochemical properties of oxide glasses and magma. The hydrous SiO2 glass with 13 wt.% D2O was synthesized under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions and its structure was investigated by small angle X-ray scattering, X-ray diffraction, and neutron diffraction experiments at pressures of up to 10 GPa and room temperature. This hydrous glass is separated into two phases: a major phase rich in SiO2 and a minor phase rich in D2O molecules distributed as small domains with dimensions of less than 100 angstrom. Medium-range order of the hydrous glass shrinks compared to the anhydrous SiO2 glass by disruption of SiO4 linkage due to the formation of Si-OD deuterioxyl, while the response of its structure to pressure is almost the same as that of the anhydrous SiO2 glass. Most of D2O molecules are in the small domains and hardly penetrate into the void space in the ring consisting of SiO4 tetrahedra

A functional genomics tool for the Pacific bluefin tuna: Development of a 44K oligonucleotide microarray from whole-genome sequencing data for global transcriptome analysis

AbstractBluefin tunas are one of the most important fishery resources worldwide. Because of high market values, bluefin tuna farming has been rapidly growing during recent years. At present, the most common form of the tuna farming is based on the stocking of wild-caught fish. Therefore, concerns have been raised about the negative impact of the tuna farming on wild stocks. Recently, the Pacific bluefin tuna (PBT), Thunnus orientalis, has succeeded in completing the reproduction cycle under aquaculture conditions, but production bottlenecks remain to be solved because of very little biological information on bluefin tunas. Functional genomics approaches promise to rapidly increase our knowledge on biological processes in the bluefin tuna. Here, we describe the development of the first 44K PBT oligonucleotide microarray (oligo-array), based on whole-genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing and large-scale expressed sequence tags (ESTs) data. In addition, we also introduce an initial 44K PBT oligo-array experiment using in vitro grown peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) stimulated with immunostimulants such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS: a cell wall component of Gram-negative bacteria) or polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C: a synthetic mimic of viral infection). This pilot 44K PBT oligo-array analysis successfully addressed distinct immune processes between LPS- and poly I:C- stimulated PBLs. Thus, we expect that this oligo-array will provide an excellent opportunity to analyze global gene expression profiles for a better understanding of diseases and stress, as well as for reproduction, development and influence of nutrition on tuna aquaculture production

Transcriptional response of polycomb group genes to status epilepticus in mice is modified by prior exposure to epileptic preconditioning.

Exposure of the brain to brief, non-harmful seizures can activate protective mechanisms that temporarily generate a damage-refractory state. This process, termed epileptic tolerance, is associated with large-scale down-regulation of gene expression. Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are master controllers of gene silencing during development that are re-activated by injury to the brain. Here, we explored the transcriptional response of genes associated with polycomb repressive complex (PRC) 1 (Ring1A, Ring1B, and Bmi1) and PRC2 (Ezh1, Ezh2, and Suz12), as well as additional transcriptional regulators Sirt1, Yy1, and Yy2, in a mouse model of status epilepticus (SE). Findings were contrasted to changes after SE in mice previously given brief seizures to evoke tolerance. Real-time quantitative PCR showed SE prompted an early (1 h) increase in expression of several genes in PRC1 and PRC2 in the hippocampus, followed by down-regulation of many of the same genes at later times points (4, 8, and 24 h). Spatio-temporal differences were found among PRC2 genes in epileptic tolerance, including increased expression of Ezh2, Suz12, and Yy2 relative to the normal injury response to SE. In contrast, PRC1 complex genes including Ring 1B and Bmi1 displayed differential down-regulation in epileptic tolerance. The present study characterizes PcG gene expression following SE and shows prior seizure exposure produces select changes to PRC1 and PRC2 composition that may influence differential gene expression in epileptic tolerance

Groundwater helium anomaly reflects strain change during the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake in Southwest Japan

Geochemical monitoring of groundwater and soil gas emission pointed out precursor and/or coseismic anomalies of noble gases associated with earthquakes, but there was lack of plausible physico-chemical basis. A laboratory experiment of rock fracturing and noble gas emission was conducted, but there is no quantitative connection between the laboratory results and observation in field. We report here deep groundwater helium anomalies related to the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, which is an inland crustal earthquake with a strike-slip fault and a shallow hypocenter (10 km depth) close to highly populated areas in Southwest Japan. The observed helium isotope changes, soon after the earthquake, are quantitatively coupled with volumetric strain changes estimated from a fault model, which can be explained by experimental studies of helium degassing during compressional loading of rock samples. Groundwater helium is considered as an effective strain gauge. This suggests the first quantitative linkage between geochemical and seismological observations and may open the possibility to develop a new monitoring system to detect a possible strain change prior to a hazardous earthquake in regions where conventional borehole strain meter is not available.UTokyo Research掲載「地下水のヘリウム量は大地震の前触れを告げる指標になりうるか」 URI: http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/utokyo-research/research-news/groundwater-helium-level-could-signal-potential-risk-of-earthquake.htmlUTokyo Research "Groundwater helium level could signal potential risk of earthquake" URI: http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/utokyo-research/research-news/groundwater-helium-level-could-signal-potential-risk-of-earthquake.htm