The Anti-Allergic Effects of the His-Ala-Gln Tripeptide and Constituent Amino Acids

The type‐1 allergy, as typified by allergic rhinitis, pollen, and food allergies, is defined as a hypersensitivity reaction, and its frequency is increasing worldwide. There is a need to develop therapeutic agents that either prevent sensitization to allergens or suppress the allergic response after initiation. It has been reported that various peptides show anti‐allergic effects, but there have been few reports concerning peptides derived from food. Previously, we studied the anti‐allergic effect of His‐Ala‐Gln (HAQ), which is present in CE90GMM, a peptide mixture derived from milk casein. In this chapter, special emphasis is placed on the anti‐allergic effects of the HAQ peptide in vitro and in vivo, and the effect of peptide binding, peptide sequence, number of amino acids, and the electron density of the amino acids is investigated

Probabilistic Multi-Person Tracking with Relative Position Measurements

This paper presents a particle filtering framework for tracking multiple persons with a monocular camera. So far, most of techniques based on particle filtering rely on an assumption that measurements on pose and speed of moving persons are sufficiently precise. Unfortunately, such an assumption is often violated due to measurement noises as well as irregular movements of persons. To deal with the problem, we have developed a technique for measuring relative position between persons using occlusion reasoning. In particular, we show how the use of relative position measurements can improve the tracking performance, even in difficult situations where two persons frequently overlap in images

Enhanced Wireless Access Technologies and Experiments for W-CDMA Communications

This article reviews enhanced wireless access technologies and experimental evaluations of the wideband DS-CDMA physical layer employing intercell asynchronous operation with a three-step fast cell search method, pilot symbol-assisted coherent links, signal-to-interference plus background noise power ratio-based fast transmit power control, site diversity (soft/softer handover), and transmit diversity in the forward link. The article also presents link-capacity-enhancing techniques such as using an interference canceller and adaptive antenna array diversity receiver/transmitter, and experimental results in a real multipath fading channel. The laboratory and field experiments exemplify superior techniques of the W-CDMA physical layer and the potential of the IC and AAAD transceiver to decrease the mobile transmit power in the reverse link and multipath interference from high-rate users with large transmit power in the forward link

Development of a new treatment for preterm birth complications using amniotic fluid stem cell therapy

This paper describes the current status of studies and clinical trials on the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and amniotic fluid stem cells (AFSCs) for complications of preterm birth (PTB), an urgent issue in the perinatal field. PTB is a serious challenge in clinical medicine that is increasing globally, and effective control of its complications is necessary for newborns’ subsequent long life. Classical treatments are inadequate, and many patients have PTB complications. A growing body of evidence provided by translational medicine and others indicates that MSCs, and among them, the readily available AFSCs, may be useful in treating PTB complications. AFSCs are the only MSCs available prenatally and are known to be highly antiinflammatory and tissue-protective and do not form tumors when transplanted. Furthermore, because they are derived from the amniotic fluid, a medical waste product, no ethical issues are involved. AFSCs are an ideal cell resource for MSC therapy in neonates. This paper targets the brain, lungs, and intestines, which are the vital organs most likely to be damaged by PTB complications. The evidence to date and future prospects with MSCs and AFSCs for these organs are described

Evaluation of Liquefaction Potential of Gravelly Soil Layer Based on Field Performance Data

In general, gravelly soil layers are considered to be less susceptible to liquefy during earthquakes than sandy soil layers. However, in 1995 Hyogoken-Nambu Earthquake, sand ejection due to liquefaction was observed in Port Island and Rokkco Island, which were man-made islands reclaimed by gravelly soils. In this paper, firstly, site investigation including sampling by freezing technique was conducted in Rokko Island where lots of ejected sand was not observed during the earthquake to know liquefaction strengths of the reclaimed deposits. Secondly, earthquake response analyses were conducted for a site in Rokko Island as well as a site in Port Island to evaluate maximum stress ratios which were generated in the reclaimed deposits during the earthquake. Finally, relationships between maximum shear stress ratios during earthquakes and penetration resistance were investigated for liquefied sites and nonliquefied sites in the man-made islands