An Environment for Acquiring and Sharing Arithmetical Word Problems: For Problems Solved by Specific Solution Methods

To realize effective problem-solving practice, the ILE should have various kinds of problems in a large quantity. However, each ILE prepares the problems individually so far. Therefore, to secure enough problems in the quantity and variety is often difficult. To resolve this issue, we designed and developed an environment on internet, which provides a tool to make arithmetical word problems, and categorizes the problems with XML tags, then, supplies the problems for ILEs or users. In this paper, we introduce the description of problem data based on a problem-solving model for arithmetical word problems. Then, the way to make the problems in the environment is explained. The environment can verify logical structure of the problem, but cannot problem sentence. The verification arid revision of problem sentences are carried out when users use the/ problem. The experimental evaluation of this environment is also reported.本研究の一部は，科研費奨励A(13780292), 電気通信普及財団助成，およぴ人工知能研究振興財団の支援を受けた

Heat transfer characteristics of a planar water jet impinging normally or obliquely on a flat surface at relatively low Reynolds numbers

The heat transfer characteristics of a planar free water jet normally or obliquely impinging onto a flat substrate were investigated experimentally. The planar jet issued from a rectangular slot nozzle with a cross section of 1.62 mm × 40 mm. The mean velocity at the nozzle exit ranged from 1.5 to 6.1 m s−1. The corresponding Reynolds number range based on the nozzle gap and the mean velocity was 2200–8800. Constant heat-flux conditions were employed at the solid surface. Various impingement angles between the vertical planar jet and the inclined solid surface were investigated: 90° (normal collision), 70°, 60°, and 50°. In the case of normal collisions, the Nusselt number is high at the impingement line, and decreases with departures from it. The stagnation Nusselt numbers were compared to the predictions of several correlations proposed by other researchers. In oblique collisions, the profiles of the local Nusselt numbers are asymmetric. The locations of the peak Nusselt numbers do not coincide with the geometric center of the planar jet on the surface

Efficacy of mizoribine pulse therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who show a reduced or insufficient response to infliximab

The efficacy of infliximab, a chimeric antibody against tumor necrosis factor-α used to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), tends to decrease as patients develop human antichimeric antibody against infliximab (HACA). The clinical study reported here was designed to evaluate the efficacy of mizoribine (MZR) pulse therapy in patients who show a reduced or insufficient response to infliximab. Ten RA patients who had active arthritis despite infliximab therapy were treated with MZR pulse therapy at a dose of 100 mg MZR and methotrexate (MTX) and the disease activity assessed at baseline and at weeks 4–8, 12–16, and 20–24. The dose was increased to 150 mg in those patients who showed an insufficient response to MZR. The mean 28-joint disease activity score (DAS28) at weeks 12–16 and 20–24 of therapy was significantly lower than that at baseline. A moderate or good European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) response was achieved in seven patients (70%) at weeks 12–16 and in five patients (50%) at weeks 20–24. The dose of 150 mg MZR was effective in one of the three patients who showed an insufficient response to pulse therapy with 100 mg MZR. Based on these results, we propose that MZR pulse therapy should be attempted before the patient is switched to other biologics

Event Classification with Multi-step Machine Learning

The usefulness and value of Multi-step Machine Learning (ML), where a task is organized into connected sub-tasks with known intermediate inference goals, as opposed to a single large model learned end-to-end without intermediate sub-tasks, is presented. Pre-optimized ML models are connected and better performance is obtained by re-optimizing the connected one. The selection of an ML model from several small ML model candidates for each sub-task has been performed by using the idea based on Neural Architecture Search (NAS). In this paper, Differentiable Architecture Search (DARTS) and Single Path One-Shot NAS (SPOS-NAS) are tested, where the construction of loss functions is improved to keep all ML models smoothly learning. Using DARTS and SPOS-NAS as an optimization and selection as well as the connections for multi-step machine learning systems, we find that (1) such a system can quickly and successfully select highly performant model combinations, and (2) the selected models are consistent with baseline algorithms, such as grid search, and their outputs are well controlled

Real-world effects of once-daily inhaled steroid (fluticasone furoate) combined with long-acting beta-2 agonist (vilanterol) and long-acting muscarinic antagonist (umeclidinium) on lung function tests of asthma patients in Japan

Background: The Japanese drug use system allowed the once-daily use of inhaled corticosteroid fluticasone furoate (FF) combined with a long-acting beta-2 agonist vilanterol (VI) and a long-acting muscarinic antagonist umeclidinium (UMEC) against asthma on 18 February 2021. We investigated the real-world effects of these drugs (FF/UMEC/VI) mainly on lung function tests.Methods: This was an open-label, uncontrolled, within-group time-series (before-after) study. Prior asthma treatment (inhaled corticosteroid with/without a long-acting beta-2 agonist with/without a long-acting muscarinic antagonist) was switched to FF/UMEC/VI 200/62.5/25 μg. Subjects were evaluated by lung function tests prior to, and 1–2 months after, initiation of FF/UMEC/VI 200/62.5/25 μg. Patients were asked questions regarding the asthma control test and preference for drugs.Results: Overall, 114 asthma outpatients (97% Japanese) were enrolled from February 2021 to April 2022: 104 subjects completed the study. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s, peak flow, and asthma control test score of FF/UMEC/VI 200/62.5/25 μg-treated subjects were significantly increased (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p < 0.01, respectively). In contrast with FF/VI 200/25 μg, instantaneous flow at 25% of the forced vital capacity and expiratory reserve volume were significantly increased by FF/UMEC/VI 200/62.5/25 μg (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, respectively). Sixty-six percent of subjects declared they wanted to continue FF/UMEC/VI 200/62.5/25 μg in the future. Adverse effects, mainly local, were seen in 30% of patients, but no serious adverse effects were seen.Conclusion: Once-daily FF/UMEC/VI 200/62.5/25 μg was effective against asthma without serious adverse events. This is the first report that demonstrated FF/UMEC/VI dilated peripheral airways using lung function tests. This evidence on drug effects may improve our understanding of pulmonary physiology and the pathophysiology of asthma

Real-world efficacy and problems of once-daily use of inhaled steroid (fluticasone furoate) combined with long-acting beta-2 agonist (vilanterol) in Japanese patients with asthma

Objective: The Japanese drug use system allowed the “once-daily use” of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) fluticasone furoate (FF) combined with a long acting beta-2 agonist (LABA) vilanterol (VI) against asthma for the first time in 2013. Until then, patients with asthma had to use ICS at least twice-daily. We investigated the real-world efficacy and problems of this drug (FF/VI). Methods: This was an open-label, uncontrolled, within-group time-series (before-after) design. Prior treatments of asthma (twice-daily use of ICS with or without LABA) were switched to once-daily use of FF/VI (200 μg/25 μg). Subjects were evaluated by lung function tests prior to, and 2–3 months after, the initiation of FF/VI. Questions on the asthma control test (ACT) and preference of drugs were asked to patients. Results: One hundred and twenty-eight Japanese asthma outpatients were enrolled from 2014–2018 and 107 subjects completed the study. Peak flow, instantaneous flow at 75% of the forced vital capacity (V75), V50, maximum mid-expiratory flow rate, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, and ACT score in FF/VI-using subjects were significantly increased (all p < 0.01). The percent predicted vital capacity and the inspiratory reserve volume were also increased significantly (all 0.01 < p < 0.05). Ninety-three percent of subjects declared they wanted to continue FF/VI in the future. Adverse effects including hoarseness and/or uncomfortable sensations in the throat were increased (16%). Conclusions: Once-daily use of FF/VI is a potent and effective treatment. Its effect was marked on larger airways and yielded a greater satisfaction in patients despite a higher incidence of local steroid effects