Community Detection and Growth Potential Prediction Using the Stochastic Block Model and the Long Short-term Memory from Patent Citation Networks

Scoring patent documents is very useful for technology management. However, conventional methods are based on static models and, thus, do not reflect the growth potential of the technology cluster of the patent. Because even if the cluster of a patent has no hope of growing, we recognize the patent is important if PageRank or other ranking score is high. Therefore, there arises a necessity of developing citation network clustering and prediction of future citations. In our research, clustering of patent citation networks by Stochastic Block Model was done with the aim of enabling corporate managers and investors to evaluate the scale and life cycle of technology. As a result, we confirmed nested SBM is appropriate for graph clustering of patent citation networks. Also, a high MAPE value was obtained and the direction accuracy achieved a value greater than 50% when predicting growth potential for each cluster by using LSTM.Comment: arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1904.1204

Inertial measurement unit-based real-time feedback gait immediately changes gait parameters in older inpatients: a pilot study

The effect of gait feedback training for older people remains unclear, and such training methods have not been adapted in clinical settings. This study aimed to examine whether inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based real-time feedback gait for older inpatients immediately changes gait parameters. Seven older inpatients (mean age: 76.0 years) performed three types of 60-s gait trials with real-time feedback in each of the following categories: walking spontaneously (no feedback trial); focused on increasing the ankle plantarflexion angle during late stance (ankle trial); and focused on increasing the leg extension angle, which is defined by the location of the ankle joint relative to the hip joint in the sagittal plane, during late stance (leg trial). Tilt angles and accelerations of the pelvis and lower limb segments were measured using seven IMUs in pre- and post-feedback trials. To examine the immediate effects of IMU-based real-time feedback gait, multiple comparisons of the change in gait parameters were conducted. Real-time feedback increased gait speed, but it did not significantly differ in the control (p = 0.176), ankle (p = 0.237), and leg trials (p = 0.398). Step length was significantly increased after the ankle trial (p = 0.043, r = 0.77: large effect size). Regarding changes in gait kinematics, the leg trial increased leg extension angle compared to the no feedback trial (p = 0.048, r = 0.77: large effect size). IMU-based real-time feedback gait changed gait kinematics immediately, and this suggests the feasibility of a clinical application for overground gait training in older people

ダイチョウ ジョウヒ サイボウ ニ ハツゲン スル NADPH oxidase1 Nox1 ノ ブンシ トクセイ

NADPH oxidase 1 (Nox1) is an isozyme of gp91-phox predominantly expressed in the human colon. In this study, we have established primary cultures of guinea pig large intestinal epithelial cells (LIEC). A great majority of the cultured cells (>90%) was surface mucous cells containing periodic acid-Schiff reaction-positive granules. Vimentin-positive fibroblasts were <1%, and macrophages were not contaminated. LIEC spontaneously produced superoxide anion (O2 －) at about 160 nmol/mg protein/h. O2 －-dependent formation of blue formazan particles from nitroblue tetrazolium was observed only on surface of mucous-producing cells, and these cells expressed Nox1 protein at plasma membrane and in the cytoplasm. They expressed p67-phox, p22-phox, and rac1, but not gp91-phox, p47-phox, p40-phox, and rac 2. Immunohistochemistry showed that Nox1, p 67-phox, and p 22-phox were predominantly expressed in surface mucous cells of human and guinea pig colonic mucosa. Human colon cancer cell lines (Caco2, T84, and HT29 cells) expressed Nox1, p22-phox, and rac1, but not the other NADPH components. These cells secreted O2 － at <5 nmol/mg protein/h. Caco2 cells possessed Toll-like receptor 5, and flagellin (FliC) from Salmonella enteritidis phosphorylated transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) and TAK1-binding protein 1, and significantly up-regulated O2 － production. These results suggest that Nox1 expressed in colonic epithelial cells may regulate interactions between pathogenic bacteria and epithelial cells for host defense

Association of Olfactory and Gustatory Function with Memory among Community-Dwelling Independent Older Adults

Background This study examined the association between memory function and reduced olfactory and gustatory function among independent community-dwelling older adults. Methods This cross-sectional study included 127 older adults (65.4% women). We assessed their memory, odor, and taste identification skills. Open essence (OE) test and taste strips (TS) were used to identify hyposmia (OE test ≤6) and hypogeusia (TS test ≤8), respectively. Results Participants with severe hyposmia had significantly poorer memory functions compared to participants without severe hyposmia. After adjusting for covariates, multivariate logistic regression models revealed a significant association between immediate recognition performance and a decreased likelihood of severe hyposmia (odds ratio=0.65; 95% confidence interval 0.47–0.90). We observed no significant association between taste function and memory. Conclusion Memory function may be associated with olfactory impairment in older adults

Experimental model for the irradiation-mediated abscopal effect and factors influencing this effect

Radiotherapy (RT) is the primary treatment for cancer. Ionizing radiation from RT induces tumor damage at the irradiated site, and, although clinically infrequent, may cause regression of tumors distant from the irradiated site-a phenomenon known as the abscopal effect. Recently, the abscopal effect has been related to prolongation of overall survival time in cancer patients, though the factors that influence the abscopal effect are not well understood. The aim of this study is to clarify the factors influencing on abscopal effect. Here, we established a mouse model in which we induced the abscopal effect. We injected MC38 (mouse colon adenocarcinoma) cells subcutaneously into C57BL/6 mice at two sites. Only one tumor was irradiated and the sizes of both tumors were measured over time. The non-irradiated-site tumor showed regression, demonstrating the abscopal effect. This effect was enhanced by an increase in the irradiated-tumor volume and by administration of anti-PD1 antibody. When the abscopal effect was induced by a combination of RT and anti-PD1 antibody, it was also influenced by radiation dose and irradiated-tumor volume. These phenomena were also verified in other cell line, B16F10 cells (mouse melanoma cells). These findings provide further evidence of the mechanism for, and factors that influence, the abscopal effect in RT

Signaling pathway for phagocyte priming upon encounter with apoptotic cells

The phagocytic elimination of cells undergoing apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved innate immune mechanism for eliminating unnecessary cells. Previous studies showed an increase in the level of engulfment receptors in phagocytes after the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, which leads to the enhancement of their phagocytic activity. However, precise mechanisms underlying this phenomenon require further clarification. We found that the pre-incubation of a Drosophila phagocyte cell line with the fragments of apoptotic cells enhanced the subsequent phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, accompanied by an augmented expression of the engulfment receptors Draper and integrin αPS3. The DNA-binding activity of the transcription repressor Tailless was transiently raised in those phagocytes, depending on two partially overlapping signal-transduction pathways for the induction of phagocytosis as well as the occurrence of engulfment. The RNAi knockdown of tailless in phagocytes abrogated the enhancement of both phagocytosis and engulfment receptor expression. Furthermore, the hemocytespecific RNAi of tailless reduced apoptotic cell clearance in Drosophila embryos. Taken together, we propose the following mechanism for the activation of Drosophila phagocytes after an encounter with apoptotic cells: two partially overlapping signal-transduction pathways for phagocytosis are initiated; transcription repressor Tailless is activated; expression of engulfment receptors is stimulated; and phagocytic activity is enhanced. This phenomenon most likely ensures the phagocytic elimination of apoptotic cells by stimulated phagocytes and is thus considered as a mechanism to prime phagocytes in innate immunity. © 2017 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.Embargo Period 12 month

Humanoid Robot With Turnover Prevention and Self-Weight Compensation

Q-bot is the human-sized carriage robot for lifting heavy weight objects of in-house logistics, such as storehouse and convenience store. The main feature of Q-bot is the adhesion mechanism beneath the foot, called the turnover prevention Universal Vacuum Gripper (in short TP UVG) that holds its body for turnover prevention and self-weight compensation. Turnover prevention is one of the key technologies of in-house logistic robot for effective use of it. Self-weight compensation is another clue for the robot to achieve the labor work in narrow space. TP UVG is achieved both functions by adhering to uneven ground. The other function of Q-bot is multiple objects graspability based on two-sized Universal Vacuum Gripper by dual-armed manipulation. Q-bot also has omnidirectional movability based on mecanum wheels. In this research, we will report on the development of Q-bot and experiments to prevent the robot from falling when it grabs a heavy object while attached to the ground. We also report Q-bot demonstrations of Future Convenience-Store Challenge in the World Robot Summit 2018