A Constructive Model of Mother-Infant Interaction towards Infant’s Vowel Articulation

Human infants seem to develop to acquire common phonemes to adults without the capability to articulate or any explicit knowledge. To understand such unrevealed human cognitive development, building a robot which reproduces such a developmental process seems effective. It will also contribute to a design principle for a robot that can communicate with human beings. This paper hypothesizes that the caregiver’s parrotry to the coo of the robot plays an important role in the phoneme acquisition process based on the implication from behavioral studies, and propose a constructive model for it. We validate the proposed model by examining whether a real robot can acquire Japanese vowels through interactions with its caregiver

Detrimental effect of anemia after mechanical thrombectomy on functional outcome in patients with ischemic stroke

BackgroundAnemia can occur due to an aspiration maneuver of blood with thrombi during mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for stroke. However, the association between postoperative anemia and stroke outcomes is unknown.MethodsIn a registry-based hospital cohort, consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent MT were retrospectively recruited. Patients were divided into the following three groups according to their hemoglobin (Hb) concentrations within 24 h after MT; no anemia (Hb concentrations ≥13 g/dL for men and ≥ 12 g/dL for women), mild anemia (Hb concentrations of 11–13 g/dL and 10–12 g/dL, respectively), and moderate-to-severe anemia (Hb concentrations <11 g/dL and < 10 g/dL, respectively). A 3-month modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 indicated a favorable outcome.ResultsOf 470 patients, 166 were classified into the no anemia group, 168 into the mild anemia group, and 136 into the moderate-to-severe anemia group. Patients in the moderate-to-severe anemia group were older and more commonly had congestive heart failure than those in the other groups. Patients in the moderate-to-severe anemia group also had more device passes than those in the other groups (p < 0.001). However, no difference was observed in the rate of final extended thrombolysis in cerebral infarction ≥2b reperfusion or intracranial hemorrhage among the groups. A favorable outcome was less frequently achieved in the moderate-to-severe anemia group than in the no anemia group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.26–0.81) independent of the baseline Hb concentration. A restricted cubic spline model with three knots showed that the adjusted odds ratio for a favorable outcome was lower in patients with lower Hb concentrations within 24 h after MT.ConclusionModerate-to-severe anemia within 24 h after MT is independently associated with a reduced likelihood of a favorable outcome.Clinical trial registrationhttps://www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02251665

A constructive model of mother-infant interaction towards infant’s vowel acquisition. Connection Science (this special issue

Human infants seem to develop to acquire common phonemes to adults without the capability to articulate or any explicit knowledge. To understand such unrevealed human cognitive development, building a robot which reproduces such a developmental process seems effective. It will also contribute to a design principle for a robot that can communicate with human beings. This paper hypothesizes that the caregiver’s parrotry to the coo of the robot plays an important role in the phoneme acquisition process based on the implication from behavioral studies, and propose a constructive model for it. We validate the proposed model by examining whether a real robot can acquire Japanese vowels through interactions with its caregiver. 1

Exclusion of Impurity Particles during Grain Growth in Charged Colloidal Crystals

We examine the spatial distribution of fluorescent-labeled charged polystyrene (PS) particles (particle volume fraction ϕ = 0.0001 and 0.001, diameter <i>d</i> = 183 and 333 nm) added to colloidal crystals of charged silica particles (ϕ = ϕ_s = 0.035–0.05, <i>d</i> = 118 nm). At ϕ_s = 0.05, the PS particles were almost randomly distributed in the volume-filling polycrystal structures before the grain growth process. Time-resolved confocal laser scanning microscopy observations reveal that the PS particles are swept to the grain boundaries of the colloidal silica crystals owing to grain boundary migration. PS particles with <i>d</i> = 2420 nm are not excluded from the silica crystals. We also examine influences of the impurities on the grain growth laws, such as the power law growth, size distribution, and existence of a time-independent distribution function of the scaled grain size

Abstract Number ‐ 209: Short‐ and long‐term outcomes of mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients with active cancer

Introduction We aim to investigate the difference in mechanical thrombectomy (MT) outcome for cancer‐related stroke (CRS) with active and inactive cancer. Methods Of the consecutive acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients admitted to our institute from 2010 to 2021, patients with cancer who received MT within 24 hours of onset and were enrolled.Outcomes including the favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2) at3 months, 1‐year,and death within 3 months or 1‐yearwere assessed between patients with active and inactive cancer among patients with cancer. The rate offirst pass effect (FPE, extendedThrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction[eTICI] 2c/3 after first pass) and final eTICI 2c/3 achievement were also assessed. Active cancer was defined as a cancer that was diagnosed within 6 months; required chemotherapy or surgical treatment within 6 months; or was recurrent, metastatic, or inoperable. Results Of 59 patients (26 women; median age, 80 years; median NIH Stroke Scale score[NIHSS] 17), 19 (32.2%) patients had an active cancer. Patients with active cancer has less atrial fibrillation (47% vs. 78%,P< 0.01) and higher medianD‐dimer(4.60μg/mLvs. 2.00μg/mL,P< 0.01). There were no significant differences in the favorable outcome at 3 months (26% vs. 45%,P = 0.26) and at 1 year (26% vs. 45%,P = 0.26) between both groups, but death within 3 months (32% vs. 5%,P< 0.01) and within 1 year (42% vs. 8%,P< 0.01) were more frequent in patients with active cancer than those with inactive cancer. Conclusions Long‐term clinical outcomes of patients with active cancer were worse than those with inactive cancer

Mechanical Thrombectomy Beyond 2b Reperfusion: Should We Pursue a Higher Reperfusion Grade after Achievement of 2b?

Background Extended thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (eTICI) 2c/3 reperfusion after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is associated with better stroke outcomes than eTICI 2b. Whether additional MT attempt after achieving eTICI 2b (beyond 2b attempt) leads to better outcomes is unknown. Methods Consecutive patients with acute anterior circulation stroke who achieved eTICI 2b during MT were divided into 2 groups: those who further tried MT (beyond‐2b group) and those without (nonbeyond‐2b group). The patients who directly achieved eTICI 2c/3 without experiencing 2b (direct‐2c/3 group) were also studied. The outcomes included the reperfusion status, favorable outcome (3‐month modified Rankin scale score of 0–2), neurological improvement (a ≥10‐point decrease of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score from baseline or the score of 0) at 24 hours and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Results Of 308 patients, 50 were in the beyond‐2b group, 87 in the nonbeyond‐2b group, and the remaining 171 in the direct‐2c/3 group. Perfusion of middle cerebral artery branches supplying the primary motor cortex was worse in the beyond‐2b than the nonbeyond‐2b group at the time of eTICI 2b (P=0.007). Favorable outcome was similarly common (48% for each, P=0.40). Neurological improvement was more frequent (52% versus 37%; P=0.04) and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage tended to be more common (6% versus 1%, P=0.11) in the beyond‐2b than the nonbeyond‐2b group. Eighteen patients (36%) in the beyond‐2b group finally achieved eTICI 2c/3; 10 of these (56%) and 14 of the remaining 32 (44%) had favorable outcome (P=0.83). The former rate was similar to that in the direct‐2c/3 group (58%; P=0.99). Conclusions Patients undergoing additional MT attempt after achieving eTICI 2b had numerically but not significantly more symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and showed a similar level of functional outcome at 3 months than those who did not. When eTICI 2c/3 was finally achieved by additional attempts, functional outcome was similar with that of patients who directly achieved eTICI 2c/3 without experiencing 2b. Clinical Trial Registration Information URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02251665

Ablation of Selenbp1 Alters Lipid Metabolism via the Pparα Pathway in Mouse Kidney

Selenium-binding protein 1 (Selenbp1) is a 2,3,7,8-tetrechlorodibenzo-p-dioxin inducible protein whose function is yet to be comprehensively elucidated. As the highly homologous isoform, Selenbp2, is expressed at low levels in the kidney, it is worthwhile comparing wild-type C57BL mice and Selenbp1-deficient mice under dioxin-free conditions. Accordingly, we conducted a mouse metabolomics analysis under non-dioxin-treated conditions. DNA microarray analysis was performed based on observed changes in lipid metabolism-related factors. The results showed fluctuations in the expression of numerous genes. Real-time RT-PCR confirmed the decreased expression levels of the cytochrome P450 4a (Cyp4a) subfamily, known to be involved in fatty acid ω- and ω-1 hydroxylation. Furthermore, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (Pparα) and retinoid-X-receptor-α (Rxrα), which form a heterodimer with Pparα to promote gene expression, were simultaneously reduced. This indicated that reduced Cyp4a expression was mediated via decreased Pparα and Rxrα. In line with this finding, increased levels of leukotrienes and prostaglandins were detected. Conversely, decreased hydrogen peroxide levels and reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity supported the suppression of the renal expression of Sod1 and Sod2 in Selenbp1-deficient mice. Therefore, we infer that ablation of Selenbp1 elicits oxidative stress caused by increased levels of superoxide anions, which alters lipid metabolism via the Pparα pathway

A scoring evaluation for the practical introduction of guideline‐directed medical therapy in heart failure patients

Abstract Aims The guideline‐directed medical therapy (GDMT) has been recommended for heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) based on the accumulating clinical evidence. However, it is difficult to implement all the trial‐proven medications for every patient in the real world. Methods and results A simple GDMT score was created, according to the combination of GDMT drugs (renin–angiotensin system inhibitors, beta‐blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and sodium–glucose transporter 2 inhibitors) administration and their dosage (0–9 points). Its impact on the prognosis of HF patients was investigated. Admitted HF patients [HFrEF and HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), n = 1054] were retrospectively analysed (excluding those with in‐hospital death and dialysis). A simple GDMT score ≥5, but not the number of medications, was significantly associated with a reduction of all‐cause death, HF readmission, and composite outcome (HF readmission and all‐cause death) (P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that almost all groups with a simple GDMT score of 5 or higher had a better prognosis. Conclusions The developed simple GDMT score was associated with prognosis in HFrEF and HFmrEF patients. Even if all four drugs cannot be introduced for some reason, a regimen with a simple GDMT score ≥5 may lead to a prognosis in HF patients