介助者の自律駆動規範モデルを用いた介助用車いすの補助動力制御

関西大

Assistive System Based on Autonomous Propelling Model for Attendant Propelled Wheelchairs [論文要旨及び審査の要旨]

関西大

Relationships between vegetation change and geomorphic conditions in suburban forests of Japan: Analysis by means of digital aerial photogrammetry and geographical information systems

金沢大学人間社会研究域人間科学系The relationships between successional vegetation change and geomorphic conditions were analyzed by using a high-resolution digital terrain model (DTM) and a time series of converted digital vegetation maps combined within a geographical information system (GIS). The results of the analysis confirmed that the pattern of vegetation change is a function of geomorphic conditions (measured in terms of spatio-statistical values of various parameters and time series of those values). Current geoecological studies are usually carried out by means of detailed field observations with high spatial resolution, and the results of our study suggest that a GIS can easily deal with such data over a large area and long time period. In the study area, unforested s ites were reforested using Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) as part of the forest rehabilitation work that occurred in the early 1950s. After that, two main patterns of vegetation change from pine forest to deciduous broadleaved forest occurred. In one type, the deciduous broadleaved forest reappeared quickly. In the other, the pine forests remained for a long time. Stands that underwent relatively rapid succession were found on north-facing gentle slopes close to large bodies of water. Stands that did not undergo rapid succession were found on steeper, warmer, and drier slopes (often south-facing slopes farther from bodies of water). The rate of forest succession towards deciduous broadleaved forest is a function of these geomorphic conditions. This suggests that forest succession is influenced by intermediate factors controlling by geomorphic conditions of site, such as soil moisture and soil thickness

Study of interleukin-6 in the spread of colorectal cancer: the diagnostic significance of IL-6.

We investigated the diagnostic significance of IL-6 for lymph node metastasis and/or hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer in 65 patients and evaluated the contributions of 8 factors (IL-6, HGF, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1, ELAM-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1) toward Dukes.s classification of 53 patients. We also examined IL-6 expression in tumor tissue. From the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, an optimal cutoff value of 5.8 pg/ml was determined to classify lymph node and/or hepatic metastasis, and that of 6.3 pg/ml was determined to classify hepatic metastasis. These values indicated sensitivities of 55.0% and 71.4%, and specifi cities of 100% and 88.6%, respectively. IL-6, HGF, and ELAM-1 were very useful for distinguishing among Dukes.s A/B group, C group, and D group. In all cases with high IL-6 values (more than 25.0 pg/ml), immunohistochemical staining was positive for IL-6 in the cytoplasm of cancer cells. IL-6 is strongly suspected to be involved in lymph node and/or hepatic metastasis by promoting it through HGF, and serum IL-6 value (pg/ml) would be useful diagnostically to estimate whether or not there is a high risk of lymph node and/or hepatic metastasis

Effects of the visual environment on object localization in posterior cortical atrophy and typical Alzheimer's disease

Introduction: Visual processing deficits in Alzheimer's disease are associated with diminished functional independence. While environmental adaptations have been proposed to promote independence, recent guidance gives limited consideration to such deficits and offers conflicting recommendations for people with dementia. We evaluated the effects of clutter and color contrasts on performances of everyday actions in posterior cortical atrophy and memory-led typical Alzheimer's disease. Methods: 15 patients with posterior cortical atrophy, 11 with typical Alzheimer's disease and 16 healthy controls were asked to pick up a visible target object as part of two pilot repeated-measures investigations from a standing or seated position. Participants picked up the target within a controlled real-world setting under varying environmental conditions: with/without clutter, with/without color contrast cue and far/near target position. Task completion time was recorded using a target-mounted inertial measurement unit. Results: Across both experiments, difficulties locating a target object were apparent through patient groups taking an estimated 50–90% longer to pick up targets relative to controls. There was no evidence of effects of color contrast when locating objects from standing/seated positions and of any other environmental conditions from a standing position on completion time in any participant group. Locating objects, surrounded by five distractors rather than none, from a seated position was associated with a disproportionately greater effect on completion times in the posterior cortical atrophy group relative to the control or typical Alzheimer's disease groups. Smaller, not statistically significant but directionally consistent, ratios of relative effects were seen for two distractors compared with none. Discussion: Findings are consistent with inefficient object localization in posterior cortical atrophy relative to typical Alzheimer's disease and control groups, particularly with targets presented within reaching distance among visual clutter. Findings may carry implications for considering the adverse effects of visual clutter in developing and implementing environmental modifications to promote functional independence in Alzheimer's disease

Symposium II: Acquirable qualifications at Departments of Geography

金沢大学人間社会研究域人間科学

Detection and localisation of hesitant steps in people with Alzheimer's disease navigating routes of varying complexity.

People with Alzheimer's disease (AD) have characteristic problems navigating everyday environments. While patients may exhibit abnormal gait parameters, adaptive gait irregularities when navigating environments are little explored or understood. The aim of this study was to assess adaptive locomotor responses of AD subjects in a complex environment requiring spatial navigation. A controlled environment of three corridors was set up: straight (I), U-shaped (U) and dog-leg (S). Participants were asked to walk along corridors as part of a counterbalanced repeated-measures design. Three groups were studied: 11 people with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), 10 with typical Alzheimer's disease (tAD) and 13 controls. Spatio-temporal gait parameters and position within the corridors were monitored with shoe-mounted inertial measurement units (IMUs). Hesitant steps were identified from statistical analysis of the distribution of step time data. Walking paths were generated from position data calculated by double integration of IMU acceleration. People with PCA and tAD had similar gait characteristics, having shorter steps and longer step times than controls. Hesitant steps tended to be clustered within certain regions of the walking paths. IMUs enabled identification of key gait characteristics in this clinical population (step time, length and step hesitancy) and environmental conditions (route complexity) modifying their expression

Effects of the visual environment on object localization in posterior cortical atrophy and typical Alzheimer's disease.

INTRODUCTION: Visual processing deficits in Alzheimer's disease are associated with diminished functional independence. While environmental adaptations have been proposed to promote independence, recent guidance gives limited consideration to such deficits and offers conflicting recommendations for people with dementia. We evaluated the effects of clutter and color contrasts on performances of everyday actions in posterior cortical atrophy and memory-led typical Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: 15 patients with posterior cortical atrophy, 11 with typical Alzheimer's disease and 16 healthy controls were asked to pick up a visible target object as part of two pilot repeated-measures investigations from a standing or seated position. Participants picked up the target within a controlled real-world setting under varying environmental conditions: with/without clutter, with/without color contrast cue and far/near target position. Task completion time was recorded using a target-mounted inertial measurement unit. RESULTS: Across both experiments, difficulties locating a target object were apparent through patient groups taking an estimated 50-90% longer to pick up targets relative to controls. There was no evidence of effects of color contrast when locating objects from standing/seated positions and of any other environmental conditions from a standing position on completion time in any participant group. Locating objects, surrounded by five distractors rather than none, from a seated position was associated with a disproportionately greater effect on completion times in the posterior cortical atrophy group relative to the control or typical Alzheimer's disease groups. Smaller, not statistically significant but directionally consistent, ratios of relative effects were seen for two distractors compared with none. DISCUSSION: Findings are consistent with inefficient object localization in posterior cortical atrophy relative to typical Alzheimer's disease and control groups, particularly with targets presented within reaching distance among visual clutter. Findings may carry implications for considering the adverse effects of visual clutter in developing and implementing environmental modifications to promote functional independence in Alzheimer's disease

Navigational cue effects in Alzheimer's disease and posterior cortical atrophy.

OBJECTIVE: Deficits in spatial navigation are characteristic and disabling features of typical Alzheimer's disease (tAD) and posterior cortical atrophy (PCA). Visual cues have been proposed to mitigate such deficits; however, there is currently little empirical evidence for their use. METHODS: The effect of visual cues on visually guided navigation was assessed within a simplified real-world setting in individuals with tAD (n = 10), PCA (n = 8), and healthy controls (n = 12). In a repeated-measures design comprising 36 trials, participants walked to a visible target destination (an open door within a built environment), with or without the presence of an obstacle. Contrast and motion-based cues were evaluated; both aimed to facilitate performance by applying perceptual changes to target destinations without carrying explicit information. The primary outcome was completion time; secondary outcomes were measures of fixation position and walking path directness during consecutive task phases, determined using mobile eyetracking and motion capture methods. RESULTS: Results illustrate marked deficits in patients' navigational ability, with patient groups taking an estimated two to three times longer to reach target destinations than controls and exhibiting tortuous walking paths. There were no significant differences between tAD and PCA task performance. Overall, patients took less time to reach target destinations under cue conditions (contrast-cue: 11.8%; 95% CI: [2.5, 20.3]) and were more likely initially to fixate on targets. INTERPRETATION: The study evaluated navigation to destinations within a real-world environment. There is evidence that introducing perceptual changes to the environment may improve patients' navigational ability