Development of an epileptic seizure prediction algorithm using R–R intervals with self-attentive autoencoder

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that may affect the autonomic nervous system (ANS) from 15 to 20 min before seizure onset, and disturbances of ANS affect R–R intervals (RRI) on an electrocardiogram (ECG). This study aims to develop a machine learning algorithm for predicting focal epileptic seizures by monitoring R–R interval (RRI) data in real time. The developed algorithm adopts a self-attentive autoencoder (SA-AE), which is a neural network for time-series data. The results of applying the developed seizure prediction algorithm to clinical data demonstrated that it functioned well in most patients; however, false positives (FPs) occurred in specific participants. In a future work, we will investigate the causes of FPs and optimize the developing seizure prediction algorithm to further improve performance using newly added clinical data.

     

Effects of α-tocopherol level in raw venison on lipid oxidation and volatiles during storage

Relationships between α-tocopherol concentration in the muscle and development of lipid oxidation or volatiles in raw venison were studied. Fourteen Japanese Shika Deer (Cervus nippon) were fed various amounts (0–3.0 g of α-tocopheryl acetate per animal) during the different periods (0–37 days) and then M. longissimus thoracium et lumborum (LD muscles) with a range of α-tocopherol concentrations (4.1–15.1 mg/kg tissue) were obtained. For stabilizing the lipid during storage for 11 days under air, over ca. 9 mg of α-tocopherol per kg tissue were required based on levels of 2-thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) numbers. Nine compounds were identified in headspace volatiles, and one of the volatiles was hexanal which has been recognized as off-flavour component. For depressing the hexanal evolution, at least ca. 9 mg of α-tocopherol per kg tissue were also required for 11 days’ storage. This value was much higher than other species. The reasons for higher requirement of α-tocopherol were possibly due to the higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acid and myoglobin in venison.     

Simple plunge freezing applied to plant tissues for capturing the ultrastructure close to the living state

In order to observe the ultrastructure close to the living state, simple plunge freezing in liquid propane was applied to plant tissues. The method yielded a well-preserved ultrastructure to a depth of up to 40 microm from the surface of the young pea leaves, which were used as the specimen. Within the well-frozen area all membranes appeared smooth and the ultrastructural details of each organelle were similar to those obtained by high-pressure freezing. Several physical connections between the membranes were visualized. The relative simplicity and the satisfactory freezing performance of the method render it suitable for capturing the features of actively functioning cells in routine ultrastructural studies.     

Design and evaluation of robot patient for nursing skill training in patient transfer

We developed a robot patient for patient transfer training for simulating a patient’s performance during patient transfer and for enabling nurses to practice their nursing skills on it. To realize the robot patient, we focused on addressing the problems of designing its limb actions to enable it to respond to nurses’ operations. RC servos and electromagnetic brakes were installed in the joints to enable the robot to simulate a patient’s limb actions, such as embracing and remaining standing. To enable the robot to automatically respond to nurses’ operations, an identification method for these operations was developed that used voice commands and the features of the limbs’ posture measured by angle sensors installed in the robot’s joints. The robot patient’s performance was examined by a control test in which four experienced nursing teachers performed patient transfer with the robot patient and a human-simulated patient. The results revealed that the robot patient could successfully simulate the actions of a patient’s limbs according to the nursing teachers’ operations and that it is suitable for nursing skill training.     

Estimation of forest area near deserts — production of Global Bio-Methanol from solar energy

This paper proposes a new synthesis method for methanol as a future alternative fuel, by the combination of carbon supplied from wood and hydrogen supplied from the electrolysis of water using a solar power generation system in the desert. In the developed countries, more than half of the potential forest area has already been converted into other land uses, while existing forests are well organized and available for wood production. In the developing countries, potential forest sites are expected to be available for wood production, even though they are presently grasslands or secondary forests, while natural tropical forests will not be allowed to be converted into artificial forests. The area available for plantations within 500 km distant from deserts was estimated to be 65 Mha in the world, except for the mountain areas. Biomass production from these sites will be converted annually into 980 Mt methanol with hydrogen from the deserts. This amount is equal to 34% of the world's fuel consumption by vehicles.     

X-ray absorption fine structure study on residue bromine in carbons with different degrees of graphitization

The structure of bromine residue compounds was investigated by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) in order to interpret where and how bromine is present in carbons with different degrees of graphitization. The residue compounds can be classified into three groups, as obtained from X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra and the values of the intramolecular distance r_Br–Br determined by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). In Group I, prepared from the host carbons heat treated at temperatures higher than 1900 °C, bromine exists in the interlayer space of graphite in the form of Br₂ molecules with interaction of the π electrons of graphite. In Group III, from carbon heat treated at 1000 °C, most of the bromine probably reacts with carbon atoms having a dangling bond or functional groups. For Group II, where the host carbons are heat treated at intermediate temperatures, it is likely that bromine exists in undeveloped defects with a unique electronic state.     

Enzymatic hydrolysis of water-soluble random copolypeptides

Two component water-soluble random copolypeptides consisting of N-hydroxyethyl L-glutamine and hydrophobic L-amino acids such as L-alanine, L-leucine, L-phenylalanine, or L-valine, were prepared by carrying out aminolysis reactions with 2-amino-1-ethanol (E) on starting copolymers consisting of γ-benzyl L-glutamate (B) and the corresponding hydrophobic L-amino acid. The effects of copolymer composition and sequential distributions, as well as molecular conformations, on the rate of degradation by bromelain in a PECF at pH 7.4 and 37.0°C to simulate in vivo polymer degradation. All the samples were found to be extensively degraded by random chain fracture with bromelain. Further, the degradation data for these samples followed the Michaelis-Menten rate law, being of the first order in papain concentration. The nature of side chains and the molecular conformations are important to the rate of degradation by bromelain.     

Family M42 aminopeptidase from the syntrophic bacterium Symbiobacterium thermophilum: characterization using recombinant protein

The chromosomal DNA of the syntrophic thermophile Symbiobacterium thermophilum contains open reading frames of the genes encoding family M42 aminopeptidases, Pep1079, Pep1080, and Pep1081. To characterize these peptidases, the genes were cloned into Escherichia coli and overexpressed. Our experiments using the recombinant proteins confirmed that Pep1079, Pep1080, and Pep1081 are components of arginyl or lysinyl aminopeptidases that require Co2+ for enzymatic activity. Coexistence of Pep1079 and Pep1080 is necessary for expressing high peptidase activity. Pep1081 enhances the activity of Pep1079 and Pep1080.     

Influence of different feeding systems on the growth performance and muscle development of Japanese Black steers

This study investigated the growth performance and gene expression for muscle development between grass hay-fed (GH) and concentrate-fed (CT) steers. Daily gain and energy intake during the fattening period of the GH group were lower than those of the CT group. Analysis of C/EBPα, PPARγ2, myosin heavy chain (MHC), and myostatin gene expressions was performed by real-time PCR. Expressions of C/EBPα and myostatin in semitendinosus and longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles were higher in the CT group than in the GH group at the end of fattening. In LL muscle, MHC expression at the end of fattening was greater in the GH group than in the CT group. These results suggest that regulation of adipogenesis and myogenesis by the expression of genes involved in muscle development might have occurred in the skeletal muscle of the GH group by the feeding of grass hay and/or because of the low energy intakes.     

Crystalline thin films of β-phase poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene)

The detailed structure of crystalline β-phase poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO) films was studied by polarized optical measurements, transmission electron microscopy, and grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction. Crystalline β-phase PFO thin films were fabricated by a friction transfer technique and subsequent vapor treatment. Compared to the α-phase, the lattice parameters of the β-phase crystals shrank along the a-axis (film thickness direction) and elongated along the b-axis (side-chain direction), but the period along the c-axis (main-chain direction) remained nearly equal. These changes in molecular packing were consistent with a planar conformational change from the α-phase to the β-phase of PFO.