Hybrid negative example selection using visual and conceptual features

An application of Query-By-Example (QBE) is presented where shots that are visually similar to provided example shots are retrieved. To implement QBE, counter-example shots are required to accurately distinguish shots that are relevant to the query from those that are not (Li and Snoek (2009), Yu et al. (2004)). However, there are usually a huge number of shots, not relevant to a particular query, which can serve as counter-example shots. It is difficult for a user to provide counter-example shots that would aid retrieval. Thus, we developed a QBE method based on partially supervised learning where a retrieval model is constructed by selecting counter-example shots from shots without user supervision. To ensure the speed and accuracy of the QBE method, we select a small number of counter-example shots that are visually similar to given example shots but irrelevant to the query. Such shots are useful for characterizing the boundary between relevant and irrelevant shots. For our method, we first filter shots that are visually dissimilar to example shots based on SVMs on a visual feature. Then we filter shots relevant to the query based on concept detection results from pre-constructed classifiers. Shots that pass the above two tests are considered as counter-example shots. Experimental results obtained using TRECVID 2009 video data validate the effectiveness of our method.     

Obstructive jaundice due to multiple hepatic abscesses

A 63-year-old Japanese male with diabetes mellitus developed obstructive jaundice following the onset of multiple hepatic abscesses. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography showed intrahepatic bile duct irregularity and dilatations accompanied by a complete obstruction of the right branch of the intrahepatic bile duct. Three kinds of organisms were cultured from the blood and the drained bile. The cholangiographic changes returned to the normal after the liver abscesses subsided following biliary drainage and the administration of intravenous antibiotics.     

Simultaneous Measurements of an Ultrasound and a Torsional Oscillator for 4He in a Nanoporous Glass

Previously, we carried out ultrasonic measurements for liquid ⁴He filled in a nanoporous glass (Gelsil), and observed an increase in the sound velocity due to decoupling of the superfluid component. At zero pressure, the superfluid transition temperature T _C is suppressed to 1.4 K from the bulk lambda point, 2.17 K. This behavior is the same as torsional oscillator measurements by Yamamoto et al. (Phys. Rev. Lett. 93:075302, 2004). However, the pressure dependence of T _C and the temperature dependence of the superfluid fraction are very different from the torsional oscillator measurements. In order to clarify the origin of the difference, we have developed a new technique of simultaneous measurement of an ultrasound and a torsional oscillator, and the system successfully works for a nanoporous glass. Here, we compare decoupling of the superfluid component for ⁴He films between an ultrasound and a torsional oscillator.     

Lycopodium Spores: A Naturally Manufactured,Superrobust Biomaterial for Drug Delivery

Herein, the exploration of natural plant‐based “spores” for the encapsulation of macromolecules as a drug delivery platform is reported. Benefits of encapsulation with natural “spores” include highly uniform size distribution and materials encapsulation by relatively economical and simple versatile methods. The natural spores possess unique micromeritic properties and an inner cavity for significant macromolecule loading with retention of therapeutic spore constituents. In addition, these natural spores can be used as advanced materials to encapsulate a wide variety of pharmaceutical drugs, chemicals, cosmetics, and food supplements. Here, for the first time a strategy to utilize natural spores as advanced materials is developed to encapsulate macromolecules by three different microencapsulation techniques including passive, compression, and vacuum loading. The natural spore formulations developed by these techniques are extensively characterized with respect to size uniformity, shape, encapsulation efficiency, and localization of macromolecules in the spores. In vitro release profiles of developed spore formulations in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids have also been studied, and alginate coatings to tune the release profile using vacuum‐loaded spores have been explored. These results provide the basis for further exploration into the encapsulation of a wide range of therapeutic molecules in natural plant spores.     

Biodegradations of statistical copolymers composed of D,L‐lactide and cyclic carbonates

Syntheses and biodegradation of statistical copolymers of D ,L ‐lactide (D ,L ‐LA) with trimethylene carbonate (TMC), rac‐1‐methyltrimethylene carbonate (1‐MTMC) and 2,2‐dimethyltrimethylene carbonate (2,2‐DTMC) were investigated at various monomer ratios using SmMe(C₅Me₅)₂THF as an initiator at 80 °C for 24 h in toluene. Biodegradations of poly(D ,L ‐LA‐co‐racemo‐1‐MTMC) (95/5) and poly(D ,L ‐LA‐co‐2,2‐DTMC) (98/2) with a compost at 60 °C proceed rapidly. Enzymatic degradations of these polymers were also performed using cholesterol esterase, lipoprotein lipase and proteinase K. Only poly(D ,L ‐LA‐co‐TMC) was biodegraded with cholesterol esterase, while poly(TMC), poly(1‐MTMC), poly(2,2‐DTMC) and poly(D ,L ‐LA) were barely degraded with these enzymes. Biodegradations of poly(D ,L ‐LA‐co‐TMC) (87/13) and poly(D ,L ‐LA‐co‐racemo‐1‐MTMC) (95/5) are rapid using proteinase K. Physical properties of these copolymers were also described. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry     

Instantaneous control method with a GTO converter for active andreactive powers in superconducting magnetic energy storage

A new type of GPG (gate pulse generator) is presented to give GTO power converters quick response firing angle control and PWM control functions. Using the GPG, an instantaneous control method of active and reactive powers for an SMES (superconducting magnetic energy storage) employing one GTO converter is studied     

Anomalous Response of 4He Confined in Nanoporous Media to Torsional Oscillation

The existence of “Non-Classical Rotational Inertia (NCRI)” in solid ⁴He below 0.2?K has been controversial and interpreted by a number of different theories. We report on torsional oscillator measurements for ⁴He in a nanoporous Gelsil glass, which has a network of nanopores with 3.5?nm in diameter. In addition to the usual “low-T NCRI” with an onset temperature 0.15?K, we find a larger decrease in rotational moment of inertia in a broad range of temperature from 0.2 to 1.9?K. This “high-T inertial anomaly” is accompanied with multiple dissipation peaks, but has no dependence on torsional oscillation velocity unlike the low-T NCRI. Since the high-T anomaly is observed also in confined liquid states, it originates in amorphous solid ⁴He layer near the pore wall. Our result shows that different types of supersolid—like phenomena, i.e. inertial anomalies, can coexist in a single ⁴He sample, even with genuine superfluidity of liquid ⁴He.     

Reaction of NO with urea supported on activated carbons

Reaction of NO in air with urea supported on activated carbons (AC) was examined in the range of 100–1000 ppm NO at room temperature to establish a basic scheme for its reduction in open atmosphere. NO in atmosphere containing O₂ was found to be selectively reduced with urea supported on AC at the W/F of 2.5×10⁻³ to 1.5×10⁻³ ACF g min/ml and its reduction continued until the complete consumption of urea. The reduction of NO with urea supported on AC appears to proceed through the following steps.

NO₂+NO+(NH₂)₂CO→2N₂+CO₂+H₂O

Combining (1) and (2) steps results in the followed reaction equation.

Since (1) is rate determining, high NO oxidation activity is essential for AC to be active for the reaction. At the same time, activation of urea by AC is also necessary to reduce NO₂. The present scheme for NO reduction with urea on the AC is very effective to remove NO_x in the open atmosphere under ambient conditions.