A retrieval method adaptively reducing user’s subjective impression gap

As an approach to search/retrieve such objects as pictures, music, perfumes and apparels on the Internet, sensitivity-vectors or kansei-vectors are useful since textual keywords are not sufficient to find objects that users want. The sensitivity-vector is an array of values. Each value indicates a degree of feeling or impression represented by a sensitivity word or kansei word. However, due to the gap between user??s subjective sensitivity (impression, image and feeling) degree and the corresponding value in the database. Also, such an approach is not enough to retrieve what users want. This paper proposes a retrieval method to automatically and dynamically reduce such gaps by estimating a subjective criterion deviation (we call ??SCD??) using the user??s retrieval history and fuzzy modeling. Additionally, the proposed method can avoid users?? burden caused by conventional methods such as completing required questionnaires. This method can also reflect the dynamic change of user??s preference which cannot be accomplished by using questionnaires. For the evaluation, an experiment was performed by building and using a perfume retrieval system. Through observing the transition of the deviation reduction degree, it was clarified that the proposed method is effective. In the experiment, the machine could learn users?? subjective criteria deviation as well as its dynamic change caused by factors such as user??s preference, if the learning rate is well adjusted.     

Method to assist the building and expression of subjective concepts and its application to design problems

The paper discusses how computers can assist human creativity. A support system has been built and applied to the domain of automobile design. The system uses multidimensional data and statistical methods, and configures a space for inspiring the users' design activity. In the first step, it assists them in forming individual design concepts. In the second step, it assists them in deciding their target design concepts. It has been confirmed that it works effectively through experiments. Some of the open questions on creativity support systems are also discussed.     

Hydrostatic pressure/perfusion culture system designed and validated for engineering tissue

Tissue engineering to replace or repair damaged tissues using three-dimensional cell constructs is a promising approach to promote tissue regeneration de novo. The production of cell constructs is a critical process for maintaining cell viability and phenotypes in vitro prior to surgical treatment. We have developed a novel hydrostatic pressure (HP)/perfusion culture system for three-dimensional cell constructs with application of mechanical stimuli with HP and continuous medium changes. In this study, we tested and validated the performance of this culture system. This systems' performance was stable at a constant HP up to 5 MPa and at a cyclic HP up to 0-5 MPa at 0.5-0.03 Hz. The performance of medium perfusion in the culture chamber showed laminar flow from an inlet into the chamber parallel to the inner walls. Air bubbles on all inner surfaces of the culture chamber caused unstable HP application because air can be compressed with greater ease than water, consequently impacting fluid compression. Air bubbles in a 3D agarose gel model disappeared due to HP over time and the spaces vacated by the air bubbles were replaced with water. Our validated HP/perfusion culture system allows for a well-regulated constant or cyclic HP application in culture medium and can be applied to other 3D tissue culture for engineering tissue.     

On characteristic sets and degrees of finite automata

The characteristic sets and degrees of finite automata are notions used by Biermann for his finite automaton learner. Some fundamental properties and relations of these notions are considered. A necessary and sufficient condition under which his learner converges to an expected automaton is given.     

Theoretical Analysis of Diffuse Reflectance from a Two-Layer Tissue Model

A three-dimensional diffuse reflectance equation for a two-layer tissue model was developed using photon diffusion theory. In this model, tissue was considered to consist of two homogeneous isotropically scattering layers whose scattering and absorption constants were expressed as a linear sum of those of whole blood and a blood-free tissue component; tissue hemoglobin content and oxygen saturation were then expressed in terms of these total tissue parameters. Reflectance predictions given by the two-layer equation were used to investigate the effects of various tissue and system parameters on the partial reflectance from the second tissue layer; among such parameters significantly affecting deep-layer reflectance are the tissues scattering constants, its geometry, and the geometry of the optical transducer. When the penetration depth of the incident photons is small compared with the thickness of the first layer, reflectance contributions from the second layer are negligible, and a single-layer approximation would be adequate; resultant reflectance errors range from 6 to 8 percent of the total reflectance, for source-detector separations in the range from 1 to 4 mm. However, when the photon penetration depth is large with respect to first-layer thickness, the effects of deep layers are both important and strongly dependent on transducer geometry; partial reflectances range to 50 percent of the total when the source-detector separation is 4 mm.     

Cyclin A overexpression in carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter including dysplasia: immunohistochemical findings in relation to prognosis

Several in vitro studies have shown that cyclin A gene alteration in the cell cycle plays an important role in carcinogenesis. We immunohistochemically examined the expression of cyclin A protein in 120 patients with transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the renal pelvis and ureter, including adjacent dysplastic lesions to determine their significance for the tumor behavior and patient prognosis. Cyclin A immunostaining of the nucleus was observed in 29 tumors (24.2%). Furthermore, 17 cyclin A-positive tumors (58.6%) had dysplastic lesions positive for cyclin A antibody. The prevalence of cases exhibiting cyclin A staining was higher in the high grade (P < 0.01) and invasive tumors (P < 0.05) than in the other types of tumors. In the selected 117 cases, patients whose TCCs expressed a high level of cyclin A protein had a significantly poorer prognosis than those without cyclin A expression (P < 0.01). These in vivo findings provide the first evidence for frequent and redundant cyclin A protein overexpression in TCC and suggest that cyclin A overexpression is related to the tumor behavior and patient prognosis. In addition, our observations indicate that overexpression of cyclin A may be one of the early events, at least in some cases, in the carcinogenesis of TCC.     

Plasminogen Kanagawa-I, a novel missense mutation, is caused by the amino acid substitution G732R

A new dysplasminogen, plasminogen Kanagawa-I, was identified in a healthy male with no previous thrombotic episodes. His plasma plasminogen (PLG) activity was 51.4% of that of normal pooled plasma (reference interval 70-130%) and the antigen level was 94.2% of that of normal pooled plasma (reference interval 80-150%). Nucleotide sequencing revealed a heterozygous G to A transition in exon 18, which resulted in an amino acid substitution of G732R. Both the proband's father and paternal grandfather were heterozygous for this mutation. Interestingly, the grandfather was found to be a compound heterozygote for plasminogen Kanagawa-I and Tochigi (A601T), so that his plasminogen activity and antigen level was 7.7% and 87.2% of that of normal pooled plasma, respectively. However, he has never been affected by significant thrombosis.