A category theoretic approach to metaphor comprehension: Theory of indeterminate natural transformation.

We propose the theory of indeterminate natural transformation (TINT) to investigate the dynamical creation of meaning as an association relationship between images, focusing on metaphor comprehension as an example. TINT models meaning creation as a type of stochastic process based on mathematical structure and defined by association relationships, such as morphisms in category theory, to represent the indeterminate nature of structure-structure interactions between the systems of image meanings. Such interactions are formulated in terms of the so-called coslice categories and functors as structure-preserving correspondences between them.

Establishment of a novel miniature veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation model in the rat.

Recently, veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) has been commonly used in the world to support patients with severe respiratory failure. However, V-V ECMO is a new technology compared to veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and cardiopulmonary bypass, and there are few reports of basic research. Although continuing research is desired, clinical research that standardizes conditions such as patients' background characteristics is difficult.

Quantitative analysis of the anatomical changes in the scalp and hair follicles in androgenetic alopecia using magnetic resonance imaging.

Background: Although the structural changes of the scalp in androgenetic alopecia (AGA) have been reported, these changes have been poorly understood. It is expected that modern MRI would visualize the scalp anatomy in vivo. This study aimed to explore whether AGA causes (a) changes in the thickness of the scalp, (b) anatomical changes in the hair follicles, and (c) changes in the signal intensity of MRI.

Reconstructing feminist perspectives of women's bodies using a globalized view: The changing surrogacy market in Japan.

This paper aims to evoke an alternative viewpoint on surrogacy, moving beyond popular Western feminist beliefs on the practice, by introducing the history and current context of East Asian surrogacy. To elaborate a different cultural perspective on surrogacy, this paper first introduces the East Asian history of contract pregnancy systems, prior to the emergence of the American invention of 'modern' surrogacy practice. Then, it examines Japanese mass media portrayals of cross-border surrogacy in which white women have become 'convenient' entities.

Neurobiological influence of comorbid conditions in young patients diagnosed with gaming disorder: A whole-brain functional connectivity study based on a data driven method.

Gaming disorder, which is characterized by multiple cognitive and behavioral symptoms, often has comorbid psychiatric conditions such as depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Neurobiological effects of the comorbid disorders so far reported are not converging, exhibiting positive and negative alterations of the connectivity in brain networks. In this study, we conducted resting-state functional magnetic-resonance imaging and whole brain functional connectivity analyses for young participants consisting of 40 patients diagnosed with the gaming disorder, with and without comorbid conditions, and 29 healthy controls.

A new method of Bayesian causal inference in non-stationary environments.

Bayesian inference is the process of narrowing down the hypotheses (causes) to the one that best explains the observational data (effects). To accurately estimate a cause, a considerable amount of data is required to be observed for as long as possible. However, the object of inference is not always constant.

MR Imaging of Hair and Scalp for the Evaluation of Androgenetic Alopecia.

Purpose: Although androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common cause of hair loss, little is known regarding the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the AGA or scalp. This study aimed to analyze whether MRI for hair and scalp (MRH) can evaluate anatomical changes in the scalp caused by AGA.

Methods: Twenty-seven volunteers were graded for the severity of AGA using the Hamilton-Norwood Scale (HNS), commonly used classification system.

Augmentation of Neurotoxicity of Anticancer Drugs by X-Ray Irradiation.

Background: In order to investigate the combination effect of anticancer drugs and X-ray irradiation on neurotoxic side-effects (neurotoxicity), a method that provides homogeneously X-ray-irradiated cells was newly established.

Materials And Methods: PC12 cell suspension was irradiated by X-ray (0.5 Gy) in serum-supplemented medium, immediately inoculated into 96-microwell plates and incubated overnight.

A Novel Analog Front End with Voltage-Dependent Input Impedance and Bandpass Amplification for Capacitive Biopotential Measurements.

This paper proposes a novel analogue front end (AFE) that has three features: voltage-dependent input impedance, bandpass amplification, and stray capacitance reduction. With a view to applying the AFE to capacitive biopotential measurements (CBMs), the three features were investigated separately in a schematic and mathematical manner. Capacitive electrocardiogram (cECG) or capacitive electromyogram (cEMG) measurements using the AFE were performed in low-humidity conditions (below 35% relative humidity) for a total of seven human subjects.

Magnetic resonance elastography of the supraspinatus muscle: A preliminary study on test-retest repeatability and wave quality with different frequencies and image filtering.

The purpose of this study was to determine an optimal condition (vibration frequency and image filtering) for stiffness estimation with high accuracy and stiffness measurement with high repeatability in magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) of the supraspinatus muscle. Nine healthy volunteers underwent two MRE exams separated by at least a 30 min break, on the same day. MRE acquisitions were performed with a gradient-echo type multi-echo MR sequence at 75, 100, and 125 Hz pneumatic vibration.

Update of the GRIP web service.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can form homodimers, heterodimers, or higher-order molecular complexes (oligomers). The reports on the change of functions through the oligomerization have been accumulated. Inhibition of GPCR oligomerization without affecting the protomer's overall structure would clarify the oligomer-specific functions although inhibition experiments are costly and require accurate information about the interface location.

Cell death induction by extract is independent of mitochondria and dependent on Caspase-7.

traditional Chinese medicine with an anticancer effect, but its underlying mechanism is unknown. In this study, we demonstrated by MTT assay that ethyl acetate extract (RTE) from exerts cytotoxic effects on human T cell lymphoma Jurkat cells. Then, to test the apoptosis induction ability of RTE to induce apoptosis, we analyzed phosphatidylserine exposure, DNA fragmentation, and caspase cleavage.

Improved Practical Algorithms for Rooted Subtree Prune and Regraft (rSPR) Distance and Hybridization Number.

The problem of computing the rooted subtree prune and regraft (rSPR) distance of two phylogenetic trees is computationally hard and so is the problem of computing the hybridization number of two phylogenetic trees (denoted by Hybridization Number Computation [HNC]). Since they are important problems in phylogenetics, they have been studied extensively in the literature. Indeed, quite a number of exact or approximation algorithms have been designed and implemented for them.

Extended Bayesian inference incorporating symmetry bias.

We start by proposing a causal induction model that incorporates symmetry bias. This model has two parameters that control the strength of symmetry bias and includes conditional probability and conventional models of causal induction as special cases. We calculated the determination coefficients between assessments by participants in eight types of causal induction experiments and the estimated values using the proposed model.

Reconstructing bifurcation diagrams only from time-series data generated by electronic circuits in discrete-time dynamical systems.

Bifurcation-diagram reconstruction estimates various attractors of a system without observing all of them but only from observing several attractors with different parameter values. Therefore, the bifurcation-diagram reconstruction can be used to investigate how attractors change with the parameter values, especially for real-world engineering and physical systems for which only a limited number of attractors can be observed. Although bifurcation diagrams of various systems have been reconstructed from time-series data generated in numerical experiments, the systems that have been targeted for reconstructing bifurcation diagrams from time series measured from physical phenomena so far have only been continuous-time dynamical systems.

Up-conversion superfluorescence induced by abrupt truncation of coherent field and plasmonic nanocavity.

We theoretically propose a new method for generating up-converted coherent light from two-level systems (TLSs) coupled with a plasmonic nanocavity. The emission spectrum of a TLS excited by a strong laser exhibits a triplet structure called the Mollow triplet. If the lower Mollow sideband is tuned to the cavity mode energy, population inversion of a TLS occurs.

Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve improves intestinal blood flow after trauma and hemorrhagic shock.

Background: Gut damage after trauma/hemorrhagic shock contributes to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Electrical vagal nerve stimulation is known to prevent gut damage in animal models of trauma/hemorrhagic shock by altering the gut inflammatory response; however, the effect of vagal nerve stimulation on intestinal blood flow, which is an essential function of the vagus nerve, is unknown. This study aimed to determine whether vagal nerve stimulation influences the abdominal vagus nerve activity, intestinal blood flow, gut injury, and the levels of autonomic neuropeptides.

Active View and Passive View in Virtual Reality Have Different Impacts on Memory and Impression.

Virtual reality (VR) through a head-mounted display (HMD) can provide new experiences. However, it remains unclear how the characteristics of HMDs affect users' memory. To use HMDs more effectively and appropriately in several applied fields, including education, it is necessary to clarify what characteristics of HMDs affect users' memory.

Analysis of Pressure Distribution in Transfemoral Prosthetic Socket for Prefabrication Evaluation via the Finite Element Method.

In this study, we estimated and validated the pressure distribution profile between the residuum and two types of prosthetic sockets for transfemoral amputees by utilizing a finite element analysis. Correct shaping of the socket for an appropriate load distribution is a critical process in the design of lower-limb prosthesis sockets. The pressure distribution profile provides an understanding of the relationship between the socket design and the level of subject comfortability.

Computing a Consensus Phylogeny via Leaf Removal.

[Formula: see text]

Nanosize Cation-Disordered Rocksalt Oxides: Na TiO -NaMnO Binary System.

To realize the development of rechargeable sodium batteries, new positive electrode materials without less abundant elements are explored. Enrichment of sodium contents in host structures is required to increase the theoretical capacity as electrode materials, and therefore Na-excess compounds are systematically examined in a binary system of Na TiO -NaMnO . After several trials, synthesis of Na-excess compounds with a cation disordered rocksalt structure is successful by adapting a mechanical milling method.

A new technique for motion encoding gradient-less MR elastography of the psoas major muscle: A gradient-echo type multi-echo sequence.

The present study aimed to develop vibration techniques for magnetic resonance (MR) elastography (MRE) of the psoas major muscle (PM). Seven healthy volunteers were included. MRE was performed with motion-encoding gradient (MEG)-less multi-echo MRE sequence, which allows clinicians to perform MRE using conventional MR imaging.

A valve powered by earthworm muscle with both electrical and 100% chemical control.

Development of bio-microactuators combining microdevices and cellular mechanical functions has been an active research field owing to their desirable properties including high mechanical integrity and biocompatibility. Although various types of devices were reported, the use of as-is natural muscle tissue should be more effective. An earthworm muscle-driven valve has been created.

Modeling evaporative emissions from parked gasoline cars based on vehicle carbon canister experiments.

A time-step model was constructed to estimate the amount of evaporative emissions from vehicular diurnal breathing loss (DBL) on the basis of fuel adsorption-desorption experiments for several carbon canisters attached to seven gasoline vehicles using a chassis dynamometer. Experimental results showed that the canister's total volatile organic compound (VOC) storage ability is proportional to the canister volume, and a canister's desorption ability strongly depends on the amount of VOC trapped in the canister and the air purge flow rate of each vehicle. These properties were formulated into equations by regression analysis and used with the material balance inside the canister to propose a model for estimating emissions after carbon canister breakthrough, which are a function of a vehicle's driving and parking frequency.