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For square contingency tables with ordered categories, there may be some cases that one wants to analyze them by considering collapsed tables with some adjacent categories combined in the original table. This paper proposes three kinds of new models which have the structure of point-symmetry (PS), quasi point-symmetry and marginal point-symmetry for collapsed square tables. This paper also gives a decomposition of the PS model for collapsed square tables. The father's and his daughter's occupational mobility data are analyzed using new models.

Graphical route information panels (GRIPs) have been commonly used on expressways in Japan to provide drivers with en-route traffic information. Although GRIPs have many advantages over variable message signs (VMSs), too much information and too complex displays may prevent drivers from properly understanding of the provided information. This study proposes advanced GRIPs in which LED displays showing pictograms and moving symbols are installed to assist drivers’ comprehension. The following results were obtained from an online survey conducted to investigate the impact of LED displays: (i) pictograms and moving symbols are helpful to most drivers to correctly understand the event information on GRIPs, but at the same time, they prevent drivers from understanding the travel time information; (ii) in terms of drivers’ comprehension there is a possibility to provide information about natural events (fog and tidal wave) by displaying pictograms or moving symbols on GRIPs.

For square contingency tables with ordered categories, the present paper gives several theorems that the symmetry model holds if and only if the generalized linear diagonals-parameter symmetry model for cell probabilities and for cumulative probabilities and the mean nonequality model of row and column variables hold. It also shows the orthogonality of statistic for testing goodness-of-fit of the symmetry model. An example is given.

For square contingency tables with ordered categories, we decompose the symmetry model into three models; i.e., the palindromic symmetry, the marginal means equality, and the cumulative subsymmetry models. The palindromic symmetry model is also decomposed into the generalized palindromic symmetry and the extended marginal homogeneity models. The decompositions are applied to the unaided vision data.

Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI) is a potentially fatal vascular emergency, and several computed tomographic (CT) findings have been introduced to determine the presence of intestinal ischemia or necrosis, although the most useful finding is unknown.We retrospectively analyzed data of 43 consecutive patients with AMI who were treated during the period from 2006 to 2015. Study patients included both superior mesenteric artery dissection (n = 29) and thrombosis (SMAT, n = 14). Epidemiological data, CT findings, and the primary end point defined as the composite of intestinal ischemia or necrosis based on surgical finding and in-hospital mortality were investigated. The classification and regression tree was used to assess determinants of the primary end point, and area under the curve of receiver operating characteristics was used to evaluate discriminating accuracy.In total, the primary end point occurred in 27.9% (0.0% in superior mesenteric artery dissection and 85.7% in SMAT). Classification and regression tree demonstrated that the baseline disease was the only and strong determinant of the primary outcome (P.001), which was also confirmed by the highest area under the curve of 0.968 (95% confidence interval, 0.924-1.000).The baseline disease rather than CT findings is the most important determinant of the primary end point. In patients with AMI, SMAT should undergo exploratory surgery and subsequent surgical treatment without delay.

Abtsrcat For the square contingency tables with ordered categories, there may be some cases that one wants to analyze them by considering collapsed tables with some adjacent categories combined in the original table. This paper considers some symmetry models for collapsed square contingency tables and proposes two new models which have the structure of global symmetry and that of quasi-symmetry for the collapsed square tables. Also this paper gives two kinds of decompositions of the symmetry model for collapsed square tables. The new models and decompositions are useful for analyzing the collapsed square tables. Examples are given.

Problem statement: First, this study considers how the structure of symmetry for probabilities is decomposed into two structures. Secondly, this study infers the structure of unknown probabilities which indicates how the right eye is better (or worse) than the left eye for three kinds of data on unaided distance vision of (1) women in Britain, (2) students in an university of Japan and (3) pupils in elementary schools in Tokyo, Japan. This study proposes a new decomposition of symmetry model for probabilities and analyzes these vision data using the decomposition. Approach: This study considers a new decomposition theorem that for the probabilities the symmetry model (indicates that the right eye vision is symmetric to the left eye vision) holds. Also this study analyzes the vision data using this decomposition. Results: From the statistical approach, we can see that (1) for the vision data of women, the right eye is better than the left eye and the mean of right eye is not equal to the mean of left eye, (2) for the vision data of students, the right eye is worse than the left eye and the mean of right eye is not equal to the mean of left eye and (3) for the vision data of pupils, the right eye is symmetric to the left eye and the mean of right eye is equal to the mean of left eye. Conclusion: When the symmetry model fits the data poorly, this new decomposition is useful for seeing which of decomposed two models influences stronger. We can see the structure of asymmetry for vision data in more details.

Problem statement: For square contingency tables with ordered categories, this study considers four kinds of extensions of the marginal homogeneity model and gives decompositions for the ordinal quasi-symmetry model. The decompositions are extensions of some existing decompositions. Approach: This study gives a decomposition theorem that the ordinal quasi-symmetry model holds if and only if the quasi-symmetry model and the proposed weighted marginal homogeneity model hold. An example is given. Results: For the data of cross-classification of father's and his son's occupational status in Denmark, the decomposition of the ordinal quasi-symmetry model is applied and the detailed analysis is given. Conclusion: When the ordinal quasi-symmetry model fits the data poorly, this decomposition is useful for seeing which of decomposed two models influences stronger.

For two-way contingency tables with a nominal explanatory and an ordinal response variables, the present paper proposes a proportional reduction in error measure, which describes the relative decrease in the probability of making an error in predicting the value of the response variable when the value of the explanatory variable is known, as opposed to when it is not known. The measure depends on the order of listing the response categories. Examples are shown.

We propose a method for presenting visual stimuli to change a driver's sensation of speed on a freeway: utilizing vection, one of the perceptual properties needed for self-motion and show that this method can be used on a freeway with CG simulation movies. Furthermore we investigated the relationship between the velocity of vection-inducing stimuli and the sensation of speed. Our study consists of three experiments. In all experiments, the simulated freeway 3D movies were presented on a wide hemisphere screen and the magnitude of the observer's sensation of speed was measured. Vection-inducing stimuli were produced by flickering in the boards on both sides of the freeway. This flickering yielded apparent motion. We set the speed of the vection-inducing stimuli and that of the driver's car as experimental variables. The observer compared two movies consecutively presented with different conditions and selected the one that gave a sensation of faster speed. The observer's sensation of speed increased linearly with the speed of vection-inducing stimuli. Our study suggests that controlling the speed of vection-inducing stimuli could enable the driver's sensation of speed to be manipulated in real freeways.

Problem statement: For 2×2×K contingency tables, the measure is considered to represent the degree of departure from a log-linear model of No Three-Factor Interaction (NOTFI). We are interested in considering a similar measure for general I×J×K contingency tables. Approach: The present study proposed a measure to represent the degree of departure from the NOTFI model for I×J×K contingency tables. Also the approximate confidence interval for the proposed measure is given. Results: The proposed measure was applied and analyzed (1) for a 3×4×4 cross-classification data of dumping severity, hospital and operation which treat duodenal ulcer patients corresponding to removal of various amounts of the stomach and (2) for a 2×3×4 cross-classification data of experiment of animals (mouse and rat) on cancer (the tumor of leukemia and lymphoma) and tolazamide. Conclusion: The proposed measure is useful for comparing the degrees of departure from the NOTFI model in several tables.

For the analysis of square contingency tables with the same row and column ordinal classifications, this article proposes a new model, which may be appropriate for a square ordinal table if it is reasonable to assume an underlying bivariate t-distribution with equal marginal variances having any degrees of freedom. The proposed model indicates that the difference between the symmetric two probabilities raised to the power is proportional to the distance from the main diagonal of the table. The model is an extension of the symmetry model. An example is given. The simulation studies based on bivariate t-distribution are given.

The method of image processing has increased along with the workstation in recent years and developments in the software of each modality. Maximum intensity projection (MIP) and volume rendering (VR) are among the general processing methods used. However, MIP and VR have their respective limitations. MIP does not have in-depth information, and in VR the final image depends on threshold processing. In comparison with MIP/VR, Weighted MIP can obtain in-depth information. The processing method is also easy and is used in the pre-operative simulation of neurosurgical craniotomy. In this study, we examined the effect of Weighted MIP on a phantom and in 7 cases of skull fracture by using multi-detector-row computed tomography. In the phantom study, Weighted MIP provided three-dimensional imaging in all the processing methods for skull fractures. Weighted MIP depicted the entire fracture line in a clinical study, and it was effective in all of the 7 skull fracture cases. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that Weighted MIP with depth information was effective in the fracture line detection of skull fracture.

For square contingency tables, Tomizawa (1994), Tomizawa, Seo and Yamamoto (1998) and Tomizawa, Miyamoto and Hatanaka (2001) considered the power-divergence-type measures to represent the degree of departure from symmetry. These measures lie between 0 and 1, and have a characteristic that the degree of departure from symmetry is the minimum when the symmetry holds and the maximum when one of the probabilities in any two symmetric cells is zero. This paper proposes the generalization of these measures so that the degree of departure from symmetry can attain the maximum value 1 even when each of cell probabilities is not zero. Two kinds of measures are proposed. One is applied to the nominal data and the other is applied to the ordinal data. These measures would be useful for representing the degree of departure from symmetry when each of cell probabilities is not zero.

For the analysis of square contingency tables with ordered categories, Agresti (1983) considered the linear diagonals-parameter symmetry (LDPS) model being an extension of the symmetry (S) model, which may be appropriate for a square ordinal table if it is reasonable to assume an underlying bivariate normal distribution with equal marginal variances. This paper proposes another extension of the S model which may be appropriate for a square ordinal table if it is reasonable to assume an underlying e-contaminated bivariate normal distribution with equal marginal variances included in the class of elliptical distributions. The proposed model has a structure of weighted mixture of two LDPS models. Moreover, this paper gives a theorem that the S model holds if and only if both the proposed model and the marginal means equality model hold. The simulation studies based on the e-contaminated bivariate normal distribution are given.

本研究では，機能部と構造部で構成される複合的道路付帯施設の最適補修政策について考察する．機能部の劣化状態は，故障の有無という2値変数で記述される．一方，構造部の劣化状態は複数の健全度で記述される．このような複合施設の維持補修では，予防修繕による構造部の長寿命化政策だけでなく，機能部の同時取替，構造部と機能部の取替のタイミングの同期化政策が重要となる．そこで，構造部と機能部の劣化過程を非斉次マルコフ連鎖モデルで表現するとともに，補修政策と取替タイミングの同期化政策を求める最適補修同期化モデルを定式化し，多数の道路付帯施設で構成されるシステム全体の点検・補修間隔を最適化する方法論を提案する．さらに，道路付帯施設の中から消火施設をとりあげ，最適補修同期化モデルの有効性を実証的に検証する．

In this paper, a covariance structure model and contingent valuation method (CVM) are presented to analysis the benefit evaluation and prioritization of renewal works of rest facilities on expressway. This study proposed a methodology to valuate the optional functions and the benefits demanded from rest facilities on expressway using a covariance structure model and CVM. Some basic functions as a washroom and the optional functions are expressed as structure concepts, and the relationship between observed variables, which are obtained by questionnaire survey to user, and structural concepts. As a result, the preference in the washroom in each rest facility corresponding to user's characteristic was calculated by clarifying the user needs for the washroom in the rest facility. In addition, the structural concepts are used as explanatory variables of utility function and the benefit of the function improvement of the rest facility was measured from the WTP of the user who acquired it by the questionnaire survey. The practical availability of the methodology presented in this paper is investigated by a case study dealing with the washroom renewal in rest facilities in expressway.

Infrastructure facilities perform multifaceted functions and have a wide variety of effects upon our society. For coordinating management policies and being accountable to the public, a public manager must comprehend multiple functions of public facilities and various opinions expressed by a lot of stakeholders. This paper proposes the evaluation method for infrastructural asset management using multidimensional scaling. The methodology makes clear differences in people's opinion and viewpoints and shows relative ranking of projects' achievements. The methodology presented in this paper was applied to a case example of highway facility management. As a result, it was shown that this method can specify a conflict among stakeholders' viewpoints. In addition, the method can be utilized to verify the validity of evaluation items.

The pathobiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is similar to that of periodontitis in that proinflammatory cytokines and immunoglobulin G Fc receptor (FcgammaR) play an important role. Functional polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-1 and FcgammaR were shown to be associated with susceptibility to both diseases. Therefore, we evaluated whether the IL-1 and FcgammaR gene polymorphisms represent a common risk factor for RA and periodontitis.The study population consisted of Japanese adults with RA (RA group; N = 100), periodontitis only (P group; N = 100), and healthy individuals with no systemic or oral disease (H group; N = 100). Clinical periodontal condition was defined by measurements of probing depth, clinical attachment level, and bleeding on probing. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood and analyzed for determination of IL-1 genotypes (IL-1A+4845, IL-1B+3954, and IL-1RN+2028) and FcgammaR genotypes (FcgammaRIIA, FcgammaRIIIA, and FcgammaRIIIB) by allele-specific polymerase chain reactions.Among 100 patients with RA, 86% showed periodontal tissue destruction. However, the RA group exhibited milder levels of periodontal tissue destruction than the P group (P0.01). There was a significant difference in the distribution of IL-1B+3954 C/T genotypes between the RA and P groups and between the RA and H groups (P = 0.03 for both comparisons), with enrichment of the T allele in the RA group (P = 0.04; odds ratio, 2.9 for both comparisons). The combination of IL-1A+4845 T and IL-1+3954 T alleles yielded a strong association with RA and periodontitis (RA versus P group: P = 0.00001; RA versus H group: P = 0.00001).These results failed to show that IL-1 and FcgammaR gene polymorphisms constitute a common risk factor for RA and periodontitis. However, it was suggested that the distributions of IL-1B+3954 genotypes and IL-1A+4845 and IL-1B+3954 haplotypes were unique to the patients with RA and periodontitis.

The functional bi-allelic polymorphism of immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc receptor (FcgammaR) IIa influences the efficiency of human IgG2 binding. Our previous study showed that the high affinity FcgammaRIIa genotype (-H/H131) was associated with periodontitis risk. As interleukin-1 (IL-1) is one of the major causes of periodontal tissue destruction, it is hypothesized that the FcgammaRIIa-H/H131cross-linking could induce an increased IL-1 release by mononuclear cells. In this study, we evaluated the intracellular expressions of IL-1beta in CD14 positive cells upon stimulation with human IgG2 by flow cytometry. FcgammaRIIa-H/H131 subjects exhibited a higher percentage of IL-1beta-producing cells than FcgammaRIIa-R/H131 and -R/R131 subjects (P < 0.05). These results support the concept that FcgammaRIIa genotype may affect IL-1beta production, possibly leading to interindividual differences in periodontitis risk.

For square contingency tables with ordered categories, CAUSSINUS [Annales de la Faculte des Sciences de l'Universite de Toulouse (1965) Vol. 29, pp. 77–182] and AGRESTI [Statistics and Probability Letters (1983) Vol. 1, pp. 313–316] considered the quasi-symmetry and the linear diagonal-parameter symmetry models, respectively, which have multiplicative forms for cell probabilities. This paper proposes two kinds of models that have the similar multiplicative forms for cumulative probabilities that an observation will fall in row (column) category i or below and column (row) category j (>i) or above. The endometrial cancer data are analyzed using these models.

In recent years, the advancements in MR technology combined with the development of the multi-channel coil have resulted in substantially shortened inspection times. In addition, rapid improvement in functional performance in the workstation has produced a more simplified imaging-making process. Consequently, graphical images of intra-cranial lesions can be easily created. For example, the use of three-dimensional spoiled gradient echo (3D-SPGR) volume rendering (VR) after injection of a contrast medium is applied clinically as a preoperative reference image. Recently, improvements in 3D-SPGR VR high-resolution have enabled accurate surface images of the brain to be obtained. We used stereo-imaging created by weighted maximum intensity projection (Weighted MIP) to determine the skin incision line. Furthermore, the stereo imaging technique utilizing 3D-SPGR VR was actually used in cases presented here. The techniques we report here seemed to be very useful in the pre-operative simulation of neurosurgical craniotomy.

Background The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a pattern-recognition receptor involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. However, the significance of the soluble isoform of RAGE (sRAGE) has not been clarified in critical illness. We investigated circulating sRAGE in blood samples from septic patients. Methods In this cross-sectional study, criteria for inclusion were patients with severe sepsis and age older than 18 years. Samples were collected within 24 hours after the diagnosis of sepsis and also from healthy volunteers. The levels of sRAGE and RAGE signaling pathway-associated biologic parameters were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores were calculated at the time of patient enrollment. We used the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) overt disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) diagnostic criteria algorithm to assess coagulopathy. Results Included were 24 septic patients and 12 healthy volunteers. Serum sRAGE level was significantly increased in the patients compared with healthy controls. Significant correlations were found between sRAGE levels and APACHE II, SOFA, and ISTH DIC scores. The increase in sRAGE levels also correlated with the upregulation of interleukin-6, soluble vascular adhesion molecule 1, and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 levels and a reduction in platelet count. The fraction of sRAGE other than the endogenous secreted form of RAGE (esRAGE) was augmented in the patients. Conclusion We demonstrated for the first time that the serum level of sRAGE increased with the progression of DIC and the severity of sepsis, suggesting that circulating sRAGE reflects RAGE signaling pathway activity, which induces the excessive inflammatory response involved in endothelial injury and coagulopathy and that its measurement may be useful as a biomarker for sepis. Level of evidence Prognostic study, level IV.

ObjectivesIn the brain, the mechanisms of attention to the left and the right are known to be different. It is possible that brain activity when driving also differs with different horizontal road alignments (left or right curves), but little is known about this. We found driver brain activity to be different when driving on left and right curves, in an experiment using a large-scale driving simulator and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).Research design and methodsThe participants were fifteen healthy adults. We created a course simulating an expressway, comprising straight line driving and gentle left and right curves, and monitored the participants under driving conditions, in which they drove at a constant speed of 100 km/h, and under non-driving conditions, in which they simply watched the screen (visual task). Changes in hemoglobin concentrations were monitored at 48 channels including the prefrontal cortex, the premotor cortex, the primary motor cortex and the parietal cortex. From orthogonal vectors of changes in deoxyhemoglobin and changes in oxyhemoglobin, we calculated changes in cerebral oxygen exchange, reflecting neural activity, and statistically compared the resulting values from the right and left curve sections.ResultsUnder driving conditions, there were no sites where cerebral oxygen exchange increased significantly more during right curves than during left curves (p > 0.05), but cerebral oxygen exchange increased significantly more during left curves (p < 0.05) in the right premotor cortex, the right frontal eye field and the bilateral prefrontal cortex. Under non-driving conditions, increases were significantly greater during left curves (p < 0.05) only in the right frontal eye field.ConclusionsLeft curve driving was thus found to require more brain activity at multiple sites, suggesting that left curve driving may require more visual attention than right curve driving. The right frontal eye field was activated under both driving and non-driving conditions.

Recently, it has been reported that circulating free DNA (cf-DNA) in the blood is increased in various infectious diseases, including sepsis. Moreover, a relationship between cf-DNA and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) has been suggested. However, it is still unclear what the source and physiological role of cf-DNA in sepsis are. In this study, we examined the source of cf-DNA by detecting citrullinated histone H3, a characteristic feature of NET formation, in cecal ligation and puncture- (CLP-)operated mice. In addition, neutrophil depletion using anti-Ly6G antibodies was performed to assess the association between neutrophils and cf-DNA. Increased cf-DNA levels were observed only in CLP mice and not in the control groups; the qPCR findings revealed that the cf-DNA was mainly host-derived, even in bacteremic conditions. Citrullinated histone H3 was not increased in the neutrophils upon CLP, and the depletion of neutrophils showed limited effects on decreasing the amount of cf-DNA. Taken together, these results suggested that elevated cf-DNA levels during early-phase sepsis may represent a candidate biomarker for the severity of sepsis and that, contrary to previous findings, cf-DNA is not derived from neutrophils or NETs.

本研究では，同一種類の多数の施設で構成されるシステムの最適点検・補修政策について考察する．その際，システムを構成する施設の健全度を複数レーティングで記述し，健全度間の推移確率が使用時間に依存する多段階ワイブルハザードモデルを用いて施設の劣化過程を表現する．さらに，多数の施設を定期的に一斉点検・補修するようなシステムの劣化・補修過程を推移確率が使用履歴に依存するような非斉次マルコフモデルとして記述する．その上で，所与の劣化リスク管理水準の下で，ライフサイクル費用を最小にするようなシステムの最適点検・補修間隔と，最適補修政策を同時に求める最適点検・補修モデルを定式化する．最後に，トンネル照明灯具システムをとりあげ，本研究で提案した方法論の有効性を実証的に検証する．

Background Since the tumor growth depends on the formation of feeding vessels, color/power Doppler ultrasonography (US) has been used to evaluate the vascular flow images of lymph nodes (LNs) in order to differentiate benign LNs from malignant LNs or lymphoma from metastatic carcinoma. Methods We performed color/power Doppler ultrasonography (US) using Levovist (LV) to evaluate the vascular patterns in the LNs of 10 patients with different types of lymphoma. The patterns were classified as central, peripheral, or avascular type. Results Vascular flow was identified in 9 of 10 LNs and it was enhanced with LV in all cases. The vascular pattern of the LNs was of the central type in all seven B-cell lymphoma patients and one of two T-cell lymphoma patients and of the peripheral type in the remaining T-cell lymphoma patient. The avascular type pattern was observed in one Hodgkin lymphoma patient even with LV. Discussion Typical vascular patterns might be associated with certain subtypes of lymphoma, and LV appears to improve the diagnostic value of Doppler US.

土木施設のアセットマネジメントにおいて，土木施設の劣化予測が重要な課題となる．現実には，劣化状態に関する点検データが十分でなく，劣化予測モデルの推計精度が十分でない場合が少なくない．その際，技術者の経験的知識等を劣化予測に活用するとともに，新しく利用可能になった点検データに基づいて，劣化予測モデルの推計精度を逐次改良するような方法論が必要となる．本研究では，土木施設の故障の有無を予測するためのワイブル劣化ハザードモデルを，新しく利用可能になった点検データに基づいてベイズ推計する方法論を提案する．その際，マルコフ連鎖モンテカルロ法を用いて，未知パラメータの事後分布を効率的に推計する方法を提案する．さらに，トンネル照明ランプを対象とした適用事例を通して，提案した方法論の有効性について考察する．

Background The mild type of anterior spinal artery syndrome (ASAS) is characterized by motor loss with an absent or insignificant sensory deficit due to a disturbance in the blood supply to the anterior horn of the spinal cord. The clinical symptoms of cervical spondylotic amyotrophy (CSA) are motor loss or atrophy with an absent or insignificant sensory deficit or a long tract sign; however, the pathophysiology has not been clarified. Methods Three patients who suffered from palsy of the deltoid and biceps brachii are presented. Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the intrinsic cord disease as the cause of the paresis. We measured the central motor conduction time (CMCT) and the latencies of the tendon reflex (T waves) of the biceps and triceps and those of the F waves of the abductor pollicis brevis and abductor digiti minimi before, 2 weeks after, and 3 months after starting intravenous injections of prostaglandin E 1 (PGE 1 ). Results In these 3 cases, restoration of muscle strength began after starting injection of PGE 1 . The electrophysiologic diagnosis revealed a disturbance of the motor conduction, in the CMCT and the latencies of the T waves, in the paretic muscle, which is more severe than that in other muscles. The radiological diagnosis suggested damage in the spinal cord. Improvements in the disturbance of the motor conduction and those of symptoms were parallel. Conclusion From symptomatologic or radiological viewpoints, it is difficult to differentiate CSA from ASAS with cervical spondylosis. This suggests that there have been patients with ASAS whom we have diagnosed as CSA, and we may add administration of PGE 1 to the treatment for the patients with CSA. The present 3 patients showed improvement of muscle strength after starting injections of PGE 1 . Although this improvement was measured by an electrophysiologic method, the mechanisms of PGE 1 require further study.

We investigated an influence of the T2 weighted MR imaging (MRI)-documented intramedullary high signal intensity (IMHSI) on the motor conduction in cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients. We measured the central motor conduction time (CMCT) and the latency from anterior horn cell to rootlet (CRL) of Biceps Brachii (biceps), Triceps Brachii (triceps) and Abductor Policis Brevi (APB) of 58 hands of 29 patients. The severity of myelopathy was evaluated by Japan Orthopaedic Association Scoring system (JOA score). CMCT of APB demonstrated good relationship (r=0.71, p=0.0001) with JOA score whereas no relationship existed in measurement of the CMCT of the biceps nor the triceps. And only the CMCT of the APB of the patients with IMHSI were significantly longer (Mann Whitney-U-test, p

Normal parsing is performed for an ordered string of input terminal symbols. In contrast, consider chart parsing in which a chart derived by using a parametrized context-free grammar, for example, is given, and a string that enumerates its constituent elements is parsed. In this case, the enumerated string, which does not necessarily match the order of a derived string, becomes a replacement string of a derived string. As a result, even if a grammar is used which added production rules that replaced each symbol of the right-hand side, for example, conventional methods that use order information could not generally parse this string properly. This paper shows two methods—a bottom-up method and a top-down method—which definitely enable parsing when order information cannot be used for the terminal symbols of the derived strings of a context-free grammar. These methods use counter vectors of truncated numbers of occurrences of each terminal symbol in the remaining input strings. The bottom-up method, which differs from normal parsing in that it does not consist of only reduce actions, also requires a uniquely determined shift action. The top-down method can handle some left-recursive productions that cannot be handled by normal parsing methods since the terminal symbol comparison position need not be limited to the left end. In other words, this paper shows methods that use counter vectors to uniquely parse an input string that does not necessarily match the order of a derived string to obtain parsing results for the corresponding derived string under fixed conditions. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 88(6): 54–63, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.20191

Human type II low-affinity receptor for immunoglobulin G (FcgammaRII) constitutes a clustered gene family consisting of FcgammaRIIA, IIB and IIC genes. FcgammaRIIB is unique in its ability to transmit inhibitory signals in B cells via immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM). B-cell activation and subsequent elevated production of IgG are the immunopathological features of inflammatory disease such as periodontitis. To determine whether an association with periodontitis susceptibility exists, genetic polymorphisms of FcgammaRIIB were examined in Japanese patients with aggressive periodontitis (AGP) and chronic periodontitis (CP), and in the race-matched healthy controls (HCs). A significant difference was observed in the distribution of FcgammaRIIB-232I/T allele (exon 5) between the AGP and HC groups, with enrichment of the 232T in the AGP group (P=0.006). In addition, the FcgammaRIIB-nt 646-184A/G allele (intron 4) distribution was significantly different between the CP and HC groups, with enrichment of the nt 646-184A in the CP group (P=0.011). These results document the association of FcgammaRIIB gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to periodontitis in the Japanese.

Leukocyte Fc receptors for immunoglobulin G (FcgammaR) play a major role in the handling of immune complexes and pathogens in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and periodontitis. Both diseases have been shown to be partly influenced by genetic components including FcgammaR genotype. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate whether FcgammaR gene polymorphisms are associated with periodontitis risk in SLE patients.The study subjects consisted of 42 SLE patients with periodontitis (SLE/P), 18 SLE patients without periodontitis (SLE/H), 42 healthy subjects with periodontitis (H/P), and 42 healthy subjects without periodontitis (H/H), who were all unrelated Japanese non-smokers. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood, and FcgammaR genotypes for 3 biallelic polymorphisms (FcgammaRIIa-R131/H131, FcgammaRIIIa-158V/158F, FcgammaRIIIb-NA1/NA2) were determined by allele-specific polymerase chain reactions.The SLE/P group was found to have more mild levels of periodontal destruction than the H/P group (P0.01). There was a significant difference in the distribution of FcgammaRIIa genotypes between SLE/P and H/H groups (P = 0.004). A significant overrepresentation of the FcgammaRIIa-R131 allele was found in the SLE/P group compared to the H/H group (SLE/P versus H/H: odds ratio [OR] 3.13, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.46-6.77, P = 0.0013). Furthermore, the prevalence of periodontitis was found to be 70% in SLE patients. The FcgammaRIIa-R131 allele was also found to be overrepresented in the SLE/P group compared to the SLE/H group (SLE/P versus SLE/H: OR 3.40, 95% CI 1.18-10.25, P = 0.011).These results show the FcgammaRIIa-R131 allele to be associated with periodontitis risk in SLE patients.

SUMMARY: A 54-year-old woman with hypertension treated for 2 years with enalapril, 10 mg daily, was admitted to hospital because of progressively worsening renal function. There was no evidence of scleroderma, except for the presence of anticentromere antibodies. to prevent hyperkalaemia and further deterioration of renal function, enalapril was abruptly withdrawn and replaced with a calcium antagonist on the second hospital day, but hypertensive crisis developed. Renal failure requiring haemodialysis developed 2 weeks after admission. Findings of a renal biopsy were consistent with scleroderma kidney. Scleroderma is difficult to diagnose in the absence of cutaneous symptoms. Therefore, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors should only be discontinued with care in patients with renal dysfunction if there is the possibility of scleroderma without skin changes.

Large and highly variable deformations of the ACL cannot be adequately quantified by one-dimensional and/or localized measurements. Since the complex anatomy of the ACL makes uniform loading of all fiber bundles almost impossible, strains on specific portions being tested are considerably altered during knee movement. To observe the ACL's entire surface, we propose a photoelastic coating method. A simulator jig was used to allow a natural motion of the knee whose medial and lateral femoral bone parts were removed in order to expose the ACL for observation. The simulator jig with the knee was mounted on a universal stand which allows tilt and swivel rotations, so that the exposed ACL might be viewed from any direction. Measurements were performed on the strain distributions over the ACL at various knee angles. The panoramic images of the photoelastic fringe patterns yielded significant results. Special attention was paid for insight into the relation between strain distribution and the directions of fiber run.