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We have newly developed a vibration isolation system to reduce vibration via heat links, which would be one of the obstacles in the control of KAGRA gravitational wave detector. KAGRA adopts cryogenic mirrors for main optics to reduce thermal noise, which is a fundamental noise source in ground-based gravitational wave detectors in 100 Hz region, and achieves the best sensitivity in this frequency region in the world. The cryogenic mirror needs to be cooled down rapidly not to waste observation time and quietly not to disturb the mirror suspension system. For the former, radiative cooling works effectively with black coatings in high temperature region. Conductive cooling will strongly work with heat links in low temperature. However, according to our calculation, it was revealed that vibration via heat links impairs the detector sensitivity in several dozen Hz. The cryogenic suspension with heat links needs to be properly controlled up to almost same frequency region, thus, we have focused on reducing transmitting vibration with Heat Link Vibration Isolation System. In this paper, we will introduce the cryogenic suspension system, cooling system and Heat Link Vibration Isolation System in KAGRA.

Social robots have been providing a number of customer services lately. For example, they can take the place of people as receptionists. When people interact they predict each others decision-making from the others actions and take suitable actions for the sake of the other. However, taking such actions is difficult for modern social robots. Therefore, our initial aim is to solve the problem of how to predict decision-making in human-robot engagement. Choosing a reception system as a case study to approach this goal, we created a new model to predict who will use the system. The model contains a state transition function based on observation studies. We evaluated the model though a controlled experiment and a simulation experiment, using field data on prediction performance and mental effect. The experiment results lead us to believe that the model can predict the decisions of others sufficiently well. We also found that a pedestrian who will not talk with a robot receptionist suffers a negative emotion when the pedestrian is greeted by a robot, but a method we propose prevents this. We suggest that the word suitable is related to negative emotion, a part of usability. By using our model in the future we will attempt to find a method that will enable a robot to learn suitable actions by itself.

Since many shirt-type wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) devices employ shirt-embedded dry electrodes that are easily affected by the daily activities of users, measured ECG often includes noise or artifacts. Experiments confirmed that a desirable HRV calculation process assuming these wearable ECG devices is a combination of accurate R wave detection, RRI outlier exclusion and missing RRI complement methods.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces cleft palate and hydronephrosis in the mouse embryo. Cleft palate occurs due to failure in palatal grow, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. We investigated the mechanisms of cleft palate development in TCDD-exposed mouse embryos. We administered olive oil (control group) or TCDD diluted in olive oil (40 μg/kg) via gastric tubes to pregnant mice on gestational day (GD) 12. Embryos of control and TCDD-exposed groups were removed from pregnant mice on GD 14 and GD 15, respectively. One mouse embryo from the control group had anteroposterior palatal fusion. Palatal fusion was observed in three TCDD-exposed mouse embryos. Palates of TCDD-exposed mice fused from the interior to the middle of the palates, while the palates were separated in the posterior region. The middle of the embryonic palatal shelves in TCDD-exposed animals was narrow and split at the fusional position. At this position, palatal and blood cells were dispersed from the palatal tissue and the epithelium was split, with a discontinuous basement membrane. The results suggest that decreased intercellular adhesion or insufficient tissue strength of the palatal shelves may be involved in the development of cleft palate following palatal fusion.

In this paper, we propose to use facial electrical stimulation to control maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the upper limbs. The method is based on a body mechanism in which the contraction of the masseter muscles enhances MVC of the limb muscles. Facial electrical stimulation is applied to the masseter muscles and the lips. The former is to enhance the MVC by causing involuntary contraction of the masseter muscles, and the latter is to suppress the MVC by interfering with voluntary contraction of the masseter muscles. In a user study, we used electromyography sensors on the upper limbs to evaluate the effects of the facial electrical stimulation on the MVC of the upper limbs. The experimental results show that the MVC was controlled by the facial electrical stimulation. We assume that the proposed method is useful for sports athletes because the MVC is linked to sports performance.

We propose a novel system that displays various food textures by using jamming, a physical process by which particles become rigid when the density is increased. We utilize it as a simple and effective method to control the hardnesses and shapes of materials chewed in the mouth. We implemented a prototype of a pneumatic jamming system to verify the feasibility of adapting jamming for food texture displays. Experiment results confirmed that the prototype provides various hardnesses perceived in the mouth. Feedback comments from experiment participants indicated that the provided range of hardness was that between marshmallow softness and sherbet hardness.

The increase in the use of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) has made the detailed bioanalysis of these drugs essential not only for planning optimal therapeutic programs for clinical practice, but also for evaluating the biological equivalencies in the development of other biosimilars. The ligand binding assays that are widely in use now are being replaced rapidly by the highly accurate, sensitive, and selective analytical method using a mass spectrometer. This review will discuss the progress in and challenges observed during the development of a mass spectrometry-based bioanalytical method for therapeutic mAbs and ADCs.

Several benefits obtained using multiple robots in conversation have been reported in the human-robot interaction field. This paper first presents pre-trial results by which elderly people assigned a lower rating to a conversation with two robots than to one with a single robot. Observations of the trial suggest the hypothesis that an inappropriate spatial arrangement between robots and humans increases the workload in a conversation. Reducing the workload is important, especially when robots are used by elderly people. Therefore, we specifically examine the workload that is influenced by the spatial arrangement in group conversation. To verify the hypothesis, we use a NASA-TLX and a dual-task method to evaluate the workload and to conduct a comparative experiment in which the participant talks with two robots in two spatial arrangements. We also conduct a case study for elderly people in the same conversational conditions. From these experiments, we demonstrate that the spatial arrangement in which people cannot see both robots simultaneously increases their conversational workload and decreases their evaluation of the dialogue compared to a spatial arrangement by which people can see both robots simultaneously. We also show that the primary cause of the workload by positioning is not physical but mental.

Background/aim Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is a rare cancer of the salivary gland with high risk of recurrence and metastasis. Wnt signalling is critical for determining tumor grade in AdCC, as it regulates invasion and migration. β-catenin dephosphorylation plays an important role in the Wnt pathway, but its underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Materials and methods Because the regulatory subunits of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) drive Wnt signalling via target molecules, including β-catenin, we used qRT-PCR and immunoblot analysis to investigate the expression of these subunits in an AdCC cell line (ACCS) and a more aggressive subline (ACCS-M). Results PR55β was highly expressed in ACCS-M, suggesting its functional importance. In addition, PR55β expression was associated with tumor grade, with ACCS-M exhibiting higher PR55β levels. More importantly, knockdown of PR55β in ACCS-M cells significantly reduced invasiveness and metastatic ability. Furthermore, dephosphorylation and total levels of β-catenin were dependent on PR55β in ACCS-M. Finally, we confirmed a correlation between PR55β staining intensity and histopathological type in human AdCC tissues. Conclusion Our study provides new insight into the interaction between PR55β and β-catenin and suggests that PR55β may be a target for the clinical treatment of AdCC.

Background/aim Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is a malignant tumor that occurs in the salivary glands and frequently metastasizes. The aim of this study was to identify factors mediating AdCC metastasis. Materials and methods We established three AdCC cell lines by orthotropic transplantation and in vivo selection: parental, highly metastatic (ACCS-M-GFP), and lymph node metastatic (ACCS-LN-GFP) cells. Results We examined the three cell lines. DNA microarray indicated significantly altered processes in ACCS-LN-GFP cells: particularly, the expression of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) was enhanced the most. NNMT is associated with tumorigenesis and is a potential tumor biomarker. Concomitantly, we found-significant down-regulation of gap junction protein alpha-1. We suggest that ACCS-LN-GFP cells acquire cancer stem cell features involving the up-regulation of NNMT and the loss of gap junction protein alpha-1, leading to epithelial-mesenchymal transition and consequent AdCC metastasis. Conclusion NNMT is a potential biomarker of AdCC.

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a highly aggressive variant of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and is usually treated by chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) or CHOP-like regimens. However, elderly patients tend to have difficulty with the chemotherapy. We successfully treated an HIV-negative elderly PBL patient with surgery alone. An 87-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital because of gingival swelling of the left maxilla. After several examinations, a multilobular 3-cm tumor of the left maxilla and lymph node swelling on the left side of the neck were revealed. The patient was HIV negative and human T-cell leukemia virus negative. He was diagnosed with PBL, or undifferentiated carcinoma/sarcoma, and we performed surgical therapy, radical neck dissection, and a partial maxillectomy. The surgical margin of the resected specimen was negative for tumor cells, and 6 of 27 lymph nodes contained tumor cells. Histologically, the tumor consisted of basophilic large cells with deviated nuclei. Together with the immunohistochemical findings, the final diagnosis was PBL. The patient and his family did not agree to chemotherapy. Nineteen months after surgery, he is fine and no signs of recurrence were observed. Surgery-only therapy may be a reasonable alternative for elderly PBL patients.

An 18-year-old woman with mild Crouzon syndrome was referred with malocclusion and mandibular protrusion. Examination revealed Class III canine and molar relationships, hypoplastic maxilla, 1-mm overbite, and −2-mm overjet. Analysis showed 69° sella-nasion-A, 73.6° sella-nasion-B, and −4.6° A point-nasion-B point angles. Polysomnography revealed respiratory disturbance and 6.3% oxygen desaturation indices of 5.4/h and 9.0/h. We performed double-jaw surgery using high Le Fort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy for midfacial deformity correction. Twelve months post-surgery, her measures were 70.8°, 72°, −1.2°, 3.0/h, and 6.1/h, respectively. Esthetics were satisfactory. High Le Fort I osteotomy is effective for midfacial deformity correction in patients with Crouzon syndrome. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Electromyogram signals (EMG) can be used not only to measure motions, but also to control devices such as exoskeleton robots. Sensor electrodes need to be placed on each muscle based on kinematics and anatomical characteristics. Wearable EMG measurement approach is also investigated in recent years. Electrodes are fixed to the clothes. In this paper, we propose a motion measurement method based on propagation characteristics of biopotential signal. An experiment with walking and plantar flexion motion as tasks. The results showed that the signals calculated from proposed method were comparable with that of conventional method. We confirmed that there were few individual differences for calculating the signals of tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius and peroneal muscles.

We present "hitoeCap", which has Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) textile electrodes for measuring electromyography (EMG) of the masticatory muscles. Masticatory muscle activity is relevant to several daily activities such as diet, sleep bruxism, and human motor control. Our aim is to leverage continuous EMG data of the masticatory muscles for monitoring daily activities. For motion artifact reduction, which is a major problem for measuring EMG with textile electrodes, we propose a new algorithm based on kinesiology by utilizing a correlation coefficient between the root mean square of the right side EMG and that of the left side EMG. We have developed a hitoeCap prototype and conducted experiments to verify the usability of the PEDOT-PSS electrodes and the feasibility of our proposed algorithm.

Electrocardiograms (ECGs) captured by wearable ECG devices easily contain artifacts because of measurement faults. Since the frequency characteristics of artifacts are quite similar to those of R waves, it may result in R-R interval (RRI) miscalculations. To enable accurate heart rate variability (HRV) analysis in daily life, this paper proposes a method to reliably evaluate RRI measurement status, one that uses the electric potential characteristics of the QRS complex. Initial evaluation results show that it has the potential to distinguish miscalculated RRIs. Also proposed is a new RRI outlier exclusion method that uses the aforementioned method. Time domain measures of HRV derived from the proposed RRI outlier exclusion method are found to be more accurate than those derived from the conventional one.

We shall given a new effectively computable upper bound of odd perfect numbers whose Euler factors are powers of fixed exponent, improving our old result in T. Yamada, Colloq. Math. 103 (2005), 303--307., 10 pages, the author's revised version; 3 pages, corrigendum to the previous (published in the journal) version

"Mirroring" refers to the unconscious mimicry of another person's behaviors, such as their facial expressions. Mirroring has many positive effects, such as enhancing closeness and improving the flow of a conversation, which enriches the quality of communication. Our study set out to devise a means of evoking these positive effects in a video chat without any conscious effort of participants. We constructed a videophone system, called FaceShare, which can deform the user's face into a smile in response to their partner's smiling. That is, our system generates mirroring by producing a pseudo-smile through image processing. We conducted an experiment in which pairs of participants had brief conversations via FaceShare. The results implied that mirroring using the pseudo-smile lets the mimicker, whose face is deformed according to the expressions of their partner, feel a closeness, and improves the flow of the conversation for both the mimicker and the mimickee, who sees the mimicker's deformed face.

We shall show that 2 and 9 are the only biunitary superperfect numbers., 8 pages

In recent years, radio communication using ultrawideband (UWB) technology has shown great promise for ubiquitous application. We have already investigated and developed the cross type of unbalanced dipole antenna with semicircular and trapezoidal radiating elements, and we have confirmed that the cross type of unbalanced dipole antenna performed with VSWR characteristics less than 2.0 over the UWB frequency band. However, the cross type of unbalanced dipole antenna is too large for the antenna built in mobile equipment. In this paper, we investigated miniaturizing the cross type of unbalanced dipole antenna, and we proposed a miniaturized antenna, a cross type of unbalanced dipole antenna with the bent type of semicircular and trapezoidal radiating elements. As a result, the VSWR characteristics of the proposed antenna was less than 2.0 over the UWB frequency band enough in practical use.

We shall solve the simultaneous equations $\sigma(2^a)=p^{f_1}q^{g_1}, \sigma(3^b)=p^{f_2}q^{g_2}, \sigma(5^c)=p^{f_3}q^{g_3}$ with $p, q$ distinct primes., Comment: 14 pages

The goal of this study is to propose a data driven approach method to characterize muscular activities of complex actions in sports such as golf from a lot of EMG channels. Two problems occur in a many channel measurement. The first problem is that it takes a lot of time to check the many channel data because of combinatorial explosion. The second problem is that it is difficult to understand muscle activities related with complex actions. To solve these problems, we propose an analysis method of multi EMG channels using Non-negative Matrix Factorization and adopt the method to driver swings in golf. We measured 26 EMG channels about 4 professional coaches of golf. The results show that the proposed method detected 9 muscle synergies and the activation of each synergy were mostly fitted by sigmoid curve (R2=0.85).

To effectively utilize gaze in one-to-many communication, robots must direct and avert their gaze with appropriate timing. However, few studies have focused on this aspect of communication because of the difficulty in detecting the position of many gaze recipients and directing appropriate gazes to each. This paper proposes a system of robotic eyes that can send averted or direct gazes simultaneously to multiple recipients by switching between convex and hollow eye shapes, which we call Transgazer. Using Transgazer, we experimentally confirm that hollow eyes can direct a gaze more broadly whereas convex eyes can convey gaze direction more correctly. In our main experiment, Transgazer uses both eye types while giving lectures to two participants without precisely retrieving the gaze recipients' directions. Transgazer allows robots to gaze appropriately and enhances one-to-many communication, improving the audience's impression of the speaker.

We shall show that $9$ is the only odd infinitary superperfect numbers., Comment: 9 pages

The matricellular protein, secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is thought to be involved in cell competition. The objective of this study is to investigate the role of SPARC in cancerization of oral squamous epithelium. Clinical specimens from 57 pre- and early cancerous lesion, 66 invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and controls were immunostained with SPARC. Clinical features and SPARC expression were evaluated. Furthermore, effects of SPARC knockdown and overexpression were examined in oral cancer and keratinocyte cell lines. Leukoplakia, carcinoma in situ, and early invasive SCC had more SPARC-positive cells than normal mucous epithelium. However, there were no significant differences between leukoplakia, carcinoma in situ, and early SCC, and there were no correlations between SPARC immunoreactivity and prognosis of invasive oral SCCs. Cell proliferation was down-regulated by SPARC siRNA, and enhanced by SPARC transformed keratinocytes. But SPARC overexpression did not enhance cell migration activity. SPARC is induced by dysplastic cells in the early stage of cancerization, and may improve survival capability, but is not involved in malignancy. SPARC may act to escape from elimination by cell competition.

In the present paper, the finish-blanking method is taken up because it is an easy-to-use method by using a tool with rounded edge and a small clearance between the punch and die. In finish blanking, the process parameters such as the tool shape and clearance are significant. The purpose of the present work is to clarify the effect of tool shape of PW punch in finish blanking. In the present paper, a high-tensile-strength-steel plate with a thickness of 6mm was used. The edge shape of punch was changed, and the clearance was changed within the range of 0.65%t - 12%t. The experimental results show that the edge angle of PW punch should be in the range of 30° - 60°, and the clearance should be less than 2.0%t to obtain the ratio of the burnished surface more than 80%. The edge shape of the punch has a very limited effect on the shear droop, when the clearance is less than 2.0%t. It was also found that the PW punch is more suitable to control the burr depth than Rounded punch.

Dioxins (e.g. 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin; TCDD) cause cleft palate at a high rate. A post-fusional split may contribute to the pathogenesis, and tissue fragility may be a concern. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of TCDD on the palatal epithelium, bone and muscle, which contribute to tissue integrity. ICR mice (10–12 weeks old) were used. TCDD was administered on E12.5 at 40 mg/kg. Immunohistochemical staining for AhR, ER-α, laminin, collagen IV, osteopontin, Runx2, MyoD, and desmin were performed. Furthermore, western blot analysis for osteopontin, Runx2, MyoD, and desmin were performed to evaluate protein expression in the palatal tissue. Immunohistologically, there was little difference in the collagen IV and laminin localization in the palatal epithelium between control versus TCDD-treated mice. Runx2 and osteopontin immunoreactivity decreased in the TCDD-treated palatal bone, and MyoD and desmin decreased in the TCDD-treated palatal muscle. AhR and ER-α immunoreactivity were localized to the normal palatal bone, but ER-α was diminished in the TCDD-treated palate. On western blot analysis, Runx2, MyoD, and desmin were all downregulated in the TCDD-treated palate. TCDD may suppress palatal osteogenesis and myogenesis via AhR, and cause cleft palates via a post-fusional split mechanism, in addition to a failure of palatal fusion.

In recent years, radio communication using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology has shown great promise for ubiquitous application. We have already investigated and developed the cross type of unbalanced dipole antenna with semicircular and trapezoidal radiating elements, and we have confirmed that the cross type of unbalanced dipole antenna performed with VSWR characteristics less than 2.0 over the UWB frequency band. However, the cross type of unbalanced dipole antenna is too large for the antenna built in mobile equipment. In this paper, we investigated miniaturizing the cross type of unbalanced dipole antenna, and we proposed a miniaturized antenna, a cross type of unbalanced dipole antenna with the bent type of semicircular and trapezoidal radiating elements. As a result, the VSWR characteristics of the proposed antenna was less than 2.0 over the UWB frequency band enough in practical use.

In recent years, radio communication using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology has shown great promise for healthcare and medical applications. Antennas for UWB communication, using a frequency band from 3.1 to 10.6 GHz, require suitable wideband characteristics compared with antennas for conventional narrow band wireless communication. Although many UWB antennas have been investigated and developed by several research institutes so far, it is difficult to find a loop type of antenna with broadband characteristics covering UWB frequency band. A loop antenna can be useful and effective component used in wristwatch and bracelet typed devices for the healthcare, because it is easy to build in the bracelet of them. Therefore, it is valuable to study and develop the loop type of the antennas for the wearable devices. In this paper, a loop type of the UWB antenna was proposed and investigated. The Finite Difference Time Domain method was used for the electromagnetic analyses of the antenna characteristics. As a result, the VSWR characteristics of the proposed antenna were less than 2.0 over the UWB frequency band enough in practical use.

Adherens junction (AJ) is a specialized cell-cell junction structure that plays a role in mechanically connecting adjacent cells to resist strong contractile forces and to maintain tissue structure, particularly in the epithelium. AJ is mainly comprised of cell adhesion molecules cadherin and nectin and their associating cytoplasmic proteins including β-catenin, α-catenin, p120ctn, and afadin. Our series of studies have revealed that nectin first forms cell-cell adhesion and then recruits cadherin to form AJ. The recruitment of cadherin by nectin is mediated by the binding of α-catenin and p120ctn to afadin. Recent studies showed that PLEKHA7 binds to p120ctn, which is associated with E-cadherin, and maintains the integrity of AJ in epithelial cells. In this study, we showed that PLEKHA7 bound to afadin in addition to p120ctn and was recruited to the nectin-3α-based cell-cell adhesion site in a manner dependent on afadin, but not on p120ctn. The binding of PLEKHA7 to afadin was required for the proper formation of AJ, but not for the formation of tight junction, in EpH4 mouse mammary gland epithelial cells. These results indicate that PLEKHA7 plays a cooperative role with nectin and afadin in the proper formation of AJ in epithelial cells. Background: Afadin is an important regulator of cell-cell adhesion. Results: PLEKHA7 binds to afadin and this binding is required for the proper formation of adherens junction (AJ). Conclusion: PLEKHA7 plays a cooperative role with nectin and afadin in the proper formation of AJ in epithelial cells. Significance: The result indicates a novel regulatory mechanism for the formation of cell-cell adhesion.

Tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs) form an apical junctional complex at the apical side of the lateral membranes of epithelial cells, in which TJs are aligned at the apical side of AJs. Many cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and cell polarity molecules (CPMs) cooperatively regulate the formation of the apical junctional complex, but the mechanism for the alignment of TJs at the apical side of AJs is not fully understood. We developed a cellular system with which epithelial-like TJs and AJs were reconstituted in fibroblasts and analyzed the cooperative roles of CAMs and CPMs. We exogenously expressed various combinations of CAMs and CPMs in fibroblasts that express negligible amounts of these molecules endogenously. In these cells, the nectin-based cell-cell adhesion was formed at the apical side of the junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-based cell-cell adhesion, and cadherin and claudin were recruited to the nectin-3- and JAM-based cell-cell adhesion sites to form AJ-like and TJ-like domains, respectively. This inversed alignment of the AJ-like and TJ-like domains was reversed by complementary expression of CPMs Par-3, atypical protein kinase C, Par-6, Crb3, Pals1 and Patj. We describe the cooperative roles of these CAMs and CPMs in the apico-basal alignment of TJs and AJs in epithelial cells.