AI-Assisted Design Concept Exploration Through Character Space Construction.

We propose an AI-assisted design concept exploration tool, the "Character Space Construction" ("CSC"). Concept designers explore and articulate the target product aesthetics and semantics in language, which is expressed using "Design Concept Phrases" ("DCPs"), that is, compound adjective phrases, and contrasting terms that convey what are not their target design concepts. Designers often utilize this dichotomy technique to communicate the nature of their aesthetic and semantic design concepts with stakeholders, especially in an early design development phase. The CSC assists this designers' cognitive activity by constructing a "Character Space" ("CS"), which is a semantic quadrant system, in a structured manner. A CS created by designers with the assistance of the CSC enables them to discern and explain their design concepts in contrast with opposing terms. These terms in a CS are retrieved and combined in the CSC by using a knowledge graph. The CSC presents terms and phrases as lists of candidates to users from which users will choose in order to define the target design concept, which is then visualized in a CS. The participants in our experiment, who were in the "arts and design" profession, were given two conditions under which to create DCPs and explain them. One group created and explained the DCPs with the assistance of the proposed CSC, and the other did the same task without this assistance, given the freedom to use any publicly available web search tools instead. The result showed that the group assisted by the CSC indicated their tasks were supported significantly better, especially in exploration, as measured by the Creativity Support Index (CSI).

The early evolutionary history of belemnites: new data from Japan.

Belemnites (Order Belemnitida), a very successful group of Mesozoic coleoid cephalopods, dominated the world's oceans throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous. According to the current view, the phylogenetically earliest belemnites are known from the lowermost Jurassic (Hettangian, 201-199 Ma) of northern Europe. They are of low diversity and have small sized rostra without clear grooves. Their distribution is restricted to this area until the Pliensbachian (191-183 Ma). Here we describe two new belemnite taxa of the Suborder Belemnitina from the Sinemurian (199-191 Ma) of Japan: Nipponoteuthis katana gen et sp. nov., which represents the new family Nipponoteuthidae, and Eocylindroteuthis (?) yokoyamai sp. nov. This is the first reliable report of Sinemurian belemnites outside of Europe and the earliest record of typical forms of Belemnitina in the world. The Sinemurian belemnites from Japan have small to large rostra with one deep and long apical groove. Morphologically these forms are completely different from coeval European genera of Hettangian-Sinemurian age. These new findings suggest that three groups of Belemnitina existed in the Hettangian-Sinemurian: 1) European small forms, 2) Japanese very large forms, and 3) the typical forms with a distinctive apical groove, reported here. The Suborder Belemnitina therefore did not necessarily originate in the Hettangian of northern Europe. The new material from Japan documents that the suborder Belemnitina had a much higher diversity in the early Jurassic than previously thought, and it also shows strong endemisms from the Sinemurian onwards.

[Psychological trauma risks among disaster workers: perspectives on their mental health following the Great East Japan Earthquake].

Following the March 11, 2011 Great Japan East Earthquake and the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, disaster workers have been working day and night for recovery efforts. A large part of disaster workers, i.e., Self-Defense Force, police, fire department, and coast guard personnel, were highly acknowledged by the Japanese public for searching nearly 19,000 dead or missing victims. This recognition will be beneficial for their psychological recovery. On the other hand, dentists and government employees also took a large role in these mortuary missions, but their work was hardly known to the people. Furthermore, local government employees became victims of public criticisms. Similar phenomenon has been seen among Fukushima nuclear plant workers. These workers have experienced a whole array of traumatic stress, including near-death work experiences, irradiation fear, loss of their properties and their loved ones. The electric company has been blamed by the public for their disaster responses, so the public portrays these employees as disaster perpetrators. However, this trend is leading to serious discriminations and harassments, and adversely affecting their mental health. We all hope the recovery efforts to complete as soon as possible. However, when people criticize these workers, their burden of psychological trauma will continue to grow, and their recovery process will be impeded. It is crucial for the society to recognize these hard-working people and to show appreciation and support for their dedications.

[Complexities of the stress experienced by employees of the Fukushima nuclear plants].

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plants suffered serious damage by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. The employees of the plant worked very hard to stabilize the nuclear reactor and to prevent any secondary accidents. They were in one of the most severe situations in this disaster, but they were the people who hesitated most to request help for themselves. We started visiting the Fukushima Daini Plant office that was used as the frontline base for Daiichi Plant workers since July, 2011. These visits were held once or twice a month and we offered mental health support to the employees. We have completed interview with the total number of 339 plant workers by April, 2012. We offered several ways of mental support including clinical treatment, continuous counseling, or one time advice, depending on mental condition of each interviewee. Complexity of huge disaster and individuality of suffering from it were discussed in this article. Like local residents, many plant workers also experienced death/missing of family, loss of housing, refuge life, and dispersion of family. Furthermore, they have been suffering from various kinds of criticism and slander against Tokyo Electric Power Company. Many workers, even though they were not in management positions, seemed to have guilty conscience and sense of responsibility that forced them to stay in the risky working site. We could find some struggling coexistence of sense of guilt (as a causer of disaster) and sense of victim in their mind. It was suggested that continuous effort to listen and pay attention to their talk is important in order to support their mission to stabilize the power plant and to prevent them from over-stress and burnout.

Age and sex differences in fat distribution in non-obese Japanese children.

OBJECTIVE: To assess fat distribution in non-obese Japanese children and adolescents. DESIGN: 130 non-obese Japanese children (73 boys and 57 girls) from Kikugawa, Hamamatsu were included. The visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) were measured by computed tomography (CT) and calculated (in cm(2)). Subjects were divided into three groups based on age: group A (6-10 years), group B (11-15 years), and group C (16-20 years). RESULTS: Girls had more subcutaneous fat than boys in groups B and C (P<0.01). Boys had an age-dependent increase in visceral fat, but girls did not. In group C (16-20 years), boys had more visceral fat than girls (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In non-obese Japanese children, there are significant differences in visceral and subcutaneous fat amounts by age and sex. VFA seems to accumulate more in boys than in girls, and SFA is more prevalent in girls than boys.

Regulation of sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve activities by BIT/SHPS-1.

The hypothalamus plays a central role in the homeostatic regulation of internal physiological conditions such as body temperature and energy balance. We have previously shown that cold exposure enhances tyrosine phosphorylation of BIT/SHPS-1 (brain immunoglobulin-like molecule with tyrosine-based activation motifs/SHP substrate-1) in hypothalamic nuclei including the suprachiasmatic nucleus. In order to elucidate the function of BIT/SHPS-1 in the hypothalamus, we stimulated BIT/SHPS-1 in vivo by using the anti-BIT monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1D4, which reacts with the extracellular domain of BIT/SHPS-1 and induces its tyrosine phosphorylation. Administration of mAb 1D4 into the third cerebral ventricle enhanced the electrical activity of the renal sympathetic nerves, while it suppressed that of the gastric parasympathetic nerves. Similarly, blood pressure increased in response to the mAb 1D4 injection, and additionally, temperatures of the abdomen and brown adipose tissue increased. These results indicate that BIT/SHPS-1 is involved in the hypothalamic regulation of thermogenesis via the autonomic nervous system.

Mesorbitolina (Cretaceous larger foraminifera) from the Yezo Group in Hokkaido, Japan and its stratigraphic and paleobiogeographic significance.

In this paper, we describe an Aptian (Early Cretaceous) larger foraminiferal species Orbitolina (Mesorbitolina) parva from the limestone olistoliths in the lower part of the Yezo Group in the Yubari-Ashibetsu area, central Hokkaido and from limestone pebbles in the lowermost part of the Yezo Group in the Nakagawa area, northern Hokkaido. This is the first report of this species from the circum-North Pacific regions. Based on its occurrences, the shallow-marine carbonates, re-deposited in the lower part of the Yezo Group, are precisely assigned in age to the Late Aptian. Comparison of the lower part of the Yezo Group in central and northern Hokkaido indicates differences of the Aptian-Albian depositional history between the two areas. This study reveals that after Late Aptian, Mesogean key taxa (typical Cretaceous Tethyan biota) demised in the Northwest Pacific.

Cold exposure induces tyrosine phosphorylation of BIT through NMDA receptors in the rat hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus has a central role in maintaining homeostases of physiological conditions including body temperature and energy balance. To examine molecular responses to cold exposure in the hypothalamus, we examined changes in protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus after acute cold exposure in rats. It was found that brain immunoglobulin-like molecule with tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs (BIT, also called SHPS-1, SIRPalpha or p84), a transmembrane glycoprotein with two ITIM motifs, showed enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation after cold exposure. Its tyrosine phosphorylation induced by cold exposure was also found in other hypothalamic nuclei including the paraventricular nucleus, lateral hypothalamic area, ventromedial hypothalamus, and arcuate nucleus. This phosphorylation was blocked by AP-5, an NMDA receptor antagonist, indicating that it was mediated by NMDA receptors. These results suggest that BIT is involved in the mechanism of neuronal responses to cold exposure in the hypothalamus.

Parkinsonism induced by atypical neuroleptics in a patient with severe iron deficiency.

Although still controversial, iron deficiency has been indicated as one of the risk factors for developing neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms (EPSs), including akathisia, dystonia, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Here we report our experience of iron supplementation and alternating neuroleptics for treating Parkinsonism in a schizophrenic female patient having severe iron deficient anemia.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of BIT on photic stimulation in the rat retina.

BIT is a transmembrane glycoprotein with three immunoglobulin-like domains in its extracellular region and tyrosine phosphorylation sites in its cytosolic region. We have previously shown that BIT was tyrosine phosphorylated in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus in response to light exposure during the dark period, and suggested that it was involved in the light entrainment of the circadian clock. To further investigate the function of BIT in the nervous system, we examined the effect of photic stimulation on its tyrosine phosphorylation in the rat retina. It was found that the tyrosine phosphorylation level of BIT in the retina was higher in the light period than in the dark period. In addition, a light stimulation during the dark period resulted in a rapid phosphorylation of BIT and a subsequent association of BIT with SHP-2. The phosphorylation state was quickly reverted when the light was turned off. The light-dependent phosphorylation of BIT was also observed in isolated cultured retinas, and this was blocked by a specific Src-family inhibitor, PP-2. Immunohistochemical study showed that BIT was highly enriched in the inner and outer plexiform layers in the retina, where the immunoreactivity to anti-SHP-2 antibody was also detected. These results suggest that tyrosine phosphorylation of BIT is involved in neuronal transmission in the retina.

The effect of paroxetine on Taijinkyofusho: a report of three cases.

Taijinkyofusho is a culture-related syndrome conceptualized in Japan. While previous studies suggest its psychopathological similarities to social phobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, introspection regarding shame and low self-esteem is particularly linked to Japanese culture. We present three cases of Taijinkyofusho: Cases 1 and 2 show neurotic features while Case 3 shows delusional thoughts. Paroxetine was used for treatment but was productive in only the first two cases. Phobic and obsessive thought patterns were altered in Cases 1 and 2, suggesting that the significant core symptoms were responding to the treatment. In the future, large-scale pharmacological studies will be necessary to investigate treatment outcomes Taijinkyofusho. Such studies would contribute to providing information for effective treatment as well as for examining relationships between Taijinkyofusho and related disorders.

Stimulation of BIT induces a circadian phase shift of locomotor activity in rats.

Circadian rhythms of mammals are generated by a circadian oscillation of master pacemaker genes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus (SCN), and entrained by environmental factors such as 24-h light-dark cycles. We have previously shown that light exposure during the dark period enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of brain immunoglobulin-like molecule with tyrosine-based activation motifs (BIT) in the rat SCN. To elucidate the functional roles of BIT in the circadian clock, we stimulated BIT using an anti-BIT monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1D4, which reacts with its extracellular region and induces phosphorylation of its intracellular tyrosine residues. Administration of mAb 1D4 into the third cerebral ventricle induced tyrosine phosphorylation of BIT in the SCN. Behavioral analyses showed that the SCN-injection of the antibody at CT15 induced a phase delay of the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity, and that at CT20 induced a phase advance. Pretreatment with MK801, a non-competitive antagonist of NMDARs, diminished the 1D4-induced phase shift at CT20, but not at CT15. These results suggest that BIT is involved in the entrainment of circadian rhythms through the function of NMDARs and non-NMDARs.

Expression of CD47/integrin-associated protein induces death of cultured cerebral cortical neurons.

The death and survival of neuronal cells are regulated by various signaling pathways during development of the brain and in neuronal diseases. Previously, we demonstrated that the neuronal adhesion molecule brain immunoglobulin-like molecule with tyrosine-based activation motifs/SHP substrate 1 (BIT/SHPS-1) is involved in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-promoted neuronal cell survival. Here, we report the apoptosis-inducing effect of CD47/integrin-associated protein (IAP), the heterophilic binding partner of BIT/SHPS-1, on neuronal cells. We generated a recombinant adenovirus vector expressing a neuronal form of CD47/IAP, and found that the expression of CD47/IAP by infection with CD47/IAP adenovirus induced the death of cultured cerebral cortical neurons. The numbers of TdT-mediated biotin-dUTP nick-end labelling (TUNEL)-positive neurons and of cells displaying apoptotic nuclei increased by expression of CD47/IAP. Neuronal cell death was prevented by the addition of the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk. Furthermore, we observed that co-expression of CD47/IAP with BIT/SHPS-1 enhanced neuronal cell death, and that BDNF prevented it. These results suggest that CD47/IAP is involved in a novel pathway which regulates caspase-dependent apoptosis of cultured cerebral cortical neurons. CD47/IAP-induced death of cultured cortical neurons may be regulated by the interaction of CD47/IAP with BIT/SHPS-1 and by BDNF.