250 research outputs found
Supplemental Material - Rho-Kinase inhibition decreases focal cerebral ischemia-induced glial activation in rats
No full textSupplemental Material for Rho-Kinase inhibition decreases focal cerebral ischemia-induced glial activation in rats by Abdullah Md Sheikh, Shozo Yano, Shingo Mitaki, Shatera Tabassum, Shuhei Yamaguchi and Atsushi Nagai in Journal of Central Nervous System Disease</p
Supplemental Material - Rho-Kinase inhibition decreases focal cerebral ischemia-induced glial activation in rats
No full textSupplemental Material for Rho-Kinase inhibition decreases focal cerebral ischemia-induced glial activation in rats by Abdullah Md Sheikh, Shozo Yano, Shingo Mitaki, Shatera Tabassum, Shuhei Yamaguchi and Atsushi Nagai in Journal of Central Nervous System Disease</p
Efficacy of T2*-Weighted Gradient-Echo MRI in Early Diagnosis of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis with Unilateral Thalamic Lesion
No full textCerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an uncommon cause of stroke with diverse etiologies and varied clinical presentations. Because of variability in clinical presentation and neuroimaging, CVT remains a diagnostic challenge. Recently, some studies have highlighted the value of T2*-weighted gradient-echo MRI (T2*WI) in the diagnosis of CVT. We report the case of a 79-year-old woman with CVT due to a hypercoagulable state associated with cancer. On the initial T2-weighted image (T2WI), there was a diffuse high-intensity lesion in the right thalamus, extending into the posterior limb of the internal capsule and midbrain. T2*WI showed diminished signal and enlargement of the right basilar vein and the vein of Galen. Even though there is a wide range of differential diagnoses in unilateral thalamic lesions, and a single thalamus lesion is a rare entity of CVT, based on T2*WI findings we could make an early diagnosis and perform treatment. Our case report suggests that T2*WI could detect thrombosed veins and be a useful method of early diagnosis in CVT
Validation of a new mass screening tool for cognitive impairment: Cognitive Assessment for Dementia, iPad version
No full textKeiichi Onoda,1 Tsuyoshi Hamano,2 Yoko Nabika,1 Atsuo Aoyama,1 Hiroyuki Takayoshi,1 Tomonori Nakagawa,1 Masaki Ishihara,1 Shingo Mitaki,1 Takuya Yamaguchi,1 Hiroaki Oguro,1 Kuninori Shiwaku,3 Shuhei Yamaguchi1 1Department of Neurology, 2Center for Community-Based Health Research and Education, Shimane University, Izumo, 3Shimane University, Matsue, Shimane, Japan Background: We have developed a new screening test for dementia that runs on an iPad and can be used for mass screening, known as the Cognitive Assessment for Dementia, iPad version (CADi). The CADi consists of items involving immediate recognition memory for three words, semantic memory, categorization of six objects, subtraction, backward repetition of digits, cube rotation, pyramid rotation, trail making A, trail making B, and delayed recognition memory for three words. The present study examined the reliability and validity of the CADi. Methods: CADi evaluations were conducted for patients with dementia, healthy subjects selected from a brain checkup system, and community-dwelling elderly people participating in health checkups. Results: CADi scores were lower for dementia patients than for healthy elderly individuals and correlated significantly with Mini-Mental State Examination scores. Cronbach’s alpha values for the CADi were acceptable (over 0.7), and test–retest reliability was confirmed via a significant correlation between scores separated by a one-year interval. Conclusion: These results suggest that the CADi is a useful tool for mass screening of dementia in Japanese populations. Keywords: dementia, mass screening, early detection, iPa
Evaluation of Post-license Advanced Driver Training in Italy
No full textAbstractPost-license advanced driver training addresses different categories of road users such as: novice drivers, professional drivers, company employers and recidivists. These training courses can be carried out on-track or on the road. On-track courses allow participants to gain knowledge on driving physics and experience limits in a safe road environment. On-road courses are more focused on hazard perception and situation awareness.Although extensive research has been done in this field, knowledge of the effects of these courses on road accident risk remains unclear. Previous evaluation of on-track courses did not always show a positive effect on crash rate. For example, post-license training focused on mastery of driving skills can lead to an increase of accident risk, especially on young males.However, research identified several factors that may enhance the effectiveness of driving training. In Europe a new framework for driver education and training has been proposed based on a safe driver hierarchical model (the GADGET model) and the development of a strategy for continuous learning.According to this framework, an evaluation study of on-track post-license advanced driver training has been undertaken in Italy with the main goal of assessing the safety effects of these courses and identifying training aspects to be improved. Besides crash rate, the study aims at assessing also driver behavior, knowledge of risks, self-evaluation and training quality.This paper presents the results of the possible effects of advanced driver training on driving behavior, considering in particular the number and type of violations. For each driver, data on age, gender and driving violations history were extracted from the platform and the national violations database.Three cases were addressed through a before-after analysis with control group. Case 1 considers all drivers who attended an ADT course. Case 2 aimed at understanding the effects of the courses on a specific target group: the traffic violators. Case 3 is similar to Case 2, however the control group was selected in a way that drivers characteristics and the violation rate was similar to the violation rate of the treatment group in the before period.The significance of the differences highlighted was assessed through appropriate statistical tests (i.e. paired t-test and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test).The study showed in general a higher propensity to commit traffic violations after attending an ADT course. These results are in contrast to what expected and show the necessity to diversify the training classes according to the different needs of participants
A methodology to assess pedestrian crossing safety
No full textPurpose: The safety level of a pedestrian crossing is affected by infrastructure characteristics and vehicular and pedestrian traffic level. This paper presents a methodology that allows assessing the safety level of a pedestrian crossing, regulated or not by traffic light, in an urban area according to the features of the crossing. Methods: A hierarchical structure representing factors influencing crossing safety has been developed and the relative contributions of each factor were calculated using AHP method. A composite index for crossing safety and specific indexes for main aspects included in the assessment have been developed. Results: Main assessment aspects are: Spatial and Temporal Design, Day-time and Night-time Visibility and Accessibility. Night-time Visibility resulted to have the higher weight (about 41%). Conclusion: Developed indexes allow ranking of pedestrian crossings and assigning intervention priorities, highlighting the aspects which are to be enhanced. The methodology has been used for the evaluation of 215 pedestrian crossings in 17 European cities for the Pedestrian Crossing Assessment Project co-financed by FIA Foundation. © 2010 The Author(s)
Strategies to enhance long-term competitiveness in the telecommunications industry : lessons for NTT
No full textThesis: S.M. in Engineering and Management, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2014.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (pages 73-75).In the telecommunications industry, the market is highly global as well as competitive in this era of Internet and data communications. Telecommunications carriers compete with not only other telecommunications carriers providing broadband access and mobile communication but also network application and service providers, which are significant threats for telecommunications carriers. It is difficult for telecommunications carriers to control the market for two significant reasons. Firstly, due to the maturity of technology as well as customers, network services have become commoditized. Secondly, telecommunications network services are vulnerable to over-the-top services based on the Internet. This study aims to investigate how large telecommunications carriers can continue to be competitive in such an environment. This paper focuses on three kinds of strategic options that enable large high-tech companies to continue to make profits; internal R&D, growth and diversification, and M&A. In the second chapter the author focuses on IBM and Cisco, which are good examples of how large companies have evolved over time, combining these three strategies. Then, the use of the three strategies by major telecommunications carriers is investigated. Finally, in the fourth chapter, the author analyzes the future competitiveness of the NTT Group, the major telecommunications carrier in Japan, using these strategies within the next decade.by Shingo Kawai.S.M. in Engineering and Managemen
Widespread imiquimod-induced psoriasis like eruption: case report and analysis of mast cell infiltration.
No full textPsoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that affects over 60 million adults and children worldwide.1 Many genetically innovative and easy-to-use models have been generated to study psoriasiform skin inflammation in mice. Topical application of imiquimod, the agent with immune response modifying activity, is widely used for psoriasis research. A Previous study demonstrated that mast cells (MCs) increase in imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice.2 Topical application of imiquimod is used to treat actinic keratosis and condyloma acuminatum. Several cases of psoriasis-like eruptions caused by topical imiquimod have been reported. These eruptions are distinct from psoriasis. Moreover, psoriasis-like eruptions observed in areas other than the topical imiquimod site.3 Herein, we report a case of psoriasis like eruptions after topical imiquimod treatment. In previous studies, upregulation in the number and activation of MCs has been found in imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice. 2 Mast cell infiltration has been found in patients with psoriasis.2 However, mast cell infiltration and the number of MCs in imiquimod-induced psoriasis in humans is unclear. We investigated the number of MCs in our case for a better understanding the mechanism of imiquimod-induced psoriasis like eruption.Tatsuya Katsumi, Ryota Hayashi, Shingo Takei, Manon Okamura, Yuka Tsutsui, Osamu Ansai, Akito Hasegawa, Yu Matsui, Tatsuya Takenouchi, Riichiro Abe, Widespread imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like eruption: case report and analysis of mast cell infiltration, Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, Volume 50, Issue 6, June 2025, Pages 1221–1224, https://doi.org/10.1093/ced/llae527This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology following peer review.
The version of record, Tatsuya Katsumi, Ryota Hayashi, Shingo Takei, Manon Okamura, Yuka Tsutsui, Osamu Ansai, Akito Hasegawa, Yu Matsui, Tatsuya Takenouchi, Riichiro Abe, “Widespread imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like eruption: case report and analysis of mast cell infiltration,” Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, Volume 50, Issue 6, June 2025, Pages 1221–1224, is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ced/llae527
- …
