273 research outputs found
The Present and Future of Museum Accessibility for People with Visual Impairments
No full textPeople with visual impairments (PVI) have shown interest in visiting museums and enjoying visual art. Based on this knowledge, some museums provide tactile reproductions of artworks, specialized tours for PVI, or enable them to schedule accessible visits. However, the ability of PVI to visit museums is still dependent on the assistance they get from their family and friends or from the museum personnel. In this paper, we surveyed 19 PVI to understand their opinions and expectations about visiting museums independently, as well as the requirements of user interfaces to support it. Moreover, we increase the knowledge about the previous experiences, motivations and accessibility issues of PVI in museums
An evaluation of novel antineoplastic agent on prostate cancer, 2003
No full textThis study examines the effects of novel antineoplastic agents(isochalcones) on human metastatic prostate cancer cell lines by screening cells for their relative antiproliferative effects, measuring the protein expression levels of specific oncogenes by Western blotting, and evaluating an array of genes ( 5184) to determine possible mechanisms of action of these novel isochalcones. The array data were supported by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The antineoplastic agents were screened in human metastatic prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, DU145, PC-3, and MDA-PCa-2b) and non-cancerous prostate epithelial cell line PZ-HPV-7 in concentrations ranging from nanomolar to millimolar. The alamar blue exclusion dye assay, a redox indicator, was used to evaluate cell proliferation when compared to the untreated control. DJ52 demonstrated a growth inhibitory effect on LNCaP, PC-3, and DU145 cell lines at the micromolar concentration (p<0.05). Based on these data, 1 x 106 cells were treated, protein isolated, and expression levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and omithine decarboxylase (ODC) were measured and compared to theuntreated controls. These data indicated a dose-dependent decrease of expression of EGF and ODC, therefore, suggesting that other key oncogenes may also have a decrease in expression when treated with these novel antineoplastic agents. Therefore, gene arrays were used to identify possible families of genes and/or specific pathways that may be responsible for the antiproliferative effects noted. It was determined that the key families of genes significantly induced by these agents (Pathways 4) were proapoptotic and cell cycle regulators. ABI 7700 Prism was used to perform quantitative RT-PCR via the AB Sequence Detector software
カンジダ特異的IgG(4)抗体と気管支喘息
No full textSerum levels of Candida-specific IgG(4) antibodies were examined in 66 patients with bronchial asthma, relating to patient age and asthma severity. 1. The levels of Candida-specific IgG(4) antibodies were the highest in patients with 60+years of age, compared to the levels in cases with 0-39 and 40-59 years of age. 2. In cases with 40-59 years of age, the levels of Candida-specific IgG(4) were significantly higher in cases with long-term steroid therapy (severe intractable asthma) than in cases without steroid regimen. The results suggest that increased levels of Candida-specific IgG(4) were observed in relation to patient age and asthma severity.66例の気管支喘息症例を対象に，血清中カンジダ特異的lgG(4)抗体を測定し，その血中レベルと年齢および喘息の重症度との関連について検討を加えた。1．血清カンジダ特異的IgG(4)値は，0～39才，40～59才の年齢層にくらべ，60才以上の年齢層において高く，年齢によりその値が変動することが
示唆された。2．40～59才の年齢層では，血清カンジダ特異的IgG(4)は，ステロイド非使用例にくらべ，ステロイド依存性重症難治性喘息症例で有意の高値を示し，この年齢層では，カンジダ特異的IgG(4)抗体がその発症病態に関連している可能性が示唆された。以上，カンジダ特異的IgG(4)抗体の上昇は，高年齢層の症例（60才以上）では全般的に，また40～59才の年齢層で重症型喘息症例において観察されることが明らかにされた
臨床所見および検査成績からのスコアーによる喘息分類の特徴
No full textTwenty six patients with bronchial asthma was classified by clinical symptoms and singns (clinical diagnosis), and the classification by clinical diagnosis was compared with the classification by a score calculated from clinical findings and examinations (score diagnosis). 1. Of 12 subjects with type Ia classified by clinical diagnosis, 8 cases with 0 to 49 ml/day of expectoration were evaluated as type Ia by score diagnosis. While four type Ia cases with 50 to 99ml/day of expectoration were calssified as type Ib by score diagnosis. The increased incidence of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of these four cases was similar to the incidence in type Ib cases with hypersecretion. 2. All of 6 subjects with type Ib by clinical diagnosis were estimated as type Ib by score diagnosis. 3. Of 8 cases with type II by clinical diagnosis, 7 cases were assessed as type II by score diagnosis. One case with type II by clinical diagnosis and with the score of 10 points was evaluated as questionable type II by score diagnosis.気管支喘息36例を対象に,臨床病態による喘息の分類（臨床診断）を試み,この分類と臨床所見および臨床検査より求めたスコアーによる分類（スコアー分類）との比較検討を行った｡1.臨床分類でIa.単純性気管支攣縮型と診断された12症例のうち,1日喀痰量0-49mlの8症例は,スコアー分類では同様にIa.型と分類された｡一方,1日喀痰量50-99mlの4症例はスコアー分類ではIb.型（気管支攣縮+過分泌型）と分類された｡これら4症例のBALF中好酸球増多はIb.型に類似した病態であった｡2.臨床診断によりIb.型に分類された6症例はいずれもスコアー診断でもIb.型と分類された｡3.臨床診断によりII.型（細気管支閉塞型）と分類された8症例のうち,7症例はスコアー診断でもII.型と分類されたが,1症例はスコアー10でII.型の診断基準に合わず,questionable II.型と診断された
気管支肺胞洗浄液中リンパ球増多と患者年齢およびIgE系アレルギー反応との関連について
No full textThe proportion and number of lymphocytes in the airways were analyzed in 15 patients with a high proportion of lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid (more than 30%) and in 17 patients with less than 20% of BAL lymphocytes. 1. Both atopic and nonatopic asthma patients with a high proportion of BAL lymphocytes were aged more than 50 years. In contrast, the age of patients with less than 20% of BAL lymphocytes ranged widely, from 29 to 63 years, in the two asthma types. 2. Age at onset of the disease, serum IgE levels, and ventilatory function test were not related to the proportion of BAL lymphocytes. 3. In patients with a high proportion of BAL lymphocytes, the mean proportion of these cells was 47.3% in atopic patients and 36.4% in non-atopic patients, i. e., there was no significant difference between the two asthma types. The absolute number of BAL lymphocytes in these patients was significantly higher in atopic (5.62×10(6)) than in nonatopic asthma (0.77×10(6)) (p<0.01). These findings show that an increased number of lymphocytes in the airways is clearly related to patient age and IgE-mediated allergic reaction.気管支肺胞洗浄(BAL)液中のリンパ球頻度が30%以上の15例および20%以下の17例の気管支喘息患者を対象に,BAL液中リンパ球頻度と年齢およびIgE系反応との関連について検討を加えた｡1.BALリンパ球が高頻度(30%以上)を示す症例は,アトピー型,非アトピー型を問わず,50才以上の年齢層に多い傾向が見られた｡一方,BALリンパ球20%以下の症例の年齢は,29-63才まで幅広く分布していた｡2.発症年齢,血清IgE値,換気機能とBAL液中リンパ球頻度との間には関連は見られなかった｡3.BAL液中リンパ球頻度が高い症例では,アトピー型では平均リンパ球頻度は47.3%,非アトピー型では36.4%であったが,両群間には有意の差は見られなかった｡しかし,BAL液中のリンパ球の絶対数は,アトピー型(5.62×10(6))において,非アトピー型(0.77×10(6)) に比べ有意に高い値を示した(p<0.01)。これらの結果は,気道内リンパ球の増加は,患者年齢とIgE系反応と密接に関連していることを示唆している
An Independent and Interactive Museum Experience for Blind People
No full textMuseums are gradually becoming more accessible to blind people, who have shown interest in visiting museums and in appreciating visual art. Yet, their ability to visit museums is still dependent on the assistance they get from their family and friends or from the museum personnel. Based on this observation and on prior research, we developed a solution to support an independent, interactive museum experience that uses the continuous tracking of the user’s location and orientation to enable a seamless interaction between Navigation and Art Appreciation. Accurate localization and context-awareness allow for turn-by-turn guidance (Navigation Mode), as well as detailed audio content when facing an artwork within close proximity (Art Appreciation Mode). In order to evaluate our system, we installed it at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh and conducted a user study where nine blind participants followed routes of interest while learning about the artworks. We found that all participants were able to follow the intended path, immediately grasped how to switch between Navigation and Art Appreciation modes, and valued listening to the audio content in front of each artwork. Also, they showed high satisfaction and an increased motivation to visit museums more often
Crowdsourcing the Installation and Maintenance of Indoor Localization Infrastructure to Support Blind Navigation
No full textIndoor navigation systems can make unfamiliar buildings more accessible for people with vision impairments, but their adoption is hampered by the effort of installing infrastructure and maintaining it over time. Most solutions in this space require augmenting the environment with add-ons, such as Bluetooth beacons. Installing and calibrating such infrastructure requires time and expertise. Once installed, localization accuracy often degrades over time as batteries die, beacons go missing, or otherwise stop working. Even localization systems installed by experts can become unreliable weeks, months, or years after the installation. To address this problem, we created LuzDeploy: a physical crowdsourcing system that organizes non-experts for the installation and long-term maintenance of a Bluetooth-based navigation system. LuzDeploy simplifies the tasks required to install and maintain the localization infrastructure, thus making a crowdsourcing approach feasible for non-experts. We report on a field deployment where 127 participants installed and maintained a blind navigation system over several months in a 7-story building, completing 455 tasks in total. We compare the accuracy of the system installed by participants to an installation completed by experts with specialized equipment. LuzDeploy aims to improve the sustainability of indoor navigation systems to encourage widespread adoption outside of research settings
気管支喘息患者における細胞性免疫,ガンジダ抗原に対する遅延型反応の抑制
No full textDelayed cutaneous hypersensitivity towards Candida albicans was examined in 200 patients with bronchial asthma in relation to patient age and the level of total IgE. 1. Delayed skin reactivity towards C.albicans was depressed in the patients between the ages of 10 and 20 and in those over the age of 61. A significant difference was present in delayed skin reactivity between the groups of 10-20 and 41-50 years old. 2. The frequency of the patients with positive delayed skin reactivity towards C.albicans was the highest in those with low levels of total IgE (0 -100 IU/ml) and the low est in those with high levels of total IgE (over than 1001 IU/ml). The results suggest that cell-mediated immunity towards C.albicans is depressed re lating to atopics in the patients between 10 and 20 and to aging in the patients over 61.気管支喘息200例を対象にカンジダに対する即時型および遅延型皮膚反応を観察し,これらの皮膚反応と年令,血清IgE値との関連について検討を加えた｡1. カンジダに対する遅延型皮膚反応は,10～20才の年齢層および61才以上の年齢層の症例において,その陽性率の低下が観察された｡そして,10～20才の年齢層と41～50才の年齢層の症例では,両者間で陽性率の有意の差が見られた(p<0.001)。2. カンジダに対する遅延型皮膚反応の陽性率は,血清IgE値が低い(0～100 IU/ml)症例において最も高く,一方血清IgE値が高い(1001IU/ml以上)症例において最も低いという傾向が見られた｡これらの結果は,カンジダに対する細胞性免疫は,10～20才の年齢層ではアトピーと,また61才以上の年齢層では加齢と関連して抑制されることを示唆するものと考えられる
Stimulation of Ca^<2+>/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase phosphatase by polycations
No full textElsevier, Ishida, A. ; Kameshita, I. ; Kitani, T. ; Okuno, S. ; Takeuchi, M. ; Fujisawa, H., ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS, 408(2), 2002, 229-238Ca^/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase phosphatase (CaMKPase) dephosphorylates and regulates multifunctional Ca^/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaMKs). One of the prominent features of CaMKPase is stimulation of phosphatase activity by polycations such as poly--lysine (poly(Lys)). Using various polycations, basicity and molecular weight of the polymer proved to be important for the stimulation. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis showed that CaMKIV(T196D), which mimics CaMKPase substrate, and CaMKPase could form tight complexes with poly(Lys). Pull-down binding experiments suggested that the formation of a tightly associated ternary complex consisting of CaMKPase, poly(Lys), and phosphorylated CaMKIV is essential for stimulation. Dilution experiments also supported this contention. Poly(Lys) failed to stimulate a CaMKPase mutant in which a Glu cluster corresponding to residues 101–109 in the N-terminal domain was deleted, and the mutant could not interact with poly(Lys) in the presence of Mn^. Thus, the Glu cluster appeared to be the binding site for polycations and to play a pivotal role in the polycation stimulation of CaMKPase activity
Phosphorylation of calmodulin by Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV
No full textElsevier, Ishida, A. ; Kameshita, I. ; Okuno, S. ; Kitani, T. ; Fujisawa, H., ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS, 407(1), 2002, 72-82
authorCalmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaM-kinase IV) phosphorylated calmodulin (CaM), which is its own activator, in a poly--Lys [poly(Lys)]-dependent manner. Although CaM-kinase II weakly phosphorylated CaM under the same conditions, CaM-kinase I, CaM-kinase kinase α, and cAMP-dependent protein kinase did not phosphorylate CaM. Polycations such as poly(Lys) were required for the phosphorylation. The optimum concentration of poly(Lys) for the phosphorylation of 1 μM CaM was about 10 μg/ml, but poly(Lys) strongly inhibited CaM-kinase IV activity toward syntide-2 at this concentration, suggesting that the phosphorylation of CaM is not due to simple activation of the catalytic activity. Poly--Arg could partially substitute for poly(Lys), but protamine, spermine, and poly--Glu/Lys/Tyr (6/3/1) could not. When phosphorylation was carried out in the presence of poly(Lys) having various molecular weights, poly(Lys) with a higher molecular weight resulted in a higher degree of phosphorylation. Binding experiments using fluorescence polarization suggested that poly(Lys) mediates interaction between the CaM-kinase IV/CaM complex and another CaM. The ^P-labeled CaM was digested with BrCN and Achromobacter protease I, and the resulting peptides were purified by reversed-phase HPLC. Automated Edman sequence analysis of the peptides, together with phosphoamino acid analysis, indicated that the major phosphorylation site was Thr^. Activation of CaM-kinase II by the phosphorylated CaM was significantly lower than that by the nonphosphorylated CaM. Thus, CaM-kinase IV activated by binding Ca^/CaM can bind and phosphorylate another CaM with the aid of poly(Lys), leading to a decrease in the activity of CaM
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