•We created an artificial intelligence system by using an Attention Branch Network.•Embryo features in areas focused on by the artificial intelligence were visualized.•Our artificial intelligence ...system had the potential to predict live birth.
Can artificial intelligence (AI) improve the prediction of live births based on embryo images?
The AI system was created by using the Attention Branch Network associated with deep learning to predict the probability of live birth from 141,444 images recorded by time-lapse imaging of 470 transferred embryos, of which 91 resulted in live birth and 379 resulted in non-live birth that included implantation failure, biochemical pregnancy and clinical miscarriage. The possibility that the calculated confidence scores of each embryo and the focused areas visualized in each embryo image can help predict subsequent live birth was examined.
The AI system for the first time successfully visualized embryo features in focused areas that had potential to distinguish between live and non-live births. No visual feature of embryos were visualized that were associated with live or non-live births, although there were many images in which high-focused areas existed around the zona pellucida. When a cut-off level for the confidence score was set at 0.341, the live birth rate was significantly greater for embryos with a score higher than the cut-off level than for those with a score lower than the cut-off level (P < 0.001). In addition, the live birth rate of embryos with good morphological quality and confidence scores higher than 0.341 was 41.1%.
The authors have created an AI system with a confidence score that is useful for non-invasive selection of embryos that could result in live birth. Further study is necessary to improve selection accuracy.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
We measured differences in %C, %N, δ
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C, and δ
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N of plant functional types (PFTs) between burned and unburned ground surfaces soon after a wildfire on a north-facing slope in interior Alaska. ...The C and N were measured for 16 species and Sphagnum litter. δ
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C differed among the PFTs and was low for trees and shrubs, suggesting that woody stems slowed C dynamics or showed low water use efficiency. δ
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N concentrations suggested that the herbaceous plants depended less on the mycorrhizal associations that became weak on the burned surfaces. The shrub leaves showed the lowest δ
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N of PFTs and showed higher δ
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N on the burned surface, showing that N transfer from the soils to the leaves in the shrubs was slowed by the wildfire. Mosses showed the highest C/N ratio. Sphagnum litter decomposed faster on the burned surface, and %N and δ
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N in the litter increased from the second to third year on both burned and unburned surfaces, while %C changed little. In conclusion, the responses to the wildfire differed among the PFTs as characterized by their C and N dynamics.
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BF, DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The authors have recently developed a 3D shape measurement method using a combination line charge-coupled device (CCD) camera that can accurately measure 3D shapes underwater. This method can ...precisely measure the deformation of flexible composite marine propellers. The authors measured the deformation of a flexible model propeller fabricated with a 3D printer. To utilize the results of the deformation measurement as verification data for fluid–structure interaction calculation, not only the amount of deformation but also the deformed 3D blade shape is necessary. The authors have developed an estimation method for the deformed blade shape of flexible composite marine propellers. The authors focus on a feature that the deformed blade shape can be represented by the position change of the wing section and developed an estimation method for the deformed blade shape by image registration. To verify the system’s effectiveness, model experiments were conducted in the NMRI’s large cavitation tunnel using the highly skewed propeller (HSP) of a training ship “SEIUN-MARU I”. Comparing the results of experiments and numerical simulation, the authors show the effectiveness of the developed estimation method.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Driving simulator usage is often accompanied by motion sickness, and techniques for its prevention are not yet established. To reduce visually induced motion sickness (VIMS), we investigated the ...effects of synchronised presentation of engine sounds and motorcycle vibration on VIMS. A total of 80 participants experienced a driving scene with a head-mounted display for 5 minutes with or without synchronised presentation of engine sound and vibration. The results showed that VIMS scores, as measured by the Fast Motion Sickness scale, were significantly lower in participants who experienced the driving scene with sounds and vibration than in those who experienced the scene with sounds only, vibration only, or neither. Multiple regression analyses revealed that susceptibility to VIMS consistently explained the severity of VIMS to some extent but not with perceived realism of the virtual reality (VR) scene, sex, and experiences about VR devices and vehicles. This study demonstrated that simultaneous presentation of engine sounds and vibration, which were synchronous to each other and tightly coupled with the visual flow speed, effectively reduces VIMS while experiencing motorcycling simulators. The findings not only improve practical knowledge for reducing VIMS in driving simulators but also provide evidence for understanding the mechanisms of VIMS.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Propeller cavitation is one of the main causes of pressure fluctuation and noise around marine propellers, and tip vortex cavitation is one of the main causes of high-frequency underwater radiated ...noise. To predict tip vortex cavitation, it is necessary to correctly describe the radius of the vortex core and the vortex circulation of the tip vortex. Therefore, in this study, non-cavitating flow field measurements around the tip of model propellers were made for the 0.75 m diameter working section of the large cavitation tunnel at the National Maritime Research Institute, Japan (NMRI) using 2D-PIV. Identification procedures were investigated to develop a tip vortex model. The vortex properties (radius of vortex core and vortex circulation) of the tip vortex were obtained by applying by a Rankine vortex model and a Burgers vortex model. The measured velocity and vorticity values around the tip vortex as identified by the Burgers vortex model were in better agreement than those given by the Rankine vortex model. The Burgers vortex model was suitable for obtaining vortex properties from the measured flow field around the tip vortex. The vortex properties obtained from the identification using the Burgers vortex model showed the Reynolds number demonstrated a greater effect on the radius of the vortex core and vortex circulation. The higher the Reynolds numbers, the smaller the radius of the vortex core and the smaller vortex circulation tends to be. It is also shown that this Reynolds number effect differs depending on the blade shape of the propellers.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Novel 3,5-dimethylpyridin-4(1H)-one scaffold compounds were synthesized and evaluated as AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activators. Unlike direct AMPK activators, this series of compounds showed ...selective cell growth inhibitory activity against human breast cancer cell lines. By optimizing the lead compound (4a) from our library, 2-({1′-(4-fluorophenyl)methyl-2-methyl-1′,2′,3′,6′-tetrahydro3,4′-bipyridin-6-yl}oxy)methyl-3,5-dimethylpyridin-4(1H)-one (25) was found to have potent AMPK activating activity. Compound 25 also showed good aqueous solubility while maintaining the unique selectivity in cell growth inhibitory activity.
Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a key role in maintaining cellular metabolism. AMP or adenosine diphosphate (ADP) levels rise during metabolic stress, such as ...during nutrient starvation, hypoxia and muscle contraction, and bind to AMPK to induce activity. Recently, activation of AMPK has been considered an attractive therapeutic strategy in the field of human oncology. Structural optimization of lead compound 2, a new type of AMPK activator with potent AMPK activation activity and attractive selective growth inhibition against human cancer cells, improved aqueous solubility, metabolic stability and animal pharmacokinetics (PK) and culminated in the identification of (5-{1-(6-methoxypyridin-3-yl)methylpiperidin-4-yl}-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)(4-{4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylmethyl}piperazin-1-yl)methanone ditosylate, ASP4132 (28). Studies on ASP4132 had advanced to clinical trials for the treatment of cancer.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Aim
This study is to investigate the role of amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis before and after the beginning of noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in Japan.
Methods
We performed a retrospective ...analysis of genetic amniocentesis at mid‐trimester (15–20 gestational weeks) for fetal karyotype analysis at Nagoya City University between April 2006 and March 2020. The indications, test results, and the detection rate of fetal abnormal karyotype were compared before (phase 1, P1) and after (phase 2, P2) beginning of NIPT at April 2013.
Results
A total of 2458 (P1: 1132, P2: 1326) amniocentesis were enrolled in this study. The most frequent indication was advanced maternal age in both phases (P1: 78.2% %, P2: 81.1%). In P2, 110 patients (8.3%) received amniocentesis after positive or nonreportable NIPT results. Other indications were fetal abnormal findings by ultrasounds (P1: 15.4%, P2: 17.7%), abnormal maternal serum screening results (P1: 8.0%, P2: 10%), previous child with fetal chromosome aberration (P1: 6.5%, P2: 3.5%), and translocation of either partner (P1:1.5%, P2: 2.1%). The detection rate for fetal chromosomal aberrations including all indications was significantly increased in P2 (15.9%, 95% CI 14.0–18.0) as compared to P1 (9.0%, 7.4–10.8). However, if the indication was only advanced maternal age, the positive detection rate kept low in both phases (P1: 5.2%, 3.7–7.1, P2: 4.2%, 2.9–5.9).
Conclusion
Since the initiation of NIPT, the detection rate of fetal chromosomal abnormalities was higher in this study, suggesting that amniocentesis cannot be strongly recommended for advanced maternal age alone.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
This study reports the synthesis and evaluation of novel indirect AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activators. The series of compounds selectively inhibited cell growth in several human breast ...cancer cell lines by activating AMPK. We performed back-up medicinal chemistry synthetic research on ASP4132, a previously reported as a compound for clinical development that acts as an indirect AMPK activator. This led to the successful identification of 4-({4-5-({1-(5-ethoxypyrazin-2-yl)methyl-4-fluoropiperidin-4-yl}methoxy)-3-methylpyridine-2-carbonylpiperazin-1-yl}methyl)benzonitrile succinate (27b), a potent, highly aqueous soluble and metabolically stable compound in human hepatocytes. Compound 27b also showed weaker human Ether-a-go-go Related Gene (hERG) inhibitory activity than that of compound 13 and ASP4132. Therefore, 27b was a promising AMPK activator and a second-generation clinical candidate for treatment for human cancer.
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