No abstract

The mapping method between the graph generated by KeyGraph and the scenario drawn up by a user is proposed for supporting chance discovery process. Although KeyGraph is widely known as one of the effective tools that support the process of chance discovery, further improvement seems to be required, concerning the ambiguity involved in user's interpretation of the graph. The mapping found by the proposed algorithm is used for extracting the data referred to in the scenario and for annotating those in the original data file. The annotated data files are expected to be used for further data analysis as well as for supporting group discussion. Experiments are performed in terms of scenario similarity calculation based on the annotated data set. The results are compared with typical document retrieval method based on Vector space model (VSM), which shows the availability of annotated data in chance discovery process.

A bulletin board system (BBS) equipped with Key-Graph is proposed for supporting online chance discovery process. While conventional meeting for chance discovery with KeyGraph requires participants to meet in a meeting room, the paper aims to expand the discussion space over the Internet. In order to support online chance discovery process, the BBS has functions for assisting a user in writing scenarios with visual annotation on the KeyGraph. The system also has a function for retrieving similar scenarios. The experimental result with test subjects shows the effectiveness of the BBS for online chance discovery process.

The effects of natto, a fermented soybean food, on transcript levels of hen peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPARG), PPARG coactivator‐1α and −1β (PPARGC1A and PPARGC1B), and nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCOR1) were investigated using real‐time polymerase chain reaction in white leghorn (Julia strain) hens. Twenty‐one‐ and 34‐week‐old hens were fed a basic or 3% dried natto‐supplemented diet for 8 weeks. In the 21‐ and 34‐week‐old hens fed the natto‐supplemented diet, hepatic PPARGC1B and NCOR1 transcript levels and adipose and hepatic PPARG transcript levels were significantly lower, respectively, than those in the control group. Furthermore, 34‐ and 42‐week‐old hens were fed a basic diet supplemented with 3% of the protein/fiber‐enriched fraction (PFB) or 0.6% of the fat‐enriched fraction (FAT) of natto, respectively, for 8 weeks. Adipose PPARG transcript levels were higher in the FAT diet group and significantly lower in the PFB diet group than in the control group. However, both FAT and PFB diet groups showed significantly lower hepatic PPARG transcript levels than did the control group. These results suggest that dried natto influences the transcript levels of PPARG, PPARGC1B, and NCOR1, and the FAT and PFB of natto influence the adipose and hepatic PPARG transcript levels in hens.