The application of semantic technologies to the integration of biological data and the interoperability of bioinformatics analysis and visualization tools has been the common theme of a series of annual BioHackathons hosted in Japan for the past five years. Here we provide a review of the activities and outcomes from the BioHackathons held in 2011 in Kyoto and 2012 in Toyama. In order to efficiently implement semantic technologies in the life sciences, participants formed various sub-groups and worked on the following topics: Resource Description Framework (RDF) models for specific domains, text mining of the literature, ontology development, essential metadata for biological databases, platforms to enable efficient Semantic Web technology development and interoperability, and the development of applications for Semantic Web data. In this review, we briefly introduce the themes covered by these sub-groups. The observations made, conclusions drawn, and software development projects that emerged from these activities are discussed.

Air pollution has become a serious environmental problem causing severe consequences in our ecology, climate, health, and urban development. Effective and efficient monitoring and mitigation of air pollution require a comprehensive understanding of the air pollution process through a reliable database carrying important information about the spatiotemporal variations of air pollutant concentrations at various spatial and temporal scales. Traditional analysis suffers from the severe insufficiency of data collected by only a few stations. In this study, we propose a rigorous framework for the integration of air pollutant concentration data coming from the ground-based stations, which are spatially sparse but temporally dense, and mobile sensors, which are spatially dense but temporally sparse. Based on the integrated database which is relatively dense in space and time, we then estimate air pollutant concentrations for given location and time by applying a two-step local regression model to the data. This study advances the frontier of basic research in air pollution monitoring via the integration of station and mobile sensors and sets up the stage for further research on other spatiotemporal problems involving multi-source and multi-scale information.

In handwriting recognition research, a public image dataset is necessary to evaluate algorithm correctness and runtime performance. Unfortunately, in existing Thai language script image datasets, there is a lack of variety of standard handwriting types. This paper focuses on a new offline Thai handwriting image dataset named Burapha-TH. The dataset has 68 character classes, 10 digit classes, and 320 syllable classes. For constructing the dataset, 1072 Thai native speakers wrote on collection datasheets that were then digitized using a 300 dpi scanner. De-skewing, detection box and segmentation algorithms were applied to the raw scans for image extraction. The experiment used different deep convolutional models with the proposed dataset. The result shows that the VGG-13 model (with batch normalization) achieved accuracy rates of 95.00%, 98.29%, and 96.16% on character, digit, and syllable classes, respectively. The Burapha-TH dataset, unlike all other known Thai handwriting datasets, retains existing noise, the white background, and all artifacts generated by scanning. This comprehensive, raw, and more realistic dataset will be helpful for a variety of research purposes in the future.

Background: The stability index estimation algorithm was derived and applied to develop and implement a balance ability diagnosis system that can be used in daily life. Methods: The system integrated an approach based on sensory function interaction, called the clinical test of sensory interaction with balance. A capacitance and resistance sensing type force mat was fabricated, and a stability index prediction algorithm was developed and applied using the center of pressure variables. The stability index prediction algorithm derived a center of pressure variable for 103 elderly people by Nintendo Wii Balance Board to predict the stability index of the balance system (Biodex SD), and the accuracy of this approach was confirmed. Results: As a result of testing with the test set, the linear regression model confirmed that the r-value ranged between 0.943 and 0.983. To confirm the similarity between the WBB and the flexible force mat, each measured center of pressure value was inputted and calculated in the developed regression model, and the result of the correlation coefficient validation confirmed an r-value of 0.96. Conclusion: The system developed in this study will be applicable to daily life in the home in the form of a floor mat.