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Human travel patterns are commonly studied as networks in which the points of departure and destination are encoded as nodes and the travel frequency between two points is recorded as a weighted edge. However, because travelers often visit multiple destinations, which constitute pathways, an analysis incorporating pathway statistics is expected to be more informative over an approach based solely on pairwise frequencies. Hence, in this study, we apply a higher-order network representation framework to identify characteristic travel patterns from foreign visitor pathways in Japan. We expect that the results herein are mainly useful for marketing research in the tourism industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Using image processing to extract nodular or linear shadows is a key technique of computer-aided diagnosis schemes. This study proposes a new method for extracting nodular and linear patterns of various sizes in medical images. Methods: We have developed a morphology filter bank that creates multiresolution representations of an image. Analysis bank of this filter bank produces nodular and linear patterns at each resolution level. Synthesis bank can then be used to perfectly reconstruct the original image from these decomposed patterns. Results: Our proposed method shows better performance based on a quantitative evaluation using a synthesized image compared with a conventional method based on a Hessian matrix, often used to enhance nodular and linear patterns. In addition, experiments show that our method can be applied to the followings: (1) microcalcifications of various sizes in mammograms can be extracted, (2) blood vessels of various sizes in retinal fundus images can be extracted, and (3) thoracic CT images can be reconstructed while removing normal vessels. Conclusions: Our proposed method is useful for extracting nodular and linear shadows or removing normal structures in medical images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migration and the global media have mixed up all the old cultures into a hybrid brew. How will aging and shrinking societies that need immigrants to survive cope with this new culture? What political philosophy fits this new reality? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the text of remarks given by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto of Japan in February 2001 during a conference on aging in Zurich, Germany, which dealt with the labor supply of Japan.

Focuses on the role of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in liberalizing international trade and investment at a multilateral level. World economy in transition; Reducing border protection; Approaches to leveling `internal barriers' to market access internationally.

The article comments on the emergence of hybrid cultures, a fact of life caused by the increased migration of people from poor countries to satisfy the labor requirements of the advanced world's shrinking and aging population. The global penetration of the mass media also plays a role in the assignment of value to migration and the emergence of hybrid cultures.

Discusses Japan's position in the country's trade war with the United States in the year 1995. Reasons why the US and Japan can not agree on issues related to the automobile industry; Inconsistency of US demands with the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement.