Software Defined Media: Virtualization of Audio-Visual Services

Internet-native audio-visual services are witnessing rapid development. Among these services, object-based audio-visual services are gaining importance. In 2014, we established the Software Defined Media (SDM) consortium to target new research areas and markets involving object-based digital media and Internet-by-design audio-visual environments. In this paper, we introduce the SDM architecture that virtualizes networked audio-visual services along with the development of smart buildings and smart cities using Internet of Things (IoT) devices and smart building facilities. Moreover, we design the SDM architecture as a layered architecture to promote the development of innovative applications on the basis of rapid advancements in software-defined networking (SDN). Then, we implement a prototype system based on the architecture, present the system at an exhibition, and provide it as an SDM API to application developers at hackathons. Various types of applications are developed using the API at these events. An evaluation of SDM API access shows that the prototype SDM platform effectively provides 3D audio reproducibility and interactiveness for SDM applications.Comment: IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC2017), Paris, France, 21-25 May 201

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards avian influenza A (H5N1) among Cambodian women: A cross–sectional study

AbstractObjectiveTo measure highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) among Cambodian women.MethodsThis cross-sectional study selected 246 married women aged between 18–55 years who had backyard poultry and lived at least one year in the areas of the survey through multi-stage cluster sampling. An average score of correct answers was generated to evaluate respondents' knowledge (Good/Poor), attitudes (Positive/Negative), and practices (Good/Bad).ResultsWe reported that about half of the respondents had good knowledge and good practices and four-fifth of them had positive attitudes towards HPAI. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through a logistic regression model to explore contributing factors that raise their KAP levels. Most of the sources were significant in increasing knowledge of the respondent, like television (OR=1.6, 95% CI=1.0–2.7), radio (OR=2.5, 95% CI=1.3–4.9), leaflets/booklets (OR=2.1, 95% CI=1.2–3.9), school students (OR=18.4, 95% CI=2.4–142.9), village health volunteers (OR=4.5, 95% CI=2.2–10.9) etc. Factors such as television (OR=3.7, 95% CI=2.1–6.4), leaflets/booklets (OR=2.6, 95% CI=1.4–5.1), and public health staff (OR=2.2, 95% CI=1.2–4.1) had similar influence on practices. Although, we found similar effect on raising the attitudes of the responded, it was not significant.ConclusionsWe report a satisfactory level of positive attitudes, and moderate level of knowledge and practices related to HPAI among Cambodian women. Raising KAPs through television, radio and other medias may be more efficient than using usual information, education and communication materials to prevent HPAI

Serbian Language version of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Assessment of Reliability

Early detection of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has proven to be of high significance, however there is a limited availability of ASD screening tools in Serbian language. In this study we aim to translate, assess reliability and, in part, test the applicability of Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up (M-CHAT R/F) in Serbian Healthcare environment. We screened 128 children in three primary healthcare centres and 20 children in a tertiary psychiatric center, using M-CHAT R/F translated into Serbian language, between December 2014 and October 2015. At the end of the screening process 80% of participants in the risk group screened positive for ASD, while in the control group 4 (3.1%) participants screened positive, with a mean total scores of 8.25 and 0.66 respectively. The Cronbach's a coefficient was 0.91 and Guttman's.6 was 0.93. Test-retest reliability was deemed as acceptable, and no significant correlation was found between M-CHAT-R/F scores and Epworth Sleepiness Scale for children scores. The Serbian version of the M-CHAT-R/F has shown satisfactory reliability. We can therefore assert that it is a reliable tool for identifying ASD and it can be used in clinical practice to improve early detection, assessment and treatment

Time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography reveals early structural changes in channelrhodopsin

X線自由電子レーザーを用いて、光照射によるチャネルロドプシンの構造変化の過程を捉えることに成功. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-03-26.Channelrhodopsins (ChRs) are microbial light-gated ion channels utilized in optogenetics to control neural activity with light . Light absorption causes retinal chromophore isomerization and subsequent protein conformational changes visualized as optically distinguished intermediates, coupled with channel opening and closing. However, the detailed molecular events underlying channel gating remain unknown. We performed time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallographic analyses of ChR by using an X-ray free electron laser, which revealed conformational changes following photoactivation. The isomerized retinal adopts a twisted conformation and shifts toward the putative internal proton donor residues, consequently inducing an outward shift of TM3, as well as a local deformation in TM7. These early conformational changes in the pore-forming helices should be the triggers that lead to opening of the ion conducting pore

三重県南島町の若いウバメガシ林の物質生産

三重県南島町で若いウバメガシ林分の物質生産について調査した。試料木11本を伐倒し,層別刈取り法で測定した。単位面積当たりの諸量は相対成長関係式と標準地の毎木調査結果とから計算した。本調査林分は林齢約25年生(樹齢10～39年生),優勢木平均樹高4.9mであった。地上部現存量(幹枝95.O t/haと葉9.05 t/ha)は多くないが,地上部現存量密度は2.1 kg/m3という高木林を凌ぐ大きな値を示した。葉現存量(9.60t/ha,シダ0.55 t/haを含む)は他のウバメガシ林と差がなかった。積上げ法で推定した地上部純生産量は21.2t/ha/yrに達した。この値は日本の照葉樹林の平均値と同じである。葉の垂直分布は,最上層に葉現存量の58%を占める最多層があり,その直下層を含めた厚さ2m層に96%の葉が集中した。典型的な広葉草本型生産構造を示した。SLA(1g当たり葉面積)の小さい葉がつく2層に葉現存量が集中するため,林分のLAI(4.83;シダは0.91)は小さかった。しかし,このような単層群落にもかかわらず高い純生産を示したことは注目される。炭素量に換算すると現存量が59 t C/ha(生体53tC/ha,リター6 t C/ha),純生産量11 t C/ha/yrと見積もられた。We quantified dry matter production in a young stand of Quercus phillyraeoides by destructively sampling the aboveground components of eleven trees and using the dry weight and weight growth rate of each component of each tree to develop relationships between DBH^2 and various tree components. These relationships were then applied to DBH data within a quadrat to quantify aboveground biomass and annual production rate for the stand. The weight growth rates of stem and branches were obtained from the bulk density and growth rates in volume measured by the stem analysis, that is, the measurement of the thinking growth between tree rings. The age of the sampled trees ranged from 10 to 39 yr with an arithmetic mean of 25 yr. Dominant tree height was 4.9 m. The aboveground biomass was relatively low at 104.1 t/ha. However, the aboveground biomass density (dry weight divided by the 3-D space occupied by the stand) was 2.1 kg/m3, which is higher than for mature stands of various tree species. Total leaf biomass for the stand (i.e., when understorey was included) was 9.60 t/ha, similar to leaf biomass values for mature Q. phillyraeoides stands. By summing the annual production rates of each component, we estimated the aboveground net production rate to be 21.2 t/ha/yr, which is typical for the lucidophyllous forests in Japan. Leaf biomass density of the stand was greatest in the top stratum (4.3-5.3 m aboveground) and 96% of the leaf biomass was concentrated in the top two strata (3.3-5.3 m). The leaf area index (LAI) value for the tree layer was low (4.83) because leaves were concentrated in the upper canopy in which had thick leaves or a low leaf area to dry weight ratio. Carbon storage was estimated at 59 t C/ha (53 t C/ha in live tissue, 6 t C/ha in litter) and carbon fixation at 11 t C/ha/yr

京都府内全スギ林で生産されたスギ花粉総量はどれほどか : 1997 年-2000 年までの各年の総数試算

京都府相楽郡和束町湯船の約40年生スギ3林分および京都市北部の高齢スギ2林分において, 1997年∿2000年までの花粉生産量をリタートラップ法で調査した。その結果をもとに, 京都府内全スギ林が生産した花粉総量(粒数)を試算した。計算方法は, (齢級別スギ林面積)×(各齢級の平均開花雄花数)×(雄花中の平均花粉数)である。花粉生産量は1997年の平作年から始まり, 凶作⇾平作⇾凶作と多い少ないを繰り返した。しかし, 高齢2林分では2000年の減少は認められなかった。大豊作1995年以降には未開花雄花の落下が増加傾向にある。これは雄花着花の過多が原因となる落花・落蕾, つまり中絶と考えられた。京都府内全スギ林68,666haが生産した花粉総量は1,250×10^個(1997年・1999年)∿134×10^(1998年)の範囲と計算された。これらの花粉が土地面積全体460,780haに均一拡散したと仮定すると27,000/cm^2∿2,900/cm^2となる。花粉生産量は膨大な数になるので,平作年のスギ花粉(250×10^3/cm^2)が10,000倍の土地に均一拡散したとき20∿30/cm^2粒に達する。これは里山の代表種コナラやクリなど, 草本のセイタカアワダチソウでも全く同様の結果になる。開花期には, 様々な花粉が大量に群落周辺に四散しているのが自然の環境であり, このような環境にヒトは適応し繁栄してきたのである。Pollen production rates during the period 1997-2000 were measured by the litter trap method in three approximately 40-year-old Sugi (Cryptpmeria japonica D. Don) stands in Wazuka-cho, southern Kyoto Prefecture, and two aged Sugi stands in northern Kyoto City. Based on these materials, we tried to calculate the total amount of Sugi pollen produced by all Sugi forests in Kyoto Prefecture. The calculation was done as : (land area of Sugi forests by stand age classes)×(average number of open male flowers per ha in each class)×(average number of pollen grains per male flower). The pollen crop for stands about 40 yr old began with an average value in 1997,and changed to a bad crop (1998), an average crop (1999), and a bad crop (2000). This year-to-year fluctuation reflected alternating years of pollen abundance and paucity. However, no decrease could be recognized in aged stands in 2000. The falling of immature male flowers in autumn increased after the great crop harvest of 1995. This seemed to be due to blossom fall or abortion of excessively produced flower buds. The total amount of pollen produced by all Sugi forests in Kyoto Prefecture was calculated to range from 1,250×10^ grains in 1997 and 1999 for an average crop to 134×10^ in 1998 for a bad one. If we assume that this pollen was uniformly spread within the whole 460,780-ha land area of Kyoto Prefecture, the figure would become 27,000-2,900 grains/cm^2. If 250×10^3 pollen grains/cm^2 or 25×10^/ha for an average crop year were uniformly spread over a land area 10,000 times greater, the distribution would be 20-30 grains/cm^2. These results are similar to those for other species with large pollen crops, such as Konara oak (Quercus serrata Thunb.) and Chestnut (Castanea crenata S. et Z.), representative of countryside forests, and Tall Goldenrod (Solidago altissima L.), a perennial herb usually observed in suburbs. Enormous numbers of pollen grains are scattered in and around plant communities in the natural environment. Humans have become adapted to such conditions from several thousand years ago when humans appeared

若いクサギ植栽群落の乾物生産(農学)

陽性落葉低木の物質生産の特徴を明らかにするため,植栽4年目で樹齢7～10(平均8.9)年生のクサギ群落を材料として乾物生産を調査した。本群落は旺盛な樹高成長(平均80cm/yr)を示し,葉量や純生産量がピークの生育ステージにある群落だと思われた。しかし花序が頂生するため,葉現存量(概数で247.7g/m^2)は少なかった。少ない葉量と落葉性が原因で,地上部純生産量(738.99/m^2/yr)は同程度に若いほかの群落に比べて約半分であった。12月の地上部現存量密度は0.38kg/m^3,夏季の葉量を加えた最大見積りでも0.45kg/m^3しかなかった。この小さい現存量密度は,遷移初期段階に出現するクサギ低木群落の特徴だと考えられた。We quantified dry matter production in a young Clerodendrum trichotomum plantation by destructively sampling the above-ground components of three individuals on 4 August 2003, and all 22 individuals within the study quadrat on 1-2 December 2003, in order to clarify the characteristics of matter production of shade-intolerant, deciduous scrubs occurring at the initial stage of plant succession. The age of the plantation after planting was 4 yr, and that of individuals, 7 to 10 yr. The study plantation was thought to be in the rapid growth stage, judging from the high shoot elongation rate (80 cm/yr) . However, leaf biomass (247.7 g/m^2) was low, because inflorescences with bisexual flowers were borne in large clusters at the shoot ends. The net above-ground production rate (738.9 g/m^2/yr) was half that of other young tree communities, because of the low leaf biomass of this deciduous shrub. The above-ground biomass density in December was 0.38 kg/m^3, and the maximum estimate adding leaf biomass in summer was 0.45 kg/m^3. The low above-ground biomass density was a characteristic of C. trichotomum growing at the initial stage of plant succession

若いネムノキ植栽群落の乾物生産(農学)

植栽した若いネムノキの群落(樹齢7年生)において地上部の現存量と純生産量を,生育期間のリターフォール調査と同終了時の皆伐調査とで推定した。今回は花粉をふくめ花や果実の生産量を測定した。推定した現存量や純生産量を陽樹で若い他の落葉広葉樹林の値と比較するとネムノキだけにみられる特徴は認められなかった。ネムノキ群落には陰樹が侵入しやすい特徴を示す値として,低い地上部現存量密度(0.58 kg/m^3),少ない葉量(10月末時点の現存量2.31 t/haとLAIの概数2.5),そして高いRLI (10月下旬に平均19%)があげられる。Aboveground biomass and net production rates in a young persimmon (Albizzia julibrissin) plantation (age after planting: 6 years) were studied with the litter trap method during a growth period in 1999 and by the clear-cutting method at the end of this period. The production rates of flowers, pollen, fruits, and flower and fruit stems were measured. Judging from the comparison of dry-matter production among young deciduous broadleaf and shade-intolerant tree communities, no striking characteristics of the A. julibrissin community were found. The permission showed features suggestive of invasion of shade- tolerant trees into pioneer tree communities, including low biomass density of aboveground parts (0.58 kg/m^3), small leaf-mass (2.31 t/ha in dry matter and approximately 2.5 ha/ha in leaf area, at the end of October), and high relative light intensity on the ground (19%, on 25 October)