Overview of the charging situation for digital contents in Japan: From the viewpoint of compensation for private sound and visual recording

Japanese copyright law consists of two parts. One has to do with the rights of the content holder. The other is concerned with limitations to the rights of the content holder, such as compensation for private sound and visual recording; that is, charges for copying media where it is difficult to charge individually, as is the case with Digital Rights Management (DRM ). Such compensation permits the holders of the content to collect royalties through a special compensation arrangement. That is, the designated management associations impose the obligation for compensation on the manufacturers of recording devices. Despite the spread of such compensation arrangements, new challenges continue to arise, such the case of SARVH, the designated management association, brought against Toshiba, a manufacturer of DVD recorders. The Tokyo District Court ruled, 'Compensation is not required under copyright law, but just that all possible efforts be made.' It remains unclear whether holders of content can receive sufficient royalties or not. An analysis of the latest decision regarding digital content, from the point of copyright law, clarifies the relationship between DRM and compensation for private sound and visual recording. To accommodate stakeholders' requirements, a new regulation or structure for payment of royalties is proposed. --copyright law,DRM (Digital Rights Manegement),compensation,levy

A successful model of regional healthcare information exchange in Japan: Case Study in Kagawa Prefecture

In this study, we focused on analysis of healthcare data exchange over the network. For the advance of broadband capability development, many governments expect online medical information exchange between medical institutions. Japanese government also has tried to deploy ICT in the healthcare field. In Japan, many healthcare ICT projects started, but almost of all the projects face many issues and failed to continue. This situation caused us to clarify the success factor of healthcare information exchange network. For inspecting the success factors, we analyzed information access of healthcare systems in Kagawa prefecture of Japan. Kagawa prefecture is one of the most advance areas for healthcare information technology. We analyzed four medical ICT projects in Kagawa prefecture: K-MIX, Critical Pathway for Diabetes, E-prescription, and PHR. In addition, we inspected characteristics of exchanged data in the network, and stakeholder involved in these projects. This analysis lets us find various types of healthcare ICT projects. Characteristic of data processed in the projects caused differences of characteristic of the projects. On the other hand, multiple systems process same data, though the project does not share the data itself. Considering various types of medical information exchanges projects, we propose classification and standard format of exchanged data according to their characteristic are critical for efficient business deployment. --e-Health,regional healthcare information exchange,EHR

AES Flow Interception: Key Snooping Method on Virtual Machine - Exception Handling Attack for AES-NI -

In this paper, we propose a method for snooping AES encryption key on Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM), and we present countermeasures against this attack. Recently, virtualization technology has rapidly emerged as a key technology for cloud computing. In general, the virtualization technology composes two software parts: one is virtual machine (VM) management software called Virtual Machine Monitor (VMM), and the other is its associated software. The virtualization technology at present does not provide methods for certifying dependability of the VMMs. In this situation, the following case is possible: when malicious service providers serve tampered VMMs and their users run their VMs on these VMMs, the users will suffer unintended information leakage. As one leakage case, in this paper, we propose a method for snooping AES encryption key on the VMM. In addition, we present countermeasures against this key snooping

HbA1c and telemedicine during COVID-19

Aims/Introduction: To investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic affected behavioral changes and glycemic control in patients with diabetes and to conduct a survey of telemedicine during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 2,348 patients were included from 15 medical facilities. Patients were surveyed about their lifestyle changes and attitudes toward telemedicine. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were compared among before (from June 1 to August 31, 2019) and in the first (from June 1 to August 31, 2020) and in the second (from June 1 to August 31, 2021) year of the pandemic. A survey of physician attitudes toward telemedicine was also conducted. Results: The HbA1c levels were comparable between 2019 (7.27 ± 0.97%), 2020 (7.28 ± 0.92%), and 2021 (7.25 ± 0.94%) without statistical difference between each of those 3 years. Prescriptions for diabetes medications increased during the period. The frequency of eating out was drastically reduced (51.7% in 2019; 30.1% in 2020), and physical activity decreased during the pandemic (48.1% in 2019; 41.4% in 2020; 43.3% in 2021). Both patients and physicians cited increased convenience and reduced risk of infection as their expectations for telemedicine, while the lack of physician–patient interaction and the impossibility of consultation and examination were cited as sources of concern. Conclusions: Our data suggest that glycemic control did not deteriorate during the COVID-19 pandemic with appropriate intensification of diabetes treatment in patients with diabetes who continued to attend specialized diabetes care facilities, and that patients and physicians shared the same expectations and concerns about telemedicine

The current shortage and future surplus of doctors: a projection of the future growth of the Japanese medical workforce

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Starting in the late 1980s, the Japanese government decreased the number of students accepted into medical school each year in order to reduce healthcare spending. The result of this policy is a serious shortage of doctors in Japan today, which has become a social problem in recent years. In an attempt to solve this problem, the Japanese government decided in 2007 to increase the medical student quota from 7625 to 8848. Furthermore, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), Japan's ruling party after the 2009 election, promised in their manifesto to increase the medical student quota to 1.5 times what it was in 2007, in order to raise the number of medical doctors to more than 3.0 per 1000 persons. It should be noted, however, that this rapid increase in the medical student quota may bring about a serious doctor surplus in the future, especially because the population of Japan is decreasing.</p> <p>The purpose of this research is to project the future growth of the Japanese medical doctor workforce from 2008 to 2050 and to forecast whether the proposed additional increase in the student quota will cause a doctor surplus.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Simulation modeling of the Japanese medical workforce.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Even if the additional increase in the medical student quota promised by the DPJ fails, the number of practitioners is projected to increase from 286 699 (2.25 per 1000 persons) in 2008 to 365 533 (over the national numerical goal of 3.0 per 1000) in 2024. The number of practitioners per 1000 persons is projected to further increase to 3.10 in 2025, to 3.71 in 2035, and to 4.69 in 2050. If the additional increase in the medical student quota promised by the DPJ is realized, the total workforce is projected to rise to 392 331 (3.29 per 1000 persons) in 2025, 464 296 (4.20 per 1,000 persons) in 2035, and 545 230 (5.73 per 1000 persons) in 2050.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The plan to increase the medical student quota will bring about a serious doctor surplus in the long run.</p

Evaluating the Effects of Singing Songs in Ethnic Music Therapy for Dementia Patients with a Novel Near-infrared Spectroscopy (Data Analysis Method)

Background: Dementia is already critical issues in the world. This situation requires establishment of rehabilitation for relieving symptoms of patients. We have done research based on our assumption that most effective music therapy differs from culture, because music is dependent on cultural context. In this paper, we focus on active behavior (sing a song) of music therapy, and studied its effects. We used Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) as a method for evaluating effectiveness of music therapy, though standard procedures of NIRS data processing has not been established. This is the reason why we here propose a new analysis method of NIRS data for evaluating effectiveness of music therapy. Methods: We collected 87 volunteers including 79 dementia patients. We let the volunteers hear music prepared by us as follows: 2 famous nursery songs, 2 famous play songs, 2 original music, and 2 classical scale. We observed their response in 2 ways: one is a physiological response measured by NIRS, and the other is a subjective response measured by questionnaires. Results: Our result showed dementia patients prefer Japanese old melodies, but they don't understand tonality of the Japanese music. This tendency is strengthened by adding Song task. Also, dementia patients are poor at careful control of the blood volume change. Our result displayed singing a song induces out-of-control state of brain blood flow in every stage. Our results revealed characteristic responses of dementia patients onto Japanese music. Conclusion: We expect our result provides an evidence for better music therapy for dementia patients with Japanese culture

Music Therapy with Ethnic Music for Dementia Patients

Background: Dementia is already critical issues in the world when the society experiences super-aging. This situation requires establishment of rehabilitation methods for relieving symptoms of the patients. We have done research based on our assumption that most effective music therapy differs from culture, because music is dependent on cultural context. Here, we propose a hypothesis that the Japanese music gives better effects to Japanese patients than Classical music. Methods: In this study, we collected 87 volunteers including 79 dementia patients, 5 people 75). We let the volunteers hear music prepared by us as follows: we selected 2 songs (Major/Minor with the same tonality) from famous nursery songs, 2 songs from famous play songs, and we composed 2 original songs (Major/Minor) with one tonality. We prepared 2 classical music as follows: one has scale of C Major and the other has scale of C Minor. We observed their response in 2 ways: one is physiological response measured by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), which reveals changes of blood flow, and the other is subjective response measured by questionnaires. Results: Our result showed dementia patient has tendency for judging Major on the Japanese music, whereas normal people has tendency judging Minor on them. Conclusion: Our results revealed characteristic responses of dementia patients onto the Japanese music, and we expect our result provides an evidence for better music therapy for dementia patients with Japanese culture

Impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on behavioral changes and glycemic control and a survey of telemedicine in patients with diabetes: A multicenter retrospective observational study

ABSTRACT Aims/Introduction To investigate whether the COVID‐19 pandemic affected behavioral changes and glycemic control in patients with diabetes and to conduct a survey of telemedicine during the pandemic. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, a total of 2,348 patients were included from 15 medical facilities. Patients were surveyed about their lifestyle changes and attitudes toward telemedicine. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were compared among before (from June 1 to August 31, 2019) and in the first (from June 1 to August 31, 2020) and in the second (from June 1 to August 31, 2021) year of the pandemic. A survey of physician attitudes toward telemedicine was also conducted. Results The HbA1c levels were comparable between 2019 (7.27 ± 0.97%), 2020 (7.28 ± 0.92%), and 2021 (7.25 ± 0.94%) without statistical difference between each of those 3 years. Prescriptions for diabetes medications increased during the period. The frequency of eating out was drastically reduced (51.7% in 2019; 30.1% in 2020), and physical activity decreased during the pandemic (48.1% in 2019; 41.4% in 2020; 43.3% in 2021). Both patients and physicians cited increased convenience and reduced risk of infection as their expectations for telemedicine, while the lack of physician–patient interaction and the impossibility of consultation and examination were cited as sources of concern. Conclusions Our data suggest that glycemic control did not deteriorate during the COVID‐19 pandemic with appropriate intensification of diabetes treatment in patients with diabetes who continued to attend specialized diabetes care facilities, and that patients and physicians shared the same expectations and concerns about telemedicine

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on behavioral changes and glycemic control and a survey of telemedicine in patients with diabetes : A multicenter retrospective observational study

Aims/Introduction: To investigate whether the COVID-19 pandemic affected behavioral changes and glycemic control in patients with diabetes and to conduct a survey of telemedicine during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 2,348 patients were included from 15 medical facilities. Patients were surveyed about their lifestyle changes and attitudes toward telemedicine. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were compared among before (from June 1 to August 31, 2019) and in the first (from June 1 to August 31, 2020) and in the second (from June 1 to August 31, 2021) year of the pandemic. A survey of physician attitudes toward telemedicine was also conducted. Results: The HbA1c levels were comparable between 2019 (7.27 ± 0.97%), 2020 (7.28 ± 0.92%), and 2021 (7.25 ± 0.94%) without statistical difference between each of those 3 years. Prescriptions for diabetes medications increased during the period. The frequency of eating out was drastically reduced (51.7% in 2019; 30.1% in 2020), and physical activity decreased during the pandemic (48.1% in 2019; 41.4% in 2020; 43.3% in 2021). Both patients and physicians cited increased convenience and reduced risk of infection as their expectations for telemedicine, while the lack of physician–patient interaction and the impossibility of consultation and examination were cited as sources of concern. Conclusions: Our data suggest that glycemic control did not deteriorate during the COVID-19 pandemic with appropriate intensification of diabetes treatment in patients with diabetes who continued to attend specialized diabetes care facilities, and that patients and physicians shared the same expectations and concerns about telemedicine