Performance improvement of JPEG2000 steganography using QIM

This paper presents a modified QIM-JPEG2000 steganography which improves the previous JPEG2000 steganography using quantization index modulation (QIM). Since after-embedding changes on file size and PSNR by the modified QIM-JPEG2000 are smaller than those by the previous QIM-JPEG2000, the modified QIM-JPEG2000 should be more secure than the previous QIM-JPEG2000.4th International Conference on Intelligent Information Hiding and Multimedia Signal Processing (IIH-MSP 2008), 15-17, August, 2008, Harbin, Chin

Live E! Project: Establishment of Infrastructure Sharing Environmental Information

The Live E! project is an open research consortium among industry and academia to explore the platform to share the digital information related with the earth and our living environment. We have getting a lot of low cost sensor nodes with Internet connectivity. The deployment of broad-band and ubiquitous networks will enable autonomous and global digital information sharing over the globe. In this paper, we describe the technical and operational overview of Live E! project, while discussing the objective, such as education, disaster protection/reduction/recovery or busi-ness cases, and goal of this project activity. 1

Light activates the adrenal gland: Timing of gene expression and glucocorticoid release

SummaryLight is a powerful synchronizer of the circadian rhythms, and bright light therapy is known to improve metabolic and hormonal status of circadian rhythm sleep disorders, although its mechanism is poorly understood. In the present study, we revealed that light induces gene expression in the adrenal gland via the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)-sympathetic nervous system. Moreover, this gene expression accompanies the surge of plasma and brain corticosterone levels without accompanying activation of the hypothalamo-adenohypophysial axis. The abolishment after SCN lesioning, and the day-night difference of light-induced adrenal gene expression and corticosterone release, clearly indicate that this phenomenon is closely linked to the circadian clock. The magnitude of corticostereone response is dose dependently correlated with the light intensity. The light-induced clock-dependent secretion of glucocorticoids adjusts cellular metabolisms to the new light-on environment

Total syntheses of disulphated glycosphingolipid SB1a and the related monosulphated SM1a

Total syntheses of two natural sulphoglycolipids, disulphated glycosphingolipid SB1a and the structurally related monosulphated SM1a, are described. They have common glycan sequences and ceramide moieties and are associated with human epithelial carcinomas. The syntheses featured efficient glycan assembly and the glucosyl ceramide cassette as a versatile building block. The binding of the synthetic sulphoglycolipids by the carcinoma-specific monoclonal antibody AE3 was investigated using carbohydrate microarray technology

Exfoliated graphene sheets decorated with metal / metal oxide nanoparticles: simple preparation from cation exchanged graphite oxide

We produced carbon hybrid materials of graphene sheets decorated with metal or metal oxide nanoparticles of gold, silver, copper, cobalt, or nickel from cation exchanged graphite oxide. Measurements using powder X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray absorption spectra revealed that the Au and Ag in the materials (Au-Gr and Ag-Gr) existed on graphene sheets as metal nanoparticles, whereas Cu and Co in the materials (Cu-Gr and Co-Gr) existed as a metal oxide. Most Ni particles in Ni-Gr were metal, but the surfaces of large particles were partly oxidized, producing a core-shell structure. The Ag-Gr sample showed a catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction in 1.0 M KOH aq. under an oxygen atmosphere. Ag-Gr is superior as a cathode in alkaline fuel cells, which should not be disturbed by the methanol cross-over problem from the anode. We established an effective approach to prepare a series of graphene-nanoparticle composite materials using heat treatment

Effectiveness of Photodynamic Therapy and Nd-YAG Laser Treatment for Obstructed Tracheobronchial Malignancies

Since 1980, advanced lung carcinomas were treated with palliative laser therapy for the purpose of opening the endobronchial stenosis and obstruction by either photodynamic therapy (PDT) or Nd-YAG laser treatment at Tokyo Medical University. A total of 258 lesions were treated, 81 by PDT and 177 by Nd-YAG laser treatment. PDT achieved effective results in 61 (75%) of 81 lesions. In the Nd-YAG laser group, 143 (81%) of 177 lesions showed effective results. When the tumor was located in the trachea or main bronchi, effective results were obtained in 73% (19 of 26) of cases treated by PDT and in 93% of cases (64 of 69) treated by Nd-YAG laser. However, in cases in which the tumor was located in lobar or segmental bronchi, the tumor response was effective in 76% (42 of 55) of PDT-treated patients and 73% (79 of 108) of Nd-YAG laser-treated patients. With a mortality rate of 0%, the greatest advantage of PDT over Nd-YAG treatment was safety. Considering complications, PDT seems to be useful for obstruction of lobar and segmental bronchus. Nevertheless, when deciding among alternative therapies, physicians treating patients with advanced lung carcinoma should give careful consideration to the benefit and complications of both laser therapies and decide the most suitable modality

The Molecular Mechanism Underlying Continuous Exercise Training-Induced Adaptive Changes of Lipolysis in White Adipose Cells

Physical exercise accelerates the mobilization of free fatty acids from white adipocytes to provide fuel for energy. This happens in several tissues and helps to regulate a whole-body state of metabolism. Under these conditions, the hydrolysis of triacylglycerol (TG) that is found in white adipocytes is known to be augmented via the activation of these lipolytic events, which is referred to as the “lipolytic cascade.” Indeed, evidence has shown that the lipolytic responses in white adipocytes are upregulated by continuous exercise training (ET) through the adaptive changes in molecules that constitute the lipolytic cascade. During the past few decades, many lipolysis-related molecules have been identified. Of note, the discovery of a new lipase, known as adipose triglyceride lipase, has redefined the existing concepts of the hormone-sensitive lipase-dependent hydrolysis of TG in white adipocytes. This review outlines the alterations in the lipolytic molecules of white adipocytes that result from ET, which includes the molecular regulation of TG lipases through the lipolytic cascade