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

ASC amino acid transporter 2, defined by enzyme-mediated activation of radical sources, enhances malignancy of GD2-positive small-cell lung cancer

Ganglioside GD2 is specifically expressed in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells, leading to enhancement of malignant phenotypes, such as cell proliferation and migration. However, how GD2 promotes malignant phenotypes in SCLC cells is not well known. In this study, to reveal the mechanisms by which GD2 increases malignant phenotypes in SCLC cells, we used enzyme-mediated activation of radical sources combined with mass spectrometry in GD2+ SCLC cells. Consequently, we identified ASC amino acid transporter 2 (ASCT2), a major glutamine transporter, which coordinately works with GD2. We showed that ASCT2 was highly expressed in glycolipid-enriched microdomain/rafts in GD2+ SCLC cells, and colocalized with GD2 in both proximity ligation assay and immunocytostaining, and bound with GD2 in immunoprecipitation/TLC immunostaining. Malignant phenotypes of GD2+ SCLC cells were enhanced by glutamine uptake, and were suppressed by L-γ-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide, a specific inhibitor of ASCT2, through reduced phosphorylation of p70 S6K1 and S6. These results suggested that ASCT2 enhances glutamine uptake in glycolipid-enriched microdomain/rafts in GD2+ SCLC cells, leading to the enhancement of cell proliferation and migration through increased phosphorylation of the mTOR complex 1 signaling axis

A Genetic Variant in 12q13, a Possible Risk Factor for Bipolar Disorder, Is Associated with Depressive State, Accounting for Stressful Life Events

<div><p>Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified a number of susceptibility genes for schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). However, the identification of risk genes for major depressive disorder (MDD) has been unsuccessful because the etiology of MDD is more influenced by environmental factors; thus, gene–environment (G×E) interactions are important, such as interplay with stressful life events (SLEs). We assessed the G×E interactions and main effects of genes targeting depressive symptoms. Using a case–control design, 922 hospital staff members were evaluated for depressive symptoms according to Beck Depressive Inventory (BDI; “depression” and “control” groups were classified by scores of 10 in the BDI test), SLEs, and personality. A total of sixty-three genetic variants were selected on the basis of previous GWASs of MDD, SCZ, and BD as well as candidate-gene (<i>SLC6A4</i>, <i>BDNF, DBH</i>, and <i>FKBP5</i>) studies. Logistic regression analysis revealed a marginally significant interaction (genetic variant × SLE) at rs4523957 (P_uncorrected = 0.0034) with depression and a significant association of single nucleotide polymorphism identified from evidence of BD GWAS (rs7296288, downstream of <i>DHH</i> at 12q13.1) with depression as the main effect (P_uncorrected = 9.4×10⁻⁴, P_corrected = 0.0424). We also found that SLEs had a larger impact on depression (odds ratio∼3), as reported previously. These results suggest that <i>DHH</i> plays a possible role in depression etiology; however, variants from MDD or SCZ GWAS evidence or candidate genes showed no significant associations or minimal effects of interactions with SLEs on depression.</p></div

Effect of a brief cognitive behavioral program on depressive symptoms among newly licensed registered nurses: An observational study.

Depressive symptoms are a serious problem in workplaces. Hospital staff members, such as newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs), are at particularly increased risk of these symptoms owing to their limited experience. Previous studies have shown that a brief program-based cognitive behavioral therapy program (CBP) can offer effective treatment. Here, we conducted a longitudinal observational study of 683 NLRNs (CBP group, n = 522; no-CBP group, n = 181) over a period of 1 year (six times surveys were done during this period). Outcomes were assessed on the basis of surveys that covered the Beck Depression Inventory-I (BDI). The independent variables were CBP attendance (CBP was conducted 3 months after starting work), personality traits, personal stressful life events, workplace adversity, and pre-CBP change in BDI in the 3 months before CBP (ΔBDIpre-CBP). All factors were included in Cox proportional hazards models with time-dependent covariates for depressive symptoms (BDI ≥10), and we reported hazard ratios (HRs). Based on this analysis, we detected that CBP was significantly associated with benefit for depressive symptoms in all NLRNs (Puncorrected = 0.0137, HR = 0.902). To identify who benefitted most from CBP, we conducted a subgroup analysis based on the change in BDI before CBP (ΔBDIpre-CBP). The strongest association was when BDI scores were low after starting work and increased before CBP (Puncorrected = 0.00627, HR = 0.616). These results are consistent with previous findings, and indicate that CBP may benefit the mental health of NLRNs. Furthermore, selective prevention based on the pattern of BDI change over time may be important in identifying who should be offered CBP first. Although CBP is generally effective for all nurses, such a selective approach may be most appropriate where cost-effectiveness is a prominent concern

心肺に病理組織学的異常を伴う肥満精神病患者の突然死の2例

We present 2 cases of sudden death in obese psychiatric patients who had microscopic cardiopulmonary abnormalities. Postmortem analysis of the bloods from both patients detected several kinds of psychiatric drugs, however their levels were below the lethal level. Case 1 was a 33-year-old woman and her heart showed severe fatty infiltration in the atrioventricular (AV) node and left- sided His which was compressed by hypertrophic septal myocardium and hypertensive pulmonary arteriopathy with endocardial thickening of the right atrium and ventricle. Case 2 was a 37-year-old woman and her heart showed mild downward displacement of the tricuspid valve with severe stenosis of the AV node artery. The cause of death in Case 1 was considered to be acute poisoning by three psychiatric drugs through their effect on the preceding cardiopulmonary abnormalities, while that in Case 2 was considered to be the fatal arrhythmia due to occlusion of the AV node artery resulting from the effect of three psychiatric drugs. These 2 cases suggest that microscopic cardiopulmonary abnormalities may be significant findings in obese psychiatric patients and may help in investigations into the manner of death. Further investigation may be needed for exploring the pathological mechanisms of these abnormal findings in obese and/or psychiatric patient.病理組織学的に心刺激伝導系や肺に異常所見を認めた肥満を伴う精神病患者の突然死の2例を報告する. 共に剖検後の中毒学的検査では, その薬物血中濃度は致死濃度に達していなかった. 症例1は33才の女性で, 聴取した病歴からは睡眠時無呼吸であった可能性がある. 右心系の心内膜肥厚, 房室結節への高度の脂肪浸潤, His束の左方変位と右側中隔心筋からの高度圧排が認められ, 肺に は, 肺高血圧症の存在を示唆する多数の小動脈の狭窄像が認められた. 症例2は37才の女性で, 三尖弁中隔尖の軽度の落ち込み, 房室結節動脈の高度狭窄を認めた. この2例は後天的に形成された刺激伝導系を主体とする心臓の異常, 肺小動脈の異常が突然死の発症に関与したことが伺われ, 従来詳細に検索されてこなかった肥満を伴う精神科患者の突然死の一つの原因になっていることが推 察された

Significant association of SNPs as main effects and G×E interactions on depressive state.

a<p>Chr: chromosome,</p>b<p>SNP: single nucleotide polymorphism,</p>c<p>BP: base position,</p>d<p>Closest gene ±100 kb,</p>e<p>A1: minor allele based on total sample,</p>f<p>A2: alternative allele,</p>g<p>F A: minor allele frequency in depressive state,</p>h<p>F U: minor allele frequency in non-depressive state,</p>i<p>ADD: additive model, SLE: stressful life event,</p>j<p>Bold numbers represents significant P values after Bonferroni correction,</p>k<p>OR: odds ratio.</p><p>Significant association of SNPs as main effects and G×E interactions on depressive state.</p

Clinical backgrounds of the subjects with depressive state and non-depressive state.

<p>Numbers represent means ± SDs.</p><p>*BDI: Beck Depressive Inventory, **SLE: Stressful life event.</p><p>Clinical backgrounds of the subjects with depressive state and non-depressive state.</p