UbiREAL: Realistic Smartspace Simulator for Systematic Testing

UbiComp 2006 : 8th International Conference on Ubiquitous Computing , Sep 17-21, 2006 , Orange County, CA, USAIn this paper, we propose a simulator for facilitating reliable and inexpensive development of ubiquitous applications where each application software controls a lot of information appliances based on the state of external environment, user’s contexts and preferences. The proposed simulator realistically reproduces behavior of application software on virtual devices in a virtual 3D space. For this purpose, the simulator provides functions to facilitate deployment of virtual devices in a 3D space, simulates communication among the devices from MAC level to application level, and reproduces the change of physical quantities (e.g., temperature) caused by devices (e.g., air conditioners). Also, we keep software portability between virtual devices and real devices. As the most prominent function of the simulator, we provide a systematic and visual testing method for testing whether a given application software satisfies specified requirements

違法ダウンロードおよび違法アップロードに関する主観的重大性と取り締まりへの支持の規定要因 : 著作権法観と著作権（法）への関心を中心に

本研究の目的は、違法ダウンロードと違法アップロードという著作権侵害を対象に、それらの侵害によって生じた結果が重大だとする主観的な評価（「主観的重大性」）と、そのような侵害の行為者をどの程度厳しく取り締まるべきかという「取り締まりへの支持」を規定する要因を検討することである。具体的には、このような主観的重大性と取り締まりへの支持を規定する要因として、「著作権法観」と「著作権（法）への関心」に着目し、これらの変数を測定する質問項目を作成した上で、大学生を対象に質問紙法による調査を行なった。最終的に217名から回答を得た。これらの回答を共分散構造分析によって検討した結果、1）主観的重大性は、「著作権者の保護」を強調する著作権法観、「文化の促進」を強調する著作権法観、および著作権（法）への関心によって規定されること、2）取り締まりへの支持は、主として文化の促進を強調する著作権法観ならびに主観的重大性によって規定されることが明らかにされた。This study aims to investigate the determinants of the subjective evaluation of copyright violations, namely illegal downloading and uploading, and support for imposing sanctions for such violations. For this purpose, building on existing discussions and research, we assumed that the images of and interests in copyright law are antecedents of the subjective evaluations of and support for the imposition of sanctions for copyright violations. Based on this assumption, we developed scales to measure these variables, and conducted a questionnaire survey among 217 university students. The results of structural equation modeling revealed the following: 1) subjective evaluations of copyright violations were determined by the image of copyright law that emphasizes the protection of the copyright holder\u27s rights and the facilitation of culture through copyright as well as interests in copyright (law); and 2) support for the imposition of sanctions was mainly determined by the subjective evaluations and image of copyright law that emphasizes the protection of the copyright holder\u27s right. We also present the limitations of this study and directions for future research

Craniocervical junction abnormalities with atlantoaxial subluxation caused by ventral subluxation of C2 in a dog

Craniocervical junction abnormalities with atlantoaxial subluxation caused by ventral subluxation of C2 were diagnosed in a 6-month-old female Pomeranian with tetraplegia as a clinical sign. Lateral survey radiography of the neck with flexion revealed  atlantoaxial subluxation with ventral subluxation of C2. Computed tomography revealed absence of dens and atlanto-occipital overlapping. Magnetic resonance imaging showed compression of the spinal cord and indentation of caudal cerebellum. The diagnosis was Chiari-like malformation, atlantoaxial subluxation with ventral displacement of C2,  atlanto-occipital overlapping, and syringomyelia. The dog underwent foramen magnum decompression, dorsal laminectomy of C1, and ventral fixation of the atlantoaxial joint. Soon after the operation, voluntary movements of the legs were recovered. Finally, the dog could stand and walk without assistance. The dog had complicated malformations at the craniocervical junction but foramen magnum decompression and dorsal  laminectomy for Chiari-like malformation, and ventral fixation for atlantoaxial  subluxation resulted in an excellent clinical outcome.Keywords: Atlantoaxial subluxation, Atlanto-occipital overlapping, Chiari-like  malformation, Craniocervical junction abnormalities, Foramen magnum  decompression

Association of lower limb muscle mass and energy expenditure with visceral fat mass in healthy men

BACKGROUND: A high-calorie diet and physical inactivity, an imbalance between caloric intake and energy consumption, are major causes of metabolic syndrome (MetS), which manifests as accumulation of visceral fat and insulin resistance. However, the lifestyle-related factors associated with visceral fat mass in healthy men are not fully understood. METHODS: We evaluated visceral fat area (VFA), skeletal muscle mass, caloric intake, and energy expenditure in 67 healthy male participants (mean age, 36.9 ± 8.8 years; body mass index 23.4 ± 2.5 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: Multiple regression analysis showed that the total skeletal muscle mass (P < 0.001) were negatively and age (P < 0.001) were positively associated with VFA. Lower limb muscle mass (P < 0.001) was strongly associated with VFA. However, total caloric intake, total energy expenditure, and energy expenditure during exercise were not associated with VFA. CONCLUSIONS: Skeletal muscle mass especially lower limb muscle mass negatively contributes to visceral fat mass in healthy men. Therefore, maintaining lower limb muscular fitness through daily activity may be a useful strategy for controlling visceral obesity and metabolic syndrome

Pipeline scheduling with input port constraints for an FPGA-based biochemical simulator

This paper discusses design methodology of high-throughput arithmetic pipeline modules for an FPGA-based biochemical simulator. Since limitation of data-input bandwidth caused by port constraints often has a negative impact on pipeline scheduling results, we propose a priority assignment method of input data which enables efficient arithmetic pipeline scheduling under given input port constraints. Evaluation results with frequently used rate-law functions in biochemical models revealed that the proposed method achieved shorter latency compared to ASAP and ALAP scheduling with random input orders, reducing hardware costs by 17.57% and by 27.43% on average, respectively.The original publication is available at www.springerlink.co

Special Relativistic Simulations of Magnetically-dominated Jets in Collapsing Massive Stars

We perform a series of two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic core-collapse simulations of rapidly rotating and strongly magnetized massive stars. To study the properties of magnetic explosions for a longer time stretch of postbounce evolution, we develop a new code under the framework of special relativity including a realistic equation of state with a multiflavor neutrino leakage scheme. Our results show the generation of the magnetically-dominated jets in the two ways. One is launched just after the core-bounce in a prompt way and another is launched at $\sim 100$ ms after the stall of the prompt shock. We find that the shock-revival occurs when the magnetic pressure becomes strong, due to the field wrapping, enough to overwhelm the ram pressure of the accreting matter. The critical toroidal magnetic fields for the magnetic shock-revival are found to be universal of $\sim 10^{15}\mathrm{G}$ behind the jets. We point out that the time difference before the shock-revival has a strong correlation with the explosions energies. Our results suggest that the magnetically dominated jets are accompanied by the formation of the magnetars. Since the jets are mildly relativistic, we speculate that they might be the origin of some observed X-ray flashes.Comment: 50 pages, 14 figures, Accepted to ApJ, A paper with high-resolution figures available at http://www-utap.phys.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/~takiwaki/res/index-j.htm

Percutaneous coronary intervention using new-generation drug-eluting stents versus coronary arterial bypass grafting in stable patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease: From the CREDO-Kyoto PCI/CABG registry Cohort-3

AIMS: There is a scarcity of studies comparing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using new-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with multi-vessel coronary artery disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: The CREDO-Kyoto PCI/CABG registry Cohort-3 enrolled 14927 consecutive patients who underwent first coronary revascularization with PCI or isolated CABG between January 2011 and December 2013. The current study population consisted of 2464 patients who underwent multi-vessel coronary revascularization including revascularization of left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) either with PCI using new-generation DES (N = 1565), or with CABG (N = 899). Patients in the PCI group were older and more often had severe frailty, but had less complex coronary anatomy, and less complete revascularization than those in the CABG group. Cumulative 5-year incidence of a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction or stroke was not significantly different between the 2 groups (25.0% versus 21.5%, P = 0.15). However, after adjusting confounders, the excess risk of PCI relative to CABG turned to be significant for the composite endpoint (HR 1.27, 95%CI 1.04-1.55, P = 0.02). PCI as compared with CABG was associated with comparable adjusted risk for all-cause death (HR 1.22, 95%CI 0.96-1.55, P = 0.11), and stroke (HR 1.17, 95%CI 0.79-1.73, P = 0.44), but with excess adjusted risk for myocardial infarction (HR 1.58, 95%CI 1.05-2.39, P = 0.03), and any coronary revascularization (HR 2.66, 95%CI 2.06-3.43, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In this observational study, PCI with new-generation DES as compared with CABG was associated with excess long-term risk for major cardiovascular events in patients who underwent multi-vessel coronary revascularization including LAD