Search

Purpose To investigate the clinical features, treatment options, and visual outcomes of submacular hemorrhage (SMH) secondary to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Design A retrospective, observational case series. Methods Setting: Multicenter institutional setting. Patient Population: A total of 127 patients (127 eyes; 88 men, 39 women; (mean age, 74.2 years)) diagnosed with AMD-associated SMHs exceeding 2 disc diameters involving the fovea. Observation: The AMD types, previous treatments, treatment options, anatomic findings, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were assessed. Main Outcome Measures: Clinical features, treatment options, and visual outcomes of SMHs secondary to nAMD. Results Thirty-two eyes had typical AMD, 94 eyes polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), and one eye retinal angiomatous proliferation. Eighty-five eyes were treatment-naïve; 42 eyes were treated previously: anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy (n = 26), photodynamic therapy (n = 3), and combined therapy (n = 13). Treatment of SMHs included vitrectomy (36 eyes), pneumatic displacement (49 eyes), and anti-VEGF monotherapy (42 eyes). The final BCVA improved significantly in treatment-naïve cases from 0.86 to 0.62 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR) unit (Snellen equivalent from 20/145 to 20/83) and from 0.80 to 0.56 (Snellen equivalent from 20/126 to 20/73) in PCV cases. Meanwhile, the BCVA logMAR values improved from 1.15 to 0.75 (Snellen equivalent from 20/283 to 20/112) and from 0.87 to 0.63 (Snellen equivalent from 20/148 to 20/85) in eyes that underwent vitrectomy or pneumatic displacement, respectively. In eyes with BCVAs between 20/133 to 20/40 at SMH onset, the final VA in the pneumatic displacement group was better than in the anti-VEGF monotherapy group. One eye had a retinal detachment and 1 eye had a macular hole in the vitrectomy group, and 5 eyes had a vitreous hemorrhage in the pneumatic displacement group. Conclusions The recommended treatment for SMHs secondary to nAMD exceeding 2 disc area and with BCVA below 20/40 is vitrectomy or pneumatic displacement for visual improvement.

Regular exercise may be associated with better self-rated health and sleep status. However, this correlation among various age groups, such as young, middle-aged, and older people, as well as during the COVID-19 pandemic, has not been examined. This study examined the correlation between regular exercise and self-rated health and sleep quality among adults in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected using an online survey conducted between February 26 and 27, 2021. A total of 1410 adults in Japan (age range, 20–86 years) completed the online survey. Regular exercise was divided into: (1) more than 30 min of moderate exercise a day, (2) more than 2 days per week, and (3) continuous for 1 year or longer. Self-rated health and sleep quality were assessed using the Likert scale. After adjusting for multiple confounders, regular exercise was correlated with decreased poor self-rated health and poor sleep quality in middle-aged adults, however, no significant correlation was observed among young and older adults. The promotion of regular exercise among middle-aged people during the COVID-19 pandemic may contribute to better self-rated health and sleep quality status.

To understand the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) isoforms in avian species, we investigated the functional characteristics of two AHR isoforms (designated as jcAHR1 and jcAHR2) of the jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos). Two amino acid residues corresponding to Ile324 and Ser380 (high sensitive type) in chicken AHR1 that are known to determine dioxin sensitivity were Ile325 and Ala381 (moderate sensitive type) in jcAHR1 and Val306 and Ala362 (low sensitive type) in jcAHR2. The quantitative comparison of the two jcAHR mRNA expression levels in a Tokyo jungle crow population showed that jcAHR2 accounted for 92.4% in the liver, while jcAHR1 accounted for only 7.6%. Both in vitro-expressed jcAHR1 and jcAHR2 proteins exhibited a specific binding to [3H]-labeled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Transactivation potencies for jcAHR1 and jcAHR2 in in vitro reporter gene assays were measured in jcAHR-expressed cells exposed to 16 dioxins and related compounds (DRCs). Both jcAHR1 and jcAHR2 were activated in a congener- and an isoform-specific manner. EC50 value of TCDD for jcAHR2 (0.61 nM) was six-fold higher than that for jcAHR1 (0.098 nM), but jcAHR2 had higher transactivation efficacy than jcAHR1 in terms of the magnitude of response. The high transactivation efficacy of jcAHR2 in DRCs is in contrast to that of AHR2s in other avian species with low transactivation efficacy. Molecular docking simulations of TCDD with in silico jcAHR1 and jcAHR2 homology models showed that the two sensitivity-decisive amino acids indirectly controlled TCDD-binding modes through their surrounding amino acids. Deletion assays of jcAHR2 revealed that 736–805 amino acid residues in the C-terminal region were critical for its transactivation. We suggest that jcAHR2 plays a critical role in regulating the AHR signaling pathway, at least in its highly expressed organs.

DNA replication inhibitors are utilized extensively in studies of molecular biology and as chemotherapy agents in clinical settings. The inhibition of DNA replication often triggers double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) at stalled DNA replication sites, resulting in cytotoxicity. In East Asia, some traditional medicines are administered as anticancer drugs, although the mechanisms underlying their pharmacological effects are not entirely understood. In this study, we screened Japanese herbal medicines and identified two benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs), berberine and coptisine. These alkaloids mildly induced DSBs, and this effect was dependent on the function of topoisomerase I (Topo I) and MUS81-EME1 structure-specific endonuclease. Biochemical analysis revealed that the action of BIAs involves inhibiting the catalytic activity of Topo I rather than inducing the accumulation of the Topo I-DNA complex, which is different from the action of camptothecin (CPT). Furthermore, the results showed that BIAs can act as inhibitors of Topo I, even against CPT-resistant mutants, and that the action of these BIAs was independent of CPT. These results suggest that using a combination of BIAs and CPT might increase their efficiency in eliminating cancer cells.

Introduction The field of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has significantly advanced; however, morphological evaluation remains as the chosen method of assessment of embryo quality. Objective We aimed to examine metabolic changes in embryo culture medium to develop a non-invasive method for evaluation of embryo quality. Methods We performed metabolic analysis of culture medium obtained from a single blastocyst cultured for freezing. Results In total, 187 (39.8%) of the 469 detectable organic acid metabolites were identified. A significant change (p Conclusion The quantification of metabolism in human embryos may assist in identification and selection of good-quality embryos with high rates of survival before freezing and implantation in conjunction with morphological classification. This may help to identify embryos with high rates of survival.

OBJECTIVE: To study if the number of trophectoderm (TE) biopsied cells has an impact on implantation rates. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study in a single-center study. SETTING: In vitro fertilization center. PATIENTS: Patients who underwent PGT-A from January 2013 to March 2016. In total, 482 vitrified/warmed single embryo transfers were included. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical pregnancies rate, implantation rate. RESULTS: Overall, clinical pregnancies per embryo transfer were higher when a regular TE were biopsied compared to larger size biopsy cells (66% (175/267) vs 53% (115/215) (p 35 years. The clinical pregnancy was 67% (51/76) in women ≤ 35 years and 65% (124/191) in women > 35 years when a regular size biopsy was performed. These results significantly reduced when a larger size biopsy was performed 54% (49/91) and 53% (66/124), respectively (p

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent proinflammatory negotiator that shows a distinct spectrum of biological and pharmacological effects and participates in a wide range of pathophysiological conditions. In the reproductive system, PAF has been shown to have an important role in initiating ovulation, progesterone production and chemokine production. The purpose of this article was to review the roles of PAF, a well-known family of messenger phospholipids, in the reproductive process, especially in ovulation. This review highlights the interesting parallels between PAF's mechanism in ovulation and inflammatory process.

DNA double-strand break (DSB) is one of the most genotoxic lesions, and unrepaired DSBs can lead to chromosomal instability and eventually cause cell death. Quantitative markers, such as phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) and p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) foci in mammalian cells, are not available for the detection of DSBs in prokaryotes. Therefore, as an alternative method, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is widely used to analyze broken DNA molecules by separating them from intact DNA. Here, we examined the accumulation of bleomycin (BLM)-induced DSBs by PFGE, using a rotating gel electrophoresis (RGE) system. We defined two sets of parameters with distinct advantages; the first one focuses on the analysis of the size of the broken DNA fragments, whereas the second allows for the direct comparison of the accumulation of DSBs among strains and treatments. This method represents a powerful tool for the study of genomic integrity and the characterization of genotoxic substances.

DNA double-strand break (DSB) is one of the most genotoxic lesions, and unrepaired DSBs can lead to chromosomal instability and eventually cause cell death. Quantitative markers, such as phosphorylated histone H2AX (γ-H2AX) and p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1) foci in mammalian cells, are not available for the detection of DSBs in prokaryotes. Therefore, as an alternative method, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is widely used to analyze broken DNA molecules by separating them from intact DNA. Here, we examined the accumulation of bleomycin (BLM)-induced DSBs by PFGE, using a rotating gel electrophoresis (RGE) system. We defined two sets of parameters with distinct advantages; the first one focuses on the analysis of the size of the broken DNA fragments, whereas the second allows for the direct comparison of the accumulation of DSBs among strains and treatments. This method represents a powerful tool for the study of genomic integrity and the characterization of genotoxic substances.

Psychiatric services in Japan have been dominantly hospital-based, and the largest task for psychiatry in Japan today remains the deinstitutionalization of patients, rather than early intervention. Individuals with mental health problems and their families are often reluctant to seek help for various reasons, including a lack of knowledge regarding the features and treatability of mental disorders. These obstacles may explain the long duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) and the social stigma of mental disorders in Japan. The concept of an at-risk mental state (ARMS)/prodromal state might not yet be widely recognized among Japanese psychiatrists. Competency in treating and diagnosing mild and moderate disorders should be integrated into training for the primary care specialty, and building the community-based network for early detection is the key strategy in Japan.

Aims To study the possibility of constructing a remote interpretation system for retinal images. Methods An ultra-widefield (UWF) retinal imaging device was installed in the internal medicine department specializing in diabetes to obtain fundus images of patients with diabetes. Remote interpretation was conducted at Nagoya City University using a cloud server. The medical data, severity of retinopathy, and frequency of ophthalmologic visits were analyzed. Results Four hundred ninety-nine patients (mean age, 62.5 ± 13.4 years) were included. The duration of diabetes in 240 (48.1%) patients was less than 10 years and 433 (86.7%) patients had a hemoglobin (Hb) A1c below 8%. Regarding the retinopathy severity, 360 (72.1%) patients had no diabetic retinopathy (NDR), 63 (12.6%) mild nonproliferative retinopathy (NPDR), 38 (7.64%) moderate NPDR, 13 (2.6%) severe NPDR, and 25 (5.0%) PDR. Two hundred forty-one (48.3%) patients had an ophthalmologic consultation within 1 year, 104 (20.8%) had no history of an ophthalmologic consultation. DR was not present in 86 (82.7%) patients who had never had an ophthalmologic examination, 30 (78.9%) patients with severe NPDR or PDR had had an ophthalmologic visit within 1 year. The frequency of ophthalmic visits was correlated negatively with age, diabetes duration, HbA1c, and severity of retinopathy. Conclusion Remote interpretation of DR using UWF retinal imaging was useful for retinopathy screening. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a remote screening system that can ensure compulsory social distancing and reduce the number of ophthalmic visits can be a safe system for patients and clinicians.

La maduración in vitro de ovocitos (MIV) es una técnica de reproducción asistida muy poco difundida entre los centros de reproducción asistida, debido al bajo éxito en obtener embarazos. Sin embargo, en los últimos años, diferentes estrategias empleadas han demostrado tasas de embarazo similares a las técnicas convencionales de fecundación in vitro (FIV). En el presente reporte, describimos el caso clínico del primer nacido vivo usando MIV en combinación del cultivo extendido hasta estadio de blastocisto.

Psychiatric services in Japan are still predominantly hospital-based. Images of hospitalization deepen the stigma of mental illness, prompting people suffering from mild mental disorders to avoid early intervention. This deters people from seeking help from facilities specializing in mental health. These attitudes result in a longer duration of untreated psychosis and a higher suicide rate among young people even in a country with sophisticated healthcare services. The concept of an attenuated psychosis syndromes (APS)/prodromal state might not yet be widely recognized among Japanese psychiatrists. Nevertheless, the Japanese mental healthcare system is slowly changing with increasing numbers of mental health clinics in urban districts. Screening and diagnostic tools for attenuated psychosis symptoms such as the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes/Scale of Prodromal Symptoms (SIPS/SOPS), the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States (CAARMS), and the PRIME Screen are all available in Japanese. In Japan, one or two Yogo (Japanese for “caring and nursing”) teachers who have completed a course in nursing and health education during their teacher training are assigned to each school (from primary to high school) to care for students’ health. Regarding APS, a case of a 14-year-old junior high school student is presented. After reviewing biopsychosocial factors using Exner’s Rorschach Comprehensive System, treatment goals focused on the development of social skills and better coping skills for somatic symptoms were implemented. Currently, Japanese researchers on early psychosis are becoming increasingly aware of relationships between biological and psychosocial aspects of early psychosis. Implications for research and practice in Japan are discussed.

PGD for HLA typing is a procedure that can be performed when an affected child requires a transplant to treat a non-hereditary disorder related to the hematopoietic and/or immune system. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation from an HLA-identical donor provides the best treatment option. Three conventional ovarian stimulation procedures for IVF were performed in a couple with a 10-year-old child diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia of high risk. Trophectoderm biopsy and aCGH examination were performed on 15 blastocysts, three on the first IVF procedure, four on the second cycle, and eight on the third. Three euploid blastocysts HLA-compatible with the genome of the affected child were identified. One euploid blastocyst HLA-compatible with the affected child was warmed and transferred, resulting in an HLA-matched live birth. In conclusion, combined aCGH for aneuploidy screening and Karyomapping may be performed in a single biopsy procedure.

Aim To date, most cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) trials for individuals with at-risk metal state (ARMS) have been conducted in few Western countries and its feasibility in other regions, including Japan, has not been established. Methods We designed an open-label pilot study. Fourteen ARMS participants received CBT over 6 months and were followed-up for 6 months. Results Thirteen individuals completed the CBT intervention and assessments. The mean total score on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale improved from 60.2 to 46.0 after the intervention (Cohen's d = 1.1). The effects were maintained at the follow-up assessment. One participant transitioned to psychosis after the CBT intervention, and was the only patient who received antipsychotics. Conclusions We confirmed the feasibility of the provision of CBT for ARMS in Japan. Since overprescription of antipsychotics is a matter of great concern in Japan, CBT could be a valuable alternative treatment strategy.

The purpose of this study is to describe a healthy life birth after a mosaic embryo transfer in oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM). Patient received minimal stimulation, starting on day 3 after menstrual period. No hCG trigger was administered. Oocyte retrieval was performed and oocytes were matured for 30 h. After denuding, mature oocytes were inseminated by ICSI. Embryos were cultured until blastocyst stage and biopsied. One euploid embryo after array comprehensive genome hybridization (aCGH) was diagnostic. However, the next-generation sequencing (NGS) re-analysis showed that embryo was a mosaic for chromosome 13 and 21. Nevertheless, pregnancy ultrasound scans and non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT–Verifi-Illumina) indicated a normal fetus development. Finally, a healthy baby was born after 38 weeks. Its weight was 4480 g, head circumference 36 cm, and total length of 51 cm. To confirm that the baby was chromosomically normal, an NGS test was performed in buccal cells, a normal profile was obtained. Our finding confirmed that mosaic embryo transfer would bring a healthy offspring.

A male Queensland koala (Phascolarctos cinereus adustus) at Kanazawa Zoological Gardens (Kanagawa, Japan) exhibited paralytic symptoms in the hind limbs. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass on the left ventral side of the 11th to 13th thoracic vertebrae, and the presence of myelitis or edema in the spinal cord. The koala was under anesthesia during the examination and suddenly developed ventricular fibrillation and died. Necropsy revealed a firm flat ovoid hemorrhagic mass on the vertebrae. Following a microscopic examination including immunohistochemistry, the perivertebral mass was diagnosed as B cell lymphoma. Therefore, neoplastic cell infiltration into the spinal cord may cause paralytic symptoms in the hind limbs.

In this paper we present a stereovision based model free 3D head pose (orientation and position) estimation system suitable for human-machine interface applications. The system works by obtaining a 'face plane' from the 3D reconstructed face data, which is then used for head pose estimation. The key novelty in this work is the utilization of the face plane together with the eye locations on the reconstructed face data to obtain a robust head pose estimate. This approach leads to a model and initialization free head pose estimation system; therefore it is suitable for natural human-machine interfaces. In order to quantitatively asses the accuracy of the system for such applications, several evaluation experiments were conducted using a commercial motion capture system. The evaluation results indicate that this system can be used in human-computer and human-robot applications.

We have synthesized cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives with pendant norbornadiene (CD-NBD), with pendant azobenzene (CD-AZ), with pendant cinnamate (CD-CI), with pendant chalcone (CD-CH), and with pendant anthracene (CD-AT). In thin films of these CD derivatives under UV irradiation, photochemical isomerization of CD-NBD and CD-AZ, and photochemical dimerization of CD-CI, CD-CH, and CD-AT proceeded smoothly. The photochemical reactions were accompanied with large refractive index changes (Δ n D 's) of 0.023–0.030 (CD-NBD), 0.015–0.023 (CD-AZ), 0.041–0.048 (CD-CI), 0.057–0.071 (CD-CH), and 0.062–0.083 (CD-AT), as determined by ellipsometry.

We studied highly realistic communication systems using a super multiview three-dimensional (3-D) video system. We propose the developed glasses-free 200-in. 3-D display using ∼200 high-definition (HD) projector units to reconstruct natural life-size 3-D moving objects, such as cars and humans. We also analyzed the optimal arrangement of the multiview camera system for the 3-D display. In the experiments, we developed a prototype super multiview 3-D camera system using compact HD video cameras with real-time convergence compensation circuits that correct the captured images via image processing optimized for the display. We also performed demonstration experiments using the developed 3-D display and camera system in a public area. As a result, we highlight several possibilities for actual applications of the glasses-free super multiview 3-D video system.

We propose a cubic 3D display named “gCubik” which allows multiple users to simultaneously view and share 3D images. The display uses an auto-stereoscopic technique. Therefore, users can see 3D objects without the need for special 3D glasses. Its cubic shape enables users to view from arbitrary angles of 360 degree by handling the cube as if the 3D objects were in a glazed-showcase. We describe an implementation approach of the gCubik. First, we investigate the necessary parameters for fabricating a cubic auto-stereoscopic display based on the integral photography (IP) technique. Next, according to these parameters, we discuss our design of a wide field of view lens array for the IP technique. Then, we explain the construction of the cubic device using the six IP displays and the application of an OpenGL-based rendering algorithm for each lens. Finally, we discuss the produced 3D images by observing them from several different viewpoints.

Neural correlates of driving and of decision making have been investigated separately, but little is known about the underlying neural mechanisms of decision making in driving. Previous research discusses two types of decision making: reward‐weighted decision making and cost‐weighted decision making. There are many reward‐weighted decision making neuroimaging studies but there are few cost‐weighted studies. Considering that driving involves serious risk, it is assumed that decision making in driving is cost weighted. Therefore, neural substrates of cost‐weighted decision making can be assessed by investigation of driver's decision making. In this study, neural correlates of resolving uncertainty in driver's decision making were investigated. Turning right in left‐hand traffic at a signalized intersection was simulated by computer graphic animation based videos. When the driver's view was occluded by a big truck, the uncertainty of the oncoming traffic was resolved by an in‐car video assist system that presented the driver's occluded view. Resolving the uncertainty reduced activity in a distributed area including the amygdala and anterior cingulate. These results implicate the amygdala and anterior cingulate as serving a role in cost‐weighted decision making. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

In order to better understand treatment outcome through eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) trauma therapy, the author conducted comprehensive pre- and posttreatment assessments using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Rorschach Comprehensive System (CS), and the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) on a survivor of human-caused trauma. The results of the Rorschach CS and the TAT showed significant improvements in terms of interpersonal relationships after the treatment. On the other hand, the posttreatment Rorschach scores indicated that the EMDR therapy promoted self-insight in much the same way as a traditional uncovering therapy. In this case study, the findings gained through the two performance-based methods shed light on what a successful EMDR trauma therapy can yield aside from symptom reduction.

MGG (Minimal Generation Gap) is one of popular generation alternation models for Genetic Algorithms (GAs). The conventional MGG is effective for single population GAs, but not for multi-population GAs. This paper proposes ``MGG with global selection (MGGGS)'' that is designed for multi-population GAs. In MGGGS, the selection operation is carried out through the whole population, while the crossover operation is restricted in sub-populations. Experiments are carried out to analyze the characteristics of MGGGS with Dynamically Separating Genetic Algorithm (DS-GA). In DS-GA the sub-populations are reconstructed during the evolution, which is suitable for MGGGS. The experimental results show that MGGGS outperforms the conventional MGG especially for multimodal functions, since sub-populations explore various areas by MGGGS.

The Music Table is an augmented reality system for composing music by manipulating objects on a tabletop as a physicalized representation of the music being heard. Educational theory, and the apparent success of related applications in various learning contexts, seems to support this idea. In our experiments with children, all were able to make a musical pattern and made many changes to their pattern over a short period of time. We propose its suitability as an educational tool, particularly in short and intense interactive learning situations such as children's museums. We discuss some future developments of the idea.

In this paper, we describe the syntheses, properties, and photo-induced deprotection of β-CD derivatives containing t-butyl ester groups and fluorine atoms. The β-CD derivative was obtained from th...

SECOND-MVD (Synthesis Error COmpeNsateD Multiview Video plus Depth) is an alternative 3D format that we introduce for representation of multiview video. In this data format, images at some viewpoint remain original, and the others are converted to a novel format. Residual based representation, such as layered depth video and free-viewpoint TV data unit were proposed. We propose hybrid image that not only consists of residual but also remainder pixels. Generation and reconstruction process of a hybrid image uses virtual image synthesized by the images that remained original in SECOND-MVD. In this paper, we investigate the compression performance of SECOND-MVD using hybrid image. Experiments demonstrate reduction in bit rate using hybrid image against residual image in SECOND-MVD framework.

It is important to give useful clues for selecting desiredcontent from a number of retrieval results obtained (usually) from avague search request. Compared with monolingual retrieval, such asupport framework is inevitable and much more significant for filteringgiven translingual retrieval results. This paper describes an attempt toprovide appropriate translation of major keywords in each document in across-language information retrieval (CLIR) result, as a browsingsupport for users. Our idea of determining appropriate translation ofmajor keywords is based on word co-occurrence distribution in thetranslation target language, considering the actual situation of WWWcontent where it is difficult to obtain aligned parallel (multilingual)corpora. The proposed method provides higher quality of keywordtranslation to yield a more effective support in identifying the targetdocuments in the retrieval result. We report the advantage of thisbrowsing support technique through evaluation experiments includingcomparison with conditions of referring to a translated documentsummary, and discuss related issues to be examined towards moreeffective cross-language information extraction.

National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) is conducting ultra-realistic communication research since 2006. The aim of this research is to create a sense of “being there” for natural and realistic communication. In this research project, NICT has developed some novel glasses-free 3D display systems. Among these systems, a large-size glasses-free 3D display using projector array and an electronic holography system using laser light are introduced in this paper.

National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) is conducting ultra-realistic communication research since 2006. The aim of this research is to create a sense of “being there” for natural and realistic communication. In this research project, NICT has developed some novel glasses-free 3D display systems. Among these systems, a large-size glasses-free 3D display using super-multi-view 3D video technologies and an electronic holography system using laser light are introduced in this paper.

We investigate highly realistic communication systems using a super-multi-view three-dimensional (3D) video system. We propose and develop a glasses-free 200-view 3D display using almost 200 high-definition (HD) projector units to reconstruct such natural life-size 3D moving objects as cars and humans. We are also developing a 3D capturing system with HD camera units and researching multi-view video transmission techniques for demonstration experiments for the abovementioned highly realistic communication system.

NdFe 8 Co 3 TiN 1+α (0 12 -type structure were prepared by gas nitrogenation at 623–723 K in N 2 atmosphere from 200 Pa to 6 MPa. The powders were compacted with 30 wt.% of zinc powder in a magnetic field and heat treated at 648 K for 6 h. The effect of the nitrogenating conditions on the crystal structures and the magnetic properties of NdFe 8 Co 3 TiN 1+α (0 c axis, resulting in the increase in H a of the alloy powder and in H cJ of the zinc-bonded magnet respectively.

Void formation is a serious problem for Ag-sheathed Bi-2212 superconductor wires produced by a partial melt process. We established a gas pressure melting (GPM) method which utilizes a combination of -1.0atm oxygen partial pressures and ≤6atm of total gas pressure. The method has proved very effective for obtaining a homogeneous dispersion of small voids and good superconductivity. A solenoid coil fabricated under usual atmospheric pressure showed no zero-resistivity due to the presence of large 50-mm-long void agglomerates. On the other hand, the newly developed GPM method reduced agglomerate size to -10mm, and enabled solenoid coils fabricated using 9 and 5 pieces of 25-m-long round wire to generate a maximum magnetic field of 0.67T and 1.1T, respectively, at 4.2K.

There are several representations for 3D scene that are used for 3DTV and free viewpoint imaging systems. A well-known representation is sparse view-plus-depth. Based on view-plus-depth, layered depth video (LDV), and FTV data Unit (FDU) were proposed. The represented images by them are based on residual values. For view data in view-plus-depth, we propose a novel representation; consist of original and hybrid images that are repeated consecutively. A hybrid image has residual and reminder pixels. A virtual image is synthesized in both generation and reconstruction of the hybrid image. The reconstruction is the compensation of the virtual image using the hybrid image. The reconstructed hybrid image has higher PSNR and fewer visible artifacts than the virtual view compensated by residual or reminder image. The data size of the hybrid images is also less than residual and reminder images.

Using diethyldithiocarbamate (DEDTC), a zinc chelator, we deactivated the mossy fibers that project from the dentate gyrus (DG) to the CA3 during acquisition and testing of a center detection task in mice. The mice were trained to find a food pellet at the center of four objects in a circular area. DEDTC injection just before the training sessions impaired this learning, whereas DEDTC injection before the probe test did not impair recall of the memory. DEDTC injection before a pattern completion test in which only one of the four objects was presented did not cause deficits in this test. DEDTC injection did, however, cause severe deficits in an array shift test in which all four objects were moved to new positions. These results demonstrated that 1) the DG-CA3 system plays a crucial role in the learning of geometric center detection task but not in its recall or pattern completion, and 2) the DG-CA3 system is involved in generalization to a new environment but is not crucial for pattern completion.

A male Queensland koala (Phascolarctos cinereus adustus) at Kanazawa Zoological Gardens (Kanagawa, Japan) exhibited paralytic symptoms in the hind limbs. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a mass on the left ventral side of the 11th to 13th thoracic vertebrae, and the presence of myelitis or edema in the spinal cord. The koala was under anesthesia during the examination and suddenly developed ventricular fibrillation and died. Necropsy revealed a firm flat ovoid hemorrhagic mass on the vertebrae. Following a microscopic examination including immunohistochemistry, the perivertebral mass was diagnosed as B cell lymphoma. Therefore, neoplastic cell infiltration into the spinal cord may cause paralytic symptoms in the hind limbs.

We have proposed a glasses-free three-dimensional (3D) display for displaying 3D images on a large screen using multi-projectors and an optical screen consisting of a special diffuser film with a large condenser lens. To achieve high presence communication with natural large-screen 3D images, we numerically analyze the factors responsible for degrading image quality to increase the image size. A major factor that determines the 3D image quality is the arrangement of component units, such as the projector array and condenser lens, as well as the diffuser film characteristics. We design and fabricate a prototype 200-inch glasses-free 3D display system on the basis of the numerical results. We select a suitable diffuser film, and we combine it with an optimally designed condenser lens. We use 57 high-definition projector units to obtain viewing angles of 13.5°. The prototype system can display glasses-free 3D images of a life-size car using natural parallax images.

In recent years, it has been shown that animals can localize the geometric center of an area by reference to the shape of the environment. We trained a group of mice (experimental group) to search for a pellet hidden under sand in the center of a square-shaped dry maze. Three weeks later, they were tested in a triangular enclosure half the size of the training area and a circular enclosure double the size of the training area to see transfer to these enclosures. We compared their searching behavior with that of subjects that had received no training. The results show that the experimental group searched the geometric center of each enclosure in both transfer tests, while the untrained control group walked along the walls. This indicates that the experimental group localized the center not by reference to the absolute distance from the corners but by equal distances from all walls (geometric center).

We have already developed glasses-free three-dimensional (3-D) displays using multi-projectors and a special diffuser screen that results in a highly realistic communication system. The system can display 70-200 inch large-sized 3-D images with full high-definition video image quality. The displayed 3-D images were, however, only computergenerated graphics or still images of actual objects. In this work, we studied a 3-D video capturing method for our multiprojection 3-D display. We analyzed the optimal arrangement of cameras for the display, and the image quality as influenced by calibration error. In the experiments, we developed a prototype multi-camera system using 30 highdefinition video cameras. The captured images were corrected via image processing optimized for the display. We successfully captured and displayed, for the first time, 3-D video of actual moving objects in our glasses-free 3-D video system.

National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) is conducting ultra-realistic communication research since 2006. The aim of the research is to create a sense of "being there" for natural and realistic communication by developing 3D image display, 3D auditory display, multisensory interaction system with vision, sound, touch and smell, and evaluation technologies of human cognitive dynamism[Inoue 2010]. Digital museum is regarded as a good application of the research, but the potential is not clarified yet. This year, we had a chance to investigate the potential by exhibiting developed systems and allowing users to experience them. A multisensory interaction system and other systems related to digital museum were exhibited for 5 weeks as a prototype of digital museum. In this paper, the exhibited systems and the evaluation results are introduced.