VLSI implementation of a variable-length pipeline scheme fordata-driven processors

A VLSI-oriented variable-length pipeline structure for data-driven processors is presented. Ordinary inline pipelines have the problem of minimizing the average total processing time through the pipeline, since subdivision of a function along the pipeline is usually optimized for the most complex operations in spite of the fact that simpler operations need fewer stages. As a solution to this problem, a variable-length pipeline scheme in which data go through only the necessary stages according to information contained within is proposed. The scheme has been implemented on a test chip to verify performance. The chip demonstrated a minimum fall-through time (data transmission time from input to output) of 14.4 ns and a data transmission rate in the pipeline of 59 megaword/s (that is, 1/16.9 ns) as a first-in first-out (FIFO) store. By modifying the data transfer control and allocating the processing functions corresponding to the data interval of 16.9 ns, this scheme is applicable as a high-performance processing unit for data-driven processors     

Microscopic foci of urachal carcinoma in an incidentally detected urachal cyst: a case report

A 33-year-old man who had been treated for chronic prostatitis was diagnosed to have urachal cysts by transabdominal ultrasonography. Cystoscopy revealed protuberance at the dome of the bladder. Computerized tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging showed the mass to be mostly cystic but partly solid. Resection of the urachal cysts and partial cystectomy were performed. Histopathologically, most cysts had a normal cylindrical epithelium with retention of mucinous substance. However, several small cysts contained epithelial cells resembling tubulo-villous adenoma and showing mitotic figures. This case was concluded as urachal carcinoma detected in its very early stage.     

ALIS method for high‐resolution color PDPs

This paper describes the Alternate Lighting of Surfaces (ALIS) method as a promising drive technology which can lead to high‐resolution plasma‐display panels (PDPs). This technology provides a resolution of more than 1000 scanning lines without lowering luminance, thus enabling the essential requirements of HDTV. Moreover, it allows the number of scanning electrodes to be halved in comparison with the conventional method, as well as the circuit scale to be minimized due to the use of the single scanning drive. The ALIS method is expected to be a key technology that will help PDPs penetrate the TV market.     

Origin of the Red Color of Satsuma Copper-Ruby Glass as Determined by EXAFS and Optical Absorption Spectroscopy

The origin of the ruby color of Satsuma glass, a famous copper-ruby glass produced in Japan in the mid-19th century, has been examined by electron microprobe analysis (EPMA), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), and optical absorption spectroscopy analyses. Cu K XAFS analysis reveals that the major component of copper in the ruby glass consists of Cu(I) ions in the glass structure. This species is distinct from Cu₂O (cuprite), which we conclude is not responsible for the ruby color. Optical absorption spectra measured at 300 and 77 K clearly distinguishes the absorptions due to the colloidal particles of metallic copper and Cu₂O. It is concluded that the trace amount of copper in the ruby glass, which is below the detection limit of the EPMA and XAFS techniques, exists as metallic copper particles of nanometer size and is responsible for the ruby-red appearance of the Satsuma glass.     

日本水坝的安全管理和地震安全评价

日本是一个地震多发的国家,而特殊的地形又决定了水坝在其经济社会发展中具有重要的地位,因此水坝的安全管理和地震安全评价就成为一个至关重要的方面.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Three‐Component Reaction of 3‐(Tri‐n‐ butylstannyl)allyl Acetates,Aldehydes, and Triorganoboranes: An Alternative to the Carbonyl Allylation Using α,γ‐Substituted Allylic Tin Reagents

A three‐component reaction of 3‐(tri‐n‐butylstannyl)allyl acetates, aldehydes, and triorganoboranes in the presence of a palladium‐Xantphos catalyst system predominately gave (E)‐anti‐homoallylic alcohols with high diastereoselectivity and good to high levels of alkene stereocontrol. An efficient chirality transfer was observed when an enantioenriched substrate was employed. The reaction was initiated by the formation of an allylic gem‐palladium/stannyl intermediate, which subsequently underwent allylation of the aldehyde by an allyltributyltin followed by a coupling reaction of the in‐situ‐generated (E)‐vinylpalladium acetate with the triorganoborane.

     

Low-temperature gasification of a woody biomass under a nickel-loaded brown coal char

Catalytic gasification of a woody biomass, Japanese cypress, was investigated under a prepared nickel-loaded brown coal (LY-Ni) char in a two-stage fixed-bed reactor. The nickel-loaded brown coal was prepared by ion-exchange method with a nickel loading rate of 8.3 wt.%. Nickel species dispersed well in the brown coal, and the LY-Ni char via devolatilization at 600 °C showed a great porous property with a specific surface area of 382 m² g^− 1.The LY-Ni char was confirmed to be quite active for the Japanese cypress volatiles gasification at a relatively low-temperature range from 450 to 650 °C. For example, at 550 °C, 16.6 times hydrogen gas and 6.3 times total gases were yielded from the catalytic steam gasification of Japanese cypress volatiles under the LY-Ni char, compared with the case of non-catalyst. The biomass tar decomposition showed a dependence on catalyst temperatures. When the catalyst temperature was higher than 500 °C, Japanese cypress tar converted much efficiently, high gas yields and high carbon balances were obtained.     

Formation of the spore clumps during heat treatment increases the heat resistance of bacterial spores

Effects of the clumping of bacterial spores on their heat resistance as a result of heat treatment were investigated. Spore suspensions of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus licheniformis were heated at 85 degrees C. Survivor curves of the three strains showed tailing in all treatments after 30 min. As the treatment time increased, the formation of spore clumps increased in all strains after 20 min. Relative hydrophobicity of the spore surface increased as a result of heat treatment. The effect of spore concentration on the inactivation of the B. licheniformis spores was investigated, and surviving curves showed no tailing below a concentration of 4.9 log CFU/ml.     

Lactoperoxidase activity in milk is correlated with somatic cell count in dairy cows

Lactoperoxidase (LPO) is a milk protein with antimicrobial function. The present study was undertaken to examine the correlation between LPO activity and somatic cell count (SCC) in milk to use LPO activity as an indicator of mastitis. Composite milk of 36 cows and quarter milk of 3 cows were collected once per week from 0 to 300 d postpartum and twice per day for 1 wk, respectively. For the measurement of LPO activity, milk was mixed with tetramethylbenzidine solution and incubated at 37°C for 30 min, followed by the measurement of optical density. When only milk with low SCC (132 ± 12 × 10³ cells/mL) was used, a significant decrease in LPO activity was detected in primiparous cows from 0 to 4 mo postpartum. Lactoperoxidase activities of primiparous cows in mo 1, 2, and 3 postpartum were significantly higher than those in multiparous cows. When composite milk was divided based on LPO activity, the SCC was significantly higher in the groups with LPO activity >5 and from 3 to 3.9 U/mL in the second- and fourth-parity cows, respectively, compared with the group with LPO activity <2 U/mL. Extremely high SCC were found in the ≥fifth-parity cows, even in low-LPO activity groups. In the case of quarter milk, higher LPO activity was associated with increased SCC in all 3 cows. The percentage of quarter milk samples with high SCC (4,062 ± 415 × 10³ cells/mL) increased with an increase in the LPO activity. The percentage of quarter milk samples with high SCC was 50.0 to 100% in the milk with LPO activity ≥5 U/mL. These results indicate that the correlation of LPO activity to the SCC in bovine milk may point to the potential use of the former as an indicator of SCC.     

Highly dense protein layers confirmed by atomic force microscopy and quartz crystal microbalance

Protein adsorption on a gold surface is investigated by comparing the results of quartz crystal microbalance method and atomic force microscopy. The adsorption of streptavidin on functional gold surfaces is directly monitored by a quartz crystal microbalance, and confirmed by atomic force microscopy. For this investigation, a modified gold substrate is fabricated to obtain a topographic image of streptavidin molecules. Both methods show a correlation in terms of the highly dense protein single-layer formation, and the modified gold electrode shows a slightly denser protein layer formation because of the difference in substrate geometry as compared with that of a mica surface.