Inductive inference of monotonic formal systems from positive data

A formal system is a finite set of expressions, such as a grammar or a Prolog program. A semantic mapping from formal systems to concepts is said to be monotonic if it maps larger formal systems to larger concepts. A formal system Γ is said to be reduced with respect to a finite setX if the concept defined by Γ containsX but the concepts defined by any proper subset Γ′ of Γ cannot contain some part ofX. Assume a semantic mapping is monotonic and formal systems consisting of at mostn expressions that are reduced with respect toX can define only finitely many concepts for any finite setX and anyn. Then, the class of concepts defined by formal systems consisting of at mostn expressions is shown to be inferable from positive data. As corollaries, the class of languages defined by length-bounded elementary formal systems consisting of at most,n axioms, the class of languages generated by context-sensitive grammars consisting of at mostn productions, and the class of minimal models of linear Prolog programs consisting of at mostn definite clauses are all shown to be inferable from positive data.     

Comparisons of optimal release policies for software systems

In a software product management, it is an important problem to determine the optimal release timing which minimizes the total expected cost incurred in both testing and operation phases. In this paper, we compare the performance between two kinds of software release methods, which are referred to as the T-policy and the N-policy. Based on the existing software reliability growth models, we formulate the expected cost functions and derive analytically the optimal policies under these control methods. Also, we derive a criterion for which control methods should be adopted. Finally, in numerical examples, we calculate the optimal release policies for several cost parameters.     

Rewired Cellular Metabolic Profiles in Response to Metformin under Different Oxygen and Nutrient Conditions

Metformin is a metabolic disruptor, and its efficacy and effects on metabolic profiles under different oxygen and nutrient conditions remain unclear. Therefore, the present study examined the effects of metformin on cell growth, the metabolic activities and consumption of glucose, glutamine, and pyruvate, and the intracellular ratio of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) under normoxic (21% O₂) and hypoxic (1% O₂) conditions. The efficacy of metformin with nutrient removal from culture media was also investigated. The results obtained show that the efficacy of metformin was closely associated with cell types and environmental factors. Acute exposure to metformin had no effect on lactate production from glucose, glutamine, or pyruvate, whereas long-term exposure to metformin increased the consumption of glucose and pyruvate and the production of lactate in the culture media of HeLa and HaCaT cells as well as the metabolic activity of glucose. The NAD⁺/NADH ratio decreased during growth with metformin regardless of its efficacy. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of metformin were enhanced in all cell lines following the removal of glucose or pyruvate from culture media. Collectively, the present results reveal that metformin efficacy may be regulated by oxygen conditions and nutrient availability, and indicate the potential of the metabolic switch induced by metformin as combinational therapy.     

Mutational analysis of structure--activity relationships in human tumor necrosis factor-alpha

To determine the region of human tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-), essential for cytotoxic activity against mouse L-M cells,single amino-acid-substituted TNF- mutant proteins (muteins)were produced in Escherichia coli by protein engineering techniques.An expression plasmid for TNF- was mutagenized by passage throughan E.coli mutD5 mutator strain and by oligonucleotide-directedmutagenesis. Approximately 100 single amino-acid-substitutedTNF- muteins were produced and assayed for cytotoxic activity.The cytotoxic activities of purified TNF- muteins, e.g. TNF-31T,-32Y, -82D, -85H, -115L, -141Y, -144K and -146E, were < 1%of that of parent TNF-. These results indicate that the integrityof at least four distinct regions of the TNF- molecule is requiredfor full biological activity. These regions are designated asfollows: region I, from position 30 to 32; region II, from position82 to 89; region III, from position 115 to 117; region FV, fromposition 141 to 146. In addition, TNF-141Y could not completelycompete with parent TNF- for binding to the receptor. This demonstratesthat region IV, and at least aspartk acid at position 141, mustbe involved in the TNF receptor binding site.     

A particle‐scale index in the quantification of mixing of particles

Discrete element method (DEM) is a useful tool for obtaining details of mixing processes at a particle scale. It has been shown to satisfactorily describe the flow structure developed in bladed mixers. Here, the advantage is taken of the microstructure gained from DEM to evaluate how best to quantify the microstructure created by mixing. A particle‐scale mixing index (PSMI) is defined based on coordination numbers to represent the structure of a particle mixture. The mixture quality is then analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively in three different ways: a macroscopic mixing index based on the conventional approach, coordination number, and PSMI. Their effectiveness is examined based on DEM data generated for different particle loading arrangements and binary mixtures of particles with various volume fractions, size ratios, and density ratios. Unlike the two other methods, PSMI reveals in a straightforward manner whether a binary mixture of different particles is mixing or segregating over time, while being able to detect particle‐scale structural changes accompanying the mixing or segregation processes in all the mixtures investigated. Moreover, PSMI is promising in that it is not influenced by the size and number of samples, which afflict conventional mixing indexes. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012     

Effects of ferromagnetic components on energetic ion confinement in ITER

By using a fully three dimensional magnetic field orbit-following Monte-Carlo code, the energetic ion confinement was investigated for the current conceptual design of the ferromagnetic components in ITER which will be employed for reducing the toroidal magnetic field (TF) ripple. The ferromagnetic insert is effective in the reference standard scenario with Q = 10 (Scenario No. 2) and steady state scenario with Q = 5 (Scenario No. 4) to improve the energetic ion confinement. Over-compensation appears at half of the full toroidal magnetic field and its effect becomes stronger when the quantity of the ferromagnetic insert is increased in order to more reduce the TF ripple at the full toroidal magnetic field. Though the current design is acceptable, whether to increase the ferromagnetic insert to achieve lower TF ripple amplitude at the full field operation depends on how prospected are possibilities of lower field operations. Planned test blanket modules do not induce large loss (<1%) at the full field in Scenario No. 4. At the half field, however, the loss reaches ∼10% for the alpha particles due to localized large TF ripple.     

Occurrence and sources of perfluorinated surfactants in rivers in Japan

We analyzed perfluorinated surfactants (PFSs) in 20 river samples and 5 wastewater secondary effluent samples in Japan to reveal their occurrence and sources. Nine PFS species were determined: perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA), perfluoroheptanoate (PFHpA), perfluorooctanoate (PFOA), perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorodecanoate (PFDA), perfluoroundecanoate (PFUA), perfluorododecanoate (PFDDA), and perfluorotridecanoate (PFTDA). PFSs were detected in all rivers, revealing nationwide contamination of rivers. In particular, 11 out of 20 river samples exceeded New Jersey guidance for PFOA in drinking water (40 ng/L). PFOS, PFHpA, PFOA, and PFNA were major species in Japan. Concentrations of PFOS, PFHpA, and PFNA in rivers were strongly correlated with population density, suggesting that the chemicals were derived from urban activities. PFOA showed a significant but weak correlation. We used crotamiton, a marker of sewage effluent, for further source analysis. Concentrations of PFOS, PFHpA, and PFNAwere strongly correlated with those of crotamiton, and plots of secondary effluents fell near the regression lines of rivers, indicating that the PFOS, PFHpA, and PFNA in rivers were derived from sewage effluent. On the other hand, PFOA was found at remarkably high levels (54-192 ng/L) in seven river samples containing low levels of crotamiton, suggesting that it was derived from nonsewage point sources, as well as sewage effluent. The total fluxes of sewage-derived PFOS, PFHpA, PFOA, and PFNA from Japan were estimated to be 3.6, 2.6, 5.6, and 2.6 t/year, respectively. This is the first report to identify PFOA in several rivers, derived from nonsewage point sources, by using a marker of sewage effluent.     

Uniform carbon‐nanotube emitter for field‐emission displays

Abstract— The synthesis of carbon‐nanotube (CNT) field emitters for FEDs by thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and their structural and emission characterization are described. Multi‐walled nanotubes (MWNTs) were grown on patterned metal‐base electrodes by thermal CVD, and the grown CNTs formed a network structured layer covering the surfaces of the metal electrode uniformly, which realized uniform distribution of electron emission. A technique for growing narrow MWNTs was also developed in order to reduce the driving voltage. The diameter of MWNT depends on the growth temperature, and it has changed from 40 nm at the low temperature (675°C) to 10–15 nm at the high temperature (900–1000°C). Moreover, narrower MWNTs were grown by using the metal‐base electrode covered with a thin alumina layer and a metal catalyst layer. Double‐walled nanotubes (DWNTs) were also observed among narrow MWNTs. The emission from the narrow CNTs showed a low turn‐on electric field of 1.5 V/μm at the as‐grown layer.     

Mechanical characteristics of a contact optical head slider operating on a metal-layered medium

 Advances in a digital network society require both higher density and higher transfer rates in all sorts of storage systems. Even in optical recording, the trend toward higher density and larger capacity requires novel surface-recording technologies that can drastically diminish head-to-medium spacing, resulting in an improvement in spatial resolution and, finally, a higher recording density. In this paper, we propose a novel contact optical head slider that is able to almost cancel the suspension load by generating hydrodynamic pressure, thus realizing a lower net contact force. A trial-manufactured contact slider being processed four sliding pads on air-bearing surfaces has indicated a gentle variation of both the acoustic emission signal intensity and the friction force as the circumferential velocity changes. Furthermore, a time-domain simulation was performed to investigate the effects of the damping of a medium surface (lubricant) both on slider bouncing and on contact force. Received: 5 July 2001/Accepted: 1 November 2001     

New seed geometry for growth of low dislocation synthetic quartz

A method to grow low dislocation density synthetic quartz by using a special cutting seed geometry is reported. With this method, a relatively high dislocation density seed material is allowable. For such a purpose, a seed of new geometry was prepared and grown in a standard hydrothermal growth condition, long in Y-direction with multiple V-shaped notches made on Z-face. The characterization study was conducted by X-ray topography. The results showed new growth regions, equal to the numbers of V-shaped notches made in the seed and usually not found in the conventional Y- and Z-bar synthetic quartz crystals. Each new growth region is composed of two sectors of distinct textures. Soon they disappear due to their high growth velocity, and they are replaced by the so-called Z-region. However, the growth process of these new sectors grown perpendicular to the internal faces of the V-shaped notches played an important role in inhibiting the propagation of the dislocation originally present in the seed into the grown Z-region.