A study on modeling methodology of oligopolistic virtual market and its application into resource allocation problem

Recently, manufacturing systems have become large scale and complex. The social scientific approach is one of the promising methods to facilitate effective operation for the resource allocation problems in manufacturing systems, since the approach takes an analogy of social systems which are optimal and robust in nature. In this paper, the authors first propose a modeling methodology for an oligopolistic virtual market, and develop an oligopolistic virtual market as an experimental model. Then they clarify several important characteristics of the oligopolistic virtual market by computer simulation experiments, and try to apply the proposed method into a utility computing operational problem to validate its effectiveness into resource allocation problems. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 164(1): 77–85, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20628     

Quantification of the number of EP3 receptors on a living CHO cell surface by the AFM

The distribution of EP3 receptors on a living cell surface was quantitatively studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was introduced to the extracellular region of the EP3 receptor on a CHO cell. A microbead was used as a probe to ensure certain contact area, whose surface was coated with anti-GFP antibody. The interactions between the antibodies and GFP molecules on the cell surface were recorded to observe the distribution of the receptors. The result indicated that EP3 receptors were distributed on the CHO cell surface not uniformly but in small patches coincident with immunohistochemical observation. Repeated measurements on the same area of cell surface gave confirmation that it was unlikely that the receptors were extracted from the cell membrane during the experiments. The measurement of single molecular interaction between GFP and the anti-GFP antibody was succeeded on the cell surface using compression-free force spectroscopy. The value of separation work required to break a single molecular pair was estimated to be about 1.5 x 10(-18)J. The number of EP3 receptor on the CHO cell surface was estimated using this value to be about 1 x 10(4) under the assumption that the area of the cell surface was about 5,000 microm(2). These results indicated that the number of receptors on a living cell surface could be quantified through the force measurement by the AFM.     

Analysis of power flow in a power converter

Power converters have been widely used in many industrial applications. On the ac side of such converters, the current is distorted because of nonlinearity of the power devices even when the source voltage is sinusoidal. This implies that the power converter is regarded as a harmonic-current source. The harmonic current is one of the most important factors in the analysis of converters. This paper analyzes power flow of a power converter that behaves synchronously with the line frequency. Power-flow analysis in a three-phase diode converter with a resistance on the ac side is presented. The analysis is compared with conventional analysis with the assumption that the ratio of the resistance on the ac side to that on the dc side is very small. The proposed power flow concept enables electrical engineers and students to discuss rationally the power flow of a converter. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 120(1): 70–76, 1997     

Contents of eleven phthalates and di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate in retail packed lunches after prohibition of DEHP-containing PVC gloves for cooking purposes

Ten samples of retail packed lunches purchased from convenience stores were determined for 11 phthalates and di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate (DEHA) in August 2000, 2 months after the prohibition of DEHP-containing PVC gloves in Japan. Each homogenized sample was extracted with acetonitrile, partitioned with n-hexane, and cleaned up using Florisil and PSA columns. Phthalates in the extract were determined by GC/MS (SIM). The limits of detection were 14.9 ng/g for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and 18.6 ng/g for dibutyl phthalate (DBP). Levels of phthalates in packed lunch samples were 45 to 517 ng DEHP/g (198 ng/g, average), ND to 90 ng DEHA/g, and ND to 10.0 ng BBP/g. Diisononyl phthalate (DINP) was detected in one sample at 76 ng/g. Average DEHP level in ten samples was 4% of that in 1999. The contents of other phthalates were also reduced. DBP was not detected in any sample. Recovery of deuterated isomers added as surrogates was 27.9% for DNP-d4, and 40.6 to 101.5% for the other phthalates.     

Influence of diet on fatty acids of three subtropical fish, subfamily caesioninae (Caesio diagramma and C. tile) and family siganidae (Siganus canaliculatus)

The total lipid and fatty acid compositions of tissues and the stomach contents of three subtropical marine fish species, subfamily Caesioninae, Caesio diagramma and C. tile, and family Siganidae Siganus canaliculatus, were investigated to clarify the differences between these species. Triacylglycerols (TAG) were the dominant depot lipids of the three species, whereas wax esters were found as a minor component. In particular, muscle lipids were found to contain mainly glycerol derivatives such as TAG and phospholipids. The major fatty acids identified in the three species were 16∶0, 18∶0, 18∶1n−9, and 22∶6n−3 (docosahexaenoic acid, DHA). In addition, noticeable levels of 16∶1n−7, 18∶1n−7, 20∶4n−6 (arachidonic acid, AA), and 20∶5n−3 (eicosapentaenoic acid) were found. DHA was the most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in the muscle and viscera lipids of the three species. The high DHA levels in the lipids of all the organs were found to be higher than those of the lipid extracted from the stomach contents of the three fishes. In addition, the specimens of S. canaliculatus contained significantly higher levels of AA in its tissues than did the other two species. A high AA content is unusual since such high levels of n−6 PUFA are rarely found in higher marine organisms. These levels may be due to its characteristic feeding pattern, because S. canaliculatus prefer and mainly feed on seaweed, which often contains high amounts of n−6 PUFA, such as linoleic acid (18∶2n−6) and AA.     

Chemical vapour deposition of epitaxial Ni-Zn ferrite films by thermal decomposition of acetylacetonato complexes

Epitaxial (Ni, Zn)Fe₂O₄ films were prepared on (100) MgO single crystal substrate by lowpressure chemical vapour deposition using a thermal decomposition of acetylacetonatocomplexes, Ni(acac)₂, Zn(acac)₂ and Fe(acac)₃. These complexes were evaporated at 157, 79 and 146° C, respectively, and transported with nitrogen carrier gas (flow rate 100 ml min⁻¹) to the deposition furnace. Polycrystalline and epitaxial films were grown at 500 to 600 and 600 to 650° C, respectively, under a pressure of 12 torr. The epitaxial film of Ni_1−xZn_xFe₂O₄ (x⋍0.4) treated at 600° C for 60 min, showed the saturation magnetization of 67 e.m.u. g⁻¹ and the coercive force of 20 to 30 Oe.     

Divertible and Subliminal-Free Zero-Knowledge Proofs for Languages

Divertible proofs are extensions of interactive proofs in which an active eavesdropper, the warden, makes the prover and the verifier untraceable. The warden is transparent to both the prover and the verifier. With subliminal-free proofs the warden controls subliminal messages. In this paper we present divertible and subliminal-free zero-knowledge proofs for various languages. We consider both graph isomorphism and Received September 1992 and revised September 1995 and May 1997     

Video‐based analysis for facial skin appearance with automatic face tracking

In this article, a video‐based analysis for facial skin appearance with an automatic face tracking technique is proposed. The change of skin appearance under various illuminations is observed by illuminating the face from various light source positions, and the changes in facial appearance are recorded as a video stream during this measurement. The recorded video stream is then analyzed to obtain the bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) at each position of the facial skin. Automatic face tracking is necessary to compensate the facial movement in order to obtain an accurate BRDF measurement at each position. Since conventional face tracking techniques cannot be used for a face illuminated from various light source positions, a new face tracking technique that is robust to the various face shadings has been developed. Experimental studies show the effectiveness of both the proposed video‐based analysis technique and the automatic face tracking technique. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 33, 477–484, 2008     

Development and Application of an Integrated Water Balance Model to Study the Sensitivity of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area Water Availability Scenario to Climatic Changes

This study investigates the water availability scenario along Tokyo Metropolitan Area (TMA) under future climatic changes. TMA, which depends largely on the adjacent Tone river for its water supply, suffers from water shortage almost once in 2–3 yr. A methodology was developed considering integrated approach to ascertain probable impact of climatic changes on the overall water availability along the Tone river and its impact on TMA. Historical trend in hydro-climatic characteristics of the Tone River basin was investigated at the first place to assess the changes and interrelationships. A deterministic water balance model was later developed, integrating natural hydrological balance as well as several water uses and river regulation effects. The natural water balance part of the model was tested for some hypothetical climate change scenarios to observe the sensitivity of the Tone river flow to climatic perturbations. For the worst scenario of precipitation and temperature changes, the unregulated Tone river flow was observed to be reduced by around 20–50%, varying over different months. After considering river regulation effects from reservoirs and diversion, the regulated flow was further analyzed based on some risk indices. Drought risk was observed to be increased significantly for the periods between April–July.     

Oxidation Resistance of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Coated with Silicon Carbide

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were coated with a SiC layer using SiO vapor. The growth mechanism of SiC and the oxidation resistance of the SiC-coated MWCNTs were studied. The growth of the SiC layer was controlled by adjusting the partial pressure of CO₂ using carbon felt placed in a crucible. The nanometer-sized SiC particles were deposited onto the tubes by the reaction between SiO( g ) and CO( g ). On the other hand, the thin surface of the MWCNTs was converted to the SiC layer when the carbon felt was not used. The oxidation durability of MWCNTs was improved by the SiC coating. MWCNTs were oxidized completely in air at 650°C for 60 min. However, about 90 mass% of the SiC-coated MWCNTs remained after the same oxidation test.