Efficient method of adaptive sign detection for 4×4 determinants using a standard arithmetic processing unit

We propose an efficient and exact method for the adaptive sign detection of 4×4 determinants using a standard arithmetic unit. The entities of determinants are variable length integers (integers of arbitrary bit length). The integers are expressed in 16-bit data units, and the sign detection is reduced to the computation of 4×4 determinants of 16-bit integers. To accelerate the computation, the calculation is performed by using a standard arithmetic unit. We have implemented our method and confirmed that it significantly improves the computation time of 4×4 determinants. The method can be applicable to many geometric algorithms that need the exact sign evaluation of 4×4 determinants, especially to construct robust geometric algorithms.     

Hypolipidemic action of the soybean isoflavones genistein and genistin in glomerulonephritic rats

Effects of genistein and its glycoside genistin were studied in nephritic rats with endogenous hyperlipidemia. Male Wistar rats with glomerulonephritis caused by a single intravenous injection of nephrotoxic serum were orally given 5 mg of genistein or 8 mg of genistin/d/100 g body weight for 12 d. These isoflavones suppressed nephritis-induced severe hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, and their hypolipidemic action was almost identical. Fecal steroid excretion was unchanged by administration of the two isoflavones. Genistein inhibited the incorporation of [1-¹⁴C]acetate into cholesterol and FA in liver slices from nephritic rats when added to an incubation buffer, whereas genistin did not. These results suggest that genistin may be hydrolyzed to genistein and that genistein itself and/or its metabolite(s) may be intracorporal entities suppressing hepatic lipid syntheses. They also suggest that the suppression of hepatic lipid synthesis may be one mechanism of the hypolipidemic action of genistein.     

Cell adhesion characteristics of chemically modified silicon nitride surfaces

We investigated the fundamental characteristics of cell adhesion during cell culture on the Si₃N₄ surface for using it as the gate insulator in field‐effect devices. The culture medium and the surface condition of Si₃N₄ were controlled for cell culture on the Si₃N₄ substrate. When we measure electrical characteristics of cell adhesion and cell function using field‐effect devices, we require a stable measurement of the electrical signals. The serum in the culture medium includes a number of proteins, which cause instability of the potential behavior. In this paper, we show that the cell‐adhesive molecules on the Si₃N₄ surface used as a gate insulator should be designed and controlled when cell culture is performed in the culture medium without the serum. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan© 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Auction-based production planning considering operators' skill criterion

With the penetration of the IoT and data science, new manufacturing initiatives are accelerating. However, conventional approaches have emphasized the use of machine-based data. A need exists to realize more productive work styles considering the abilities and physical condition of operators. In this paper, we propose a production planning method to allocate machines and operators with different skill level optimally. After formulating a combinatorial auction mechanism, developing a schedule that minimizes the total production cost, we verify that the proposed method can realize human-centered production planning by combining the schedules with different evaluation indices.     

Bactericidal activity of copper-deposited TiO2 thin film under weak UV light illumination

The bactericidal activity of copper-deposited titanium dioxide thin film (Cu/TiO2) was investigated under very weak ultraviolet (UV) light illumination. To elucidate the roles of the film photocatalyst and the deposited copper in the bactericidal activity, cells from a copper-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain were utilized. A decrease in survival rate was not observed with the copper-resistant cells under dark conditions, but when illuminated with a very weak UV intensity of 1 microW/cm2, the survival rate decreased, suggesting photocatalytic bactericidal activity. The decay curve of survival on the Cu/TiO2 film under very weak UV light illumination consisted of two steps, similar to the survival change of normal E. coli on TiO2 films under rather strong UV illumination. The first step is due to the partial decomposition of the outer membrane in the cell envelope by a photocatalytic process, followed by permeation of the copper ions into the cytoplasmic membrane. The second step is due to a disorder of the cytoplasmic membrane caused by the copper ions, which results in a loss of the cell's integrity. These processes explain why the Cu/TiO2 film system shows an effective bactericidal activity even under very weak UV light illumination.     

A low communication competitive interactive proof system for promised quadratic residuosity

Bellare and Goldwasser showed that if the modulus N is guaranteed to be the product of O(log log ¦N¦) distinct odd primes, then quadratic residuosity has a competitive interactive proof system (with reasonably large communication complexity). In this paper we show that if the modulus N is guaranteed to be the product of O(log ¦N¦) distinct odd primes, then quadratic residuosity has a competitive interactive proof system with low communication complexity.     

Biocatalysis as a Rational Approach to Enantiodivergent Synthesis of Highly Oxygenated Compounds: (+)- and (—)-Pinitol and Other Cyclitols

Bacterial oxygenation of halogenated aromatic compounds yields arene cis-diols of type 2 of high enantiomeric purity. Further oxygenation of these extremely versatile synthetic intermediates provides for stereo- and regioselective introduction of additional functionalities such as hydroxyl groups. Several rational methods of oxygenation (epoxidation, osmylation, singlet oxygen addition, and ozonolysis) are used to produce, in short synthetic routes, cyclitol derivatives of medicinal importance. Proper symmetry considerations lead to the development of enantiodivergent synthetic design of target compounds from a single enantiomer of a starting diol. These principles are illustrated on the short syntheses of (+)- and (-)-pinitol. Stereocontrolled oxidative transformation of diols of type 2 are exemplified in the synthesis of conduritol C and dihydroconduritol C. Full experimental details are provided for all compounds. A guide to the stereorational design of any stereoisomer of cyclohexane (poly)ols or carbohydrates is provided at the end of the paper.     

Synthesis of diastereomeric mixture of 15,19,23-trimethylheptatriacontane,contact sex pheromone of tsetse fly,Glossina morsitans morsitans westwood

A nine-step synthesis is described for a diastereomeric mixture of 15,19,23-trimethylheptatriacontane, a contact sex pheromone ofGlossina morsitans morsitans Westwood. The compound has been synthesized by means of double alkylation of diethyl 3-oxoglutarate (DEOG) with 3-methyl-2-heptadecenyl methanesulfonate, which was readily prepared from 1-hexadecene, as the key step.This study constitutes Part XII of Selective Alkylation of Diethyl 3-Oxoglutarate. Part XI of this series, see Naoshima et al. (1984).     

A multi-attribute multi-item negotiation mechanism of supply chain networks between buyers and sellers

This article focuses on the multi-attribute multi-item negotiation between multiple manufacturer agents (MAs) and multiple material supplier agents (MSAs). A coalition formation-based negotiation protocol is proposed. The MSAs are allowed to establish coalitions when the orders of the MAs exceed their abilities. Three attributes (price, quantity and lead time) of the items are considered during the negotiation. Both the MAs and the MSAs can give concessions among the attributes in tradeoff relationships according to their own preferences. The non-cooperative game is introduced to find the equilibria of the negotiations. The final allocation scheme is determined to maximise the total profit of the supply chain networks based on the equilibria. Simulations are provided to verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed protocol.