Mesh-connected parallel computer PAX for scientific applications

Nearest-neighbor-mesh connection plus global broadcasting/control bus characterizes the architecture of the processor array PAX, that was constructed for and is now operating in many typical scientific applications. Not only these inter-processor connections, but also an MIMD structure of the machine were found effective in the particle transport problems, that require asynchronous operation.

The paper describes the bases of architecture of two recent versions of the PAX computer, their hardware and software systems, and, based on the implementation of scientific applications, the effectiveness of the PAX type architecture is presented.     

Molecular structure of La3+-induced methanol dehydrogenase-like protein in Methylobacterium radiotolerans

La(3+) and not Ca(2+) increases methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) activity in Methylobacterium radiotolerans NBRC15690. La(3+)- and Ca(2+)-MDH-like proteins were found to be homodimeric (α(2)) and heterotetrameric (α(2)β(2)), respectively. N-terminal amino acid sequences of these proteins revealed that La(3+)- and Ca(2+)-MDH-like proteins were encoded by xoxF and mxaFI, respectively.     

Modeling of a slit-scan-type aerial image measurement sensor used for optical lithography

Theoretical modeling of a slit-scan-type aerial image measurement sensor used for optical lithography is presented. Slit transmission properties are fully represented by the slit transfer function in terms of incident and scattering angles of light, which is then incorporated into the scheme of a partially coherent imaging formula to obtain an expression for image profiles measured by slit scanning. As an exemplary case, we analyze the influence of a 100 nm width slit used in an ArF lithography system. To understand the mechanism of image profile changes by slit transmission, we focus on frequency transfer characteristics of sinusoidal patterns.     

Inhibition of prostaglandin production by nimesulide is accompanied by changes in expression of the cassette of uterine labor-related genes in pregnant sheep

The present study was designed to characterize effects of inhibiting PG production by infusing nimesulide (CAS 51803-78-2) on PGE2 production and expression of uterine labor-related genes in pregnant sheep. Myometrium, endometrium, and placenta were collected following 6 h of i.v. nimesulide or vehicle infusion. Infusions were commenced 9 h after onset of spontaneous term labor. Tissues were also collected from term control ewes not in labor. PGE2 was measured in fetal plasma by RIA. ER, OTR, Hsp 70 and 90, cPLA2, and PGHS-2 messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance in myometrium, endometrium, and PGHS-2 in placenta were quantified by Northern blot analysis. Fetal plasma PGE2 decreased during nimesulide infusion (P < 0.05). ER, OTR, Hsp 70, and Hsp 90 mRNA increased during spontaneous term labor in vehicle infused ewes in both myometrium and endometrium. In myometrium after nimesulide infusion, OTR and Hsp 70 mRNA decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with vehicle infused animals, but the decrease in Hsp 90 and ER mRNA fell outside the level of significance. In the endometrium, nimesulide produced a decrease in ER and OTR mRNA (P < 0.05) compared with vehicle infused animals, but the changes in Hsp 90 and 70 mRNA fell outside the level of significance. Nimesulide reversed the up-regulation of PGHS-2 mRNA that occurred in myometrium, endometrium, and placenta during vehicle infusion (P < 0.05). cPLA2 was only elevated in the endometrium in vehicle infused ewes and did not change in either endometrium or myometrium after nimesulide infusion. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of PG production resulted in decreased fetal plasma PGE2. The decreased abundance of mRNA for several of the well described cassette of utero-placental labor-related genes following nimesulide inhibition may result from altered PG production.     

Simultaneous cholecystectomy and CABG for acute cholecystitis and post-infarction angina

A 71-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with massive GI bleeding and followed by acute myocardial infarction. Severe three vessel coronary artery disease with poor left ventricular performance (EF: 40%) was demonstrated by coronary angiography. He was referred for CABG. He had also cholecystitis, which needed surgical treatment simultaneously. Combined CABG and cholecystectomy were performed without using gastroepiploic artery as a bypass graft, and through separate median sternotomy and through right upper transrectal laparotomy. Postoperative course was uneventful. This combined procedure is beneficial for the patients with acute cholecystitis and unstable angina.     

Experiment and numerical simulation of double-layered RC plates under impact loadings

This paper is to investigate and to propose a method to improve the impact resistance of reinforced concrete (RC) plates against projectile impact, and the damage of double-layered RC plates is examined experimentally and simulated analytically. In tests, a projectile launching apparatus, which is a 40 mm smooth-bore airgun, was used. Based on experimental results, numerical simulations with the DYNA-3D code, which takes account of the dynamic constitutive law of concrete, were done to find the applicability of the present computer code to the analysis of double-layered RC plates under high-speed impact loadings. In this study, the impact resistance of concrete plate is defined as the degree of local damage. In both experiments and numerical simulations, the effect of double-layering on the impact resistance is discussed.     

Production of triacylglycerol and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) by the toluene-degrading bacterium Rhodococcus aetherivorans IAR1

Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) produced by various bacteria has been intensively investigated as a promising biodegradable plastic, but required a supply of an expensive precursor as a secondary carbon source for its production. In a previous study, we identified a new bacterial strain, Rhodococcus aetherivorans IAR1, which synthesizes PHBV from toluene without the supply of a precursor. Toluene is the volatile organic compound most abundantly emitted to the environment. In the present paper, we show that R. aetherivorans IAR1 produces triacylglycerols (TAGs) simultaneously with PHBV. Both PHBV and TAGs were synthesized before the nitrogen source is completely exhausted. The cellular content of PHBV reached 10% of cell dry weight (CDW) and its synthesis ceased even during intermittent supply of toluene. However, accumulation of TAGs continued during cultivation and their cellular content reached 24% of CDW at the end of cultivation. Cerulenin inhibited TAG production and increased PHBV cellular content up to 30% of CDW. The mole fraction of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) in PHBV produced from toluene increased from 60% to 80% during its accumulation. Fatty acid compositions of TAGs produced from acetate and toluene were different. At the end of cultivation, the mole fraction of C17:0, one of odd-carbon number fatty acids, was 5% on toluene or 10% on acetate while the mole fraction of 3HV in PHBV from toluene was as high as that in PHBV from acetate, suggesting that a C5 intermediate of toluene degradation might directly become a precursor of 3HV whereas propionyl-CoA is required for the incorporation of C17:0 into TAGs.     

Supply voltage design tradeoffs between speed and NMOSFETreliability of half-micrometer BiCMOS gates

Voltage supply scaling for a BiCMOS gate was investigated experimentally and analytically. For half-micrometer technology, the supply voltage design tradeoffs between propagation delay and NMOSFET reliability were studied. It was found that the minimum BiCMOS operating voltage ranges from 2.5 to 3.0 V. This minimum can be explained by the sum of twice the base-emitter potential and the NMOSFET threshold voltage, due to the emitter grounded Bi-MOS structure of the BiCMOS gate. As a result, 3.3-V operation is inherently marginal for BiCMOS gates. On the other hand, NMOS reliability in the BiCMOS gate is drastically improved because effective drain voltage is reduced by the base-emitter potential. Thus, NMOSFETs with a channel length shorter by more than 0.2 μm can be used, and this ensures reliable operation of BiCMOS gates at 5 V. In terms of the tradeoffs between gate speed and NMOS reliability, it is verified that BiCMOS gates offer the highest speed in half-micrometer design     

Structures and stability of water nanoclusters in hydrophobic nanospaces

The temperature dependencies of in situ small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) of water adsorbed and of adsorption isotherm of water in hydrophobic carbon nanopores were measured over the temperature range of 293 to 328 K. The structures of water nanoclusters adsorbed in the nanopores were determined with the density fluctuation analysis of in situ SAXS data. The difference of the density fluctuations between adsorption and desorption was ascribed to the water structural difference. The structural transitions of the water nanoclusters were observed around 318 K for adsorption and 308 K for desorption.     

Novel method for producing amorphous rice flours by milling without adding water

The present study investigated a novel milling method for producing amorphous rice starch without adding water. A new type of milling machine was developed (termed the shear and heat milling machine (SHMM)), which is capable of applying mechanical shear and heat during the milling process. The SHMM consisted of a pair of rice mortars attached to a servomotor and a ring heater. The heater was installed on the upper mortar; the temperature of the upper mortar was monitored and controlled by a thermal controller. Wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis was used to determine the crystallinities of starch in rice flour samples produced using the SHMM at different milling temperatures. The WAXD data for milled rice flour that had been heated exhibited no diffraction peaks. This experimental result demonstrates that the developed SHMM produces amorphous rice starch easily by milling with heating without the addition of water. The milling conditions such as the shear and heat applied can be used to control the crystallinity of starch in rice.