Partial scan design and test sequence generation based on reduced scan shift method

This paper presents a partial scan algorithm, calledPARES (PartialscanAlgorithm based onREduced Scan shift), for designing partial scan circuits. PARES is based on the reduced scan shift that has been previously proposed for generating short test sequences for full scan circuits. In the reduced scan shift method, one determines proch FFs must be controlled and observed for each test vector. According to the results of similar analysis, PARES selects these FFs that must be controlled or observed for a large number of test vectors, as scanned FFs. Short test sequences are generated by reducing scan shift operations using a static test compaction method. To minimize the loss of fault coverage, the order of test vectors is so determined that the unscanned FFs are in the state required by the next test vector. If there are any faults undetected yet by a test sequence derived from the test vectors, then PARES uses a sequential circuit test generator to detect the faults. Experimental results for ISCAS'89 benchmark circuits are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of PARES.     

Protein modelling using a chimera reference protein derived from exons

Bovine pancreatic /S-trypsin (PDB ID-code: 1TPO) which is registeredin the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank (PDB) consists of four exons.The results of homology searches for each exon in the PDB showedthat homologous proteins were tonin (PDB ID-code: 1TON), ratmast cell protease (PDB ID-code: 3RP2_A), kaffikrein A (PDBID-code: 2PKA_B) and kallikrein A (2PKA_B) respectively. Thus,for the three-dimensional structure prediction of 1TPO, a chimeraprotein was constructed from the three proteins mentioned aboveand the 3-D structure prediction was performed using this chimerareference protein. The modelled structure of 1TPO was energeticallyoptimized by molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics simulationand was compared with its X-ray crystal structure registeredin the PDB. The root mean square deviations (r.m.s.d.) of mainchain atoms and the neighbouring active site (5 sphere fromHis57, AsplO2 and Serl95) between the modelled structure andthe X-ray structure were 1.66 and 0.94 respectively. Porcinepancreatic elastase (PDB ID-code: 3EST) which is registeredin the PDB was used as the reference protein and the modelledstructure from 3EST was also compared with the X-ray data. Ther.m.s.d. of main chain atoms and that of the active site were2.14 and 1.18 respectively. These results dearly support thepropriety of this method using the chimera reference protein.     

Differential expression of laminin receptors in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) have been shown to be ideally sensitive to interruptions of the cochlear blood flow. However, a 15- to 30-second latency typically occurs between cessation of circulation and measurable DPOAE level changes. DPOAEs can also be characterized by phase measures. The aim of the present study was to determine in 10 rabbits the effects on DPOAE phase of repetitively compressing the internal auditory artery. In contrast to the delays measured by DPOAE level, phase changes were detected 1 to 5 seconds after internal auditory artery compression. These data suggest that the essentially "real time" monitoring of cochlear function with DPOAE phase can be used to ensure hearing preservation during surgery involving the porus acousticus and skull base.     

Kinetics of reactive diffusion between Au and Sn during annealing at solid-state temperatures

The reactive diffusion between Au and Sn was experimentally studied at solid-state temperatures using Sn/Au/Sn diffusion couples prepared by a diffusion bonding technique. The diffusion couples were annealed at temperatures of T = 393 and 473 K for various times in an oil bath with silicone oil. After annealing, compound layers composed of AuSn₄, AuSn₂ and AuSn were recognized to form at the Au/Sn interface. The thickness of the AuSn₄ layer is about six and four times greater than those of the AuSn₂ and AuSn layers at T = 393 and 473 K, respectively. The ratio of the thicknesses of the compound layers is kept constant independently of the annealing time. The total thickness l of the compound layers is described as a function of the annealing time t by the equation l = k(t/t₀)ⁿ, where t₀ is unit time, 1 s. The exponent n is nearly equal to 1/2 at T = 393 K but takes a value between 1/4 and 1/2 at T = 473 K. Such an intermediate value of n at T = 473 K indicates that the grain boundary diffusion contributes to the reactive diffusion and the grain growth occurs at certain rates. As the annealing temperature decreases, the contribution of the grain boundary diffusion should become more remarkable, but the grain growth will slow down. Consequently, n becomes close to 1/2 at T = 393 K. According to the constancy of the ratio of the thicknesses, it is concluded that the same rate-controlling process works in the AuSn₄, AuSn₂ and AuSn layers at a constant annealing temperature.     

Elevated Alpha 1(I) to Alpha 2(I) Collagen Ratio in Dermal Fibroblasts Possibly Contributes to Fibrosis in Systemic Sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is characterized by excessive collagen deposition in the skin and internal organs. Activated fibroblasts are the key effector cells for the overproduction of type I collagen, which comprises the α1(I) and α2(I) chains encoded by COL1A1 and COL1A2, respectively. In this study, we examined the expression patterns of α1(I) and α2(I) collagen in SSc fibroblasts, as well as their co-regulation with each other. The relative expression ratio of COL1A1 to COL1A2 in SSc fibroblasts was significantly higher than that in control fibroblasts. The same result was observed for type I collagen protein levels, indicating that α2(I) collagen is more elevated than α2(I) collagen. Inhibition or overexpression of α1(I) collagen in control fibroblasts affected the α2(I) collagen levels, suggesting that α1(I) collagen might act as an upstream regulator of α2(I) collagen. The local injection of COL1A1 small interfering RNA in a bleomycin-induced SSc mouse model was found to attenuate skin fibrosis. Overall, our data indicate that α2(I) collagen is a potent regulator of type I collagen in SSc; further investigations of the overall regulatory mechanisms of type I collagen may help understand the aberrant collagen metabolism in SSc.     

Correlation between the Izumiyama porcelain ceramics and the red-overglaze enamels of the Kakiemon-style porcelains

The Kakiemon-style porcelains made from 17th century at Arita are famous Japanese porcelains, characterized mainly by their colored underglaze and overglaze and by their original design of coloring spatial patterns in the porcelain surface. Raw materials of the red-overglaze enamels have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectra using synchrotron radiations. It is found that Izumiyama porcelain ceramics of yellow color can produce the Kakiemon red-overglaze enamels by thermal treatment and water-washing, where Izumiyama is a collecting place of the raw porcelain ceramic at Arita. The brightness of the red-overglaze enamels is related on the local structure around Fe ions and the electronic band states of Fe ions near a Fermi level in α-Fe₂O₃, in addition to the spatial density of the α-Fe₂O₃ fine particles. The structural and electronic properties are slightly affected by an electron-hybridization between Fe ions of α-Fe₂O₃ and oxygen ions of the (SiO₂–Al₂O₃) complexes in the red overglaze.     

Chemical Synthesis of a Synthetic Analogue of the Sialic Acid‐Binding Lectin Siglec‐7

As a basis for the development of an artificial carbohydrate‐binding lectin, we chemically synthesized a domain of siglec‐7, a well‐characterized sialic‐acid‐binding lectin. The full polypeptide (127 amino acids) was constructed by sequential native chemical ligation (NCL) of five peptide segments. Because of poor cysteine availability for NCL, cysteine residues were introduced at suitable ligation sites; these cysteine residues were alkylated in order to mimic native glutamine or asparagine residues, or converted to an alanine residue by desulfurization after NCL. After folding the full‐length polypeptide, the sialic‐acid‐binding activity of the synthetic siglec‐7 was clearly demonstrated by STD NMR and ELISA experiments. We succeeded in the synthesis of siglec‐7 by installing three extra cysteine residues with side‐chain modifications and found that these modifications did not affect the binding activity.     

Numerical analysis for migration of austenite/ferrite interface during carburization of Fe

During isothermal annealing of the ferrite of a binary Fe–C alloy in an appropriate carburization atmosphere at temperatures of 1020–1180 K, the austenite will be formed as a layer on the surface of the ferrite. The migration behavior of the austenite/ferrite interface during the isothermal carburization was numerically analyzed using the diffusion equation describing the flux balance at the interface. However, the diffusion coefficient of C in the austenite monotonically increases with increasing concentration of C. Thus, the composition dependence of the diffusion coefficient was taken into consideration. For the numerical analysis, Crank–Nicolson implicit method was combined with a finite-difference technique. According to the numerical calculation, the parabolic relationship holds between the migration distance of the austenite/ferrite interface and the annealing time. The composition dependence of the diffusion coefficient yields acceleration of the migration. The numerical calculation satisfactorily reproduces the experimental result of the diffusion controlling migration.     

Power system control method using customers' energy storage systems and the verification of proposed method

Advanced energy storage systems have been widely applied to industries and are being installed at large buildings and factories to realize efficient energy usage. This paper presents a control method involving load frequency control and distribution network control (loss reduction control) using a part of customers' owned battery capacity. When 10% of total battery capacity of 100 MW in a network of 30‐GW generator capacities is used for load frequency control, a total of 1500‐MW generation units for load frequency control, at maximum, can be stopped without deterioration of power quality. In addition, when batteries are used for loss reduction in a distribution network, 2% of the loss on a summer day can be reduced. To realize both effects to their fullest, a novel integrated control algorithm is proposed and its economic effect is evaluated by numerical simulations. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 165(4): 11–20, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20704