Asymptotic Distribution of Multilevel Channel Polarization for a Certain Class of Erasure Channels

This study examines multilevel channel polarization for a certain class of erasure channels that the input alphabet size is an arbitrary composite number. We derive limiting proportions of partially noiseless channels for such a class. The results of this study are proved by an argument of convergent sequences, inspired by Alsan and Telatar's simple proof of polarization, and without martingale convergence theorems for polarization process.Comment: 31 pages; 1 figure; 1 table; a short version of this paper has been submitted to the 2018 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory (ISIT2018

Countably Infinite Multilevel Source Polarization for Non-Stationary Erasure Distributions

Polar transforms are central operations in the study of polar codes. This paper examines polar transforms for non-stationary memoryless sources on possibly infinite source alphabets. This is the first attempt of source polarization analysis over infinite alphabets. The source alphabet is defined to be a Polish group, and we handle the Ar{\i}kan-style two-by-two polar transform based on the group. Defining erasure distributions based on the normal subgroup structure, we give recursive formulas of the polar transform for our proposed erasure distributions. As a result, the recursive formulas lead to concrete examples of multilevel source polarization with countably infinite levels when the group is locally cyclic. We derive this result via elementary techniques in lattice theory.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure, a short version has been accepted by the 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory (ISIT2019

Numerical Simulation of Single-Electron Tunneling in Random Arrays of Small Tunnel Junctions Formed by Percolation of Conductive Nanoparticles

We numerically simulated electrical properties, i.e., the resistance and Coulomb blockade threshold, of randomly-placed conductive nanoparticles. In simulation, tunnel junctions were assumed to be formed between neighboring particle-particle and particle-electrode connections. On a plane of triangle 100×100 grids, three electrodes, the drain, source, and gate, were defined. After random placements of conductive particles, the connection between the drain and source electrodes were evaluated with keeping the gate electrode disconnected. The resistance was obtained by use of a SPICE-like simulator, whereas the Coulomb blockade threshold was determined from the current-voltage characteristics simulated using a Monte-Carlo simulator. Strong linear correlation between the resistance and threshold voltage was confirmed, which agreed with results for uniform one-dimensional arrays

Dynamic Interplay Between Smooth Muscle Cells and Macrophages in Vascular Disease

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and monocytes/macrophages represent major players in atherosclerotic vascular diseases. In addition to physiological and pathological roles of each cell type in atherosclerosis, dynamic interplay between SMCs and monocytes/macrophages may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis more critically than previously understood. Activated macrophages accelerate pro-atherogenic functions of SMCs in vascular lesions. Activated SMCs promote additional accumulation of pro-inflammatory macrophages through expression of chemoattractants. More recent evidence suggests the interchangeability between SMC and monocyte/macrophage lineages. Future efforts to understand such dynamic interactions between SMCs and macrophages may provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of vascular disease and the development of new classes of medical solutions

Regulation of TGF-β1-Induced Pro-Apoptotic Signaling by Growth Factor Receptors and Extracellular Matrix Receptor Integrins in the Liver

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often arises from chronically diseased livers. Persistent liver inflammation causes the accumulation of excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and impairs the liver function, finally leading to the development of HCC. A pleiotropic cytokine, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, plays critical roles throughout the process of fibrogenesis and hepatocarcinogenesis. In the liver, TGF-β1 inhibits the proliferation of hepatocytes and stimulates the production of ECM from hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to maintain tissue homeostasis. During disease progression, both growth factors/cytokines and the ECM alter the TGF-β1 signals by modifying the phosphorylation of Smad proteins at their C-terminal and linker regions. TGF-β1 stimulates the expression of integrins, cellular receptors for ECM, along with an increase in ECM accumulation. The activation of integrins by the ECM modulates the response to TGF-β1 in hepatic cells, resulting in their resistance to TGF-β1-induced growth suppression in hepatocytes and the sustained production of ECM proteins in activated HSCs/myofibroblasts. Both growth factor receptors and integrins modify the expression and/or functions of the downstream effectors of TGF-β1, resulting in the escape of hepatocytes from TGF-β1-induced apoptosis. Recent studies have revealed that the alterations of Smad phosphorylation that occur as the results of the crosstalk between TGF-β1, growth factors and integrins could change the nature of TGF-β1 signals from tumor suppression to promotion. Therefore, the modification of Smad phosphorylation could be an attractive target for the prevention and/or treatment of HCC

Cause and Countermeasure Way of Rubble Fires Occurred after 2011 Great Earthquake of Japan

AbstractThis paper seeks for cause and countermeasure way of fires of huge amount of rubble which were produced after 2011 great earthquake of Japan. In 2011, we experienced many fires caused with rubbles which were produced from destroyed houses by the Great earthquake and tsunami in March 11, 2011, in Japan. Rubble includes various organic materials, and sometimes causes fires, which is used for fuel of power plants, or energy sources. It is very difficult to extinguish fire of such biomass fuel made from rubble in outdoor storage facilities. Here current studies for safety handling of these materials and proposed an evaluation method, is introduced, which is to use high sensitive calorimeters. And cause investigation work and countermeasure method, conducted by author is introduced. Our results regarding cause of fires are: initial of heat generation and fire are mostly by fermentation, and then oxidation process started after micro organism dead by high temperature, up to about 60°C. High sensitive calorimeters can detect small heat generation between room temperature and 80°C, due to fermentation or other causes. This heat generation sometimes initiated a real fire even outdoor, and produced some combustible gas. With understanding this process we recommend countermeasure way against such fires, to release heat from the pile, and prevent air entrainment into the pile to stop fermentation