Approach to Object Hardness Prediction by Rubber Ball Hardness Prediction Using Capsule Network

A hardness is often used as an index to compare similar objects such as fruits or wood. To measure an object’s hardness, a hardness meter is required, and certain conditions must be met. The conditions are that the hardness meter is compatible with the object and must be close at hand. This research shows the possibility of measuring hardness without a hardness meter using a neural network. The method employs machine learning using a capsule network (CapsNet) of a neural network model. This research experimented using CapsNet with routing-by-agreement, CapsNet with expectation-maximization routing (EM routing) and the EM routing method with the addition of Tasks-Constrained Deep Convolutional Network (TCDCN). The four-layer CapsNet with EM routing implemented has achieved the state-of-the-art.  Multi-layered CapsNet with EM routing was a very effective method for regression analysis as well. And, CapsNet has higher discriminative power using EM-routing than routing-by-agreement

Unraveling the glass-like dynamic heterogeneity in ring polymer melts: From semi-flexible to stiff chain

Ring polymers are an intriguing class of polymers with unique physical properties, and understanding their behavior is important for developing accurate theoretical models. In this study, we investigate the effect of chain stiffness and monomer density on static and dynamic behaviors of ring polymer melts using molecular dynamics simulations. Our first focus is on the non-Gaussian parameter of center of mass displacement as a measure of dynamic heterogeneity, which is commonly observed in glass-forming liquids. We find that the non-Gaussianity in the displacement distribution increases with the monomer density and stiffness of the polymer chains, suggesting that excluded volume interactions between centers of mass have a stronger effect on the dynamics of ring polymers. We then analyze the relationship between the radius of gyration and monomer density for semi-flexible and stiff ring polymers. Our results indicate that the relationship between the two varies with chain stiffness, which can be attributed to the competition between repulsive forces inside the ring and from adjacent rings. Finally, we study the dynamics of bond-breakage virtually connected between the centers of mass of rings to analyze the exchanges of inter-molecular networks of bonds. Our results demonstrate that the dynamic heterogeneity of bond-breakage is coupled with the non-Gaussianity in ring polymer melts, highlighting the importance of bond-breaking method in determining the inter-molecular dynamics of ring polymer melts. Overall, our study provides insights into the fundamental mechanism of ring polymers and sheds light on the factors that govern their dynamic behavior.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

A Compiler of Two-Party Protocols for Composable and Game-Theoretic Security, and Its Application to Oblivious Transfer

In this paper, we consider the following question: Does composing protocols having game-theoretic security result in a secure protocol in the sense of game-theoretic security? In order to discuss the composability of game-theoretic properties, we study security of cryptographic protocols in terms of the universal composability (UC) and game theory simultaneously. The contribution of this paper is the following: (i) We propose a compiler of two-party protocols in the local universal composability (LUC) framework such that it transforms any two-party protocol secure against semi-honest adversaries into a protocol secure against malicious adversaries in the LUC framework; (ii) We consider the application of our compiler to oblivious transfer (OT) protocols, by which we obtain a construction of OT meeting both UC security and game-theoretic security

『学び合い』に取り組み始めた教員の困難に関する研究 : ｢課題づくり｣の悩みに着目した事例的研究

　本研究の目的は，『学び合い』に取り組み始めた教員の｢課題づくり｣に関する悩みの実態と，『学び合い』授業における望ましい｢課題｣を明らかにすることである。『学び合い』を実践者している教員，実践しようとしている教員を対象に，アンケート調査，インタビュー調査を行った。　その結果，多くの教員は，｢課題づくり｣の｢構成・分量・難易度｣についての悩みが多いことが明らかとなった。さらに，｢課題づくり｣に対する悩みを解決した実践者の多くは，｢課題｣は教科書の問題のような“シンプルな課題”が望ましいのではないかという考えにいたることが明らかとなった

Enhanced O-GlcNAcylation Mediates Cytoprotection under Proteasome Impairment by Promoting Proteasome Turnover in Cancer Cells

The proteasome is a therapeutic target in cancer, but resistance to proteasome inhibitors often develops owing to the induction of compensatory pathways. Through a genome-wide siRNA screen combined with RNA sequencing analysis, we identified hexokinase and downstream O-GlcNAcylation as cell survival factors under proteasome impairment. The inhibition of O-GlcNAcylation synergistically induced massive cell death in combination with proteasome inhibition. We further demonstrated that O-GlcNAcylation was indispensable for maintaining proteasome activity by enhancing biogenesis as well as proteasome degradation in a manner independent of Nrf1, a well-known compensatory transcription factor that upregulates proteasome gene expression. Our results identify a pathway that maintains proteasome function under proteasome impairment, providing potential targets for cancer therapy

Synthesis of Carbon Showing Weak Antiferromagnetic Behavior at a Low Temperature

In this short communication, we report a new carbon material prepared from meta-linked polyaniline that exhibits weak antiferromagnetic interactions at low temperature. The synthesis of poly(meta-aniline), abbreviated as m-PANI, was conducted using the Ullmann reaction with the aid of Cu+ as a catalyst in the presence of K2CO3. After the generation of radical cations by vapor-phase doping with iodine, carbonization was performed to prepare carbon polyaniline (C-PANI), which comprises condensed benzene rings. Analysis with a superconducting quantum interference device revealed that the resultant carbon exhibits antiferromagnetism at low temperatures. The discovery of this weak antiferromagnetic carbon may contribute to the development of carbon magnets

Functional Ingredients Extraction from Garcinia mangostana Pericarp by Liquefied Dimethyl Ether

The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.) pericarp contains rich xanthone, a one kind of the polyphenols in the non-edible portion. In recent years, xanthones have been noted as a functionality such as anti-cancer effect and is expected as pharmaceuticals and health supplements. In this work, extraction of xanthones from mangosteen pericarp by using liquefied DME were investigated. Wet powder and cube samples were used as a raw material. Experimental conditions were 35°C, 0.8 MPa with various amounts of sample (1, 3, 6 g). Extracted components were analyzed by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). As a result, it was confirmed that eight kinds of xanthones such as alpha-mangostin, 3-Isomangostin, Mangostanol, 8-Desoxygartanin, Gartanin, Garcinone E, 9-Hydroxycalabaxanthone, beta-Mangostin were extracted. The highest yield of alpha-mangostin (42.9 mg/g_dry sample) was obtained with a powder sample of 6 g loaded. Final alpha-magostin corresponded to about 104% of the ethanol extraction with wet mangosteen pericarp, and 72% of the dried sample. Therefore, it was considered that in the extraction of xanthones from the mangosteen, liquefied DME extraction was valid