Tokyo Institute of Technology

About: Tokyo Institute of Technology is a education organization based out in Tokyo, Tôkyô, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Thin film & Catalysis. The organization has 46775 authors who have published 101656 publications receiving 2357893 citations. The organization is also known as: Tokyo Tech & Tokodai.

Exploiting Sparsity in Semidefinite Programming via Matrix Completion I: General Framework

Abstract: A critical disadvantage of primal-dual interior-point methods compared to dual interior-point methods for large scale semidefinite programs (SDPs) has been that the primal positive semidefinite matrix variable becomes fully dense in general even when all data matrices are sparse. Based on some fundamental results about positive semidefinite matrix completion, this article proposes a general method of exploiting the aggregate sparsity pattern over all data matrices to overcome this disadvantage. Our method is used in two ways. One is a conversion of a sparse SDP having a large scale positive semidefinite matrix variable into an SDP having multiple but smaller positive semidefinite matrix variables to which we can effectively apply any interior-point method for SDPs employing a standard block-diagonal matrix data structure. The other way is an incorporation of our method into primal-dual interior-point methods which we can apply directly to a given SDP. In Part II of this article, we will investigate an implementation of such a primal-dual interior-point method based on positive definite matrix completion, and report some numerical results.

Observation of the DsJ(2317) and DsJ(2457) in B Decays

Abstract: We report the first observation of the B-->(D) over barD(sJ)(2317) and B-->(D) over barD(sJ)(2457) decays based on 123.8x10(6) B (B) over bar events collected with the Belle detector at KEKB. We observe the D-sJ(2317) decay to D(s)pi(0) and the D-sJ(2457) decay to the D(s)(*)pi(0) and D(s)gamma final states. We also set 90% C.L. upper limits for the decays D-sJ(2317)-->D-s*gamma, D-sJ(2457)-->D-s*gamma, D-sJ(2457)-->D(s)pi(0), and D-sJ(2457)-->D(s)pi(+)pi(-).

Real-time spectroscopy of transition states in bacteriorhodopsin during retinal isomerization.

Abstract: Real-time investigations of the rearrangement of bonds during chemical transformations require femtosecond temporal resolution, so that the atomic vibrations within the reacting molecules can be observed. Following the development of lasers capable of emitting ultrashort laser flashes on this timescale, chemical reactions involving relatively simple molecules have been monitored in detail, revealing the transient existence of intermediate species as reactants are transformed into products1,2,3. Here we report the direct observation of nuclear motion in a complex biological system, the retinal chromophore of bacteriorhodopsin (bR568)4, as it undergoes the trans–cis photoisomerization that is fundamental to the vision process. By using visible-light pulses of less than 5 femtosecond in duration5,6, we are able to monitor changes in the vibrational spectra of the transition state and thus show that despite photoexcitation of the anti-bonding molecular orbital involved, isomerization does not occur instantly, but involves transient formation of a so-called ‘tumbling state’. Our observations thus agree with growing experimental7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 and ab initio evidence15,16 for a three-state photoisomerization model8,9,10,17 and firmly discount the initially suggested two-state model18,19,20 for this process.

Photocrosslinkable chitosan as a biological adhesive.

Abstract: A photocrosslinkable chitosan to which both azide and lactose moieties were introduced (Az-CH-LA) was prepared as a biological adhesive for soft tissues and its effectiveness was compared with that of fibrin glue. Introduction of the lactose moieties resulted in a much more water-soluble chitosan at neutral pH. Application of ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation to photocrosslinkable Az-CH-LA produced an insoluble hydrogel within 60 s. This hydrogel firmly adhered two pieces of sliced ham with each other, depending upon the Az-CH-LA concentration. The binding strength of the chitosan hydrogel prepared from 30-50 mg/mL of Az-CH-LA was similar to that of fibrin glue. Compared to the fibrin glue, the chitosan hydrogel more effectively sealed air leakage from pinholes on isolated small intestine and aorta and from incisions on isolated trachea. Neither Az-CH-LA nor its hydrogel showed any cytotoxicity in cell culture tests of human skin fibroblasts, coronary endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells. Furthermore, all mice studied survived for at least 1 month after implantation of 200 microL of photocrosslinked chitosan gel and intraperitoneal administration of up to 1 mL of 30 mg/mL of Az-CH-LA solution. These results suggest that the photocrosslinkable chitosan developed here has the potential of serving as a new tissue adhesive in medical use.