Abstract: The abductive inference device includes a hypothesis generation unit for creating a set of candidate hypotheses, observed information including a hypothesis from which a logical expression is derived based on a knowledge database including knowledge information expressing the logical expression for deriving a consequent from an antecedent, a conversion unit for calculating a constraint condition for the created set of candidate hypotheses and a weight for the constraint condition in accordance with predetermined processing; and a solver unit for calculating a hypothesis when a predetermined condition is satisfied based on the calculated constraint condition and the calculated weight.

Abstract: An information processing unit and information processing method capable of performing a ground-state search of an Ising model having coefficients of arbitrary values regardless of restrictions on hardware or software is suggested. When a ground state of an original problem, which is an Ising model, or an approximate solution of that ground state is calculated as a solution of the original problem, one or more sub-problems which are Ising models are generated from the original problem and the information processing unit searches the ground state of each generated sub-problem and generates a solution of the original problem based on a solution of each sub-problem obtained from the search; and when types of coefficient values of an Ising model whose ground state can be searched are limited, sub-problems which are Ising models composed of the types of limited values of coefficients are generated.

Abstract: An information processing unit and information processing method capable of performing a ground-state search of an Ising model having coefficients of arbitrary values regardless of restrictions on hardware or software is suggested. When a ground state of an original problem, which is an Ising model, or an approximate solution of that ground state is calculated as a solution of the original problem, one or more sub-problems which are Ising models are generated from the original problem and the information processing unit searches the ground state of each generated sub-problem and generates a solution of the original problem based on a solution of each sub-problem obtained from the search; and when types of coefficient values of an Ising model whose ground state can be searched are limited, sub-problems which are Ising models composed of the types of limited values of coefficients are generated.

Abstract: A method for the storage or transportation of an erythritol by maintaining erythritol in the form of a solution at a concentration and at a temperature in given ranges. Setting up such conditions enables long-term storage of an erythritol solution or transportation of erythritol to the destination in a state of a solution.