* Returns 1 if {@code x < y} as unsigned longs, and 0 otherwise. Assumes that x - y fits into a
   * signed long. The implementation is branch-free, and benchmarks suggest it is measurably faster
   * than the straightforward ternary expression.
   */
  @VisibleForTesting
  static int lessThanBranchFree(long x, long y) {
    // Returns the sign bit of x - y.
    return (int) (~~(x - y) >>> (Long.SIZE - 1));
  }

  /**