bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lack of manifestations of diazoxide/5‐hydroxydecanoate‐sensitive KATP channel in rat brain nonsynaptosomal mitochondria
Authors: Brustovetsky Tatiana , Shalbuyeva Natalia , Brustovetsky Nickolay
Published: July 2005

Pharmacological modulation of the mitochondrial ATP‐sensitive K+ channel (mitoKATP) sensitive to diazoxide and 5‐hydroxydecanoate (5‐HD) represents an attractive strategy to protect cells against ischaemia/reperfusion‐ and stroke‐related injury. To re‐evaluate a functional role for the mitoKATP in brain, we used Percoll‐gradient‐purified brain nonsynaptosomal mitochondria in a light absorbance assay, in radioisotope measurements of matrix volume, and in measurements of respiration, membrane potential (ΔΨ) and depolarization‐induced K+ efflux. The changes in mitochondrial morphology were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Polyclonal antibodies raised against certain fragments of known sulphonylurea receptor subunits, SUR1 and SUR2, and against different epitopes of K+ inward rectifier subunits Kir 6.1 and Kir 6.2 of the ATP‐sensitive K+ channel of the plasma membrane (cellKATP), were employed to detect similar subunits in brain mitochondria. A variety of plausible blockers (ATP, 5‐hydroxydecanoate, glibenclamide, tetraphenylphosphonium cation) and openers (diazoxide, pinacidil, chromakalim, minoxidil, testosterone) of the putative mitoKATP were applied to show the role of the channel in regulating matrix volume, respiration, and ΔΨ and K+ fluxes across the inner mitochondrial membrane. None of the pharmacological agents applied to brain mitochondria in the various assays pinpointed processes that could be unequivocally associated with mitoKATP activity. In addition, immunoblotting analysis did not provide explicit evidence for the presence of the mitoKATP, similar to the cellKATP, in brain mitochondria. On the other hand, the depolarization‐evoked release of K+ suppressed by ATP could be re‐activated by carboxyatractyloside, an inhibitor of the adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT). Moreover, bongkrekic acid, another inhibitor of the ANT, inhibited K+ efflux similarly to ATP. These observations implicate the ANT in ATP‐sensitive K+ transport in brain mitochondria.
On the Design of Cable-Suspended Planar Parallel Robots
Authors: Fattah Abbas , Agrawal Sunil K.
Published: August 2005

In this paper we present a workspace analysis methodology that can be applied for optimal design of cable-suspended planar parallel robots. The significant difference between regular parallel robots and cable-suspended parallel robots is that the cables in cable-suspended robots can only carry tension forces. The workspace of a planar cable robot is characterized as the set of points where a reference point of moving platform can reach with tensions in all suspension cables. In the design of cable-suspended parallel robots, the suspension points of the cables, size and shape of the moving platform are the design variables. The workspace area and global condition index are used as the objective functions to optimize the design parameters. The global condition index is a measure of isotropicity of the manipulator. The design variables are determined for different numbers of cables using both objective functions at a specified orientation and also at different orientations of moving platform. Experimental results to measure the workspace area demonstrate the effectiveness of this method.
Optimum Synthesis of Mechanisms Using Tabu-Gradient Search Algorithm
Authors: Smaili Ahmad A. , Diab Nadim A. , Atallah Naji A.
Published: August 2005

A tabu-gradient search is herein presented for optimum synthesis of planar mechanisms. The solution generated by a recency-based, short term memory tabu search is used to start a gradient search to drive the solution ever closer to the global minimum. A brief overview of the tabu-search method is first presented. A tabu-gradient algorithm is then used to synthesize four-bar mechanisms for path generation tasks by way of three examples, including two benchmark examples used before to test other deterministic and intelligent optimization schemes. Compared with the corresponding results generated by other schemes, the tabu-gradient search rendered the most optimal solutions of all.
Evaluation of Horizontal Well Performance After Drilling-Induced Formation Damage
Authors: Ding Y. , Renard G.
Published: August 2005

It is well recognized that near-wellbore formation damage can dramatically reduce well productivities, especially for open hole completed horizontal wells. The economic impact of poor productivity of these wells has pushed toward significant efforts in recent years to study laboratory testing techniques and numerical modeling methods for predicting and controlling drilling-induced formation damage. This paper presents an integrated approach, combining a near-wellbore modeling with laboratory experiments for data acquisition as input for the model, to evaluate the performance of oil and gas wells after drilling-induced formation damage.
Fine-Scale Simulation of Sandstone Acidizing
Authors: Li Chunlou , Xie Tao , Pournik Maysam , Zhu Ding , Hill A. D.
Published: August 2005

We have developed a fine-scale model of the sandstone core acid flooding process by solving acid and mineral balance equations for a fully three-dimensional flow field that changed as acidizing proceeded. The initial porosity and mineralogy field could be generated in a correlated manner in three dimensions; thus, a laminated sandstone could be simulated. The model has been used to simulate sandstone acidizing coreflood conditions, with a 1in.diam by 2in. long core represented by 8000 grid blocks, each having different initial properties. Results from this model show that the presence of small-scale heterogeneities in a sandstone has a dramatic impact on the acidizing process. Flow field heterogeneities cause acid to penetrate much farther into the formation than would occur if the rock were homogeneous, as is assumed by standard models. When the porosity was randomly distributed (sampled from a normal distribution), the acid penetrated up to twice as fast as in the homogeneous case. When the porosity field is highly correlated in the axial direction, which represents a laminated structure, acid penetrates very rapidly into the matrix along the high-permeability streaks, reaching the end of the simulated core as much as 17 times faster than for a homogeneous case.
Simultaneous Stability and Surface Location Error Predictions in Milling
Authors: Mann Brian P. , Young Keith A. , Schmitz Tony L. , Dilley David N.
Published: August 2005

Optimizing the milling process requires a priori knowledge of many process variables. However, the ability to include both milling stability and accuracy information is limited because current methods do not provide simultaneous milling stability and accuracy predictions. The method described within this paper, called Temporal Finite Element Analysis (TFEA), provides an approach for simultaneous prediction of milling stability and surface location error. This paper details the application of this approach to a multiple mode system in two orthogonal directions. The TFEA method forms an approximate analytical solution by dividing the time in the cut into a finite number of elements. The approximate solution is then matched with the exact solution for free vibration to obtain a discrete linear map. The formulated dynamic map is then used to determine stability, steady-state surface location error, and to reconstruct the time series for a stable cutting process. Solution convergence is evaluated by simply increasing the number of elements and through comparisons with numerical integration. Analytical predictions are compared to several different milling experiments. An interesting period two behavior, which was originally believed to be a flip bifurcation, was observed during experiment. However, evidence is presented to show this behavior can be attributed to runout in the cutter teeth.
Multi-Operational Machining Processes Modeling for Sequential Root
Cause Identification and Measurement Reduction
Authors: Wang Hui , Huang Qiang , Katz Reuven
Published: August 2005

Variation propagation modeling has been proved to be an effective way for variation reduction and design synthesis in multi-operational manufacturing processes. However, previously developed approaches for machining processes did not directly model the process physics regarding how fixture, and datum, and machine tool errors generate the same pattern on part features. Consequently, it is difficult to distinguish error sources at each operation. This paper formulates the variation propagation model using the proposed equivalent fixture error concept. With this concept, datum error and machine tool error are transformed to equivalent fixture locator errors at each operation. As a result, error sources can be grouped and root cause identification can be conducted in a sequential manner. The case studies demonstrate the model validity through a real cutting experiment and model advantage in measurement reduction for root cause identification.
Mode Mixity for Circular Hollow Section X Joints With Weld Toe Cracks
Authors: Qian X. , Dodds Robert H. , Choo Y. S.
Published: August 2005

This paper describes the mode mixity of stress-intensity factors for surface cracks at weld toes located at the saddle point in circular hollow section X joints. The remote loading applies a uniform tensile stress at the end of the brace along its axis. The three-dimensional finite element models employ mesh tieing between a topologically continuous, global mesh and a separate, local crack-front mesh. Analyses of a simple plate model that approximates key features of toe cracks at the brace-chord intersection verify the negligible effects of the recommended mesh-tieing scheme on stress intensity factors. The linear-elastic analyses compute the mixed-mode stress intensity factors along the crack front using an interaction-integral approach. The mixed-mode stress intensity factors indicate that the crack front experiences predominantly mode I loading, with KIII→0 near the deepest point on the front (ϕ=π∕2). The total crack driving force, described by the J integral, reaches a maximum value at the deepest point of the crack for the crack aspect ratio a∕c=0.25 considered here. The mode-mixity angle, ψ=tan−1(KII∕KI), at ϕ=π∕2 is compared for a range of practical X-joint configurations and crack-depth ratios. The present study demonstrates that the mode-mixity angle ψ increases with increasing brace-to-chord diameter ratio (β) and decreasing chord radius to wall thickness ratio (γ). Values of the nondimensional stress intensity factors (FI=KI∕σ¯brπa and FII=KII∕σ¯brπa), however, show an opposite trend, with higher crack driving forces for small β and large γ ratios. The variations in the brace-to-chord wall thickness ratio (τ) and the crack depth ratio (a∕t0) do not generate significant effects on the mode mixity.
Remanufacturing: Impacts of Sacrificial Cylinder Liners
Authors: Krill Malte , Thurston Deborah L.
Published: August 2005

Remanufacturing offers the potential for simultaneously recovering the economic value of manufactured components and improving the environment. Some design features make remanufacturing less expensive and/or increase the proportion of components that can be remanufactured. For example, sacrificial components can be used to protect key parts from wear. However, trade-offs are sometimes involved, and product designers need tools to support design for remanufacturing. This paper presents models for estimating the costs and environmental impacts of employing sacrificial components (cylinder liners) in engine blocks. These models are incorporated into a spreadsheet-based design decision tool. Three illustrative examples demonstrate that (1) remanufacturing lowers overall costs when two life cycles are considered, (2) sacrificial cylinder liners should be employed for small (2 L) engines, and their superiority increases with multiple remanufacturing cycles, and (3) for large engines (5.3 L) using cylinder liners is equally preferred to not using them, with respect to both overall cost and environmental impacts.
Rapid Production of Carbon Nanotubes by High-Power Laser Ablation
Authors: Jiang Wenping , Molian Pal , Ferkel Hans
Published: August 2005

Carbon nanotubes were synthesized in an atmospheric chamber by irradiating a metal-catalyst containing graphite target with a 2 kW continuous wave CO2 laser and capturing the soot in flowing distilled water to facilitate continuous, rapid production. The ablation products, swept away by an argon flow and collected in the distilled water, were further purified to result in a yield of 50%. The growth rate of purified aggregate ranged from 0.5 to 2g∕h depending on the laser power. Microscopic scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopic (Raman) methods characterized the purified aggregate as a mixture of individual and bundle of single-wall nanotubes, nanoparticles, clusters, and impurities. Nanotubes accounted for approximately 10% of purified aggregate inferring a maximum production rate of 0.2g∕h. The average diameter and length of nanotubes were 1.3 nm and 1.5μm, respectively. The major benefits of this technique are absence of vacuum and high-temperature furnace that are associated with the traditional pulsed laser method, and scalability to meet the industrial production levels.
Global Patterns of Predator Diversity in the Open Oceans
Authors: Worm Boris , Sandow Marcel , Oschlies Andreas , Lotze Heike K. , Myers Ransom A.
Published: July 2005

The open oceans comprise most of the biosphere, yet patterns and trends of species diversity there are enigmatic. Here, we derive worldwide patterns of tuna and billfish diversity over the past 50 years, revealing distinct subtropical “hotspots” that appeared to hold generally for other predators and zooplankton. Diversity was positively correlated with thermal fronts and dissolved oxygen and a nonlinear function of temperature (∼25°C optimum). Diversity declined between 10 and 50% in all oceans, a trend that coincided with increased fishing pressure, superimposed on strong El Niño–Southern Oscillation–driven variability across the Pacific. We conclude that predator diversity shows a predictable yet eroding pattern signaling ecosystem-wide changes linked to climate and fishing.
Role of Protein Kinase G in Growth and Glutamine Metabolism of
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG
Authors: Nguyen Liem , Walburger Anne , Houben Edith , Koul Anil , Muller Stefan , Morbitzer Monika , Klebl Bert , Ferrari Giorgio , Pieters Jean
Published: August 2005

The survival of pathogenic mycobacteria in macrophages requires the eukaryotic enzyme-like serine/threonine protein kinase G. This kinase with unknown specificity is secreted into the cytosol of infected macrophages and inhibits phagosome-lysosome fusion. The
pknG
gene is the terminal gene in a putative operon containing
glnH
, encoding a protein potentially involved in glutamine uptake. Here, we report that the deletion of
pknG
did not affect either glutamine uptake or intracellular glutamine concentrations. In vitro growth of
Mycobacterium bovis
BCG lacking
pknG
was identical to that of the wild type. We conclude that in
M. bovis
BCG, glutamine metabolism is not regulated by protein kinase G.
CO-EVOLUTION OF BOARDS OF DIRECTORS IN MICROFINANCE ORGANIZATIONS: THE CASE OF BANCOSOL AND LOS ANDES
Authors: DORADO SILVIA , MOLZ RICK
Published: July 2005

The mission and performance of an enterprise is the legal and strategic responsibility of the Board of Directors (BOD). For the BODs of microfinance institutions (MFIs) this task is even more challenging. This study investigates the connection between the composition and roles of BODs and organizational evolution. It builds on the experiences of BancoSol and Los Andes, two MFIs that pioneered microfinance in Bolivia. The findings support the notion that BODs evolve to fit the needs of organizations at different stages of industry and organizational evolution. While these results are not surprising, previous research has not shown the micro-dynamics involved in this co-evolution and thus their impact on board composition and roles.
MEMBER INVOLVEMENT IN ENTREPRENEUR NETWORK ORGANIZATIONS: THE ROLE OF COMMITMENT AND TRUST
Authors: MALEWICKI DEBRA S.
Published: July 2005

Facilitating entrepreneurial networks is a key to promoting entrepreneurial vitality in a region. The focus of this research was to investigate methods to enhance member involvement in entrepreneur network organizations (ENOs), building from concepts in relationship marketing. Six organizations participated in the study, producing 205 usable surveys. The overall concept of organizational marketing strategies being mediated by the attitudinal variables of commitment and trust, which in turn may be related to behavior, was supported. Enhancement of member interdependence and core service performance emerged as important independent latent constructs, or marketing strategies, that might be employed. Service performance was directly related to participation as well as mediated by instrumental commitment and trust. Measures of affective commitment were not important. Normative commitment was positively related to instrumental commitment, retention and participation. A surprising negative relationship is noted between trust and participation. Of particular interest may be the role of normative commitment, which appears to be a powerful driver of participation, particularly notable since economic benefits might logically be expected to be stronger drivers of member involvement in this context.
BLACK-OWNED BANKS: A SURVEY OF ISSUES
Authors: LASH NICHOLAS A.
Published: July 2005

This study reviews selected issues related to the role that black-owned banks can play in contributing to the economic development of low-income, minority communities. Given their paucity in numbers, their lack of size, and their financial weaknesses, they have yet to demonstrate that they can serve as an important engine of growth for their communities. Also, for over 150 years, it has been argued that black-owned banks are needed because of discrimination by financial institutions against black customers. Various studies give conflicting results, but so far there is no conclusive evidence that lending discrimination exists. To encourage bank lending to low-income communities, the Community Reinvestment Act was enacted. Some black-owned banks however, have complained that the Act encourages unfair competition from other banks for the same loan customers. Hence, the case for an essential role for black-owned banks has yet to be made decisively. Evidence, however, suggests that their profitability and efficiency improves with time. Hence, in the future, with greater experience, black-owned banks may play a more important role in their communities.
Quality Assurance: Much More than Testing
Authors: Feldman Stuart
Published: August 2005

Quality assurance isn’t just testing, or analysis, or wishful thinking. Although it can be boring, difficult, and tedious, QA is nonetheless essential. Ensuring that a system will work when delivered requires much planning and discipline. Convincing others that the system will function properly requires even more careful and thoughtful effort. QA is performed through all stages of the project, not just slapped on at the end. It is a way of life.
How the mobile communication markets differ in China, the U.S., and Europe
Authors: Zhang Xiaoni , Prybutok Victor R.
Published: August 2005

Despite the 2001 downturn in the global telecommunications market, the mobile penetration rate in China is increasing due to the elimination or reduction of mobile connection fees. The mobile market worldwide is dynamic in terms of technology development, and competition is aggressive. The potential size and growth rate of the Chinese, U.S., and European mobile markets warrant examination of the state of their wireless development. Here, we explore that growth by examining the differences among the three regions, especially those in mobile consumer demographics, Short Message Service (SMS) usage, and 3G technology.
Why computer scientists should attend hacker conferences
Authors: Conti Gregory
Published: August 2005

Along with the intellectual challenge, scientists may appreciate the technical insight, especially about security, ethical honesty, and common computing interests.
Self-plagiarism in computer science
Authors: Collberg Christian , Kobourov Stephen
Published: August 2005

We are all too aware of the ravages of misconduct in the academic community. Students submit assignments inherited from their friends, online papermills provide term papers on popular topics, and occasionally researchers are found falsifying data or publishing the work of others as their own.This article examines a lesser-known but potentially no less bothersome form of scientific misconduct, namely self-plagiarism. Self-plagiarism occurs when authors reuse portions of their previous writings in subsequent research papers. Occasionally, the derived paper is simply a retitled and reformatted version of the original one, but more frequently it is assembled from bits and pieces of previous work.
The e-transformation of western China
Authors: Davison Robert M. , Vogel Douglas R. , Harris Roger W.
Published: August 2005

Western China is a vast area of just over four million square kilometers traditionally associated with the historic Silk Road connecting traders, manufacturers, and consumers in Europe and Asia. But for the past few hundred years, the Silk Road has largely been forgotten. Today, however, China's opening to the outside world and general trend toward technological modernization is starting to be felt in these far-western regions. The emergence of e-commerce in coastal China is well-documented [7]. Here, we report on the technological changes taking place in Western China, assessing the prospects for its economic and social development ahead. We focus on what we term the e-transformation of the Tibetan (Xizang), Xinjiang Uygur, and Ningxia Hui autonomous regions and Qinghai and Gansu provinces (see the Figure). These areas cover 43% of the land mass of China, yet include only 4% of the country's overall population of more than 1.3 billion.
SlideCont: An Auto97 driver for bifurcation analysis of Filippov systems
Authors: Dercole Fabio , Kuznetsov Yuri A.
Published: August 2005

SLIDECONT, an AUTO97 driver for sliding bifurcation analysis of discontinuous piecewise-smooth autonomous systems, known as Filippov systems, is described in detail. Sliding bifurcations are those in which some sliding on the discontinuity boundary is critically involved. The software allows for detection and continuation of codimension-1 sliding bifurcations as well as detection of some codimension-2 singularities, with special attention to planar systems (
n
= 2). Some bifurcations are also supported for
n
-dimensional systems.This article gives a brief introduction to Filippov systems, describes the structure of SLIDECONT and all computations supported by SLIDECONT 2.0. Several examples, which are distributed together with the source code of SLIDECONT, are presented.
Induction from answer sets in nonmonotonic logic programs
Authors: Sakama Chiaki
Published: August 2005

Inductive logic programming
(ILP) realizes inductive machine learning in computational logic. However, the present ILP mostly handles classical clausal programs, especially Horn logic programs, and has limited applications to learning
nonmonotonic logic programs
. This article studies a method for realizing induction in nonmonotonic logic programs. We consider an
extended logic program
as a background theory, and introduce techniques for inducing new rules using
answer sets
of the program. The produced new rules explain positive/negative examples in the context of inductive logic programming. The proposed methods extend the present ILP techniques to a syntactically and semantically richer framework, and contribute to a theory of nonmonotonic ILP.
Foreground and background interaction with sensor-enhanced mobile devices
Authors: Hinckley Ken , Pierce Jeff , Horvitz Eric , Sinclair Mike
Published: August 2005

Building on Buxton's foreground/background model, we discuss the importance of explicitly considering both foreground interaction and background interaction, as well as transitions between foreground and background, in the design and implementation of sensing techniques for sensor-enhanced mobile devices. Our view is that the
foreground
concerns deliberate user activity where the user is attending to the device, while the
background
is the realm of inattention or split attention, using naturally occurring user activity as an input that allows the device to infer or anticipate user needs. The five questions for sensing systems of Bellotti et al. [2002] proposed as a framework for this special issue, primarily address the foreground, but neglect critical issues with background sensing. To support our perspective, we discuss a variety of foreground and background sensing techniques that we have implemented for sensor-enhanced mobile devices, such as powering on the device when the user picks it up, sensing when the user is holding the device to his ear, automatically switching between portrait and landscape display orientations depending on how the user is holding the device, and scrolling the display using tilt. We also contribute system architecture issues, such as using the foreground/background model to handle cross-talk between multiple sensor-based interaction techniques, and theoretical perspectives, such as a classification of recognition errors based on explicitly considering transitions between the foreground and background. Based on our experiences, we propose design issues and lessons learned for foreground/background sensing systems.
Databases of Discovery
Authors: Ostell James
Published: August 2005

The National Center for Biotechnology Information is responsible for massive amounts of data. A partial list includes the largest public bibliographic database in biomedicine, the U.S. national DNA sequence database, an online free full text research article database, assembly, annotation, and distribution of a reference set of genes, genomes, and chromosomes, online text search and retrieval systems, and specialized molecular biology data search engines. At this writing, NCBI receives about 50 million Web hits per day, at peak rates of about 1,900 hits per second, and about 400,000 BLAST searches per day from about 2.5 million users. The Web site transfers about 0.6 terabytes per day, and people interested in local copies of bulk data FTP about 1.2 terabytes per day.
Energy-aware variable partitioning and instruction scheduling for multibank memory architectures
Authors: Wang Zhong , Hu Xiaobo Sharon
Published: August 2005

Many high-end DSP processors employ both multiple memory banks and heterogeneous register files to improve performance and power consumption. The complexity of such architectures presents a great challenge to compiler design. In this article, we present an approach for variable partitioning and instruction scheduling to maximally exploit the benefits provided by such architectures. Our approach is built on a novel graph model which strives to capture both performance and power demands. We propose an algorithm to iteratively find the variable partition such that the maximum energy saving is achieved while satisfying the given performance constraint. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach.
CrimeNet explorer: a framework for criminal network knowledge discovery
Authors: Xu Jennifer J. , Chen Hsinchun
Published: August 2005

Knowledge about the structure and organization of criminal networks is important for both crime investigation and the development of effective strategies to prevent crimes. However, except for network visualization, criminal network analysis remains primarily a manual process. Existing tools do not provide advanced structural analysis techniques that allow extraction of network knowledge from large volumes of criminal-justice data. To help law enforcement and intelligence agencies discover criminal network knowledge efficiently and effectively, in this research we proposed a framework for automated network analysis and visualization. The framework included four stages: network creation, network partition, structural analysis, and network visualization. Based upon it, we have developed a system called
CrimeNet Explorer
that incorporates several advanced techniques: a concept space approach, hierarchical clustering, social network analysis methods, and multidimensional scaling. Results from controlled experiments involving student subjects demonstrated that our system could achieve higher clustering recall and precision than did untrained subjects when detecting subgroups from criminal networks. Moreover, subjects identified central members and interaction patterns between groups significantly faster with the help of structural analysis functionality than with only visualization functionality. No significant gain in effectiveness was present, however. Our domain experts also reported that they believed CrimeNet Explorer could be very useful in crime investigation.
Gender and black boxes in the programming curriculum
Authors: McKenna Peter
Published: August 2005

This paper summarizes the results of an investigation into whether women and men have different (concrete and abstract) styles of programming, and whether the standard computing curriculum is therefore biased against women. The theory underpinning the hypothesis is critically reviewed in practical programming contexts. A concrete means of testing attitudinal gender differences to black-boxed programming elements is reported and the results described and analyzed. A survey of 50 students, designed to test the hypothesis that women are more likely to reject the techniques and “way of thinking” of abstraction in programming, casts doubt on the idea that there is any significant difference between female and male attitudes to prepackaged routines. This paper distinguishes between programming and ways of learning to program --- between concrete learning strategies and the use of abstraction in programming --- and discusses pedagogical practice as well as curriculum content.
A comprehensive approach for the development of modular software architecture description languages
Authors: Dashofy Eric M. , Hoek André van der , Taylor Richard N.
Published: August 2005

Research over the past decade has revealed that modeling software architecture at the level of components and connectors is useful in a growing variety of contexts. This has led to the development of a plethora of notations for representing software architectures, each focusing on different aspects of the systems being modeled. In general, these notations have been developed without regard to reuse or extension. This makes the effort in adapting an existing notation to a new purpose commensurate with developing a new notation from scratch. To address this problem, we have developed an approach that allows for the rapid construction of new architecture description languages (ADLs). Our approach is unique because it encapsulates ADL features in modules that are composed to form ADLs. We achieve this by leveraging the extension mechanisms provided by XML and XML schemas. We have defined a set of generic, reusable ADL modules called xADL 2.0, useful as an ADL by itself, but also extensible to support new applications and domains. To support this extensibility, we have developed a set of reflective syntax-based tools that adapt to language changes automatically, as well as several semantically-aware tools that provide support for advanced features of xADL 2.0. We demonstrate the effectiveness, scalability, and flexibility of our approach through a diverse set of experiences. First, our approach has been applied in industrial contexts, modeling software architectures for aircraft software and spacecraft systems. Second, we show how xADL 2.0 can be extended to support the modeling features found in two different representations for modeling product-line architectures. Finally, we show how our infrastructure has been used to support its own development. The technical contribution of our infrastructure is augmented by several research contributions: the first decomposition of an architecture description language into modules, insights about how to develop new language modules and a process for integrating them, and insights about the roles of different kinds of tools in a modular ADL-based infrastructure.
Texture transfer during shape transformation
Authors: Dinh Huong Quynh , Yezzi Anthony , Turk Greg
Published: August 2005

Mappings between surfaces have a variety of uses, including texture transfer, multi-way morphing, and surface analysis. Given a 4D implicit function that defines a morph between two implicit surfaces, this article presents a method of calculating a mapping between the two surfaces. We create such a mapping by solving two PDEs over a tetrahedralized hypersurface that connects the two surfaces in 4D. Solving the first PDE yields a vector field that indicates how points on one surface flow to the other. Solving the second PDE propagates position labels along this vector field so that the second surface is tagged with a unique position on the first surface. One strength of this method is that it produces correspondences between surfaces even when they have different topologies. Even if the surfaces split apart or holes appear, the method still produces a mapping entirely automatically. We demonstrate the use of this approach to transfer texture between two surfaces that may have differing topologies.
Improved latency and accuracy for neural branch prediction
Authors: Jiménez Daniel A.
Published: August 2005

Microarchitectural prediction based on neural learning has received increasing attention in recent years. However, neural prediction remains impractical because its superior accuracy over conventional predictors is not enough to offset the cost imposed by its high latency. We present a new neural branch predictor that solves the problem from both directions: it is both more accurate and much faster than previous neural predictors. Our predictor improves accuracy by combining path and pattern history to overcome limitations inherent to previous predictors. It also has much lower latency than previous neural predictors. The result is a predictor with accuracy far superior to conventional predictors but with latency comparable to predictors from industrial designs. Our simulations show that a path-based neural predictor improves the instructions-per-cycle (IPC) rate of an aggressively clocked microarchitecture by 16% over the original perceptron predictor. One reason for the improved accuracy is the ability of our new predictor to learn
linearly inseparable
branches; we show that these branches account for 50% of all branches and almost all branch mispredictions.
Layered manufacturing for scientific visualization
Authors: Bailey Mike
Published: August 2005

From the moment we're born, we learn to use and depend on our sense of touch to gain knowledge and understanding of the world around us. Today, it can also be exploited to understand scientific data. Rapid prototyping, or layered manufacturing (LM), is a mainstream technology in engineering product development, enabling engineers to create prototype parts from new designs before their organizations invest in final production. The Center for Visualization Prototypes (CVP) at Oregon State University (originally at the San Diego Supercomputer Center) uses LM technology to create 3D visualization hard copies, collaborating with geologists, astronomers, oceanographers, cartographers, biomedical researchers, chemists, and other scientists to enhance data understanding. During its 10 years of operation, it has fabricated more than 1,000 physical models, helping them visualize their data.
Corrigendum:
a new, simpler linear-time dominators algorithm
Authors: Buchsbaum Adam L. , Kaplan Haim , Rogers Anne , Westbrook Jeffery R.
Published: August 2005

Corrigendum to ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems
, 20(6):1265--1296, 1998.
When do bounds and domain propagation lead to the same search space?
Authors: Schulte Christian , Stuckey Peter J.
Published: August 2005

This article explores the question of when two propagation-based constraint systems have the same behavior, in terms of search space. We categorize the behavior of domain and bounds propagators for primitive constraints, and provide theorems that allow us to determine propagation behaviors for conjunctions of constraints. We then show how we can use this to analyze CLP(FD) programs to determine when we can safely replace domain propagators by more efficient bounds propagators without increasing search space. Empirical evaluation shows that programs optimized by the analysis' results are considerably more efficient.
Voter-centered design
Authors: Robertson Scott P.
Published: August 2005

Electronic voting support systems should not focus only on ballot casting and recording. Instead, a user-centered perspective should be adopted for the design of a system that supports information gathering, organizing and sharing, deliberation, decision making, and voting. Relevant social science literature on political decision making and voting is used to develop requirements. A design concept is presented that supports extended information browsing using combined filtering from ballot materials and voter profiles. The system supports information sharing and participation in electronic dialogues. Voters may interweave information browsing, annotation, contextualized discussion, and ballot markup over extended time periods.
Algorithm 842
Authors: Frayssé Valérie , Giraud Luc , Gratton Serge , Langou Julien
Published: August 2005

In this article we describe our implementations of the GMRES algorithm for both real and complex, single and double precision arithmetics suitable for serial, shared memory and distributed memory computers. For the sake of portability, simplicity, flexibility and efficiency the GMRES solvers have been implemented in Fortran 77 using the reverse communication mechanism for the matrix-vector product, the preconditioning and the dot product computations. For distributed memory computation, several orthogonalization procedures have been implemented to reduce the cost of the dot product calculation, which is a well-known bottleneck of efficiency for the Krylov methods. Either implicit or explicit calculation of the residual at restart are possible depending on the actual cost of the matrix-vector product. Finally the implemented stopping criterion is based on a normwise backward error.
On the complexity of the disjunction property in intuitionistic and modal logics
Authors: Ferrari Mauro , Fiorentini Camillo , Fiorino Guido
Published: August 2005

In this article we study the complexity of disjunction property for intuitionistic logic, the modal logicsS4,S4.1, Grzegorczyk logic, Gödel-Löb logic, and the intuitionistic counterpart of the modal logicK. ForS4we even prove the feasible interpolation theorem and we provide a lower bound for the length of proofs. The techniques we use do not require proving structural properties of the calculi in hand, such as the cut-elimination theorem or the normalization theorem. This is a key point of our approach, since it allows us to treat logics for which only Hilbert-style characterizations are known.
An effective decision procedure for linear arithmetic over the integers and reals
Authors: Boigelot Bernard , Jodogne Sébastien , Wolper Pierre
Published: August 2005

This article considers finite-automata-based algorithms for handling linear arithmetic with both real and integer variables. Previous work has shown that this theory can be dealt with by using finite automata on infinite words, but this involves some difficult and delicate to implement algorithms. The contribution of this article is to show, using topological arguments, that only a restricted class of automata on infinite words are necessary for handling real and integer linear arithmetic. This allows the use of substantially simpler algorithms, which have been successfully implemented.
DOPA DECARBOXYLASE: A Model Gene-Enzyme System for Studying Development, Behavior, and Systematics
Authors: Hodgetts Ross B. , O'Keefe Sandra L.
Published: July 2005

▪ Abstract  Throughout its long evolutionary history, the Dopa decarboxylase gene (Ddc) has acquired a variety of functions in insects. The enzyme (DDC) catalyzes the production of the neural transmitters dopamine and serotonin. Not surprisingly, evidence of the enzyme's involvement in the behavior of insects is beginning to accumulate. In addition, DDC plays a role in wound healing, parasite defense, pigmentation, and cuticle hardening. A high degree of sequence conservation has allowed comparisons of the Ddc-coding regions from various insects, facilitating a number of recent studies on insect systematics. This review outlines the diverse functions of Ddc and illustrates how studies of this model system address many questions on insect neurobiology, developmental biology, and systematics.
Attenuated arterial baroreflex buffering of muscle metaboreflex in heart failure
Authors: Kim Jong-Kyung , Sala-Mercado Javier A. , Hammond Robert L. , Rodriguez Jaime , Scislo Tadeusz J. , O’Leary Donal S.
Published: July 2005

Previous studies have shown that heart failure (HF) or sinoaortic denervation (SAD) alters the strength and mechanisms of the muscle metaboreflex during dynamic exercise. However, it is still unknown to what extent SAD may modify the muscle metaboreflex in HF. Therefore, we quantified the contribution of cardiac output (CO) and peripheral vasoconstriction to metaboreflex-mediated increases in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in conscious, chronically instrumented dogs before and after induction of HF in both barointact and SAD conditions during mild and moderate exercise. The muscle metaboreflex was activated via partial reductions in hindlimb blood flow. After SAD, the metaboreflex pressor responses were significantly higher with respect to the barointact condition despite lower CO responses. The pressor response was significantly lower in HF after SAD but still higher than that of HF in the barointact condition. During control experiments in the barointact condition, total vascular conductance summed from all beds except the hindlimbs did not change with muscle metaboreflex activation, whereas in the SAD condition both before and after induction of HF significant vasoconstriction occurred. We conclude that SAD substantially increased the contribution of peripheral vasoconstriction to metaboreflex-induced increases in MAP, whereas in HF SAD did not markedly alter the patterns of the reflex responses, likely reflecting that in HF the ability of the arterial baroreflex to buffer metaboreflex responses is impaired.
Impact of Methodological Choices on Assessments of the Reliability of Fossil Primate Phylogenetic Hypotheses
Authors: Nadal-Roberts Marcos , Collard Mark
Published: July 2005

It has been argued in several recent studies that conventional craniodental characters cannot be assumed to be reliable for the purposes of reconstructing primate phylogenetic relationships and that as a consequence little confidence can be invested in published fossil primate phylogenies. Here, we evaluate this claim by revisiting the analyses reported in one of these studies [Collard and Wood, 2000]. Specifically, we investigate whether the use of alternative methodological procedures would have altered their findings. We focus on three key issues: (1) size correction, (2) outgroup composition and (3) non-phylogenetic correlation among characters. Our analyses suggest that the results of Collard and Wood [2000] were not affected by the size correction method they used or by the outgroup they employed. Our analyses also suggest that their results were not affected by their decision to ignore developmental, functional and other non-phylogenetic correlations among the characters in their data sets. Accordingly, our study supports the assertion that conventional craniodental characters cannot be assumed to be reliable for reconstructing primate phylogenetic relationships. This in turn suggests that many published fossil primate phylogenies may be unreliable.
Pleural Fluid Parameters Identifying Complicated Parapneumonic Effusions
Authors: Jiménez Castro D. , Díaz Nuevo G. , Sueiro A. , Muriel A. , Pérez-Rodríguez E. , Light R.W.
Published: July 2005

Background: Controversy exists regarding the clinical utility of pleural fluid parameters as prognosticators of complicated parapneumonic effusions that require drainage. Objectives: The purpose of this prospective study is to further assess the utility of these parameters in the management of a larger series of parapneumonic effusions and to determine appropriate binary decision thresholds. Methods: We studied 238 consecutive patients with parapneumonic effusions who underwent diagnostic thoracentesis. Results: We found that pleural fluid pH had the highest diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve, AUC: 0.928; 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.894–0.963) compared with pleural fluid glucose (AUC: 0.835; 95% CI: 0.773–0.897), LDH (AUC: 0.824; 95% CI: 0.761–0.887) or pleural fluid volume (AUC: 0.706; 95% CI: 0.634–0.777). The optimal binary decision threshold for pleural fluid pH identifying complicated effusions requiring drainage was 7.15. Binary, multilevel and continuous likelihood ratios (LRs) for pH were calculated to estimate the likelihood of complication of the pleural effusion. Values for the LRs were compared for each of the three strategies, and relative clinical and statistical significances were assessed. Binary LRs provided significantly less information than continuous strategies. Conclusion: The pH has the highest diagnostic accuracy for identifying complicated parapneumonic pleural effusions. The binary decision threshold determining the need for chest drainage is 7.15 in our patient series. We recommend continuous LRs to estimate the post-test probability of the complication as they provide the most information compared with binary LRs. Our results do not support the use of pleural fluid LDH as independent predictor of complicated parapneumonic effusions.
Long-Term Inhaled Nitric Oxide plus Dipyridamole for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Pérez-Peñate Gregorio , Cabrera Navarro Pedro , Ponce González Miguel , Górriz Gómez Elías , Pulido Duque Juan , García Quintana Antonio , Juliá Serdá Gabriel
Published: July 2005

Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) has been shown to be a potent and selective vasodilator in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the clinical experience in prolonged treatment is limited. We assess the safety and effectiveness of long-term administration of iNO in severe PAH. Two female patients were admitted to our hospital because of severe dyspnea (World Health Organization functional class IV) and hypoxemia. They were diagnosed with PAH (primary and secondary to congenital heart disease) and treated with iNO for 2 years. The delivery system consisted of an NO tank of 800 ppm, a modified gas-pulsing device, and nasal cannulas. On iNO treatment the patients showed remarkable improvement of symptoms, oxygenation and 6-min walk distance. After 16 months the patients began to experience a progressive rebound of symptoms. A phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (dipyridamole) was added to iNO. This intervention proved useful in improving clinical deterioration and hemodynamics. This is the first study reporting 2-year iNO therapy in 2 patients with primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension. The combination of dipyridamole with iNO augments the pulmonary vasodilatation and may be useful in managing PAH.