bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diversity and phylogeny of Baltic Sea picocyanobacteria inferred from their ITS and phycobiliprotein operons
Authors: Haverkamp Thomas , Acinas Silvia G. , Doeleman Marije , Stomp Maayke , Huisman Jef , Stal Lucas J.
Published: October 2007

Picocyanobacteria of the genus Synechococcus span a range of different colours, from red strains rich in phycoerythrin (PE) to green strains rich in phycocyanin (PC). Here, we show that coexistence of red and green picocyanobacteria in the Baltic Sea is widespread. The diversity and phylogeny of red and green picocyanobacteria was analysed using three different genes: 16S rRNA‐ITS, the cpeBA operon of the red PE pigment and the cpcBA operon of the green PC pigment. Sequencing of 209 clones showed that Baltic Sea picocyanobacteria exhibit high levels of microdiversity. The partial nucleotide sequences of the cpcBA and cpeBA operons from the clone libraries of the Baltic Sea revealed two distinct phylogenetic clades: one clade containing mainly sequences from cultured PC‐rich picocyanobacteria, while the other contains only sequences from cultivated PE‐rich strains. A third clade of phycourobilin (PUB) containing strains of PE‐rich Synechococcus spp. did not contain sequences from the Baltic Sea clone libraries. These findings differ from previously published phylogenies based on 16S rRNA gene analysis. Our data suggest that, in terms of their pigmentation, Synechococcus spp. represent three different lineages occupying different ecological niches in the underwater light spectrum. Strains from different lineages can coexist in light environments that overlap with their light absorption spectra.
A population‐based study of urinary symptoms and incontinence: the Canadian Urinary Bladder Survey
Authors: Herschorn Sender , Gajewski Jerzy , Schulz Jane , Corcos Jacques
Published: October 2007

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain the prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and urinary incontinence (UI) in Canada, using a cross‐Canada telephone survey, as there is a wide discrepancy in the reported prevalence of these conditions.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

A random survey with a standardized questionnaire was conducted to elicit responses from 1000 adults, aged ≥ 18 years; the sample was intended to reflect the population census. Data on age, level of education and household income were obtained from all respondents. All participants were questioned about urinary symptoms and daytime and night‐time voids. For those who reported more symptoms than one episode of nocturia a more detailed questionnaire was used to ascertain symptom severity and duration.

RESULTS

Data were analysed from 1000 respondents (482 men, mean age 44 years; 518 women, mean age 45 years). Half the respondents (43% of men and 57% of women) reported one or more LUTS, with nocturia the most common, at 36%. Overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms (urgency, with or with no urgency UI, usually with frequency and nocturia) were reported by 13.9% of respondents (13.1% of men and 14.7% of women). UI was reported by 28.8% of women with the 68% of these having stress UI (SUI), followed by mixed UI (MUI) in 21%, and urgency UI (UUI) in 11%. Of the 5.4% of men with UI, 27% had SUI, 15% had MUI, and 58% had UUI. Overall, the prevalence of LUTS increased with age. Respondents reported that symptoms were present for a median of 5 years.

CONCLUSION

LUTS and UI are common in the Canadian population and increase with age. The prevalence in Canada of these conditions is similar to that seen in other countries.
RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND EFFICIENCY OF SHARECROPPING UNDER UNCERTAINTY*
Authors: Otsuka Keijiro , Murakami Naoki
Published: October 2007

The paper examines how efficiency of sharecropping under uncertainty can be tested empirically. It demonstrates even under uncertainty, equality of factor ratios between sharecropped land and owner‐cultivated land supports the hypothesis that the terms of share contracts are effectively enforced by landlords, so as to achieve socially optimum resource allocation and risk sharing, unless the direct elasticities of substitution are identically equal to one. It also provides evidence, that the comparative yield tests conducted in different parts of South and Southeast Asia support the efficiency view of sharecropping.
Export‐Oriented Industrialization, Female Employment and Demographic Trends: A Long‐term Comparative Perspective of Japan and the Four NIEs‐ 1950 to 1988.
Authors: Fouquin Michel
Published: October 2007

In the long run there is a virtuous circle of export‐oriented industrialization which may be described in a few words: facing a demographic boom, the major challenge was to create employments in large numbers, to achieve productivity gains and to improve income and education levels, which in turn will allow these countries to raise their savings rate and reduce their demographic growth1.

1. Priority was to be given to employment creations in the modern sector.

2. The Export‐Promotion policy drives to develop light and low technology industries employing a large majority of young, low‐paid women.

3. Growth in the export sector leads to general growth and in particular generates a dynamic demand for domestic as well as for imported heavy industrial products. A bridge between light and heavy industry was created through Backward‐Integration policies.

4. In spite of large surplus in manpower supply, real wages rose from the beginning of Export‐Promotion policy implementation. Then rise in real wages accelerated progressively. The productivity growth made wage increases sustainable in the long run. The wage gap was so high that there is still an important price advantage of manpower for East‐Asian countries.

5. Improving standards of living and adequate family planning policies resulted in a declining demographic growth.

6. The high growth rate of income was accompanied by a very fast rising household's savings ratio.
On the Behavior of Import Demand of Korea
Authors: Mah Jai S.
Published: October 2007

In this paper, I provide estimates of the Import demand function for Korea for the period of 1971 – 1988. Second, considering the possibility of structural change in our data period, we test the stability of the coefficients. Cusum of squares test result shows the constancy of the parameters broken between pre‐1980 and post‐1981 data. The estimation result based on data only after 1981 shows that the income elasticity becomes less responsive over time and the relative prices do not exercise significant influence on Korean imports.
An Assessment of Taiwan's Indirect Investment Toward Mainland China
Authors: Chiu Lee‐in Chen , Chung Chin
Published: October 2007

The economic ties between Taiwan and the mainland China had been restored since 1987. A comparison of Taiwan's investment toward the mainland and the ASEANs shows that the investment size is much smaller in the mainland in terms of money flow; nonetheless, much higher in terms of number of firms. Also, the effects of investment‐induced trade is much stronger in the mainland. Using the 1986 Input‐Output Tables and the data set of officially registered investment volume by industry, this paper simulates the possible linkage effects on output, employment and export shift for both sides.
Population and Urbanization Trends in Post‐war Japan
Authors: Yamada Hiroyuki , Tokuoka Kazuyuki
Published: October 2007

This paper analyses the population change and urbanization process in post‐war Japan. We trace the process of population concentration into urban areas, in parallel with economic development after the war. The concentration of population into urban areas can be characterized by three major metropolitan regions: Tokyo, Keihanshin (Kyoto‐Osaka‐Kobe) and Nagoya. We also show that the urbanization process of Japan in the period from 1965 to 1985 can be characterized by two spatial phenomena; firstly, the suburbanization of the existing metropolitan areas and, secondly, the spatial dispersal of urbanized areas.
Foreign Investment and Industrialization in Malaysia: Exports, Employment and Spillovers*
Authors: Athukorala Premachandra , Menon Jayant
Published: October 2007

Over the past two decades, there has been a decisive shift in trade and industry policy in developing countries (DCs) away from import substitution and towards export‐orientation. As part of this policy shift, an increasing number of DCs have become more receptive to foreign direct investment (FDI). Despite its policy relevance, the literature on the role of FDI in export expansion, employment generation and spillovers in DCs is sparse. This paper attempts to fill this gap through a case study of the role of export‐oriented FDI in Malaysia's rapid industrialization. The overall conclusion of the paper is that export‐oriented FDI has brought significant returns to Malaysia principally because the general economic climate has been favourable for the internationalization of production for a considerable period of time.
The Impact of Korea's Exchange Rate Volatility on Korean Trade
Authors: Kim Kiheung , Lee WooRhee
Published: October 2007

This study uses a GARCH‐in‐mean model to analyse the impact of Korea's nominal exchange rate volatility on exports and export prices over the current flexible‐rate period. The volatility of Korea's won increases the exchange risk of exporters and leads to changes in export volume and price. This paper provides some evidence that nominal exchange rate volatility has had a statistically significant impact on real exports over the current floating‐rate period. We show that persistence‐in‐variance of exchange rates affects the market for exports in Korea. An important result is that the effect of exchange rate volatility on trade variables is shown to be significant. We find that the GARCH conditional variance has a statistically significant impact on the reduced form equations. The magnitude of the effect is generally stronger for export quantities than prices. This result is contradicts that of Kroner and Lastrapes's analysis. This is explained by the fact that Korean exporters choose the strategy of pricing to maintain market share instead of adjusting export prices to reflect exchange rate changes, even when this cuts profit margins.
Trade Liberalization, Economic Restructuring and Urban Poverty: The Case of China*
Authors: Liang Zhicheng
Published: October 2007

Increased trade openness and rapid market‐oriented transformation have largely altered the patterns of wealth accumulation and wealth distribution in post‐reform China. In the present paper, with the help of Chinese provincial level data over the period of 1986 to 2000, simultaneous equations estimation and generalized method of moment techniques are applied to investigate the relationship between trade and poverty in urban China. Empirical results suggest that China's trade liberalization helps to reduce urban poverty both directly and indirectly through its favorable impacts on economic growth.
Managing in the Middle: Characterizing Singapore's Exchange Rate Policy*
Authors: Cavoli Tony , Rajan Ramkishen S.
Published: October 2007

It is by now common knowledge that there can be a significant divergence in the de facto versus de jure exchange rate regimes operated by economies. Although much of the recent published literature in Asia has focused on the crisis‐hit economies, Korea and Thailand in particular, scant attention has been paid to Singapore, which officially targets its nominal effective exchange rate (around a band). The present paper examines the degree of exchange rate intervention for Singapore using various methods of assessing de facto exchange rate regimes. In the main, we show that although the Singapore dollar is primarily influenced by the US dollar, in keeping with its de jure classification of a basket pegged regime, other major currencies, such as the yen and the euro, also impact the Singapore dollar. There is also evidence to indicate that Singapore uses the nominal effective exchange rate strategically as a policy instrument to satisfy domestic inflation objectives.
TESTING SYMMETRY USING A TRIMMED LONGEST RUN STATISTIC
Authors: Baklizi Ayman
Published: October 2007

A distribution‐free test is proposed for the symmetry of a continuous distribution about a specified median. The test is based on a longest run statistic on the upper portion of the sequence of ordered ‘centred’ observations in magnitude. The probability distribution of the longest run statistic is derived, and a computationally simple and accurate approximation of the right‐tail probabilities of this statistic is given. This approximation is based on a partial fraction expansion of the corresponding generating function and is derived for use with large samples. The powers of the proposed test, some variations of the test, and other rival tests are investigated under a wide variety of asymmetric alternatives. Simulations indicate that the proposed test is competitive with other tests in terms of power performance.
A New General Purpose Method for Large Volume Production of Contour Charts
Authors: Cockrell P R
Published: October 2007

Contour (iso‐line) maps are used extensively by the Meteorological Office for both routine and research tasks. The techniques employed in a new FORTRAN subroutine (CMAP) for drawing such maps are described. The algorithm employed is raster based, suited to both scalar and vector processors and inherently device independent. In addition some normally cpu intensive operations such as contour shading, chart masking (eg. with respect togeographical areas) and isometric projections are natural extensions of the method requiring comparatively little cpu time.
SADIST: an Interactive Editor for Structured Analysis
Authors: Munro A T D
Published: October 2007

An interactive editor for a computer‐aided documentation system based on Structured Analysis (SA) is described. The paper investigates the potential offered by computer graphics in the implementation of the editor and discusses the hardware and software support that is required. Interactive enforcement of SA rules and the ability to accept non‐deterministic input for modeless editing are identified as key factors.
Set Operations of GWB
Authors: Mäntylä M.
Published: October 2007

A set operation algorithm that can be used to unite, intersect, or subtract solids with each other is an essential part of any solid modelling system. The problem is, however, difficult to solve while maintaining the well‐formedness of the underlying solid representations. The Geometric Workbench, an experimental solid modeller constructed by the author, uses so‐called Euler operators in its set operation algorithm to solve the problem of integrity. This leads to a robust algorithm with a simple overall structure and a clear separation between geometric and topological steps.
Proposal for GKS Output Level 3 Segment Hierarchy and Editing
Authors: Steinhart Jonathan E
Published: October 2007

This proposal describes a set of compatible extensions to GKS. These extensions allow for hierarchical segment organization. The ability to edit existing segments is included. The paper is an excerpt from: ISO TC97/SC5/WG2/N309 / ANSI X3H3/84‐57R1
Report on Dialogue Specification Tools
Authors: Green Mark
Published: October 2007

In this report we have presented some of the issues pertaining to the notations used in UIMSs. At the present time there are a small number of implemented UIMSs, so there is some experience to draw upon. This is the first workshop of this nature where there has been a significant number of participants with implementation experience. This experience seemed to raise more issues than it resolved. The conclusion that can be drawn from this is there is still a considerable amount of work to be done in notations for UIMSs.

One of the major problems encountered by this working group was the inability to compare different UIMSs. The systems discussed in this group have been used to produce user interfaces for different application areas, with different interaction styles and requirements. This makes it very difficult to compare the ease of use (for the user interface designer), and the quality of the resulting user interface. This problem would be partially solved by constructing a standard set of user interface problems. Each of the UIMSs could be used to solve these problems, and the results used as a means of comparison. This set of problems could be viewed as a benchmark test for user interface management systems. Along with developing the problems, techniques for measuring ease of use and the quality of the user interface must also be developed.
Some Issues in Designing User Interfaces to 3D Raster Graphics
Authors: van Wijk J.J. , Jansen F.W. , Bronsvoort W.F.
Published: October 2007

Now that raster graphics has become a common tool in CAD/CAM systems, animation and many other applications, the need has arisen for user interfaces to graphics packages for these new applications. On the basis of a typology of the users, an analysis is presented of some of the choices which have to be made in developing these interfaces.
A General‐Purpose Multi‐Microprocessor Raster Graphics Display System with Anti‐Aliasing
Authors: Piller Ernst
Published: October 2007

The raster graphics display system described represents a general purpose mini‐computer, specially for CAD applications. The system is based on a hierarchical asynchronous multiple microprocessor system. In practice this mini‐computer is extendable up to 15–20 workstations. On the workstations, different graphical and non‐graphical devices can be connected. The most interesting workstation is a raster graphics display device which was developed specially for the computer system described. This raster graphics display device contains a processor for the application program, two dedicated processors and two separate identical frame buffers, each of them containing one whole set of image data. Applying algorithms for anti‐aliasing, virtual pixel dislocation (intensity dislocation) and multi‐pixel‐overlappings with hidden line (surface) elimination the image readability and quality can be increased considerably. In particular the paper deals with an anti‐aliasing algorithm with a real‐time hardware realization.
Generating High Quality Pictures by Ray‐Tracing
Authors: Bouville C. , Brusq R. , Dubois J.L. , Marchal I.
Published: October 2007

Ray‐casting techniques provide a very general framework in which many problems can be solved in a much easier way than with conventional methods. This is particularly true for the illumination model when a high level of realism is required. Another interesting feature of ray‐casting is its ability to display a wide class of algebraic surfaces with a minimum of approximation. Both aspects are developed in this paper where a full lighting model, based on a theoretical approach, is presented. Then, an algorithm for the display of surfaces of revolution is described.

Computation time is the major drawback of ray‐tracing. Special purpose parallel processors seem to offer a good price/performance ratio compared to the use of supercomputers.
Computers and Art
Authors: Smith B Reffin
Published: October 2007

The use of computers in art is not new: examples are given of past and present applications. Three categories are mentioned: computer as tool, as origin of concepts and metaphors, and as controller. The use of the computer in art gives rise to the idea of computing as representation‐ rather than just information‐processing. Thus the computer can be said to ‘belong’ to artists and designers, and can be seen as a qualitative device. It is argued that computing is ‘really’ an art or design activity, and that this has implications for art, design and computing.
Browsing High Definition Colour Pictures
Authors: Willis Philip , Milford David
Published: October 2007

The authors describe a method of presenting colour pictures which allows users to browse by panning and zooming. The pictures are seen as though on a 512 by 512 by 12 bit framestore, but are defined to 4096 by 4096. The implementation allows the entire picture to be seen in overview, with fine details averaged, or to be zoomed in upon with finer detail progressively revealed by a sequence of twofold linear magnifications. Further zooming, beyond the resolution of the picture data, automatically produces a conventional pixel replication effect. In addition, the picture may be panned vertically or horizontally.
Interference in Computer Graphics
Authors: Firby P.A. , Stone D.J.
Published: October 2007

The interference of superposed families of curves is considered, for various types of superposition available through computer graphics. It is shown that the use of interference of this type for illustration and experimentation in hydrodynamics, optics, and in certain other situations, is rather limited. To use the technique of superposition most effectively in these areas it is found to be necessary to eliminate the interference, and to use cine techniques.
Modelling Solids In Four Dimensions
Authors: Nicol C.J.
Published: October 2007

MOSS4 is a proposed language extension which allows the creation of systems that model rigid solids in three dimensions and their movement over time, the fourth dimension. MOSS4 allows the creation of completely independent objects that execute in parallel and communicate using message passing. Each object contains a hierarchy of components which are related to each other via common coordinate spaces, and by joints and constraints. The user can create joint types plus the operations defined on them which then apply to the solid the joint is combined with. The system that MOSS4 generates can switch between realtime and stop‐frame modes dynamically, and the user can generate synchronisation points to ensure consistency between independently executing objects.
A General Device Driver for GKS
Authors: Herman I. , Reviczky J.
Published: October 2007

A method for generating new device drivers for use in a full GKS implementation is presented. The method is based on conditional compiling techniques making use of the Workstation Description Table, and it has been used in a full GKS to develop several device drivers, which took about 1 week for a novice.
An Interpolant with Tension Defined over Triangles
Authors: de Floriani Leila , Dettori Giuliana
Published: October 2007

A C1 interpolation scheme is described, which is defined over triangular grids. The interpolant is computed on the basis of curves with tension, which permit local control over the shape of the resulting surface.
Overlap Operations and Raster Graphics
Authors: Thomas A.L.
Published: October 2007

This paper outlines the development of a volume and surfaces modelling system for use with raster graphic displays. The ideas are presented in a historical framework to make the reasoning behind the design decisions clear and to indicate the main influences which have guided the work. There are two outcomes of importance: a language form for defining volumes and surfaces; and hardware to convert this representation directly into a display. The hardware provides hidden‐line or hidden‐area removal as a display primitive which, in an appropriate implementation, can be fast enough to support a range of real‐time display applications. Linked to this hidden‐line, hidden‐area removal facility is an ability to provide interference tests for objects that are being moved around in a scene. Again there appears to be a hierarchy of applications ranging in complexity from interactive volume editing to robot control and vision systems. The new facilities complement existing point and line based display operations, on which most current displays' hardware is based. A good case is emerging for integrating the two approaches into a single hardware implementation for CAD workstations and for simulator display systems.
Text, Images and Graphics Management System for Editorial Environment*
Authors: Cavaliere S. , Fantini M. , Turtur A.
Published: October 2007

This paper describes the architecture of a system, a prototype of which is being developed by the authors at IBM Rome Scientific Centre, providing an interactive approach to the printing process, starting from the input of the basic components (images, texts and graphics) up to the definition and modification of page layout and finally to driving high resolution output devices. The system manages collections of pages, called “documents”; in turn each page is defined as a spatial composition of elementary boxes distributed on different levels. The main characteristics of the system architecture are interactivity, modularity and non‐procedurality (the user has only to describe “what” has to be done, rather “how” to do it).
Shading of Solid Voxel Models
Authors: Bright Stephen , Laflin Susan
Published: October 2007

The purpose of any technique for modelling structures is to store a representation of them, and to produce two dimensional images such that a viewer correctly perceives the three dimensional nature of the structures. There are many methods for including three‐dimensional visual cues in a two‐dimensional image, but probably the most important one is that of shading. The intensity of light at any point on the model depends mainly on the orientation of the surface at that point with respect to the direction of the light source. In solid voxel modelling this information has to be extracted from the model. The discretisation inherent to modelling techniques has to be allowed for if successful shading is to be achieved. This paper considers the problems caused by the discretisation in solid modelling and offers compression and interpolation techniques to reduce them.
Image Generation by Space Sweep
Authors: Müller H.
Published: October 2007

A method of using spatial coherence in image generation by raytracing is presented. The idea is to trace a set of rays in parallel. This is carried out by space sweep. Space sweep consists of moving a plane through the object space. The rays intersected by the plane are organized into a dynamic data structure R for range searching. When an object is met by the sweeping plane, those rays intersecting the object are found by a range search with the object in R. Exact complexity bounds are given for this algorithm, as well as details to allow practical application of this approach in image operation.
Displaying Relevant Features of Protein Molecules
Authors: Poet Ron , Milner‐White E. James
Published: October 2007

We present a novel type of computer generated picture in which the positions of the main chain alpha carbon atoms are averaged and the different types of hydrogen bonds between main chain atoms are represented by lines of different colours and thicknesses joining the alpha‐carbon atoms. This allows various types of helices, beta‐sheets, beta‐bulges and turns to be visualized. One beta‐hairpin turn exhibits a structural feature at the loop end that has previously been described as a G1 beta‐bulge. It occurs in another protein by itself, and can thus be said to be a new sort of turn.
EUROCRAPHICS UK 1986: Clasgow Conference
Authors: Matthew A.J.
Published: October 2007

The Conference was held on the three days 24th to 26th March at Glasgow University, the first day devoted to two parallel tutorials, the second day opening the conference proper and including meetings of special interest groups and the final day consisting of submitted and invited papers.
Beyond Hershey: A Representation of Fonts for Computer Graphics
Authors: Gossling T.H.
Published: October 2007

Hershey's “Repertory of Occidental Fonts” is well known in the field of computer graphics, as a set of character‐forms which is superior to the cruder representations used when space was at a premium. This paper gives a method of extending Hershey's format to include true curves, thus giving near typographical quality.
Graphics in Reservoir Simulation
Authors: Watkins Howard K.
Published: October 2007

Reservoir Simulation is used to manage underground oil reservoirs, and the potential cost savings associated with increased oil recovery are enormous. Because of the mathematical complexity of simulation it is necessary to use graphics to view the results. Graphics programs in this environment must be easy to use, and capable of producing images on a variety of machines and graphical devices. The paper looks at some of the problems involved.
UltraPaint: A New Approach to a Painting System
Authors: Watters Geoff , Willis Philip
Published: October 2007

The ideas underlying a Painting System being developed at the University of Bath are introduced. This differs from a conventional system in that ultra high definition pictures of upto 1 gigabyte may be created. We discuss approaches to implementing a number of standard paint program utilities in a form suited to our high definition method. Finally, we describe an algorithm for the rapid extrusion of brush strokes on a raster device.
RasterCalc: Calculus for Operations on Graphics Colour Rasters
Authors: van den Bos Jan
Published: October 2007

An extended model and calculus, called RasterCalc, is presented for operations on discrete graphics rasters, including their colour functions. The operations are separated into two main categories: operations on domains, and operations on colour functions. The operations are further classified as local and remote, depending on the correspondence between destination and source pixels. The new raster element or pixel can be a function of a single element from one or more rasters, a function of a small area from other rasters, or a function of entire rasters. Local operations have their main applications in computer graphics, while remote operations are more oriented towards image processing. A mathematically oriented notation is used to define and represent the operations included. RasterCalc has been implemented as a procedure package in Pascal, to be used on a powerful, yet expensive display. Recently a C version has been completed for a personal colour computer with a special chip for raster operations.

The work reported in this paper is partially supplied by the Dutch Technical Sciences Foundation, under project number LWI 14.0130: “Facilities for raster graphics in programming languages”
Systolic Architecture for Boolean Operations on Polygons and Polyhedra
Authors: Krishnan D. , Patnaik L.M.
Published: October 2007

In Computer‐Aided Design applications there is often a need to compute the union, intersection and Merence of two polygons or polyhedra. The sequential algorithms for this problem are characterized by poor speed of response and large computational complexity. In order to remove these defects, an algorithm amenable to implementation on a parallel architecture is proposed. The parallel architecture designed is a systolic one which forms a dedicated subsystem to perform set‐theoretic operations on polygons. The improvement in speed gained by using the systolic array as compared to a uniprocessor has been evaluated using simulation techniques. Extensions of this architecture to perform the same operations on polyhedra are also discussed.
Logical Input Devices and Interaction
Authors: van Liere R. , ten Hagen P. J. W.
Published: October 2007

The logical input device model, as is adopted in the standardized graphics package GKS, has been an accepted basis for producing device‐independent graphics systems. However, when used in highly interactive graphical applications, the logical input device model does not provide sufficient support for a number of fundamental issues inherent to interaction. This paper reopens a discussion which questions the functionality provided by the logical input device model when brought in conjunction with interaction. In particular, the logical input device model does not support the notion of input/output symmetry.

CR Categories: 1.3.4 [Computer graphics]: Graphics utilities‐ graphics packages; 1.3.6 [Computer graphics]: Methodology and techniques‐ device independence, interaction techniques
Architectures of Graphic Processors for Interactive 2D Graphics
Authors: Fontenier Guy , Gros Pascal
Published: October 2007

Interactive 2‐D systems have benefited greatly from the improvements in 1C technology. Today, the trend is to relieve the host computer from low level tasks through increasing the graphic system's computational power. The introduction of video RAMs has solved the problem of contention for memory cycles between the display generator and the video refresh controller. The improvements in graphic controllers have led from the first fixed instructions controllers to today's third generation of programmable graphic processors, able to support computer graphic interface standards. This article will present this evolution, and focus on a 2‐D graphic processor designed at the Imagery, Instrumentation and Systems Laboratory, based on the separation of graphic generation and memory management functions.
Modelling Natural Branching Structures
Authors: Waite Kevin W.
Published: October 2007

This paper describes the work done in creating a computer program capable of modelling rooted trees and in particular the branching structures of botanical and bronchial trees. Simplicity of design and flexibility of use was achieved by generalising the program to handle any rooted branching structure with the particular form being dictated by various controlling parameters which can be modified via a direct manipulation interface. The program provides a graphical display of the resultant tree and leaf distribution. The open skeletal design allows the user to tailor the program to a particular model and to easily access data derived by the model.
Colour Raster Operations
Authors: Willis P. J. , Walters G. W.
Published: October 2007

We propose a form of three‐input BitBlt/RasterOp which is useful for pictures constructed in a colour‐mapped form as well as in true colour. The model used for this is that of a piece of potentially multicoloured paper on which the picture appears as ink marks. Computationally simple range testing operations can be applied to the source and destination regions to produce many useful effects, some of which we demonstrate. The resulting operations are primitives which can be used to construct more complex operations.
3D Images of Molecular Properties by Triangulation of Contour Lines
Authors: Roch Michel , Weber Jacques , Pellegrini Christian
Published: October 2007

Computer programs have been developed to display molecular properties on a raster scan device, both as 2D colour‐filled contour maps and as 3D solid models. Starting from 2D contour values calculated in parallel molecular grids, a triangulation algorithm, based on the connection of contours lying in successive planes, is applied for generating 3D solid models displayed with Gouraud shading. These methods of presentation have proved to be very useful for demonstrating the main features of chemical bonding and molecular reactivity.
Polygon Triangulation Algorithm as a Powerful Core Processor of PLAN‐I
Authors: Chen Xiangping , Ying Daoning
Published: October 2007

A concise, complete and reliable algorithm for triangulating an arbitrary polygon is presented as a powerful core processor of PLAN‐I (Production Layout Automation Nucleus) system1. A polygon with inner loops is converted into a non‐self‐intersecting polygon (NIP) through adding‘Bridge Edges'. A triangular splitting algorithm for NIP is described in detail and successfully implemented. The program is about 300 lines in FORTRAN‐77. Sweeping and local operations with respect to the triangular‐faceted boundary representation are designed with the algorithm to improve functions of solid modeling in PLAN‐I. The algorithm of triangulation can also be applied to Boolean operations and other issues.
Hidden Octree Node Removal as a Pipeline Process
Authors: Heal B.W.
Published: October 2007

A processing pipeline solution to the generation and display of octree encoded 3‐D objects is described. Particular emphasis is given to an algorithm which removes that part a of linear octree code which describes parts of the object which are invisible from a prescribed viewing position. The scope of the algorithm is restricted to viewing directions which are parallel to the Cartesian axes and to orthogonal projections. The algorithm is specifically designed to operate as a single stage within a pipeline of processes.
A Parallel HW/SW Environment for Image Synthesis
Authors: Paoluzzi A. , Rosina M. , Scopigno R.
Published: October 2007

In designing graphical workstations for high‐level performance presentations of graphical models, the main goal nowadays is to perform some effective real‐time traversal and rendering of data. In this paper we present a reference model of parallel processing for graphics, taking into account the main aspects of colour rendering of solid hierarchical shapes; i.e., traversal of structures, hidden surfaces removal, shadow identification and light models. In particular, a parallel design of the main graphical algorithms is presented. Three abstract machines are proposed, designed respectively for data structure traversing, for depth ordering and shadows computation and finally for shape merging and screen processing. Such abstract machines, internally parallel, may be combined in various ways to define different physical architectures.

CR Categories and Subject Descriptors

: C.1.2 [Multiple Data Stream Architectures] MIMD Processors, Parallel Processors; 1.3.2 [Computer Graphics] Graphics Systems; 1.3.3 [Computer Graphics] Picture Generation ‐Display Algorithms, Viewing Algorithms; 1.3.7 [Computer Graphics] Three Dimensional Graphics and Realism ‐ Colour, Shading, Shadowing, Visible Line/Surface I Algorithms.
KAΔMOE: A Clausal Language for CAD MOdeling Systems with Morphological Constraints
Authors: Milanese Vitaliano
Published: October 2007

A declarative language (KAΔMOE) for CAD‐CAM modeling is presented. The language is designed to protect topological models' constraints and guarantee their inheritance in complex entities built up from simpler ones. By itself, KAΔMOE behaves as an evolution of Prolog, which is integrated with primitives for modularization and for privatizing modeling structures so as to guarantee interfacing the language with relational or deductive Data Bases.
Modelling Clip: Some More Results
Authors: Hübl Josef , Herman Ivan
Published: October 2007

The modedling clip of the PHIGS ISO Standard is mathematically analysed. The most important result of this analysis is the fact that the projective image of a modding clip body (that is a not necessarily bounded convex body in space) is simply the union of two convex bodies. Furthermore, it will also be proved that in some cases one of these two bodies is empty. This fact makes the implementation of the modelling clip fairly straightforward and makes it also possible to use all already existing results on clipping against general convex bodies without change.
A Browser for Large Directed Graphs
Authors: Bovey J. D.
Published: October 2007

The paper describes an experimental graph browsing tool which provides fast interactive browsing on very large graphs. The particular graph for which the program was developed is based on the distributed tile system of a group of workstations but there is no reason why the same techniques should not be used on graphs from other sources.
The Implementation of a 2D Convex Hull Algorithm Using Perturbation
Authors: Day A.M.
Published: October 2007

This paper discusses the problem of geometric degeneracies and outlines possible solutions when converting geometric algorithms into practice. It concentrates on the application of one of the suggested solutions, a perturbation technique, to a 2D convex hull program. An outline of the relevant theory and its conversion into practice is given. Experimental results are presented and discussed.
Controlling the Instruments of War: The Role of the UN in Disarmament
Authors: Bourantonis Dimitris , Poulon Christine
Published: October 2007

The focus of this essay is the role the United Nations may be able to play in the year ahead in disarmament and arms control. It is argued that so far the UN, in spite of many attempts made, has played only a peripheral role. The ambiguity of its role in disarmament is due to the different perceptions that states maintain about is role in the global disarmament machinery. The authors suggest that there should be an agreement on a comprehensive world structure for negotiating disarmament wherein the UN may play a role approved by the entire world community.
Political Memoirs
Authors: Gamble Andrew
Published: October 2007

Political memoirs form an accessible primary source for the political scientist, but there is considerable disagreement about their usefulness and reliability. Memoirs can be classified firstly according to whether their chief focus is the ethos, the doctrines, or the policy making of political parties, and secondly according to the principal means employed in their compilation - such as diaries, private and official papers, or personal reminiscences. Examples of these different types of memoir written by members of the Thatcher Government are analysed to demonstrate their uses and limitations.
Evaluating Thatcher: Sceptical versus Synthetic Approaches
Authors: Moon Jeremy
Published: October 2007

Sceptical approaches to the Thatcher governments provide a useful corrective to exaggerated accounts of their impacts. In particular they point to dependencies in policy-making and implementation. However, evaluating Thatcher via comparison with other post-war UK governments questions excessive scepticism. It suggests that Thatcher's governments have made more of a difference than most of their predecessors. In contrast with sceptical views, synthetic views see the significance of the Thatcher governments as more than the sum of their parts. They identify dynamic qualities in the Thatcher governments' approach to policy change, particularly regarding ‘policy learning’ and ‘rolling agendas’.
Habermas's Treatment for Relativism
Authors: Blaug Ricardo
Published: October 2007

This paper introduces the critical theory of Jürgen Habermas by presenting it as a response to the problems of relativism. While relativism offers a critique of power abuse, it has the additional effect of undermining the use of reason in political and moral action. Habermas seeks to preserve its strengths, and at the same time to defend a role for reason. Following an exploration of the gains offered by his approach, it is suggested that, though his treatment for relativism is effective, it too has a side-effect.
People, Place and the Economic Theory of Voting: The 1992 British General Election
Authors: Johnston R J , Pattie C J
Published: October 2007

Much recent research on voting patterns in Great Britain has shown that economic concerns strongly influence many electors: those who are optimistic about their own and the country's future are more likely to support the incumbent government than are pessimists. The last two decades have also seen greater spatial polarisation of the British electorate, with Labour becoming relatively stronger in the north and Conservatives in the south. This paper provides the first direct evidence from survey data linking spatial polarisation to electors' evaluation of trends in regional economies. Voters who felt that their own and their region's economic situation had been in relative decline were less likely to vote Conservative in 1992, especially if they blamed government policy for those conditions.
The Contexts of Class
Authors: Lekhi Rohit
Published: October 2007

Class now occupies a marginal position in much of contemporary social and political theory and (it seems) in politics in general. This is discernible most clearly in the proliferation of emancipatory projects constituted around non class axes where class appears to be of little (if any) relevance. This article suggests that class is still important for our understanding of political struggles (including ostensibly non-class struggles) but only if we are able to think of class in a much more fluid and open-ended way.
Politics and Gender: The Need for Electoral Reform
Authors: Barkman Kerstin
Published: October 2007

Using data from twenty industrialised countries, this paper presents a model attempting to explain the proportion of female representation in national legislatures. The results show the type of electoral system to be an important factor which can help or hinder an increase in women's political representation. While proportional representation systems facilitate the election of women, single constituency systems (such as Britain's ‘First Past The Post System’) constitute a major obstacle. The paper therefore argues that electoral reform in Britain is necessary if female representation in Parliament is to increase from the current 9% to parity within a reasonable time period.
France and the Information Superhighway: Making Haste Slowly towards a New Role for the State?
Authors: Dauncey Hugh
Published: October 2007

In the 1970s and 1980s the French state was closely involved in dirigiste policies of technological development in the telecommunications sector, but in the 1990s the challenge of planning France's entry to the Information superhighway is throwing up questions for traditional strategies of organising the production of infrastructures and services. Although official reports on ‘les autoroutes de l'information’ stress the need for immediate action, the complexities of reconciling traditional dirigiste policies with the free-market recommendations of the European Commission and the uncertainties of the Presidential elections of 1995 have hindered France's ability to act quickly.
POPULAR MOVEMENTS, INCIDENTAL FACTORS, AND THE STATE'S MEASURES FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
Authors: Amirahmadi Hooshang
Published: October 2007

This paper examines the major influences on and changes in regional development in Iran since the revolution of 1979, and evaluates the state's efforts to balance regional development. Three influences have been identified, namely, popular movements, incidental factors, and the state's measures. Among the incidental factors, the Iran‐Iraq war has been the most significant. It led to economic destruction, reduction of provincial disparity and massive internal migration. The popular movements, on the other hand, followed disruption of the state machinery and led to a de facto administrative decentralization, an upsurge of local initiatives, and an active public participation in local affairs. However, the increasing centralization of the state since the Revolution is eroding the positive effects of these trends. While the state‐induced constitutional, administrative, planning, and policy measures are designed to realize balanced regional development, their real effect remains limited due to problems in implementation and the lack of a coherent development strategy. However, there is evidence that regional disparity is narrowing rather than widening. Although this is a result of the three forces combined, each one of the three forces appears to have helped to induce this change.
LOCAL PUBLIC FINANCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: The Indonesian Context*
Authors: Ford J. Fitz G. , Quigley John M.
Published: October 2007

This paper considers the relative centralization or decentralization of public finance, and relates the equity and efficiency issues to the special features of developing economies. The paper considers the centralization of taxation and service provision in Indonesia in relation to these theoretical principles and indicates ways in which we may expect decentralization to proceed in the Indonesian context.