bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Filling the gaps in ecology of tropical tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae): first quantitative data of sexual dimorphism in semi-arboreal Therates from the Philippine biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Acal Dale Ann , Sulikowska-Drozd Anna , Jaskuła Radomir
Published: March 2024

Background

Sexual dimorphism, driven by sexual selection, leads to varied morphological distinctions in male and female insects, providing insights into selection pressures across species. However, research on the morphometric variability within specific taxa of tiger beetles (Coleoptera: Cicindelidae), particularly arboreal and semi-arboreal species, remains very limited.

Methods

We investigate sexual dimorphism in six semi-arboreal Therates tiger beetle taxa from the Philippines, focusing on morphological traits. We employed morphometric measurements and multivariate analyses to reveal patterns of sexual dimorphism between sexes within the taxa.

Results

Our results indicate significant sexual dimorphism in elytra width, with females consistently displaying broader elytra, potentially enhancing fecundity. Notable sexual size dimorphism was observed in Therates fulvipennis bidentatus and T. coracinus coracinus, suggesting heightened sexual selection pressures on male body size. Ecological factors, mating behavior, and female mate choice might contribute to the observed morphological variation. These findings emphasize the need for further studies to comprehend mating dynamics, mate choice, and ecological influences on morphological variations in semi-arboreal and arboreal tiger beetles.
Land potential assessment and trend-analysis using 2000–2021 FAPAR monthly time-series at 250 m spatial resolution
Authors: Hackländer Julia , Parente Leandro , Ho Yu-Feng , Hengl Tomislav , Simoes Rolf , Consoli Davide , Şahin Murat , Tian Xuemeng , Jung Martin , Herold Martin , Duveiller Gregory , Weynants Melanie , Wheeler Ichsani
Published: March 2024

The article presents results of using remote sensing images and machine learning to map and assess land potential based on time-series of potential Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR) composites. Land potential here refers to the potential vegetation productivity in the hypothetical absence of short–term anthropogenic influence, such as intensive agriculture and urbanization. Knowledge on this ecological land potential could support the assessment of levels of land degradation as well as restoration potentials. Monthly aggregated FAPAR time-series of three percentiles (0.05, 0.50 and 0.95 probability) at 250 m spatial resolution were derived from the 8-day GLASS FAPAR V6 product for 2000–2021 and used to determine long-term trends in FAPAR, as well as to model potential FAPAR in the absence of human pressure. CCa 3 million training points sampled from 12,500 locations across the globe were overlaid with 68 bio-physical variables representing climate, terrain, landform, and vegetation cover, as well as several variables representing human pressure including: population count, cropland intensity, nightlights and a human footprint index. The training points were used in an ensemble machine learning model that stacks three base learners (extremely randomized trees, gradient descended trees and artificial neural network) using a linear regressor as meta-learner. The potential FAPAR was then projected by removing the impact of urbanization and intensive agriculture in the covariate layers. The results of strict cross-validation show that the global distribution of FAPAR can be explained with an R2 of 0.89, with the most important covariates being growing season length, forest cover indicator and annual precipitation. From this model, a global map of potential monthly FAPAR for the recent year (2021) was produced, and used to predict gaps in actual vs. potential FAPAR. The produced global maps of actual vs. potential FAPAR and long-term trends were each spatially matched with stable and transitional land cover classes. The assessment showed large negative FAPAR gaps (actual lower than potential) for classes: urban, needle-leave deciduous trees, and flooded shrub or herbaceous cover, while strong negative FAPAR trends were found for classes: urban, sparse vegetation and rainfed cropland. On the other hand, classes: irrigated or post-flooded cropland, tree cover mixed leaf type, and broad-leave deciduous showed largely positive trends. The framework allows land managers to assess potential land degradation from two aspects: as an actual declining trend in observed FAPAR and as a difference between actual and potential vegetation FAPAR.
Las secuencias textuales en los casos clínicos
Authors: Koťátková Adéla
Published: March 2024

Los casos clínicos son un género propio de las profesiones sanitarias con un carácter que, a diferencia de otros géneros médicos, consideramos marcadamente narrativo. Sin embargo, no todos los autores coinciden en esta consideración. En este artículo revisamos las secuencias textuales presentes en un corpus de casos clínicos de las disciplinas relacionadas con la salud mental (neurología, psiquiatría, psicología), en castellano, catalán e inglés. Mostramos cómo, aunque constituyen un género heterogéneo, su secuencia prototípica es, precisamente, la narrativa.
Persian noun-noun nominal compounds: metonymy and conceptual blending
Authors: Diyanati Masoumeh , Rezaei Hadaegh
Published: March 2024

The current study seeks to clarify various ways in which metonymy can affect the meaning of Persian noun-noun nominal compounds. An analysis of 280 endo- and exocentric Persian noun-noun nominal compounds reveals that as far as the role of metonymy in the construction of meaning is concerned, this cognitive mechanism can affect the meaning of Persian nominal compounds in four ways as follows: a) metonymical modifier, b) metonymical head, c) metonymical head and modifier, and d) metonymic nominal compounds as a whole. While the pattern of metonymical modifier only affects the meaning of endocentric compounds, the other three patterns function in the meaning of exocentric compounds. This study substantiates Brdar and Brdar-Szabo’s (2013) and Brdar’s (2017) assertion that metonymy may either act upon the constituents of the compound, i.e., before compounding (the first, second, and third pattern), or the compound as a whole, i.e., after the combination of constituents (the fourth pattern). It is also argued that the metonymical relationship between head and modifier cannot be regarded as a pattern. If such an argument was plausible, non-figurative endocentric compounds would also be metonymical and compounding would basically require the functioning of metonymy.
Funciones pragmalingüísticas del silencio en narraciones conversacionales de hablantes chilenos: una propuesta taxonómica
Authors: Reyes O’Ryan Antonia , Guerrero González Silvana
Published: March 2024

En este artículo se estudian las funciones pragmalingüísticas del silencio como signo pragmático en narraciones conversacionales de experiencia personal producidas por hablantes de Santiago de Chile. A partir del análisis de 27 narraciones videograbadas, se identifican los rasgos lingüísticos, no verbales y situacionales que definen el significado del silencio y se propone una taxonomía de funciones basada en la teoría de los prototipos. Los principales hallazgos dan cuenta de que existen al menos 10 tipos de silencios —unos más prototípicos que otros— definidos por las funciones pragmáticas que desempeñan en el género narración conversacional. Dichos tipos se pueden ordenar en cuatro categorías: silencios estructuradores de la conversación, silencios estructuradores de la narración, silencios discursivos y silencios cognitivos. Son los silencios estructuradores de la narración los que operan como prototipo del género en estudio.
Demonstrações contábeis públicas: o que analisar?
Authors: Silva Maurício Corrêa da , Oliveira Edmilson Jovino de
Published: March 2024

Esta investigação tem o objetivo de demonstrar as principais análises que podem ser realizadas nas informações divulgadas pelos Demonstrativos Contábeis Públicos (DCASP). O foco principal é analisar se existem inconsistências contábeis. Os resultados evidenciaram como principais indicadores que podem ser analisados no Balanço Patrimonial (BP): Superávit Financeiro; Liquidez Corrente (capacidade de pagamento); Índice de Liquidez com Passivos Financeiros e Indicadores de Execução Patrimonial. No Balanço Orçamentário: análises de previsão e de execução, análises do superávit corrente de planejamento e de execução, análises de eficácia da execução orçamentária, apuração das despesas de restos a pagar, indicadores de execução orçamentária e financeira e o índice de modificações orçamentárias. Esta pesquisa avança na literatura sobre as análises das demonstrações contábeis públicas ao discutir e apresentar indicadores que poderão minimizar a assimetria informacional e servir como fonte de informação para que os cidadãos possam exercer o controle social e cobrar por resultados.
Disabled Sports and Branches in Turkey
Authors: AK Muzaffer , Dağ Ramazan , Dağli Aydin
Published: March 2024

A society's sensitivity level of disabled people is equivalent to society's civilisation level of development. In today's world which is developing quite fast, people need to respect to different physical appearances and acknowledge that we have no difference in individual equality. From this point on people should be in an effort to increase and improve the feeling empathy. Sports and sports federation's managers have huge impact on increasing the quality of large groups of people. People who have been working as a manager at sport federations need to raise awareness among the society in every area about that to key to help disabled people is sport which helps them to be more successful in social life and to end exclusion in society.Sport activities have enormous repercussions on improving both the human psychology and common denominator of society. The increase on sport branches and having been been host to so many federation our country had unleashed so many important talents which enchanced our national denominator with value-added. While raising awareness about the disabled people on duty, Athlete and federation manager's individual features, psychological situations and professional information are changing and developing. This research includes practices that will help individuals to gain a place in society and increase our social sensitivity.
Proving Maximal Linear Loose Tangle as a Linear Tangle
Authors: Fujita Takaaki
Published: March 2024

Linear-width is a well-regarded width parameter in graph theory. The constructs of linear loose tangle and linear tangle present obstacles to attaining linear-width. In this succinct paper, our primary focus will be the exploration of maximal linear loose tangles.
Advancing Mango Ripeness Assessment: A Comprehensive Study Integrating VNIR Spectroscopy and SIMCA Modelling for ‘Dashehari’ Cultivar
Authors: Kiran Patil Rajvardhan , Parray Roaf Ahmad
Published: March 2024

This study addresses the challenges associated with assessing mango ripeness, particularly in the Dashehari cultivar, a popular mid-season mango in northern India. Farmers faced many problems during harvesting season. Traditional ripeness assessment methods are deemed inaccurate and time-consuming, necessitating the development of non-destructive techniques. The research focuses on the application of Visible and Near-Infrared (VNIR) spectroscopy, coupled with chemical models, to create a versatile tool for predicting Soluble Solids Content (SSC) in thin-skinned fruits with similar physicochemical characteristics. The investigation extends to the effectiveness of VNIR spectroscopy in combination with classification models for mango identification and ripening stage prediction. The chosen wavelength regions, guided by preprocessing techniques and Principal Component Analysis (PCA), demonstrate distinct clustering among unripe, half ripe, and fully ripe mangoes, particularly in the 670-850 nm range. The Soft Independent Modelling by Class Analogy (SIMCA) model, incorporating PCA, achieves remarkable classification accuracy rates of 100%, 96.66%, and 93.33% for unripe, half ripe, and fully ripe fruits, respectively, within the 670-850 nm wavelength region. In the context of the Dashehari mango, known for its green skin even when fully ripe, the study provides valuable insights into precise ripeness assessment. The proposed approach holds significance for the mango industry, aiding in quality assurance and post-harvest strategies for marketing, transportation, and storage. The combination of VNIR spectroscopy and SIMCA modelling emerges as a promising solution, offering advantages in terms of accuracy, efficiency, and reduced post-harvest losses.
Variability Study and DUS Characterization in Kodo Millet (Paspalum scrobiculatum L.)
Authors: Dalsaniya Dhrumi , Das Arna , Parmar D. J.
Published: March 2024

Aims: To study variability and DUS characterization for yield and its attributing traits

Study Design: Randomized Block Design

Place and Duration of Study:  49 genotypes of kodo millet, were evaluated at the Experimental Farm of the Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, B. A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, during kharif, 2021.

Methodology: The experimental material consisted of 49 different kodo millet genotypes procured from Hill Millet Research Station, Muvaliya Farm, Anand Agricultural University, Dahod, Gujarat.

Results: Qualitative traits offered considerable variability and differentiated the genotypes distinctly, but genotypes did not vary much for characters such as internode pigmentation, spike curvature and spike branching. No co-linearity was found between pigmentation at the leaf sheath, leaf juncture, internode or leaf blade, indicating the involvement of different loci for pigmentation at these different plant parts. The genotypic and phenotypic variance were high (>>40) for plant height, followed by fodder yield per plant, total carbohydrate and days to maturity. High GCV and PCV were recorded for total phenol, peduncle length and grain yield per plant, whereas low GCV and PCV were recorded for all other traits including days to 50% flowering. High heritability along with high genetic advance as percent of mean was observed for grain yield per plant, flag leaf blade length, raceme length, peduncle length, total carbohydrate and total phenol. This indicated the involvement of additive genetic control in the expression of those trait; hence, the traits can be continued for selection in segregating generations.

Conclusion: Qualitative characters differentiated the genotypes distinctly except pigmentation at leaf sheath, spike curvature and spike branching because genotypes did not vary much for this characters and estimates of GCV were lower than PCV for all the characters which indicated interaction of genotypes with environments.
The Renoprotective Effects of Liraglutide and Alfacalcidol against Cisplatin Induced Nephrotoxicity in Mice
Authors: Fehil Basma I. , Yassin Ahmed I. , Mahmoud Heba A. , Hedya Sabiha E.
Published: March 2024

Cisplatin (CP) is an important platinum-based chemotherapy agent widely used to treat solid tumors. However, nephrotoxicity is the main limiting adverse effect in 25%–35% of patients treated with even a single dose of CP. This study aimed to evaluate the role of liraglutide (LIRA) and alfacalcidol (ALFA), each of them alone and in combination, in prevention of CP-induced nephrotoxicity. Forty male albino mice were divided into five groups including normal control group and groups CP, CP with LIRA, CP with ALFA, or CP with LIRA and ALFA. Nephrotoxicity was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of CP in a dose 12mg/kg. LIRA and/or ALFA treatment was started 5 days before induction of nephrotoxicity and continued till the end of experiment. Kidney function tests, oxidative stress and ferroptosis parameters were assessed. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination were performed on kidney tissues. Both LIRA and ALFA monotherapy resulted in a significant improvement in kidney function tests, increased antioxidant levels, inhibition of ferroptosis and improved histopathological findings. LIRA showed more improvement compared to ALFA and their combination showed better results than each one alone. In conclusion, LIRA and ALFA either alone or in combination, represent a promising preventive modality for amelioration of CP-induced nephrotoxicity.
Emerging Trends in Quinolone Resistance among Urinary Pathogens: A Brief Review
Authors: Rasmi T. R.  , Attavar Pavan Chand , Hydrose Sona P. , Kotian M. Shashidhar , Delna N. S.
Published: March 2024

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) present a significant global health challenge, Intensified by the high level of antimicrobial resistance, particularly to quinolone antibiotics. This brief review synthesizes recent literature to elucidate the prevalence and mechanisms of quinolone resistance, with a focus on plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR), among UTI-causing pathogens. Highlighting the genetic basis of resistance, including mutations in DNA gyrase and efflux pump regulation genes, as well as the role of plasmid-mediated mechanisms such as 'qnr' genes, the review underscores the clinical implications of quinolone resistance in UTI management. Understanding these emerging trends is urgently required for improving antimicrobial management strategies and guiding effective interventions to control the spread of quinolone resistance among urinary pathogens.
Cover Picture: Oxetanes as Promising Modules in Drug Discovery (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 46/2006)
Authors: Wuitschik Georg , Rogers‐Evans Mark , Müller Klaus , Fischer Holger , Wagner Björn , Schuler Franz , Polonchuk Liudmila , Carreira Erick M.
Published: November 2006

The oxetane ring is an orphan heterocycle in medicinal chemistry. In their Communication on page 7736 ff., M. Rogers‐Evans, E. M. Carreira, and co‐workers show that this structural motif can improve key physico‐ and pharmacochemical properties of an underlying scaffold. An “oxetane scan” within a series of lipophilic tertiary amine derivatives was performed to probe the influence of the oxetane ring on selected compound properties.
Race and the odd history of human paleontology
Authors: Schwartz Jeffrey H.
Published: November 2006

Although the late 17th century witnessed the recognition of fossils as the remains of extinct organisms—because they could be incorporated into the creation story embodied in the Great Chain of Being—acceptance of human antiquity through the indisputable demonstration of the contemporaneity of human bones, stone tools, and accepted fossils was not forthcoming for nearly 2 centuries thereafter. When it did occur, however, ancient humans were not seen as presenting a pattern of diversity similar to that seen in the fossil records of nonhuman organisms. Instead, human evolution then, as now, has typically been interpreted as being unilinear. This belief can be traced to Huxley (1863), who argued that the Feldhofer Grotto Neanderthal skullcap was merely an extension into the past of morphology seen in the Australian Aborigine, whom he took to represent the primitive end of an extreme range of variation he thought characterized Homo sapiens. During the mid‐20th century, Mayr and Dobzhansky (mis)used their clout as founders of the evolutionary synthesis to cement in paleoanthropology the idea that human evolutionary history was characterized by nonspeciation. As such, anything that could be interpreted as potentially representing taxic diversity was relegated to the status of individual variation. Lack of understanding of the history of human paleontology, and the biases that constrained its perspective on human evolution, continue to affect the ways in which most paleoanthropologists pigeonhole human fossils. Anat Rec (Part B: New Anat) 289B:225–240, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Variation of baculovirus‐harbored transgene transcription among mesenchymal stem cell‐derived progenitors leads to varied expression
Authors: Lee Hsiao‐Ping , Ho Yi‐Chen , Hwang Shiaw‐Min , Sung Li‐Yu , Shen Heng‐Chun , Liu Hung‐Jen , Hu Yu‐Chen
Published: November 2006

We have previously demonstrated that baculovirus can efficiently transduce human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and MSCs‐derived adipogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic progenitors without compromising the differentiation capacity. Remarkably, the transgene expression level and duration varied widely with the differentiation states at which the progenitors were transduced. However, whether the variation was a general phenomenon and what caused the variation were unclear. Here we demonstrated that transduction of the MSCs and MSC‐derived progenitors using baculoviruses carrying egfp driven by CMV, EF‐1α or CAG promoter resulted in a general trend of varied expression, that is, the chondrogenic progenitors allowed for the poorest expression while the adipogenic progenitors conferred the best expression. Quantification of the nuclear and cytoplasmic egfp gene copy numbers by quantitative real‐time PCR revealed that the varied expression did not arise from the discrepancies in gene delivery efficiency nor was it due to the disparities in nuclear transport efficiency. In contrast, the transcription levels paralleled the overall expression levels. These data suggested that although the egfp genes could be efficiently delivered into the nuclei of chondrogenic progenitors, they were not transcribed as well as they were in the adipogenic progenitors. In conclusion, the rapidly altering cellular transcription machinery in the course of differentiation progression predominantly led to the varied expression levels. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97: 649–655. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Kinetics of biodegradation of binary and ternary mixtures of PAHs
Authors: Dimitriou‐Christidis Petros , Autenrieth Robin L.
Published: November 2006

The kinetics of biodegradation of mixtures of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) bySphingomonas paucimobilisstrain EPA505 were investigated. The investigation focused on three‐ and four‐ring PAHs, specifically 2‐methylphenanthrene, fluoranthene, and pyrene. Uptake rates in aerobic batch suspended cultivations were measured for the individual PAHs and their binary and ternary mixtures. It was observed that kinetics were influenced by the mixture composition and the kinetic properties of the components. A material balance equation containing the Monod model was numerically fitted to uptake data to determine extant kinetic parameters for the individual PAHs. Similarly, equations containing kinetic interaction models derived from enzyme kinetics were fitted to the uptake data obtained from experiments with binary and ternary mixtures. The investigation considered the following interaction types: no‐interaction (Monod), pure competitive interaction, noncompetitive or mixed‐type interaction, uncompetitive inhibition, and nonspecific interaction based on pure competition (SKIP). Model fit was evaluated based on probabilistic and statistical criteria and inferences were reached about underlying interaction mechanisms based on model fit. Mixture kinetics were most adequately simulated by the pure competitive interaction model with mutual substrate exclusivity. This model is fully predictive, relying only on parameters determined in the sole‐PAH experiments. It was shown that for low percent inhibition values and with limited data, pure competitive interaction kinetics may not be evident, resembling no‐interaction kinetics. This study is a reasonable starting point for understanding and modeling biodegradation of complex PAH mixtures in engineered and natural systems. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97: 788–800. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Nitrifying bacterial communities in an aquaculture wastewater treatment system using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), 16S rRNA gene cloning, and phylogenetic analysis
Authors: Paungfoo Chanyarat , Prasertsan Poonsuk , Burrell Paul C. , Intrasungkha Nugul , Blackall Linda L.
Published: November 2006

Aquaculture, especially shrimp farming, has played a major role in the growth of Thailand's economy in recent years, as well as in many South East Asian countries. However, the nutrient discharges from these activities have caused adverse impacts on the quality of the receiving waterways. In particular nitrogenous compounds, which may accumulate in aquaculture ponds, can be toxic to aquatic animals and cause environmental problems such as eutrophication. The mineralization process is well known, but certain aspects of the microbial ecology of nitrifiers, the microorganisms that convert ammonia to nitrate, are poorly understood. A previously reported enrichment of nitrifying bacteria (ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite‐oxidizing bacteria (NOB)) from a shrimp farm inoculated in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was studied by molecular methods. The initial identification and partial quantification of the nitrifying bacteria (AOB and NOB) were carried out by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using previously published 16S rRNA‐targeting oligonucleotide probes. The two dominant bacterial groups detected by FISH were from the Cytophaga–Flavobacterium–Bacteroides and Proteobacteria (beta subdivision) phyla. Published FISH probes for Nitrobacter and Nitrospira did not hybridize to any of the bacterial cells. Therefore it is likely that new communities of NOBs, differing from previously reported ones, exist in the enrichments. Molecular genetic techniques (cloning, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis) targeting the 16S rRNA genes from the nitrifying enrichments were performed to identify putative AOBs and NOBs. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97: 985–990. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High O2 affinity hemoglobin‐based oxygen carriers synthesized via polymerization of hemoglobin with ring‐opened 2‐chloroethyl‐β‐D‐fructopyranoside and 1‐o‐octyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside
Authors: Dimino Michael L. , Palmer Andre F.
Published: November 2006

Second generation hemoglobin‐based O2 carriers (HBOCs) are being developed with high O2 affinity (low P50) in order to suppress vasoconstriction elicited by over‐oxygenating tissues, a problem associated with low O2 affinity first generation HBOCs. Our group has previously investigated the polymerization of hemoglobin (Hb) with dialdehydes as a strategy for engineering high O2 affinity HBOCs. In this study, two novel reactive dialdehydes were synthesized by ring‐opening 2‐chloroethyl‐β‐D‐fructopyranoside (2‐CEFP) and 1‐o‐octyl‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside (1‐OGP) at the 1,2‐diol position, respectively, to yield novel Hb polymerizing reagents. High‐affinity polymerized HBOCs were synthesized by reacting R‐state bovine hemoglobin (bHb) with ring‐opened 2‐CEFP and 1‐OGP at cross‐linker to bHb molar ratios ranging from 10:1 to 30:1. The resulting polymerized bovine HBOCs (bHBOCs) displayed P50s ranging from 7 to 18 mmHg, cooperativities ranging from 0.8 to 1.4, and methemoglobin (metHb) levels ranging from 3% to 10%. The cross‐linking reaction also stabilized the third stepwise Adair coefficient for bHbs reacted with ring‐opened 1‐OGP at cross‐linker to bHb molar ratios of 20:1 and 30:1 and for bHbs reacted with ring‐opened 2‐CEFP at molar ratios of 30:1. Additionally, the number‐averaged molecular weight, Mn, of each polymerized bHBOC was larger compared to bHb. Molecular weight distributions leaning towards larger molecular weight bHBOCs were obtained by increasing the cross‐linker to bHb molar ratio. Taken together, the results of this study have identified novel Hb polymerization reagents that are easy to synthesize, and that are capable of yielding bHBOCs with higher O2 affinities and weight‐averaged molecular weights compared to bHb. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2007;97: 462–472. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Membranes in Biotechnology
Authors: Lütz S. , Rao N. N. , Wandrey C.
Published: November 2006

Membranes have become an integral part of biotechnological processes. They have proved to be useful tools for the retention of biocatalysts in industrial biotransformations. This paper describes the development of membrane reactors and the application of membrane‐based processes in biotransformations. Membrane systems for substrate dosing (e.g., aeration), catalyst retention (e.g., ultrafiltration), product separation (e.g., pervaporation), and salt removal (electrodialysis) from solutions are dealt with. The use of membranes in bioelectrochemistry is also discussed.
Simulation der Strömung in Fermentern von Biogasanlagen
Authors: Hennig T. , Grän‐Heedfeld J. , Deerberg G.
Published: November 2006

Für einen optimalen Vergärungsprozess in Biogasfermentern ist eine wesentliche Voraussetzung, dass die Rührwerkstechnik eine vollständige Mischung gewährleistet. Dennoch erfolgt in der Praxis die Entscheidung für einen bestimmten Rührertyp, die Anordnung der Rührapparaturen im Fermenter sowie die Wahl von Ruhe‐ und Betriebsintervallen noch immer auf empirischem Wege. Vorgestellt wird eine Konzeption, die es ermöglichen soll, Fermenter‐Rührwerkstechniken theoretisch fundiert bzgl. ihrer Effizienz zu beurteilen und ggf. Maßnahmen zu ihrer Verbesserung abzuleiten. Wesentliches Hilfsmittel hierbei ist der Einsatz der Strömungssimulation (CFD). Dieses Werkzeug liefert Geschwindigkeits‐, Temperatur‐ und Konzentrationsprofile an jeder Stelle des Fermenters und erlaubt damit direkte Rückschlüsse auf den vorliegenden Vermischungszustand. Erste Ergebnisse zur Durchmischung eines Fermenters mit einem dreistufigen Zentralrührwerk werden vorgestellt.
Kopplung von Stofftransport und Grenzflächenreaktion als neuer Weg zur Kinetik der chemischen Extraktion
Authors: Sacher R. , Nitsch W.
Published: November 2006

Die Arbeit befasst sich mit der chemischen Stoffaustauschkinetik in Flüssig/Flüssig‐Systemen am Beispiel der Zinkionenextraktion mit Dithizon (1,5‐Diphenylthiocarbazon) als solventseitigem Komplexbildner. Die vorliegenden kinetischen Daten betreffen die Konzentrations‐ und Strömungsabhängigkeit der in einer speziellen Rührzelle gemessenen Stoffströme, wobei sichergestellt ist, dass die für den Phasenwechsel erforderliche Zinkkomplexierung auf den Ort der Phasengrenze lokalisiert ist. Mit diesem Extraktionssystem wird mit der Konzentrationsabhängigkeit der Limitierung eine kaum beachtete Eigenschaft solcher Systeme erschlossen, die durch die Grenzfälle einer Transport‐ und einer Reaktionslimitierung charakterisiert sind. Um dieses Verhalten aufzuklären, wird eine Modellierung der Kopplung von Stofftransport und Grenzflächenreaktion abgeleitet. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Messungen zeigt die Übereinstimmung mit den berechneten Strömungs‐, Konzentrations‐ und Zeitabhängigkeiten die Tragfähigkeit der Modellgleichungen. Beispielhaft werden charakteristische Ergebnisse der Modellanwendung demonstriert, die sowohl für die experimentelle Erfassung der Grenzflächenkinetik als auch für die Extraktionstechnik bedeutsam sind.
Transputers for industrial applications
Authors: van Renterghem Patrick
Published: November 2006

The transputer is currently being used in more than 1,000 designs worldwide, which indicates its importance for industrial applications. In this paper we describe the philosophy behind the transputer and its language, occam; the most important features of transputers; and the impact they can have on parallel system design and development. A description is given of the available development systems and programming languages, as well as an overview of some of the more important application areas. We conclude with a number of remarks about the future and the usability of the transputer. For people who are building faster computer systems, the transputer is a dream come true: it is pleasant to design with, it is easy to program, and it has a very high performance.
Global data and control in multicomputers: Operating system primitives and experimentation with a parallel branch‐and‐bound algorithm
Authors: Schwan Karsten , Blake Ben , Bo Win , Gawkowski John
Published: November 2006

The static distribution of work among tasks is not possible in many parallel applications. Therefore, it is essential to implement convenient and efficient abstractions for ‘work sharing’ on multicomputers. This paper compares the utility of two operating system facilities for the implementation of such ‘work sharing’: (1) a system for the migration of processes from heavily to less loaded processors and (2) a more general OS construct for the implementation of arbitrary distributed objects. Both were implemented as extensions to the Intel iPSC/1 operating system on a 32‐node hypercube. Their experimental evaluation is based on a parallel implementation of a branch‐and‐bound algorithm. Two sets of results are attained. First, the necessity of the constructs for dynamic work sharing is demonstrated for applications with dynamic data domains, such as parallel branch‐and‐bound algorithms. This is followed by measurements that demonstrate the acceptable cost of process migration for a specific parallel branch‐and‐bound algorithm. These measurements are then compared with results attained with the construct for the implementation of distributed objects. Second, when using branch‐and‐bound to solve the Travelling Salesperson Problem (TSP), evaluation of the resulting parallel TSP program shows that some analytical and simulation results attained in past, published work may not hold.
Histogram computation on distributed memory architectures
Authors: Gerogiannis D. C. , Orphanoudakis S. C. , Johnsson S. L.
Published: November 2006

One data‐independent and one data‐dependent algorithm for the computation of image histograms on parallel computers are presented, analysed and implemented on the Connection Machine system CM‐2. The data‐dependent algorithm has a lower requirement on communication bandwidth by only transferring bins with a non‐zero count. Both algorithms perform all‐to‐all reduction, which is implemented through a sequence of exchanges as defined by a butterfly network. The two algorithms are compared based on predicted and actual performance on the Connection Machine CM‐2. With few pixels per processor the data‐dependent algorithm requires in the order of √B data transfers for B bins compared to B data transfers for the data‐independent algorithm. As the number of pixels per processor grows the advantage of the data‐dependent algorithm decreases. The advantage of the data‐dependent algorithm increases with the number of bins of the histogram.
Characterizing the parallel performance of a large‐scale, particle‐in‐cell plasma simulation code
Authors: Walker David W.
Published: November 2006

The efficient implementation of particle‐in‐cell (PIC) plasma simulation codes on distributed memory concurrent computers is made difficult by the conflicting aims of balancing the computational load and minimizing interprocessor communication. This paper surveys previous work on PIC plasma simulation codes on advanced architecture computers, identifies the main issues in parallelizing such codes, and discusses different decomposition schemes. For MIMD concurrent computers the adaptive Eulerian (AE) decomposition scheme is attractive because it seeks to maintain approximate load balance dynamically while avoiding excessive non‐local communication. The load balance and communication characteristics of a large‐scale AE/PIC code on the hypercube are investigated by simulating the behavior of the parallel code on a Cray‐2. The results show that for the three‐dimensional problems studied, in which the particle distribution is highly inhomogeneous, the communication of data between the particle and mesh decompositions dominates the communication overhead. Performing the load balancing may also make a significant contribution to the concurrent overhead if the grain size is sufficiently small. The advantages of the simulation approach in investigating the behavior of concurrent large‐scale applications are discussed, together with portability and software engineering issues.
PVM: A framework for parallel distributed computing
Authors: Sunderam V. S.
Published: November 2006

The PVM system is a programming environment for the development and execution of large concurrent or parallel applications that consist of many interacting, but relatively independent, components. It is intended to operate on a collection of heterogeneous computing elements interconnected by one or more networks. The participating processors may be scalar machines, multiprocessors, or special‐purpose computers, enabling application components to execute on the architecture most appropriate to the algorithm. PVM provides a straightforward and general inferface that permits the description of various types of algorithms (and their interactions), while the underlying infrastructure permits the execution of applications on a virtual computing environment that supports multiple parallel computation models. PVM contains facilities for concurrent, sequential or conditional execution of application components, is portable to a variety of architectures, and supports certain forms of error detection and recovery.
The transputer and occam: A personal story
Authors: Hoare C. A. R.
Published: November 2006

The paper tells the story of the development over twenty‐five years of my ideas about communicating sequential processes. One of its most subtle and most useful facilities is the guarded choice, which appears as the ALT command in occam. Its subtleties are clarified and its usefulness increased by an understanding of the relevant simple algebraic laws, based on mathematical research conducted at Oxford. The abstractions provided by mathematics are the secret of the versatility of occam, which can be reliably and efficiently implemented by multiprogramming or by multiprocessing or by hardware, or by any combination of these. In conclusion, it is conjectured that the occam programming paradigm will remain the most efficient and most reliable for the general‐purpose shared‐store multiprocessors of the future.
A transputer‐based instrument for the ESA/NASA Cluster mission
Authors: Dunford C. M. , Thompson J. A. , Yearby K. H.
Published: November 2006

This paper describes the evolution and implementation of a multiple transputer based instrument, the Digital Wave Processor (DWP), for the ESA Cluster mission. The DWP is a fault‐tolerant instrument responsible for the control of five wave‐processing experiments, and the data processing and compression of their output. Novel features include low‐power modes of the DWP where some transputers are powered off and others may run at a reduced clock speed.
Algorithms and timing for identification of objects from 2‐D images
Authors: Lin W. , Fraser D. A.
Published: November 2006

An algorithm is presented for recognizing objects arriving under a TV camera on a conveyor belt. A stored description of a 3‐D object is rotated and translated, and its projected image is matched to the observed image. Implementations of the basic algorithm in parallel C on one, two, four, or eight T414 transputers show full speed‐up; for a version using effective heuristics which offers further saving of time, four transputers are enough.
A visual tracking system for the measurement of dynamic structural displacements
Authors: Stephen G. A. , Dagless E. L. , Taylor C. A.
Published: November 2006

A transputer‐based system has been developed for the measurement of dynamic displacements in real time by visually tracking moving objects from a video Input. Parallel processing techniques have been used to track multiple objects at frame rate, and various predictive tracking algorithms have been assessed and implemented on the transputer network. The system is primarily intended for applications such as the monitoring or testing of large physical structures where actual displacements may not easily be otherwise determined. Results from the monitoring of the behaviour of the Humber Bridge at the centre of its span are presented.
DACAPO‐III: Parallel multilevel hardware simulation on transputers
Authors: Grabienski Peter
Published: November 2006

Digital simulators are widely used in the design of digital integrated circuits. The complexity of these circuits is increasing, leading to higher simulation times. One strategy to increase simulation speed is parallel processing. In this paper the implementation of the DACAPO‐III simulation system is described in two steps. In the first step this system was implemented on one transputer and in a second step, on multiple transputers. For synchronization between the processors the 'time warp' method was chosen. Problems and results in using parallel processing for distributed simulation are discussed.
Object‐oriented simulations in mechatronics
Authors: Eppinger A.
Published: November 2006

The artificial word 'mechatronics' represents the symbiosis of 'classical' mechanical systems and 'modern' electmnics that has opened up a wide range of new possibilities. A typical application is an anti‐lock braking system (ABS), a very complex combination of sensors, microprocessor‐based controllers, electromagnetic actuators and mechanical as well as hydraulic components.

Increasing complexity and their mostly non‐linear behaviour are the major challenges in designing, implementing and testing these systems. A very promising design methodology is based on the idea of integrating real hardware via interfaces into a system simulation ('hardware‐in‐the‐loop'). Development may start with a completely simulated model. With hardware being designed and becoming available, it is step by step incorporated into the system. This methodology significantly reduces development time since there is early feedback on the design approaches and the final solution is proved under real operating conditions.

Obviously the real‐time simulation of fast mechatronical systems requires tremendous computing power. Supposing one finds a way to express the simulation problem in a parallel form, a multi‐transputer system could provide the necessary computing power for a relatively low price.

One solution is a modelling approach that decomposes the systems hierarchically into components with a strong relationship to the physical world. Each component is described by a set of equations operating on the component's own local state. The communication of physical interface data is modelled by sending messages via connections between the components. This approach may be attributed as 'object‐oriented' since computer science defines objects as independent elements maintaining their own internal state and communicating via message‐passing mechanisms.

Taking a close look at a transputer, it reveals a very 'object'‐like architecture: local memory to maintain its own local state and links designed to pass messages between transputers. Therefore transputers are the ideal vehicle for fast real‐time simulation by following the principle of object‐orientation, from system modelling all the way down to simulation.
Visual simulation by means of a transputer network for a driving simulator
Authors: Zimmermann Peter
Published: November 2006

Visual simulation is one of the most important parts of a driving simulator. Unfortunately it is in general the most expensive part too. CGI‐manufacturers tend to develop more complex systems because of the demands of the military market. The common systems are strongly hardware‐oriented.

On the basis of a new type of microprocessor, the transputer, a more software‐oriented approach is introduced. Transputers in connection with the new high‐level language occam are well suited for pipelining and parallelization owing to their communication concept. The advantages of this approach are reduced costs and development time, and also the capability for fast and cheap changes in algorithms. The achievable performance meets the requirements for a driving simulator very well.
VLSI design stations using transputers
Authors: Christian Stephen
Published: November 2006

This paper presents some of the work done at INMOS towards the development of a transputer‐based workstation to support its VLSI design community. The emphasis is on the practical application of multiple CPU technology to the solution of a specific problem and the advantages that transputers bring to such a system development. The more general use of transputer arrays for the acceleration of CAD algorithms is facilitated by the use of facilities within this workstation.
The EMMA2 multiprocessor operating system
Authors: Appiani E. , Bianco D. , Merlo L. , Roncarolo L.
Published: November 2006

The EMMA2

EMMA is a registered trademark of Elsag—Elettronica San Giorgio.

parallel architecture is a network of nodes, named 'Regions': each region is based on two shared‐memory hierarchical bus levels, on which a large series of monocpu, multicpu and specialized I/O boards can be inserted, grouped in 'Families'.

Its typical applications are Image processing, pattern recognition and artificial intelligence, characterized by intensive computation requirements, real‐time constraints and good price‐performance ratio for building large industrial systems. This paper presents the main characteristics of the EMMA2 parallel operating system, highlighting the internal organization and mechanisms offering the parallel co‐operation model for user programs.

Section 1 briefly introduces the overall hardware architecture. It allows application partitioning into parallel independent subsystems, on two levels of computation: the lower level (family) is dedicated to massive number crunching, while the upper (region) permits the interaction of these lower machines.

Section 2 deals with the system software environment, based on a host‐target configuration: the host is mainly devoted to machine control, system monitoring, program development and debugging in a multi‐user environment.

Sections 3, 4 and 5 describe respectively the fundamental concepts of the operating system internal organization and the basic mechanisms with respect to the machine architecture; the basic functions that constitute the internal layers and services; the resulting parallel programming and co‐operation model and the typical mapping rules of algorithms to this architecture, completed with some examples of their functionalities.

The most important aspect of the EMMA2 operating system is the fact that it offers a uniform interface to user tasks, independently of their allocation on the target machine. Objects managed by system services can be referred to via logical names. Code for system services is distributed among processors and resides on a private read‐only memory. The operating system's data reside in shared memory only for system functions that need to be distributed, while private functions are based on different copies of data in private memories.

Section 6 gives more details on the most relevant EMMA2 industrial applications, also showing their mapping to the parallel architecture and some performance‐related information. Section 7 contains a brief outline of the novel architecture currently in development and of the subsequent OS Improvements.

In conclusion, we report some considerations about the present status of the EMMA2 system, compared with some other well‐known architectures, and about research efforts for its future evolution.
Multiprocessors and run‐time compilation
Authors: Saltz Joel , Berryman Harry , Wu Janet
Published: November 2006

Run‐time preprocessing plays a major role in many efficient algorithms in computer science, as well as playing an important role in exploiting multiprocessor architectures. We give examples that elucidate the importance of run‐time preprocessing and show how these optimizations can be integrated into compilers. To support our arguments, we describe transformations implemented in prototype multiprocessor compilers and present benchmarks from the iPSC2/860, the CM‐2 and the Encore Multimax/320.