On hardware for generating routes in Kautz digraphs

In this paper we present a hardware implementation of an algorithm for generating node disjoint routes in a Kautz network. Kautz networks are based on a family of digraphs described by W.H. Kautz[Kautz 68]. A Kautz network with in-degree and out-degree d has N = dk + dk¿1 nodes (for any cardinals d, k>0). The diameter is at most k, the degree is fixed and independent of the network size. Moreover, it is fault-tolerant, the connectivity is d and the mapping of standard computation graphs such as a linear array, a ring and a tree on a Kautz network is straightforward.\ud The network has a simple routing mechanism, even when nodes or links are faulty. Imase et al. [Imase 86] showed the existence of d node disjoint paths between any pair of vertices. In Smit et al. [Smit 91] an algorithm is described that generates d node disjoint routes between two arbitrary nodes in the network. In this paper we present a simple and fast hardware implementation of this algorithm. It can be realized with standard components (Field Programmable Gate Arrays)

Linoleic acid intake, plasma cholesterol and 10-year incidence of CHD in 20.000 middle-aged men and women in the Netherlands

We studied the associations of a difference in linoleic acid or carbohydrate intake with plasma cholesterol levels and risk of CHD in a prospective cohort study in the Netherlands. Data on diet (FFQ) and plasma total and HDL-cholesterol were available at baseline (1993–7) of 20 069 men and women, aged 20–65 years, who were initially free of CVD. Incidence of CHD was assessed through linkage with mortality and morbidity registers. During an average of 10 years of follow-up, 280 CHD events occurred. The intake of linoleic acid ranged from 3·6 to 8·0 % of energy (en%), whereas carbohydrate intake ranged from 47·6 to 42·5 en% across quintiles of linoleic acid intake. Linoleic acid intake was inversely associated with total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol in women but not in men. Linoleic acid intake was not associated with the ratio of total to HDL-cholesterol. No association was observed between linoleic acid intake and CHD incidence, with hazard ratios varying between 0·83 and 1·00 (all P>0·05) compared to the bottom quintile. We conclude that a 4–5 en% difference in linoleic acid or carbohydrate intake did not translate into either a different ratio of total to HDL-cholesterol or a different CHD incidenc

Design optimization applied in structural dynamics

This paper introduces the design optimization strategies, especially for structures which have dynamic constraints. Design optimization involves first the modeling and then the optimization of the problem. Utilizing the Finite Element (FE) model of a structure directly in an optimization process requires a long computation time. Therefore the Backpropagation Neural Networks (NNs) are introduced as a so called surrogate model for the FE model. Optimization techniques mentioned in this study cover the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and the Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) methods. For the applications of the introduced techniques, a multisegment cantilever beam problem under the constraints of its first and second natural frequency has been selected and solved using four different approaches

Distribution of dry matter and nitrogen between the different plant parts in intact and depodded soyabean plants after flowering.

Soyabeans were grown in nutrient sol. in a controlled environment. 50% developed normally but the rest were depodded once a wk. During 9 wk of seed development, growth of roots, shoots, leaves and pods as well as their total percentage N was monitored by weekly harvests. In the normal plants, only the pods continued to increase in dry wt. after the 2nd harvest and the wt. of the other plant parts remained nearly constant. N in roots and stems decreased slightly during pod filling and N in the leaves decreased considerably. Increase in N in the pods was relatively greater than the increase in total dry wt. The amount of N taken up from the nutrient sol. and that redistributed between plant parts was calculated. In the depodded plants, DM continued to accumulate in all plant parts throughout the experiment including the detached pods. The amount of N also increased in all plant parts. N uptake/unit DM produced was about the same for both groups of plants. The results are discussed in relation to the hypothesis that in leguminous plants the fixation or uptake of N by the roots cannot cope with the demand of the developing pods so that the necessary withdrawal from other plants parts, especially the leaves, causes the plants to die prematurely. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission

On the Classification of Real Forms of Non-Abelian Toda Theories and W-algebras

We consider conformal non-Abelian Toda theories obtained by hamiltonian reduction from Wess-Zumino-Witten models based on general real Lie groups. We study in detail the possible choices of reality conditions which can be imposed on the WZW or Toda fields and prove correspondences with sl(2,R) embeddings into real Lie algebras and with the possible real forms of the associated W-algebras. We devise a a method for finding all real embeddings which can be obtained from a given embedding of sl(2,C) into a complex Lie algebra. We then apply this to give a complete classification of real embeddings which are principal in some simple regular subalgebra of a classical Lie algebra.Comment: 42 pages, LaTeX; Minor corrections to ensure consistent conventions; some references adde

Environmental impact assessment of dietary scenarios: a comparison of methodological aspects

Background Dietary patterns have manifold impacts on the environment. • However, studies that assess dietary patterns operate with varying methodological approaches and underlying assumptions, which evoke different, and occasionally even contradicting, results. • This leads to uncertainty regarding what should or should not be eaten, especially with regard to animal-source food (ASF) and production types (e.g. conventional or organic). • Therefore, to adequately interpret results, it is necessary to interpret these in the context of the respective methods used and assumptions made

Remarks on Finite W Algebras

The property of some finite W algebras to be the commutant of a particular subalgebra of a simple Lie algebra G is used to construct realizations of G. When G=so(4,2), unitary representations of the conformal and Poincare algebras are recognized in this approach, which can be compared to the usual induced representation technique. When G=sp(2,R) or sp(4,R), the anyonic parameter can be seen as the eigenvalue of a W generator in such W representations of G. The generalization of such properties to the affine case is also discussed in the conclusion, where an alternative of the Wakimoto construction for sl(2) level k is briefly presented. This mini review is based on invited talks presented by P. Sorba at the ``Vth International Colloquium on Quantum Groups and Integrable Systems'', Prague (Czech Republic), June 1996; ``Extended and Quantum Algebras and their Applications to Physics'', Tianjin (China), August 1996; ``Selected Topics of Theoretical and Modern Mathematical Physics'', Tbilisi (Georgia), September 1996; to be published in the Proceedings.Comment: LaTeX, 16 pages, references adde

Towards identification of oesophageal gland proteins in Globodera rostochiensis

Secretory proteins from the dorsal and subventral oesophageal glands of potato cyst- nematodes (Globodera rostochiensis and G.pallida ) are considered to play an important role in the induction and exploitation of the specialized feeding cells (syncytia) that these parasites establish in the roots of their host plant. Identification of these secretory proteins will provide insight into the mechanisms involved in the formation of these syncytia, and is likely to aid in the development of novel forms of (artificial) host plant resistance to potato cyst-nematode infection. This thesis presents the data which were collected during a search for the oesophageal gland secretory proteins of G.rostochiensis.In the first part of the investigations (Chapters 2 to 5) the proteins of G.rostochiensis are examined using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-GE) followed by silver staining. Chapter 2 compares the protein patterns of two motile (2nd-stage juveniles (J2) and males) and two sedentary (4th-stage females and adult females) developmental stages using conventional (2D-GE) in large gels. This demonstrated very large differences in protein composition between these four developmental stages, and it was estimated that 74% of the polypeptides visible in these gels showed variations in their presence or abundance. The highest similarity index values were calculated for the protein patterns of both motile stages (0.674) and of both sedentary stages (0.767) with decreased values for all other pairwise comparisons.Chapter 3 introduces a miniature 2D-GE technique of which the high sensitivity is demonstrated by its ability to genotype single females of G. pallida . In Chapter 4 this mini 2D-GE technique is used to analyse the proteins of the complete range of post-embryonic developmental stages of G. rostochiensis. This analysis demonstrated large changes in protein pattern during the transformation of preparasitic J2 into sedentary J3 and during the metamorphosis of males into adults. The changes in abundance of three muscle proteins showed that during these two events the body-wall musculature is respectively broken down and restored. It is concluded that 4th-stage male juveniles complete their metamorphosis to adults using protein resources that they have aqcuired while feeding as 2nd- and 3rd-stage juveniles. From the occurrence of several characteristic dominant proteins in the male juvenile stages it is postulated that cyst-nematodes may use a system of storage proteins to complete the different phases of their life-cycle.Because of the large differences between the 2D-GE patterns of the developmental stages examined in Chapters 2 and 4, it was not possible to identify putative oesophageal gland proteins in these gels. Therefore, in Chapter 5 adult males and J2 are dissected into anterior parts (containing the oesophageal glands) and posterior parts (without the glands) and the protein composition of these body fragments. is analysed using mini 2D- GE. This identified a single polypeptide of 34.4 kDa which was characteristic of the anterior part of both J2 and males. Although this protein may originate from an oesophageal gland, this could not be confirmed with certainty, and other explanations for its origin remain as yet equally plausible.The second part of the investigations (Chapters 6 and 7) describes the production of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against antigens from G.rostochiensis with the aim to identify oesophageal gland proteins. In Chapter 6 mice were immunized with antigen samples derived from preparasitic J2 and fourthstage females, and MAbs produced by hybridoma cell lines were screened with immunofluorescence microscopy for reactivity with structures within J2. This identified MAbs with various binding specificities, including 5 MAbs which reacted strongly with the subventral oesophageal glands. Unfortunately, these latter MAbs did not identify oesophageal gland proteins on Western blots of J2, indicating that their epitopes were sensitive to denaturation by the electrophoresis detergent SDS.In Chapter 7 mice were therefore immunized with partially purified SDS-denatured proteins from J2, which had been collected by preparative continuous flow electrophoresis. This produced 12 new MAbs against the subventral glands, of which 11 reacted with proteins on Western blots of J2. Together these MAbs identified 4 proteins of respectively 30, 31, 39 and 49 kDa. Immunoelectron microscopy with one of these MAbs showed a specific binding to the contents of the secretory granules within the subventral glands of J2, indicating that these proteins are indeed the secretory products of these gland cells. It is discussed in Chapter 7 that the antibodies to the subventral gland proteins may be useful for engineering resistance to cyst-nematodes into potato by means of 'plantibody' technology.The MAbs to the oesophageal gland proteins from Chapter 7 will be valuable tools in future studies relating to the nature of these antigens and their possible function in the host-parasite interaction. In a following thesis by colleague G. Smant results of such further studies will be presented, and this will include the identification of the abovementioned subventral gland proteins in 2D-gels of G. rostochiensis.</em

M5-brane Effective Action as an On-shell Action in Supergravity

We show that the covariant effective action for M5-brane is a solution to the Hamilton-Jacobi (H-J) equations of 11-dimensional supergravity. The solution to the H-J equations reproduces the supergravity solution that represents the M2-M5 bound states.Comment: 20 pages, references added, typos correcte