Improved Compact Visibility Representation of Planar Graph via Schnyder's Realizer

Let $G$ be an $n$-node planar graph. In a visibility representation of $G$, each node of $G$ is represented by a horizontal line segment such that the line segments representing any two adjacent nodes of $G$ are vertically visible to each other. In the present paper we give the best known compact visibility representation of $G$. Given a canonical ordering of the triangulated $G$, our algorithm draws the graph incrementally in a greedy manner. We show that one of three canonical orderings obtained from Schnyder's realizer for the triangulated $G$ yields a visibility representation of $G$ no wider than $\frac{22n-40}{15}$. Our easy-to-implement O(n)-time algorithm bypasses the complicated subroutines for four-connected components and four-block trees required by the best previously known algorithm of Kant. Our result provides a negative answer to Kant's open question about whether $\frac{3n-6}{2}$ is a worst-case lower bound on the required width. Also, if $G$ has no degree-three (respectively, degree-five) internal node, then our visibility representation for $G$ is no wider than $\frac{4n-9}{3}$ (respectively, $\frac{4n-7}{3}$). Moreover, if $G$ is four-connected, then our visibility representation for $G$ is no wider than $n-1$, matching the best known result of Kant and He. As a by-product, we obtain a much simpler proof for a corollary of Wagner's Theorem on realizers, due to Bonichon, Sa\"{e}c, and Mosbah.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, the preliminary version of this paper is to appear in Proceedings of the 20th Annual Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS), Berlin, Germany, 200

Age and growth of the swordfish (Xiphias gladius L.) in the waters around Taiwan determined from anal-fin rays

Age and growth of the swordfish (Xiphias gladius) in Taiwan waters was studied from counts of growth bands on cross sections of the second ray of the first anal fin. Data on lower jaw fork length and weight, and samples of the anal fin of male and female swordfish were collected from three offshore and coastal tuna longline fishing ports on a monthly basis between September 1997 and March 1999. In total, 685 anal fins were collected and 627 of them (293 males and 334 females) were aged successfully. The lower jaw fork lengths of the aged individuals ranged from 83.4 to 246.6 cm for the females and from 83.3 to 206 cm for the males. The radii of the fin rays and growth bands on the cross sections were measured under a dissecting microscope equipped with an image analysis system. Trends in the monthly marginal increment ratio indicated that growth bands formed once a year. Thus, the age of each fish was deter-mined from the number of visible growth bands. Two methods were used to estimate and compare the standard and the generalized von Bertalanffy growth parameters for both males and females. The nonlinear least square estimates of the generalized von Bertalanffy growth parameters in method II, in which a power function was used to describe the relationship between ray radius and LJFL, were recommended as most acceptable. There were significant differences in growth parameters between males and females. The growth parameters estimated for females were the following: asymptotic length (L∞) = 300.66 cm, growth coefficient (K) = 0.040/yr, age at zero length (t0) = –0.75 yr, and the fitted fourth parameter (m) = –0.785. The growth parameters estimated for males were the following: asymptotic length (L∞) = 213.05 cm, growth coefficient (K) = 0.086/yr, age at zero length (t0) = –0.626 yr, and the fitted fourth parameter (m) = –0.768

Lack of Association Between Total Serum Homocysteine and Extracranial Cerebral Flow

Background/PurposeHigh homocysteine (Hcy) concentration is associated with slow coronary flow. This study examined the association between Hcy and hemodynamic status in the extracranial cerebral arteries in healthy individuals.MethodsA total of 535 healthy adults underwent physical examination and duplex ultrasonography of the extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries, and blood laboratory tests, including biochemistry and serum total Hcy. Flow hemodynamic parameters including velocity, resistance, and volume of the carotid and vertebral arteries were measured. Multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the association between Hcy and the flow parameters.ResultsParticipants with higher Hcy were more likely to have a lower systolic velocity of the internal carotid artery (p = 0.01) and vertebral artery (p < 0.001), and lower resistance of the vertebral artery (p = 0.004). However, the multiple-adjusted means of the flow velocity, resistance, and flow volume of the carotid or vertebral artery were not significantly different across quartiles of Hcy. When Hcy was treated as a continuous variable, there was still no significant relationship between Hcy levels and the aforementioned hemodynamic status.ConclusionOur results did not support the hypothesis that the levels of Hcy are associated with the flow velocity, resistance, and volume of the extracranial cerebral artery in healthy individuals

Path Planning on Quadric Surfaces and Its Application

In this chapter, recent near-shortest path-planning algorithms with O(nlog n) in the quadric plane based on the Delaunay triangulation, Ahuja-Dijkstra algorithm, and ridge points are reviewed. The shortest path planning in the general three-dimensional situation is an NP-hard problem. The optimal solution can be approached under the assumption that the number of Steiner points is infinite. The state-the-art method has at most 2.81% difference on the shortest path length, but the computation time is 4216 times faster. Compared to the other O(nlog n) time near-shortest path approach (Kanai and Suzuki, KS’s algorithm), the path length of the Delaunay triangulation method is 0.28% longer than the KS’s algorithm with three Steiner points, but the computation is about 31.71 times faster. This, however, has only a few path length differences, which promises a good result, but the best computing time. Notably, these methods based on Delaunay triangulation concept are ideal for being extended to solve the path-planning problem on the Quadric surface or even the cruise missile mission planning and Mars rover

Reproductive biology of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) in the western Pacific Ocean

The reproductive biology of blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) was assessed from 1001 fish (ranging from 121 to 275 cm in eye-to-fork length; EFL) caught by Taiwanese offshore longliners in the western Pacific Ocean from September 2000 to December 2001 and from 843 gonad samples from these fish, The overall sex ratio of the catch was approximately 1:1 dur ing the sampling period, but blue marlin are sexually dimorphic; females are larger than males. Reproductive activity (assessed by histology), a gonadosomatic index, and the distribution of oocyte diameters, indicated that spawning occurred predominantly from May to September. The estimated sizes-at-maturity (EFL50) were 179.76 ±1.01 cm (mean ±standard error) for females and 130 ±1 cm EFL for males. Blue marlin are multiple spawners and oocytes develop asynchronously. The proportion of mature females with ovaries containing postovulatory follicles (0.41) and hydrated oocytes (0.34) indicated that the blue marlin spawned once every 2–3 days on average. Batch fecundity (BF) for 26 females with the most advanced oocytes (≥1000 μm), but without postovulatory follicles, ranged from 2.11 to 13.50 million eggs (6.94 ± 0.54 million eggs). The relationships between batch fecundity (BF, in millions of eggs) and EFL and round weight (RW, kg) were BF = 3.29 × 10 –12 EFL5.31 (r2 = 0.70) and BF = 1.59 × 10–3 RW 1.73 (r2= 0.67), respectively. The parameters estimated in this study are key information for stock assessments of blue marlin in the western Pacific Ocean and will contribute to the conservation and sustainable yield o

Age and growth of sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in waters off eastern Taiwan

Age and growth of sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) in waters off eastern Taiwan were examined from counts of growth rings on cross sections of the fourth spine of the first dorsal fin. Length and weight data and the dorsal fin spines were collected monthly at the fishing port of Shinkang (southeast of Taiwan) from July 1998 to August 1999. In total, 1166 dorsal fins were collected, of which 1135 (97%) (699 males and 436 females) were aged successfully. Trends in the monthly mean marginal increment ratio indicated that growth rings are formed once a year. Two methods were used to back-calculate the length of presumed ages, and growth was described by using the standard von Bertalanffy growth function and the Richards function. The most reasonable and conservative description of growth assumes that length-at-age follows the Richards function and that the relationship between spine radius and lower jaw fork length (LJFL) follows a power function. Growth differed significantly between the sexes; females grew faster and reached larger sizes than did males. The maximum sizes in our sample were 232 cm LJFL for female and 221 cm LJFL for male

Chinese Herbal Medicine and Its Application for Female Cancer

Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been widely used to promote health and treat illnesses in daily medical care throughout Asia while mostly accepted as an alternative medical method in many nations of the western world. CHM has a unique therapeutic effect to reduce adverse effects on cancer patients caused by chemotherapy and surgery; however, we did not find any high-quality review for the claimed effects. In this review, we will summarize the history, basic theories and principles, and clinical applications of CHM for disorders, especially female cancers. Meta-analyses to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CHM in the treatment of ovarian cancer and breast cancer have been conducted. The results showed that combined CHMs and western medicines treatment (CHM-WM) had significantly relieved the symptoms and reduced the side effects after surgery and chemotherapy on both ovarian cancer and breast cancer. However, more high-quality and large-scale RCTs are necessary to confirm the efficacy and safety of CHM-WM intervention

Adopting a Theophylline-Responsive Riboswitch for Flexible Regulation and Understanding of Glycogen Metabolism in Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942

Cyanobacteria are supposed to be promising photosynthetic microbial platforms that recycle carbon dioxide driven into biomass and bioproducts by solar energy. Glycogen synthesis serves as an essential natural carbon sink mechanism, storing a large portion of energy and organic carbon source of photosynthesis. Engineering glycogen metabolism to harness and rewire carbon flow is an important strategy to optimize efficacy of cyanobacteria platforms. ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (GlgC) catalyzes the rate-limiting step for glycogen synthesis. However, knockout of glgC fails to promote cell growth or photosynthetic production in cyanobacteria, on the contrary, glgC deficiency impairs cellular fitness and robustness. In this work, we adopted a theophylline-responsive riboswitch to engineer and control glgC expression in Synechococcus elongatus PCC7942 and achieved flexible regulation of intracellular GlgC abundance and glycogen storage. With this approach, glycogen synthesis and glycogen contents in PCC7942 cells could be regulated in a range from about 40 to 300% of wild type levels. In addition, the results supported a positive role of glycogen metabolism in cyanobacteria cellular robustness. When glycogen storage was reduced, cellular physiology and growth under standard conditions was not impaired, while cellular tolerance toward environmental stresses was weakened. While when glycogen synthesis was enhanced, cells of PCC7942 displayed optimized cellular robustness. Our findings emphasize the significance of glycogen metabolism for cyanobacterial physiology and the importance of flexible approaches for engineering and understanding cellular physiology and metabolism

Taiwan Oscillation Network

The Taiwan Oscillation Network (TON) is a ground-based network to measure solar intensity oscillations to study the internal structure of the Sun. K-line full-disk images of 1000 pixels diameter are taken at a rate of one image per minute. Such data would provide information onp-modes withl as high as 1000. The TON will consist of six identical telescope systems at proper longitudes around the world. Three telescope systems have been installed at Teide Observatory (Tenerife), Huairou Solar Observing Station (near Beijing), and Big Bear Solar Observatory (California). The telescopes at these three sites have been taking data simultaneously since October of 1994. Anl – v diagram derived from 512 images is included to show the quality of the data