TopCom: Index for Shortest Distance Query in Directed Graph

Finding shortest distance between two vertices in a graph is an important problem due to its numerous applications in diverse domains, including geo-spatial databases, social network analysis, and information retrieval. Classical algorithms (such as, Dijkstra) solve this problem in polynomial time, but these algorithms cannot provide real-time response for a large number of bursty queries on a large graph. So, indexing based solutions that pre-process the graph for efficiently answering (exactly or approximately) a large number of distance queries in real-time is becoming increasingly popular. Existing solutions have varying performance in terms of index size, index building time, query time, and accuracy. In this work, we propose T OP C OM , a novel indexing-based solution for exactly answering distance queries. Our experiments with two of the existing state-of-the-art methods (IS-Label and TreeMap) show the superiority of T OP C OM over these two methods considering scalability and query time. Besides, indexing of T OP C OM exploits the DAG (directed acyclic graph) structure in the graph, which makes it significantly faster than the existing methods if the SCCs (strongly connected component) of the input graph are relatively small

Entropy Balance and Dispersive Oscillations in Lattice Boltzmann Models

We conduct an investigation into the dispersive post-shock oscillations in the entropic lattice-Boltzmann method (ELBM). To this end we use a root finding algorithm to implement the ELBM which displays fast cubic convergence and guaranties the proper sign of dissipation. The resulting simulation on the one-dimensional shock tube shows no benefit in terms of regularization from using the ELBM over the standard LBGK method. We also conduct an experiment investigating of the LBGK method using median filtering at a single point per time step. Here we observe that significant regularization can be achieved.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures; 13/07/2009 Matlab code added to appendi

The Study of the Influence of Formulation and Process Variables on the properties of Simvastatin-Phospholipid Complex

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of the formulation and process variables on the entrapment efficiency of simvastatin-phospholipid complex (SPC), prepared with a goal of improving the solubility and permeability of simvastatin. Method: The SPC was prepared using a solvent evaporation method. The influence of formulation and process variables on simvastatin entrapment was assessed using a central composite design. An additional SPC was prepared using the optimized variables from the developed quadratic model. This formulation was characterized for its physical-chemical properties. The functional attributes of the optimized SPC formulation were analyzed by apparent aqueous solubility analysis, in-vitro dissolution studies, dissolution efficiency analysis, and ex-vivo permeability studies. Results: The factors studied were found to significantly influence on the entrapment efficiency. The developed model was validated using the optimized levels of formulation and process variables. The physical-chemical characterization confirmed a formation of the complex. The optimized SPC demonstrated over 25-fold higher aqueous solubility of simvastatin, compared to that of pure simvastatin. The optimized SPC exhibited a significantly higher rate and extent of simvastatin dissolution (\u3e98%), compared to that of pure simvastatin (∼16%). The calculated dissolution efficiency was also found to be significantly higher for the SPC (∼54 %), compared to that of pure simvastatin (∼8%). Finally, the optimized SPC exhibited a significantly higher simvastatin permeability (\u3e78%), compared to that of pure simvastatin (∼11%). Implications: The present study shows that simvastatin-phospholipid complex can be a promising strategy for improving the delivery of simvastatin, and similar drugs with low aqueous solubility

In Vitro Evaluation of Eslicarbazepine Delivery via Enteral Feeding Tubes

Purpose: The feasibility of preparing an eslicarbazepine acetate suspension using Aptiom tablets for administration via enteral feeding tubes was evaluated. Methods: Eslicarbazepine acetate suspension (40 mg/mL) was prepared using Aptiom tablets after optimizing the tablet crushing methods and the vehicle composition. A stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed to monitor the eslicarbazepine stability in the prepared suspension. Three enteric feeding tubes of various composition and dimensions were evaluated for the delivery of the suspensions. The suspension was evaluated for the physical and chemical stability for 48 hours. Results: The reproducibility and consistency of particle size reduction was found to be best with standard mortar/pestle. The viscosity analysis and physical stability studies showed that ORA-Plus:water (50:50 v/v) was optimal for suspending ability and flowability of suspension through the tubes. The developed HPLC method was found to be stability indicating and suitable for the assay of eslicarbazepine acetate in the prepared suspension. The eslicarbazepine concentrations in separately prepared suspensions were within acceptable range (±3%), indicating accuracy and reproducibility of the procedure. The eslicarbazepine concentrations in suspensions before and after delivery through the enteric feeding tubes were within acceptable range (±4%), indicating absence of any physical/chemical interactions of eslicarbazepine with the tubes and a successful delivery of eslicarbazepine dosage via enteric feeding tubes. The stability study results showed that eslicarbazepine concentration in the suspension remained unchanged when stored at room temperature for 48 hours. Conclusion: The study presents a convenient procedure for the preparation of a stable suspension of eslicarbazepine acetate (40 mg/mL) using Aptiom tablets, for administration via enteral feeding tubes

Design Studios in Instructional Design and Technology: What Are the Possibilities?

Design studios are an innovative way to educate Instructional Design and Technology (IDT) students. This article begins by addressing literature about IDT design studios. One conclusion from this literature is that IDT studios have been theoretically conceptualized. However, much of this conceptualization is insular to the field of IDT and only narrowly considers studio pedagogy. This insularity and narrowness is odd, given both that design studios inherently are borrowed from other disciplines and pedagogy is a focus within IDT. Thus, this article identifies and analyzes the purposes of design studios as considered in other disciplines and through disparate lenses. These purposes can serve as the basis of prescriptive pedagogy

The Effect of Watering Regimes on the Growth and Development of Alpinia Purpurata (Viell) K. Schum. Inflorescences

The objective of this research was to determine the water requirement of Alpinia purpurata (red ginger) to produce high quality inflorescences. A farm using overhead irrigation with impact sprinklers at 4.3 mm per hour for one hour three times per week proved superior to the drip irrigated three cultivars of Alpinia purpurata, red ginger, 'Eileen McDonald', and Ginoza No.__, were grown under different irrigation levels at the Waimanalo Research Station located in Waimanalo, Hawaii from August 1991 to May 1993. Five drip-irrigation treatments corresponded to replacement of 0.33 to 1.67 of pan evaporation. Weekly samples of the shoots were monitored to determine the stages of growth and development of the plant. The stages of inflorescence development in chronological order were: inflorescence initiation, appearance of color at the shoot tip, swelling of the inflorescence, appearance of the inflorescence, and harvest of the shoot. The influence of water application rates was monitored by stomatal conductance, relative water content, total leaf area per shoot, inflorescence diameter and length, shoot diameter and length, number of expanded leaves, and number of inflorescences per clump. Seasonal trends were compared with environmental data collected by a weather station. The components of the soil water balance were determined. The stages of inflorescence development were not affected by water application rates but were affected by the cultivars and seasonality. The average durations (weeks) for the appearance of color at the shoot tip, swelling of the inflorescence, appearance of the inflorescence, and harvest of the shoot were 20.8, 21.5, 23.2, and 26.4 respectively. The Ginoza cultivar took significantly longer from shoot emergence to all four stages compared to the other two cultivars. The Ginoza cultivar also produced the longest shoots, most number of expanded leaves, and shorter inflorescences than 'Eileen McDonald'. Shoots which emerged at the start of increasing temperatures and solar radiation (March and April) averaged shorter times to the four stages compared to shoots which emerged at the start of decreasing temperature and solar radiation (November). The highest irrigation treatment produced higher quality inflorescences, but all treatments appeared to experience frequent water stress due to deep drainage

The Impact of Heat Release in Turbine Film Cooling

The Ultra Compact Combustor is a design that integrates a turbine vane into the combustor flow path. Because of the high fuel-to-air ratio and short combustor flow path, a significant potential exists for unburned fuel to enter the turbine. Using contemporary turbine cooling vane designs, the injection of oxygen-rich turbine cooling air into a combustor flow containing unburned fuel could result in heat release in the turbine and a large decrease in cooling effectiveness. The current study explores the interaction of cooling flow from typical cooling holes with the exhaust of a fuel-rich well-stirred-reactor operating at high temperatures over a flat plate. Surface temperatures, heat flux, and heat transfer coefficients are calculated for a variety of reactor fuel-to-air ratios, cooling hole geometries, and blowing ratios. Results demonstrate that reactions in the turbine cooling film can result in increased heat transfer to the surface. The amount of this increase depends on hole geometry and blowing ratio and fuel content of the combustor flow. Failure to design for this effect could result in augmented heat transfer caused by the cooling scheme, and turbine life could be degraded substantially

ભારતના ખનિજતેલ ઉદ્યોગની ઉત્પાદકતાના વલણોનું વિશ્ર્લેષણ” (શુધ્ધિકરણની કામગીરી કરતી કંપનીઓના સંદર્ભમાં)

વ્યક્તિગત કલ્યાણ, ઉદ્યોગોની સફળતા અને રાષ્ટ્રનો વિકાસ અન્ય પરિબળોની સરખામણીમાં તેની ઉત્પાદકતા પર વધારે આધારીત રહે છે. એવું બની શકે કે દુનિયાના વિવિધ દેશોમાં ઉત્પાદકતાના સંદર્ભમાં રાજકીય વિચારસરણીથી, અર્થશાસ્ત્રના દ્રષ્ટિબિંદુથી કે અન્ય કારણોથી વિચારભેદ ઉદ્ભવતા હોય તેમ છતાં અંતે તો વિશ્વકક્ષાએ બધા જ રાષ્ટ્રો ઉત્પાદકતાનું ધોરણ ઉંચુ લાવવા માટે એકમત-સહમત થાય છે. ઉત્પાદકતાનો વિચાર ઘણો જૂનો છે, પરંતુ ઔદ્યોગિક પ્રગતિના પર્યાય તરીકે તેનો ઉપયોગ બીજા વિશ્ર્વયુધ્ધ બાદ થયો. કોઈપણ રાષ્ટ્રનો વિકાસ અને રાષ્ટ્રની ઉત્પાદકતા એક સિક્કાની બે બાજુ ગણાશે. ઉદ્યોગોનો વિકાસ, નફાકારકતા, વેતનવૃધ્ધિ, રાષ્ટ્રની ઔદ્યોગિક પ્રગતિ અને ઉંચા જીવનધોરણ અને ઉત્પાદકતાનું સ્થાન ઔદ્યોગિક જગતમાં પ્રથમ ક્રમાંકે જોવા મળે છે. સૌ પ્રથમ, વર્ષ ૧૭૬૬ માં કવેરને દ્વારા લખાયેલા લેખમાં “ઉત્પાદકતા” શબ્દનો ઉલ્લેખ કરવામાં આવેલો. એક સદી કરતાં પણ વધારે સમય પછી ૧૮૮૩ માં લિટરે ઉત્પાદકતાને “નીપજ (પરિણામ)ની શક્તિ” એટલે કે ઉત્પાદન કરવાની ઇચ્છા તરીકે પ્રસ્થાપિત કર્યું. ૧૮મી સદીના અંતમાં “ઉત્પાદકતા માપન” નો અર્થશાસ્ત્ર અને સંચાલનની એક અભ્યાસશાખા તરીકે ઉદ્ભવ થયો, પરંતુ ૧૯૫૦ માં યુરોપીય આર્થિક સહકાર સંગઠને (OEEC) - ૧૯૫૦ ઉત્પાદકતાનો ઔપચારિક અભિગમ આપ્યો. ૧૯૫૦ થી ૧૯૬૦ ના દશકા દરમ્યાન આ સંગઠન ઉત્પાદકતા અંગેના જ્ઞાનનો ફેલાવો કરવામાં સક્રિયપણે રોકાયેલ હતું. યુનાઈટેડ સ્ટેટ્સમાં, આંતરરાષ્ટ્રીય શ્રમ સંગઠન (IPO), યુરોપીય ઉત્પાદકતા એજન્સી સાથે સંકળાયેલ ખાસ એજન્સીઓની ૧૯૫૩માં સ્થાપના થઈ