Orienting Graphs to Optimize Reachability

The paper focuses on two problems: (i) how to orient the edges of an undirected graph in order to maximize the number of ordered vertex pairs (x,y) such that there is a directed path from x to y, and (ii) how to orient the edges so as to minimize the number of such pairs. The paper describes a quadratic-time algorithm for the first problem, and a proof that the second problem is NP-hard to approximate within some constant 1+epsilon > 1. The latter proof also shows that the second problem is equivalent to ``comparability graph completion''; neither problem was previously known to be NP-hard

Simulation analysis of ultrasonic testing in steel-based butt weld joint

Within this study, a simulation analysis based on Ultrasonic Testing (UT) is made using Comsol Multiphysics. Comsol Multiphysics is a software that can simplify many aspects of building UT method and also can be used to obtain a fast understanding of the results of altering the fundamental parameters. The software program has useful features which can help in technique development especially for UT inspectors in Non- destructive Testing (NDT) field. The focus of this study is to conduct a simulation analysis of internal weld defects by developing the model of defects in a weld structure sample configured using the software. The model is developed based on actual parameters and characterization of weld structure sample and internal weld defects. The results of analysis show that each type of defects which are incomplete penetration, slag inclusion and lack of fusion have different signal pattern and signal amplitude which are depended on the characterizations of those defects themselves

Screening vaccine formulations for biological activity using fresh human whole blood.

Understanding the relevant biological activity of any pharmaceutical formulation destined for human use is crucial. For vaccine-based formulations, activity must reflect the expected immune response, while for non-vaccine therapeutic agents, such as monoclonal antibodies, a lack of immune response to the formulation is desired. During early formulation development, various biochemical and biophysical characteristics can be monitored in a high-throughput screening (HTS) format. However, it remains impractical and arguably unethical to screen samples in this way for immunological functionality in animal models. Furthermore, data for immunological functionality lag formulation design by months, making it cumbersome to relate back to formulations in real-time. It is also likely that animal testing may not accurately reflect the response in humans. For a more effective formulation screen, a human whole blood (hWB) approach can be used to assess immunological functionality. The functional activity relates directly to the human immune response to a complete formulation (adjuvant/antigen) and includes adjuvant response, antigen response, adjuvant-modulated antigen response, stability, and potentially safety. The following commentary discusses the hWB approach as a valuable new tool to de-risk manufacture, formulation design, and clinical progression

Sea Level in the Strait of Gibraltar: Tides

A network of tide gauges with eight observation recording points was in operation in the Strait of Gibraltar during the years 1984 and 1985, which made it possible to draw up detailed charts of the tides showing their refined structure. For the first order, the Strait of Gibraltar represents the nodal line of the stationary wave of the western Mediterranean, which, hypothetically, would end at the Cadiz meridian (6°17.0W). The tide is basically semi-diurnal; on average, 90% of the energy is associated with the second order and, for this, the Strait of Gibraltar tends to represent an antinode of the stationary wave, although the influence of the bottom topography and the rotation is interpreted in phase delays in the sill area (slightly progressive wave) and in increased non-linear constituents of higher orders. The radiational tide S is evaluated in the area studied and it is ascertained that it shows the same characteristics as the tides having strictly gravitational constituents, which implies that it is fundamentally co-oscillating. Order 4 displays characteristics of resonant amplification due to the existence of the free oscillation mode of the western Mediterranean basin the period of which is close to 6 hours. Of order 3 it should be stressed that M3, though small, is perfectly detectable in the area

Association of ABCB1, 5-HT3B receptor and CYP2D6 genetic polymorphisms with ondansetron and metoclopramide antiemetic response in Indonesian cancer patients treated with highly emetogenic chemotherapy.

Our study shows that in Indonesian cancer patients treated with highly cytostatic emetogenic, carriership of the CTG haplotype of the ABCB1 gene is related to an increased risk of delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting

Anatomy and histochemistry of structures producing aroma in leaves of Sygyzium aromaticum (L.) Merr. and Clausena excavata Burm. f.

Anatomical and histochemical studies on leaves of Syzygium aromaticum and Clausena excavata have been carried out. This study was conducted in order to investigate the relationship between aroma production and a plant's secretory structures. Leaves from the two tropical aromatic plants were sampled from the Institute of Bioscience (IBS) Conservatory Park and transversely sectioned through lamina, midrib and petiole with a sliding microtome for anatomical investigation. Through light microscopy, oil cells and secretory cavities were distributed near the adaxial and abaxial epidermal layers with large in size, up to 60 µm length. Other leaf anatomical characters such as shape of petiole and midrib, pattern of vascular bundle, palisade and spongy mesophyll, the presence or absence of brachysclereids and crystals are also observed. This study also aimed to investigate the leaf's secretory structures responsible for plants' aroma production and to detect the presence of terpenes and essential oil in secretory structures histochemically

A New Viscosity Equation For Bin Aqueous Solutions.

An equation for the viscosity of binary aqueous solutions has been derived based on the Power law equation and Erying's absolute rate theory. The concentration dependent equation for viscosities of binary aqueous systems is derived using additive contribution from water and solute component. The equation has sufficient degree of freedom to represent the' whole range of concentration. The equation has been applied to 12 nonelectrolyte aqueous systems and 10 electrolyte systems at various temperatures. An average absolute deviation percentage error' (AAD%) of 0.2856% is reported for electrolyte systems: For non-electrolyte systems an average AAD% of 0.7843% is reported. Overall, the equation is found to have yielded an AAD% of 0.5576%

Heteropolyacides as green and reusable catalysts for the synthesis of [3,4-b][1,3,4] thiadiazines

Synthesis of [3,4-b][1,3,4]thiadiazines from the condensation of 4-amino-6-methyl-3-thioxo-1,2,4-triazine-5(2H)-one (AMTTO) or 4-amino-1,4-dihydro-5-methyle-1,2,4-triazole-5-thione (AMTT) with phenacyl bromide in the presence of a catalytic amount of various heteropolyacids (HPAs) under refluxing conditions is reported. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v28i1.

Efficient and exact sampling of simple graphs with given arbitrary degree sequence

Uniform sampling from graphical realizations of a given degree sequence is a fundamental component in simulation-based measurements of network observables, with applications ranging from epidemics, through social networks to Internet modeling. Existing graph sampling methods are either link-swap based (Markov-Chain Monte Carlo algorithms) or stub-matching based (the Configuration Model). Both types are ill-controlled, with typically unknown mixing times for link-swap methods and uncontrolled rejections for the Configuration Model. Here we propose an efficient, polynomial time algorithm that generates statistically independent graph samples with a given, arbitrary, degree sequence. The algorithm provides a weight associated with each sample, allowing the observable to be measured either uniformly over the graph ensemble, or, alternatively, with a desired distribution. Unlike other algorithms, this method always produces a sample, without back-tracking or rejections. Using a central limit theorem-based reasoning, we argue, that for large N, and for degree sequences admitting many realizations, the sample weights are expected to have a lognormal distribution. As examples, we apply our algorithm to generate networks with degree sequences drawn from power-law distributions and from binomial distributions.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure