Mixed Map Labeling

Point feature map labeling is a geometric problem, in which a set of input points must be labeled with a set of disjoint rectangles (the bounding boxes of the label texts). Typically, labeling models either use internal labels, which must touch their feature point, or external (boundary) labels, which are placed on one of the four sides of the input points' bounding box and which are connected to their feature points by crossing-free leader lines. In this paper we study polynomial-time algorithms for maximizing the number of internal labels in a mixed labeling model that combines internal and external labels. The model requires that all leaders are parallel to a given orientation $\theta \in [0,2\pi)$, whose value influences the geometric properties and hence the running times of our algorithms.Comment: Full version for the paper accepted at CIAC 201

Optimal 3D Angular Resolution for Low-Degree Graphs

We show that every graph of maximum degree three can be drawn in three dimensions with at most two bends per edge, and with 120-degree angles between any two edge segments meeting at a vertex or a bend. We show that every graph of maximum degree four can be drawn in three dimensions with at most three bends per edge, and with 109.5-degree angles, i.e., the angular resolution of the diamond lattice, between any two edge segments meeting at a vertex or bend.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures. Extended version of paper to appear in Proc. 18th Int. Symp. Graph Drawing, Konstanz, Germany, 201

Reward Enhances Pain Discrimination in Humans

The notion that reward inhibits pain is a well-supported observation in both humans and animals, allowing suppression of pain reflexes to acquired rewarding stimuli. However, a blanket inhibition of pain by reward would also impair pain discrimination. In contrast, early counterconditioning experiments implied that reward might actually spare pain discrimination. To test this hypothesis, we investigated whether discriminative performance was enhanced or inhibited by reward. We found in adult human volunteers (N = 25) that pain-based discriminative ability is actually enhanced by reward, especially when reward is directly contingent on discriminative performance. Drift-diffusion modeling shows that this relates to an augmentation of the underlying sensory signal strength and is not merely an effect of decision bias. This enhancement of sensory-discriminative pain-information processing suggests that whereas reward can promote reward-acquiring behavior by inhibition of pain in some circumstances, it can also facilitate important discriminative information of the sensory input when necessary

Cognitive and affective mechanisms of pain modulation and their neuronal and neurochemical correlates

This dissertation presents two studies investigating stress-induced analgesia (SIA, study 1) and control-induced analgesia (study 2) as two endogenous mechanisms of pain control. In study 1 SIA was induced in 19 healthy volunteers after administration of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Cannabidiol (CBD) and placebo. The SIA effect was evaluated by pain ratings and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses to suprathreshold painful stimulation, pain thresholds, BOLD responses and psychophysiological measures. The aim was to determine whether cannabinoids are involved in human descending pain control. The main result was that SIA, although successfully induced in all conditions, was not modulated by an exogenously administered cannabinoid receptor agonist or inverse agonist. However, after THC administration the habituation to painful stimulation was attenuated. This was accompanied by altered brain activation in the middle frontal gyrus and middle temporal gyrus. The results suggest that in humans, cannabinoids are involved in habituation to pain, but not in SIA. In study 2, 26 healthy volunteers were given painful stimulation in a controllable and an uncontrollable condition. The control-induced pain relief was assessed with ratings of pain intensity, pain unpleasantness and pain-related suffering. The aim of the study was to determine which pain dimension is affected by controllability of pain stimulation. The main result was that the exertion of control over pain reduced the experience of pain-related suffering while pain intensity and pain unpleasantness were not affected. Moreover, the effect on pain-related suffering was more pronounced in individuals with a higher general belief that their environment is determined by chance. The results suggest that control over a painful stimulus does not affect the classical pain dimensions of intensity and unpleasantness, but rather the suffering that is associated with them. The results of study 1 indicate that SIA induced by mental arithmetic tasks is not mediated via endocannabinoid pathways, whereas these pathways seem to be involved in other inhibitory pain systems. Study 2 demonstrates that control over pain alleviates the suffering rather than the pain itself. It therefore offers a therapeutic target in cases of terminally ill, were suffering but not pain can be avoided. A better understanding of behavioral, physiological and neuronal mechanisms underlying healthy human pain inhibition offers new targets for pain inhibition in chronic pain

A hybrid camphor-camphene wax material for studies on self-propelled motion.

A new material that combines self-propelled motion with wax-like mechanical properties and can be formed into non-trivial shapes is presented

Trends in the German income distribution : 2005/06 to 2010/11

We analyze the potential influence of a number of factors on the distribution of equivalized net incomes in Germany over the period 2005/2006 to 2010/11. While income inequality considerably increased in the years before 2005/2006, this trend was stopped after 2005/2006. Among many other factors, we consider the role of the employment boom and the development of inequality in wage incomes after 2005/2006. Our results suggest that, despite further increases in wage inequality, inequality in equivalized net incomes did not increase further after 2005/2006 because increased within-year employment opportunities compensated otherwise rising inequality in annual labour incomes. On the other hand, income inequality did not fall in a more marked way after 2005/2006 because also the middle and the upper part of the distribution benefitted from the employment boom. Other factors, such as changing household structures, population aging and changes in the tax and transfer system had no important effects on the distribution. Finally, we find little evidence that the distribution of equivalized net incomes was affected in any important way by the financial crisis and the subsequent great recession

Detuning effects in the one-photon mazer

The quantum theory of the mazer in the non-resonant case (a detuning between the cavity mode and the atomic transition frequencies is present) is written. The generalization from the resonant case is far from being direct. Interesting effects of the mazer physics are pointed out. In particular, it is shown that the cavity may slow down or speed up the atoms according to the sign of the detuning and that the induced emission process may be completely blocked by use of a positive detuning. It is also shown that the detuning adds a potential step effect not present at resonance and that the use of positive detunings defines a well-controlled cooling mechanism. In the special case of a mesa cavity mode function, generalized expressions for the reflection and transmission coefficients have been obtained. The general properties of the induced emission probability are finally discussed in the hot, intermediate and cold atom regimes. Comparison with the resonant case is given.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Infection of Human Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells by Group B Streptococcus Contributes to Dysregulation of Apoptosis, Hemostasis, and Innate Immune Responses

Early onset sepsis due to group B streptococcus leads to neonatal morbidity, increased mortality, and long-term neurological deficencies. Interaction between septicemic GBS and confluent monolayers of human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) was analyzed by genome wide expression profiling. In total, 124 genes were differentially expressed (89 upregulated, 35 downregulated) based on a more than 3-fold difference to control HCAEC. Regulated genes are involved in apoptosis, hemostasis, oxidative stress response, infection, and inflammation. Regulation of selected genes and proteins identified in the gene array analysis was confirmed by Real-time RT-PCR assay (granulocyte chemotactic protein 2), ELISA (urokinase, cyclooxygenase 2, granulocyte chemotactic protein 1), and western blotting (Heme oxygenase1, BCL2 interacting protein) at various time points between 4 and 24 hours. These results indicate that GBS infection might influence signalling pathways leading to impaired function of the innate immune system and hemorrhagic and inflammatory complications during GBS sepsis

Magnetoelastic coupling in triangular lattice antiferromagnet CuCrS2

CuCrS2 is a triangular lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet with a rhombohedral crystal structure. We report on neutron and synchrotron powder diffraction results which reveal a monoclinic lattice distortion at the magnetic transition and verify a magnetoelastic coupling. CuCrS2 is therefore an interesting material to study the influence of magnetism on the relief of geometrical frustration.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl