Parallel algorithms for interactive manipulation of digital terrain models

Interactive three-dimensional graphics applications, such as terrain data representation and manipulation, require extensive arithmetic processing. Massively parallel machines are attractive for this application since they offer high computational rates, and grid connected architectures provide a natural mapping for grid based terrain models. Presented here are algorithms for data movement on the massive parallel processor (MPP) in support of pan and zoom functions over large data grids. It is an extension of earlier work that demonstrated real-time performance of graphics functions on grids that were equal in size to the physical dimensions of the MPP. When the dimensions of a data grid exceed the processing array size, data is packed in the array memory. Windows of the total data grid are interactively selected for processing. Movement of packed data is needed to distribute items across the array for efficient parallel processing. Execution time for data movement was found to exceed that for arithmetic aspects of graphics functions. Performance figures are given for routines written in MPP Pascal

A comparative study of frequency of postnatal depression among subjects with normal and caesarean deliveries

Background: Prevalence of postnatal depression (PND) is 12-15%. Recent studies are equivocal about the earlier inference that PND is higher among caesarian than normal delivery. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of PND among the Indian women and the association between the mode of delivery and PND. Material and method: Fifty subjects each; having delivered normally and by caesarian section was chosen. All the women were within 3 months post delivery and could understand Kannada language. Those who consented were asked to complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Those found to have scores suggestive of depression on EPDS were assessed for depression according to ICD-10. The data was analyzed using paired t test and chi square test. Result and conclusion: Among Post caesarean subjects, depression was diagnosed in 20% (n=10) as compared to 16% (n=8) in subjects that delivered normally. However there was no significant difference in the frequency of depression among the two groups. Due to the small sample size the results cannot be generalized

De Sitter Vacua in No-Scale Supergravity

No-scale supergravity is the appropriate general framework for low-energy effective field theories derived from string theory. The simplest no-scale K\"ahler potential with a single chiral field corresponds to a compactification to flat Minkowski space with a single volume modulus, but generalizations to single-field no-scale models with de Sitter vacua are also known. In this paper we generalize these de Sitter constructions to two- and multi-field models of the types occurring in string compactifications with more than one relevant modulus. We discuss the conditions for stability of the de Sitter solutions and holomorphy of the superpotential, and give examples whose superpotential contains only integer powers of the chiral fields.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figure

On Tests for Detecting More Nbu-ness Property of Life Distributions

A simple test procedure is proposed for testing the null hypothesis that two life distributions are equal against the alternative that one is more new better than used than the other. The proposed test is based on a sub sample of size two from each sample. The properties of the test procedure such as asymptotic normality, consistency etc., are established. The performance of the test procedure is evaluated by finding Pitman asymptotic relative efficiencies(ARE) for different distributions in comparison with the test procedure due to Hollander and Proschan(1986). A simple two-sample test statistic for testing the null hypothesis of equality of two life distributions against the alternative that one life distribution possesses more of New better than used property than does another life distribution at a specified age. The newly proposed test is based on a U-statistic whose kernel is based on minima of a sub sample of size two. The asymptotic normality of the proposed test is established. The Pitman ARE of the proposed test relative to the test proposed by Lim, Kim and Park(2005) are computed by considering the alternative distributions with location and scale parameters. The Pitman AREs show that the performance of the tests proposed here is better as compared to its competitors

Índice de Turismo Sustentável: uma Análise Comparativa de Destinos no Vale da Caxemira

This paper studied the status of sustainable tourism at the destination level. The key objective is to analyze the performance of destinations comparatively based upon the perceptions of tourism stakeholders: tourists, residents, and service providers. Perceptions of surveyed respondents are converted into individual weights by statistical operations proposed by Chakrabarty (2014) and Bhattarai and Rajan (2021) with further additions. EXCEL and SPSS were used for data entry, normalization, and other calculations. The weights calculated are normalized individually for each variable destination wise. A composite index methodology was followed to calculate the values of indicators and dimensions for each tourism spot. The score gained confirms the moderate performance, and however, it differs among the surveyed destinations. The performance of Kokernag is comparatively weak and is significantly lower for Yusmarg. Though Pahalgam confirmed the moderate status, specific indicators need further development. Srinagar and Gulmarg showed better scores than other destinations; however, the indicators of environment dimension demand further management and protection. Therefore, performance of destinations significantly differs and requires rectifications as per the issues and problems verified by the index results. As a policy outcome, it offered a dynamic approach to upgrade the status of sustainable tourism at destinations in Kashmir Valley.Este documento estudió el estado del turismo sostenible a nivel de destino. El objetivo clave es analizar comparativamente el desempeño de los destinos en función de las percepciones de las partes interesadas del turismo: turistas, residentes y proveedores de servicios. Las percepciones de los encuestados se convierten en ponderaciones individuales mediante operaciones estadísticas propuestas por Chakrabarty (2014) y Bhattarai y Rajan (2021) con más adiciones. Se utilizaron EXCEL y SPSS para el ingreso de datos, la normalización y otros cálculos. Los pesos calculados se normalizan individualmente para cada variable en cuanto al destino. Se siguió una metodología de índices compuestos para calcular los valores de los indicadores y dimensiones para cada lugar turístico. El puntaje obtenido confirma el desempeño moderado y, sin embargo, difiere entre los destinos encuestados. El rendimiento de Kokernag es comparativamente débil y es significativamente menor para Yusmarg. Aunque Pahalgam confirmó el estado moderado, los indicadores específicos necesitan un mayor desarrollo. Srinagar y Gulmarg mostraron mejores puntajes que otros destinos; sin embargo, los indicadores de la dimensión ambiental exigen una mayor gestión y protección. El desempeño de los destinos difiere significativamente y requiere rectificaciones según los problemas y problemas verificados por los resultados del índice. Como resultado de la política, ofreció un enfoque dinámico para mejorar el estado del turismo sostenible en los destinos del Valle de Cachemira.Este artigo estudou o status do turismo sustentável em nível de destino. O objetivo principal é analisar comparativamente o desempenho dos destinos com base nas percepções dos atores do turismo: turistas, residentes e prestadores de serviços. As percepções dos entrevistados são convertidas em pesos individuais por operações estatísticas propostas por Chakrabarty (2014) e Bhattarai e Rajan (2021) com acréscimos adicionais. EXCEL e SPSS foram usados para entrada de dados, normalização e outros cálculos. Os pesos calculados são normalizados individualmente para cada destino de variável. Foi seguida uma metodologia de índice composto para calcular os valores dos indicadores e dimensões para cada ponto turístico. A pontuação obtida confirma o desempenho moderado, mas difere entre os destinos pesquisados. O desempenho do Kokernag é comparativamente fraco e é significativamente menor do que o de Yusmarg. Embora Pahalgam tenha confirmado o status moderado, indicadores específicos precisam de mais desenvolvimento. Srinagar e Gulmarg apresentaram pontuações melhores do que outros destinos; entretanto, os indicadores da dimensão ambiental demandam maior gestão e proteção. O desempenho dos destinos difere significativamente e requer retificações conforme as questões e problemas verificados pelos resultados do índice. Como resultado da política, ofereceu uma abordagem dinâmica para atualizar o status do turismo sustentável em destinos no Vale da Caxemira

Generation of analogs having potent antimicrobial and hemolytic activities with minimal changes from an inactive 16-residue peptide corresponding to the helical region of Staphylococcus aureus δ-toxin

The δ-toxin is a 26-residue peptide from Staphylococcus aureus with the sequence formyl-MAQDIISTIGDLVKWIIDTVNKFTKK. NMR studies indicate that the segment IISTIGDLVKWIIDTV occurs in an a-helical conformationin the toxin. A synthetic peptide corresponding to this segment, although helical, did not exhibit hemolytic activity. Since charged residues like D and K are likely to modulate cytolytic activity, analogs of the 16-residue peptide were synthesized where D was systematically replaced by K. Analogs in which the first D and both Ds were replaced by K showed potent antimicrobial and hemolytic activities. The analog in which the second D was replaced by K was relatively less active. However, all the peptides showed an a-helical structure with similar helical content. The activities of the peptides were found to correlate directly with their ability to permeabilize model membranes. Thus, by minimal judicious replacement of charged amino acids, it should be possible to generate cytolytic peptides from short segments of peptide toxins

Pre- and post-processing for Cosmic/NASTRAN on personal computers and mainframes

An interface between Cosmic/NASTRAN and GIFTS has recently been released, combining the powerful pre- and post-processing capabilities of GIFTS with Cosmic/NASTRAN's analysis capabilities. The interface operates on a wide range of computers, even linking Cosmic/NASTRAN and GIFTS when the two are on different computers. GIFTS offers a wide range of elements for use in model construction, each translated by the interface into the nearest Cosmic/NASTRAN equivalent; and the options of automatic or interactive modelling and loading in GIFTS make pre-processing easy and effective. The interface itself includes the programs GFTCOS, which creates the Cosmic/NASTRAN input deck (and, if desired, control deck) from the GIFTS Unified Data Base, COSGFT, which translates the displacements from the Cosmic/NASTRAN analysis back into GIFTS; and HOSTR, which handles stress computations for a few higher-order elements available in the interface, but not supported by the GIFTS processor STRESS. Finally, the versatile display options in GIFTS post-processing allow the user to examine the analysis results through an especially wide range of capabilities, including such possibilities as creating composite loading cases, plotting in color and animating the analysis

Second fundamental form of the Prym map in the ramified case

In this paper we study the second fundamental form of the Prym map $P_{g,r}: R_{g,r} \rightarrow {\mathcal A}^{\delta}_{g-1+r}$ in the ramified case $r>0$. We give an expression of it in terms of the second fundamental form of the Torelli map of the covering curves. We use this expression to give an upper bound for the dimension of a germ of a totally geodesic submanifold, and hence of a Shimura subvariety of ${\mathcal A}^{\delta}_{g-1+r}$, contained in the Prym locus.Comment: To appear in Galois Covers, Grothendieck-Teichmueller Theory and Dessins d'Enfants - Interactions between Geometry, Topology, Number Theory and Algebra. Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1711.0342