MPF: A portable message passing facility for shared memory multiprocessors

The design, implementation, and performance evaluation of a message passing facility (MPF) for shared memory multiprocessors are presented. The MPF is based on a message passing model conceptually similar to conversations. Participants (parallel processors) can enter or leave a conversation at any time. The message passing primitives for this model are implemented as a portable library of C function calls. The MPF is currently operational on a Sequent Balance 21000, and several parallel applications were developed and tested. Several simple benchmark programs are presented to establish interprocess communication performance for common patterns of interprocess communication. Finally, performance figures are presented for two parallel applications, linear systems solution, and iterative solution of partial differential equations

Surface Critical Phenomena and Scaling in the Eight-Vertex Model

We give a physical interpretation of the entries of the reflection $K$-matrices of Baxter's eight-vertex model in terms of an Ising interaction at an open boundary. Although the model still defies an exact solution we nevertheless obtain the exact surface free energy from a crossing-unitarity relation. The singular part of the surface energy is described by the critical exponents $\alpha_s = 2 - \frac{\pi}{2\mu}$ and $\alpha_1 = 1 - \frac{\pi}{\mu}$, where $\mu$ controls the strength of the four-spin interaction. These values reduce to the known Ising exponents at the decoupling point $\mu=\pi/2$ and confirm the scaling relations $\alpha_s = \alpha_b + \nu$ and $\alpha_1 = \alpha_b -1$.Comment: 12 pages, LaTeX with REVTEX macros needed. To appear in Physical Review Letter

General energy bounds for systems of bosons with soft cores

We study a bound system of N identical bosons interacting by model pair potentials of the form V(r) = A sgn(p)r^p + B/r^2, A > 0, B >= 0. By using a variational trial function and the `equivalent 2-body method', we find explicit upper and lower bound formulas for the N-particle ground-state energy in arbitrary spatial dimensions d > 2 for the two cases p = 2 and p = -1. It is demonstrated that the upper bound can be systematically improved with the aid of a special large-N limit in collective field theory

Ex vivo study of human visceral nociceptors.

OBJECTIVE: The development of effective visceral analgesics free of deleterious gut-specific side effects is a priority. We aimed to develop a reproducible methodology to study visceral nociception in human tissue that could aid future target identification and drug evaluation. DESIGN: Electrophysiological (single unit) responses of visceral afferents to mechanical (von Frey hair (VFH) and stretch) and chemical (bradykinin and ATP) stimuli were examined. Thus, serosal afferents (putative nociceptors) were used to investigate the effect of tegaserod, and transient receptor potential channel, vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) modulation on mechanical responses. RESULTS: Two distinct afferent fibre populations, serosal (n=23) and muscular (n=21), were distinguished based on their differences in sensitivity to VFH probing and tissue stretch. Serosal units displayed sensitivity to key algesic mediators, bradykinin (6/14 units tested) and ATP (4/10), consistent with a role as polymodal nociceptors, while muscular afferents are largely insensitive to bradykinin (0/11) and ATP (1/10). Serosal nociceptor mechanosensitivity was attenuated by tegaserod (-20.8±6.9%, n=6, p<0.05), a treatment for IBS, or application of HC067047 (-34.9±10.0%, n=7, p<0.05), a TRPV4 antagonist, highlighting the utility of the preparation to examine the mechanistic action of existing drugs or novel analgesics. Repeated application of bradykinin or ATP produced consistent afferent responses following desensitisation to the first application, demonstrating their utility as test stimuli to evaluate analgesic activity. CONCLUSIONS: Functionally distinct subpopulations of human visceral afferents can be demonstrated and could provide a platform technology to further study nociception in human tissue

Figurational Dynamics and Parliamentary Discourses of Living Standards in Ireland

While the concept of living standards remains central to political debate, it has become marginal in sociological research compared to the burgeoning attention given to the topic of consumer culture in recent decades. However, they both concern how one does and should consume, and, indeed, behave at particular times. I use the theories of Norbert Elias to explain the unplanned but structured (ordered) changes in expected standards of living over time. This figurational approach is compared to other alternative explanations, particularly those advanced by Bourdieu, Veblen and Baudrillard. Though these offer some parallels with Elias’s theories, I argue that consumption standards are produced and transformed through the changing dependencies and power relations between social classes. They cannot be reduced to the intentions, interests or ambitions of particular elites, nor to the needs of social systems. Using qualitative data from parliamentary debates in Ireland to trace changing norms and ideals of consumption, as well as historical data to reconstruct shifts in social interdependencies, I further contend that discourses of living standards and luxury are vital aspects of the growing identification and empathy between classes, which in turn encourages greater global integration in the face of emigration and national decline

Large Anomalous Hall effect in a silicon-based magnetic semiconductor

Magnetic semiconductors are attracting high interest because of their potential use for spintronics, a new technology which merges electronics and manipulation of conduction electron spins. (GaMn)As and (GaMn)N have recently emerged as the most popular materials for this new technology. While Curie temperatures are rising towards room temperature, these materials can only be fabricated in thin film form, are heavily defective, and are not obviously compatible with Si. We show here that it is productive to consider transition metal monosilicides as potential alternatives. In particular, we report the discovery that the bulk metallic magnets derived from doping the narrow gap insulator FeSi with Co share the very high anomalous Hall conductance of (GaMn)As, while displaying Curie temperatures as high as 53 K. Our work opens up a new arena for spintronics, involving a bulk material based only on transition metals and Si, and which we have proven to display a variety of large magnetic field effects on easily measured electrical properties.Comment: 19 pages with 5 figure

Shifts in soil biodiversity-A forensic comparison between Sus scrofa domesticus and vegetation decomposition

In a forensic context, microbial-mediated cadaver decomposition and nutrient recycling cannot be overlooked. As a result, forensic ecogenomics research has intensified to gain a better understanding of cadaver/soil ecology interactions as a powerful potential tool for forensic practitioners. For this study, domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) (4 g) and grass (Agrostis/Festuca spp) cuttings (4 g) were buried (July 2013 to July 2014) in sandy clay loam (80 g) triplicates in sealed microcosms (127 ml; 50 × 70 cm) with parallel soil only controls. The effects of the two carbon sources were determined by monitoring key environmental factors and changes in soil bacterial (16S rRNA gene) and fungal (18S rRNA gene) biodiversity. Soil pH changes showed statistically significant differences (p 0.05) was observed between the treatments

Sotagliflozin in combination with optimized insulin therapy in adults with type 1 diabetes: The North American in Tandem1 study

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the efficacy and safety of the dual sodium-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) and SGLT2 inhibitor sotagliflozin in combination with optimized insulin in type 1 diabetes (T1D). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The in Tandem1 trial, a double-blind, 52-week phase 3 trial, randomized North American adults with T1D to placebo (n = 268), sotagliflozin 200 mg (n = 263), or sotagliflozin 400mg(n =262) after6 weeks ofinsulin optimization. The primary end point was HbA1c change from baseline at 24 weeks. HbA1c, weight, and safety were also assessed through 52 weeks. RESULTS: From a mean baseline of 7.57%, placebo-adjusted HbA1c reductions were 0.36% and 0.41% with sotagliflozin 200 and 400 mg, respectively, at 24 weeks and 0.25% and 0.31% at 52 weeks (all P &lt; 0.001). Among patients with a baseline HbA1c ≥7.0%, an HbA1c &lt;7% was achieved by 15.7%, 27.2%, and 40.3% of patients receiving placebo, sotagliflozin 200 mg, and sotagliflozin 400 mg, respectively (P ≤ 0.003 vs. placebo) at 24 weeks. At 52 weeks, mean treatment differences between sotagliflozin 400 mg and placebo were 21.08 mmol/L for fasting plasma glucose, 24.32 kg for weight, and 215.63% for bolus insulin dose and 211.87% for basal insulin dose (all P &lt; 0.001). Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire scores increased significantly by 2.5 points with sotagliflozin versus placebo (P &lt; 0.001) at 24 weeks. Genital mycotic infections and diarrhea occurred more frequently with sotagliflozin. Adjudicated diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) occurred in 9 (3.4%) and 11 (4.2%) patients receiving sotagliflozin 200 and 400 mg, respectively, and in 1 (0.4%) receiving placebo. Severe hypoglycemia occurred in 17 (6.5%) patients from each sotagliflozin group and 26 (9.7%) patients receiving placebo. CONCLUSIONS: In a 1-year T1D study, sotagliflozin combined with optimized insulin therapy was associated with sustained HbA1c reduction, weight loss, lower insulin dose, fewer episodes of severe hypoglycemia, improved patient-reported outcomes, and more DKA relative to placebo (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02384941)

First LIGO search for gravitational wave bursts from cosmic (super)strings

We report on a matched-filter search for gravitational wave bursts from cosmic string cusps using LIGO data from the fourth science run (S4) which took place in February and March 2005. No gravitational waves were detected in 14.9 days of data from times when all three LIGO detectors were operating. We interpret the result in terms of a frequentist upper limit on the rate of gravitational wave bursts and use the limits on the rate to constrain the parameter space (string tension, reconnection probability, and loop sizes) of cosmic string models.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures. Replaced with version submitted to PR