Interconnection Networks for Scalable Quantum Computers

We show that the problem of communication in a quantum computer reduces to constructing reliable quantum channels by distributing high-fidelity EPR pairs. We develop analytical models of the latency, bandwidth, error rate and resource utilization of such channels, and show that 100s of qubits must be distributed to accommodate a single data communication. Next, we show that a grid of teleportation nodes forms a good substrate on which to distribute EPR pairs. We also explore the control requirements for such a network. Finally, we propose a specific routing architecture and simulate the communication patterns of the Quantum Fourier Transform to demonstrate the impact of resource contention.Comment: To appear in International Symposium on Computer Architecture 2006 (ISCA 2006

Building Siting Screening Criteria for Structural Failure Hazards to Occupants

PresentationEvaluation of occupied buildings for accidental explosion hazards at petrochemical facilities is a vital part of a process safety program and is a key element of facility siting. In some cases, buildings may be screened out prior to performing structural blast evaluations due to minimal exposure to blast loading. Defining a minimum blast load in which a specific type of building may be screened without structural assessment is left to the owners or their engineering consultants. Determining when a structural assessment for blast hazards is necessary is a critical safety decision. Currently, API-752 does not include a blast load value that can be used for screening out building types without the requirement for structural assessment. Other publications provide pressure- based benchmarks for screening either for buildings in general or for specific types of buildings. This paper reviews industry guidance and makes recommendations for building blast-screening for consideration in the next revision of API-752

Grounding Student Affairs in a Catholic Charism: The Journey of One Faculty Member in Connecting Curriculum with Mission

The institutional mission of a university guides interactions among faculty, staff, students, and others and is instrumental in shaping the campus culture. As such, it is important that all members of a campus community not only understand the mission, but also have a sense of agency in determining how to live the mission through their work. This article presents a case study of one faculty member’s journey to deeper mission understanding, identification, and agency. The article explores commonalities between Vincentian Personalism and the basic tenets of the field of Student Affairs and highlights experiences and formation needed by lay faculty and staff at Catholic colleges and universities, particularly those without a Catholic religious background, to contribute meaningfully to the mission of the institution. The case study concludes with recommendations for other universities looking to support new faculty and staff in developing mission agency. Résumé Le parcours d’un enseignant pour relier le programme scolaire à la mission : Ancrer les affaires étudiantes dans un courant charismatique catholique La mission institutionnelle d’une université gouverne les rapports entre les enseignants, le personnel et d’autres personnes, et joue un rôle déterminant dans la culture du campus. Ainsi, il est important pour tous les membres de la communauté du campus non seulement de comprendre la mission, mais aussi d’être volontariste en décidant de la manière dont ils vivent la mission dans l’exercice de leur métier. Cet article étudie le cas d’un enseignant et du chemin qu’il a parcouru pour mieux comprendre la mission, l’identifier et agir avec volontarisme. L’article analyse les points communs entre le personnalisme vincentien et les principes fondamentaux dans le domaine des affaires étudiantes, et souligne les expériences et la formation dont les enseignants et employés laïcs des établissements d’enseignement supérieur et universités, particulièrement ceux qui n’ont pas été élevés dans la foi catholique, ont besoin pour prendre une part active à la mission de l’institution. La conclusion de cette étude de cas contient des recommandations à d’autres universités qui cherchent à aider les nouveaux professeurs et employés à servir avec volontarisme la mission de l’université. Resumen El camino de un profesor al conectar el plan de estudios con la misión: Envolviendo a los Asuntos estudiantiles en un carisma católico. La misión institucional de una universidad guía las interacciones entre profesorado, personal administrativo, estudiantes y demás, y es decisiva en la configuración de la cultura del campus. Como tal, es importante no solo que todos los miembros de la comunidad del campus entiendan la misión sino también que tengan un sentimiento de agenciamiento en la determinación sobre cómo vivir la misión a través de su trabajo. Este artículo presenta el estudio del caso de un profesor en su camino hacia la comprensión, identificación y agenciamiento en profundidad de la misión. El artículo explora los puntos en común entre el Personalismo vicenciano y los principios básicos en el campo de los Asuntos estudiantiles, y resalta las experiencias y formación necesarias para que el profesorado y personal administrativo laico de las instituciones y universidades católicas, especialmente aquellos sin pasado religioso católico, contribuyan significativamente en la misión de la Institución. El estudio del caso concluye con recomendaciones a otras universidades que busquen apoyar al profesorado y personal nuevo para que desarrollen un agenciamiento de la misión

Bordism Groups of Immersions and Classes Represented by Self-Intersections

We prove a geometrical version of Herbert's theorem by considering the self-intersection immersions of a self-transverse immersion up to bordism. This generalises Herbert's theorem to additional cohomology theories and gives a commutative diagram in the homotopy of Thom complexes. The proof uses Koschorke and Sanderson's operations and the fact that bordism of immersions gives a functor on the category of smooth manifolds and immersions.Comment: 16 page

Recovery of fitness of a live attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus through compensation in both the coding and non-coding regions of the viral genome

We have analyzed a SIV deletion mutant that was compromised both in viral replication and RNA packaging. Serial passage of this variant in two different T-cell lines resulted in compensatory reversion and the generation of independent groups of point mutations within each cell line. Within each group, single point mutations were shown to contribute to increased viral infectivity and the rescue of wild-type replication kinetics. The complete recovery of viral fitness ultimately correlated with the restoration of viral RNA packaging. Consistent with the latter finding was the rescue of Pr55 Gag processing, also restoring proper virus core morphology in mature virions. These seemingly independently arising groups of compensatory mutations were functionally interchangeable in regard to the recovery of wild type replication in rhesus PBMCs. These findings indicate that viral reversion that overcomes a genetic bottleneck is not limited to a single pathway, and illustrates the remarkable adaptability of lentiviruses

Effectiveness of a Pilot Community Physical Activity and Nutrition Intervention in American Samoa

Background: The addition of Western foods to the Samoan diet has greatly affected the health of the American Samoan people. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of culturally tailored exercise and nutrition interventions for adults living in Tutuila, American Samoa. Method: Villages in the eastern, central, and western parts of the island of Tutuila were recruited to participate in this study. Villages were randomly assigned to one of three culturally tailored interventions: 46 individuals in one village participated in an exercise intervention, 27 individuals in another village participated in a nutrition-education intervention, and 22 individuals in a third village participated in a combined exercise and nutrition-education intervention. Participants’ nutrition knowledge was measured at pre- and post-intervention stages through a questionnaire. Body Mass Index (BMI), height, and weight were assessed at baseline and again at weeks 4, 8, and 12. Differences in mean BMI over time by group, were assessed using repeated measures ANOVA with baseline BMI as a covariate. To test for differences in nutrition knowledge over time by group, pair-wise comparisons were used for the percent of correct answers at baseline and at week 12. Results: All three groups realized a significant decrease in BMI, from 1.35 in the nutrition only group to 2.27 in the exercise and nutrition group. The exercise and nutrition group also showed significant gains in ability to identify foods high in fiber and fat. Implications: This study demonstrates that decreases in BMI and increases in nutritional knowledge can be obtained through a culturally-tailored intervention, especially one that combines nutrition education and exercise