Optimal algorithms for adjacent side routing

We consider the switchbox routing problem of two-terminal nets in the case when all thek nets lie on two adjacent sides of the rectangle. Our routing model is the standard two-layer model. We develop an optimal algorithm that routes all the nets whenever a routing exists. The routing obtained uses the fewest possible number of vias. A more general version of this problem (adjacent staircase) is also optimally solved.This research was supported in part by NSA Contract No. MDA-904-85H-0015, NSF Grant No. DCR-86-00378, and by NSF Engineering Research Centers Program NSFD CDR 88003012.     

Basic fibroblast growth factor as one of the essential factors regulating lens transdifferentiation of pigmented epithelial cells

In vitro transdifferentiation of retinal pigmented epithelial cells of the chick embryo into lens cells can be markedly enhanced by culture in the presence of testicular hyaluronidase and phenylthiourea. Since the commercial preparations of hyaluronidase that had previously been used were very crude, a search for the actual effective molecule(s) enhancing lens transdifferentiation was conducted. First, we purified the enzyme and tested the effect of the purified hyaluronidase. Highly purified hyaluronidase itself did not enhance lens transdifferentiation. The crude hyaluronidase was then separated according to affinity with heparin, considering the possibility that the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is contained in the crude hyaluronidase. Transdifferentiation-enhancing activity was detected in the fraction which was bound to heparin and eluted with 2 M NaCl, where no hyaluronate-degrading activity existed. Analysis of the fraction by SDS-PAGE revealed the existence of an 18 kDa protein whose NH2-terminal sequence was identical to that of basic FGF. The basic FGF derived from bovine brain also enhanced lens transdifferentiation of pigmented epithelial cells. These findings suggest that basic FGF must play a major role in enhancing transdifferentiation of pigmented epithelial cells to lens cells.     

Thermal instability of Bi-Pb-Sr-Ca-Cu-O superconductor around 650δC

Bi_0.85Pb_0.15Sr_0.8CaCu_1.4O _y superconductor was quenched to room temperature after annealing at several temperatures in air. From the initial magnetization curve measurement for the annealed samples, it was found that the volume fraction of superconducting phases of the sample annealed at 650°C greatly decreased. TEM observation revealed that a second phase often appeared in the grain-boundary region for the sample annealed at 700°C. The second phase was identified as Bi₁Pb₂Sr_2.6Ca_1.6O _y by energy dispersive spectroscopy.     

Gender and helping behavior: A meta-analytic review of the social psychological literature.

Contends, on the basis of posited social-role theory of gender and helping, that the male gender role fosters helping that is heroic and chivalrous, whereas the female gender role fosters helping that is nurturant and caring. In social psychological studies, helping behavior has mainly been examined in the context of short-term encounters with strangers. This focus has tended to exclude from the research literature those helping behaviors prescribed by the female gender role, because they are displayed primarily in long-term, close relationships. In contrast, the helping behaviors prescribed by the male gender role have been generously represented in research findings because they are displayed in relationships with strangers as well as in close relationships. Results from a meta-analytic review of sex differences in 172 studies (appended) in helping behavior indicate that in general men helped more than women and women received more help than men. Nevertheless, sex differences in helping were inconsistent across studies and were successfully predicted by various attributes of the studies and the helping behaviors. (96 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A video DSP with a macroblock-level-pipeline and a SIMD typevector-pipeline architecture for MPEG2 CODEC

A video DSP with macroblock-level-pipeline and a SIMD type vector-pipeline architecture (VDSP2) has been developed, using 0.5 μm triple-layer-metal CMOS technology. This 17.00 mm×15.00 mm chip consists of 2.5 M transistors, and operates at 100 MHz. The real-time encoder and decoder specified in the MPEG2 main profile at the main level can be realized with two VDSP2's and a motion estimation (ME) unit, and one VDSP2 respectively, at an 80 MHz clock rate, with a total power dissipation of 4.2 W at 3.3 V     

Sociotropy and autonomy: Differential patterns of clinical presentation in unipolar depression.

We examined the relations between sociotropy and autonomy and clinical features of depression. A. T. Beck (1983) proposed that sociotropy is related to a sense of deprivation and clinical features associated with reactive depression and that autonomy is related to a sense of defeat and clinical features associated with endogenous depression. C. J. Robins et al (see record 1989-19204-001) found support for the hypothesis for sociotropy but not for autonomy, and they suggested that the autonomy scale may be problematic. We administered new measures of sociotropy and autonomy and a more comprehensive assessment of clinical features to 50 unipolar depressed inpatients. The results support the selective relations of both sociotropy and autonomy to the predicted sets of clinical features. This study adds to the growing evidence that these personality dimensions are important to the understanding of depression. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Effects of Particle Size of Bulk Drug and food on the Bioavailability of U-78875 in Dogs

The effects of particle size and food on the absolute bioavailability of U-78875 in dogs after oral administration of either a suspension or tablet dosage form were investigated. A reduction of particle size caused a significant increase in bioavailability along with an increase in dissolution rate. Additionally, both suspension and tablet dosage forms administered after food caused an increase in bioavailability. Thus, to accelerate drug dissolution, a reduction of U-78875 particle size from the unmilled state is important for the optimization of formulation compositions. To increase the bioavailability of U-78875, postprandial dosing should be considered.