A sparse matrix algorithm on the Boolean vector machine

The Boolean Vector Machine (BVM) is a large network of extremely small processors with very small memories operating in SIMD mode using bit serial arithmetic. Individual processors communicate via a hardware implementation of the Cube Connected Cycles (CCC) network. A prototype BVM with 2048 processing elements, each with 200 binary bits of memory, is currently being built using VLSI technology.

The BVM's bit-serial arithmetic and the small memories of individual processors are apparently a drawback to its effectiveness when applied to large numerical problems. In this paper we analyze an implementation of a basic matrix-vector iteration algorithm for sparse matrices on the BVM. We show that a 2²⁰ Pe BVM can deliver over 1 billion (10⁹) useful floating-point operations per second for this problem. The algorithm is expressed in a new language (BVL) which has been defined for programming the BVM.     

Computer security policy: Important issues

A key success factor in implementing computer security is the much discussed and important issue of management commitment. Management commitment is demonstrated through the effective fostering of a computer security policy within the organization. Many textbooks provide guidelines on what to include or exclude in compiling a computer security policy. However, little is said about issues such as accountability, responsibility and the actual scope of computer security. This paper will address various issues of critical importance in compiling a computer security policy.     

A Ducted Fan MAV Anti-torque Control System

The UAVs （unmanned aerial vehicles） exist in various sizes. One of the most interesting niches concerns the UAVs of moderate size （〈 1 m）, also called MAVs （micro air vehicles）. An aerodynamic study of the ULB （Universite Libre de Bruxelles） developed a ducted rotor MAV using the results of full-scale wind tunnel tests that allowed the determination of the platform speed envelope, the power requirements and the endurance characteristics for ISA sea level conditions. Although the ULB MAV appears similar to other ducted-rotor concepts, it fundamentally differs from them as it uses the downwash of a single rotor to compensate the electric motor main rotor torque and to achieve full control around the roll, pitch and yaw axes. This paper explains in detail the components layout of the MAV and the aerodynamic characteristics of the anti-torque blades.     

Untersuchungen zum Transfer pharmakologisch wirksamer Substanzen aus der Nutztierhaltung in Porree und Weißkohl

Investigation on the transfer of pharmacologically active substances used in animal husbandry into leek and cabbage. The potential of leek and cabbage for uptake of highly prescribed veterinary drugs (antibiotics) was tested in hydroponically grown plants. For this purpose the antibiotics sulfadiazine (SFD), enrofloxacine (ENR), tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (CTC) and monensine (MON) were chosen. A further aim was to gain data on the situation of vegetables grown in agricultural practise with regard to antibiotic residues. The evident effects of the antibiotics on plants grown hydroponically (each antibiotic was administered at 5 μmol/l nutrient solution) were greatly different: With regard to leek there were no visible effects (MON, SFD), a weak bleaching of the younger leaf sections (CTC), and strong effects of ENR. The (phytotoxic) effects of antibiotics on cabbage were much more distinct. CTC caused a yellowing of the plant vasculature in cabbage. MON induced lesions on some leaves and finally led to leaf wilting. With administration of ENR a nearly complete bleaching of young leaves was observed. Using LC-MS/MS-methods (low-resolution and high-resolution MS) the administered antibiotics, as well as conversion products and metabolites, were separately identified and quantified in various organs of leek (roots, young and old sections of leaves) and cabbage (roots, stalks, young and old leaves). Depending on the type of antibiotic, vegetable species, and plant organ, the detected concentrations of antibiotic residues comprised several orders of magnitude ranging from μg/kg to mg/kg of fresh weight (fw). The highest concentrations of antibiotics were found in roots of both vegetable species: CTC and TC were detected at approximately 10 mg/kg fw in cabbage roots and at approximately 20 mg/kg fw in leek roots and ENR was determined at approximately 12 mg/kg fw in cabbage roots. Low amounts of ENR were metabolised to ciprofloxacine (CIP). ENR occurred at similar concentrations of approximately 7 mg/kg fw in roots and old leaves of cabbage, indicating a high transport rate of this antibiotic in the cabbage plant. In stalks, young and old leaves of cabbage and in young and old leaf sections of leek all administered antibiotics were detected. Within these antibiotics, ENR and CTC and their conversion products, e. g. demeclocycline (DMC) and TC, occurred at the highest concentrations. SFD and MON were found in considerably lower concentrations (<100 μg/kg fw). The results of our experiments in hydroponic cultures, using defined concentrations of antibiotics in the nutrient solution, evidently demonstrate that cabbage and leek have a very high potential for uptake of a number of veterinary antibiotic drugs, especially for tetracycline and ENR.     

Capability of the rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) extract on the oxidative stability of cooked sea bream (Sparus aurata) during frozen storage

The effects of rosemary extract addition on oxidative stability of cooked sea bream during frozen storage period were investigated. Sea bream fillets were fried, oven baked and grilled. Three groups with rosemary extract were also cooked by the same methods and cooked samples (with and without rosemary extract) were stored in ?18?°C for 4?months. After cooking procedures, the FFA formation was quite similar in fresh-raw and fried sea bream fillets, but significantly increased oven baked (0.31?C0.33% oleic acid) and grilled fillets (0.39?C0.40% oleic acid). The highest value of PV was also obtained from grilled fillets (1.18?C1.58?meq/kg). However, TBA values (1.92?mg MA/kg for fresh-raw fillet) did not increase in sea bream fillets after the frying and grilling procedure except oven baking without rosemary extract (2.41?mg MA/kg). A considerable increase in the FFA, PV and TBA was observed in all cooked groups during frozen storage period. The treated samples with rosemary extract generally showed slower PV and TBA formation than those of the untreated samples. However, the additions of rosemary extract have positive effect on sensory quality of baked sea bream.     

Internalization and Accumulation in Dendritic Cells of a Small pH‐Activatable Glycomimetic Fluorescent Probe as Revealed by Spectral Detection

DC‐SIGN, an antigen‐uptake receptor in dendritic cells (DCs), has a clear role in the immune response but, conversely, can also facilitate infection by providing entry of pathogens into DCs. The key action in both processes is internalization into acidic endosomes and lysosomes. Molecular probes that bind to DC‐SIGN could thus provide a useful tool to study internalization and constitute potential antagonists against pathogens. So far, only large molecules have been used to directly observe DC‐SIGN‐mediated internalization into DCs by fluorescence visualization. We designed and synthesized an appropriate small glycomimetic probe. Two particular properties of the probe were exploited: activation in a low‐pH environment and an aggregation‐induced spectral shift. Our results indicate that small glycomimetic molecules could compete with antigen/pathogen for binding not only outside but also inside the DC, thus preventing the harmful action of pathogens that are able to intrude into DCs, for example, HIV‐1.     

Hydrogen microscopy – Distribution of hydrogen in buckled niobium hydrogen thin films

Hydrogen absorption in thin metal films clamped to rigid substrates results in mechanical stress that changes the hydrogen's chemical potential by Δμ_H(σ) = −1.124σ kJ/mol_H for σ measured in [GPa]. In this paper we show that local stress relaxation by the detachment of niobium hydrogen thin films from the substrate affects the chemical potential on the local scale: using coincident proton–proton scattering at a proton microprobe, the hydrogen concentration is determined with μm resolution, revealing that hydrogen is not homogenously distributed in the film. The local hydrogen solubility of the film changes with its local stress state, mapping the buckled film fraction. In niobium hydrogen thin films loaded up to nominal concentrations in the two-phase coexistence region, the clamped film fraction remains in the solid solution phase, while the buckles represent the hydride phase. These results are compared to a simple model taking the stress impact on the chemical potential into account.     

A DNA Methyltransferase Modulator Inspired by Peyssonenyne Natural Product Structures

A novel epigenetic modulator that displays a DNMT1 inhibition and DNMT3A activation profile was characterized (compound 8 ). This compound is a derivative of palmitic acid that incorporates the putative reactive functional group (diynone) of the peyssonenyne natural products. Other analogues containing the diynone or an acetoxyenediyne did not show the same biological profile. In U937 human leukemia cells, diynone 8 induced cell differentiation and apoptosis, which correlated with the expression of Fas protein. Very surprisingly, diynone 8 was toxic to normal human fibroblasts (BJ) and mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEF), but not to immortalized human fibroblasts (BJEL); this unique effect was not observed with the classical DNMT inhibitor 5‐azacytidine. Therefore, compound 8 interferes in a very specific manner with signaling pathways, the activities of which differ between normal and immortalized cell types. This toxicity is reminiscent of the effects of Dnmt1 ablation on mouse fibroblasts. In fact, some of the genes deregulated by the loss of Dnmt1 are similarly deregulated by 8 , but not by the DNMT inhibitor SGI‐1027.