The consistent labeling problem: part I

In this first part of a two-part paper we introduce a general consistent labeling problem based on a unit constraint relation T containing N-tuples of units which constrain one another, and a compatibility relation R containing N-tuples of unit-label pairs specifying which N-tuples of units are compatible with which N-tuples of labels. We show that Latin square puzzles, finding N-ary relations, graph or auto-mata homomorphisms, graph colorings, as well as determining satisfiability of propositional logic statements and solving scene and edge labeling problems, are all special cases of the general consistent labeling problem. We then discuss the various approaches that researchers have used to speed up the tree search required to find consistent labelings. Each of these approaches uses a particular look-ahead operator to help eliminate backtracking in the tree search. Finally, we define the ?KP two-parameter class of look-ahead operators which includes, as special cases, the operators other researchers have used.     

Fluid-Induced Seismicity: Theory, Modeling, and Applications

Operations including borehole fluid injections are typical for exploration and development of hydrocarbon or geothermic reservoirs. Microseismicity occurring during such operations has a large potential for understanding physics of the seismogenic process as well as in obtaining detailed information about reservoirs at locations as far as several kilometers from boreholes. We propose that the phenomenon of microseismicity triggering by borehole fluid injections is related to the process of the Frenkel–Biot slow wave propagation. In the low-frequency range (hours or days of fluid injection durations) this process reduces to the pore-pressure diffusion. We search for diffusion-related features of induced microseismicity. Two types of such signatures are considered. The first one is related to the geometry of microseismic clouds. Another type of signature is related to the probability of microearthquakes. On this basis we introduce a concept for interpretation of microseismic data which provides a possibility to infer information about hydraulic properties of rocks. Such information can be of significant importance for industrial applications and for understanding physical properties of geological structures.     

Modernization of Continuous Casters for Casting Rounds at the Volga Pipe Plant

The modern electric steelmaking equipment and technology in use at the Volga Pipe Plant allows that facility to make tubular semifinished products composed of a wide range of steels. Due to an increase in the volume of production and the number of orders being received for 156-mm-diam. semifinished products, the plant found it necessary to increase the productivity of the continuous caster in the casting of small-diameter products. The plant worked with VNIIMETMASh to modernize its existing continuous section caster. The technical and organizational changes that were made in order to cast 156-mm-diam. semifinished products have elevated the performance of caster No. 2 to world-class level. The modernization effort was completed well in advance of the scheduled date.     

A parallel algorithm for graph matching and its MasParimplementation

Search of discrete spaces is important in combinatorial optimization. Such problems arise in artificial intelligence, computer vision, operations research, and other areas. For realistic problems, the search spaces to be processed are usually huge, necessitating long computation times, pruning heuristics, or massively parallel processing. We present an algorithm that reduces the computation time for graph matching by employing both branch-and-bound pruning of the search tree and massively-parallel search of the as-yet-unpruned portions of the space. Most research on parallel search has assumed that a multiple-instruction-stream/multiple-data-stream (MIMD) parallel computer is available. Since massively parallel stream (SIMD) computers are much less expensive than MIMD systems with equal numbers of processors, the question arises as to whether SIMD systems can efficiently handle state-space search problems. We demonstrate that the answer is yes, and in particular, that graph matching has a natural and efficient implementation on SIMD machines     

Mentoring, Modeling, and Money: The 3 Ms of Producing Academics.

The program at Lehigh University has been very successful in producing a high percentage of students (42% of all graduates) who have entered academic careers as trainers of school psychologists. This article presents a conceptual model for the three variables that are considered as critical components of why students select an academic career--mentoring, modeling, and money. Results of a survey of the program alumni at Lehigh University are presented. Outcomes of the survey showed significant and substantial differences in the perceptions of the mentoring and modeling process by students who are in academic versus nonacademic careers. Implications for doctoral training programs interested in training students to enter academic careers are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Damping and local control of mirror suspensions for laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors

The mirrors of laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors hang from multi-stage suspensions. These support the optics against gravity while isolating them from external vibration. Thermal noise must be kept small so mechanical loss must be minimized and the resulting structure has high-Q resonances rigid-body modes, typically in the frequency range between about 0.3 Hz and 20 Hz. Operation of the interferometer requires these resonances to be damped. Active damping provides the design flexibility required to achieve rapid settling with low noise. In practice there is a compromise between sensor performance, and hence cost and complexity, and sophistication of the control algorithm. We introduce a novel approach which combines the new technique of modal damping with methods developed from those applied in GEO 600. This approach is predicted to meet the goals for damping and for noise performance set by the Advanced LIGO project.     

Sublethal concentrations of mercury in river otters: monitoring environmental contamination

Hair, muscle, and liver mercury concentrations were determined in river otter (Lutra canadensis) carcasses collected from the lower coastal plain and piedmont of Georgia. Mean muscle and hair mercury concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) in otters from the lower coastal plain (4.42 and 24.25 mg/kg wet wt, respectively) compared to otters from the piedmont (1.48 and 15.24 mg/kg, respectively). Liver tissue from lower coastal plain otters averaged 7.53 mg/kg mercury. Mean fetus brain and muscle mercury concentrations were 1.03 and 1.58 mg/kg wet wt, respectively, and fetal muscle mercury concentrations were correlated (r = 0.92) with maternal muscle mercury concentrations. Comparison of mercury concentrations found in Georgia otters to those associated with adverse effects in otter and mink (Mustela vison), indicate sublethal contamination with concentrations in some individuals approaching that observed in experimentally dosed individuals that developed clinical signs of mercurialism. Mercury concentrations in fish from the lower coastal plain approached or exceeded concentrations demonstrated to be toxic to experimentally dosed otters.     

Unilateral Cervical Vagotomy Modulates Immune Cell Profiles and the Response to a Traumatic Brain Injury

TBI induces splenic B and T cell expansion that contributes to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The vagus nerve, the longest of the cranial nerves, is the predominant parasympathetic pathway allowing the central nervous system (CNS) control over peripheral organs, including regulation of inflammatory responses. One way this is accomplished is by vagus innervation of the celiac ganglion, from which the splenic nerve innervates the spleen. This splenic innervation enables modulation of the splenic immune response, including splenocyte selection, activation, and downstream signaling. Considering that the left and right vagus nerves have distinct courses, it is possible that they differentially influence the splenic immune response following a CNS injury. To test this possibility, immune cell subsets were profiled and quantified following either a left or a right unilateral vagotomy. Both unilateral vagotomies caused similar effects with respect to the percentage of B cells and in the decreased percentage of macrophages and T cells following vagotomy. We next tested the hypothesis that a left unilateral vagotomy would modulate the splenic immune response to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Mice received a left cervical vagotomy or a sham vagotomy 3 days prior to a fluid percussion injury (FPI), a well-characterized mouse model of TBI that consistently elicits an immune and neuroimmune response. Flow cytometric analysis showed that vagotomy prior to FPI resulted in fewer CLIP+ B cells, and CD4+, CD25+, and CD8+ T cells. Vagotomy followed by FPI also resulted in an altered distribution of CD11b^high and CD11b^low macrophages. Thus, transduction of immune signals from the CNS to the periphery via the vagus nerve can be targeted to modulate the immune response following TBI.     

The Dipole Correction Method for Extracting Excited State Potentials and Electronic Transition Dipoles from Fluorescence Data

We have developed a new inversion scheme for the accurate extraction of excited state potentials from fluorescence line positions and line strengths which does not make use of the Franck Condon Approximation (FCA). Our “dipole correction” method also enables the extraction of the coordinate dependence of the electronic transition dipoles. The accuracy of the potential energy surfaces (PES) thus extracted is much higher than that of the FCA- derived PES. The procedure, illustrated for the Na₂ A(¹Σ⁺_u) → X(¹Σ⁺_g) P-branch emission, results in global errors of 0.1 cm⁻¹, and average errors near the PES minimum of 0.03 cm⁻¹, with A → X electronic transition dipole function accuracies better than 1×10⁻³ Debye. We also show that it is possible to use emission data from a few select states: Global errors as small as 0.08 cm⁻¹ for the Na₂ B(¹Π_u) PES, using emissions data from only the s=0–5 low-lying levels or the s=20–23 states, are demonstrated.