L1 shortest paths among polygonal obstacles in the plane

We present an algorithm for computingL ₁ shortest paths among polygonal obstacles in the plane. Our algorithm employs the continuous Dijkstra technique of propagating a wavefront and runs in timeO(E logn) and spaceO(E), wheren is the number of vertices of the obstacles andE is the number of events. By using bounds on the density of certain sparse binary matrices, we show thatE =O(n logn), implying that our algorithm is nearly optimal. We conjecture thatE =O(n), which would imply our algorithm to be optimal. Previous bounds for our problem were quadratic in time and space.Our algorithm generalizes to the case of fixed orientation metrics, yielding anO(n^–1/2 log² n) time andO(n^–1/2) space approximation algorithm for finding Euclidean shortest paths among obstacles. The algorithm further generalizes to the case of many sources, allowing us to compute anL ₁ Voronoi diagram for source points that lie among a collection of polygonal obstacles.Partially supported by a grant from Hughes Research Laboratories, Malibu, California and by NSF Grant ECSE-8857642. Much of this work was done while the author was a Ph.D. student at Stanford University, under the support of a Howard Hughes Doctoral Fellowship, and an employee of Hughes Research Laboratories.     

Tracking polymer diffusion in a wet latex film with fluorescence resonance energy transfer

We describe an instrument to measure the polymer interdiffusion between donor-labeled and acceptor-labeled latex polymers in a partially wet latex film with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). It is possible to temporarily arrest the drying process of a wet latex film by sealing the film in an airtight chamber. In our approach, we measure donor fluorescence decays from 0.5 mm diameter spots at various positions across an arrested latex film with time-correlated single photon counting. We interpret the resulting decays with a Monte Carlo simulation of the FRET process and extract information about the extent of polymer diffusion as a function of position on the film. These results enable us to determine the extent of polymer interdiffusion as a function of distance from the wet-dry edge in the latex film. To highlight this device's ability to capture the rapid early stages of latex interdiffusion, we report results from an acrylate copolymer latex.     

The VNAV Tutor: addressing a mode awareness difficulty for pilotsof glass cockpit aircraft

One of the major tasks of pilots of modern aircraft is monitoring and understanding the status and behavior of the auto-flight system, i.e., mode awareness. In order to maintain mode awareness in the dynamic environment, pilots must be continuously vigilant of indications from several locations within the cockpit. Lacking accurate and complete system knowledge and interfaces that clearly present the system state and constraints, pilots may misunderstand the control modes, pilots often cite vertical path navigation (VNAV) as a flight management system function that “surprises” them. The VNAV Tutor, a computer-based training system, was developed to address this issue. The VNAV Tutor attempts to improve pilots' understanding of VNAV control modes and the interaction of the mode control panel functions with the flight management system during VNAV usage. An evaluation showed that the VNAV Tutor enhanced both the conceptual understanding and the operational use of the vertical navigation function by pilots transitioning to aircraft with sophisticated auto-flight systems     

Type inference with non-structural subtyping

We present an O(n³) time type inference algorithm for a type system with a largest type, a smallest type , and the usual ordering between function types. The algorithm infers type annotations of least shape, and it works equally well for recursive types. For the problem of typability, our algorithm is simpler than the one of Kozen, Palsberg, and Schwartzbach for type inferencewithout . This may be surprising, especially because the system with is strictly more powerful.     

Systematic analysis of coding and noncoding DNA sequences using methods of statistical linguistics

We compare the statistical properties of coding and noncoding regions in eukaryotic and viral DNA sequences by adapting two tests developed for the analysis of natural languages and symbolic sequences. The data set comprises all 30 sequences of length above 50 000 base pairs in GenBank Release No. 81.0, as well as the recently published sequences of C. elegans chromosome III (2.2 Mbp) and yeast chromosome XI (661 Kbp). We find that for the three chromosomes we studied the statistical properties of noncoding regions appear to be closer to those observed in natural languages than those of coding regions. In particular, (i) a n-tuple Zipf analysis of noncoding regions reveals a regime close to power-law behavior while the coding regions show logarithmic behavior over a wide interval, while (ii) an n-gram entropy measurement shows that the noncoding regions have a lower n-gram entropy (and hence a larger "n-gram redundancy") than the coding regions. In contrast to the three chromosomes, we find that for vertebrates such as primates and rodents and for viral DNA, the difference between the statistical properties of coding and noncoding regions is not pronounced and therefore the results of the analyses of the investigated sequences are less conclusive. After noting the intrinsic limitations of the n-gram redundancy analysis, we also briefly discuss the failure of the zeroth- and first-order Markovian models or simple nucleotide repeats to account fully for these "linguistic" features of DNA. Finally, we emphasize that our results by no means prove the existence of a "language" in noncoding DNA.     

Recombinant gene expression and 1H NMR characteristics of the kringle (2 + 3) supermodule: spectroscopic/functional individuality of plasminogen kringle domains

The plasminogen kringle 2 (K2HPg) and kringle 3 (K3HPg) modules occur in tandem within the polypeptide segment that affords the heavy chain of plasmin. The K2HPg and K3HPg are unique among the plasminogen kringle domains in that they also are linked to each other via the Cys169-Cys297 (Cys4 of K2HPg to Cys43 of K3HPg, kringle numbering convention) disulfide bridge, thus generating a K2HPg-K3HPg "supermodule". The kringle (2 + 3) sequence of human plasminogen (r-EE[K2HPgK3HPg]DS) was expressed in Escherichia coli, using an expression vector containing the phage T5 promoter/operator N250PSN250P29 and the codons for an N-terminal hexahistidine tag to ensure the isolation of the recombinant protein by affinity chromatography on Ni(2+)-nitrilotriacetic acid/agarose under denaturing and reducing conditions. Kringle (2 + 3) was refolded in the presence of glutathione redox buffer. By taking advantage of the lysine affinity of kringle 2, the protein was purified by affinity chromatography on lysine-Bio-Gel. Recombinant kringle (2 + 3) was identified by amino acid composition, N-terminal sequence and mass determination. The 1H NMR spectrum shows that the intact r-K2HPgK3HPg is properly folded. By reference to spectra of the individual kringles, r-K2HPg and r-K3HPg, resonances of the K2HPg and K3HPg components in the spectrum of the intact r-K2HPgK3HPg can be readily distinguished. The strictly conserved Leu46 residue (kringle residue number convention) yields delta-methyl signals that are characteristic for K2HPg and K3HPg, exhibiting chemical shifts of -0.87 and -0.94 ppm, respectively, which are distinct from those of K1HPg, K4HPg, and K5HPg, (-1.04 to -1.05 ppm). Thus, the high-field Leu46 signals from K2HPg and K3HPg are well resolved from those of other kringles and can be identified unambiguously in spectra of the K1HPgK2HPgK3HPg elastolytic fragment of plasminogen as well as in spectra of Glu-plasminogen. Overall, r-K2HPgK3HPg exhibits broader resonance line widths than does the K1HPg component, consistent with a lesser mobility of the K2HPgK3HPg segment within the K1HPgK2HPgK3HPg fragment, a reflection of the extra structural constraint imposed by the disulfide bridge linking K2HPg to K3HPg. The ligand 6-aminohexanoic acid (6-AHA), which is known to interact with r-K2HPg but not with r-K3HPg, selectively perturbs K2 aromatic signals in the intact r-K2HPgK3HPg spectrum while leaving K3 resonances largely unaffected. Association constant (K(a)) values for 6-AHA determined from 1H NMR ligand titration experiments yield K(a) approximately 2.2 +/- 0.3 mM(-1) for the intact r-K2HPgK3HPg, comparable to K(a) approximately 2.3 +/- 0.2 mM(-1) determined for the isolated r-K2HPg, which demonstrates that the interactions of 6-AHA with the K2HPg ligand-binding site are not significantly affected by the neighboring K3HPg domain within the intact r-K2HPgK3HPg supermodule.     

Zonal heterogeneity of hepatic injury following shock/resuscitation: relationship of xanthine oxidase activity to localization of neutrophil accumulation and central lobular necrosis

Post-ischemic hepatic injury is characterized by zonal heterogeneity of injury (central lobular necrosis), sinusoidal neutrophil accumulation, and injury generated by reactive oxygen metabolites. We evaluated the role of the heterogeneous distribution of hepatic xanthine oxidase in the generation of neutrophil accumulation and consequent hepatocellular injury in rats subjected to shock [controlled hemorrhagic hypotension (mean arterial pressure = 37.5 + or - 2.5 mmHg for 120 min)], with or without subsequent resuscitation and hemodynamic stabilization, compared with sham-operated rats. Shock/resuscitation produced striking neutrophil accumulation (assayed by esterase histochemistry) in the pericentral sinusoids, associated with centrolobular necrosis. This paralleled the pericentral distribution of xanthine oxidase (determined by histochemical assay of frozen sections) and its release from the liver into the circulation at resuscitation. Pretreatment with allopurinol inhibited hepatic xanthine oxidase activity, neutrophil accumulation, and pericentral hepatocyte necrosis in shock/resuscitation in rats. These findings suggest that reactive oxygen metabolites generated by heterogeneously distributed xanthine oxidase may contribute to the heterogeneity of hepatocellular injury in "ischemic hepatitis."     

Worldwide variations in prevalence of symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in children: the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)

BACKGROUND: As part of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), prevalence surveys were conducted among representative samples of school children from locations in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North and South America. SUBJECTS: 257,800 children aged 6-7 years from 91 centres in 38 countries, and 463,801 children aged 13-14 years from 155 centres in 56 countries. METHODS: Written symptom questionnaires were translated from English into the local language for self-completion by the 13-14-year-olds and completion by the parents of the 6-7-year-olds. Rhinitis was described as a problem with sneezing, or a runny, or blocked nose when you (your child) DID NOT have a cold or the flu. Additional questions were asked about rhinitis associated with itchy-watery eyes, interference with activities and a history of hay fever ever. RESULTS: The prevalence of rhinitis with itchy-watery eyes ("rhinoconjunctivitis") in the past year varied across centres from 0.8% to 14.9% in the 6-7-year-olds and from 1.4% to 39.7% in the 13-14-year-olds. Within each age group, the global pattern was broadly consistent across each of the symptom categories. In centres of higher prevalence there was great variability in the proportion of rhinoconjunctivitis labelled as hay fever. The lowest prevalences of rhinoconjunctivitis were found in parts of eastern Europe, south and central Asia. High prevalences were reported from centres in several regions. CONCLUSION: These results suggest substantial worldwide variations in the prevalence and labelling of symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis which require further study. These differences, if real, may offer important clues to environmental influences on allergy.     

Orthogonally polarized RF optical single sideband generation with integrated ring resonators

We review recent work on narrowband orthogonally polarized optical RF single sideband generators as well as dualchannel equalization,both based on high-Q integrated ring resonators.The devices operate in the optical telecommunications C-band and enable RF operation over a range of either fixed or thermally tuneable frequencies.They operate via TE/TM mode birefringence in the resonator.We achieve a very large dynamic tuning range of over 55 dB for both the optical carrier-to-sideband ratio and the dual-channel RF equalization for both the fixed and tunable devices.     

Simple mappings,expressive movement: a qualitative investigation into the end-user mapping design of experienced mid-air musicians

In a New Interface for Musical Expression (NIME), the design of the relationship between a musician’s actions and the instrument’s sound response is critical in creating instruments that facilitate expressive music performance. A growing body of NIMEs expose this design task to the end performer themselves, leading to the possibility of new insights into NIME mapping design: what can be learned from the mapping design strategies of practicing musicians? This research contributes a qualitative study of four highly experienced users of an end-user mapping instrument to examine their mapping practice. The study reveals that the musicians focus on designing simple, robust mappings that minimize errors, embellishing these control gestures with theatrical ancillary gestures that express metaphors. However, musical expression is hindered by the unintentional triggering of musical events. From these findings, a series of heuristics are presented that can be applied in the future development of NIMEs.