From software extensions to product lines of dataflow programs

Dataflow programs are widely used. Each program is a directed graph where nodes are computations and edges indicate the flow of data. In prior work, we reverse-engineered legacy dataflow programs by deriving their optimized implementations from a simple specification graph using graph transformations called refinements and optimizations. In MDE speak, our derivations were PIM-to-PSM mappings. In this paper, we show how extensions complement refinements, optimizations, and PIM-to-PSM derivations to make the process of reverse engineering complex legacy dataflow programs tractable. We explain how optional functionality in transformations can be encoded, thereby enabling us to encode product lines of transformations as well as product lines of dataflow programs. We describe the implementation of extensions in the \(\mathtt{ReFlO}\) tool and present two non-trivial case studies as evidence of our work’s generality.     

“We Release Them Little by Little”: Maturation and Gender Identity as Seen in the Use of Mobile Telephony

This paper examines the social meaning behind the adoption of mobile telephones by teenagers in Norway. Through this adoption process one can see the way in which youths are developing their adult identity as well as their gendered identity. The primary database used in this analysis is from two telephone questionnaires of Norwegian youth aged 13–20 carried out in October and December 1998. A total of 2007 interviews are included. The survey instrument covered teenagers’ ownership of mobile telephones, payment forms and the use of mobile telephones to send and receive Short Message System (SMS) text messages. In addition, the analysis draws on a survey of 1001 Norwegian parents and ethnographic interviews of 12 families.     

Predictability of healing of ischemic leg ulcers by radioisotopic and Doppler ultrasonic examination

In a prospective study of twenty-six patients with ischemic ulcerations of the lower extremity, the predictive reliability with regard to spontaneous wound healing of diabetes, pedal pulses, ankle blood pressure (ABP) as measured by doppler ultrasound, and "leg ulcer scan" as performed by the intra-arterial injection of radioactive albumin was evaluated. The results suggest that only the leg ulcer scan is significantly reliable in predicting the likelihood of spontaneous healing. The following format for the evaluation of the ischemic leg ulcer is therefore suggested: (1) If pedal pulses are present, a three week trial of conservative therapy is indicated before further evaluation. (2) If the doppler ABP is 50 mm Hg or less, the ulcer will not heal spontaneously. (3) Leg ulcer scan is indicated: (a) in the absence of pedal pulses if ABP is less than 50 mm Hg; (b) in the presence of pedal pulses if there is no evidence of spontaneous healing after three weeks of conservative therapy.     

单片式降压型稳压器可经受苛刻的汽车环境并仅消耗100μA的静态电流-设计要点378

引言 汽车电子系统对当今的DC/DC转换器提出了很高的要求。它们必须要能够在很宽的温度和输入电压范围内（包括超过60V的负载突降瞬变以及至4V的冷车发动压降）精确地调节输出电压。转换器还必须能够通过在一个宽广的负载电流范围内维持高效率来最大限度地减小“始终接通”系统中的电池电量消耗。众多的48V非隔离型电信应用、40V Fire Wire外设以及带自动插塞式适配器的电池供电型应用也提出了相似的要求。LT3437拥有同类产品中最佳的性能，可在采用小巧的耐热增强型3mm×3mm DFN封装的情况下满足上述所有要求。     

Monitoring Moisture Uptake and Delamination in CFRP-Reinforced Concrete Structures with Electrochemical Impedance Sensors

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) sensors have been used to inspect carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) -reinforced concrete structures exposed to a variety of test conditions. Similar specimens were also used to investigate the detection of delamination between the CFRP and the concrete using a modified wedge test configuration. The use of external electrodes attached to the CFRP surface, coupled with the embedded rebar, provided the best results. Equivalent circuit modeling was used to analyze the impedance spectra. Several circuit parameters, especially the capacitance and constant phase element (CPE) magnitude, correlated very well with both bonded area/delamination and moisture. Both parameters exhibit a linear relationship with delamination area. The capacitance also showed a linear relationship with moisture content while the CPE was more strongly dependent on moisture. Differences in the response of the specimens subjected to the different exposure conditions were seen and explained based on the moisture uptake of the various specimens.     

GnRH signalling pathways and GnRH-induced homologous desensitization in a gonadotrope cell line (alphaT3-1)

Exposure of the gonadotrope cells to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) reduces their responsiveness to a new GnRH stimulation (homologous desensitization). The time frame as well as the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are yet unclear. We studied in a gonadotrope cell line (alphaT3-1) the effects of short as well as long term GnRH pretreatments on the GnRH-induced phospholipases-C (PLC), -A2 (PLA2) and -D (PLD) activities, by measuring the production of IP3, total inositol phosphates (IPs), arachidonic acid (AA) and phosphatidylethanol (PEt) respectively. We demonstrated that although rapid desensitization of GnRH-induced IP3 formation did not occur in these cells, persistent stimulation of cells with GnRH or its analogue resulted in a time-dependent attenuation of GnRH-elicited IPs formation. GnRH-induced IPs desensitization was potentiated after direct activation of PKC by the phorbol ester TPA, suggesting the involvement of distinct mechanisms in the uncoupling exerted by either GnRH or TPA on GnRH-stimulated PI hydrolysis. The levels of individual phosphoinositides remained unchanged under any desensitization condition applied. Interestingly, while the GnRH-induced PLA2 activity was rapidly desensitized (2.5 min) after GnRH pretreatments, the neuropeptide-evoked PLD activation was affected at later times, indicating an important time-dependent contribution of these enzymatic activities in the sequential events underlying the GnRH-induced homologous desensitization processes in the gonadotropes. Under GnRH desensitization conditions, TPA was still able to induce PLD activation and to further potentiate the GnRH-evoked PLD activity. AlphaT3-1 cells possess several PKC isoforms which, except PKCzeta, were differentially down-regulated by TPA (PKCalpha, betaII, delta, epsilon, eta) or GnRH (PKCbetaII, delta, epsilon, eta). In spite of the presence of PKC inhibitors or down-regulation of PKC isoforms by TPA, the desensitizing effect of the neuropeptide on GnRH-induced IPs, AA and PEt formation remained unchanged. In conclusion, in alphaT3-1 cells the GnRH-induced homologous desensitization affects the GnRH coupling with PLC, PLA2 and PLD by mechanism(s) which do not implicate TPA-sensitive PKC isoforms, but likely reflect time-dependent modification(s) on the activation processes of the enzymes.     

充分利用家中的电能

据估计,发电所产生的二氧化碳占全部排放量的近40%.如果能减少电力需求,就可以有效减少温室气体的排放,保护我们的环境.近期的研究揭示了在私人住宅中究竟有多少电能被浪费了,甚至是在这些住宅入住以前.设计工程师们正考虑采取新办法来设计节能的产品,法规的要求是也促使他们这么做的部分原因.     

Analyzing the relationship between car generation and severity of motor-vehicle crashes in Denmark

While the number of fatalities on Danish roads has decreased in the last 40 years, research has not investigated the contribution of legislation changes, enforcement measures, technological enhancements, infrastructural improvements and human factors to this reduction. In the context of a Danish car market with remarkably high registration tax that causes potential buyers to hold longer onto old cars, the relationship between technological enhancements of vehicles and severity of crashes requires particular attention.