Seeking the truth about ad hoc join costs

In this paper, we re-examine the results of prior work on methods for computing ad hoc joins. We develop a detailed cost model for predicting join algorithm performance, and we use the model to develop cost formulas for the major ad hoc join methods found in the relational database literature. We show that various pieces of “common wisdom” about join algorithm performance fail to hold up when analyzed carefully, and we use our detailed cost model to derive op timal buffer allocation schemes for each of the join methods examined here. We show that optimizing their buffer allocations can lead to large performance improvements, e.g., as much as a 400% improvement in some cases. We also validate our cost model's predictions by measuring an actual implementation of each join algorithm considered. The results of this work should be directly useful to implementors of relational query optimizers and query processing systems. Edited by M. Adiba. Received May 1993 / Accepted April 1996     

A simplified method for the preparation of succinimidyl carbonate polyethylene glycol for coupling to proteins

An improved method for the activation of polyethylene glycol with commercially available succinimidyl carbonate is described. The activated polyethylene glycol was coupled to proteins in high yield.     

Molecular simulation of temperature-programmed desorption

We use accelerated molecular dynamics to probe the thermal desorption of n-alkanes from the Au(1 1 1) and C(0 0 0 1) surfaces. Studying an alkane series ranging from CH₄ to C₁₆H₃₄, we find that the desorption prefactor increases with increasing chain length for the short chains until a certain chain length is reached when it becomes essentially constant and independent of chain length. We can understand the dependence of the preexponential factor on alkane chain length in terms of conformational changes within the alkane molecules. For the shorter molecules, the desorption temperatures probed in experimental temperature-programmed desorption studies lie below those for which torsional motion is activated. Thus, the short alkanes can be treated as rigid rods, and the loss in translational and rotational entropy upon adsorption leads to a preexponential factor that increases with increasing chain length. As the alkane chain length increases, the binding energy and the experimental desorption temperatures also increase. Thus, torsional motion is activated to an extent that increases with increasing chain length. This torsional activation increases the entropy of adsorption and counteracts the entropy decrease due to a loss of translation and rotation. This leads to a virtually constant prefactor for sufficiently long chains. Our findings are consistent with experimental data for the thermal desorption of alkanes from the Au(1 1 1), Pt(1 1 1), MgO(1 0 0) and C(0 0 0 1) surfaces.     

Measured limits to contamination of optical surfaces by elastomers in vacuum

We have monitored the reflectivity of mirrors that were exposed to a fluoroelastomer (3M-Fluorel 2176) and a room-temperature vulcanizing silicone rubber (RTV-615) in vacuum. The 95% confidence limit on the decrease of mirror reflectivities was less than 0.35 ppm/week for Fluorel and <0.29 ppm/week for RTV-615.     

Predicting user’s preferences using neural networks and psychology models

In this paper we describe a new model suitable for optimization problems with explicitly unknown optimization functions using user’s preferences. The model addresses an ability to learn not known optimization functions thus perform also a learning of user’s preferences. The model consists of neural networks using fuzzy membership functions and interactive evolutionary algorithms in the process of learning. Fuzzy membership functions of basic human values and their priorities were prepared by utilizing Schwartz’s model of basic human values (achievement, benevolence, conformity, hedonism, power, security, self-direction, stimulation, tradition and universalism). The quality of the model was tested on “the most attractive font face problem” and it was evaluated using the following criteria: a speed of optimal parameters computation, a precision of achieved results, Wilcoxon signed rank test and a similarity of letter images. The results qualify the developed model as very usable in user’s preference modeling.     

A SAT Solver Using Reconfigurable Hardware and Virtual Logic

In this paper, we present the architecture of a new SAT solver using reconfigurable logic and a virtual logic scheme. Our main contributions include new forms of massive fine-grain parallelism, structured design techniques based on iterative logic arrays that reduce compilation times from hours to minutes, and a decomposition technique that creates independent subproblems that may be concurrently solved by unconnected FPGAs. The decomposition technique is the basis of the virtual logic scheme, since it allows solving problems that exceed the hardware capacity. Our architecture is easily scalable. Our results show several orders of magnitude speedup compared with a state-of-the-art software implementation, and also with respect to prior SAT solvers using reconfigurable hardware.     

Short communication: Effect of pomegranate-residue supplement on Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst shedding in neonatal calves

Cryptosporidium parvum is considered one of the most common enteropathogens, responsible for the high incidence of diarrhea and deleterious implications on immunity and health in neonatal calves. The pomegranate is well known for its health-promoting properties. Two experiments were designed to test the antiparasitical and antidiarrheal effects of concentrated pomegranate extract (CPE) supplement in milk in neonatal Holstein calves. Forty-one calves were randomly divided into control (n = 20) and treatment (n = 21) groups. For the first experiment, the treatment group was supplemented with 3.75% CPE in the daily milk ration, between 3 and 14 d of age, whereas the control group received only milk. Fecal samples were collected between d 5 and 13 to quantify Cryptosporidium oocysts, and the duration and intensity of diarrhea were evaluated. Reduced fecal oocyst count and diarrhea intensity and duration were revealed in the 3.75% CPE calves. No difference was noted in average daily gain between groups. In a second experiment, which was designed to test the effect of a lower CPE concentration (0.6% of daily milk allocation), no effects on fecal oocyst count and average daily gain were observed. However, compared with control, the lower CPE group was characterized by a shorter duration of diarrhea and higher weight gain among males at 14 d of age. These results suggest that the CPE supplement-to-calf milk ratio may potentially alleviate intestinal morbidity caused by Cryptosporidium.     

FIRE: a fault-independent combinational redundancy identificationalgorithm

FIRE is a novel Fault-Independent algorithm for combinational REdundancy identification. The algorithm is based on a simple concept that a fault which requires a conflict as a necessary condition for its detection is undetectable and hence redundant. FIRE does not use the backtracking-based exhaustive search performed by fault-oriented automatic test generation algorithms, and identifies redundant faults without any search. Our results on benchmark and real circuits indicate that we find a large number of redundancies (about 80% of the combinational redundancies in benchmark circuits), much faster than a test-generation-based approach for redundancy identification. However, FIRE is not guaranteed to identify all redundancies in a circuit     

Effects of human immunodeficiency virus sera and macrophage supernatants on mesangial cell proliferation and matrix synthesis

Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are prone to the development of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a lesion in which increased mesangial cell proliferation and matrix synthesis may play a role. We undertook the present study to determine whether HIV sera may affect mesangial cell proliferation and matrix synthesis either directly or indirectly via effects on macrophage supernatants. Pooled HIV sera was found to significantly enhance (P < 0.01) mesangial cell proliferation in a concentration-related manner. Mesangial cell proliferation was significantly suppressed by two medications commonly utilized in HIV-infected patients, azidothymidine and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and was not significantly altered by lipopolysaccharide, suggesting that these medications as well as recurrent infection are unlikely to account for the proliferative effect of HIV sera. Supernatants from HIV sera-treated macrophages were found to significantly enhance (P < 0.01) mesangial cell incorporation of [3H]proline, a marker for synthesis of the matrix component collagen, compared to supernatants from control sera-treated macrophages. These results suggest that HIV sera may directly enhance mesangial cell proliferation and may indirectly increase mesangial cell matrix synthesis by altering macrophage secretory products. These effects may play a role in the development of glomerulosclerosis in patients with HIV infection.     

Porous CaP/silk composite scaffolds to repair femur defects in an osteoporotic model

The most common complication for patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis is bone-related defects and fractures. While routine medication has a high probability of undesirable side effects, new approaches have aimed to develop regeneration procedures that stimulate new bone formation while reversing bone loss. Recently, we have synthesized a new hybrid CaP/silk scaffold with a CaP-phase distribution and pore architecture better suited to facilitate cell differentiation and bone formation. The aim of the present study was to compare the involved remodeling process and therapeutic effect of porous CaP/silk composite scaffolds upon local implantation into osteoporotic defects. Wistar rats were used to induce postmenopausal osteoporotic model by bilateral ovariectomy. The pure silk and hybrid CaP/silk scaffolds were implanted into critical sized defects created in distal femoral epiphysis. After 14 and 28 days, the in vivo osteogenetic efficiency was evaluated by μCT analysis, hematoxylin and eosin staining, Safranin O staining, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining, and immunohistochemical assessment. Animals with or without critical-sized defects were used as drill or blank controls, respectively. The osteoporotic defect model was well established with significantly decreased μCT parameters of BV/TV, Tb.N and increased Tb.Sp, porosity, combined with changes in histological observations. During the healing process, the critical-sized drill control defects failed to regenerate appreciable bone tissue, while more significantly increased bone formation and mineralization with dynamic scaffold degradation and decreased osteoclastic bone resorption could be detected within defects with hybrid CaP/silk scaffolds compared to pure silk scaffolds.