Automatic synthesis of quaternary quantum circuits

Quaternary encoded binary circuits are more compact than their binary counterpart. Although quaternary reversible circuits are realizable, design of such circuits is still in its infancy. This work proposes a new, enhanced method of quaternary Galois field sum of products (QGFSOP) synthesis for quaternary quantum circuits. To reduce QGFSOP product terms, the algorithm makes use of 11 newly defined quaternary Galois field (QGF) expansions (for a total of 21 QGF expansions). This algorithm achieves QGFSOP minimization with the assistance of a pseudo-Kronecker Galois field decision diagram (QGFDD). This is a novel approach for QGFSOP synthesis. Finally, QGFSOP expressions are translated into quantum cost optimized quaternary quantum circuits using: (1) newly developed quaternary quantum gate realizations of controlled Feynman and Toffoli gate that are optimized in terms of quantum cost, (2) use of composite literals consisting of 1 digit and M–S gates. Performance evaluation against existing works in the literature determined that our proposed method achieves an average QGFSOP expression product term savings of 32.66 %. Also, the synthesized QGFSOP circuits were evaluated in terms of quantum cost.     

Application de l'analyse expérimentale du comportement à une situation de remotivation.

In an experiment with 2 groups of 4 schizophrenics, the efficiency of a group discussion run according to the principles of the experimental analysis of behavior was compared with the traditional approach to remotivation. 2 target behaviors were chosen for study: speaking (intervention) and S-to-S interaction (social interaction). The number and length of interventions as well as the number of social interactions were used as the basic measurements. The experiment was divided into 2 parts with 2 Es. Group 1 held the usual group discussion in Part 1 and Part 2 after the leader was instructed. Group 2 used the behavioral approach in both parts of the experiment. Results show that the behavioral approach increased both the length of interventions and the number of social interactions, even though the leaders themselves actually spoke less. The principles of experimental analysis are discussed in relation to their application in a remotivation situation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Light-dependent effects of alpha-terthienyl in eggs,larvae, and pupae of mosquitoAedes aegypti

Alpha-terthienyl is toxic toAedes aegypti larvae in the dark, but its activity is much enhanced in the presence of ultraviolet light. The development of first-instar larvae treated with alpha-terthienyl and ultraviolet light was followed until the emergence of adults. The LC₅₀ value for first instars was about 0.002 ppm. Practically all the larvae which survived 24 hr reached adulthood. Fourth-instar larvae were also sensitive to photochemical treatment. When their development into adults was followed, the LC₅₀ value was 0.45 ppm. Contrary to earlier reports, alpha-terthienyl was also phototoxic in pupae, but not when the adults were about to emerge. The LC₅₀ value was ca. 0.06 ppm for pupae which were 1 or 2 days old. This is the first example where the activity of a photoinsecticide has been demonstrated in pupae. Alpha-terthienyl did not affect the hatching of eggs.     

Association between cigarette smoking and C-reactive protein in a representative, population-based sample of adolescents.

Although related to inflammatory markers in adults, little is known about the association between cigarette smoking and C-reactive protein (CRP) in adolescent smokers. We examined the association between high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) concentrations and smoking in youth. We used data from a cross-sectional, province-wide survey of a representative sample of youth conducted in Quebec, Canada, in 1999. Data were collected in self-report questionnaires completed by participants and their parents. Participants provided a fasting blood sample, and anthropometric measures were undertaken by trained technicians. The present analysis pertains to 1,501 adolescents aged 13 and 16 years who completed questionnaires and for whom blood samples were available. The independent association between a six-category indicator of smoking status and elevated hs-CRP, defined as a value at least in the 90th percentile of the age- and sex-specific CRP distribution, was assessed in multiple logistic regression analyses controlling for potential confounders. Relative to never-smokers, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for puffers (i.e., never smoked a whole cigarette), those who smoked but not in the past month, light past-month smokers, moderate past-month smokers, and heavy past-month smokers were 1.04 (0.55-1.98), 1.76 (1.06-2.94), 1.39 (0.70-2.76), 2.07 (0.96-4.42), and 2.40 (1.18-4.88), respectively. Our data suggest a positive association between smoking status and elevated CRP in adolescents, and in particular among heavier past-month smokers. Damage related to cigarette smoking may begin soon after tobacco use initiation, reinforcing the preventive message that no level of smoking is safe in youth.     

Social media crisis management: Aligning corporate response strategies with stakeholders’ emotions online

The article focuses on how the analysis of stakeholders’ emotions online can help companies facing a social media crisis determine the response strategy that will best minimize the reputational threat. The article indeed questions the relevance of classical crisis management theory to an online environment. Results show that social media have increased the unpredictability of corporate crises. Consequently, on social media, crises cannot be addressed with the methods that have prevailed so far. Rather, incorporating emotion‐based analysis in six case studies showed how crisis analysis, and the subsequent response strategy, could be fine‐tuned. The article builds on recent literature to develop a new analytical framework for response strategies and a model for crisis resolution—the social media crisis management matrix.     

Influence of molecular weight on the electrification of linear polyethylenes during extrusion: Identification of two different mechanisms for charge generation

The phenomenon of electrification is the accumulation of electric charge in a material. Polymers may become electrified when subjected to intense friction during their processing or under working conditions and the accumulated electric charge may change their adhesion and friction properties. In this work, a study of the influence of molecular weight and chain mobility on the electrification of linear low‐density polyethylenes under continuous extrusion is presented. The use of different die materials, polymer processing additives, as well as slip and no slip flow conditions allowed the identification of two different mechanisms for electric charge generation in the melts; namely, the stripping of an electrical double layer acting in the absence of slip, and dynamic frictional electrification, or tribocharging acting under strong slip conditions. The magnitude of the electric charge was found to increase with polymer molecular weight and die length, and exhibited a local maximum as a function of the average velocity of the melt in both cases. The height of the maximum increased along with the molecular mobility. The experimental results were compared with the numerical solution of the equation of continuity for charge transport and it is shown that it does not describe the experimental results because it does not consider the additional mechanism of charge generation introduced by strong slip at the die wall. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Combined effects of EFA deficiency and tumor necrosis factor-α on circulating lipoproteins in rats

Both tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and EFA deficiency (EFAD) have been established as causes of marked perturbations in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. Excessive levels of circulating TNF-α can coexist with EFAD in various clinical disorders such as cystic fibrosis and type I diabetes. The present study therefore aimed to investigate their combined effects on lipid profile and lipoprotein composition by administering TNF-α to EFAD rats. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL), the ratelimiting enzyme in TG catabolism, was also measured in epididymal adipose tissue. EFAD, after a 4-wk period, induced significant increases in plasma TG (80%, P<0.001), total cholesterol (TC, 27%, P<0.025), and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C, 62%). Two hours after the administration of TNF-α, a further rise in TG (43%, P<0.05) was noted in controls, but not EFAD animals. TC and HDL-C were unaffected by TNF-α treatment. In addition, TNF-α modified lipoprotein-lipid composition. VLDL and HDL₂ derived from EFAD rats were depleted in apolipoprotein (apo) E and apo A-II, and enriched in apo A-12 h after TNF-α administration. Finally, TNF-α decreased adipose tissue LPL activity in both control and EFAD animals. The TNF-α-induced inhibition was more marked in EFAD rats. The present results demonstrated that TNF-α can amplify or antagonize the effects of EFAD on lipid profile, lipoprotein composition, and LPL activity. These data also suggest that the host's nutritional status is a determining factor for the modulating effect of TNF-α on lipid metabolism.