Hierarchical Directory-Based Shared Memory Architecture

We describe the design of a directory-based shared memory architecture on a hierarchical network of hypercubes. The distributed directory scheme comprises two separate hierarchical networks for handling cache requests and transfers. Further, the scheme assumes a single address space and each processing element views the entire network as contiguous memory space. The size of individual directories stored at each node of the network remains constant throughout the network. Although the size of the directory increases with the network size, the architecture is scalable. The results of the analytical studies demonstrate superior performance characteristics of our scheme compared with those of other schemes.

Molecular organization of the gene encoding Xenopus laevis transforming growth factor-beta 5

Transforming growth factor-beta s (TGF-beta 5) are multifunctional polypeptides, known to influence proliferation and differentiation of many cell types. TGF-beta 5 cDNA was cloned from Xenopus laevis and this isoform is unique to the amphibians. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of the TGF-beta 5 genomic clones to determine the structure of TGF-beta 5 gene. The gene consists of seven exons and all intron-exon boundaries follow the GT-AG consensus. The organization of TGF-beta 5 gene was identical to that of the mammalian TGF-beta isoforms, with the exception of position of the first splice junction. We determined the size of TGF-beta 5 gene to be approximately 20 kb.

Self-organization of multiple components in a steroidal hydrogel matrix: design, construction and studies on novel tunable luminescent gels and xerogels

The present work combines two rapidly growing research areas-functional supramolecular gels and lanthanide based hybrid materials. Facile hydrogel formation from several lanthanide(III) cholates has been demonstrated. The morphological and mechanical properties of these cholate gels were investigated by TEM and rheology. The hydrogel matrix was subsequently utilized for the sensitization of Tb(III) by doping a non-coordinating chromophore, 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN), at micromolar concentrations. In the mixed gels of Tb(III)-Eu(III), an energy transfer pathway was found to operate from Tb(III) to Eu(III) and by utilizing this energy transfer, tunable multiple-color luminescent hydrogels were obtained. The emissive properties of the hydrogels were also retained in the xerogels and their suspensions in n-hexane were used for making luminescent coating on glass surface.

Hierarchical Clustering Algorithm for Land Cover Mapping Using Satellite Images

This paper presents hierarchical clustering algorithms for land cover mapping problem using multi-spectral satellite images. In unsupervised techniques, the automatic generation of number of clusters and its centers for a huge database is not exploited to their full potential. Hence, a hierarchical clustering algorithm that uses splitting and merging techniques is proposed. Initially, the splitting method is used to search for the best possible number of clusters and its centers using Mean Shift Clustering (MSC), Niche Particle Swarm Optimization (NPSO) and Glowworm Swarm Optimization (GSO). Using these clusters and its centers, the merging method is used to group the data points based on a parametric method (k-means algorithm). A performance comparison of the proposed hierarchical clustering algorithms (MSC, NPSO and GSO) is presented using two typical multi-spectral satellite images - Landsat 7 thematic mapper and QuickBird. From the results obtained, we conclude that the proposed GSO based hierarchical clustering algorithm is more accurate and robust.

Insights into the Fold Organization of TIM Barrel from Interaction Energy Based Structure Networks

There are many well-known examples of proteins with low sequence similarity, adopting the same structural fold. This aspect of sequence-structure relationship has been extensively studied both experimentally and theoretically, however with limited success. Most of the studies consider remote homology or ``sequence conservation'' as the basis for their understanding. Recently ``interaction energy'' based network formalism (Protein Energy Networks (PENs)) was developed to understand the determinants of protein structures. In this paper we have used these PENs to investigate the common non-covalent interactions and their collective features which stabilize the TIM barrel fold. We have also developed a method of aligning PENs in order to understand the spatial conservation of interactions in the fold. We have identified key common interactions responsible for the conservation of the TIM fold, despite high sequence dissimilarity. For instance, the central beta barrel of the TIM fold is stabilized by long-range high energy electrostatic interactions and low-energy contiguous vdW interactions in certain families. The other interfaces like the helix-sheet or the helix-helix seem to be devoid of any high energy conserved interactions. Conserved interactions in the loop regions around the catalytic site of the TIM fold have also been identified, pointing out their significance in both structural and functional evolution. Based on these investigations, we have developed a novel network based phylogenetic analysis for remote homologues, which can perform better than sequence based phylogeny. Such an analysis is more meaningful from both structural and functional evolutionary perspective. We believe that the information obtained through the ``interaction conservation'' viewpoint and the subsequently developed method of structure network alignment, can shed new light in the fields of fold organization and de novo computational protein design.

Synthesis and structural characterization of two-dimensional hierarchical covellite nano-structures

We report a simple, template free and low-temperature hydrothermal reaction pathway using Cu(II) - thiourea complex (prepared in situ from copper (II) chloride and thiourea as precursors) and citric acid as complexing agent to synthesize two-dimensional hierarchical nano-structures of covellite (CuS). The product was characterized with the help of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis of X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The concentration of citric acid in the hydrothermal precursor solution was seen to have a profound effect on the nanostructure of the product generated. Based on the outcoming product nano-architecture at different concentration of the ionic surfactant in the hydrothermal precursor solution a possible mechanism suited for reaction and further nucleation is also discussed. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

NUcache: an efficient multicore cache organization based on next-use distance

The effectiveness of the last-level shared cache is crucial to the performance of a multi-core system. In this paper, we observe and make use of the DelinquentPC - Next-Use characteristic to improve shared cache performance. We propose a new PC-centric cache organization, NUcache, for the shared last level cache of multi-cores. NUcache logically partitions the associative ways of a cache set into MainWays and DeliWays. While all lines have access to the MainWays, only lines brought in by a subset of delinquent PCs, selected by a PC selection mechanism, are allowed to enter the DeliWays. The PC selection mechanism is an intelligent cost-benefit analysis based algorithm that utilizes Next-Use information to select the set of PCs that can maximize the hits experienced in DeliWays. Performance evaluation reveals that NUcache improves the performance over a baseline design by 9.6%, 30% and 33% respectively for dual, quad and eight core workloads comprised of SPEC benchmarks. We also show that NUcache is more effective than other well-known cache-partitioning algorithms.

Quasi-based hierarchical clustering for land cover mapping using satellite images

This paper presents an improved hierarchical clustering algorithm for land cover mapping problem using quasi-random distribution. Initially, Niche Particle Swarm Optimization (NPSO) with pseudo/quasi-random distribution is used for splitting the data into number of cluster centers by satisfying Bayesian Information Criteria (BIC). Themain objective is to search and locate the best possible number of cluster and its centers. NPSO which highly depends on the initial distribution of particles in search space is not been exploited to its full potential. In this study, we have compared more uniformly distributed quasi-random with pseudo-random distribution with NPSO for splitting data set. Here to generate quasi-random distribution, Faure method has been used. Performance of previously proposed methods namely K-means, Mean Shift Clustering (MSC) and NPSO with pseudo-random is compared with the proposed approach - NPSO with quasi distribution(Faure). These algorithms are used on synthetic data set and multi-spectral satellite image (Landsat 7 thematic mapper). From the result obtained we conclude that use of quasi-random sequence with NPSO for hierarchical clustering algorithm results in a more accurate data classification.

Hierarchical artificial immune system for crop stage classification

This paper presents a new hierarchical clustering algorithm for crop stage classification using hyperspectral satellite image. Amongst the multiple benefits and uses of remote sensing, one of the important application is to solve the problem of crop stage classification. Modern commercial imaging satellites, owing to their large volume of satellite imagery, offer greater opportunities for automated image analysis. Hence, we propose a unsupervised algorithm namely Hierarchical Artificial Immune System (HAIS) of two steps: splitting the cluster centers and merging them. The high dimensionality of the data has been reduced with the help of Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The classification results have been compared with K-means and Artificial Immune System algorithms. From the results obtained, we conclude that the proposed hierarchical clustering algorithm is accurate.

SELF-ORGANIZATION AND FRICTION DURING SLIDING

In self-organized sliding processes, the surfaces align to each other during sliding. This alignment leads to a more ordered contact state and significantly influences the frictional behavior. To understand the self-organization sliding processes, experiments were conducted on a pin-on-plate reciprocating sliding tester for various numbers of cycles. In the experiments, soft magnesium pins were slid against hard steel plates of various surface textures (undirectional, 8-ground, and random). Experimental results showed that the transfer layer formation on the steel plates increased with increasing number of cycles for all surfaces textures under both dry and lubricated conditions. The friction also increased with the number of cycles under dry conditions for all of the textures studied. During lubricated conditions, the friction decreased for unidirectional and 8-ground surfaces and increased for random surfaces with the number of cycles. Furthermore, the friction and transfer layer formation depend on the surface textures under both dry and lubricated conditions during the first few sliding cycles. Later on, it is less dependent of surface textures. The variation in the coefficient of friction under both dry and lubrication conditions were attributed to the self-organization process that occurred during repeated sliding.

Growth and Characterization of Vertically Aligned ZnO Hierarchical Nanostructures

Vertically aligned zinc oxide (ZnO) hierarchical nanostructures were developed by homo-epitaxial growth method using nickel as catalyst, and their physical properties were investigated and reported. ZnO nanorods grown by vapor-liquid-solid method are single crystalline and grown along the < 001 > direction, whereas the second order nano-branches are grown along the < 110 > direction. The homo-epitaxial relation between nano-branches (ZnOb) and ZnO cores (ZnOc) is found to be (110)ZnOb//(110)ZnOc and (002)ZnOb//(002)ZnOc. The simple and hierarchical nanostructures exhibited ultra-violet emission peak at 380 nm as near band edge emission of ZnO and have very weak defects related peak at 492 nm. (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.

Compositional hierarchical monitoring automaton construction for LTL

In this paper we give a compositional (or inductive) construction of monitoring automata for LTL formulas. Our construction is similar in spirit to the compositional construction of Kesten and Pnueli [5]. We introduce the notion of hierarchical Büchi automata and phrase our constructions in the framework of these automata. We give detailed constructions for all the principal LTL operators including past operators, along with proofs of correctness of the constructions.

Effect of myonuclear number and mitochondrial fusion on Drosophila indirect flight muscle organization and size

Mechanisms involved in establishing the organization and numbers of fibres in a muscle are not completely understood. During Drosophila indirect flight muscle (IFM) formation, muscle growth is achieved by both incorporating hundreds of nuclei, and hypertrophy. As a result, IFMs provide a good model with which to understand the mechanisms that govern overall muscle organization and growth. We present a detailed analysis of the organization of dorsal longitudinal muscles (DLMs), a subset of the IFMs. We show that each DLM is similar to a vertebrate fascicle and consists of multiple muscle fibres. However, increased fascicle size does not necessarily change the number of constituent fibres, but does increase the number of myofibrils packed within the fibres. We also find that altering the number of myoblasts available for fusion changes DLM fascicle size and fibres are loosely packed with myofibrils. Additionally, we show that knock down of genes required for mitochondrial fusion causes a severe reduction in the size of DLM fascicles and fibres. Our results establish the organization levels of DLMs and highlight the importance of the appropriate number of nuclei and mitochondrial fusion in determining the overall organization, growth and size of DLMs. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Extension of TSVM to multi-class and hierarchical text classification problems With general losses

Transductive SVM (TSVM) is a well known semi-supervised large margin learning method for binary text classification. In this paper we extend this method to multi-class and hierarchical classification problems. We point out that the determination of labels of unlabeled examples with fixed classifier weights is a linear programming problem. We devise an efficient technique for solving it. The method is applicable to general loss functions. We demonstrate the value of the new method using large margin loss on a number of multi-class and hierarchical classification datasets. For maxent loss we show empirically that our method is better than expectation regularization/constraint and posterior regularization methods, and competitive with the version of entropy regularization method which uses label constraints.

Organization of Mn-Clusters in pcu and bcu Networks: Synthesis, Structure, and Properties

Two new anionic inorganic-organic hybrid compounds H3O]Mn-3(mu(3)-OH)(C14H8O6S)(3)(H2O)](DMF)(5), I, and H3O](2)Mn-7(mu(3)-OH)(4)(C14H8O6S)(6)(H2O)(4)](H2O)(2)(DMF)(8), II have been prepared by employing mild solvothennal methods. Both the compounds have three-dimensionally extended structures formed by Mn-6 and Mn-7 clusters, respectively. The connectivity between Mn-6 and Mn-7 clusters and 4,4'-sulfonyldibenzoic acid anions (SDBA(2-)) results in a six connected pcu network in I and an eight connected bcu network in II. The presence of hydronium ion (H-3(O+)) along with the solvent molecules in the channels of both the compounds suggested proton conduction in the solids. Proton conductivity studies gave values of similar to 3 x 10(-4) Omega(-1) cm(-1) 98% relative humidity in both the compounds. The high activation energies indicate a vehicle mechanism in the compounds I and II. Magnetic studies indicate antiferromagnetic behavior in both the compounds.