Programming MPSoC platforms: Road works ahead

This paper summarizes a special session on multicore/multi-processor system-on-chip (MPSoC) programming challenges. The current trend towards MPSoC platforms in most computing domains does not only mean a radical change in computer architecture. Even more important from a SW developer´s viewpoint, at the same time the classical sequential von Neumann programming model needs to be overcome. Efficient utilization of the MPSoC HW resources demands for radically new models and corresponding SW development tools, capable of exploiting the available parallelism and guaranteeing bug-free parallel SW. While several standards are established in the high-performance computing domain (e.g. OpenMP), it is clear that more innovations are required for successful\ud deployment of heterogeneous embedded MPSoC. On the other hand, at least for coming years, the freedom for disruptive programming technologies is limited by the huge amount of certified sequential code that demands for a more pragmatic, gradual tool and code replacement strategy

Beta-lactam resistant urinary tract infections: prevalence, the development of rapid diagnostics and novel treatments

Background The 21st century has seen antibiotic resistance rise to be a major public health concern. The O’Neill report in 2016 reiterated the importance of antibiotic resistance and proposed many actions, including strengthening surveillance systems, the development of rapid diagnostics, and investment in new classes of antibiotics and alternatives. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections diagnosed in the United Kingdom with uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) the most common cause. It is thought that the main reason why UPEC is so successful at causing UTIs, is its expression of a wide range of virulence factors including adhesins, capsules, toxins and iron-acquisition systems. Overuse of beta-lactam antibiotics to treat UTIs has led to selection for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae, a major cause of antibiotic resistant urinary tract infections (UTIs). The prevalence of ESBL producing UTIs has dramatically risen, limiting treatment options. The most common ESBL types seen today are CTX-M, TEM, OXA and SHV. The emergence and spread of these types of ESBLs is thought to be through the horizontal transmission of antibiotic resistance plasmids IncL/M, IncF, IncN and IncI1. These conjugative plasmids have been directly linked to major outbreaks of antibiotic resistance. Standard detection methods for ESBL-producing UTIs are time-consuming, with disputed accuracy. Patients are often treated empirically with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Reducing the time spent on broad-spectrum antibiotics by prescribing a more appropriate treatment, increases the favorability of the outcome of the patient and shortens the stay in hospital. Aims This study had three aims: to investigate the prevalence of ESBLs and the relationship between plasmids and ESBLs in Leicestershire; to develop a rapid, accurate method to detect ESBLs (TEM, SHV, OXA, and CTX-M) using real-time PCR and to investigate the effect of cranberry (Cysticlean®) on the expression of 10 virulence genes. Methods A total of 236 uropathogenic E. coli ESBL-producing isolates were collected from the Leicester Royal Infirmary. This study identified ESBL genes (CTX-M, SHV, TEM and OXA) and multiple CTX-M gene subtypes by multiplex PCR. A multiplex PCR-based replicon typing assay identified IncFIA, IncI1, IncL/M, IncN and IncFII. A real-time PCR assay was designed using amplicon melting analysis and the Plexor system to detect the ESBL family. A CTX-M-producing E.coli isolate was treated with the cranberry extract Cysticlean®. Taqman qRT-PCR was used to detect the relative expression of the virulence genes SAT, USP, ChuA, SoxS, KPSM, TraT, RecA, IdfB and HcaT and the antibiotic resistance gene CTX-M. Results ESBL genes were identified as follows: CTX-M (71.6%), OXA (7.6%), TEM (3.8%) and SHV (3.8%) with multiple genes detected in 10.2% of isolates. CTX-M-1 (84.1%) was the most frequently detected CTX-M subtype. Replicon typing results were as follows: IncL/M (29.2%), IncN (14.4%), IncI1 (5.1%), IncFII (27.5%) and IncFIA (23.3%). A combination of IncL/M, IncFII and IncFIA was the most common at 9.8%. A positive correlation between CTX-M and all plasmids except IncI1 was found. The qualitative real-time PCR assay correctly identified 97.7% isolates tested, with a sensitivity and specificity of 98.7% and 83.3% respectively. The positive predictive value was 97.5% and the negative predictive value was 90.9%. Results from the qRT-PCR assay showed that Cysticlean® was able to significantly reduce the expression of all the genes investigated. Conclusions This is the first study to analyse the prevalence of uropathogenic ESBLs in Leicestershire. The ability to rapidly and accurately detect ESBL genes is an important step in improving antimicrobial stewardship and reducing morbidity and mortality as a result of ESBL-producing pathogenic infections. The ability to reduce the expression of critical virulence factors, could lead to the development of alternatives to antibiotics

Better by design: Business preferences for environmental regulatory reform

We present the preferences for environmental regulatory reform expressed by 30 UK businesses and industry bodies from 5 sectors. While five strongly preferred voluntary regulation, seven expressed doubts about its effectiveness, and 18 expressed no general preference between instrument types. Voluntary approaches were valued for flexibility and lower burdens, but direct regulation offered stability and a level playing field. Respondents sought regulatory frameworks that: are coherent; balance clarity, prescription and flexibility; are enabled by positive regulatory relationships; administratively efficient; targeted according to risk magnitude and character; evidence-based and that deliver long-term market stability for regulatees. Anticipated differences in performance between types of instrument can be undermined by poor implementation. Results underline the need for policy makers and regulators to tailor an effective mix of instruments for a given sector, and to overcome analytical, institutional and political barriers to greater coherence, to better coordinate existing instruments and tackle new environmental challenges as they emerge

Strategic Renewal and its Effect on Small Firm Performance

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between strategic renewal and the performance of smaller firms (less than 100 employees). We use a panel of micro data on about 1000 Dutch firms. The dataset contains information on aspects of strategic renewal, including process innovation and knowledge management. In our regression analyses we explain the variation in firm performance and we explicitly control for reversed causality, business cycle effects, sector effects, and firm age. We find that market research, an active external network for knowledge acquisition and strategic efforts into the improvement of internal processes are positively related to turnover growth. Furthermore, codification of knowledge, cooperation with partner firms and the provision of training to employees directly relates to employment growth. The results emphasize the importance of both knowledge absorption and knowledge creation to the success of innovative efforts in small firms. We find that the impact of the various measures varies with firm size. One further notable finding is that the ownership of patents negatively impacts small firm performance, particularly for the smallest firms in our sample.