Running parallel applications on a heterogeneous environment with accessible development practices and automatic scalability

Grid computing makes it possible to gather large quantities of resources to work on a problem. In order to exploit this potential, a framework that presents the resources to the user programmer in a form that maintains productivity is necessary. The framework must not only provide accessible development, but it must make efficient use of the resources. The Seeds framework is proposed. It uses the current Grid and distributed computing middleware to provide a parallel programming environment to a wider community of programmers. The framework was used to investigate the feasibility of scaling skeleton/pattern parallel programming into Grid computing. The research accomplished two goals: it made parallel programming on the Grid more accessible to domain­specific programmers, and it made parallel programs scale on a heterogeneous resource environ­ ment. Programming is made easier to the programmer by using skeleton and pat­ tern­based programming approaches that effectively isolate the program from the envi­ ronment. To extend the pattern approach, the pattern adder operator is proposed, imple­ mented and tested. The results show the pattern operator can reduce the number of lines of code when compared with an MPJ­Express implementation for a stencil algorithm while having an overhead of at most ten microseconds per iteration. The research in scal­ ability involved adapting existing load­balancing techniques to skeletons and patterns re­ quiring little additional configuration on the part of the programmer. The hierarchical de­ pendency concept is proposed as well, which uses a streamed data flow programming model. The concept introduces data flow computation hibernation and dependencies that can split to accommodate additional processors. The results from implementing skeleton/patterns on hierarchical dependencies show an 18.23% increase in code is neces­ sary to enable automatic scalability. The concept can increase speedup depending on the algorithm and grain size

Partnership Selection and Formation: A Case Study of Developing Adolescent Health Community-Researcher Partnerships in 15 U.S. Communities

Purpose- This study describes the partner selection process in 15 U.S. communities developing community-researcher partnerships for the Connect to Protect® (C2P): Partnerships for Youth Prevention Interventions, an initiative of the Adolescent Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions. Methods- Each site generated an epidemiological profile of urban youth in their community, selected a focus population and geographic area of youth at risk for HIV, conducted a series of successive structured interviews, and engaged in a process of relationship-building efforts culminating in a collaborative network of community agencies. Results- Sites chose as their primary target population young women who have sex with men (n=8 sites), young men who have sex with men (n=6), and intravenous drug users (n=1). Of 1,162 agencies initially interviewed, 281 of 335 approached (84%) agreed to join the partnership (average 19/site). A diverse array of community agencies were represented in the final collaborative network; specific characteristics included: 93% served the sites' target population, 54% were predominantly youth-oriented, 59% were located in the geographical area of focus, and 39% reported provision of HIV/STI prevention services. Relationship-building activities, development of collaborative relationships, and lessons learned, including barriers and facilitators to partnership, are also described. Conclusions- Study findings address a major gap in the community partner research literature. Health researchers and policy makers need an effective partner selection framework whereby community-researcher partnerships can develop a solid foundation to address public health concerns

Muslims and mental health concerns: A social ecological model perspective

Muslims in the United States experience many psychosocial issues and underutilize mental health services. This study sought to systematically identify the common issues and strengths of the Muslims affiliated with a college in the Southeast region of the United States and address them accordingly. A survey comprising 33 items and 2 open-ended questions regarding common issues and strengths was constructed. A total of 116 participants completed the survey. The overall rating for items was quite high, whereas the satisfaction rating was very low. The most important item was, “You have prayer places/rugs, ablution stations, and water in restrooms,” with an importance rating of 94.52% and a satisfaction rating of 20.50%. Four items regarding mental health were rated as the least important, and participants reported lack of knowledge regarding mental health services. This is the first study that includes a list of common concerns and strengths of the Muslim communities affiliated with colleges in the United States

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome in a Spontaneous Pregnancy

Introdução: O Síndrome de Hiperestimulação do Ovário (SHO) geralmente é descrito como uma complicação iatrogénica dos tratamentos de indução da ovulação. Raramente, pode estar associado a ciclos ovulatórios espontâneos, sendo mais frequente em gravidez múltipla, patologia molar e hipotiroidismo. A apresentação clínica é variável, podendo nos casos mais graves ser fatal. Caso clínico: Grávida de 13 semanas, nulípara, sem história de tratamentos de infertilidade, referenciada por aumento bilateral do volume ovárico e ascite. Apresentava ligeiro desconforto abdominal, tendo a ecografia revelado ovários aumentados de volume, multiquísticos e ascite ligeira. Os níveis de estradiol estavam aumentados, com hCG e TSH normais. A terapêutica foi expectante, com uma evolução favorável. Discussão: O SHO espontâneo apesar de ser uma entidade rara, deve ser equacionada como hipótese diagnóstica nas situações de massa pélvica na gravidez. Estão descritos 3 possíveis mecanismos para o SHO espontâneo, baseados na permissividade do receptor ovárico da FSH para a hCG e/ou TSH, podendo ocorrer com níveis normais ou elevados de hCG e/ou TSH.

Photocrosslinkable laminin-functionalized polyethylene glycol hydrogel for intervertebral disc regeneration

Intervertebral disc (IVD) disorders and age-related degeneration are believed to contribute to lower back pain. There is significant interest in cell-based strategies for regenerating the nucleus pulposus (NP) region of the disc; however, few scaffolds have been evaluated for their ability to promote or maintain an immature NP cell phenotype. Previous studies have shown that NP cell-laminin interactions promote cell adhesion and biosynthesis, which suggests a laminin-functionalized biomaterial may be useful for promoting or maintaining the NP cell phenotype. Here, a photocrosslinkable poly(ethylene glycol)-laminin 111 (PEG-LM111) hydrogel was developed. The mechanical properties of PEG-LM111 hydrogel could be tuned within the range of dynamic shear moduli values previously reported for human NP. When primary immature porcine NP cells were seeded onto PEG-LM111 hydrogels of varying stiffnesses, LM111-presenting hydrogels were found to promote cell clustering and increased levels of sGAG production as compared to stiffer LM111-presenting and PEG-only gels. When cells were encapsulated in 3-D gels, hydrogel formulation was found to influence NP cell metabolism and expression of proposed NP phenotypic markers, with higher expression of N-cadherin and cytokeratin 8 observed for cells cultured in softer (<1 kPa) PEG-LM111 hydrogels. Overall, these findings suggest that soft, LM111-functionalized hydrogels may promote or maintain the expression of specific markers characteristic of an immature NP cell phenotype. © 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Survival after Laparoscopic versus Abdominal Radical Hysterectomy in Early Cervical Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Previous studies have reported the safety of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for treatment of early cervical cancer, as option to laparotomy. This study aims to compare overall survival between laparoscopic versus abdominal radical hysterectomy for early cervical cancer. Methods: A single-center randomized controlled trial enrolled 30 patients with clinically staged IA2 cervical cancer and lymphovascular invasion, IB and IIA, who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (16) or abdominal radical hysterectomy (14). Result: The mean overall survival time was 74.74 months (CI 95%: 54.15-95.33) for LRH 91.67 months (CI 95%: 74.97-108.37) for ARH (logrank test = 0.30). The mean disease-free survival time was 81.07 months (CI 95%: 60.95-101.19) for LRH and 95.82 months (CI 95%: 80.18-111.47) for ARH (log-rank test = 0.371). The overall survival hazard ratio was 2.05 (CI 95%: 0.51-8.24), and the disease-free hazard ratio was 2.13 (CI 95%: 0.39-11.7). Conclusion: Our study suggests a nonsignificant trend of worse outcomes for LRH. In light of recent controversy and need for prospective studies, further studies in different populations are required for definite conclusions and until then, patients should be aware of risks and benefits, survival data and quality of life outcomes related to both surgical techniques.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Injectable laminin-functionalized hydrogel for nucleus pulposus regeneration.

Cell delivery to the pathological intervertebral disc (IVD) has significant therapeutic potential for enhancing IVD regeneration. The development of injectable biomaterials that retain delivered cells, promote cell survival, and maintain or promote an NP cell phenotype in vivo remains a significant challenge. Previous studies have demonstrated NP cell - laminin interactions in the nucleus pulposus (NP) region of the IVD that promote cell attachment and biosynthesis. These findings suggest that incorporating laminin ligands into carriers for cell delivery may be beneficial for promoting NP cell survival and phenotype. Here, an injectable, laminin-111 functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-LM111) hydrogel was developed as a biomaterial carrier for cell delivery to the IVD. We evaluated the mechanical properties of the PEG-LM111 hydrogel, and its ability to retain delivered cells in the IVD space. Gelation occurred in approximately 20 min without an initiator, with dynamic shear moduli in the range of 0.9-1.4 kPa. Primary NP cell retention in cultured IVD explants was significantly higher over 14 days when cells were delivered within a PEG-LM111 carrier, as compared to cells in liquid suspension. Together, these results suggest this injectable laminin-functionalized biomaterial may be an easy to use carrier for delivering cells to the IVD

Losing Minds and Hearts: Ideology, Education, and the Development of Youth Nonconformity Under European Fascisms

2022 University Libraries Undergraduate Research Award Winner --- This paper explores the successes and failures of European fascist regimes in implementing their methods for the “total education” of youth, diving into the educational policy of Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, Salazarist Portugal, and Francoist Spain, with a special focus on the German case. It reassesses the challenges and contradictions of fascist education, and the intrinsic failures of these educational models that led to the emergence of dissent among youths, as well as the development of nonconforming subcultures opposed to the hegemonic official ones. I conclude that the structural failures of fascist educational models, rooted in ideological irregularity, contradictory and decentralized policy, and the attempt to control all aspects of youth socialization in ways that conflicted with generational and universal youth values, inevitably created nonconformity. This nonconformity came in several forms and was shaped by social context and class divisions. At times, group behavior developed into broader subcultures that, by rejecting official and doctrinaire youth values, assumed political meaning

Nucleus pulposus cell-matrix interactions with laminins

The cells of the nucleus pulposus (NP) region of the intervertebral disc play a critical role in this tissue’s generation and maintenance, and alterations in NP cell viability, metabolism, and phenotype with aging may be key contributors to progressive disc degeneration. Relatively little is understood about the phenotype of NP cells, including their cell-matrix interactions which may modulate phenotype and survival. Our previous work has identified strong and region-specific expression of laminins and laminin cell-surface receptors in immature NP tissues, suggesting laminin cell-matrix interactions are uniquely important to the biology of NP cells. Whether these observed tissue-level laminin expression patterns reflect functional adhesion behaviors for these cells is not known. In this study, we examined NP cell-matrix interactions with specific matrix ligands, including various laminin isoforms, using quantitative assays of cell attachment, spreading, and adhesion strength. NP cells were found to attach in higher numbers and exhibited rapid cell spreading and higher resistance to detachment force on two laminin isoforms (LM-511,LM-332) identified to be uniquely expressed in the NP region, as compared to another laminin isoform (LM-111) and several other matrix ligands (collagen, fibronectin). Additionally, NP cells were found to attach in higher numbers to laminins as compared to cells isolated from the disc’s annulus fibrosus region. These findings confirm that laminin and laminin receptor expression documented in NP tissues translates into unique functional NP cell adhesion behaviors that may be useful tools for in vitro cell culture and biomaterials that support NP cells

Synergies for Improving Oil Palm Production and Forest Conservation in Floodplain Landscapes

Lowland tropical forests are increasingly threatened with conversion to oil palm as global demand and high profit drives crop expansion throughout the world’s tropical regions. Yet, landscapes are not homogeneous and regional constraints dictate land suitability for this crop. We conducted a regional study to investigate spatial and economic components of forest conversion to oil palm within a tropical floodplain in the Lower Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The Kinabatangan ecosystem harbours significant biodiversity with globally threatened species but has suffered forest loss and fragmentation. We mapped the oil palm and forested landscapes (using object-based-image analysis, classification and regression tree analysis and on-screen digitising of high-resolution imagery) and undertook economic modelling. Within the study region (520,269 ha), 250,617 ha is cultivated with oil palm with 77% having high Net-Present-Value (NPV) estimates ($413/ha?yr–$637/ha?yr); but 20.5% is under-producing. In fact 6.3% (15,810 ha) of oil palm is commercially redundant (with negative NPV of $-299/ha?yr-$-65/ha?yr) due to palm mortality from flood inundation. These areas would have been important riparian or flooded forest types. Moreover, 30,173 ha of unprotected forest remain and despite its value for connectivity and biodiversity 64% is allocated for future oil palm. However, we estimate that at minimum 54% of these forests are unsuitable for this crop due to inundation events. If conversion to oil palm occurs, we predict a further 16,207 ha will become commercially redundant. This means that over 32,000 ha of forest within the floodplain would have been converted for little or no financial gain yet with significant cost to the ecosystem. Our findings have globally relevant implications for similar floodplain landscapes undergoing forest transformation to agriculture such as oil palm. Understanding landscape level constraints to this crop, and transferring these into policy and practice, may provide conservation and economic opportunities within these seemingly high opportunity cost landscapes