Parameterized Complexity of Quick Sort, Heap Sort and K-sort Algorithms with Quasi Binomial Input

Parameterized complexity is one of the important concepts that has emerged in the recent past in the field of computer science. It has been observed that for certain algorithms such as sorting, the parameters of the input distribution characterizing the sorting elements are very crucial in explaining the complexity of an algorithm (see Anchala, Chakraborty (2007,2008), Chakraborty&Sourabh,(2007)).The present paper investigates the parameterized complexity of three sorting algorithms namely, Quick sort, Heap sort and K-sort ( with the same average case complexity O(Nlog2N)), for the quasi binomial input parameters and compares the results with those for binomial input parameters

Upper airway dynamics during negative expiratory pressure in apneic and non-apneic awake snorers

BACKGROUND: The ability of negative expiratory pressure (NEP) technique to differentiate between awake snorers with and without obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea (OSAH) was investigated. METHODS: Forty-eight subjects with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and 7 healthy subjects, as non-snorer controls, underwent the NEP application of -5 and -7 cmH(2)O in the seated and supine position during wakefulness, after performing a sleep study. The upper airway collapsibility was assessed by computing the volume exhaled during the first 0.5 sec. (V,NEP(0.5)) and 1 sec. (V,NEP(1)) following the NEP start. RESULTS: Patients with severe (AHI ≥ 30) (n = 19) and mild-to-moderate (AHI <30 and >5) (n = 15) OSAH had lower V,NEP(0.5 )(340 ± 88 ml) as compared to snorers (AHI ≤ 5) (n = 14) (427 ± 101 ml; p < 0.01) and controls (n = 7) (492 ± 69 ml; p < 0.001) in the supine position with NEP -5 cmH(2)O. Less significant differences among the different groups were observed for V,NEP(0.5 )in the seated position with NEP -5 cmH(2)O and in both positions with NEP -7 cmH(2)O (only OSAH patients vs controls, p < 0.001). Similar results were obtained for V,NEP(1 )in either position by using both NEP -5 cmH(2)O and -7 cmH(2)O. In spite of this, a substantial overlapping of V,NEP(0.5 )and V,NEP(1 )between snorers and OSAH patients did not allow to identify a reliable diagnostic cut-off level. An inverse correlation with AHI was found for V,NEP(0.5 )in the supine position with NEP -5 cmH(2)O (r(s )= -0.46, p < 0.05) in severe OSAH patients. CONCLUSION: The awake OSAH patients exhibit values of V,NEP(0.5 )and V,NEP(1 )lesser than those of awake snorers. The NEP technique, however, appears to have a limited usefulness as clinical tool for routine screening of the OSAH patients during wakefulness

Observational study on efficacy of negative expiratory pressure test proposed as screening for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome among commercial interstate bus drivers - protocol study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a respiratory disease characterized by the collapse of the extrathoracic airway and has important social implications related to accidents and cardiovascular risk. The main objective of the present study was to investigate whether the drop in expiratory flow and the volume expired in 0.2 s during the application of negative expiratory pressure (NEP) are associated with the presence and severity of OSA in a population of professional interstate bus drivers who travel medium and long distances.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>An observational, analytic study will be carried out involving adult male subjects of an interstate bus company. Those who agree to participate will undergo a detailed patient history, physical examination involving determination of blood pressure, anthropometric data, circumference measurements (hips, waist and neck), tonsils and Mallampati index. Moreover, specific questionnaires addressing sleep apnea and excessive daytime sleepiness will be administered. Data acquisition will be completely anonymous. Following the medical examination, the participants will perform a spirometry, NEP test and standard overnight polysomnography. The NEP test is performed through the administration of negative pressure at the mouth during expiration. This is a practical test performed while awake and requires little cooperation from the subject. In the absence of expiratory flow limitation, the increase in the pressure gradient between the alveoli and open upper airway caused by NEP results in an increase in expiratory flow.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Despite the abundance of scientific evidence, OSA is still underdiagnosed in the general population. In addition, diagnostic procedures are expensive, and predictive criteria are still unsatisfactory. Because increased upper airway collapsibility is one of the main determinants of OSA, the response to the application of NEP could be a predictor of this disorder. With the enrollment of this study protocol, the expectation is to encounter predictive NEP values for different degrees of OSA in order to contribute toward an early diagnosis of this condition and reduce its impact and complications among commercial interstate bus drivers.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p><it>Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clinicos </it>(local acronym RBEC) [Internet]: Rio de Janeiro (RJ): <it>Instituto de Informaçao Cientifica e Tecnologica em Saude </it>(Brazil); 2010 - Identifier RBR-7dq5xx. Cross-sectional study on efficacy of negative expiratory pressure test proposed as screening for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome among commercial interstate bus drivers; 2011 May 31 [7 pages]. Available from <url>http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-7dq5xx/</url>.</p

El Estado social: la dignidad humana y el bien com\ufan

A las puertas de una nueva crisis y ante un fuerte aumento de los niveles de desempleo, desigualdad y precariedad son recurrentes los llamamientos invocando al Estado social. En este contexto, se reflexiona sobre el concepto jur\ueddico de la igualdad y la naturaleza de los derechos sociales, as\ued como por los requisitos materiales necesarios que (apelando a la dignidad humana) hay que destinar a los miembros de la comunidad que se encuentran en situaci\uf3n de vulnerabilidad para garantizar su estatus pleno de ciudadano e introducir cierta igualdad en las relaciones sociales, a fin de proporcionar la homogeneidad social suficiente

Parasympathetic preganglionic cardiac motoneurons labeled after voluntary diving

A dramatic bradycardia is induced by underwater submersion in vertebrates. The location of parasympathetic preganglionic cardiac motor neurons driving this aspect of the diving response was investigated using cFos immunohistochemistry combined with retrograde transport of cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) to double-label neurons. After pericardial injections of CTB, trained rats voluntarily dove underwater, and their heart rates dropped immediately to 95±2bpm, an 80% reduction. After immunohistochemical processing, the vast majority of CTB labeled neurons were located in the reticular formation from the rostral cervical spinal cord to the facial motor nucleus, confirming previous studies. Labeled neurons caudal to the rostral ventrolateral medulla were usually spindle-shaped aligned along an oblique line running from the dorsal vagal nucleus to the ventrolateral reticular formation, while those more rostrally were multipolar with extended dendrites. Nine percent of retrogradely-labeled neurons were positive for both cFos and CTB after diving and 74% of these were found rostral to the obex. CTB also was transported transganglionically in primary afferent fibers, resulting in large granular deposits in dorsolateral, ventrolateral, and commissural subnuclei of the nucleus tractus solitarii and finer deposits in lamina I and IV-V of the trigeminocervical complex. The overlap of parasympathetic preganglionic cardiac motor neurons activated by diving with those activated by baro- and chemoreceptors in the rostral ventrolateral medulla is discussed. Thus the profound bradycardia seen with underwater submersion reinforces the notion that the mammalian diving response is the most powerful autonomic reflex known