A distributed primal-dual interior-point method for loosely coupled problems using ADMM

In this paper we propose an efficient distributed algorithm for solving loosely coupled convex optimization problems. The algorithm is based on a primal-dual interior-point method in which we use the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) to compute the primal-dual directions at each iteration of the method. This enables us to join the exceptional convergence properties of primal-dual interior-point methods with the remarkable parallelizability of ADMM. The resulting algorithm has superior computational properties with respect to ADMM directly applied to our problem. The amount of computations that needs to be conducted by each computing agent is far less. In particular, the updates for all variables can be expressed in closed form, irrespective of the type of optimization problem. The most expensive computational burden of the algorithm occur in the updates of the primal variables and can be precomputed in each iteration of the interior-point method. We verify and compare our method to ADMM in numerical experiments.Comment: extended version, 50 pages, 9 figure

A comparison of the Nottingham Health Profile and Short Form 36 Health Survey in patients with chronic lower limb ischaemia in a longitudinal perspective

BACKGROUND: Different generic quality of life instruments such as the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) and the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36) have revealed conflicting results in patients with chronic lower limb ischaemia in psychometric attributes in short-term evaluations. The aim of this study was to compare the NHP and the SF-36 regarding internal consistency reliability, validity, responsiveness and suitability as outcome measures in patients with lower limb ischaemia in a longitudinal perspective. METHODS: 48 patients with intermittent claudication and 42 with critical ischaemia were included. Assessment was made before and one year after revascularization using comparable domains of the NHP and the SF-36 questionnaires. RESULTS: The SF-36 was less skewed and more homogeneous than the NHP. There was an average convergent validity in three of the five comparable domains one year postoperatively. The SF-36 showed a higher internal consistency except for social functioning one-year postoperatively and was more responsive in detecting changes over time in patients with intermittent claudication. The NHP was more sensitive in discriminating among levels of ischaemia regarding pain and more able to detect changes in the critical ischaemia group. CONCLUSION: Both SF-36 and NHP have acceptable degrees of reliability for group-level comparisons, convergent and construct validity one year postoperatively. Nevertheless, the SF-36 has superior psychometric properties and was more suitable in patients with intermittent claudication. The NHP however, discriminated better among severity of ischaemia and was more responsive in patients with critical ischaemia

PUBLIC LIBRARY AND INF'OR]VTATION SERVICE AND DEMOCMTIC DEVELOPMENT: AN OUTLINE F'OR A COMPARATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMME BETWEEN SWEDEN AND INDONESIA

A Public library is an organization established, supported ancl funcled by the community, either through local, regional, or national government or through some other form of community organizations. It provides access to knowledge, information, and world of the imagination through a range of resources and services and is equally available to all members of the community regardless of race, nationally, age, gender,religion, language, disability, economic, and employment status and educational attainment - IFLA/WESCO

Brief report - Isolation and cross-species amplification of microsatellite loci in the Siberian jay (Perisoreus infaustus)

Microsatellites are superior compared to other geneti-cal markers for parentage determination, because they can be analysed from tiny and partially degraded DNA-samples extracted from e.g. hairs or bird feath-ers (ELLEGREN 1992). However, bird genomes con-tain relatively few microsatellite loci (LONGMIRE et al. 1999; PRIMMER et al. 1997b). It is therefore a tedious process to isolate a set of markers that is sufficient for conclusive parentage analyses. Here we report on nine microsatellite markers that are polymorphic in the Siberian jay (Perisoreus infaustus), a resident family dwelling species occurring throughout the Eurasian taiga (HELLE and LILLANDT 1997). The markers were found using two methods; (1) isolating new mi-crosatellite sequences from a size-selected Siberian ja

Hemoglobin induces inflammation after preterm intraventricular hemorrhage by methemoglobin formation.

Cerebral intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a major cause of severe neurodevelopmental impairment in preterm infants. To date, no therapy is available that prevents infants from developing serious neurological disability following IVH. Thus, to develop treatment strategies for IVH, it is essential to characterize the initial sequence of molecular events that leads to brain damage. In this study, we investigated extracellular hemoglobin (Hb) as a causal initiator of inflammation in preterm IVH

Beneficial effects of a Paleolithic diet on cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetes: a randomized cross-over pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Our aim was to compare the effects of a Paleolithic ('Old Stone Age') diet and a diabetes diet as generally recommended on risk factors for cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes not treated with insulin.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a randomized cross-over study, 13 patients with type 2 diabetes, 3 women and 10 men, were instructed to eat a Paleolithic diet based on lean meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, root vegetables, eggs and nuts; and a Diabetes diet designed in accordance with dietary guidelines during two consecutive 3-month periods. Outcome variables included changes in weight, waist circumference, serum lipids, C-reactive protein, blood pressure, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), and areas under the curve for plasma glucose and plasma insulin in the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Dietary intake was evaluated by use of 4-day weighed food records.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Study participants had on average a diabetes duration of 9 years, a mean HbA1c of 6,6% units by Mono-S standard and were usually treated with metformin alone (3 subjects) or metformin in combination with a sulfonylurea (3 subjects) or a thiazolidinedione (3 subjects). Mean average dose of metformin was 1031 mg per day. Compared to the diabetes diet, the Paleolithic diet resulted in lower mean values of HbA1c (-0.4% units, <it>p </it>= 0.01), triacylglycerol (-0.4 mmol/L, <it>p </it>= 0.003), diastolic blood pressure (-4 mmHg, <it>p </it>= 0.03), weight (-3 kg, <it>p </it>= 0.01), BMI (-1 kg/m², <it>p </it>= 0.04) and waist circumference (-4 cm, <it>p </it>= 0.02), and higher mean values of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (+0.08 mmol/L, <it>p </it>= 0.03). The Paleolithic diet was mainly lower in cereals and dairy products, and higher in fruits, vegetables, meat and eggs, as compared with the Diabetes diet. Further, the Paleolithic diet was lower in total energy, energy density, carbohydrate, dietary glycemic load, saturated fatty acids and calcium, and higher in unsaturated fatty acids, dietary cholesterol and several vitamins. Dietary GI was slightly lower in the Paleolithic diet (GI = 50) than in the Diabetic diet (GI = 55).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Over a 3-month study period, a Paleolithic diet improved glycemic control and several cardiovascular risk factors compared to a Diabetes diet in patients with type 2 diabetes.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00435240.</p

Pathological Conditions Involving Extracellular Hemoglobin: Molecular Mechanisms, Clinical Significance, and Novel Therapeutic Opportunities for alpha(1)-Microglobulin

Hemoglobin is the major oxygen-carrying system of the blood, but has many potentially dangerous side effects due to oxidation and reduction reactions of the heme-bound iron and oxygen. Extracellular hemoglobin, resulting from hemolysis or exogenous infusion, is shown to be an important pathogenic factor in a growing number of diseases. This review briefly outlines the oxidative/reductive toxic reactions of hemoglobin and its metabolites. It also describes physiological protection mechanisms that have evolved against extracellular hemoglobin, with a focus on the most recently discovered: the heme- and radical-binding protein α1-microglobulin (A1M). This protein is found in all vertebrates including man and operates by rapidly clearing cytosols and extravascular fluids of heme groups and free radicals released from hemoglobin. Five groups of pathological conditions with high concentrations of extracellular hemoglobin are described: hemolytic anemias and transfusion reactions, the pregnancy complication preeclampsia, cerebral intraventricular hemorrhage of premature infants, chronic inflammatory leg ulcers, and infusion of hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers as blood substitutes. Finally, possible treatments of these conditions are discussed, giving special attention to the described protective effects of A1M

Plasma Heme Scavengers Alpha-l-Microglobulin and Hemopexin as Biomarkers in High-Risk Pregnancies

Women with established preeclampsia (PE) have increased plasma concentration of free fetal hemoglobin. We measured two hemoglobin scavenger system proteins, hemopexin (Hpx) and alpha-1 -microglobulin (A1M) in maternal plasma using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay during the late second trimester of pregnancy in women with high and low risk of developing PE. In total 142 women were included in nested case-control study: 42 women diagnosed with PE and 100 controls (49 randomly selected high-risk and 51 low-risk controls). The concentration of plasma A1M in high-risk controls was higher compared to low-risk controls. Women with severe PE had higher plasma A1M levels compared to women with non-severe PE. In conclusion, the concentration of plasma A1M is increased in the late second trimester in high-risk controls, suggesting activation of endogenous protective system against oxidative stress.Peer reviewe