Quantum associative memory with improved distributed queries

The paper proposes an improved quantum associative algorithm with distributed query based on model proposed by Ezhov et al. We introduce two modifications of the query that optimized data retrieval of correct multi-patterns simultaneously for any rate of the number of the recognition pattern on the total patterns. Simulation results are given.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Int J Theor Phy

Knowledge of antimalarials and health seeking behaviour of households in case of suspected malaria in Democratic Republic of the Congo

(1) Background: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is heavily affected by malaria despite availability of effective treatments. Ignorance and unrecommended behaviour toward a suspected malaria case in households may contribute to this problem. (2) Method: In communities of one rural and one urban Health Centres in each of the 11 previous provinces of DRC, all households with a case of malaria in the 15 days prior to the survey were selected. The patient or caregiver (responder) were interviewed. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors of knowledge of recommended antimalarials and adequate behaviour in case of suspected malaria. (3) Results: 1732 households participated; about 62% (1060/1721) of the responders were informed about antimalarials, 70.1% (742/1059) knew the recommended antimalarials and 58.6% (995/1699) resorted to self-medication. Predictors of knowledge of antimalarials were education to secondary school or university, information from media and smaller households. Predictors of good behaviour were Catholic religion and smaller households. Receiving information from Community Health Workers (CHWs) failed to be determinants of knowledge or adequate behaviour. (4) Conclusion: malaria control in DRC is hampered by ignorance and non-adherence to national recommendations. These aspects are influenced by unsuccessful communication, size of households and level of education

Determinants of patients' adherence to malaria treatment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

(1) Background: Malaria heavily affects the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) despite the use of effective drugs. Poor adherence to malaria treatment may contribute to this problem. (2) Methods: In one rural and one urban health area in each of the 11 former provinces of the DRC, all households with a case of malaria in the 15 days preceding the survey were selected and the patients or caregivers were interviewed. Adherence to malaria treatment was assessed by self-declaration about its completion. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors. (3) Results: 1732 households participated. Quinine was the most used drug; adherence to artesunate-amodiaquine was the lowest and the main reason for treatment discontinuation was adverse reactions. Predictors of adherence were residence in an urban area, university education, catholic religion, and adoption of recommended behaviour towards a malaria case. Adherence was significantly lower for responders who obtained information on antimalarials from Community Health Workers (CHW). (4) Conclusions: Usage of recommended drugs and adherence to malaria treatment need to be promoted, especially in rural areas, and CHW involvement needs to be improved. Awareness messages need to be made accessible and comprehensible to poorly educated populations and churches need to be involved

An active lifestyle improves outcome of primary angioplasty in elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Regular physical activity has been shown to improve outcome of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the elderly population. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the positive role of an active lifestyle on cardiac prognosis extends to elderly patients with AMI who undergo primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). METHODS: We prospectively studied 180 patients with AMI aged > or = 70 years and treated with primary PTCA. In all patients, physical activity levels before AMI were quantified by a score derived from the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE). Cardiac deaths and nonfatal cardiac events were evaluated within 30 days and 1-year from primary PTCA. RESULTS: A high PASE score was significantly associated with a strong reduction of 30-day cardiac deaths (from 23.1% to 4%; P for trend = .021) and overall nonfatal events (from 21.1% to 10%; P for trend = .01). Accordingly, at 1 year of follow-up, the incidence of cardiac mortality and nonfatal events significantly decreased with increasing PASE score (from 28.8% to 8% and from 55.7% to 14.5%, respectively). Logistic regression analysis indicated that physical activity before AMI was an independent predictor of increased survival in those patients that showed the highest PASE scores. In addition, at 6 months of follow-up, although low ejection fraction and recurrent angina strongly predicted 1-year mortality, high PASE scores still predicted a better outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that an active lifestyle may favorably affect early and late outcomes of primary PTCA in the elderly population

Otimização da programação de cargas de forno em uma fábrica de fundição em aço-inox Optimizing the scheduling of furnace loadings in a inox-steel foundry

Neste trabalho apresenta-se uma abordagem para otimizar a programação de cargas de forno em fundições de mercado de pequeno porte. Tal abordagem consiste, basicamente, em definir a programação dos fornos para produzir uma carteira de pedidos composta de diversas peças em ligas metálicas variadas, de maneira a maximizar a produtividade (ou a margem de contribuição ao lucro) e satisfazer prazos de entrega e restrições de processo. O procedimento proposto é baseado na teoria dos problemas de corte e empacotamento; ele combina uma heurística construtiva gulosa com o clássico problema da mochila. Para validá-lo, um estudo de caso foi realizado numa fundição em aço-inox localizada em São Carlos, SP. Os resultados da simulação de duas semanas de produção da empresa mostraram que o procedimento é capaz de produzir soluções melhores do que as utilizadas pela empresa.<br>This study presents an approach to optimize the scheduling of furnace loadings in small size foundries. The approach consists of determining a furnace scheduling to produce all ordered items in such a way as to maximize productivity (or profit contribution) and satisfy due dates and process restraints. It is based on the theory of cutting and packing problems; it combines a greedy constructive heuristic and the classical knapsack problem. To validate the approach, a case study was developed in a inox-steel foundry located in São Carlos, SP. The results obtained simulating two weeks of the company production showed that the procedure is able to generate better solutions than the ones used by the company