RAM-Efficient External Memory Sorting

In recent years a large number of problems have been considered in external memory models of computation, where the complexity measure is the number of blocks of data that are moved between slow external memory and fast internal memory (also called I/Os). In practice, however, internal memory time often dominates the total running time once I/O-efficiency has been obtained. In this paper we study algorithms for fundamental problems that are simultaneously I/O-efficient and internal memory efficient in the RAM model of computation.Comment: To appear in Proceedings of ISAAC 2013, getting the Best Paper Awar

Dysregulation of micro-RNA contributes to the risk of unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss

Although there are plenty of evidence that dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) level is involved in many human diseases, it is still unknown whether abnormal levels of specific miRNAs are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). We believe that such an association do exist as this study confirmed significant differences in the level of specific miRNAs between RPL cases and healthy controls. The study was conducted on 100 Palestinian women: 60 patients with at least two unexplained consecutive pregnancy losses half of them were pregnant at the first trimester and the rest were non-pregnant and 40 healthy controls with at least two live births and no history of pregnancy loss; half of them were at their first trimester of pregnancy and the rest were non-pregnant. We investigated the relative expression of miR-21, miR-126, miR-155, miR-182, miR-222 and miR-517* using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Ct method experiments. Differential expression was evaluated using Student t-test and fold change analyses. The expression difference of miR-21, miR-126 and miR-182 between patients and controls in the pregnant subjects showed statistically significant difference (p-value ≤ 0.05) with fold decrease of 1.5, 1.6 and 5.6, respectively. In the non-pregnant group miR-21, miR-126, miR-222 and miR-517* expressions were significantly different with fold decrease of 2.4, 2.9, 2.7 and 11.8, respectively. In conclusion, at least miR-21 and miR-126 could serve as potential markers for idiopathic RPL as their levels were significantly lower in patients before being pregnant and during pregnancy. Moreover, restoration of the normal level of those miRNAs might be a novel intervention strategy in unexplained RPL

Clinical and radiological outcomes of arthroscopic subcoracoid decompression for idiopathic coracoid impingement, a stepped approach

Background: Idiopathic subcoracoid impingement is considered now as a well-established cause of anterior shoulder pain. There are multiple techniques reported for management of subcoracoid impingement. Open decompression and reattachment of conjoint tendon as well as arthroscopic resection of coracoid tip. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of arthroscopic stepwise approach for management of idiopathic coracoid impingment.Methods: This prospective therapeutic case series study included 26 consecutive patients suffering from anterior shoulder pain and were diagnosed as subcoracoid impingement. All cases were evaluated preoperatively and followed up for 12 months after surgery both clinically and radiologically. Arthroscopic subcoracoid decompression, coracoplasty and arthroscopic repair of partial subscapularis tear if present were done for all cases.Results: The mean age at the time of surgery was 45.3±5.4years. At the final follow up, the mean VAS score improved significantly to 0.8±0.8points postoperatively (p<0.01). The mean Constant score improved significantly to 87.8±7.8 at the final follow-up (p<0.001). The mean UCLA score improved significantly to 32.1±2.4 at the end of follow-up (P<0.001)Conclusions: Coracoid impingement should be in mind when evaluating any patient with anterior shoulder pain. The arthroscopic management in form of bone, bursal and tendon procedures (triple attack) is a good treatment to relieve clinical symptoms with excellent patient reported outcomes.

Aplikasi Sistem Pakar Pusat Informasi Konseling Remaja (Pik-r) di Sman 2 Dumai dengan Metode Backward Chaining Menggunakan Bahasa Pemograman Php

PIK-R adalah suatu organisasi yang berperan sebagai wadah konseling setiap permasalahan yang dialami siswa dan siswi SMAN 2 Dumai. Dimana permasalahan yang dijadikan dasar dalam penulisan ini adalah Proses Konseling yamg dilakukan oleh guru BK dan Organisasi PIK-R kerap tidak efesien terhadap penanganan masalah-masalah yang ada pada siswa dan siswi SMAN 2 Dumai. Pada prosesnya sering kali konseling dilakukan pada saat jam pelajaran. Maka dari itu penelitian ini membuat suatu aplikasi pusat konseling berbasis web sehingga siswa dapat melakukan konseling dimana saja dan kapan saja dan juga penelitian ini mengunakan metode Backward Chaining maka dapat langsung mendiagnosa permasalahan apa yang di alami siswa dan siswi SMAN 2 Dumai dan bertujuan agar lebih efektifnya suatu proses konseling dalam penanganan masalah-masalah siswa dan siswi SMAN 2 Dumai dan menjadikan penerapan pendidikan berbasis karakter yang tepat sasaran

Breakdowns' Diagnosis of A New Character Three-Phase High Voltage Power Supply for Industrial Microwave Generators with N=2 Magnetrons per Phase

This paper treats the modelisation of a new three phase character high voltage supply (HV) for industrial microwave generators with N=2 magnetrons per phase. This alimentation is based on the presentation of an equivalent p circuit model of a newly dimensioned high voltage transformer. Each phase of the three phase system supplies two parallel cell voltage doublers and current stabilizer. Each of these cells in turn supplies one magnetron 800Watts / 2.45GHz. This power supply is a star connection of three identical models of the single-phase power for N=2 magnetrons. The simulation under EMTP (Electro Magnetic Transients Program) in nominal conditions allows concluding that theoretical results are adjacent to the experimental measurements. Furthermore, a failure study of six magnetron of the microwave generator is also processed. The results permit to observe that the interaction between magnetrons dosn’t influence the nominal operation of the system

Monitoring settling and consolidation of fluid mud in a laboratory using ultrasonic measurements

Ultrasound measurements are routinely used to evaluate the safe depth for ships navigation - nautical depth - at waterways and ports using single-beam dual-frequency echo-sounders. The nautical depth is routinely defined by suspension density in the range of 1100–1300 kg/m3 in the mud layer. While ultrasound measurements have a weak sensitivity to density variations, calibration is always needed to convert ultrasound measurements into reliable indicators for nautical depth levels in the mud layers using densely distributed density rheological in-situ measurements. We present a laboratory ultrasonic transmission experiment to monitor the fluid mud’s settling and consolidation processes using a sample from the Port of Rotterdam. We use P- and S-wave ultrasonic transducers in the frequency range between 200 to 1000 kHz. Our results show that the P-wave velocities slightly increase during the consolidation and settling process while the P-wave amplitudes decrease. On the other hand, we observe a high S-wave velocity that increases together with amplitudes over time. The P- and S-wave amplitude and S-wave velocity variation over time correlate well with the mud average density variation. The presented results can be very useful for fluid-mud monitoring at a lab scale, besides possible utilization for large-scale monitoring field campaigns

Modeling of New Three-Phase High Voltage Power Supply For Industrial Microwave Generators With One Magnetron Per Phase

This original work treats the feasibility study of a new HV power supply with a three-phase character, supplying a magnetron 800 Watts-2450 MHz per phase, for industrial microwave generators from the modeling with the EMTP code of a single-phase HV power supply for one magnetron. The exploitation of the modeling, with EMTP code, of the power system for one magnetron is to use, essentially, the developed model of its transformer, which is a π quadruple, consisting of saturable inductances able to translate the non-linear phenomena of saturation, while guaranteeing the stabilization process of the magnetron current. Using the new power supply device with a three-phase character and the EMTP code, the feasibility study, in nominal mode, of the three-phase power supply was performed satisfactory. The analysis of the results obtained helped to confirm the possibility of functioning of this new system without interaction between magnetrons, which provides, relative to the current device, gains of size, volume, cost of implementation and maintenance and makes this new system more economical, while guaranteeing the regulation process of the current in each magnetron.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijece.v3i2.240

Prevalence and Predictors of Insulin Resistance in Non-Obese Healthy Young Females in Qatar

The state of Qatar suffers from diabetes epidemic due to obesity-associated metabolic syndrome. However, the prevalence of insulin resistance prior to obesity, which could play an important role in the high prevalence of diabetes, has not yet been described. This study aims to compare the prevalence of insulin resistance in apparently healthy non-obese and obese participants from Qatar and identify the predictors of insulin resistance in different body massindex(BMI)-groups. In this cross-sectional study, 150 young healthy females from Qatar were dichotomized into four groups (underweight, normal weight, overweight and obese) based on their BMI. Anthropometric measures as well as fasting plasma levels of lipids, adipokines, blood glucose and insulin were recorded. The prevalence of insulin resistance as per homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was estimated and differences between insulin sensitive and insulin resistant were compared. Linear models were used to identify predictors of insulin resistance in every BMI group. Prevalence of insulin resistance in non-obese healthy females from Qatar ranges between 7% and 37%and increases with BMI. Overall, predictors of insulin resistance in the Qatari population are triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio and free fat mass but vary according to the BMI group. The main predictors were triglycerides in normal weight, triglycerides/HDL in overweight and triglycerides/HDL and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in obese individuals. The high prevalence of insulin resistance in non-obese Qataris may partially explain diabetes epidemic. Larger studies are warranted to confirm these findings and identify underlying causes for insulin resistance in non-obese individuals in Qatar, aiming at targeted intervention before diabetes onsetThis project was funded by Qatar University (grant number QUST-CAS-FALL-14\15-35). The publication of this article was funded by the Qatar National Library

Chromosomal aberrations in males occupationally exposed to chemical pollutants in the gaza strip-palestine

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes from Palestinian males exposed to various chemical pollutants during their daily work. Subjects and Methods: The study population consisted of 32 males (mean age 35.5 years) distributed as: 14 farmers, 3 plumbers, 5 taxi drivers, 6 paint factory workers, and 4 gas station workers, exposed to pollutants like pesticide, petrol derivatives etc. The control group consisted of 10 healthy Palestinian individuals of the same age and gender, but not exposed directly to pollutants in their jobs. Chromosomes were prepared from peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures using standard methods. The evaluation of chromosomal aberrations was performed following the IPCS (International Program Chemical Safety) guidelines for the monitoring of genotoxicity effects of carcinogens in humans. Results: A significantly higher incidence (2.14%, p< 0.05) of chromosomal aberrations (chromatid breaks, iso-chromatid breaks, chromatid deletions, and acentric fragments) were detected in lymphocyte of the study population. Interestingly, no chromosomal damage at all was recorded in the control group lymphocyte. Conclusion: These results suggest that occupational exposure to chemical pollutants is the cause of the chromosomal aberrations observed in the study population, which could be related to exposure time, since chromosomal aberrations were more frequent in workers exposed for longer times. The increased chromosomal damage detected in the study population can be attributed to the complex mixture of genotoxic compounds to which