Parallel Minimum Cuts in Near-linear Work and Low Depth

We present the first near-linear work and poly-logarithmic depth algorithm for computing a minimum cut in a graph, while previous parallel algorithms with poly-logarithmic depth required at least quadratic work in the number of vertices. In a graph with $n$ vertices and $m$ edges, our algorithm computes the correct result with high probability in $O(m {\log}^4 n)$ work and $O({\log}^3 n)$ depth. This result is obtained by parallelizing a data structure that aggregates weights along paths in a tree and by exploiting the connection between minimum cuts and approximate maximum packings of spanning trees. In addition, our algorithm improves upon bounds on the number of cache misses incurred to compute a minimum cut

Original research: Management of acute non-specific low back pain in the emergency department - do emergency physicians follow the guidelines? Results of a cross-sectional survey

Objectives: Clinical guidelines for acute non-specific low back pain (LBP) recommend avoiding imaging studies or invasive treatments and to advise patients to stay active. The aim of this study was to evaluate the management of acute non-specific LBP in the emergency departments (ED). Setting: We invited all department chiefs of Swiss EDs and their physician staff to participate in a web-based survey using two clinical case vignettes of patients with acute non-specific LBP presenting to an ED. In both cases, no neurological deficits or red flags were present. Guideline adherence and low-value care was defined based on current guideline recommendations. Results: In total, 263 ED physicians completed at least one vignette while 212 completed both vignettes (43% residents, 32% senior/attending physicians, 24% chief physicians). MRI imaging was considered in 31% in vignette 1 and 65% in vignette 2. For pain management, NSAIDs, paracetamol, and metamizole were mostly used. A substantial proportion of ED physicians considered treatments with questionable benefit and / or increased risk for adverse events such as oral steroids (vignette 1, 12%; vignette 2, 19%), muscle relaxants (33% and 38%), long-acting strong opioids (25% and 33%), and spinal injections (22 and 43%). Although guidelines recommend staying active, 72% and 67% of ED physicians recommended activity restrictions. Conclusion: Management of acute non-specific LBP in the ED was not in agreement with current guideline recommendations in a substantial proportion of ED physicians. Overuse of imaging studies, the use of long-acting opioids and muscle relaxants, as well as recommendations for activity and work restrictions were prevalent and may potentially be harmful

Characterization of the fetuin-binding fraction of Neospora caninum tachyzoites and its potential involvement in host-parasite interactions

Terminal sialic acid residues on surface-associated glycoconjugates mediate host cell interactions of many pathogens. Addition of sialic acid-rich fetuin enhanced, and the presence of the sialidiase inhibitor 2-deoxy-2,3-dehydro-N-acetylneuraminic acid reduced, the physical interaction of Neospora caninum tachyzoites and bradyzoites with Vero cell monolayers. Thus, Neospora extracts were subjected to fetuin-agarose affinity chromatography in order to isolate components potentially interacting with sialic acid residues. SDS-PAGE and silver staining of the fetuin binding fraction revealed the presence of a single protein band of 65kDa, subsequently named NcFBP (Neospora caninum fetuin-binding protein), which was localized at the apical tip of the tachyzoites and was continuously released into the surrounding medium in a temperature-independent manner. NcFBP readily interacted with Vero cells and bound to chondroitin sulfate A and C, and anti-NcFBP antibodies interfered in tachyzoite adhesion to host cell monolayers. In additon, analysis of the fetuin binding fraction by gelatin substrate zymography was performed, and demonstrated the presence of two bands of 96 and 140kDa exhibiting metalloprotease-activity. The metalloprotease activity readily degraded glycosylated proteins such as fetuin and bovine immunoglobulin G heavy chain, whereas non-glycosylated proteins such as bovine serum albumin and immunoglobulin G light chain were not affected. These findings suggest that the fetuin-binding fraction of Neospora caninum tachyzoites contains components that could be potentially involved in host-parasite interaction

Vivre une vie qui ne se vit pas. Quand Jean-Marie Vincent et André Gorz débattaient de valeur et subjectivité (2000-2002)

Un compagnonnage de vieille date Peu après la disparition de Jean-Marie Vincent, en 2004, André Gorz a dit combien son ami avait été pour lui une personne importante : en 1959 elle l’avait initié à un pan de l’œuvre de Marx inconnu en France, puis mis en relation avec la gauche hétérodoxe italienne (sans doute les théoriciens Lelio Basso et Vittorio Foa). Alors que Gorz venait de publier son premier livre politique, La morale de l’histoire, à une époque où le marxisme occidental ne jurait que..

Aktuelles aus der italienischsprachigen Schweiz

13 x 13 c

Scienza psicoterapeutica a Sud delle Alpi

Zusammenfassung: Die diesem Artikel zugrunde liegende Erkenntnistheorie bezieht sich auf das Modell der “psychotherapeutischen Wissenschaft” SPT/PTW. Ausgehend von der gegebenen schweizerischen Vielfalt versuche ich zu vermitteln, eine Brücke zwischen Nord und Süd, zwischen Ost und West, zwischen der französischen, österreichischen und deutschen und der italienischen psychotherapeutischen Kultur zu schlagen und aufrecht zu erhalten. Das Modell der Psychotherapiewissenschaft erlaubt es mir, Verbindungen zwischen den psycho-sozial-anthropologischen und mythisch-kulturellen Fundamenten einerseits und der psychotherapeutischen Praxis und der Forschung andererseits herzustellen. Schlüsselwörter: Philosophie, Forschung, Neurowissenschaften, Intersubjektivität, Psychotherapie-WissenschaftSummary: The theory of knowledge underpinning this article follows the model of “psychotherapeutic science” (PTS). I shall endeavour to make my communication taking the underlying Swiss diversity as my starting point and from that I shall build and sustain a bridge between north and south and east and west, between the French, Austrian and German psychotherapeutic cultures and the Italian ones. Keywords: philosophy, research, neuroscience, intersubjectivity, psychotherapeutic scienceMots clés: philosophie, recherche, neurosciences, intersubjectivité, science psychothérapeutiqueRiassunto: La teoria della conoscenza che sottosta a questo articolo attiene al modello della “scienza psicoterapeutica” SPT/PTW. Cerco di comunicare partendo dalla costitutiva diversità elvetica: di costruire e mantenere un ponte tra Nord e Sud, tra Est e Ovest tra le culture psicoterapeutiche francesi, austriache e tedesche verso quelle italiane. Parole chiave: filosofia, ricerca, neuroscienze, intersoggettività, scienza psicoterapeutic