Diagonalizations over polynomial time computable sets

AbstractA formal notion of diagonalization is developed which allows to enforce properties that are related to the class of polynomial time computable sets (the class of polynomial time computable functions respectively), like, e.g., p-immunity. It is shown that there are sets—called p-generic— which have all properties enforceable by such diagonalizations. We study the behaviour and the complexity of p-generic sets. In particular, we show that the existence of p-generic sets in NP is oracle dependent, even if we assume P ≠ NP

Lifting the veil on ‘a good jam’: describing the coordination dynamics of an acoustic jazz trio

As a professional bass player and teacher I have experienced various instances of musicians interacting with one another in a group setting. These interactions varied from school ensembles, music students at a tertiary level, to professional musicians. Through my own teaching and playing career, I have noticed that certain groups of musicians are better than others at communicating their ideas and to coordinate as a group during a musical performance. Meadows(2008, 2) explains that a system is "a set of things – people, cells, molecules, or whatever – interconnected in such a way that they produce their own pattern over time" while Kelso (2009, 1539) states that coordination dynamics aims to identify and describe the nature of coordination within a part of a system. With these statements in mind, Bishop (2018, 4) argues that a musical ensemble can be regarded as a system in which the individual musicians, their instruments, the audience, and the performance space, are components that are interacting as a system. There is an apparent gap in the literature as authoritative texts on improvisation and coordination within the jazz rhythm section such as Saying Something by Ingrid Monson (1996) and Thinking in Jazz by Paul Berliner (1994) mainly focus on musicians in the United States. This study examines the interaction and coordination of a South African jazz trio during a musical performance to address the apparent shortfall in the literature in a South African context. This lack of depth in the literature leads to the research question: What are the main methods of communication and coordination within the Charl du Plessis Trio during a performance? A summary of the history and circumstances that led to the formation of the jazz piano trio as a group format is included in this study. It highlights the work of prominent trios and compares them to the work of the trio led by Charl du Plessis, examining the ways that his trio performs traditional jazz works and how their interaction and coordination methods differ from traditional jazz performance conventions. I undertook to describe the main communication and coordination dynamics to determine whether a jazz group in the South African context functions similarly to their American counterparts. This dissertation aims to contribute to the scholarly literature about the lived experience of musicians in such a trio. The Charl du Plessis Trio, of which I am a member, was chosen as a sample group, considering its critical acclaim (see Section 2.2.4 Charl du Plessis sample group), its South African context, and its history of actively performing as a jazz trio between 2006 and 2021. This history is in contrast with the ad hoc zero history of groups studied by Bastien and Hostager (1988) in a jazz context. This study describes the differences and similarities in each musician’s viewpoint or experience in the trio, specifically examining the work of the Charl du Plessis Trio, drawing on the work by Kelso (2003, 45) on how patterns of coordinated behaviour emerge from each member’s musical contributions over time. Due to the small sample group, the research design of this study consists mainly of structured interviews with the participants using the Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis framework. The participants’ interviews were transcribed and analysed to identify which of the Wittenbaum et al. (2002, 178–80) coordination methods (pre-plans, tacit pre-coordination, in-process planning, or in-process tacit coordination) were most relevant for describing the coordination between participants during a performance. This study finds that in-process tacit coordination (members making mutual strategy adjustments tacitly while working to fit the observed behaviour of others) is the most common method of coordination during a performance within the sample group. Other methods of coordination that were also found to contribute to the group's performance were pre-plans (members making explicit their planned actions), tacit pre-coordination (where members make assumptions about what is expected of them), and in-process planning (where members define their roles explicitly communicating their planned strategy).Art and MusicM. Mus. (Musicology

Dextran sulfate activates contact system and mediates arterial hypotension via B2 kinin receptors

To define some of the mechanisms underlying dextran sulfate (DXS)-induced hypotension, we investigated the effects of either the plasma kallikrein inhibitor des-Pro2-[Arg15] aprotinin (BAY x 4620) or the specific bradykinin B2-receptor antagonist Hoe-140 on the hypotensive response to DXS. In the first study, anesthetized miniature pigs were given DXS alone, DXS plus BAY x 4620 in various doses, or saline. As expected, DXS alone produced a profound but transient systemic arterial hypotension with a concomitant reduction in kininogen. Circulating kinin levels, complement fragment des-Arg-C3a, and fibrin monomer were all increased. Treatment with BAY x 4620 produced a dose-dependent attenuation of these effects with complete blockade of the hypotension as well as the observed biochemical changes at the highest dose (360 mg). In a second study, two groups of pigs were given either DXS alone or DXS plus Hoe-140. DXS-induced hypotension was completely blocked by Hoe-140 pretreatment; however, kininogen was again depleted. We conclude, therefore, that DXS-induced hypotension is produced by activation of plasma kallikrein that results in the production of bradykinin and that liberation of bradykinin and its action on B2 receptors in the vasculature are both necessary and sufficient to produce the observed effects on circulatory pressure

A proposal for a psychopharmacology-pharmacotherapy catalogue of learning objectives and a curriculum in Europe.

Objectives Post-graduate training for specialisation in psychiatry and psychotherapy is part of a 4-6-year programme. This paper aims to inform on the general situation of teaching and training of psychopharmacology-psychopharmacotherapy in Europe. It presents the need for a psychopharmacotherapy education in psychiatric training programmes. Arguments as well as a proposal for a catalogue of learning objectives and an outline of a psychopharmacology curriculum are presented. Methods Based on their experience and on an analysis of the literature, the authors, experts in psychopharmacology-pharmacotherapy teaching, critically analyse the present situation and propose the development of a curriculum at the European level. Results Teaching programmes vary widely between European countries and, generally, teaching of psychopharmacology and pharmacotherapy does not exceed two-dozen hours. This is insufficient if one considers the central importance of psychopharmacology. A psychopharmacology-psychopharmacotherapy curriculum for the professional training of specialists in psychiatry and psychotherapy is proposed. Conclusions As the number of hours of theoretical teaching and practical training is insufficient, a catalogue of learning objectives should be established, which would then be part of a comprehensive curriculum at the European level. It could be inspired partly by those few previously proposed by other groups of authors and organisations

Diagnostic biomarkers for adult haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in critically ill patients (HEMICU): a prospective observational study protocol

INTRODUCTION: Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in adults is characterised by toxic immune activation and a sepsis-like syndrome, leading to high numbers of undiagnosed cases and mortality rates of up to 68%. Early diagnosis and specific immune suppressive treatment are mandatory to avoid fatal outcome, but the diagnostic criteria (HLH-2004) are adopted from paediatric HLH and have not been validated in adults. Experimental studies suggest biomarkers to sufficiently diagnose HLH. However, biomarkers for the diagnosis of adult HLH have not yet been investigated. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The HEMICU (Diagnostic biomarkers for adult haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in critically ill patients) study aims to estimate the incidence rate of adult HLH among suspected adult patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Screening for HLH will be performed in 16 ICUs of Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. The inclusion criteria are bicytopaenia, hyperferritinaemia (≥500 µg/L), fever or when HLH is suspected by the clinician. Over a period of 2 years, we expect inclusion of about 100 patients with suspected HLH. HLH will be diagnosed if at least five of the HLH-2004 criteria are fulfilled, together with an expert review; all other included patients will serve as controls. Second, a panel of potential biomarker candidates will be explored. DNA, plasma and serum will be stored in a biobank. The primary endpoint of the study is the incidence rate of adult HLH among suspected adult patients during ICU stay. Out of a variety of measured biomarkers, this study furthermore aims to find highly potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of adult HLH in ICU. The results of this study will contribute to improved recognition and patient outcome of adult HLH in clinical routine

The Delphi Delirium Management Algorithms. A practical tool for clinicians, the result of a modified Delphi expert consensus approach

Delirium is common in hospitalised patients, and there is currently no specific treatment. Identifying and treating underlying somatic causes of delirium is the first priority once delirium is diagnosed. Several international guidelines provide clinicians with an evidence-based approach to screening, diagnosis and symptomatic treatment. However, current guidelines do not offer a structured approach to identification of underlying causes. A panel of 37 internationally recognised delirium experts from diverse medical backgrounds worked together in a modified Delphi approach via an online platform. Consensus was reached after five voting rounds. The final product of this project is a set of three delirium management algorithms (the Delirium Delphi Algorithms), one for ward patients, one for patients after cardiac surgery and one for patients in the intensive care unit.</p

Cardio-renal syndromes: report from the consensus conference of the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative

A consensus conference on cardio-renal syndromes (CRS) was held in Venice Italy, in September 2008 under the auspices of the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative (ADQI). The following topics were matter of discussion after a systematic literature review and the appraisal of the best available evidence: definition/classification system; epidemiology; diagnostic criteria and biomarkers; prevention/protection strategies; management and therapy. The umbrella term CRS was used to identify a disorder of the heart and kidneys whereby acute or chronic dysfunction in one organ may induce acute or chronic dysfunction in the other organ. Different syndromes were identified and classified into five subtypes. Acute CRS (type 1): acute worsening of heart function (AHF–ACS) leading to kidney injury and/or dysfunction. Chronic cardio-renal syndrome (type 2): chronic abnormalities in heart function (CHF-CHD) leading to kidney injury and/or dysfunction. Acute reno-cardiac syndrome (type 3): acute worsening of kidney function (AKI) leading to heart injury and/or dysfunction. Chronic reno-cardiac syndrome (type 4): chronic kidney disease leading to heart injury, disease, and/or dysfunction. Secondary CRS (type 5): systemic conditions leading to simultaneous injury and/or dysfunction of heart and kidney. Consensus statements concerning epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention, and management strategies are discussed in the paper for each of the syndromes