Optimal Data Distribution for Big-Data All-to-All Comparison using Finite Projective and Affine Planes

An All-to-All Comparison problem is where every element of a data set is compared with every other element. This is analogous to projective planes and affine planes where every pair of points share a common line. For large data sets, the comparison computations can be distributed across a cluster of computers. All-to-All Comparison does not fit the highly successful Map-Reduce pattern, so a new distributed computing framework is required. The principal challenge is to distribute the data in such a way that computations can be scheduled where the data already lies. This paper uses projective planes, affine planes and balanced incomplete block designs to design data distributions and schedule computations. The data distributions based on these geometric and combinatorial structures achieve minimal data replication whilst balancing the computational load across the cluster

Tree management and the greening of the environment in Hong Kong : a study of collaborative governance

published_or_final_versionPolitics and Public AdministrationMasterMaster of Public Administratio

Using a Place-Based Approach in Preparing Community Teachers for High-Need Schools

This case study describes actions and outcomes of a school-university partnership to better prepare teachers for high-need schools with large numbers of English Learners. Using a place-based approach to preparing community teachers, preservice and inservice teachers and teacher educators collaboratively learned how to work with families and community members to address student needs and developed core practices attuned to the socio-cultural context. The partnership also established a pathway to teaching for bilingual/bicultural students from the community. Data are derived from semi-structured interviews, focus groups, intern and teacher surveys, journal reflections, and a statewide teacher employment database

Dissecting Fc signatures of protection in neonates following maternal influenza vaccination in a placebo-controlled trial.

Influenza is an important cause of illness and morbidity for infants. Seasonal influenza vaccination during pregnancy aims to provide protection to mothers, but it can also provide immunity to infants. The precise influence of maternal vaccination on immunity in infants and how vaccine-elicited antibodies provide protection in some but not all infants is incompletely understood. We comprehensively profiled the transfer of functional antibodies and defined humoral factors contributing to immunity against influenza in a clinical trial of maternal influenza vaccination. Influenza-specific antibody subclass levels, Fc ɣ receptor (FCGR) binding levels, and antibody-dependent innate immune functions were all profiled in the mothers during pregnancy and at birth, as well as in cord blood. Vaccination increased influenza-specific antibody levels, antibody binding to FCGR, and specific antibody-dependent innate immune functions in both maternal and cord blood, with FCGR binding most enhanced via vaccination. Influenza-specific FCGR binding levels were lower in cord blood of infants who subsequently developed influenza infection. Collectively these data suggest that in addition to increased antibody amounts, the selective transfer of FCGR-binding antibodies contributes to the protective immune response in infants against influenza

Febrile Rhinovirus Illness During Pregnancy Is Associated With Low Birth Weight in Nepal.

BACKGROUND: Adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight (LBW), defined as \u3c2500 \u3egrams, small-for-gestational-age (SGA), and prematurity, contribute to 60%-80% of infant mortality worldwide and may be related to infections during pregnancy. The aim of this study was to assess whether febrile human rhinovirus (HRV) illness is associated with adverse birth outcomes. METHODS: Active household-based weekly surveillance was performed for respiratory illness episodes in pregnant women as part of a community-based, prospective, randomized trial of maternal influenza immunization in rural Nepal. Rhinovirus (HRV) febrile illness episodes were defined as fever plus cough, sore throat, runny nose, and/or myalgia with HRV detected on mid-nasal swab. Multivariate regression analysis evaluated the association between febrile HRV respiratory illness and adverse birth outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, 96 (3%) of 3693 pregnant women had HRV-positive febrile respiratory illnesses. Infants born to pregnant women with HRV febrile illness had a 1.6-fold increased risk of being LBW compared with those with non-HRV febrile illness (28 of 96 [38%] vs 109 of 458 [24%]; relative risk [RR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-2.3). No difference in risk of LBW was observed between infants born to mothers with non-HRV febrile respiratory illness and those without respiratory illness during pregnancy (109 of 458 [24%] vs 552 of 2220 [25%], respectively; RR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.8-1.2). CONCLUSIONS: Febrile illness due to rhinovirus during pregnancy was associated with increased risk of LBW in a rural South Asian population. Interventions to reduce the burden of febrile respiratory illness due to rhinovirus during pregnancy may have a significant impact on LBW and subsequent infant mortality

Nutritional Status of Infants at Six Months of Age Following Maternal Influenza Immunization: A Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial in Rural Nepal.

Background Maternal influenza vaccination has increased birth weight in two randomized trials in South Asia but the impact on infant growth is unknown. Methods A randomized placebo-controlled trial of year round maternal influenza immunization was conducted in two annual cohorts in Sarlahi District, southern plains of Nepal, from April 2011 through April 2014. Infants born to women enrolled in the trial had weight, length, and head circumference measured at birth and 6 months of age. The study was powered for the 3 primary trial outcomes but not for stunting and wasting at 6 months of age. Results 3693 women received placebo or influenza vaccine between 17 and 34 weeks gestation, resulting in 3646 live births. About 72% of infants who survived had weight and length measurements between 150 and 210 days of age. Prevalence of stunting (\u3c−2 Z scores length-for-age) was 14.8% in the placebo and 13.6% in the vaccine groups, respectively. Stunting \u3c −3 Z scores was 3.2% versus 2.0% in placebo versus vaccine groups (RR: 0.64 (95% CI: 0.39, 1.04)). Wasting (\u3c −2 Z scores weight for length) was 10.3% versus 11.0% for placebo versus vaccine groups. Severe wasting (\u3c −3 Z scores weight for length) was 3.8% for placebo versus 2.6% for vaccine (RR: 0.69 (95% CI: 0.44, 1.07)). The impact of flu vaccine on wasting was greater in cohort 2 than in cohort 1, (RR: 0.66 (0.44, 0.99) for any wasting), and RR: 0.45 (0.19, 1.09) for severe wasting. This corresponded to a larger impact on birth weight and a better vaccine match with circulating viruses in cohort 2. Conclusions Although maternal immunization reduced low birth weight by 15%, only wasting at 6 months in the 2nd cohort was statistically significantly difference. However, the study was underpowered to detect reductions of public health importance. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01034254)

Impact of Maternal Vaccination Timing and Influenza Virus Circulation on Birth Outcomes in Rural Nepal.

Objective To describe the effect of maternal vaccination on birth outcomes in rural Nepal, modified by timing of vaccination in pregnancy and influenza virus activity. Methods A secondary analysis was conducted using data from two annual cohorts of a randomized controlled trial. A total of 3693 pregnant women from Sarlahi District were enrolled between April 25, 2011, and September 9, 2013. All participants were aged 15–40 years and received a trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine or placebo. The outcome measures included birth weight, pregnancy length, low birth weight (\u3c2500 g), preterm birth, and small‐for‐gestational‐age birth. Results Data were available on birth weight for 2741 births and on pregnancy length for 3623 births. Maternal vaccination increased mean birthweight by 42 g (95% confidence interval [CI] 8–76). The magnitude of this increase varied by season but was greatest among pregnancies with high influenza virus circulation during the third trimester. Birth weight increased by 111 g (95% CI −51 to 273) when 75%–100% of a pregnancy\u27s third trimester had high influenza virus circulation versus 38 g (95% CI −6 to 81) when 0%–25% of a pregnancy\u27s third trimester had high influenza virus circulation. However, these results were nonsignificant. Conclusion Seasonal maternal influenza vaccination in rural Nepal increased birth weight; the magnitude appeared larger during periods of high influenza virus circulation. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01034254