Cluster Computing and the Power of Edge Recognition

We study the robustness--the invariance under definition changes--of the cluster class CL#P [HHKW05]. This class contains each #P function that is computed by a balanced Turing machine whose accepting paths always form a cluster with respect to some length-respecting total order with efficient adjacency checks. The definition of CL#P is heavily influenced by the defining paper's focus on (global) orders. In contrast, we define a cluster class, CLU#P, to capture what seems to us a more natural model of cluster computing. We prove that the naturalness is costless: CL#P = CLU#P. Then we exploit the more natural, flexible features of CLU#P to prove new robustness results for CL#P and to expand what is known about the closure properties of CL#P. The complexity of recognizing edges--of an ordered collection of computation paths or of a cluster of accepting computation paths--is central to this study. Most particularly, our proofs exploit the power of unique discovery of edges--the ability of nondeterministic functions to, in certain settings, discover on exactly one (in some cases, on at most one) computation path a critical piece of information regarding edges of orderings or clusters

The relationship between myoelectrical properties and contraction intensity

A thesis submitted to the University of Bedfordshire, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of MSc (Research)The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle force and electromyography (EMG) amplitude of muscles around the ankle, elbow, and knee. Frequency analysis was also conducted. 31 healthy volunteers (24.55 ± 4.64 years, 1.72 ± 0.08 m, 72.08 ± 23.67 kg) participated in this study. Volunteers were injury-free and provided informed consent before taking part. Surface EMG (sEMG) electrodes were situated over a total of 15 muscles over three joints. The right ankle, elbow, and knee joints were fixed at their mid-range of motion while participants isometrically contracted antagonistic muscle pairs at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 per cent contraction intensity. Visual inspection and coefficient of determination (R2) of a linear trendline was used to determine linearity of the EMG-force relationship of each muscle tested. An R2 value ≥ 0.990 indicated a linear relationship, between 0.980 – 0.989 indicated a curvilinear relationship, and ≤ 0.979 indicated an elbow point relationship; Linear relationships: triceps brachii – lateral head (R2 0.995), triceps brachii – long head (R2 1.000), semitendinosus (R2 0.997), fibularis brevis (R2 0.999), fibularis longus (R2 0.992). Curvilinear relationships: biceps femoris (R2 0.987), soleus (R2 0.985), tibialis anterior (R2 0.983). Elbow point relationships: biceps brachii (R2 0.965), brachioradialis (R2 0.930), rectus femoris (R2 0.968), vastus lateralis (R2 0.971), vastus medialis (R2 0.967), gastrocnemius lateralis (R2 0.964), gastrocnemius medialis (R2 0.968). Based on these data muscle fibre type and joint angle appear to have the greatest influence on the EMG-force relationship. Future research using a wider range of joint angles would be recommended

Using Education to Improve Timeliness and Efficiency of Medication Administration in an Inpatient Hospital Setting: A Quality Improvement Project

Background: Timeliness of medication administration is important for optimal patient care. Technology, interdepartmental communication, and nursing workflow influence on-time delivery of medications. Improving knowledge through PowerPoint™ education and visual aids such as medication alert placards improves interdepartmental communication and positively influences nursing workflow leading to improved medication delivery times. Local Problem: Nurses spend considerable time looking for and administering medications to patients on the unit. A goal was established to reduce the amount of time nurses spent looking for medications by 5% after implementing PowerPoint™ education to improve workflow. Methods: This project used the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) strategy for implementation. Surveys, observational data of nurses attempting medication retrievals, and missing medication data provided by pharmacy were analyzed prior to and after the intervention and compared. Interventions: Virtual PowerPoint™ education and Medication Alert Placards were introduced at the June 2023 staff meeting. Medication Alert placards were placed in nursing pods on the unit for a two-week period and workflow patterns were observed. Results: Mean resolution times for missing medications increased (M =30-90%) during the post-interventional period. Survey results revealed nurses somewhat agreed (M = 4.1) the intervention improved their knowledge of medication delivery but did not improve resolution times. Conclusion: Continued follow-up and investigation into nursing workflow processes and pharmacy inventory management are important to improve medication delivery times. Key words: automated dispensing cabinets, nursing, workflow, delays, medications, quality improvement

Personality Traits as Predictors of Online Customer Review Motivations

Online customer reviews (OCRs) are becoming increasingly popular among consumers who read them to make informed decisions about products and services. This study investigates consumers’ motivations for posting OCRs and the relationship between the motivations and the Big Five personality traits. The data come from an online sample of 352 online users who reported posting a review of a good or service. The results of the study indicate that individuals who post OCRs are driven primarily by interest in helping other consumers, followed by economic incentives, venting, self-efficacy, and social interaction. Using regression analyses, agreeableness was found to be positively related to interest in helping others and economic incentives, but negatively related to the venting motivation. Extraversion was found to be positively related to social interaction. Further exploration using canonical correlation analysis revealed a cluster of association between self-interested helpers (i.e., those motivated by economic incentives and the desire to help other consumers) and the Big Five personality traits of agreeableness and extraversion. Practical implications of these findings are discussed, as well as suggestions for future research

Performance and stability of telemanipulators using bilateral impedance control

A new method of control for telemanipulators called bilateral impedance control is investigated. This new method differs from previous approaches in that interaction forces are used as the communication signals between the master and slave robots. The new control architecture has several advantages: (1) It allows the master robot and the slave robot to be stabilized independently without becoming involved in the overall system dynamics; (2) It permits the system designers to arbitrarily specify desired performance characteristics such as the force and position ratios between the master and slave; (3) The impedance at both ends of the telerobotic system can be modulated to suit the requirements of the task. The main goals of the research are to characterize the performance and stability of the new control architecture. The dynamics of the telerobotic system are described by a bond graph model that illustrates how energy is transformed, stored, and dissipated. Performance can be completely described by a set of three independent parameters. These parameters are fundamentally related to the structure of the H matrix that regulates the communication of force signals within the system. Stability is analyzed with two mathematical techniques: the Small Gain Theorem and the Multivariable Nyquist Criterion. The theoretical predictions for performance and stability are experimentally verified by implementing the new control architecture on a multidegree of freedom telemanipulator

Are oral emergency contraceptives a safe & effective form of long-term birth control?

Q: Are oral emergency contraceptives a safe & effective form of long-term birth control? A: Yes, but not as effective as some other methods. Annual pregnancy rates in women using pericoital levonor- gestrel 150 mcg to 1 mg range from 4.9% to 8.9%; menstrual irregularity is the most common adverse effect (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, Cochrane review of lower-quality trials). In women younger than 35 years who have sexual intercourse 6 or fewer times per month, correct and consistent use of pericoital levonorgestrel 1.5 mg results in an annual pregnancy rate of 11% (SOR:B,one large prospective, open-label trial). Pericoital contraception is less effective than long-acting reversible contraceptives (annual pregnancy rates of 0.05%-0.8%) or perfect use of combined oral contraceptives (0.3% annual pregnancy rate), but similar to, or better than, typical use of combined oral contraception (9%) and condoms (18%).Authors: Connie Kraus, PharmD University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Pharmacy and Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Christopher Hooper-Lane, MA University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Ebling Library

Metabolic Contributions of an Alphaproteobacterial Endosymbiont in the Apicomplexan Cardiosporidium cionae

Apicomplexa is a diverse protistan phylum composed almost exclusively of metazoan-infecting parasites, including the causative agents of malaria, cryptosporidiosis, and toxoplasmosis. A single apicomplexan genus, Nephromyces, was described in 2010 as a mutualist partner to its tunicate host. Here we present genomic and transcriptomic data from the parasitic sister species to this mutualist, Cardiosporidium cionae, and its associated bacterial endosymbiont. Cardiosporidium cionae and Nephromyces both infect tunicate hosts, localize to similar organs within these hosts, and maintain bacterial endosymbionts. Though many other protists are known to harbor bacterial endosymbionts, these associations are completely unknown in Apicomplexa outside of the Nephromycidae clade. Our data indicate that a vertically transmitted α-proteobacteria has been retained in each lineage since Nephromyces and Cardiosporidium diverged. This α-proteobacterial endosymbiont has highly reduced metabolic capabilities, but contributes the essential amino acid lysine, and essential cofactor lipoic acid to C. cionae. This partnership likely reduces resource competition with the tunicate host. However, our data indicate that the contribution of the single α-proteobacterial endosymbiont in C. cionae is minimal compared to the three taxa of endosymbionts present in the Nephromyces system, and is a potential explanation for the virulence disparity between these lineages