Split Scheduling with Uniform Setup Times

We study a scheduling problem in which jobs may be split into parts, where the parts of a split job may be processed simultaneously on more than one machine. Each part of a job requires a setup time, however, on the machine where the job part is processed. During setup a machine cannot process or set up any other job. We concentrate on the basic case in which setup times are job-, machine-, and sequence-independent. Problems of this kind were encountered when modelling practical problems in planning disaster relief operations. Our main algorithmic result is a polynomial-time algorithm for minimising total completion time on two parallel identical machines. We argue why the same problem with three machines is not an easy extension of the two-machine case, leaving the complexity of this case as a tantalising open problem. We give a constant-factor approximation algorithm for the general case with any number of machines and a polynomial-time approximation scheme for a fixed number of machines. For the version with objective minimising weighted total completion time we prove NP-hardness. Finally, we conclude with an overview of the state of the art for other split scheduling problems with job-, machine-, and sequence-independent setup times

What does it mean to grow up with juvenile idiopathic arthritis? A qualitative study on the perspectives of patients

We investigated what it means to patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) to grow up with this disease. A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured, in-depth interviews of 11 patients with JIA, aged 18-30 years. Interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using procedures inherent to the grounded theory approach. Five main themes emerged: physical impact, medication, relationships and family, friends, and perceptions of their future. The physical impact of JIA involved functional limitations, pain, and fatigue. Taking medication properly was difficult; side effects were seen as a problem. With regard to relationships and family, JIA affected the subjects in their roles as family members and affected intimate relationships, pregnancy, and raising children. Indeed, the majority of the patients were afraid to become pregnant or to have children. Most patients found friends who understand their situation and who are a big support. Some patients were afraid of what the future would bring. A better understanding of the psychosocial needs of adolescents with JIA and getting insight into what it means to grow up with this condition will assist healthcare professionals to target interventions that are timely and effective in transitional care to adulthood.status: publishe

What does it mean to grow up with juvenile idiopathic arthritis?

Allied Health Professionals in Rheumatology (AHP) Abstracts 27. Paediatric rheumatology EULAR2010-AHP-2198 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GROW UP WITH JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS? D. Hilderson 1, 2,*, L. Eyckmans 1, R. Westhovens 3, C. Wouters 4, P. Moons 2 1Department of Paediatrics, 3Rheumatology, Department of Musculoskeletal Sciences, 4Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, University Hospitals Leuven, 2Centre for Health Services and Nursing Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium Background: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease in childhood which typically starts before the age of 16. More than one-third of youngsters with JIA still experience active disease with significant morbidities in adulthood (1). Several studies using a quantitative design have shown a potential large impact of JIA on health related quality of life (2,3). Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate what it means to afflicted adolescents/young adults to grow up with JIA using a qualitative approach. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using semi-structured, in-depth interviews of 11 patients with JIA. Patients were eligible for inclusion if they were between 18 and 30 years of age, if they were treated and followed up for JIA at the University Hospitals Leuven (Belgium). Selection of the patients was based on a purposive sampling technique. Interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using procedures inherent to the grounded theory approach. Results: Five main themes emerged: physical impact, medication, relationships and family, friends, and perceptions of their future. The physical impact of JIA involved functional limitations, pain, and fatigue. Participants reported that their functional limitations had an impact on school participation and physical education; on activities of daily living, hobbies, and engagement in sports as well on job participation. These patients mentioned that their pain threshold had changed over the course of the disease: they also learned to moderate. Concerning fatigue, they learned to cope with fatigue by avoiding activities, setting boundaries, and using aids. Taking medication properly was difficult; side effects were seen as a problem. With regard to relationships and family, JIA affected the youngsters in their roles as family members and affected intimate relationships, their thinking about pregnancy and raising children. Indeed, the majority of the patients were afraid to become pregnant or to have kids. Most patients found friends who understood their situation and who were considered a big support. Some patients were afraid of what the future would bring. Conclusion: A better understanding of the psychosocial needs of adolescents with JIA and getting insight into what it means to grow up with this condition will assist healthcare professionals to target interventions that are timely and effective in transitional care to adulthood. Different quantitative studies have highlighted the effect of JIA on various domains of health-related quality of life. This qualitative approach allowed us to reveal how the adolescents manage to cope with JIA throughout the disease course. References: 1. Huygen ACJ, Kuis W, Sinnema G. Psychological, behavioural, and social adjustment in children and adolescents with juvenile chronic arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2000; 59: 276 – 282. 2. Foster HE, Marshall N, Myers A, Dunkley P, Griffiths ID: Outcome in adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a quality of life study. Arthritis Rheum 2003; 48(3):767-75. 3. Duarte-Salazar C, Guzman-Vazquez S, Soto-Molina H et al.: Disability impact on quality of life in Mexican adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and juvenile ankylosing spondylitis. Clin Exp Rheumatol 2007; 25(6):922-7.status: publishe

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EURATOM FP7 GENTLE PROJECT

The Euratom GENTLE project is a pan-European effort pulling together the leading institutions in the field of nuclear engineering and education to create a sustainable life-long learning programme in the field of nuclear fission technology. Directly targeting the needs of industry, research, regulatory and TSO organizations, three different learning programmes have been developed: 1) support for student research experiences (where graduate and undergraduate students can apply for internships at GENTLE partners), 2) inter-semester courses for undergraduate and graduate students on topics outside regular curricula (organized at partner institutes) and 3) a professional education programme (targeting professionals with at least 5 years of working experience, not necessarily in the nuclear field) that are envisioned to work in the nuclear industry. These programmes will be available for the public in 2015-2016. More information can be found at www.gentleproject.eu/.JRC.E.3-Materials researc

Student oportunities in the frame of the European Project GENTLE

Nuclear safety and security are of prime concern in our society, independent of whether a country is using nuclear power as an energy source or not. In order to keep the current high levels of safety and security, a high quality of the nuclear education and training (E&T) is of key importance. A highly skilled and well informed workforce is essential to maintain the current civil nuclear reactor fleet safely, to decommission obsolete plants, to be involved in new build where policy dictates, and to deal with the legacy and future radioactive wastes. It also helps Europe’s nuclear industry and technical safety organizations maintain their strong international position and thus to secure employment and competiveness in the long term. In the light of this, the GENTLE [1] project (Graduate and Executive Nuclear Training and Lifelong Education) was launched within the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission.JRC.E.3-Materials researc

Scheduling over scenarios on two machines

We consider scheduling problems over scenarios where the goal is to find a single assignment of the jobs to the machines which performs well over all possible scenarios. Each scenario is a subset of jobs that must be executed in that scenario and all scenarios are given explicitly. The two objectives that we consider are minimizing the maximum makespan over all scenarios and minimizing the sum of the makespans of all scenarios. For both versions, we give several approximation algorithms and lower bounds on their approximability. With this research into optimization problems over scenarios, we have opened a new and rich field of interesting problems. © 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

Illness Identity in Adults with a Chronic Illness

Objective. The present study examines the concept of illness identity, the degree to which a chronic illness is integrated into one’s identity, in adults with a chronic illness by validating a new self-report questionnaire, the Illness Identity Questionnaire (IIQ). Methods. Self-report questionnaires on illness identity, psychological and physical functioning were assessed in two samples: adults with congenital heart disease (22-78 year old; n=276) and with multisystem connective tissue disorders (systemic lupus erythematosus or systemic sclerosis; 17-81 year old; n=241). Results. The IIQ could differentiate four illness identity states (i.e., engulfment, rejection, acceptance, and enrichment) in both samples, based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. All four subscales proved to be reliable. Rejection and engulfment were related to maladaptive psychological and physical functioning, whereas acceptance and enrichment were related to adaptive psychological and physical functioning. Conclusion. The present findings underscore the importance of the concept of illness identity. The IIQ, a self-report questionnaire, is introduced to measure four different illness identity states in adults with a chronic illness.status: publishe

Dopamine induces lipid accumulation, NADPH oxidase-related oxidative stress, and a proinflammatory status of the plasma membrane in H9c2 cells

Excess catecholamine levels are suggested to be cardiotoxic and to underlie stress-induced heart failure. The cardiotoxic effects of norepinephrine and epinephrine are well recognized. However, although cardiac and circulating dopamine levels are also increased in stress cardiomyopathy patients, knowledge regarding putative toxic effects of excess dopamine levels on cardiomyocytes is scarce. We now studied the effects of elevated dopamine levels in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts. H9c2 cells were cultured and treated with dopamine (200 μM) for 6, 24, and 48 h. Subsequently, the effects on lipid accumulation, cell viability, flippase activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, subcellular NADPH oxidase (NOX) protein expression, and ATP/ADP and GTP/GDP levels were analyzed. Dopamine did not result in cytotoxic effects after 6 h. However, after 24 and 48 h dopamine treatment induced a significant increase in lipid accumulation, nitrotyrosine levels, indicative of ROS production, and cell death. In addition, dopamine significantly reduced flippase activity and ATP/GTP levels, coinciding with phosphatidylserine exposure on the outer plasma membrane. Furthermore, dopamine induced a transient increase in cytoplasmic and (peri)nucleus NOX1 and NOX4 expression after 24 h that subsided after 48 h. Moreover, while dopamine induced a similar transient increase in cytoplasmic NOX2 and p47(phox) expression, in the (peri)nucleus this increased expression persisted for 48 h where it colocalized with ROS. Exposure of H9c2 cells to elevated dopamine levels induced lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and a proinflammatory status of the plasma membrane. This can, in part, explain the inflammatory response in patients with stress-induced heart failur

Absence of cardiotoxicity of the experimental cytotoxic drug cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPEC) in rats

The experimental anticancer drug cyclopentenyl cytosine (CPEC) was associated with cardiotoxicity in a phase I study. The aim of the present study was twofold; first we investigated whether the observed effects could be reproduced in in-vitro and in-vivo rat models. Second, we intended to investigate the underlying mechanism of the possible cardiotoxicity of CPEC. Effects on frequency and contractility were studied on the isolated atria of 18 male Wistar rats. Atria were incubated with 0.1 mmol L(-1) (n = 6) or 1 mmol L(-1) (n = 6) CPEC for 1.5 h and compared with control atria (incubation with buffer solution, n = 6). The cardiac apoptosis-inducing potential was studied in-vivo on 66 rats by 99mTc-Annexin V scintigraphy, followed by postmortem determination of radioactivity in tissues, histological confirmation with the TUNEL assay (late-phase apoptosis), and immunohistochemical staining for cleaved caspase 3 and cytochrome C (early-phase apoptosis). Serum levels of the necrotic cardiomyopathy marker troponin T were also determined. No effect on heart frequency was found in the isolated atria after CPEC treatment. A trend towards a decrease of contraction force was observed. However, the differences were not statistically significant. 99mTc-Annexin V scintigraphy showed no increase in cardiac uptake ratio upon CPEC treatment in the in-vivo rat model, which was confirmed by determination of radioactivity in heart versus blood ratios. At each section a few individual isolated late apoptotic cells ( <5) could be identified by the TUNEL assay in the highest CPEC dose group (90 mg kg(-1)) but not in controls or in rats treated with 60 mg kg(-1) CPEC. Staining for the early apoptosis markers cleaved caspase 3 and cytochrome C did not reveal any significant differences between treated and control rats. Cardiac troponin T levels were not increased after CPEC treatment. CPEC does not affect heart frequency or contraction force in our cardiotoxicity models. Moreover, we did not find an indication of CPEC-induced apoptosis in heart tissu