Extending Context-Sensitivity in Term Rewriting

We propose a generalized version of context-sensitivity in term rewriting based on the notion of "forbidden patterns". The basic idea is that a rewrite step should be forbidden if the redex to be contracted has a certain shape and appears in a certain context. This shape and context is expressed through forbidden patterns. In particular we analyze the relationships among this novel approach and the commonly used notion of context-sensitivity in term rewriting, as well as the feasibility of rewriting with forbidden patterns from a computational point of view. The latter feasibility is characterized by demanding that restricting a rewrite relation yields an improved termination behaviour while still being powerful enough to compute meaningful results. Sufficient criteria for both kinds of properties in certain classes of rewrite systems with forbidden patterns are presented

Termination of Rewriting with and Automated Synthesis of Forbidden Patterns

We introduce a modified version of the well-known dependency pair framework that is suitable for the termination analysis of rewriting under forbidden pattern restrictions. By attaching contexts to dependency pairs that represent the calling contexts of the corresponding recursive function calls, it is possible to incorporate the forbidden pattern restrictions in the (adapted) notion of dependency pair chains, thus yielding a sound and complete approach to termination analysis. Building upon this contextual dependency pair framework we introduce a dependency pair processor that simplifies problems by analyzing the contextual information of the dependency pairs. Moreover, we show how this processor can be used to synthesize forbidden patterns suitable for a given term rewriting system on-the-fly during the termination analysis.Comment: In Proceedings IWS 2010, arXiv:1012.533

Aktive Arbeitsmarktpolitik im Brennpunkt VIII: Aktivierung als Prävention vor Langzeitarbeitslosigkeit. Evaluierung des Programmes Jobcoaching 2000 des AMS Wien

Mit Jahresbeginn 2000 wurde seitens des AMS Wien eine neue Form der Regelbetreuung für Kurzzeitarbeitslose implementiert. Als zentrale Ziele wurden eine frühzeitige Aktivierung von 'neu' arbeitslos gewordenen Personen und in der Folge eine Verringerung der Übertritte in die Langzeitarbeitslosigkeit angepeilt. Um diese Ziele zu erreichen, setzte das Programm Jobcoaching 2000 auf drei neue Aktivierungsmomente

Rotating Night Shift Work and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Two Prospective Cohort Studies in Women

An Pan and colleagues examined data from two Nurses' Health Studies and found that extended periods of rotating night shift work were associated with a modestly increased risk of type 2 diabetes, partly mediated through body weight

Users’ Awareness, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Health Risks Associated with Excessive Lighting in Night Markets: Policy Implications for Sustainable Development

The introduction of artificial lighting has dramatically transformed nighttime activities, becoming a very positive but also disruptive factor that must be optimized and adapted according to the guidelines of sustainable policies. In this framework, night markets in Thailand are definitely popular destinations among locals and tourists that are found in every town and city in the whole country, being the source of livelihoods for many people. It is well-known that shops in night markets frequently use colorful light sources, emitting high levels of illumination to attract customers. Since previous research has shown environmental risks of inappropriate lighting on human health and well-being, as well as on ecosystems, excessive lighting in night markets could have adverse effects on vendors’ health if they are exposed to high illumination levels during long hours every night. This is a risk for people, but also for their attachment to their lands, traditions, culture, and way of life. This study was designed to explore whether excessive illumination of night markets has impacts on vendors’ health and well-being. The research was conducted through an empirical study in a night market in the center of Surin province (Thailand), using observations and a questionnaire survey of 205 vendors and clients (non-vendors). The results show that night markets’ vendors were more likely to suffer from eye- and sleep-related problems than non-vendors. Women were affected more than men

Trends in female breast cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in Austria, with focus on age, stage, and birth cohorts (1983-2017)

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed malignant disease and the leading cause of cancer death in women in Austria. We investigated overall and subgroup-specific female breast cancer rates to provide a comprehensive analysis of trends over several decades. Incidence, mortality, and survival, as well as age-, stage-, and birth cohort-specific incidence were analysed using nationwide cancer registry data on 163,694 cases of female breast cancer in Austria (1983-2017). Annual percentage changes were estimated using joinpoint regression. BC incidence underwent linear increases until 1997 and reversed with statistically non-significant declines until 2017. After initial increases in BC-specific mortality, rates were stable from 1989 through 1995 and started declining thereafter, although statistically non-significantly after 2011. Overall BC-specific survivals, as well as survivals according to the calendar period of diagnosis, increased throughout the observation period. Incidence in younger women (aged 44 and lower) showed linear increases, whereas for women aged 45 and higher mostly stable or decreasing rates were observed. Localised BC incidence increased markedly and started declining only in 2012. Distant disease-BC incidence decreased through the whole observation period and incidence of regionalised BC started declining in 2000. Birth cohort-specific incidence peaked in women born between 1935 and 1949 (ages 45-74). In conclusion, the incidence of BC in younger women is increasing, while overall female BC incidence and mortality are stable with non-significant declines. Further, increases in the incidence of early-stage BC (localised) seem disproportionately high in comparison to more modest decreases in late-stage BC incidence (regionalised and distant disease)

Meal-timing patterns and chronic disease prevalence in two representative Austrian studies

PURPOSE This study aimed at describing meal-timing patterns using cluster analysis and explore their association with sleep and chronic diseases, before and during COVID-19 mitigation measures in Austria. METHODS Information was collected in two surveys in 2017 (N = 1004) and 2020 (N = 1010) in representative samples of the Austrian population. Timing of main meals, nighttime fasting interval, last-meal-to-bed time, breakfast skipping and eating midpoint were calculated using self-reported information. Cluster analysis was applied to identify meal-timing clusters. Multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were used to study the association of meal-timing clusters with prevalence of chronic insomnia, depression, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and self-rated bad health status. RESULTS In both surveys, median breakfast, lunch and dinner times on weekdays were 7:30, 12:30 and 18:30. One out of four participants skipped breakfast and the median number of eating occasions was 3 in both samples. We observed correlation between the different meal-timing variables. Cluster analysis resulted in the definition of two clusters in each sample (A17 and B17 in 2017, and A20 and B20 in 2020). Clusters A comprised most respondents, with fasting duration of 12-13 h and median eating midpoint between 13:00 and 13:30. Clusters B comprised participants reporting longer fasting intervals and later mealtimes, and a high proportion of breakfast skippers. Chronic insomnia, depression, obesity and self-rated bad health-status were more prevalent in clusters B. CONCLUSIONS Austrians reported long fasting intervals and low eating frequency. Meal-timing habits were similar before and during the COVID-19-pandemic. Besides individual characteristics of meal-timing, behavioural patterns need to be evaluated in chrono-nutrition epidemiological studies

Combining F-18-FDG positron emission tomography with Up-to-seven criteria for selecting suitable liver transplant patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

The Up-to-seven (UTS) criteria (sum of tumor size and number not exceeding 7) for indicating liver transplantation (LT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were originally based on explant pathology features and absence of microvascular invasion (MVI). F-18-fludeoxyglucose (F-18-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) was shown to indicate the risk of MVI and tumor recurrence. The aim of this study was to analyze the prognostic significance of the clinical UTS criteria when being combined with PET-status of the tumor. Data of 116 liver transplant patients were subject to retrospective analysis. Five-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates in patients meeting (n = 85) and exceeding (n = 21) the radiographic UTS criteria were 81% and 55.1%, respectively (p = 0.014). In the UTS In subset, RFS was significantly better in PET-negative (94.9%) than in PET-positive patients (48.3%;p < 0.001). In the UTS Out subset, 5-year RFS rates were 87.1% and 19% in patients with non-F-18-FDG-avid and F-18-FDG-avid tumors (p < 0.001), respectively. Positive PET-status was identified as the only independent clinical predictor of tumor recurrence in beyond UTS patients (Hazard ratio [HR] 19.25;p < 0.001). Combining radiographic UTS criteria with FDG-PET may safely expand the HCC selection criteria for LT