PHR: A parallel hierarchical radiosity system with dynamic load balancing

In this paper, we present a parallel system called PHR for computing hierarchical radiosity solutions of complex scenes. The system is targeted for multi-processor architectures with distributed memory. The system evaluates and subdivides the interactions level by level in a breadth first fashion, and the interactions are redistributed at the end of each level to keep load balanced. In order to allow interactions freely travel across processors, all the patch data is replicated on all the processors. Hence, the system favors load balancing at the expense of increased communication volume. However, the results show that the overhead of communication is negligible compared with total execution time. We obtained a speed-up of 25 for 32 processors in our test scenes. © 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

Genetic parameter estimates for growth traits in saanen kids [Saanen oğlaklarında büyüme özellikleri İçin genetik parametre tahminleri]

Genetic parameters of test day (from birth to sixth month) body weight and body size parameters of Saanen kids were estimated by random regression with third order Legendre polynomial. The analyses were applied to 2673 test day records of 382 Saanen kids (Twin = 328; Single = 54; Female = 204; Male = 178) in a private dairy goat farm in Samsun, at the black Sea region of Turkey. Permanent environmental variances were static for height at sacrum, height at withers and chest depth, increased for body weight and body length on time. Heritability values ranged from 0.2679 to 0.6135 for body weight and Height at withers. Genetic correlations changed between 0.725 and 0.979 in all traits. The positive high genetic correlations among traits suggested that selection for any one of these traits would result in considerable positive change in other traits. © 2015, Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi. All rights reserved

Percutaneous coronary intervention vs. optimal medical therapy - the other side of the coin: medication adherence

What is known and objectiveAlthough many studies have examined medication adherence in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), no prospective trial has compared medication adherence between patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or with optimal medical therapy (OMT) in real life. This study sought to compare the adherence to evidence-based secondary preventive medications in patients with documented CAD treated with PCI and OMT, or OMT alone