Distributed time management in transputer networks

For real-time applications in a distributed system a common notion of time is indispensable. Clocks are used for time measurement, determination of causality, process synchronization and generating unique identifications. All this is only possible if there is a time reference of specified accuracy. Since the local clocks in a distributed system tend to drift away from each other, they need to be adjusted periodically. If the application allows an accuracy that can be met by software, this may be achieved by a distributed clock synchronization algorithm, which creates and maintains a global time reference for all nodes of the network. The design and simulation of such an algorithm for a distributed system consisting of transputers is described. It is based on second order filtered adjustment of the clock rates rather than updating the clock values at onc

Are long term care facilities (LTCF) prepared for H1N1?

Background: A 2007 survey of Midwestern LTCF suggested that less than 25% had a written pandemic influenza response plan. Upon request from a rural nursing home, we developed pandemic influenza planning recommendations for LTCF. Methods: In September 2009, we mailed written recommendations to 144 LTCF in West Texas and New Mexico and included a survey with questions about the facility, facility preparedness, and the usefulness of the recommendations. We performed standard statistical analysis on returned surveys. Results: 24/143 (17%) facilities returned the survey, indicating that they had read (21) or planned to read (3) the recommendations. 15/23 (65%) of surveys were from facilities in rural communities. 16/23 (70%) of facilities already had a written pandemic influenza response plan. Most facilities had stockpiled some supplies: gloves (19/24, 79%), alcohol based hand washes (18/24, 75%), surgical masks (16/24, 67%), and N95 masks (8/24, 33%). 18/24 (75%) had discussed obtaining vaccine with the health department, 17/24 (71%) had instituted staff education and training, and 15/24 (63%) had developed written material for staff and families. 11/24 (49%) anticipated staffing shortages; most planned to use overtime, non-clinical staff, and volunteers to provide for clinical services during staff shortages. Only 3/24 (13%) of these facilities planned to use commercial agencies for staffing shortage. Of those who had read the recommendations, 100% found them helpful or very helpful. The most frequently cited anticipated changes based on the recommendations included changing isolation procedures (11/24, 46%) and vaccination program (9/24, 38%); review of staff absenteeism policies (38%); and revision of the written pandemic influenza plan (38%). There were no statistical differences between facilities in urban and rural communities with regard to the presence of a written plan, staff training, discussions with the health department, stockpiling of supplies, or anticipated changes based on review of the recommendations. Conclusions: This small survey suggests that LTCF may be better prepared for pandemic influenza than they were two years ago. These facilities found that mailed written planning recommendations were helpful, and would result in changes to deal with H1N1 pandemic influenza

Corruption of the Intra-Gene DNA Methylation Architecture Is a Hallmark of Cancer

Epigenetic processes - including DNA methylation - are increasingly seen as having a fundamental role in chronic diseases like cancer. It is well known that methylation levels at particular genes or loci differ between normal and diseased tissue. Here we investigate whether the intra-gene methylation architecture is corrupted in cancer and whether the variability of levels of methylation of individual CpGs within a defined gene is able to discriminate cancerous from normal tissue, and is associated with heterogeneous tumour phenotype, as defined by gene expression. We analysed 270985 CpGs annotated to 18272 genes, in 3284 cancerous and 681 normal samples, corresponding to 14 different cancer types. In doing so, we found novel differences in intra-gene methylation pattern across phenotypes, particularly in those genes which are crucial for stem cell biology; our measures of intra-gene methylation architecture are a better determinant of phenotype than measures based on mean methylation level alone (K-S test [Formula: see text] in all 14 diseases tested). These per-gene methylation measures also represent a considerable reduction in complexity, compared to conventional per-CpG beta-values. Our findings strongly support the view that intra-gene methylation architecture has great clinical potential for the development of DNA-based cancer biomarkers

Should the Ruptured Renal Allograft Be Removed?

During a 16-month period when 93 renal transplants were performed, eight kidney graft ruptures were detected within 18 days of transplantation, without evidence of venous obstruction. Six grafts were removed at the time of an exploratory operation for rupture and only one showed signs of probable irreversible rejection when examined by microscopy. Two graft ruptures were repaired and one of these grafts has had good long-term function 22 months later. These observations suggest that if bleeding at the site of graft rupture can be securely controlled and if the conditions of the patient and of the graft are favorable except for the rupture, it may be possible to save more than one of eight grafts. © 1979, American Medical Association. All rights reserved

M\=aori algorithmic sovereignty: idea, principles, and use

Due to the emergence of data-driven technologies in Aotearoa New Zealand that use M\=aori data, there is a need for values-based frameworks to guide thinking around balancing the tension between the opportunities these create, and the inherent risks that these technologies can impose. Algorithms can be framed as a particular use of data, therefore data frameworks that currently exist can be extended to include algorithms. M\=aori data sovereignty principles are well-known and are used by researchers and government agencies to guide the culturally appropriate use of M\=aori data. Extending these principles to fit the context of algorithms, and re-working the underlying sub-principles to address issues related to responsible algorithms from a M\=aori perspective leads to the M\=aori algorithmic sovereignty principles. We define this idea, present the updated principles and subprinciples, and highlight how these can be used to decolonise algorithms currently in use, and argue that these ideas could potentially be used to developed Indigenised algorithms

Positron Testing of Carbon-Fiber Composites

Composites of various types are becoming more and more important as structural and engineered materials. The projected growth in worldwide use for fiber composites is 13% for the decade ending in 1995 [1].</p

Comparison of community-onset Staphylococcus argenteus and Staphylococcus aureus sepsis in Thailand: a prospective multicentre observational study.

Staphylococcus argenteus is a globally distributed cause of human infection, but diagnostic laboratories misidentify this as Staphylococcus aureus. We determined whether there is clinical utility in distinguishing between the two. A prospective cohort study of community-onset invasive staphylococcal sepsis was conducted in adults at four hospitals in northeast Thailand between 2010 and 2013. Of 311 patients analysed, 58 (19%) were infected with S. argenteus and 253 (81%) with S. aureus. Most S. argenteus (54/58) were multilocus sequence type 2250. Infection with S. argenteus was more common in males, but rates of bacteraemia and drainage procedures were similar in the two groups. S. argenteus precipitated significantly less respiratory failure than S. aureus (5.2% versus 20.2%, adjusted OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06-0.74, p 0.015), with a similar but non-significant trend for shock (6.9% versus 12.3%, adjusted OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.15-1.44, p 0.18). This did not translate into a difference in death at 28 days (6.9% versus 8.7%, adjusted OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.24-2.65, p 0.72). S. argenteus was more susceptible to antimicrobial drugs compared with S. aureus, and contained fewer toxin genes although pvl was detected in 16% (9/58). We conclude that clinical differences exist in association with sepsis due to S. argenteus versus S. aureus

TLR4 genetic variation is associated with inflammatory responses in Gram-positive sepsis.

OBJECTIVES: To identify important pathogen recognition receptor (PRR) pathways regulating innate immune responses and outcome in Staphylococcus aureus sepsis. METHODS: We analysed whether candidate PRR pathway genetic variants were associated with killed S. aureus-induced cytokine responses ex vivo and performed follow-up in vitro studies. We tested the association of our top-ranked variant with cytokine responses and clinical outcomes in a prospective multicentre cohort of patients with staphylococcal sepsis. RESULTS: An intronic TLR4 polymorphism and expression quantitative trait locus, rs1927907, was highly associated with cytokine release induced by stimulation of blood from healthy Thai subjects with S. aureus ex vivo. S. aureus did not induce TLR4-dependent NF-κB activation in transfected HEK293 cells. In monocytes, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α release induced by S. aureus was not blunted by a TLR4/MD-2 neutralizing antibody, but in a monocyte cell line, TNF-α was reduced by knockdown of TLR4. In Thai patients with staphylococcal sepsis, rs1927907 was associated with higher interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels as well as with respiratory failure. S. aureus-induced responses in blood were most highly correlated with responses to Gram-negative stimulants whole blood. CONCLUSIONS: A genetic variant in TLR4 is associated with cytokine responses to S. aureus ex vivo and plasma cytokine levels and respiratory failure in staphylococcal sepsis. While S. aureus does not express lipopolysaccharide or activate TLR4 directly, the innate immune response to S. aureus does appear to be modulated by TLR4 and shares significant commonality with that induced by Gram-negative pathogens and lipopolysaccharide

The Nature of Notebooks: How Enlightenment Schoolchildren Transformed the Tabula Rasa

John Locke's comparison of the mind to a blank piece of paper, the tabula rasa, was one of the most recognizable metaphors of the British Enlightenment. Though scholars embrace its impact on the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, they seldom consider why the metaphor was so successful. Concentrating on the notebooks made and used by the schoolchildren of Enlightenment Scotland, this essay contends that the answer lies in the material and visual conditions that gave rise to the metaphor's usage. By the time students had finished school, they had learned to conceptualize the pages, the script, and the figures of their notebooks as indispensable learning tools that could be manipulated by scores of adaptable folding, writing, and drawing techniques. In this article, I reveal that historicizing the epistemology and manipulability of student manuscript culture makes it possible to see that the success of Locke's metaphor was founded on its appeal to everyday note-keeping activities performed by British schoolchildren