On the construction of parallel computers from various bases of Boolean functions

The effects of bases of two-input boolean functions are characterised in terms of their impact on some questions in parallel computation. It is found that a certain set of bases (called the P-complete set) which are not necessarily complete in the classical sense, apparently makes the circuit value problem difficult, and renders extended Turing machines and conglomerates equal to general parallel computers. A class of problems called EP arises naturally from this study, relating to the parity of the number of solutions to a problem, in contrast to previously defined classes concerning the count of the number of solutions (#P) or the existence of solutions to a problem (NP). Tournament isomorphism is a member of EP

Matrix Land Use Analysis - a Case Study of Landscape Changes in Israeli Carmel Area

The spatial redistribution of the land uses can be measured by remote sensing conventional methods in the form of the matrices of the land uses redistributions within a given set of regions in a given time period. Two new methods of analysis of such land uses redistribution matrices are proposed. The first method represent the geometric and analytical algorithm of decomposition of the land use redistribution matrix into the convex combination of the land use matrices which represents the main tendencies of land use redistributions in a given set of regions in a given time period. Thus, each empirically given land use redistribution can be presented as a superposition of the land uses redistributions connected with the optimal solutions of some extreme land use redistributions corresponding to the parsimonious behavior of land users in a given set of regions in a given time period. The second method represents the construction of the artificial land use landscape corresponding to the minimum information land use redistribution with fixed initial and final land use distributions. The comparison of the empirical land uses landscape with the artificial oner can be acheived by measurement of the entropy limitator of homogenuity of land uses redistribution. This limitator represents the spatial specifics of an actual land use redistributions connected with different parsimonious behavior of the land users themselves. As an empirical validation of these new methods the set of 10 different regions in the vicinity of Haifa Carmel area is chosen for different time intervals and the main tendencies of land use redistributions are identified together with their minimum information artificial landscapes. The new methodology and modeling approach will assist future planning in the rural-urban fringe. Optimal solutions for nature conservation and urban development conflicts can be learned through the application of these models.

Balancing Bounded Treewidth Circuits

Algorithmic tools for graphs of small treewidth are used to address questions in complexity theory. For both arithmetic and Boolean circuits, it is shown that any circuit of size $n^{O(1)}$ and treewidth $O(\log^i n)$ can be simulated by a circuit of width $O(\log^{i+1} n)$ and size $n^c$, where $c = O(1)$, if $i=0$, and $c=O(\log \log n)$ otherwise. For our main construction, we prove that multiplicatively disjoint arithmetic circuits of size $n^{O(1)}$ and treewidth $k$ can be simulated by bounded fan-in arithmetic formulas of depth $O(k^2\log n)$. From this we derive the analogous statement for syntactically multilinear arithmetic circuits, which strengthens a theorem of Mahajan and Rao. As another application, we derive that constant width arithmetic circuits of size $n^{O(1)}$ can be balanced to depth $O(\log n)$, provided certain restrictions are made on the use of iterated multiplication. Also from our main construction, we derive that Boolean bounded fan-in circuits of size $n^{O(1)}$ and treewidth $k$ can be simulated by bounded fan-in formulas of depth $O(k^2\log n)$. This strengthens in the non-uniform setting the known inclusion that $SC^0 \subseteq NC^1$. Finally, we apply our construction to show that {\sc reachability} for directed graphs of bounded treewidth is in $LogDCFL$

Undecalcified Bone Preparation for Histology, Histomorphometry and Fluorochrome Analysis

Undecalcified bone histology demonstrates the micro-architecture of bone. It shows both the mineralised and cellular components of bone, which provides vital information on bone turnover or bone formation and resorption. This has tremendous importance in a variety of clinical and research applications. It yields beautiful images1 and allows for techniques such as fluorochrome assessment and histomorphometry2. Fluorochrome analysis is a technique where fluorescent dyes that bind to calcium are injected at a particular time point, which allows for quantification of the amount of mineralisation at that given time. Histomorphometry is a process of bone quantification at the microscopic level

The New Generation of Computer Literacy

A tremendous mismatch is developing between two of the most critical components of any computer literacy course: the textbooks and the students. We are encountering a new generation of students (literally as well as figuratively!) who are much better acquainted with computer usage than their earlier counterparts. Yet many textbooks with increasing emphasis in those same computer tools continue to appear. There are signs of a coming change in that a few authors and publishers apparently are becoming aware of the need for innovations in texts for non-scientists. These textbooks open the door for a new orientation to principles in the teaching of computer literacy

Cardiovascular risk estimation and eligibility for statins in primary prevention comparing different strategies.

Recommendations for statin use for primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) are based on estimation of the 10-year CHD risk. It is unclear which risk algorithm and guidelines should be used in European populations. Using data from a population-based study in Switzerland, we first assessed 10-year CHD risk and eligibility for statins in 5,683 women and men 35 to 75 years of age without cardiovascular disease by comparing recommendations by the European Society of Cardiology without and with extrapolation of risk to age 60 years, the International Atherosclerosis Society, and the US Adult Treatment Panel III. The proportions of participants classified as high-risk for CHD were 12.5% (15.4% with extrapolation), 3.0%, and 5.8%, respectively. Proportions of participants eligible for statins were 9.2% (11.6% with extrapolation), 13.7%, and 16.7%, respectively. Assuming full compliance to each guideline, expected relative decreases in CHD deaths in Switzerland over a 10-year period would be 16.4% (17.5% with extrapolation), 18.7%, and 19.3%, respectively; the corresponding numbers needed to treat to prevent 1 CHD death would be 285 (340 with extrapolation), 380, and 440, respectively. In conclusion, the proportion of subjects classified as high risk for CHD varied over a fivefold range across recommendations. Following the International Atherosclerosis Society and the Adult Treatment Panel III recommendations might prevent more CHD deaths at the cost of higher numbers needed to treat compared with European Society of Cardiology guidelines

Unary Pushdown Automata and Straight-Line Programs

We consider decision problems for deterministic pushdown automata over a unary alphabet (udpda, for short). Udpda are a simple computation model that accept exactly the unary regular languages, but can be exponentially more succinct than finite-state automata. We complete the complexity landscape for udpda by showing that emptiness (and thus universality) is P-hard, equivalence and compressed membership problems are P-complete, and inclusion is coNP-complete. Our upper bounds are based on a translation theorem between udpda and straight-line programs over the binary alphabet (SLPs). We show that the characteristic sequence of any udpda can be represented as a pair of SLPs---one for the prefix, one for the lasso---that have size linear in the size of the udpda and can be computed in polynomial time. Hence, decision problems on udpda are reduced to decision problems on SLPs. Conversely, any SLP can be converted in logarithmic space into a udpda, and this forms the basis for our lower bound proofs. We show coNP-hardness of the ordered matching problem for SLPs, from which we derive coNP-hardness for inclusion. In addition, we complete the complexity landscape for unary nondeterministic pushdown automata by showing that the universality problem is $\Pi_2 \mathrm P$-hard, using a new class of integer expressions. Our techniques have applications beyond udpda. We show that our results imply $\Pi_2 \mathrm P$-completeness for a natural fragment of Presburger arithmetic and coNP lower bounds for compressed matching problems with one-character wildcards

A Comparison of Two Ovine Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Injury Models for the Evaluation and Development of Novel Regenerative Therapies

© The Author(s) 2018. Study Design: Large animal research. Objective: Lumbar discectomy is the most commonly performed spinal surgical procedure. We investigated 2 large animal models of lumbar discectomy in order to study the regenerative capacity of mesenchymal stem cells following disc injury. Methods: Twelve adult ewes underwent baseline 3-T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) followed by lumbar intervertebral disc injury by either drill bit (n = 6) or annulotomy and partial nucleotomy (APN) (n = 6). Necropsies were performed 6 months later. Lumbar spines underwent 3-T and 9.4-T MRI prior to histological, morphological and biochemical analysis. Results: Drill bit-injured (DBI) and APN-injured discs demonstrated increased Pfirrmann grades relative to uninjured controls (P <.005), with no difference between the 2 models. Disc height index loss was greater in the APN group compared with the DBI group (P <.005). Gross morphology injury scores were higher in APN than DBI discs (P <.05) and both were higher than controls (P <.005). Proteoglycan was reduced in the discs of both injury models relative to controls (P <.005), but lower in the APN group (P <.05). Total collagen of the APN group disc regions was higher than DBI and control discs (P <.05). Histology revealed more matrix degeneration, vascular infiltration, and granulation in the APN model. Conclusion: Although both models produced disc degeneration, the APN model better replicated the pathobiology of human discs postdiscectomy. We therefore concluded that the APN model was a more appropriate model for the investigation of the regenerative capacity of mesenchymal stem cells administered postdiscectomy

Effectiveness of Pharmacist-Led Amiodarone Monitoring Services on Improving Adherence to Amiodarone Monitoring Recommendations: A Systematic Review

Amiodarone remains the mostly frequently used antiarrhythmic in clinical practice and is most often used to maintain normal sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation who have failed a rate control strategy. Amiodarone has superior efficacy over other antiarrhythmics, a lower risk of torsade de pointes, and a better cardiovascular safety profile in patients with structural heart disease. However, amiodarone is associated with notable noncardiac toxicities affecting the thyroid, lungs, eyes, liver, and central nervous system. Since 2000, clinicians have been advised to follow amiodarone monitoring guidelines provided by the Heart Rhythm Society. Adherence to these recommendations in clinical practice, however, is suboptimal. Pharmacists play a major role in ensuring the safe and effective use of medications, particularly high-risk medications such as amiodarone. This qualitative review details the evidence supporting the role of pharmacist-led amiodarone monitoring services (AMS) in improving adherence to amiodarone monitoring guidelines and identifying adverse effects. Five studies were identified, and, overall, these programs had a favorable impact on improving adherence to guideline-recommended monitoring standards for amiodarone. The available evidence is limited by the significant variations in study designs and outcome definitions, lack of patient randomization, and limited generalizability. Nevertheless, available studies suggest that pharmacist-led AMS may improve adherence to recommended monitoring guidelines and identification of amiodarone-related adverse effects. Further study is warranted to demonstrate whether these services impact the overall quality of care provided to patients receiving amiodarone, which may justify broader implementation