GRIDKIT: Pluggable overlay networks for Grid computing

A `second generation' approach to the provision of Grid middleware is now emerging which is built on service-oriented architecture and web services standards and technologies. However, advanced Grid applications have significant demands that are not addressed by present-day web services platforms. As one prime example, current platforms do not support the rich diversity of communication `interaction types' that are demanded by advanced applications (e.g. publish-subscribe, media streaming, peer-to-peer interaction). In the paper we describe the Gridkit middleware which augments the basic service-oriented architecture to address this particular deficiency. We particularly focus on the communications infrastructure support required to support multiple interaction types in a unified, principled and extensible manner-which we present in terms of the novel concept of pluggable overlay networks

Helicobacter Pylori Infection in Idiopathic Chronic Urticaria

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection is the most common chronic bacterial infection in human. The role of Hp infection in various GI disorders had been widely accepted. However, further studies have found new extragastrointestinal involvement such as urticaria. Chronic urticaria is a common disorder that has complex pathophysiologic mechanism. As mater of fact, etiology remains unclear in most of the cases. This condition is called Idiopathic Chronic Urticaria. Several studies had shown high prevalence of Hp infection in patients with ICU and improved symptoms after eradication therapy of Hp. This observation had suggested that Hp has important role as etiologic factor in some cases of ICU. The presence of Hp infection and its role in ICU should be proven before initiating eradication therapy, so that irrational used of drugs and antibiotics resistance can be prevented

Evolution of the eyes of vipers with and without infrared-sensing pit organs

We examined lens and brille transmittance, photoreceptors, visual pigments, and visual opsin gene sequences of viperid snakes with and without infrared-sensing pit organs. Ocular media transmittance is high in both groups. Contrary to previous reports, small as well as large single cones occur in pit vipers. Non-pit vipers differ from pit vipers in having a twotiered retina, but few taxa have been examined for this poorly understood feature. All vipers sampled express rh1, sws1 and lws visual opsin genes. Opsin spectral tuning varies but not in accordance with the presence/absence of pit organs, and not always as predicted from gene sequences. The visual opsin genes were generally under purifying selection, with positive selection at spectral tuning amino acids in RH1 and SWS1 opsins, and at retinal pocket stabilization sites in RH1 or LWS (and without substantial differences between pit and nonpit vipers). Lack of evidence for sensory trade-off between viperid eyes (in the aspects examined) and pit organs might be explained by the high degree of neural integration of vision and infrared detection; the latter representing an elaboration of an existing sense with addition of a novel sense organ, rather than involving the evolution of a wholly novel sensory system

Attaining Inclusive Growth in a Developing Economy on the Wings of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises

A typical disturbing feature of most developing countries is a sprawling disparity between economic growth as measured by increase in gross domestic product and concrete progress in real welfare of the citizenry measured by standard of living, access to employment and poverty reduction. Contrary to natural logic, available evidence suggests that both variables are inversely related.  There is equally a consensus among scholars of inherent potential of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as a veritable agency for income and prosperity spread and thus a vehicle for inclusive growth. This paper empirically investigates the nexus between MSMEs and inclusive economic growth. With data ranging from 1980 to 2016, it specifically built econometric model to capture the link between Gini coefficients (proxy for inequality gap) and identified key determinants of viable MSMEs sub-sector: volume of credit to MSMEs, MSMEs’ contribution to national output, lending cost, cost of doing business, and infrastructural financing. With error correction model technique of analysis, findings revealed that MSMEs has the potential to provide growth that will spread prosperity to the majority of citizenry thereby narrowing inequality gap and reducing poverty. The paper recommends policy shift in favour of creating environment to promote the growth of MSMEs

Aplikasi Microsoft Project Dalam Pengendalian Waktu Pelaksanaan Pekerjaan Proyek

Kemajuan teknologi dewasa ini berkembang dengan pesatnya seiring dengan perkembangan teknologi informasi. Hal ini turut berpengaruh terhadap perkembangan manajemen rekayasa konstruksi dimana banyak program aplikasi komputer yang ditawarkan untuk membantu para manajemen rekayasa konstruksi dalam mengolah data perencanaan maupun pelaksanaan kegiatan proyek konstruksi. Program aplikasi komputer dewasa ini sangat mempermudah para manajemen rekayasa konstruksi dalam memasukkan data proyek, mengelola aktivitas proyek, laporan proyek maupun pengontrolan aktivitas kegiatan proyek diantaranya menyangkut sumber daya pada proyek tersebut.Suatu proyek bisa dikatakan berhasil jika proses pelaksanaannya bisa selesai sesuai dengan waktu yang telah direncanakan. Perencanaan proyek yang baik harus didukung dengan suatu pengendalian proyek yang baik. Karena yang terjadi di lapangan belum tentu sesuai dengan apa yang telah direncanakan. Pengendalian yang buruk dalam suatu proyek dapat mengakibatkan pemborosan terhadap penggunaan sumber daya dan ini dapat mengakibatkan kegagalan untuk mencapai tujuan proyek itu sendiri.Untuk merencanakan jadwal suatu proyek dengan program Microsoft Project 2007 yang pertama harus dilakukan adalah memasukkan data-data seperti jenis kegiatan, waktu, sumber daya dan lain-lain. Dalam tahap pengendalian proyek menggunakan Microsoft Project dapat dilakukan dengan menambahkan waktu lembur pada suatu kegiatan.Dari pengendalian jadwal pada proyek pembangunan fasilitas PT. Trakindo Utama khususnya pembangunan Office dengan menggunakan Microsoft Project 2007 didapat 16 hari kerja. Pada tahap pengendalian ada pekerjaan yang berada pada lintasan kritis sehingga dilakukan sistem kerja lembur (Crash Program) dengan tambahan 2 jam kerja lembur. Sehingga pekerjaan pengecatan menjadi 16 hari kerja dari waktu normal yaitu 21 hari kerja

WS01.05 Development of a musculoskeletal screening tool for children and young people with cystic fibrosis (Addenbrooke’s MST): initial findings

© 2023 European Cystic Fibrosis Society. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, to view a copy of the license, see: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Objectives: Development of the Addenbrooke’s Musculoskeletal Screening Tool (MST) for children and young people (CYP) with CF. It is recommended by the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in CF that Musculoskeletal (MSK) screening is carried out in all children from 7 years of age. Currently there is no specific tool for CYP with CF, only the Adult Manchester MST is available in CF (Ashbrook, Taylor and Jones, 2011). Methods: A paediatric MST was constructed by reviewing the Manchester MSK Screening Tool, the pGALS and recent literature surrounding both paediatric and CF related MSK conditions. The tool was developed with support from paediatric CF specialist physiotherapists, paediatric MSK specialist physiotherapists and respiratory consultants. This tool was then used over a one year period on a total of 58 CYP. Results: The MST was well accepted by clinicians and CYP, taking up to 5 minutes to complete. There were 81.8% more positive MSK screens in the year using this Addenbrooke’s MST (20) compared to the previous year using the Manchester MST (11). There were also 6 more referrals, all deemed appropriate by MSK specialist physiotherapists. MSK advice was given to 83% more children in the year using AMST (11) compared to the year using MMST (6). Urinary incontinence appears to be under reported in this population when comparing to other studies with only two positive screens. Kyphosis (as diagnosed by plumb line) was particularly prevalent in this population (20%) and those with kyphosis had a significantly reduced FEV1% (p = 0.008) and FVC% (p = 0.034), as well as tighter pectoralis major (p = 0.002). Conclusion: A screening tool designed for CYP with CF is important in identifying specific conditions to this population. There is an increased number of appropriate referrals when using this tool and interesting initial evidence on the use of pectoralis major length as an outcome measure, however further research and validation is required.Peer reviewe

Cardiac response to exercise in normal ageing:what can we learn from masters athletes?

INTRODUCTION: Ageing is associated with a progressive decline in cardiac and vascular health, resulting in an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Lifestyle factors such as exercise have emerged as a primary therapeutic target in the prevention of CVD, yet older individuals are frequently reported as being the least active, with 1 in four adults failing to meet the physical activity guidelines. In contrast, well trained older individuals (Masters athletes) have superior functional capacity than their sedentary peers and are often comparable with young non-athletes. Therefore, the decline commonly observed in untrained older individuals overestimates the decline due to age per se and masters athletes represent a viable model by which to determine the degree to which functional capacity may be maintained, and the extent of the unavoidable 'true' reduction in functional capacity due to ageing. CONCLUSION: This review examines evidence from observational studies which have compared well trained older athletes, with age matched, sedentary, but otherwise healthy controls, and the consequences on cardiac structure and function are discussed

Sex education and self-poisoning in Sri Lanka: an explorative analysis

BACKGROUND: Self-harm and suicide are important causes of morbidity and mortality in Sri Lanka, but our understanding of these behaviours is limited. Qualitative studies have implicated familial and societal expectations around sex and relationships. We conducted an explorative analysis using case-control data to investigate the association between sex education and self-poisoning in Sri Lanka. METHODS: Cases (N=298) were self-poisoning inpatients on a toxicology ward, Teaching Hospital Peradeniya. Controls (N=500) were sex and age frequency matched to cases and were outpatients/visitors to the same hospital. Participants were asked whether they had received sex education, and to rate the quality and usefulness of any sex education received. Logistic regression models adjusted for age, sex, and religion quantified the association between receipt, quality and usefulness of sex education and self-poisoning. We tested whether the associations differed by sex. RESULTS: Roughly 1-in-3 cases and 1-in-5 controls reported having not received sex education. Individuals who did not receive sex education were nearly twice as likely to have self-poisoned than those who did (OR 1.68 (95% CI 1.11-2.55)). Those who reported the sex education they received as not useful were more likely to have self-poisoned compared to those who reported it useful (OR 1.95 (95% CI 1.04-3.65)). We found no evidence of an association between self-poisoning and the self-rated quality of sex education, or that associations differed by participant sex. CONCLUSION: As sex education is potentially modifiable at the population-level, further research should aim to explore this association in more depth, using qualitative methods and validated measurement tools. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12374-4