Local Editing in Lempel-Ziv Compressed Data

This thesis explores the problem of editing data while compressed by a variant of Lempel-Ziv compression. We show that the random-access properties of the LZ-End compression allow random edits, and present the first algorithm to achieve this. The thesis goes on to adapt the LZ-End parsing so that the random access properties become local access, which has tighter memory bounds. Furthermore, the new parsing allows a much improved algorithm to edit the compressed data

Exploring a model for finding meaning in the changing world of work (Part 2)

Orientation: This article explores the role that meaning, as logotherapy conceptualises it, can play to facilitate organisational changes.Research purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore further a model an earlier paper proposed for using employees’ experiences of meaning in work contexts to facilitate changes.Motivation for the study: The researchers could not find a comprehensive model in the literature for addressing employees’ experiences of meaning in, or at, work during organisational changes. A previous paper proposed such a model, but it addressed only one component fully. This article seeks to explore this model further to address this apparent gap in the literature.Research design, approach and method: The researchers used a literature review to conduct the study. The components of the model directed this review in order to find meaning at work.Main findings: The actions of organisations, which aim to create positive organisational contexts (through practices for improving meaning at work and transcendence) and to frame changes using ‘Logo-OD’, can improve employees’ experiences of meaning during organisational changes.Practical/managerial implications: Understanding the relationship between meaning and organisational change, and applying the model this article presents, can contribute to the overall success of change initiatives.Contribution/value-add: This study’s primary contribution stems from the novel framework it presents for organisations to use the knowledge about how employees search for meaning to facilitate changes.</p

Comparación de caracteres corporales y del veneno de <i>Bothrops alternatus</i> entre poblaciones de las provincias de Buenos Aires y Entre Ríos, Argentina

Comparamos caracteres corporales y producción de veneno de ejemplares de Bothrops alternatus de una población aislada geográficamente (Olavarría, región de Tandilia, Buenos Aires) con otra en su área de distribución continua de Concordia (Entre Ríos). Estudiamos el largo corporal, peso, separación entre dientes inoculadores, cantidad de veneno y de proteínas en el veneno por ejemplar. No se hallaron diferencias en los caracteres estudiados entre ambas poblaciones (p > 0.05). Las hembras fueron mayores que los machos en ambas muestras,entre un 12-18% (p 0.5; Olavarría: 142 ± 65 mg/animal,Concordia: 160 ± 80 mg/animal), aún ajustando la cantidad de veneno producida respecto al tamaño, mediante el cociente veneno/largo corporal (p >0.6). Tampoco hubo diferencias en el contenido proteico, siendo para ambas muestras de 0.697 ± 0.096 mg de proteínas/mg de veneno seco. Nuestros datos sugieren que los ejemplares de la población aislada de Tandiliano presentan variaciones en el tamaño corporal o en la cantidad de veneno producida, respecto a los ejemplares de Concordia.Asociación Herpetológica Argentina (AHA

Control and prevention of accidents caused by Tityus trivittatus (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Las picaduras por alacranes pueden producir cuadros de intoxicación aguda y conducir a la muerte por falla cardíaca y distrés respiratorio, siendo la población pediátrica la de mayor riesgo, tanto en Argentina como en el resto del mundo. Muchas de las especies de escorpiones en el mundo son sinantrópicas, y en Argentina, las que se han relacionado con muertes, como Tityus trivittatus y Tityus confluens, poseen esas características. La sinantropía, aumenta la posibilidad de contacto humano – escorpión y por lo tanto la ocurrencia de accidentes, por lo que las medidas de prevención en este caso, deben tomarse no solo conductualmente sino ambientalmente para evitar ese contacto. Las características biológicas de los escorpiones del género Tityus dificultan las labores de prevención. Muchas son las herramientas para disminuir el contacto con los escorpiones y de esa manera prevenir los accidentes como los controles químicos, biológicos y ambientales, así como la búsqueda y eliminación de escorpiones. Sin embargo, no todas son efectivas si no son aplicadas racionalmente y si no son combinadas. En ocasiones la mala planificación o uso de las diferentes medidas para el combate de escorpiones pueden ser contraproducentes y no solo ser inefectivas sino aumentar la probabilidad de ocurrencia de accidentes. En esta revisión se exponen los diferentes métodos de prevención del escorpionismo, con especial referencia a las especies de Tityus de Argentina.Scorpion stings may produce acute envenoming and lead to death from heart failure and respiratory distress, being the pediatric population that with the highest risk of severe envenomation and death, in Argentina as in the rest of the world. Many of the scorpion species in the world are synanthropic, including Tityus trivittatus and Tityus confluens, which are responsible for human deaths in Argentina. Synanthropy increases the possibility of human-scorpion contact and therefore the occurrence of accidents, so preventive measures to avoid the contact must be taken not only behaviorally but environmentally. The biological characteristics of scorpions of the genus Tityus make prevention of the contact with humans rather difficult. There are many chemical, biological and environmental tools to reduce the possibility of contact between humans and scorpions. However, not all these measures are effective if they are not rationally applied and if these are not combined. Sometimes the poor planning or use of different measures to control scorpions’ population can be counterproductive and not only ineffective, increasing the probability of accidents. In this review, we discuss the different methods of prevention and combat of scorpionism, with special reference to the prevention of accidents with Tityus species from Argentina.Fil: de Roodt, Adolfo Rafael. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Institutos de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Doctor Carlos G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Producción de Biológicos; ArgentinaFil: Lanari, Laura Cecilia. Ministerio de Salud de la Nación. Dirección Nacional de Institutos de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Doctor Carlos G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Producción de Biológicos; ArgentinaFil: Ojanguren Affilastro, Andres Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia". Departamento de Invertebrados. Area de Entomologia; ArgentinaFil: Moron Goñi, Fernando. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Malinovsky, Valeria. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; ArgentinaFil: Dozoretz, Daniel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Cargnel, Elda. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; ArgentinaFil: de Titto, Ernesto Horacio. Universidad Isalud; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Damin, Carlos Fabian. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; Argentin

Phase I and pharmacokinetics study of crotoxin (cytotoxic PLA(2), NSC-624244) in patients with advanced cancer

Fil: Cura, Jorge E. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Blanzaco, Daniel P. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Brisson, Cecilia. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Cura, Marco A. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Cabrol, Rosa. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Larrateguy, Luis. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Mendez, Carlos. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Sechi, Jose Carlos. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Silveira, Jorge Solana. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Theiller, Elvira. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: de Roodt, Adolfo R. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Producción de Biológicos; Argentina.Fil: Vidal, Juan Carlos. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Producción de Biológicos; Argentina.A Phase I clinical trial was performed on patients with solid tumors refractory to conventional therapy. Crotoxin was administered i.m. for 30 consecutive days at doses ranging from 0.03 to 0.22 mg/m(2). Patients entered the study after providing a written informed consent. Although 26 patients were entered only 23 were evaluated. Reversible, nonlimiting neuromuscular toxicity evidenced as diplopia because of pareses of the external ocular muscles was present in 13 patients. It started at doses of 0.18 mg/m(2) and lasted from 2 to 6 h. These episodes did not require dose adjustment and disappeared in 1-3 weeks of treatment. Three patients experienced palpebral ptosis, nystagmus (grade 2), and anxiety (grade 2-3) at the dose-limiting toxicity of 0.22 mg/m(2). Also at dose-limiting toxicity, 1 patient showed nystagmus (grade 2) and anxiety (grade 3) without evidence of palpebral ptosis. Transient increases (grades 1-3) in the levels of creatinine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine transaminase attributed to crotoxin myotoxicity were observed but returned to normal by the last week of treatment. At 0.21 mg/m(2) there was a case of grade-3 anaphylactic reaction on day 31, which required treatment. Hypersensitivity was regarded as an adverse drug-related reaction, and the patient was removed from the protocol. Two patients at different doses (0.12 mg/m(2) and 0.22 mg/m(2)) had sialorrhea. Four patients had asymptomatic transient increase in blood pressure (up to 20 mm Hg) 12 h after the first injection, which lasted 24 h. No treatment was required and toxicity did not reappear. Six patients experienced slight eosinophilia during the first 2 weeks. The maximum tolerated dose was set at 0.21 mg/m(2). Objective measurable partial responses (>50% reduction of tumor mass) were noted in 2 patients treated at 0.21 mg/m(2) and 1 at 0.12 mg/m(2). One patient (at 0.21 mg/m(2)) presented a complete response on day 110. Crotoxin pharmacokinetics showed rapid absorption from the injection site to blood (t(1/2 A) = 5.2 +/- 0.6 min). Plasma concentration reached a peak (C(max) = 0.79 +/- 0.1 ng/ml) at tau(max) = 19 +/- 3 min. The half-life of the distribution (alpha) phase is 22 +/- 2 min. Starting at 1.5 h after injection, the decrease in plasma concentration becomes slower, reaching 14 +/- 3 pg/ml 24 h after injection. The profile is dominated by the elimination (beta) phase with a half-life of 5.2 +/- 0.6 h. Consequently, 24 h after the injection ( approximately 5 half-life) 97% of the product was eliminated. The area under plasma concentration versus time curve was 0.19 +/- 0.05 microg/min/ml. Assuming availability (F) approximately 1, the clearance is C(L) = 26.3 +/- 7 ml/min, and the apparent volume of distribution is V(d) = 12 +/- 3 liter/kg. The recommended dose for a Phase II study is 0.18 mg/m(2)

Phase I and pharmacokinetics study of crotoxin (cytotoxic PLA(2), NSC-624244) in patients with advanced cancer

Fil: Cura, Jorge E. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Blanzaco, Daniel P. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Brisson, Cecilia. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Cura, Marco A. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Cabrol, Rosa. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Larrateguy, Luis. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Mendez, Carlos. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Sechi, Jose Carlos. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Silveira, Jorge Solana. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: Theiller, Elvira. Hospital San Martín. Departamento de Medicina Oncológica, Paraná; Entre Ríos.Fil: de Roodt, Adolfo R. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Producción de Biológicos; Argentina.Fil: Vidal, Juan Carlos. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Producción de Biológicos; Argentina.A Phase I clinical trial was performed on patients with solid tumors refractory to conventional therapy. Crotoxin was administered i.m. for 30 consecutive days at doses ranging from 0.03 to 0.22 mg/m(2). Patients entered the study after providing a written informed consent. Although 26 patients were entered only 23 were evaluated. Reversible, nonlimiting neuromuscular toxicity evidenced as diplopia because of pareses of the external ocular muscles was present in 13 patients. It started at doses of 0.18 mg/m(2) and lasted from 2 to 6 h. These episodes did not require dose adjustment and disappeared in 1-3 weeks of treatment. Three patients experienced palpebral ptosis, nystagmus (grade 2), and anxiety (grade 2-3) at the dose-limiting toxicity of 0.22 mg/m(2). Also at dose-limiting toxicity, 1 patient showed nystagmus (grade 2) and anxiety (grade 3) without evidence of palpebral ptosis. Transient increases (grades 1-3) in the levels of creatinine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine transaminase attributed to crotoxin myotoxicity were observed but returned to normal by the last week of treatment. At 0.21 mg/m(2) there was a case of grade-3 anaphylactic reaction on day 31, which required treatment. Hypersensitivity was regarded as an adverse drug-related reaction, and the patient was removed from the protocol. Two patients at different doses (0.12 mg/m(2) and 0.22 mg/m(2)) had sialorrhea. Four patients had asymptomatic transient increase in blood pressure (up to 20 mm Hg) 12 h after the first injection, which lasted 24 h. No treatment was required and toxicity did not reappear. Six patients experienced slight eosinophilia during the first 2 weeks. The maximum tolerated dose was set at 0.21 mg/m(2). Objective measurable partial responses (>50% reduction of tumor mass) were noted in 2 patients treated at 0.21 mg/m(2) and 1 at 0.12 mg/m(2). One patient (at 0.21 mg/m(2)) presented a complete response on day 110. Crotoxin pharmacokinetics showed rapid absorption from the injection site to blood (t(1/2 A) = 5.2 +/- 0.6 min). Plasma concentration reached a peak (C(max) = 0.79 +/- 0.1 ng/ml) at tau(max) = 19 +/- 3 min. The half-life of the distribution (alpha) phase is 22 +/- 2 min. Starting at 1.5 h after injection, the decrease in plasma concentration becomes slower, reaching 14 +/- 3 pg/ml 24 h after injection. The profile is dominated by the elimination (beta) phase with a half-life of 5.2 +/- 0.6 h. Consequently, 24 h after the injection ( approximately 5 half-life) 97% of the product was eliminated. The area under plasma concentration versus time curve was 0.19 +/- 0.05 microg/min/ml. Assuming availability (F) approximately 1, the clearance is C(L) = 26.3 +/- 7 ml/min, and the apparent volume of distribution is V(d) = 12 +/- 3 liter/kg. The recommended dose for a Phase II study is 0.18 mg/m(2)

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London