Incremental tree height reduction for code compaction

This paper introduces a new Tree Height Reduction (THR) technique for code compaction. THR, which is well known parallelizing method, has two interesting properties: while known compilation techniques can get constant factor of speed-up, THR has speed-up of O(n/logn). Furthermore, THR is able to compact code which seems, at first, uncompactable (due to data dependencies). The algorithm presented is incremental, local (so in each step, it is checking the the current operation and its predecessor rather than the whole expression tree to see whether compaction is possible) and applicable beyond basic block limits. THR is applied after all other optimization techniques, none of which change the semantics of the code, have been applied. THR is changing the semantics of the code, thus preserving, of course, the correctness of the intermediate and final values. Also, the reduction is controlled according to the resources available - so in case the compaction is feasible but there are not enough resources - it moves to the next operation. The algorithm produces compacted code suited for any tightly coupled multiprocessors (e.g. Very Long Instruction Word {or VLIW) machines). To our knowledge, it is the first local and incremental THR algorithm working across basic blocks boundaries published so far for code compaction

Candida Sepsis Following Transcervical Chorionic Villi Sampling

Background: The use of invasive devices and broad spectrum antibiotics has increased the rate of candidal superinfections.Candida sepsis associated with pregnancy is rare. Candida sepsis following chorionic villi sampling (CVS) has never been reported. Case: A 31-year-old pregnant woman presented with signs of sepsis one day after undergoing transcervical CVS. Blood culture and curettage material yielded C. albicans. She was treated with 400 mg of fluconazole daily for 4 weeks and completely recovered. Conclusion: Candida sepsis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sepsis following CVS

Clinical features and pitfalls in the laboratory diagnosis of dengue in travellers

BACKGROUND: Several enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-kits are commercially available for the rapid diagnosis of dengue infection, and have demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity in paired serum samples. In practice, however, often only one blood sample is available from febrile travellers returning from dengue endemic areas. METHODS: To evaluate the diagnostic value of positive dengue antibody-titres performed by a standard ELISA (PanBio IgM- and IgG-ELISA) in single serum samples (regarded as "probable infection"), 127 positive samples were further analyzed using envelope/membrane IgM-, and nonstructural protein 1 IgM- and IgG-ELISAs, immunofluorescence assays, and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays (RT-PCR). A combination of the test-results served as the diagnostic "gold standard". A total of 1,035 febrile travellers returning from dengue-endemic countries with negative dengue-serology and RT-PCR served as controls to compare clinical and haematological features. RESULTS: Overall, only 64 (positive predictive value = 50%) of the probable cases were confirmed by additional analysis and 54 (42.5%) were confirmed to be "false-positive". Rash was the only clinical feature significantly associated with confirmed dengue fever. The combination of thrombocytopenia and leucopenia was present in 40.4% of confirmed and in 6.1% of false-positive cases. Thus, the positive predictive value for the combination of positive PanBio-ELISA plus the two haematological features was 90.5%. CONCLUSION: The examination of paired serum samples is considered the most reliable serodiagnostic procedure for dengue. However, if only one blood sample is available, a single positive ELISA-result carries a high rate of false-positivity and should be confirmed using a second and more specific diagnostic technique. In the absence of further testing, platelet and white blood cell counts are helpful for the correct interpretation

The Role of Imported Cases and Favorable Meteorological Conditions in the Onset of Dengue Epidemics

Dengue/dengue hemorrhagic fever is the world's most widely spread mosquito-borne arboviral disease and threatens more than two-thirds of the world's population. Cases are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical areas in accordance with vector habitats for Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. However, the role of imported cases and favorable meteorological conditions has not yet been quantitatively assessed. This study verified the correlation between the occurrence of indigenous dengue and imported cases in the context of weather variables (temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, etc.) for different time lags in southern Taiwan. Our findings imply that imported cases have a role in igniting indigenous outbreaks, in non-endemics areas, when favorable weather conditions are present. This relationship becomes insignificant in the late phase of local dengue epidemics. Therefore, early detection and case management of imported cases through timely surveillance and rapid laboratory-diagnosis may avert large scale epidemics of dengue/dengue hemorrhagic fever. An early-warning surveillance system integrating meteorological data will be an invaluable tool for successful prevention and control of dengue, particularly in non-endemic countries