DFL: A Data Flow Language

Many novel computer architectures like array and multiprocessors which achieve high performance through the use of concurrency exploit variations of the von Neumann model of computation. The effective utilization of the machines makes special demands on programmers and their programming languages, such as the structuring of data into vectors or the partitioning of programs into concurrent processes. In comparison, the data flow model of computation demands only that the principle of structured programming be followed. A data flow program, often represented as a data flow graph, is a program that expresses a computation by indicating the data dependencies among operators. A data flow computer is a machine designed to take advantage of concurrency in data flow graphs by executing data independent operations in parallel. In this paper, we discuss the design of a high level language (DFL: Data Flow Language) suitable for data flow computers. Some sample procedures in DFL are presented. The implementation aspects have not been discussed in detail since there are no new problems encountered. The language DFL embodies the concepts of functional programming, but in appearance closely resembles Pascal. The language is a better vehicle than the data flow graph for expressing a parallel algorithm. The compiler has been implemented on a DEC 1090 system in Pascal.

Studies on immune activation in rheumatoid arthritis and reactive arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by synovitis, progressive joint destruction, and disability. Reactive arthritis (ReA) is a sterile joint inflammation following a distant mucosal infection. The clinical course of these diseases is variable and cannot be predicted with reasonable accuracy by clinical and laboratory markers. The predictive value of circulating soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), a marker of lymphocyte activation, measured by Immulite® automated immunoassay analyzer, was evaluated in two cohorts of RA patients. In 175 patients with active early RA randomized to treatment with either on disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) or a combination of 3 DMARDs and prednisolone, low baseline sIL-2R level predicted remission after 6 months in patients treated with a single DMARD. In 24 patients with active RA refractory to DMARDs, low baseline sIL-2R level predicted rapid clinical response to treatment with infliximab, an anti-tumour necrosis factor antibody. Furthermore, in a cohort of 26 patients with acute ReA, high baseline sIL-2R level predicted remission after 6 months. Levels of circulating soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), a marker of endothelial activation, were measured annually by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a cohort of 85 patients with early RA. During a five-year follow-up, sE-selectin levels were associated with activity and outcome of RA. The levels of neutrophil and monocyte CD11b/CD18 expression measured by flow cytometry, and circulating levels of sE-selectin measured by ELISA, and procalcitonin by immunoluminometric assay, were compared in 28 patients with acute ReA and 16 patients with early RA. The levels of the markers were comparable in ReA, RA, and healthy control subjects. In conlusion, sIL-2R may provide a new predictive marker in early RA treated with a single DMARD and refractory RA treated with infliximab. In addition, sIL-2R level predicts remission in acute ReA.

Interdiffusion and activation energy in Ti3Au phase with A15 crystal structure

The knowledge of diffusion parameters, such as integrated diffusion coefficient and the activation energy for diffusion is important to understand the growth rate of the product phase and the atomic mechanism of diffusion. These parameters are determined in Ti3Au phase with A15 crystal structure. The calculated diffusion parameters will help in validating the theoretical analysis on defect structure of the phase.

Muscle activation patterns in the Nordic hamstring exercise: Impact of prior strain injury

This study aimed to determine: 1) the spatial patterns of hamstring activation during the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE); 2) whether previously injured hamstrings display activation deficits during the NHE, and; 3) whether previously injured hamstrings exhibit altered cross-sectional area. Ten healthy, recreationally active males with a history of unilateral hamstring strain injury underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of their thighs before and after 6 sets of 10 repetitions of the NHE. Transverse (T2) relaxation times of all hamstring muscles (biceps femoris long head, (BFlh); biceps femoris short head (BFsh); semitendinosus (ST); semimembranosus (SM)), were measured at rest and immediately after the NHE and cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured at rest. For the uninjured limb, the ST’s percentage increase in T2 with exercise was 16.8, 15.8 and 20.2% greater than the increases exhibited by the BFlh, BFsh and SM, respectively (p<0.002 for all). Previously injured hamstring muscles (n=10) displayed significantly smaller increases in T2 post-exercise than the homonymous muscles in the uninjured contralateral limb (mean difference -7.2%, p=0.001). No muscles displayed significant between limb differences in CSA. During the NHE, the ST is preferentially activated and previously injured hamstring muscles display chronic activation deficits compared to uninjured contralateral muscles.

Origin of the activation barrier in the process of hydrogen abstraction: the perturbation treatment

The perturbation treatment previously given is extended to explain the process of hydrogen abstraction from the various hydrogen donor molecules by the triplet nπ* state of ketones or the ground state of the alkyl or alkoxy radical. The results suggest that, as the ionization energy of the donor bonds is decreased, the reaction is accelerated and it is not influenced by the bond strength of the donor bonds. The activation barrier in such reactions arises from a weakening of the charge resonance term as the ionization energy of the donor bond increases.

Consumption of anthocyanin-rich Queen Garnet plum juice reduces platelet activation related thrombogenesis in healthy volunteers

The anti-thrombotic properties of an anthocyanin-rich Queen Garnet plum juice (QGPJ) and anthocyanin-free prune juice (PJ) were studied in this randomised, double-blind, crossover trial. Twenty-one healthy subjects (M = 10, F = 11) consumed QGPJ, PJ or placebo, 200 mL/day for 28-days followed by a 2-week wash-out period. Only QGPJ supplementation inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP (<5%, P = 0.02), collagen (<2.7%, P < 0.001) and arachidonic acid (<4%, P < 0.001); reduced platelet activation-dependent surface-marker P-selectin expression of activated de-granulated platelets (<17.2%, P = 0.04); prolonged activated-partial thromboplastin clotting time (>2.1 s, P = 0.03); reduced plasma-fibrinogen (<7.5%, P = 0.02) and malondialdehyde levels, a plasma biomarker of oxidative stress ( P = 0.016). PJ supplementation increased plasma hippuric acid content ( P = 0.018). QGPJ or PJ supplementation did not affect blood cell counts, lipid profile, or inflammation markers. Our findings suggest that QGPJ but not PJ has the potential to significantly attenuate thrombosis by reducing platelet activation/hyper-coagulability and oxidative stress.

Nature of the activation of succinate dehydrogenase byvarious effectors and in hypobaria and hypoxia

Hepatic mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase (succinate:(acceptor)oxidoreductase, EC 1.3.99.1) was activated by preincubation of mitochondria with four diverse classes of compounds, the dicarboxylic acids, nitrophenols, quinols (and ubiquinols) and pyrophosphates. Of the various compounds tested malonate, oxaloacetate and pyrophosphate, well-known competitive inhibitors of the enzyme, and also hydroquinone and ubiquinols were effective even at low concentrations and showed maximal stimulation in 2 min.

Thermal activation parameters for low temperature deformation of alpha-hafnium

Abstract is not available.

Bridging the gap: Curriculum practices in community language schools and their challenges

This study investigated curriculum practices in Queensland community language schools and how these practices are supported by government policy. The conceptual framework drew on theories of ethnolinguistic vitality and curriculum dimensions. The research design involved case studies of two community language schools of different sizes, using classroom observation and interviews. Cross–case analysis revealed contrasting curriculum practices determined by student enrolments, and different capacities to access and benefit from what policy support was available. This study offers some implications and possibilities to better support quality curriculum practices in community language schools.

Senataxin controls meiotic silencing through ATR activation and chromatin remodeling

Senataxin, defective in ataxia oculomotor apraxia type 2, protects the genome by facilitating the resolution of RNA–DNA hybrids (R-loops) and other aspects of RNA processing. Disruption of this gene in mice causes failure of meiotic recombination and defective meiotic sex chromosome inactivation, leading to male infertility. Here we provide evidence that the disruption of Setx leads to reduced SUMOylation and disruption of protein localization across the XY body during meiosis. We demonstrate that senataxin and other DNA damage repair proteins, including ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein-interacting partner, are SUMOylated, and a marked downregulation of both ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein-interacting partner and TopBP1 leading to defective activation and signaling through ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein occurs in the absence of senataxin. Furthermore, chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 4, a component of the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase chromatin remodeler that interacts with both ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein and senataxin was not recruited efficiently to the XY body, triggering altered histone acetylation and chromatin conformation in Setx−/− pachytene-staged spermatocytes. These results demonstrate that senataxin has a critical role in ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein- and chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 4-mediated transcriptional silencing and chromatin remodeling during meiosis providing greater insight into its critical role in gene regulation to protect against neurodegeneration.

Validating adult and paediatric nutrition screening and assessment tools in Vietnamese language in two acute hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Despite being commonly prevalent in acute care hospitals worldwide, malnutrition often goes unidentified and untreated due to a lack in the implementation of a nutrition care pathway. The aim of this study was to validate nutrition screening and assessment tools in Vietnamese language. After converting into Vietnamese, Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST) and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) were used to identify malnutrition in the adult setting; and the Paediatric Nutrition Screening Tool (PNST) and paediatric Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) were used in the paediatric setting in two acute care hospitals in Vietnam. This cross-sectional observational study sampled 123 adults (median age 78 years [39–96 years], 63% males) and 105 children (median age 20 months [2–100 months], 66% males). In adults, nutrition risk and malnutrition were identified in 29% and 45% of the cohort respectively. Nutrition risk and malnutrition were identified in 71% and 43% of the paediatric cohort respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the screening tools were: 62% and 99% for the MST compared to the SGA; 89% and 42% for the PNST compared to the SGNA. This study provides a stepping stone to the potential use of evidence-based nutrition screening and assessment tools in Vietnamese language within the adult and paediatric Vietnamese acute care setting. Further work is required into integrating a complete nutrition care pathway within the acute care setting in Vietnamese hospitals.