Quantum thermodynamics is a research field that aims at fleshing out the ultimate limits of thermodynamic processes in the deep quantum regime. A complete picture of thermodynamical processes ...naturally allows for auxiliary systems dubbed 'catalysts', i.e., any physical systems facilitating state transformations while remaining essentially intact in their state, like an auxiliary system, a clock, or an actual catalyst. In this work, we present a comprehensive analysis of the power and limitation of such thermal catalysis. Specifically, we provide a family of optimal catalysts that can be returned with minimal trace distance error after facilitating a state transformation process. To incorporate the genuine physical role of a catalyst, we identify very significant restrictions on arbitrary state transformations under dimension or mean energy bounds, using methods of convex relaxations. We discuss the implication of these findings on possible thermodynamic state transformations in the quantum regime.
The MonALISA (Monitoring Agents in a Large Integrated Services Architecture) framework provides a set of distributed services for monitoring, control, management and global optimization for large ...scale distributed systems. It is based on an ensemble of autonomous, multi-threaded, agent-based subsystems which are registered as dynamic services. They can be automatically discovered and used by other services or clients. The distributed agents can collaborate and cooperate in performing a wide range of management, control and global optimization tasks using real time monitoring information.
Program title: MonALISA
Catalogue identifier: AEEZ_v1_0
Program summary URL:
http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEEZ_v1_0.html
Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University, Belfast, N. Ireland
Licensing provisions: Caltech License – free for all non-commercial activities
No. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 147 802
No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 2 5913 689
Distribution format: tar.gz
Programming language: Java, additional APIs available in Java, C, C++, Perl and python
Computer: Computing Clusters, Network Devices, Storage Systems, Large scale data intensive applications
Operating system: The MonALISA service is mainly used in Linux, the MonALISA client runs on all major platforms (Windows, Linux, Solaris, MacOS).
Has the code been vectorized or parallelized?: It is a multithreaded application. It will efficiently use all the available processors.
RAM: for the MonALISA service the minimum required memory is 64 MB; if the JVM is started allocating more memory this will be used for internal caching. The MonALISA client requires typically 256–512 MB of memory.
Classification: 6.5
External routines: Requires Java: JRE or JDK to run. These external packages are used (they are included in the distribution): JINI, JFreeChart, PostgreSQL (optional).
Nature of problem: To monitor and control distributed computing clusters and grids, the network infrastructure, the storage systems, and the applications used on such facilities. The monitoring information gathered is used for developing the required higher level services, the components that provide decision support and some degree of automated decisions and for maintaining and optimizing workflow in large scale distributed systems.
Solution method: The MonALISA framework is designed as an ensemble of autonomous self-describing agent-based subsystems which are registered as dynamic services. These services are able to collaborate and cooperate in performing a wide range of distributed information-gathering and processing tasks.
Running time: MonALISA services are designed to run continuously to collect monitoring data and to trigger alarms or to take automatic actions in case it is necessary.
References:
1
http://monalisa.caltech.edu.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Bacterial vaginosis is a condition of unknown etiology, associated with an imbalance of the normal vaginal microbiota, characterized by a high recurrence rate despite of classical therapy solutions. ...Probiotics are microorganisms, which taken in adequate amounts, are proven to bring health benefits in human and animal bodies, by re-establishing the normal flora at different levels.
The present article studies the possibility of using probiotic treatment as an adjuvant therapy for nonspecific vaginosis and reducing its recurrence rate.
We have evaluated the evolution of patients with bacterial vaginosis who received the classical antibiotic therapy and a probiotic product. The study group consisted of 173 non-pregnant, sexually active patients, 20-45 years old, with no additional health problems and no contraceptive undergoing treatment, which have been admitted to the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Bucharest Emergency University Hospital between 1.01.2012-31.12.2012.The bacteriological evaluation was made on cervical and vaginal cultures.
From a total of 173 patients, those who used probiotics oral capsules while taking an antibiotic had lower recurrence rates. More than a half of women who did not use any probiotic product had 3 or more relapse episodes per year. Vaginal capsules with probiotics have also proven to be useful in lowering the recurrence rate, but research is still needed.
Probiotic products are proven to be a helpful adjuvant therapy for bacterial vaginosis, with no adverse outcomes.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Estimation of osteoporotic hip fracture incidence and Romanian FRAX model were based on nationally reported hospital ICD 10 coding admissions of all hip fractures (without a validation process).
We ...aimed to calculate, based on individual hospital charts analysis, the incidence of osteoporotic hip fracture in the main urban area of Romania and compare it with data reported to the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH).
We retrospectively analyzed the charts of all patients (>40 years old) admitted for hip fracture in a 12-month period in hospitals with an Orthopedic Department in Bucharest and surrounding Ilfov County (11.8% of Romania population).
All ICD 10 fracture and event/fall codes were validated against the charts. We calculated the age and sex adjusted incidence of osteoporotic hip fracture and used the national reported hip fracture data base for comparison.
There were 2203 hip fractures of which 1997 (90.65%) were fragility fractures. The crude incidence of low-energy hip fractures was 171/100,000 (225/100,000 in women, 103/100,000 in men). The incidence rose with age to a maximum rate of 1902/100,000 in women >85 years. The NIPH-reported incidence of hip fracture was 181/100,000 for the region of interest and 176/100,000 at the national level.
The incidence of osteoporotic hip fracture was lower than the incidence based on hip fractures reported codes in the national database, but the incidence of fragility fractures calculated by our group was higher than the incidence reported in previous national studies. Nationwide studies are warranted.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The malignant disease's ability to metastasize remains one of the major obstacles when treating patients with cancer. The indication of metastasectomy is currently limited to patients undergoing ...treatment of the primary tumor. Resections for lung metastases of high selected patients with urogenital cancer present minimal risks and can prolong survival. Prognostic factors that determine which patients will benefit from surgery are still unclear.
This article presents a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent lung metastases resection between 2008 and 2013 in our clinic. Among 148 patients, 8 (5.41%) had lung metastases after urologic cancers (UC), 18 (12.16%) after genital cancers (GC), 13 (8.78%) after breast tumors and 109 (73.65%) had lung metastases from other type of tumors. The overall 6 months survival was 100% for UC, 94.44 for GC, 84.62% for BC and 87.16% for others.
The criteria for surgery proved to have a positive predictive value and what should be considered are the following: prolonged disease-free interval (DFI), unilateral disease, the absence of systemic pathologies, oncological margins resecability and less than 3 radioimagistic detectable metastases. A negative prognosis was observed in those with primary tumor in the cervix, at least 3 metastases and a tumor larger than 3 cm. To determine how to select surgical candidates for pulmonary metastasectomy more precisely, further analysis of prognostic factors is evident and the need for a prospective, randomized, multicenter study is clear.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The spondylocostal dysostosis (SCD) is one of the two major clinico-radiological subtypes of the Jarcho-Levin syndrome (JLS). The JLS is a rare heterogeneous entity characterized by facial ...dysmorphism, short-neck, short-trunk, normal sizes limbs, with multiple vertebral anomalies at all levels of the vertebral column and costal defects. The JLS has been classified into 2 major clinical phenotypes, based on the extent and distribution of skeletal anomalies, the pattern of inheritance and the prognosis. We report the case of a non-consanguineous 35-year-old female patient, with a history of multiple large leiomyomas gravida 1, para 1. A three-dimensional ultrasound at 18 weeks of gestation revealed: thoracic and lumbar hemivertebrae with abnormal alignment of the vertebral bodies and kypho-scoliosis, also the absence of two right ribs and abnormal shaped ribs. The biometric measurement was appropriate for gestational age and no other malformations were found. Although there was no previous history, based on the three-dimensional ultrasound findings a mild subtype of JLS was suspected. At term, the patient gave birth, by Cesarean section, to a male fetus, with a weight of 2700g, a length of 50cm and a calculated Apgar score of 9. The postpartum examination of the fetus confirmed the diagnose of SCD. The evolution of the newborn was good - he had no respiratory difficulty; he will benefit from an experimental surgery involving expandable titanium ribs. Our case illustrates the importance of an accurate ultrasound examination, which can be hindered by multiple large leyomiomas, in order to diagnose and to differentiate the two subtypes of JLS. The SCD can have a favorable evolution with the appropriate perinatal and postpartum care.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Calcaneus fractures are still a delicate point regarding the indication for osteosynthesis. Knowing the skin's poor vascularisation of the back foot, the purpose of this study is to present the ...benefits of proper surgical options between an open and invasive osteosynthesis with anatomical reduction and internal fixation or minimally invasive approach preserving the quality of the soft parts. 66 interventions that targeted reduction and internal fixation of calcaneus fractures were performed between 2009-2012, in the Orthopaedic and Traumatology Department of Bucharest Emergency University Hospital. 29 cases underwent open reduction and internal fixation with plates and screws or Kirschner wires, and 37 cases underwent a minimally invasive reduction and Essex Lopresti osteosynthesis technique. No patient who underwent a minimally invasive reduction had skin lesions, but showed pain due to osteoarthritis lesions that appeared in the subtalar joint. 4 of them, who underwent open reduction and internal fixation had postoperative wound infections and skin necrosis.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Endometriosis is a common, benign, chronic, estrogen-dependent disorder. The endometrial tissue implants itself outside the uterus and can be usually found in the pelvis or, in rare cases, it can be ...found nearly anywhere in the body. There are no pathognomonic symptoms of this disease, therefore, in some cases the tumors are incidentally discovered during surgery. Deep infiltrative endometriosis (DIE) is a rare form of this condition, which mostly affects the uterosacral ligaments, the rectovaginal space, and the upper third of the posterior vaginal wall, the bowel, and the urinary tract. We present the case of a 29-year-old pregnant female who was diagnosed with infiltrative endometriosis during the cesarean section at 38 weeks of gestation. The tumors involving the vesicouterine peritoneum had a tendency of infiltrating the urinary bladder, but the patient had been completely asymptomatic prior to this incidental discovery. As cited by literature, the discovery and management of urinary endometriosis, as well as that of other localizations of DIE, is not based on high-level evidence data, but rather on case-series reported by surgical teams working in different centers worldwide.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
This study was undertaken in order to determine if antibiotic prophylaxis is mandatory, after the insertion of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system in order to decrease the risk of pelvic ...inflammatory disease.
We prospectively evaluated 44 patients, admitted in the Bucharest Emergency Hospital between the 1ⁱ of February 2012 and the 1ⁱ of October 2012, in whom the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system was inserted. The patients enrolled were divided into two groups. In group A, a number of 22 patients, received, after the insertion of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, 875mg Amoxicillin Trihydrate + 125 mg Potassium Clavulanate, a dose every 12 hours for 5 days. Group B was represented by the other 22 patients who did not receive antibiotic prophylaxis. All patients were reevaluated at 4 and 12 weeks after the insertion of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system.
During the first 4 weeks after the insertion of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system only two patients, one from group A and one from group B were diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease. At a second follow up visit - 12 weeks after the insertion of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, no other patient was diagnosed with pelvic inflammatory disease.
Antibiotic prophylaxis is not mandatory, after the insertion of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system in order to decrease the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.
Full text
Available for:
IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
PDF
