Divisible Load Theory: A New Paradigm for Load Scheduling in Distributed Systems

Divisible load theory is a methodology involving the linear and continuous modeling of partitionable computation and communication loads for parallel processing. It adequately represents an important class of problems with applications in parallel and distributed system scheduling, various types of data processing, scientific and engineering computation, and sensor networks. Solutions are surprisingly tractable. Research in this area over the past decade is described.     

Tetrapod Ichnofacies: A New Paradigm

We recognize three fundamental terms in ichnology: (1) ichnoassemblage, which is an assemblage of ichnofossils conceptually equivalent to an assemblage of body fossils; (2) ichnocoenosis, which is a trace fossil assemblage produced by a biological community that can be characterized by morphological criteria; and (3) ichnofacies, which refers to recurrent ichnocoenoses that represent a significant portion of Phanerozoic time. There are two different kinds of ichnofacies, ethoichnofacies (mostly invertebrate ichnofacies) and biotaxonichnofacies (mostly tetrapod ichnofacies). Nonmarine invertebrate ichnologists now recognize five archetypal ichnofacies (Mermia, Skolithos, Scoyenia, Coprinisphaera, Psilonichnus) to which we add the Octopodichnus ichnofacies. We propose a coherent and consistent classification and nomenclature for tetrapod ichnofacies. We name five archetypal vertebrate ichnofacies for nonmarine environments: Chelichnus, Grallator, Brontopodus, Batrachichnus and Characichnos ichnofacies.     

系统生物学——生命科学的新领域

系统生物学是继基因组学、蛋白质组学之后一门新兴的生物学交叉学科,代表21世纪生物学的未来.最近,系统生物学研究机构纷纷成立.在研究上,了解一个复杂的生物系统需要整合实验和计算方法.基因组学和蛋白质组学中的高通量方法为系统生物学发展提供了大量的数据.计算生物学通过数据处理、模型构建和理论分析,成为系统生物学发展的一个必不可缺、强有力的工具.在应用上,系统生物学代表新一代医药开发和疾病防治的方向.     

Restoration Ecology to the Future: A Call for New Paradigm

The discipline of restoration ecology has grown remarkably in the past decades, providing new ideas and opportunities for conserving biological diversity, managing ecosystems, and testing ecological theories. On the other side, its past‐oriented, static, and idealistic approach has been criticized for subjectivity in determining restoration goals, inapplicability to dynamic ecosystems, and inability for restoring certain irreversible losses. Moreover, unpredictable sustainability of the restored ecosystems, which were modeled after its historical fidelity, adds our skepticism under the changing environment. This paper calls for a new paradigm of ecological restoration to the future. A future‐oriented restoration should (1) establish the ecosystems that are able to sustain in the future, not the past, environment; (2) have multiple alternative goals and trajectories for unpredictable endpoints; (3) focus on rehabilitation of ecosystem functions rather than recomposition of species or cosmetics of landscape surface; and (4) acknowledge its identity as a “value‐laden” applied science within economically and socially acceptable framework. Applicability of ecological theories to restoration practice is also discussed in this paper.     

Use of a Vacuum-Assisted Device for Fournier's Gangrene: A New Paradigm

Fournier's gangrene is a necrotizing infection of the scrotum or perineum that requires aggressive surgical debridement. Radical debridement of perineal necrotizing fasciitis can leave extensive tissue defects that are difficult to close and often require multiple surgical interventions. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) devices have been shown to assist in a more rapid closure of these wounds, but placement of such devices in the perineum can pose significant challenges. We have had success with use of VAC devices and report our techniques for their placement.     

Focal Therapy: A New Paradigm for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Focal therapy has been proposed in recent years as a means of bridging the gap between radical prostatectomy and active surveillance for treatment of prostate cancer. The rationale for focal therapy comes from its success in treating other malignancies. One of the challenges in applying such an approach to the treatment of prostate cancer has been the multifocal nature of the disease. This review addresses the selection of potentially ideal candidates for focal therapy and discusses which modalities are currently being used and proposed for focal therapy. Setting and meeting guidelines for oncologic efficacy is a challenge we must embrace to safely deliver this potentially revolutionary approach to treating men with prostate cancer.Key words: Focal therapy, Photodynamic therapy, Prostatic neoplasms, Prostate-specific antigen, Prostatectomy, Ultrasound, high-intensity focused, transrectal, CryosurgeryWith the advent of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening there has been a stage migration, with radical prostatectomy (RP) being performed with increasing frequency in men with low-risk disease.¹ Whole gland treatment of prostate cancer carries a significant risk of incontinence and sexual dysfunction. Even in the most experienced centers, the rate of potency following RP is approximately 60%.^2–4 Stage migration has led many to recommend active surveillance (AS) as a means to decrease the number of men who may be overtreated; however, AS has been slow to gain acceptance in the United States.An analysis of over 5300 men from the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE) National Prostate Cancer Registry⁵ showed that only 7% of men with clinically localized prostate cancer chose AS as an initial option. Aside from the anxiety that stems from not treating a diagnosed cancer, the greater difficulty with AS lies in selection of candidates and appropriate parameters for surveillance, allowing prompt intervention without compromising cure rates.Focal therapy has been proposed in recent years as a means of bridging the gap between whole gland treatment and AS. Many believe that for patients with low-risk disease, focal therapy is the ideal option for maximizing quality of life by avoiding the effects of whole gland radiation or surgery while alleviating the anxiety and uncertainty of AS. The definition of focal therapy itself is not well established and includes lesion-targeted therapy (LAT), hemiablative therapy (HAT), or subtotal gland therapy (STAT), sparing at least 1 neurovascular bundle.⁶The rationale for focal therapy comes from its success in treating other malignancies. In breast cancer treatment, for example, radical mastectomy has been replaced in many instances by local excision and Mohs surgery has led to less radical surgery for the treatment of melanoma.⁷ In our own field, the push for nephron-sparing surgery has led to the favoring of partial nephrectomy in tumors less than 7 cm, with oncologic outcomes similar to those of radical nephrectomy.⁸The challenge in applying such an approach to the treatment of prostate cancer has been the multifocal nature of prostate cancer and the fact that most cancers are detected without identifying a lesion on palpation or imaging studies.^9,10In this review, we revisit the current status of focal therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer. We discuss whether there are ideal candidates for focal therapy; we then discuss how these candidates should be selected. We review which modalities are currently being used and proposed for focal therapy. Finally, we discuss potential definitions of successful treatment. As this article shows, there are still many aspects of focal therapy that are yet to be defined, that warrant a great need for further research.     

Moving Towards a New Urban Systems Science

Ecosystems - Research on urban ecosystems rapidly expanded in the 1990s and is now a central topic in ecosystem science. In this paper, we argue that there are two critical challenges for ecosystem...     

DDS: Dynamics of Developmental Systems

Abstract. The acronym Developmental systems theory (DST) has been introduced into the literature on development in at least three different contexts in recent years – twice for DST, and before that, for Dynamical Systems Theory – and in all cases, to designate a new perspective for understanding development. Subtle but significant differences in argument and aims distinguish these uses, and confound the difficulty of saying just what DST is. My aim in this paper is to disambiguate these different terms – both to call attention to the difference of perspectives, and to carve out a conceptual space for the concrete issues at stake.     

Intravenous Therapy Duration and Outcomes in Melioidosis: A New Treatment Paradigm

BackgroundInternational melioidosis treatment guidelines recommend a minimum 10 to 14 days’ intravenous antibiotic therapy (intensive phase), followed by 3 to 6 months’ oral therapy (eradication phase). This approach is associated with rates of relapse, defined as recurrence following the eradication phase, that can exceed 5%. Rates of recrudescence, defined as recurrence during the eradication phase, have not previously been reported. In response to low eradication phase completion rates in Australia, a local guideline has evolved over the last ten years recommending a longer minimum intensive phase duration for many cases of melioidosis.

Methodology/ Principal Findings

This retrospective cohort study reviews antibiotic duration for the first episode of care for all patients diagnosed with melioidosis and surviving the intensive phase during a recent three year period in the tropical north of Australia’s Northern Territory; we also review adherence to the current local guideline and treatment outcomes. Of 215 first episodes of melioidosis surviving the intensive phase, the median (interquartile range) intensive phase duration was 26 (14-34) days. One hundred and eight (50.2%) patients completed eradication therapy; 58 (27.0%) patients took no eradication therapy. At 28 months’ follow-up, one (0.5%) relapse and eleven (5.1%) recrudescences had occurred. On exact logistic regression analysis, the only independent risk factors for recrudescence were self-discharge during the intensive phase (odds ratio 6.2 [95% confidence interval 1.2-30.0]) and septic shock (odds ratio 5.3 [95% confidence interval 1.1-25.7]).

Conclusions/ Significance

Relapsed melioidosis is rare in patients who receive a minimum intensive phase duration specified by our guideline and extended according to clinical progress. Recrudescence rates may improve with reductions in rates of self-discharge. Given the low relapse rate despite a high rate of eradication therapy non-adherence, the duration and necessity of eradication therapy for different patients after guideline-concordant intensive therapy should be evaluated further.