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INTRODUCTION: We have shown that low protein C levels predict poor survival up to five years in a general intensive care unit patient material and hypothesize that treatment with protein C is beneficial. The objectives were to calculate costs of protein C treatment, at best-case scenario, per statistical life saved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety-two patients with deranged global haemostatic tests
In order to simplify computational methods based on dynamic programming, a relaxed procedure based on upper and lower bounds of the optimal cost was recently introduced. The convergence properties of this procedure are analysed here. In particular, it is shown that the computational effort in finding an approximately optimal control law by relaxed value iteration is related to the polynomial degre
A method for simultaneous extraction and quantification Of four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) based on continuous flow hollow fiber liquid-phase microextraction (CFHF-LPME) was developed. The effect of sample flow rate, acceptor flow rate, type of acceptor flow (continuous, semi-continuous or forward-backward), type of supported liquid membrane and sample volume was studied. The e
Background: Over the last 20 years stress at work has been found to be predictive of several conditions such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure and non- specific sick leave. The Karasek demand/ control/ strain concept has been the most widely used in prospective epidemiological studies. Objectives: To describe distribution in Karasek's demand/ control ( DC) dimensions as well as preval
Cultural and creative activities are today described as central to regional and urban development by politicians and governments. Creative city policies are often aiming at economic benefits for the city itself, and there are normative purposes with many research studies as well as projects undertaken (Eckardt 2005; Markusen and Gadwa 2010; Kovacs 2011). Creative city policy is often oriented towa
Consider the random graph on n vertices 1,...,n. Each vertex i is assigned a type x(i) with x(1),...,x(n) being independent identically distributed as a nonnegative random variable X. We assume that EX3 < infinity. Given types of all vertices, an edge exists between vertices i and j independent of anything else and with probability min{1, x(i)x(j)/n (1 + a/n(1/3))}. We study the critical phase, wh
In order to simplify computational methods based on dynamic programming, an approximative procedure based on upper and lower bounds of the optimal cost was recently introduced. The convergence properties of this procedure are analyzed in this paper. In particular, it is shown that the computational effort in finding an approximately optimal control law by relaxed value iteration is related to the
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to document the perceived decrease in fatty involution at screening mammography during the past decade and evaluate the influence of hormone replacement therapy (HRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In December 1996, the mammograms of 261 consecutive screening patients with a comparison study obtained 5 years earlier were evaluated, and their breasts were
We have estimated the hydration free energy for 20 neutral drug-like molecules, as well as for three series of 6-11 inhibitors to avidin, factor Xa, and galectin-3 with four different continuum solvent approaches (the polarised continuum method the Langevin dipole method, the finite-difference solution of the Poisson equation, and the generalised Born method), and several variants of each, giving
The blade tip region encounters high thermal loads because of the hot gas leakage flows, and it must therefore be cooled to ensure a long durability and safe operation. A common way to cool a blade tip is to design serpentine passages with a 180 deg turns under the blade tip-cap inside the turbine blade. Improved internal convective cooling is therefore required to increase blade tip lifetime. Pin
Background and Objective: Glioblastoma multiforme is a highly malignant primary brain tumor. It has no border but at best a marginal zone, however, invisible to the surgeon. An optical touch pointer (OTP) enabling differentiation of healthy and tumor tissue by means of fiber-optic fluorescence spectroscopy has been developed. In combination with an ultrasonic navigation system, the OTP may be used
(Co/Au) and (Au/ Co/ Au) nanomagnet arrays grown on nanostructured self-organized SiGe templates have been characterized by means of x-ray photoemission electron microscopy, x-ray magnetic circular dichroism, and by extended x-ray absorption spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation. In-plane magnetization is observed at room temperature for practically all Co thicknesses, a stable macroscopic perp
Timber structures and wooden element are in general affected by moisture and moisture variation in different ways. Their hygroscopic properties result in adsorption of water when wetted and in desorption when dried. Because the volume of wood is not constant but varies with the moisture content, uneven distribution of moisture will result in induced eigen-stresses because of internal restraint hyg
A number of deleterious health effects have been identified from exposure to outdoor air-borne particulate matter. This issue is complicated by the fact that people are spending most of the time indoors, where particles of both indoor and outdoor origin are present. The aim of this work was to assess the differences in particle chemical composition inside and outside of the residence and gain bett
One important element in the interaction between the natural and the human environment is the negative impact of the first on the latter when seen through the prism of urban destabilization. Within this scope, the issue of urban abandonment and disappearance holds an important place, the indirect cause of which are the specifics of local and regional natural subsystems. Small towns are especially
Polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) have shown a great potential to be used in several applications, e.g., portable, mobile and stationary systems. Each of the mentioned applications demands from PEFCs different operating conditions to perform in the best possible manner. Knowing in detail the behavior of their internal components will help to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of th
Food-emulsions often have high volume fractions of dispersed phase and are thus expected to show coalescence during emulsification, however, food-emulsion coalescence is difficult to measure in homogenizer equipment. This study experimentally estimates the rates of fragmentation and coalescence in a high viscosity and high volume fraction model emulsion subjected to pilot-scale rotor-stator mixing
Background: Liver cirrhosis is characterized by a silent phase until decompensation, which is defined by ascites, bleeding from esophageal varices or hepatic encephalopathy. Aim: We compare the clinical course, patterns of survival and causes of death by etiology during long-term follow-up in a large population-based cohort of patients with incident cirrhosis. Material and methods: We used populat
