The Untapped Potential of Introvert Leaders

Academic research shows that extroverts are generally seen as more productive and effective leaders than their introvert counterparts because they possess the characteristics our society has so often revered (Grant, Gino, & Hofmann, 2009). With the rise of the “extrovert ideal” throughout our society, introverts are left wondering what role they play when it comes to leadership (Cain, 2013). Through examples of four successful introvert leaders (Susan Cain, Warren Buffett, Laura Bush, and Bill Gates), it can be derived that it is not the personality that makes the leader but, rather, the passion, drive, and self-actualization of the individual. With greater emphasis on education, development, and training when it comes to utilizing one’s strengths innately within one’s personality, the potential of introverts, often hidden by shame, remorse, and feelings of inadequacy, will no longer go untapped

Structural phase transitions and their influence on Cu+ mobility in superionic ferroelastic Cu6PS5I single crystals

The structural origin of Cu+ ions conductivity in Cu6PS5I single crystals is described in terms of structural phase transitions studied by X-ray diffraction, polarizing microscope and calorimetric measurements. Below the phase transition at Tc=(144-169) K Cu6PS5I belongs to monoclinic, ferroelastic phase, space group Cc. Above Tc crystal changes the symmetry to cubic superstructure, space group F-43c (a=19.528); finally at 274K disordering of the Cu+ ions increases the symmetry to F-43m, (a=9.794). The phase transition at 274K coincides well with a strong anomaly in electrical conductivity observed in the Arrhenius plot. Diffusion paths for Cu+ ions are evidenced by means of the atomic displacement factors and split model. Influence of the copper stechiometry on the Tc is also discussed.Comment: conference pape

Ferroelectric Phase Transitions in Films with Depletion Charge

We consider ferroelectric phase transitions in both short-circuited and biased ferroelectric-semiconductor films with a space (depletion) charge which leads to some unusual behavior. It is shown that in the presence of the charge the polarization separates into `switchable' and `non-switchable' parts. The electric field, appearing due to the space charge, does not wash out the phase transition, which remains second order but takes place at somewhat reduced temperature. At the same time, it leads to a suppression of the ferroelectricity in a near-electrode layer. This conclusion is valid for materials with both second and first order phase transitions in pure bulk samples. Influence of the depletion charge on thermodynamic coercive field reduces mainly to the lowering of the phase transition temperature, and its effect is negligible. The depletion charge can, however, facilitate an appearance of the domain structure which would be detrimental for device performance (fatigue). We discuss some issues of conceptual character, which are generally known but were overlooked in previous works. The present results have general implications for small systems with depletion charge.Comment: 11 pages, REVTeX 3.1, five eps-figures included in the text. Minor clarifications in the text. To appear in Phys. Rev. B 61, Apr 1 (2000

Effect of total arterial grafting in the Arterial Revascularization Trial

Objectives The Arterial Revascularization Trial (ART) was designed to compare 10-year survival in bilateral versus single internal thoracic artery grafts. The intention-to-treat analysis has showed comparable outcomes between the 2 groups but an explanatory analysis suggested that those receiving 2 or more arterial grafts had better survival. Whether the exclusive use of arterial grafts provide further benefit is unclear. Methods We performed an exploratory analysis of the ART based on conduits actually received (as-treated principle). From ART cohort, only patients receiving at least 3 grafts were included. The final population consisted of 1084, 1010, and 390 patients in the single arterial graft (SAG) group, in the multiple arterial graft (MAG) group (2 or more arterial grafts with additional saphenous veins) and total arterial graft (TAG) group (3 or more arterial grafts only) respectively. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used for comparison. Results When compared with the SAG group, there was a significant trend toward a reduction of 10-year mortality in the MAG and TAG group (test for trend P = .02). The TAG group was associated with the lowest risk of late mortality (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.96; P = .03) and with a significant risk reduction of the composite of death/myocardial infarction/stroke and repeat revascularization (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval, 0.53-0.94; P = .02). Conclusions When compared with SAG, both MAG and TAG represent valuable strategies to improve clinical outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting but TAG can potentially provide further benefit.</p

Assessment and prevalence of depression in women 45–55 years of age visiting gynecological clinics in Poland

¶The aims of the Polish survey were to assess efficacy of screening for depression in gynecological practice and to estimate prevalence of depressive disorders in midlife women visiting gynecologists. The study included 2262 female outpatients aged 45–55, who were screened by 120 gynecologists throughout Poland. Patients completed the Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) and were assessed by gynecologists to verify the presence of symptoms of a current Depressive Episode according to ICD-10 diagnostic criteria. Patients who obtained a score of 12 points or more on the BDI were referred for psychiatric evaluation, including the modified version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). The study showed that gynecologists in Poland are able to perform screenings for depression effectively in outpatient settings. Results also suggested that about 19% of women aged 45 to 55 years visiting gynecologists may suffer from depressive disorders.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41736/1/737_2003_Article_019.pd

The presence of bilirubin in the perigraft fluid collections as an indicator of graft-enteric fistula

Wstęp. Wyniki leczenia przetok protezowo-dwunastniczych zależą między innymi od wczesnego rozpoznania powikłania. Jedną z oznak zakażenia protezy jest obecność płynu w jej otoczeniu. Jednak swoistość tego objawu jest mała. Celem badania była ocena przydatności analizy biochemicznej i mikrobiologicznej płynu w otoczeniu protezy w diagnostyce jej zakażenia oraz powstania przetoki protezowo-jelitowej. Materiał i metody. Zbadano 24 próbki płynu gromadzącego się w otoczeniu protez. Materiał uzyskano od 17 chorych z podejrzeniem zakażenia protezy naczyniowej, spośród których u 5 wcześniej zdiagnozowano śródoperacyjnie przetokę protezowo-jelitową, oraz od 7 pacjentów, u których zaopatrzono przepuklinę brzuszną z wykorzystaniem siatki dakronowej. Wyniki. U pacjentów z istniejącą przetoką protezowo-jelitową odnotowano wyższe stężenia bilirubiny całkowitej i bilirubiny bezpośredniej, niskie stężenie mocznika oraz brak nacieku zapalnego w otoczeniu nagromadzonego płynu. Stosunek bilirubiny całkowitej do bezpośredniej był niski, co wskazywało na przewagę bilirubiny bezpośredniej. U pacjentów bez istniejącej przetoki protezowo-jelitowej oraz z wszytą siatką dakronową stężenia bilirubiny całkowitej i bezpośredniej były niższe, stężenie mocznika było wyższe oraz zaobserwowano obecność nacieku zapalnego w otoczeniu nagromadzonego płynu. Różnice te nie osiągnęły jednak istotności statystycznej. Wnioski. Wysokie stężenia całkowitej oraz bezpośredniej bilirubiny w płynie nagromadzonym w otoczeniu protezy nie są jednoznaczną oznaką współistnienia przetoki protezowo-jelitowej. Niskie stężenie mocznika może okazać się bardziej przydatne w diagnostyce różnicowej płynu gromadzącego się w otoczeniu protez.Background. Graft-enteric fistulas are among the most dangerous complications in vascular surgery. The successful treatment of this complication depends on early and unequivocal diagnosis. The presence of perigraft fluid is one of the signs of vascular graft infection. Its specificity, however, is low. The purpose of this study was to determine the value of biochemical and microbiological analysis of low-density perigraft fluid in early diagnosis of prosthetic graft infection and graft-enteric fistula. Material and methods. Twenty-four fluid samples from perigraft fluid collections were analyzed. The samples were obtained from 17 patients with suspected vascular prosthetic graft infection, including 5 patients with intraoperatively diagnosed graft-enteric fistulas and from 7 patients who underwent Dacron mesh repair of abdominal hernias. Results. High concentrations of total and direct bilirubin, low concentrations of urea and an absence of inflammatory infiltration surrounding the fluid collection in the patients with graft-enteric fistulas were found. The total to direct bilirubin ratio was low, which indicated the dominance of direct bilirubin. In patients without graft-enteric fistulas and in patients after abdominal hernia mesh repair the concentration of total and direct bilirubin was lower, the concentration of urea was higher and inflammatory infiltration around fluid collection was observed. The differences, however, did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions. High concentrations of total and direct bilirubin in perigraft fluid are not an unequivocal sign of the coexistence of graft-enteric fistulas. The low concentration of urea could be more useful in differential diagnosis of perigraft fluid collections

The value of different forms of compression therapy in the treatment of iatrogenic femoral pseudoaneurysms

Wstęp. Tętniaki rzekome (PA) należą do najczęstszych powikłań towarzyszących przeprowadzaniu zabiegów endowaskularnych. Podstawową formą terapii zachowawczej jest leczenie za pomocą ucisku, w postaci opatrunku uciskowego, celowanego ucisku głowicą ultrasonograficzną lub ucisku ręcznego. Celem niniejszej pracy było określenie skuteczności poszczególnych form leczenia uciskowego PA w pachwinie. Materiał i metody. Ocenie poddano grupę 273 chorych, u których w następstwie przeprowadzonych zabiegów endowskularnych powstały PA tętnic udowych. W zależności od sytuacji klinicznej oraz od ośrodka, w którym leczono chorych wdrożono jedną z trzech form terapii: opatrunek uciskowy u 142 chorych (grupa I), celowany ucisk ręczny u 94 pacjentów (grupa II) oraz celowany ucisk głowicą ultrasonograficzną - u 23 badanych (grupa III). Wyniki. Wykrzepnięcie PA obserwowano u 23,2% chorych z grupy I, u 75,5% pacjentów z grupy II oraz u 8,7% z grupy III. Różnice skuteczności terapii występujące pomiędzy poszczególnymi grupami były znamienne statystycznie. Wnioski. Zgodnie z obserwacjami autorów niniejszej pracy najlepszą skuteczność w leczeniu PA odnotowano po zastosowaniu celowanego ucisku ręcznego. Obok dużej skuteczności metoda ta charakteryzowała się łatwością wykonania oraz ograniczoną częstością występowania zdarzeń niepożądanych. Ta forma leczenia powinna być metodą pierwszego wyboru w leczeniu jatrogennych PA w pachwinie.Background. Pseudoaneurysms (PA) belong to the group of most frequent complications following percutaneous endovascular procedures. The main stem of their conservative management is compression therapy with compression dressing or ultrasound-guided compression either manually or with ultrasonographic transducer. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of different forms of compression therapy in the treatment of femoral pseudoaneurysms. Material and methods. A group of 273 patients with femoral pseudoaneurysm following percutaneous endovascular intervention was analyzed. Depending on the clinical situation and the centre where the patients were treated, three different forms of therapy were administered: compression dressing in 142 patients (group I), ultrasound-guided manual compression in 94 patients (group II), or ultrasound-guided transducer compression in 23 patients (group III). Results. Thrombosis of femoral pseudoaneurysms occurred in 23.2%, 75.5% and 8.7% of patients from group I, II and III, respectively. The differences between the groups were statistically significant. Conclusions. According to our observations, ultrasound guided manual compression was the best method of treatment of femoral pseudoaneurysm. As well as showing high efficacy it was easy to perform and free from complications. Ultrasound guided manual compression should be the method of choice in the treatment of iatrogenic, femoral pseudoaneurysm