On the comparison of two numerical methods for conformal mapping

Let G be a simply-connected domain in the t—plane (t = x + iy), bounded by the three straight lines x = 0, y = 0, x =1 and a Jordan arc with cartesian equation y = τ (X). Also, let g be the function which maps conformally a rectangle R onto G, so that the four corners of R are mapped onto those of G. In this paper we show that the method con-sidered recently by Challis and Burley [2], for determining approx- imations to g, is equivalent to a special case of the well-known method of Garrick [8] for the mapping of doubly-connected domains, Hence, by using results already available in the literature, we provide some theoretical justification for the method of [2]

The determinations of consistent orderings for the sor iterative method

The concept of consistent ordering is central to the theory of the successive over-relaxation (SOR) iterative method for the solution of the set of equations Ax = b. (1

The bergman kernel method for the numerical conformal mapping of simply connected domains

A numerical method for the conformal mapping of simply-connected domains onto the unit disc is considered. The method is based on the use of the Bergman kernel function of the domain. It is shown that, for a successful application, the basis of the series representation of the kernel must include terms that reflect the main singular behaviour of the kernel in the complement of the domain

Common carotid intima media thickness and ankle-brachial pressure index correlate with local but not global atheroma burden:a cross sectional study using whole body magnetic resonance angiography

Common carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI) are used as surrogate marker of atherosclerosis, and have been shown to correlate with arterial stiffness, however their correlation with global atherosclerotic burden has not been previously assessed. We compare CIMT and ABPI with atheroma burden as measured by whole body magnetic resonance angiography (WB-MRA).50 patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease were recruited. CIMT was measured using ultrasound while rest and exercise ABPI were performed. WB-MRA was performed in a 1.5T MRI scanner using 4 volume acquisitions with a divided dose of intravenous gadolinium gadoterate meglumine (Dotarem, Guerbet, FR). The WB-MRA data was divided into 31 anatomical arterial segments with each scored according to degree of luminal narrowing: 0 = normal, 1 = <50%, 2 = 50-70%, 3 = 70-99%, 4 = vessel occlusion. The segment scores were summed and from this a standardized atheroma score was calculated.The atherosclerotic burden was high with a standardised atheroma score of 39.5±11. Common CIMT showed a positive correlation with the whole body atheroma score (β 0.32, p = 0.045), however this was due to its strong correlation with the neck and thoracic segments (β 0.42 p = 0.01) with no correlation with the rest of the body. ABPI correlated with the whole body atheroma score (β -0.39, p = 0.012), which was due to a strong correlation with the ilio-femoral vessels with no correlation with the thoracic or neck vessels. On multiple linear regression, no correlation between CIMT and global atheroma burden was present (β 0.13 p = 0.45), while the correlation between ABPI and atheroma burden persisted (β -0.45 p = 0.005).ABPI but not CIMT correlates with global atheroma burden as measured by whole body contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography in a population with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease. However this is primarily due to a strong correlation with ilio-femoral atheroma burden

Staged Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) for Multivessel STEMI Patients?

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the treatment of choice for patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) since it results in greater patency of the infarct-related artery (IRA) and lower rates of re-infarction, stroke and death when compared with fibrinolysis alone. Multivessel disease (MVD) occurs in 40% to 65% of patients with STEMI. Is it possible for an aggressive multivessel percutaneous revascularization strategy to afford advantages in greater myocardial salvage and avoidance of staged procedures, with subsequent savings in compounded procedural risks? ...(excerpt

ANALYSIS OF PRIESTLEY-TAYLOR METHOD FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF REFERENCE EVAPOTRANSPIRATION IN GREECE

Στόχος της εργασίας είναι η εύρεση του εποχιακού σφάλματος στην εκτίμηση της εξατμισοδιαπνοής καλλιέργειας αναφοράς ΕΤο με τη μέθοδο Priestley-Taylor (P-T) και ο επαναπροσδιορισμός του συντελεστή μεταγωγής apt χρησιμοποιώντας τη μέθοδο Penman-Monteith κατά ASCE. Η ανάλυση έγινε για όλο τον ελλαδικό χώρο με χρήση GIS και μέσα μηνιαία κλιματικά δεδομένα της περιόδου 1950-2000. Η ανάλυση σφάλματος για το θερινό εξάμηνο Απριλίου-Σεπτεμβρίου έδειξε ότι η μέθοδος P-T παρουσιάζει αποδεκτές τιμές στο 75.3%, ενώ για το χειμερινό εξάμηνο Οκτωβρίου-Μαρτίου στο 20.2% της ελληνικής επικράτειας. Ο επαναπροσδιορισμός της μέσης τιμής του apt για το χειμερινό και θερινό εξάμηνο έδειξε ότι η χωρική μεταβλητότητά του παρουσιάζει συσχέτιση της τάξεως του ~94% με το έλλειμμα πίεσης κορεσμού υδρατμών. Από την ανάλυση της εποχιακής μεταβολής του συντελεστή apt εκτιμήθηκε η μέση τιμή του σε 1.29 και 1.51 για τη θερινή και χειμερινή περίοδο, αντίστοιχα.The aim of the study is to estimate the seasonal error in the assessment of reference crop evapotranspiration ΕΤο using the Priestley-Taylor (P-T) method and to revise the advection coefficient apt using as a base the ASCE standardized Penman-Monteith method. Analysis was performed for the Greek territory using GIS and gridded data which cover the mean monthly values of climatic parameters for the period 1950-2000. The analysis of seasonal error showed that P-T presents acceptable values in the 73.5% and 20.2% coverage of the greek territory for the dry-warm season (April-September) and the cold-wet season (October-March), respectively. Recalculation of apt for both seasons showed that its spatial variation is described at ~94% level by the vapor pressure deficit. The mean values of apt for the dry-warm season and the cold wet season were found to be 1.29 και 1.51, respectively

Are Eye Clinics Safe For The Road? An Observational Report

We report an observational study, based on the examination of 319 medical records, identifying the proportion of patients whose driving status was documented on the first and subsequent glaucoma clinic visits. We also established the proportion of patients with documented Driving and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA)-related advice when they did not meet driving standards based on their visual acuity and/or visual fields (VF). On presentation, driving status was assessed in 61% (n=195) patients. Of the remaining 124, 44% (n=55) had their driving status documented at a subsequent visit, on an average 8 years later. Of all patients (78%, n=250) whose driving status was assessed at some stage, 42% (n=134) were drivers. Of the 203 patients who were either drivers or whose driving status was unknown, 37% (n=75) were assessed as having a visual acuity or bilateral VF defect that was below the legal limit for driving, 39 of whom were known drivers. Only 13 were advised to inform the DVLA, and only 5 patients were advised to update their spectacles or listed for surgery to improve their vision. We therefore potentially failed to perform our DVLA duty in 76% (n=57) of patients. We have made suggestions for improving the current performance in this respect based on the findings of this study

Adjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy in Gastric Cancer: Critically Reviewing the Past and Visualizing the Next Step Forward

none9Gastric cancer remains one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Despite the significant advances in surgical treatment and multimodality strategies, prognosis has modestly improved over the last two decades. Locoregional relapse remains one of the main issues and the combined chemoradiation treatment seems to be one of the preferred approaches. However, more than ten years after the hallmark INT-0116 trial, minimal progress has been made both in terms of effectiveness and toxicity. Moreover, new regimens added to combined therapy failed to prove favourable results. Herein, we attempt a thorough literature review comparing pros and cons of all relative studies and potential bias, targeting well-designed future approaches.openPapadimitriou K.; Antoniou G.; Rolfo C.; Russo A.; Bronte G.; Vassiliou V.; Papamichael D.; Peeters M.; Kountourakis P.Papadimitriou, K.; Antoniou, G.; Rolfo, C.; Russo, A.; Bronte, G.; Vassiliou, V.; Papamichael, D.; Peeters, M.; Kountourakis, P

Randomised, open-label, phase II study of Gemcitabine with and without IMM-101 for advanced pancreatic cancer

Background: Immune Modulation and Gemcitabine Evaluation-1, a randomised, open-label, phase II, first-line, proof of concept study (NCT01303172), explored safety and tolerability of IMM-101 (heat-killed Mycobacterium obuense; NCTC 13365) with gemcitabine (GEM) in advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Methods: Patients were randomised (2 : 1) to IMM-101 (10 mg ml−l intradermally)+GEM (1000 mg m−2 intravenously; n=75), or GEM alone (n=35). Safety was assessed on frequency and incidence of adverse events (AEs). Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate (ORR) were collected. Results: IMM-101 was well tolerated with a similar rate of AE and serious adverse event reporting in both groups after allowance for exposure. Median OS in the intent-to-treat population was 6.7 months for IMM-101+GEM v 5.6 months for GEM; while not significant, the hazard ratio (HR) numerically favoured IMM-101+GEM (HR, 0.68 (95% CI, 0.44–1.04, P=0.074). In a pre-defined metastatic subgroup (84%), OS was significantly improved from 4.4 to 7.0 months in favour of IMM-101+GEM (HR, 0.54, 95% CI 0.33–0.87, P=0.01). Conclusions: IMM-101 with GEM was as safe and well tolerated as GEM alone, and there was a suggestion of a beneficial effect on survival in patients with metastatic disease. This warrants further evaluation in an adequately powered confirmatory study

Variations in Treatment Delivery for Patients with Neovascular AMD in the UK: Results from an Ophthalmology Trainee Clinical Research Network Study

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to determine treatment delivery patterns for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) across the UK through an ophthalmology trainee research network delivered observational study. METHODS: Data were collected via an online tool by potential research collaborators identified by the Ophthalmology Trainee Clinical Trial Network (OCTN). Collaborators were asked to comment on periprocedural practices of treatment of nAMD in their eye unit including treatment location and injectors, clinical assessment and routine observation in patients undergoing intravitreal treatment. RESULTS: Data were available from 26 units around the United Kingdom. Survey methodology refinement was approximately 3 months, and the average response time was 4.9 ± 2.4 days. The majority of responders confirmed that treatment was undertaken as a "one-stop" service (n = 15, 58%), delivered in a clean room (n = 23, 88%). In the majority of units, doctors administered injections (n = 24, 92%), but significant treatment was also given by nurse injectors (n = 21, 81%). All collaborators reported that patients underwent visual acuity testing and optical coherence tomography imaging at all visits, but other imaging including fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) did not take place in all cases (n = 17, 65%) and only at baseline visit. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate the feasibility of conducting ophthalmology trainee led and delivered observational studies. Our results show that FFA is not routinely used in the diagnosis of nAMD in the units sampled; most injections are carried out in a clean room, and ophthalmic nurses delivering injections is a highly prevalent model of care in the UK