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

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

Phase II study of paclitaxel in pretreated patients with locally advanced/metastatic cancer of the bladder and ureter.

Fourteen patients with previously treated, locally advanced/metastatic transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder or ureter received paclitaxel at a dose of 200 mg m-2 administered as a 3-h infusion every 21 days. The activity of paclitaxel in this group of patients was modest. The response rates were one partial response (PR) (7%) and three stable disease (SD). There were two early deaths

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

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

Interrelated modulation of endothelial function in Behcet's disease by clinical activity and corticosteroid treatment

Corticosteroids are commonly used in empirical treatment of Behçet's disease (BD), a systemic inflammatory condition associated with reversible endothelial dysfunction. In the present study we aimed to dissect the effects of clinical disease activity and chronic or short-term corticosteroid treatment on endothelial function in patients with BD. In a case-control, cross-sectional study, we assessed endothelial function by endothelium dependent flow mediated dilatation (FMD) at the brachial artery of 87 patients, who either were or were not receiving chronic corticosteroid treatment, and exhibiting variable clinical disease activity. Healthy individuals matched for age and sex served as controls. Endothelial function was also assessed in a prospective study of 11 patients before and after 7 days of treatment with prednisolone given at disease relapse (20 mg/day). In the cross-sectional component of the study, FMD was lower in patients than in control individuals (mean ± standard error: 4.1 ± 0.4% versus 5.7 ± 0.2%, P = 0.003), whereas there was a significant interaction between the effects of corticosteroids and disease activity on endothelial function (P = 0.014, two-factor analysis of variance). Among patients with inactive BD, those who were not treated with corticosteroids (n = 33) had FMD comparable to that in healthy control individuals, whereas those treated with corticosteroids (n = 15) had impaired endothelial function (P = 0.023 versus the respective control subgroup). In contrast, among patients with active BD, those who were not treated with corticosteroids (n = 20) had lower FMD than control individuals (P = 0.007), but in those who were receiving corticosteroids (n = 19) the FMD values were comparable to those in control individuals. Moreover, FMD was significantly improved after 7 days of prednisolone administration (3.7 ± 0.9% versus 7.6 ± 1.4%, P = 0.027). Taken together, these results imply that although corticosteroid treatment may impair endothelial function per se during the remission phase of the inflammatory process, it restores endothelial dysfunction during active BD by counteracting the harmful effects of relapsing inflammation

Lack of effects of pioglitazone on cardiac function in patients with type 2 diabetes and evidence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction: a tissue doppler imaging study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Thiazolidinediones, used for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), are associated with an increased incidence of heart failure. We sought to investigate the effects of pioglitazone on novel echocardiographic indices of left ventricular (LV) diastolic function in DM2 patients with LV diastolic dysfunction (LVDD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Eighty-eight asymptomatic DM2 patients on metformin and/or sulfonylureas, aged 64.5 ± 7.7 years, without known cardiovascular disease, with normal LV systolic function and evidence of LVDD were randomly assigned to pioglitazone 30 mg/day (n = 42) or an increase in dose of other oral agents (n = 39) for 6 months. All patients underwent transthoracic conventional and Tissue Doppler Imaging echocardiography at baseline and follow-up. The primary end-point was change in early diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E').</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Improvement of glycaemic control was similar in the 2 groups. A significant difference (p < 0.05) between the 2 groups was found in the treatment-induced changes in fasting insulin, the insulin resistance index HOMA, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure (all in favor of pioglitazone) and in body weight (increase with pioglitazone). No significant changes were observed in any echocardiographic parameter in either group and did not differ between groups (p = NS for all). E' increased non-significantly and to a similar extent in both groups (p = NS).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In asymptomatic DM2 patients with LVDD, the addition of pioglitazone to oral conventional treatment for 6 months does not induce any adverse or favorable changes in LV diastolic or systolic function despite improvements in glycaemic control, insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and blood pressure.</p