133 research outputs found
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Analyzing competitiveness of automotive industry through cumulative belief degrees
Copyright @ 2012 The European Mathematical SocietyThis study aims to analyze the automotive industry from competitiveness perspective using a novel cumulative belief degrees (CBD) approach. For this purpose, a mathematical model based on CBD is proposed to quantify the relations among the variables in a system. This model is used to analyze the Turkish Automotive Industry through scenario analysis.This research is supported by SEDEFED (Federation of Industrial Associations), REF (TÃœSÄ°AD Sabanci University Competitiveness Forum), and OSD (Automotive Manufacturers Association
An echocardiographic-confirmed case of atrial myxoma causing cerebral embolic ischemic stroke: a case report
A myxoma is the most common primary tumor of the heart. It has been reported as the source of a cardiogenic embolism. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to detect the myxoma early via echocardiography to prevent complications, such as syncope, sudden death, and cerebral embolic ischemic stroke. This report presents the case of a 54-year-old female whose clinical manifestation of atrial myxoma was an ischemic stroke. Atrial myxoma was later confirmed as the cause of her symptoms via transesophageal echocardiography
Is keV ion induced pattern formation on Si(001) caused by metal impurities?
We present ion beam erosion experiments performed in ultra high vacuum using
a differentially pumped ion source and taking care that the ion beam hits the
Si(001) sample only. Under these conditions no ion beam patterns form on Si for
angles below 45 degrees with respect to the global surface normal using 2 keV
Kr ions and fluences of 2 x 10^22 ions/m^2. In fact, the ion beam induces a
smoothening of preformed patterns. Simultaneous sputter deposition of stainless
steel in this angular range creates a variety of patterns, similar to those
previously ascribed to clean ion beam induced destabilization of the surface
profile. Only for grazing incidence with incident angles between 60 degrees and
83 degrees pronounced ion beam patterns form. It appears that the angular
dependent stability of Si(001) against pattern formation under clean ion beam
erosion conditions is related to the angular dependence of the sputtering
yield, and not primarily to a curvature dependent yield as invoked frequently
in continuum theory models.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures. This is an author-created, un-copyedited version
of an article published in Nanotechnology. IOP Publishing Ltd is not
responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or
any version derived from i
Statins Do Not Reduce Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Valvular Surgery: A Single Centre Observational Study
Dose dependent effect of statins on postoperative atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery among patients treated with beta blockers
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Previous studies on the effects of Statins in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiac surgery have shown conflicting results. Whether statins prevent AF in patients treated with postoperative beta blockers and whether the statin-effect is dose related are unknown.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively studied 1936 consecutive patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) (n = 1493) or valve surgery (n = 443) at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. All patients were in sinus rhythm before the surgery. Postoperative beta blockers were administered routinely (92% within 24 hours postoperatively).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean age was 66+10 years and 68% of the patients were taking Statins. Postoperative AF occurred in 588 (30%) patients and led to longer length of stay in the intensive care unit versus those without AF (5.1+7.6 days versus 2.5+2.3 days, p < 0.0001). Patients with a past history of AF had a 5 times higher risk of postoperative AF (odds ratio 5.1; 95% confidence interval 3.4 to 7.7; p < 0.0001). AF occurred in 31% of patients taking statins versus 29% of the others (p = 0.49). In multivariable analysis, statins were not associated with AF (odds ratio (OR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.7 to 1.2; p = 0.59). However, in a subgroup analysis, the patients treated with Simvastatin >20 mg daily had a 36% reduction in the risk of postoperative AF (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.6; p = 0.03) in comparison to those taking lower dosages.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Among cardiac surgery patients treated with postoperative beta blockers Statin treatment reduces the incidence of postoperative AF when used at higher dosages</p
Adipose tissue concentrations of non-persistent environmental phenols and local redox balance in adults from Southern Spain
The aim was to evaluate the associations of environmental phenol and paraben concentrations with the oxidative
microenvironment in adipose tissue. This study was conducted in a subsample (n=144) of the GraMo cohort
(Southern Spain). Concentrations of 9 phenols and 7 parabens, and levels of oxidative stress biomarkers were
quantified in adipose tissue. Associations were estimated using multivariable linear regression analyses adjusted
for potential confounders.
Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) concentration was borderline associated with enhanced glutathione peroxidase (GPx)
activity [exp(β)=1.20, p=0.060] and decreased levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) [exp(β)=0.55,
p=0.070]. Concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) and methylparaben (MeP) were associated to lower glutathione
reductase (GRd) activity [exp(β)=0.83, exp(β)=0.72, respectively], and BPA was borderline associated
to increased levels of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) [exp(β)=1.73, p-value=0.062]. MeP was inversely
associated to both hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and superoxide dismustase (SOD) activity, as well as to the levels of
thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) [0.75 < exp(β) < 0.79].
Our results suggest that some specific non-persistent pollutants may be associated with a disruption of the
activity of relevant antioxidant enzymes, in addition to the depletion of the glutathione stock. They might act as
a tissue-specific source of free radicals, contributing to the oxidative microenvironment in the adipose tissue.This research was supported
in part by research grants from the European Union Commission
(H2020-EJP-HBM4EU and SOE1/P1/F0082), Biomedical Research
Networking Center-CIBER de EpidemiologÃa y Salud Pública
(CIBERESP), from the Institute of Health Carlos III, supported by
European Regional Development Fund/FEDER (FIS-PI13/02406, FISPI14/
00067, FIS-PI16/01820, FIS-PI16/01812, FIS-PI16/01858 and
FIS-PI17/01743), and from the ConsejerÃa de Salud, Junta de AndalucÃa
(PS-0506-2016). Funding for the equipment used was provided by
Velux Fonden, Augustinus Fonden and Svend Andersen Fonden. The
authors thank Kirsten og Freddy Johansens Fond and the International
Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of
Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet,
Copenhagen University) for economic support. Dr. Juan Pedro Arrebola
is under contract within Ramón y Cajal Program (Ministerio de
EconomÃa, Industria y Competitividad de España, RYC-2016-20155)
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