Defect and Hodge numbers of hypersurfaces

We define defect for hypersurfaces with A-D-E singularities in complex projective normal Cohen-Macaulay fourfolds having some vanishing properties of Bott-type and prove formulae for Hodge numbers of big resolutions of such hypersurfaces. We compute Hodge numbers of Calabi-Yau manifolds obtained as small resolutions of cuspidal triple sextics and double octics with higher A_j singularities.Comment: 25 page

Decomposition of semigroup algebras

Let A \subseteq B be cancellative abelian semigroups, and let R be an integral domain. We show that the semigroup ring R[B] can be decomposed, as an R[A]-module, into a direct sum of R[A]-submodules of the quotient ring of R[A]. In the case of a finite extension of positive affine semigroup rings we obtain an algorithm computing the decomposition. When R[A] is a polynomial ring over a field we explain how to compute many ring-theoretic properties of R[B] in terms of this decomposition. In particular we obtain a fast algorithm to compute the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity of homogeneous semigroup rings. As an application we confirm the Eisenbud-Goto conjecture in a range of new cases. Our algorithms are implemented in the Macaulay2 package MonomialAlgebras.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, minor revisions. Package may be downloaded at http://www.math.uni-sb.de/ag/schreyer/jb/Macaulay2/MonomialAlgebras/html

Predicting discharge to institutional long-term care after stroke: a systematic review & meta-analysis

Background/Objectives: Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and a significant proportion of stroke survivors require long-term institutional care. Understanding who cannot be discharged home is important for health and social care planning. Our aim was to establish predictive factors for discharge to institutional care after hospitalization for stroke. Design: We registered and conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42015023497) of observational studies. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL Plus to February 2017. Quantitative synthesis was performed where data allowed. Setting: Acute and rehabilitation hospitals. Participants: Adults hospitalized for stroke who were newly admitted directly to long-term institutional care at the time of hospital discharge. Measurements: Factors associated with new institutionalization. Results: From 10,420 records, we included 18 studies (n = 32,139 participants). The studies were heterogeneous and conducted in Europe, North America, and East Asia. Eight studies were at high risk of selection bias. The proportion of those surviving to discharge who were newly discharged to long-term care varied from 7% to 39% (median 17%, interquartile range 12%), and the model of care received in the long-term care setting was not defined. Older age and greater stroke severity had a consistently positive association with the need for long-term care admission. Individuals who had a severe stroke were 26 times as likely to be admitted to long-term care than those who had a minor stroke. Individuals aged 65 and older had a risk of stroke that was three times as great as that of younger individuals. Potentially modifiable factors were rarely examined. Conclusion: Age and stroke severity are important predictors of institutional long-term care admission directly from the hospital after an acute stroke. Potentially modifiable factors should be the target of future research. Stroke outcome studies should report discharge destination, defining the model of care provided in the long-term care setting

Head Position in Stroke Trial (HeadPoST)- sitting-up vs lying-flat positioning of patients with acute stroke: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

Background Positioning a patient lying-flat in the acute phase of ischaemic stroke may improve recovery and reduce disability, but such a possibility has not been formally tested in a randomised trial. We therefore initiated the Head Position in Stroke Trial (HeadPoST) to determine the effects of lying-flat (0°) compared with sitting-up (≥30°) head positioning in the first 24 hours of hospital admission for patients with acute stroke. Methods/Design We plan to conduct an international, cluster randomised, crossover, open, blinded outcome-assessed clinical trial involving 140 study hospitals (clusters) with established acute stroke care programs. Each hospital will be randomly assigned to sequential policies of lying-flat (0°) or sitting-up (≥30°) head position as a ‘business as usual’ stroke care policy during the first 24 hours of admittance. Each hospital is required to recruit 60 consecutive patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS), and all patients with acute intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) (an estimated average of 10), in the first randomised head position policy before crossing over to the second head position policy with a similar recruitment target. After collection of in-hospital clinical and management data and 7-day outcomes, central trained blinded assessors will conduct a telephone disability assessment with the modified Rankin Scale at 90 days. The primary outcome for analysis is a shift (defined as improvement) in death or disability on this scale. For a cluster size of 60 patients with AIS per intervention and with various assumptions including an intracluster correlation coefficient of 0.03, a sample size of 16,800 patients at 140 centres will provide 90 % power (α 0.05) to detect at least a 16 % relative improvement (shift) in an ordinal logistic regression analysis of the primary outcome. The treatment effect will also be assessed in all patients with ICH who are recruited during each treatment study period. Discussion HeadPoST is a large international clinical trial in which we will rigorously evaluate the effects of different head positioning in patients with acute stroke. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02162017 (date of registration: 27 April 2014); ANZCTR identifier: ACTRN12614000483651 (date of registration: 9 May 2014). Protocol version and date: version 2.2, 19 June 2014

Returning to work after stroke: perspectives of employer stakeholders, a qualitative study.

Purpose: More than 40 % of working age adults with stroke fail to return to work. The work context is a key factor in return to work, but little is known about the experiences of employers in supporting employees with stroke. The aim of this study was to explore return to work after stroke from the employer perspective, to identify key features associated with success and to seek participants’ views regarding the role of healthcare in return to work. Methods: Data was gathered through 18 semi-structured interviews with employer stakeholders and included small business owners, line managers, human resources and occupational health staff. Data was analysed thematically. Results: The main themes identified were: the impact of stroke on the employer, characteristics of the employee, communication, knowledge and information, experience of other stakeholders, integrating healthcare in return to work. Conclusion: Employers face complex emotional and practical issues when helping an employee return to work after stroke, for which many lack knowledge and experience. The range and quality of support networks that they access is variable and advice and support from clinicians is welcomed. Further research is necessary to investigate how such support could be funded and integrated within existing service provision

Исследование процесса окислительного хлорирования метана при повышенных давлениях

The process of the oxidative chlorination of methane carried out in a flow reactor was investigated in the temperature range of 370–400°C under a pressure of 1–9 ata. The catalyst is a mixture of copper chloride, potassium chloride and lanthanum chloride on a porous support. The molar ratio CuCl2:KCl:LaCl3 is 1:1:0.3. The process was studied in an excess of methane at the reactants ratio CH4:HCl:O2 12:2:1 and 13.5:1:0.5. It was shown experimentally that the productivity of the methane oxychlorination reactor increases proportionally to pressure in the degree ~ 0.85. It was found that an increase in the selectivity of the methane oxychlorination process to the desired product – methyl chloride – (more than 90%) is achieved by increasing the ratio of methane to the sum of hydrogen chloride and oxygen.Процесс окислительного хлорирования метана, проводимый в проточном реакторе, изучался в интервале температур 370–400°С при давлении 1–9 ата. В качестве катализатора использовалась смесь хлоридов меди, калия и лантана в мольном соотношении 1:1:0.3, нанесенная на пористый носитель. Процесс изучался в избытке метана при соотношении реагентов CH4:HCl:O2, равном 12:2:1 и 13.5:1:0.5

Пиролиз хлористого метила на катализаторе SAPO-34/Al2O3 в условиях стационарного слоя и в режиме псевдоожижения

The process of pyrolysis of methyl chloride with the use of a silicoaluminophosphate catalyst granulated with Al2O3, the content of which varied in a range of 40–60 weight %, is investigated. The synthesized catalyst SAPO-34/Al2O3 in a mass ratio 60:40 is performed in the form of tablets for work in a stationary bed, as well as in a microsphere for the fluidized bed. The basic physical and chemical properties of the tested catalysts are determined. Comparison of the behaviour of the synthesized catalysts in the process of methyl chloride pyrolysis in the stationary bed and the fluidized bed is carried out. The process of methyl chloride pyrolysis on the fluidized bed microsphere catalyst is investigated. Temperature was varied in a range of 425–450ºС, the feed rate (WHSV, equivalent to the mass of methyl chloride) was in the range of 0.8–4.8 h−1 , time on stream (TOS) was 2 h. The basic technological parameters of the process providing conversion of methyl chloride not below 70% and selectivity of ethylene formation not lower than 45% are determined.Исследован процесс пиролиза хлористого метила с использованием силикоалюмофосфатного катализатора, гранулированного с оксидом алюминия, содержание которого варьируется в диапазоне 40–60% мас. Синтезированный катализатор SAPO-34/Al2O3 в массовом соотношении 60:40 выполнен в виде таблеток для работы в стационарном слое, а также в микросферическом виде для режима псевдоожижения. Определены основные физико-химические свойства тестируемых катализаторов. Проведено сравнение поведения синтезированных катализаторов в процессе пиролиза хлористого метила в условиях стационарного слоя и псевдоожижения. Процесс ката- литического пиролиза хлористого метила исследован при Т=425–450ºС, скорости массовой нагрузки хлористого метила 0.8–4.8 ч-1 на микросферическом катализаторе в режиме псевдоожижения. Определены основные технологические параметры проведения процесса, обеспечивающие конверсию хлористого метила не ниже 70% и селективность образования этилена не ниже 45%

Пиролиз хлористого метила на катализаторе sapo-34 в исходной и модифицированных металлами формах

The process of pyrolysis of methyl chloride is investigated over various silicoaluminophosphates: pure SAPO-34 phase; modified Fe2O3 (SAPO-34Fe); modified SiO2 (SAPO-34Si); modified by magnesium (SAPO-34Mg). Methyl chloride to ethylene reaction was carried out using a fixed bed reactor with the following conditions. The feed rate (WHSV, equivalent to the mass of methyl chloride) was in the range of 2.52–8.52 h−1, time on stream (TOS) = 2 h, and temperature 425 and 450º С . It is shown that in the presence of these catalysts the process of pyrolysis of methyl chloride is carried out with selective formation of ethylene. It was observed that the initial activity of the catalysts decreases with TOS. The same order of deactivation of catalysts is practically observed: SAPO-34Mg > SAPO-34Fe> SAPO-34Si> SAPO-34. The positive effect of coke buildup on the selectivity of ethylene formation was observed for all samples of the catalyst. The observation was made for an increase in selectivity to ethylene when the feed rate was increased. Catalyst SAPO-34 gives high initial activity (degree of methyl chloride conversion: 80%), it has longer lifetime as compared to the other samples of the tested catalysts. Selectivity of ethylene formation over this catalyst is up to 50–54% mol.Процесс каталитического пиролиза хлористого метила исследован при 425 и 450ºС, массовой подаче хлористого метила 3.6–4 ч–1 на различных силикоалюмофосфатах: SAPO -34 – чистая фаза; модифицированный Fe2 O3 ( SAPO -34Fe ); модифицированный SiO2 ( SAPO -34Si ); модифици-рованный магнием ( SAPO -34Mg). Пиролиз хлористого метила на этих катализаторах осуществляется с селективным получением этилена . Установлено , что первоначальная активность катализаторов снижается по мере увеличения продолжительности опыта. Степень дезактивации катализаторов уменьшается в следующем ряду: SAPO -34Mg > SAPO -34Fe > SAPO -34Si > SAPO -34. Результаты ис-следований показывают, что селективность образования этилена находится в зависимости от степени дезактивации катализатора. Определены закономерности влияния массовой скорости по-дачи исходного реагента (2.52–8.52 ч–1) на конверсию хлористого метила и селективность обра-зования этилена. Каталитическая система SAPO -34 обладает высокой первоначальной активностью (конверсия – 80%), она более стабильна во времени по сравнению с другими образцами испытанных катализаторов. Селективность образования этилена на этом катализаторе достигает 50–54% мол

Income and education as predictors of return to working life among younger stroke patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Socioeconomic conditions are not only related to poor health outcomes, they also contribute to the chances of recovery from stroke. This study examines whether income and education were predictors of return to work after a first stroke among persons aged 40-59.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>All first-stroke survivors aged 40-59 who were discharged from a hospital in 1996-2000 and who had received income from work during the year prior to the stroke were sampled from the Swedish national register of in-patient care (n = 7,081). Income and education variables were included in hazard regressions, modelling the probability of returning to work from one to four years after discharge. Adjustments for age, sex, stroke subtype, and length of in-patient care were included in the models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both higher income and higher education were associated with higher probability of returning to work. While the association between education and return to work was attenuated by income, individuals with university education were 13 percent more likely to return than those who had completed only compulsory education, and individuals in the highest income quartile were about twice as likely to return as those in the lowest. The association between socioeconomic position and return to work was similar for different stroke subtypes. Income differences between men and women also accounted for women's lower probability of returning to work.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study demonstrates that education and income were independent predictors of returning to work among stroke patients during the first post-stroke years. Taking the relative risk of return to work among those in the higher socioeconomic positions as the benchmark, there may be considerable room for improvement among patients in lower socioeconomic strata.</p