Комплексна оцінка рівня фінансової стійкості підприємства сфери послуг

Цель данной статьи заключается в обобщении теоретических основ и обоснование целесообразности применения комплексной оценки финансового состояния предприятия сферы услуг.Мета даної статті полягає в узагальненні теоретичних основ і обґрунтування доцільності застосування комплексної оцінки фінансового стану підприємства сфери послуг

Достаточные условия стойкости рандомизированных блочных cистем шифрования относительно метода криптоанализа на основе коммутативных диаграмм

Получены достаточные условия отсутствия определенных нетривиальных конгруэнций многоосновных алгебр, описывающих рандомизированные блочные системы шифрования, соответствующие SPN-подобным шифрам или шифрам Фейстеля. Указанные условия исключают возможность применения к таким системам шифрования метода криптоанализа на основе коммутативных диаграмм.Отримано достатні умови відсутності певних нетривіальних конгруенцій багатоосновних універсальних алгебр, що описують рандомізовані блокові системи шифрування, які відповідають SPN-подібним шифрам або шифрам Фейстеля. Зазначені умови виключають можливість застосування до таких систем шифрування методу криптоаналізу на основі комутативних діаграм.Sufficient conditions for the non-existence of certain nontrivial congruences of many-sorted universal algebras, that describe randomized block cipher systems based on the SPN-like ciphers or on Feistel ciphers, are obtained. These conditions guarantee that such cipher systems are secure against commutative diagram attacks

Results of the first European Source Apportionment intercomparison for Receptor and Chemical Transport Models

In this study, the performance of the source apportionment model applications were evaluated by comparing the model results provided by 44 participants adopting a methodology based on performance indicators: z-scores and RMSEu, with pre-established acceptability criteria. Involving models based on completely different and independent input data, such as receptor models (RMs) and chemical transport models (CTMs), provided a unique opportunity to cross-validate them. In addition, comparing the modelled source chemical profiles, with those measured directly at the source contributed to corroborate the chemical profile of the tested model results. The most used RM was EPA- PMF5. RMs showed very good performance for the overall dataset (91% of z-scores accepted) and more difficulties are observed with SCE time series (72% of RMSEu accepted). Industry resulted the most problematic source for RMs due to the high variability among participants. Also the results obtained with CTMs were quite comparable to their ensemble reference using all models for the overall average (>92% of successful z-scores) while the comparability of the time series is more problematic (between 58% and 77% of the candidates’ RMSEu are accepted). In the CTM models a gap was observed between the sum of source contributions and the gravimetric PM10 mass likely due to PM underestimation in the base case. Interestingly, when only the tagged species CTM results were used in the reference, the differences between the two CTM approaches (brute force and tagged species) were evident. In this case the percentage of candidates passing the z-score and RMSEu tests were only 50% and 86%, respectively. CTMs showed good comparability with RMs for the overall dataset (83% of the z-scores accepted), more differences were observed when dealing with the time series of the single source categories. In this case the share of successful RMSEu was in the range 25% - 34%.JRC.C.5-Air and Climat

Calcification-induced vascular disease: insights from pseudoxanthoma elasticum

Vascular disease has a large worldwide medical burden. Even if all modifiable vascular risk factors are at recommended targets a large residual vascular risk remains, exposing an area of unmet medical need. Arterial calcification, in particular medial arterial calcification (MAC), may open up a promising target for preventive (pharmaceutical) treatment on top of other preventative strategies. However, since MAC and atherosclerosis (intimal wall disease) often occur simultaneously, little is known about the precise clinical consequences of MAC. In the rare calcification disorder pseudoxanthoma elasticum MAC occurs with little interference of atherosclerosis. PXE is caused by biallelic mutations in the ABCC6 genes causing low levels of inorganic pyrophosphate and progressive ectopic mineralization. PXE is characterized by mineralization of elastic fibers with skin involvement (e.g. yellowish papules or plaques), eye involvement (e.g. angioid streaks) and vascular involvement (arterial calcification). In the first part of this thesis vascular manifestations of PXE are described in order to enhance knowledge on the clinical consequences of MAC. We found that the peripheral arteries in the legs and arms and the intracranial carotid arteries are the predominant arteries that are calcified in PXE patients. In PXE, vascular involvement is of non-atherosclerotic nature with alterations in the medial layer (and around the internal elastic lamina) of arterial walls and in the heart. PXE patients have thicker arterial walls than the general population and pronounced arterial stiffening. Cerebrovascular disease (15%) and peripheral artery disease (46%) are highly prevalent among PXE patients, which cannot be explained by traditional risk factors. Arterial angioplasties or stenting should not be recommended as a primary surgical approach in PXE patients with femoral artery lesions. The second part of this thesis focused on the relation between risk factors and vascular disease. Among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients HbA1c is modestly related to vascular events. Inter-arm systolic blood pressure differences relate to vascular events in patients without clinical manifest vascular disease, whereas this relation is not apparent in patients with manifest vascular disease. The last part of this thesis investigates the potential of bisphosphonates, well-established drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis, as treatment for calcification-induced vascular disease. PXE mice studies suggested that bisphosphonates, in particular etidronate, may reduce arterial calcification and inhibit disease progression in PXE. In a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled bisphosphonate trials we showed that bisphosphonates reduce all-cause mortality and seem to reduce vascular mortality in various populations. Also, we report the results of the Treatment of Ectopic Mineralization in Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (TEMP) study, a randomized placebo-controlled trial in which we investigated the effectiveness and safety of one year treatment with etidronate (cyclical 20 mg/kg for two weeks every 12 weeks) on ectopic mineralization among patients with PXE. We showed that in PXE patients, etidronate reduced arterial calcification and subretinal neovascularization events, while not lowering femoral 18F-NaF PET activity, compared to placebo without important safety issues. On the basis of these results all PXE patients should be considered for etidronate treatment

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum : Een aandoening met verschillende manifestaties

BACKGROUND: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a rare, autosomal recessive inheritable disorder characterized by progressive elastic fibre calcification. CASE DESCRIPTION: Here we describe two patients with different presentations of PXE. Patient A, an 11-year-old girl, visited the dermatologist because of yellow papules (pseudoxanthomas) on the side of her neck. With the aid of a skin biopsy, the dermatologist diagnosed PXE. Some years later, patient A developed symptoms of intermittent claudication due to arterial calcifications. Supervised exercise training diminished these symptoms. Patient B, a 55-year-old man, visited the ophthalmologist due to recent onset of metamorphopsia. The ophthalmologist discovered a subretinal haemorrhage and observed changes in the retina consistent with PXE. Severe loss of vision was prevented by intraocular anti-VEGF injections. Upon further investigation, pseudoxanthomas and arterial calcifications were found. CONCLUSION: PXE is a rare monogenetic disorder with dermatological, ocular and vascular manifestations. With these two case reports we have illustrated how the initial clinical presentation and symptomatology may vary widely

Abnormally high failure rate for femoral angioplasty in patients with pseudoxanthoma elasticum

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is an inherited disease characterized by skin lesions, central blindness, and progressive peripheral occlusive disease. Severe claudication is a frequent symptom for which angioplasty represents a possible therapeutic avenue. We report the outcomes of four patients with PXE treated by angioplasty and stenting of the superficial femoral artery in two centers. These patients exhibited an abnormal failure rate for angioplasty and stenting of the superficial femoral artery, suggesting an as yet unknown susceptibility in such patients. In the absence of further evidence, we do not recommend arterial angioplasty with stenting as a primary surgical approach in PXE patients with femoral artery lesions