126 research outputs found
Business Angels – A Subspecies of the homo oeconomicus ludens
Business Angels invest in start-up companies in their early stage. This type of investor usually has a good knowledge of the start-up's industry sector, and in addition to the funds he invests, his management experience and his network can be useful for start-ups. Business Angel involvement
has shown to improve the success rate and the profitability of start-ups. The article depicts the relationship between entrepreneurs and Business Angels in four case examples
Body Contouring Surgery Following Bariatric Surgery and Dietetically Induced Massive Weight Reduction: A Risk Analysis
Background: This study analyzed the impact of weight reduction method, preoperative, and intraoperative variables on the outcome of reconstructive body contouring surgery following massive weight reduction. Methods: All patients presenting with a maximal BMI ≥35kg/m2 before weight reduction who underwent body contouring surgery of the trunk following massive weight loss (excess body mass index loss (EBMIL) ≥ 30%) between January 2002 and June 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Incomplete records or follow-up led to exclusion. Statistical analysis focused on weight reduction method and pre-, intra-, and postoperative risk factors. The outcome was compared to current literature results. Results: A total of 104 patients were included (87 female and 17 male; mean age 47.9years). Massive weight reduction was achieved through bariatric surgery in 62 patients (59.6%) and dietetically in 42 patients (40.4%). Dietetically achieved excess body mass index loss (EBMIL) was 94.20% and in this cohort higher than surgically induced reduction EBMIL 80.80% (p < 0.01). Bariatric surgery did not present increased risks for complications for the secondary body contouring procedures. The observed complications (26.9%) were analyzed for risk factors. Total tissue resection weight was a significant risk factor (p < 0.05). Preoperative BMI had an impact on infections (p < 0.05). No impact on the postoperative outcome was detected in EBMIL, maximal BMI, smoking, hemoglobin, blood loss, body contouring technique or operation time. Corrective procedures were performed in 11 patients (10.6%). The results were compared to recent data. Conclusion: Bariatric surgery does not increase risks for complications in subsequent body contouring procedures when compared to massive dietetic weight reductio
Surgical Management of Gynecomastia—a 10-year Analysis
Background: Gynecomastia is defined as the benign enlargement of the male breast. Most studies on surgical treatment of gynecomastia show only small series and lack histopathology results. The aim of this study was to analyze the surgical approach in the treatment of gynecomastia and the related outcome over a 10-year period. Patients and methods: All patients undergoing surgical gynecomastia corrections in our department between 1996 and 2006 were included for retrospective evaluation. The data were analyzed for etiology, stage of gynecomastia, surgical technique, complications, risk factors, and histological results. Results: A total of 100 patients with 160 operations were included. Techniques included subcutaneous mastectomy alone or with additional hand-assisted liposuction, isolated liposuction, and formal breast reduction. Atypical histological findings were found in 3% of the patients (spindle-cell hemangioendothelioma, papilloma). The surgical revision rate among all patients was 7%. Body mass index and a weight of the resected specimen higher than 40 g were identified as significant risk factors for complications (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The treatment of gynecomastia requires an individualized approach. Caution must be taken in performing large resections, which are associated with increased complication rates. Histological tissue analysis should be routinely performed in all true gynecomastia corrections, because histological results may reveal atypical cellular patholog
A satellite-based snow cover climatology (1985–2011) for the European Alps derived from AVHRR data
Seasonal snow cover is of great environmental and socio-economic importance
for the European Alps. Therefore a high priority has been assigned to
quantifying its temporal and spatial variability. Complementary to land-based
monitoring networks, optical satellite observations can be used to derive
spatially comprehensive information on snow cover extent. For understanding
long-term changes in alpine snow cover extent, the data acquired by the
Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensors mounted onboard the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) and Meteorological
Operational satellite (MetOp) platforms offer a unique source of information.
<br><br>
In this paper, we present the first space-borne 1 km snow extent climatology
for the Alpine region derived from AVHRR data over the period 1985–2011. The
objective of this study is twofold: first, to generate a new set of
cloud-free satellite snow products using a specific cloud gap-filling
technique and second, to examine the spatiotemporal distribution of snow
cover in the European Alps over the last 27 yr from the satellite
perspective. For this purpose, snow parameters such as snow onset day, snow
cover duration (SCD), melt-out date and the snow cover area percentage (SCA)
were employed to analyze spatiotemporal variability of snow cover over the
course of three decades. On the regional scale, significant trends were found
toward a shorter SCD at lower elevations in the south-east and south-west.
However, our results do not show any significant trends in the monthly mean
SCA over the last 27 yr. This is in agreement with other research findings
and may indicate a deceleration of the decreasing snow trend in the Alpine
region. Furthermore, such data may provide spatially and temporally
homogeneous snow information for comprehensive use in related research fields
(i.e., hydrologic and economic applications) or can serve as a reference for
climate models
On the exceedance point process for a stationary sequence
It is known that the exceedance points of a hiqh level by a stationary sequence are asymptotically Poisson as the level increases, under appropriate lone range and local dependence conditions. When the local dependence conditions are relaxed, clustering of exceedances may occur, based on Poisson positions for the clusters. In this paper a detailed analysis of the exceedance point process is given, and shows that, under wide conditions, any limiting point process for exceedances is necessarily compound Poisson. Sufficient conditions are also qiven for the existence of such a limit. The limiting distributions of extreme order statistics are derived as corollaries
Comparison of the effect of a CIDR-Select Synch versus a long-term CIDR based AI protocol on reproductive performance in multiparous dairy cows in Swiss dairy farms
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Synchronization programs have become standard in the dairy industry in many countries. In Switzerland, these programs are not routinely used for groups of cows, but predominantly as a therapy for individual problem cows. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of a CIDR-Select Synch and a 12-d CIDR protocol on the pregnancy rate in healthy, multiparous dairy cows in Swiss dairy farms.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cows (N = 508) were randomly assigned to CIDR-Select Synch (N = 262) or 12-d CIDR (N = 246) protocols. Cows in the CIDR-Select Synch group received a CIDR and 2.5 ml of buserelin i.m. on d 0. On d 7, the CIDR insert was removed and 5 ml of dinoprost was administered i.m.. Cows in the 12-d CIDR group received the CIDR on d 0 and it was removed on d 12 (the routine CIDR protocol in Swiss dairies). On d 0 a milk sample for progesterone analysis was taken. Cows were inseminated upon observed estrus. Pregnancy was determined at or more than 35 days after artificial insemination. As a first step, the two groups were compared as to indication for treatment, breed, stud book, stall, pasture, and farmer's business using chi square tests or Fisher's exact test. Furthermore, groups were compared as to age, DIM, number of AI's, number of cows per farm, and yearly milk yield per cow using nonparametric ANOVA. A multiple logistic model was used to relate the success of the protocols to all of the available factors; in particular treatment (CIDR-Select Synch/12-d CIDR), milk progesterone value, age, DIM, previous treatment of the uterus, previous gynecological treatment, and number of preceding inseminations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The pregnancy rate was higher in cows following the CIDR-Select Synch compared to the 12-d CIDR protocol (50.4% vs. 22.4%; P < 0.0001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The CIDR-Select Synch protocol may be highly recommended for multiparous dairy cows. The reduced time span of the progesterone insert decreased the number of days open, improved the pregnancy rate compared to the 12-d CIDR protocol and the cows did not to have to be handled more often.</p
Relationship between internal accuracy and load-bearing capacity of minimally invasive lithium disilicate occlusal veneers
Purpose: To test whether internal accuracy affects the load-bearing capacity of 0.5-mm-thick occlusal veneers made out of milled or heat-pressed lithium disilicate (LS2).
Materials and methods: Extracted human molars (N = 80) were divided into four groups (n = 20 each) depending on the bonding substrate (enamel [E] or dentin [D]) and the fabrication method (milling [CAD] or heat pressing [PRE]) for the occlusal LS2 veneers: (1) E-CAD, (2) D-CAD, (3) E-PRE, or (4) D-PRE. After restoration fabrication, the abutment teeth and the corresponding restorations were scanned and superimposed in order to measure the marginal and internal accuracy. After adhesive cementation, the specimens were thermomechanically aged and thereafter loaded until fracture. The load-bearing capacities (Fmax) were measured. Fmax and the marginal and internal accuracy between the groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test (P < .05) and pairwise group comparisons. In addition, the relationship between Fmax and the internal accuracy was analyzed using Spearman rank correlation.
Results: Median Fmax values (and first and third quartiles) per group were as follows: 1,495 N (Q1: 932; Q3: 2'318) for E-CAD; 1,575 N (Q1: 1,314; Q3: 1,668) for E-PRE; 1,856 N (Q1: 1,555; Q3: 2,013) for D-CAD; and 1,877 N (Q1: 1,566; Q3: 2,131) for D-PRE. No statistical difference was found between the groups (P = .0981). Overall, the internal accuracy in the areas of the cusp (P < .0007) and fossa (P < .0001) showed significant differences. While no significant differences were detected in the marginal area (P = .3518), a significant correlation with a negative linear relationship was found between the 3D internal accuracy and the Fmax values (P = .0007).
Conclusion: An increase in the internal accuracy raised the load-bearing capacity of minimally invasive LS2 occlusal veneers. In general, the restorations bonded to dentin in the occlusal regions showed a better accuracy compared to those bonded to enamel
A nonparametric urn-based approach to interacting failing systems with an application to credit risk modeling
In this paper we propose a new nonparametric approach to interacting failing
systems (FS), that is systems whose probability of failure is not negligible in
a fixed time horizon, a typical example being firms and financial bonds. The
main purpose when studying a FS is to calculate the probability of default and
the distribution of the number of failures that may occur during the
observation period. A model used to study a failing system is defined default
model. In particular, we present a general recursive model constructed by the
means of inter- acting urns. After introducing the theoretical model and its
properties we show a first application to credit risk modeling, showing how to
assess the idiosyncratic probability of default of an obligor and the joint
probability of failure of a set of obligors in a portfolio of risks, that are
divided into reliability classes
Body contouring surgery following bariatric surgery and dietetically induced massive weight reduction: a risk analysis
BACKGROUND: This study analyzed the impact of weight reduction method, preoperative, and intraoperative variables on the outcome of reconstructive body contouring surgery following massive weight reduction. METHODS: All patients presenting with a maximal BMI >/=35 kg/m(2) before weight reduction who underwent body contouring surgery of the trunk following massive weight loss (excess body mass index loss (EBMIL) >/= 30%) between January 2002 and June 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. Incomplete records or follow-up led to exclusion. Statistical analysis focused on weight reduction method and pre-, intra-, and postoperative risk factors. The outcome was compared to current literature results. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were included (87 female and 17 male; mean age 47.9 years). Massive weight reduction was achieved through bariatric surgery in 62 patients (59.6%) and dietetically in 42 patients (40.4%). Dietetically achieved excess body mass index loss (EBMIL) was 94.20% and in this cohort higher than surgically induced reduction EBMIL 80.80% (p < 0.01). Bariatric surgery did not present increased risks for complications for the secondary body contouring procedures. The observed complications (26.9%) were analyzed for risk factors. Total tissue resection weight was a significant risk factor (p < 0.05). Preoperative BMI had an impact on infections (p < 0.05). No impact on the postoperative outcome was detected in EBMIL, maximal BMI, smoking, hemoglobin, blood loss, body contouring technique or operation time. Corrective procedures were performed in 11 patients (10.6%). The results were compared to recent data. CONCLUSION: Bariatric surgery does not increase risks for complications in subsequent body contouring procedures when compared to massive dietetic weight reduction
Respiratory symptoms of Swiss people with primary ciliary dyskinesia.
Background
Mostly derived from chart reviews, where symptoms are recorded in a nonstandardised manner, clinical data about primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) are inconsistent, which leads to missing and unreliable information. We assessed the prevalence and frequency of respiratory and ear symptoms and studied differences by age and sex among an unselected population of Swiss people with PCD.
Methods
We sent a questionnaire that included items from the FOLLOW-PCD standardised questionnaire to all Swiss PCD registry participants.
Results
We received questionnaires from 74 (86%) out of 86 invited persons or their caregivers (median age 23 years, range 3-73 years), including 68% adults (≥18 years) and 51% females. Among participants, 70 (94%) reported chronic nasal symptoms; most frequently runny nose (65%), blocked nose (55%) or anosmia (38%). Ear pain and hearing problems were reported by 58% of the participants. Almost all (99%) reported cough and sputum production. The most common chronic cough complications were gastro-oesophageal reflux (n=11; 15%), vomiting (n=8; 11%) and urinary incontinence (n=6; 8%). Only nine (12%) participants reported frequent wheeze, which occurred mainly during infection or exercise, while 49 (66%) reported shortness of breath, and 9% even at rest or during daily activities. Older patients reported more frequent nasal symptoms and shortness of breath. We found no difference by sex or ultrastructural ciliary defect.
Conclusion
This is the first study to describe patient-reported PCD symptoms. The consistent collection of standardised clinical data will allow us to better characterise the phenotypic variability of the disease and study disease course and prognosis
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