Smoothing Out Focused Demand for Network Resources

We explore the problem of sharing network resources when agents' preferences lead to temporally concentrated, inefficient use of the network. In such cases, external incentives must be supplied to smooth out demand. Taking a game-theoretic approach, we consider a setting in which bandwidth is available during several time slots at a fixed cost, but all agents have a natural preference for choosing the same slot. We present four mechanisms that motivate agents to distribute load optimally by probabilistically waiving the cost for each time slot, and analyze equilibria

Risk factors of hypoglycaemia in elderly diabetic patients: A case–Control study from a Tertiary Hospital

Background: Hypoglycaemia is a side effect of strict diabetes control, especially in the geriatric population above sixty, who constitute approximately 100 million of the Indian population. This study was undertaken to explore the risk factors of hypoglycaemia in elderly inpatients. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients who were found to have hypoglycaemia either at admission or while admitted were enrolled. Their risk factors were compared with fifty age- and sex-matched inpatients admitted to medical wards who did not experience hypoglycaemia. Results: The duration of diabetes was significantly longer (13.4 ± 9.2 vs. 8.1 ± 5.7 years; P = 0.012) in the group which experienced hypoglycaemia. The mean glycated haemoglobin was significantly lower in the group which experienced hypoglycaemia (6.33 ± 1.12 vs. 7.61 ± 1.17; P = 0.002). Of the 50 patients who developed hypoglycaemia 28 were asymptomatic. Infection and renal failure were significantly higher in the study group. On multivariate analysis, infection was the only significant precipitating factor. Conclusion: With strict blood glucose control, elderly patients are at high risk of hypoglycaemia. The risk is higher if the patients have renal failure and infection. Diabetic therapy in elderly people should be adjusted in such a way to prevent hypoglycaemia

Incentive Mechanisms for Smoothing Out A Focused Demand for Network Resources Abstract

We explore the problem of sharing network resources when users ’ preferences lead to temporally concentrated loads, resulting in an inefficient use of the network. In such cases external incentives can be supplied to smooth out demand, obviating the need for expensive technological mechanisms. Taking a game-theoretic approach, we consider a setting in which bandwidth or access to service is available during different time slots at a fixed cost, but all agents have a natural preference for choosing the same time slot. We present four mechanisms that motivate users to distribute the load by probabilistically waiving the cost for each time slot, and analyze the equilibria that arise under these mechanisms. 1

Identification and quantification of methyl nicotinate in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

During the course of analysis of popular rice varieties cultivated in India towards identification of their aroma compounds, methyl nicotinate (MN), a medicinal and flavour additive compound, was identified for the first time in rice samples. A simple direct solvent extraction method using 300 mg of the sample is developed to extract MN in rice samples and detected by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Quantitative analysis of MN is performed for polished rice, brown rice and rice bran samples from five rice varieties that are widely produced in India by using GC-MS operating under SIM mode (m/z 106). The quantity of MN is in the range of 0.63-1.30 μg/g, 1.37-3.99 μg/g and 1.87-12.04 μg/g for polished rice, brown rice and rice bran samples, respectively. Breeding programmes for rice with high concentrations of MN can be greatly facilitated by establishing the concentrations of the MN in new cultivars. This method is more economic with less time consumption and enables fast screening of a large number of samples

Post-anaesthesia pulmonary complications after use of muscle relaxants (POPULAR): a multicentre, prospective observational study

Background Results from retrospective studies suggest that use of neuromuscular blocking agents during general anaesthesia might be linked to postoperative pulmonary complications. We therefore aimed to assess whether the use of neuromuscular blocking agents is associated with postoperative pulmonary complications. Methods We did a multicentre, prospective observational cohort study. Patients were recruited from 211 hospitals in 28 European countries. We included patients (aged ≥18 years) who received general anaesthesia for any in-hospital procedure except cardiac surgery. Patient characteristics, surgical and anaesthetic details, and chart review at discharge were prospectively collected over 2 weeks. Additionally, each patient underwent postoperative physical examination within 3 days of surgery to check for adverse pulmonary events. The study outcome was the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications from the end of surgery up to postoperative day 28. Logistic regression analyses were adjusted for surgical factors and patients’ preoperative physical status, providing adjusted odds ratios (ORadj) and adjusted absolute risk reduction (ARRadj). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01865513. Findings Between June 16, 2014, and April 29, 2015, data from 22803 patients were collected. The use of neuromuscular blocking agents was associated with an increased incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications in patients who had undergone general anaesthesia (1658 [7·6%] of 21694); ORadj 1·86, 95% CI 1·53–2·26; ARRadj –4·4%, 95% CI –5·5 to –3·2). Only 2·3% of high-risk surgical patients and those with adverse respiratory profiles were anaesthetised without neuromuscular blocking agents. The use of neuromuscular monitoring (ORadj 1·31, 95% CI 1·15–1·49; ARRadj –2·6%, 95% CI –3·9 to –1·4) and the administration of reversal agents (1·23, 1·07–1·41; –1·9%, –3·2 to –0·7) were not associated with a decreased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Neither the choice of sugammadex instead of neostigmine for reversal (ORadj 1·03, 95% CI 0·85–1·25; ARRadj –0·3%, 95% CI –2·4 to 1·5) nor extubation at a train-of-four ratio of 0·9 or more (1·03, 0·82–1·31; –0·4%, –3·5 to 2·2) was associated with better pulmonary outcomes. Interpretation We showed that the use of neuromuscular blocking drugs in general anaesthesia is associated with an increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications. Anaesthetists must balance the potential benefits of neuromuscular blockade against the increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications