1,863 research outputs found
Extended Infusions of Meropenem for Febrile Neutropenia
Background: Neutropenic fever is an oncologic emergency that requires quick intervention with anti-pseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotics, such as meropenem. Previous literature suggests that extended infusions of beta-lactam antibiotics may improve clinical outcomes. To date, there are 3 prior studies utilizing an extended infusion beta-lactam in this population; however, there is only one previous study investigating the use of extended infusion meropenem in patients with febrile neutropenia.
Objective: To describe the outcomes of eight patients receiving extended infusions of meropenem for the treatment of febrile neutropenia.
Methods: A retrospective chart review was completed including adult patients admitted to a community teaching hospital who received extended infusions of meropenem for febrile neutropenia.
Results: In this descriptive study, no patients receiving extended infusions of meropenem failed treatment, were readmitted for an infectious issue within 30 days, or endured inpatient mortality. Additionally, all eight patients defervesced within 48 hours, and four patients had a microbiologically documented infection. One patient incurred Clostridium difficile on day 2 of meropenem therapy.
Conclusions: Extended infusions of meropenem may be effective in the treatment of febrile neutropenia. Future studies comparing extended infusions to intermittent infusions of meropenem for febrile neutropenia are warranted
Multi-objective integer programming: An improved recursive algorithm
This paper introduces an improved recursive algorithm to generate the set of
all nondominated objective vectors for the Multi-Objective Integer Programming
(MOIP) problem. We significantly improve the earlier recursive algorithm of
\"Ozlen and Azizo\u{g}lu by using the set of already solved subproblems and
their solutions to avoid solving a large number of IPs. A numerical example is
presented to explain the workings of the algorithm, and we conduct a series of
computational experiments to show the savings that can be obtained. As our
experiments show, the improvement becomes more significant as the problems grow
larger in terms of the number of objectives.Comment: 11 pages, 6 tables; v2: added more details and a computational stud
A Rapid Method for Determining the Oxidative Stability of Oils Suitable for Breeder Size Samples
A method utilizing thin-layer chromatography with a flame ionization detector (TLC-FID) was developed for assessing the stability of breeder’s oil seed samples based on the formation of polar compounds. The results showed a linear relationship between peroxide value (PV) and the content of polar material in the oxidized oil. Oil samples oxidized very readily on chromarods, even at low temperature, which is a particular advantage for antioxidant screening. At 45 °C, the oil oxidation rate was relatively low, but the relationship between the content of polar material and reaction time was linear. At 65 °C, if the content of polar material was below 50 %, the above relationship was still linear. At different temperatures, the action of tocopherol appeared to vary slightly. For example, at 65 °C, the oxidative stability of the oil sample was determined by the content of tocopherol, especially γ-tocopherol. At 45 and 55 °C, the oxidative stability was determined by both the content of tocopherol and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Of the tocopherol isomers, γ-tocopherol exhibited the highest antioxidant potency, consistent with the published literature. These results suggest that chromarods provide good media for monitoring oil oxidation for antioxidant screening. A particular advantage is the use of very small oil samples, usually 1–2 μL, and the ability to analyze multiple samples at the same time
First principles calculation of structural and magnetic properties for Fe monolayers and bilayers on W(110)
Structure optimizations were performed for 1 and 2 monolayers (ML) of Fe on a
5 ML W(110) substrate employing the all-electron full-potential linearized
augmented plane-wave (FP-LAPW) method. The magnetic moments were also obtained
for the converged and optimized structures. We find significant contractions
( 10 %) for both the Fe-W and the neighboring Fe-Fe interlayer spacings
compared to the corresponding bulk W-W and Fe-Fe interlayer spacings. Compared
to the Fe bcc bulk moment of 2.2 , the magnetic moment for the surface
layer of Fe is enhanced (i) by 15% to 2.54 for 1 ML Fe/5 ML W(110), and
(ii) by 29% to 2.84 for 2 ML Fe/5 ML W(110). The inner Fe layer for 2
ML Fe/5 ML W(110) has a bulk-like moment of 2.3 . These results agree
well with previous experimental data
Optimising a nonlinear utility function in multi-objective integer programming
In this paper we develop an algorithm to optimise a nonlinear utility
function of multiple objectives over the integer efficient set. Our approach is
based on identifying and updating bounds on the individual objectives as well
as the optimal utility value. This is done using already known solutions,
linear programming relaxations, utility function inversion, and integer
programming. We develop a general optimisation algorithm for use with k
objectives, and we illustrate our approach using a tri-objective integer
programming problem.Comment: 11 pages, 2 tables; v3: minor revisions, to appear in Journal of
Global Optimizatio
Level and relationship of elements in scalp hair of males : effect of air pollution and smoking habits
Concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl and Zn were analyzed by ICP-MS in the scalp hair of
male subjects from an urban area, three different quarters of Krakow, Poland, and from a rural area as control, which
were assumed to differ in ambient pollution by metals. A questionnaire on personal data, nutritional habits, socioeconomic,
occupation and health status was completed by the subjects. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were
found in the levels of Cd, Cu, Mn and Ni between the locations. Using statistical methods of principal components
analysis, the relationships were found between metals in the scalp hair as follows: Mn-Ni, Cr-Tl and Cd-Pb. Two
separated clusters of smokers were revealed in the principal components, space suggesting other factors like environmental
contamination could confound the values of parameters and relationships between them
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